U.S. patent number 3,643,264 [Application Number 05/077,609] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-22 for underwater diving garment construction.
Invention is credited to Carl T. Rector.
United States Patent |
3,643,264 |
Rector |
February 22, 1972 |
UNDERWATER DIVING GARMENT CONSTRUCTION
Abstract
An improved fastening means for use in the construction of an
underwater diving garment having a tail strap and vest portion that
extends below the waistline, said improved fastening means
comprising a pair of pads having hooked surfaces, one pad being
secured to the lower portion of said vest and the other pad being
hinged to the vest above said first pad, the hooked surfaces of
said pads being in opposed facing relation, and a woolly fabric
material mounted on both sides of said tail strap for
simultaneously engaging both pads while the end of said tail strap
is sandwiched therebetween.
Inventors: |
Rector; Carl T. (Eureka,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
22139067 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/077,609 |
Filed: |
October 2, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B
18/00 (20130101); A41D 2300/32 (20130101); B63C
2011/046 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A44B
18/00 (20060101); B63C 11/02 (20060101); B63c
011/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/2,2.1R,2.1A,2.5,224A,DIG.6,78B ;24/204,DIG.18 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lawson; Patrick D.
Assistant Examiner: Krizmanich; George H.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In combination with an underwater diving garment having a vest
portion and a tail strap secured at one end to the rear portion
thereof and extending below the lower edge of the vest portion, an
improved means for removably fastening the end other of the tail
strap to the front portion of the vest portion comprising a first
pad having a hooked surface and secured to the lower front portion
of said vest portion, a second pad having a hooked surface and
hinged to said vest portion above said first pad, the hooked
surface of said second pad being located in opposed facing relation
to the hooked surface of said first pad, and a woolly fabric
mounted on both sides of said tail strap simultaneously engaging
the hooked surfaces of said first and second pads while the other
end of said tail strap is sandwiched therebetween.
2. The combination of claim 1, said improved fastening means
further comprising a pair of lateral side strips of woolly material
secured on opposite sides of said first pad and engaging side
portions of the hooked surface of said second pad while said tail
strap is sandwiched between and engaged with said pads.
Description
This invention relates generally to the construction of underwater
diving garments, particularly diving garments having a tail strap
which may be selectively connected or disconnected from a vest
portion of the garment.
It is one object of the present invention to provide an improved
fastening means for an underwater diving garment that eliminates
and replaces exposed metallic fasteners as conventionally
employed.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fastening
means of the type described having no exposed obstructions, catch
points or hard object as might mark, dent or scar wooden
objects.
Another object is to provide a fastening means comprised of hooked
surface material which would normally tear or rupture fabrics used
in the manufacture of an underwater garment but which, by reason of
the particular arrangement of materials, can be used safely in the
fastening means of the present invention.
A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved
fastening means that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and
attach to a diving garment.
Other objects of this invention will become apparent in view of the
following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
In the drawings forming part of this application and in which like
parts are identified by like reference numerals throughout the
same,
FIG. 1 is a front elevation of an underwater diving jacket
constructed with the improved fastening device for a tail strap as
contemplated by this invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view and enlarged detail of the fastening
means employed in the garment of FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is an enlarged section of the fastening means taken on line
3--3 of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, diving jacket 10 comprises a pair of vest
portions 10a and 10b which can be joined together by a diagonal
zipper 11. Jacket 10 further comprises a tail strap 10c, the end of
said strap being secured to the lower edge of vest portion 10a by
the improved fastening means of the present invention. More
particularly, the fastening means comprises a pair of pads 12 and
13, each pad having an exposed hooked surface defined by a
plurality of tiny hooks which project outwardly approximately 1/32
inch from a support backing. The tiny hooks may be arranged in rows
approximately 1/10 inch apart, each row containing approximately 20
hooks per inch of fabric. Material of this kind is commonly sold
under the trademark Velcro and it is generally known by that same
name.
Pad 12 is cemented, sewn or otherwise attached to the lower edge of
vest penal 10a, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Pad 13 is secured
to a backing or flap 14, one edge of the flap being secured
directly above the top edge of pad 12, the hooked surface of pad 13
being arranged in opposed facing relation to the hooked surface of
pad 12.
A woolly fabric material 15 is secured on both sides of the end of
tail strap 10c. This woolly material provides the essential hairs
or fibers which engage and interlock with the tiny hooks of pad 12
and 13, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
In a preferred construction, a pair of lateral side strips 16, each
made of woolly material, are secured on opposite sides of pad 12.
Each side strip may be engaged by the hooked side surfaces of pad
13 both while the end of tail strap 10c is sandwiched between the
pads as well as when it is removed therefrom.
In operation, the fastening means described is quickly and easily
operated by simply placing the end of the tail strap 10c between
pads 12 and 13 and pressing the pads into contact with the woolly
surfaces of material 15. Side strips 16 assure proper alignment of
the strap relative to the pads but also provide a direct and
positive connection that holds flap 14 down when the end of strap
10c is removed. This latter feature is of importance, for if the
flap is not secured while strap 10c is removed, there is danger
that the exposed hooked surfaces of pads 12 and 13 might come into
contact with the fabric of the garment, resulting in tears or
abrasions.
Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been
illustrated and described, certain modifications and changes may be
made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the
scope of the attached claims, and each of such modifications and
changes is contemplated.
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