EP1221408A2

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Info

Publication number: EP1221408A2
Application number: EP02000358A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David James Griffiths
Original assignee: Rip Curl International Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Rip Curl International Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2001-01-09
Filing date: 2002-01-04
Publication date: 2002-07-10
Also published as: US20020108160A1; EP1221408A3; AUPR243501A0

Abstract

A wetsuit structure (10) having a zip (15)extending from a neck opening (14) of the wetsuit and downthat portion of the wetsuit which, in use, will at leastsurround the upper part of the torso (11) of a wearer ofthe wetsuit. A barrier panel (16) of stretchable,substantially water proof, material is attached within theinterior of the wetsuit adjacent to, and underlying, atleast a major portion of the length of the zip. Thewetsuit structure also has a detachable neck or collar (17)of stretchable, substantially water proof, materialadapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearerwhilst stretching in the process, but then relaxing to fitrelatively tightly into sealing engagement around the neckof the wearer, and a series of studs (18, 19) to detachablyconnect the neck or collar to the body of the wetsuit. Theneck or collar (17) may be a simple neck or collar, or beformed as part of a hood which, in use, will fit around thehead of the wetsuit wearer with an opening therethrough inthe facial region of the wearer.

Description

Technical Field

This invention relates to a wetsuit, moreparticularly, in one aspect of the invention, a wetsuitincorporating a zip which is openable to allow body accessinto and out of the interior of the wetsuit. The secondaspect of the invention is applicable to a wetsuit havingan improved manner of sealing the wetsuit around the neckthereof to prevent, or at least minimise, the ingress ofwater to the interior of the wetsuit.

Background Art

For wetsuits with zips with are openable toprovide an opening large enough to allow body access intoand out of the interior of the wetsuit, one problemencountered is how to prevent leakage (ingress) of waterthrough the zip to the wearer's body when the zip isclosed.

Disclosure of the Invention

Therefore, it is an object of one aspect of theinvention to provide a wetsuit structure which preventswater leakage through the closed zip from reaching the bodyof the wearer.

In accordance with the first aspect of theinvention there is provided a wetsuit structure having azip extending from a neck opening of the wetsuit and downthat portion of the weteuit which, in use, will at leastsurround the upper part of the torso of a wearer of thewetsuit, wherein a barrier panel of stretchable,substantially water proof, material is attached within theinterior of the wetsuit adjacent to, and underlying, atleast a major portion of the length of the zip.

It is also a problem with many current wetsuitstructures, whether having zips or even without zips (socalled zipperless wetsuits) as to how to prevent ingress ofwater through the neck opening.

In accordance with a second aspect of theinvention, there is provided a wetsuit structure having adetachable neck or collar of stretchable, substantiallywater proof, material adapted, in use, to be pulled overthe head of the wearer whilst stretching in the process,but then relaxing to fit relatively tightly into sealingengagement around the neck of the wearer, and means todetachably connect the neck or collar to the body of thewetsuit.

In accordance with the second aspect of theinvention the neck or collar may be a simple neck orcollar, or may be formed as part of a hood which in usewill fit around the head of the wetsuit wearer with anopening therethrough in the facial region of the wearer.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention thewetsuit structure incorporates the first and second aspectsof the invention defined above, whilst preferably thedetachable neck or collar of the second aspect of theinvention is attached to the barrier panel of the firstaspect of the invention and within the interior of thewetsuit to, together with the barrier panel, cover theentire length of the zip.

Brief Description of the Drawings

One preferred embodiment, incorporating both thefirst and second aspects of the invention, will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings;

Figure 1 is a perspective view from the rear ofthe wetsuit of this preferred embodiment,

Figures 2a and 2b are rear and side views of adetachable hood for the wetsuit,

Figure 3 is a rear view of a simple detachablecollar for the wetsuit,

Figure 4 is a view of the panel to be attachedwithin the wetsuit adjacent and underlying the zip of thewetsuit, and

Figures 5a and 5b show how the hood or simplecollar of the second aspect of the invention is associatedwith the barrier panel in accordance with the first aspectof the invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Turning to Figure 1 of the drawings, the wetsuitstructure of this preferred embodiment of the invention,and generally indicated as 10, has a torso portion 11, apair of legs 12, a pair ofarms 13, and neck opening 14.The wetsuit structure can be manufactured from anyconventional material for wetsuits, or any other materialswhich may become available.

The wetsuit has a zip 15 extending from the neckopening 14 and down that portion of the wetsuit which, inuse, will at least surround the upper part of the torsoportion 11.

In accordance with the first aspect of theinvention a suitably shapedbarrier panel 16 ofstretchable, substantially water proof, material isattached, such as by sewing or gluing along lines 16a,within the interior of the wetsuit adjacent to, andunderlying, a major portion 15a of the length of the zip.The stretchability of thebarrier panel 16 allows bodyaccess to the interior of the wetsuit when the zip is opened and the barrier panel stretched whereby the wearercan enter through the neck opening 14 and the openingprovided by the opened zip, and whereafter, when the zip issubsequently closed, the barrier panel relaxes and acts asa barrier to any water leakage through the portion of thelength of the zip which it underlies.

In accordance with this preferred embodiment ofthe invention, and with reference to Figures 3 and 5a ofthe drawings, where both the first and second aspects ofthe invention are combined, the remaining portion 15b ofthe length of the zip is closed by a neck or collar 17 ofstretchable, substantially water proof, material, andadapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearerwhilst stretching in the process, but then relaxing intorelatively tight sealing engagement around the neck of thewearer. The neck or collar 17 has a downwardly extendingflap portion 17a which underlies the remaining portion 15bof the length of the zip, and is attached to the upperportion of thebarrier panel 16. In this preferredembodiment the attachment is by means of a series of pressstuds, themale studs 18 of which are spaced apart alongeither the inside or the outside of the flap portion 17a ofthe neck or collar 17, and the associated females studs 19of which are spaced apart along, depending on thepositioning of the male studs, the outside or the inside ofthe upper part of thebarrier panel 16.

With reference to Figures 2a and 5b of thedrawings, a variation of the second aspect of the inventionwhich, in this embodiment, is also incorporated with thefirst aspect of the invention, the neck or collar 17 formspart of ahood 20 which in use will fit around the head ofthe wetauit wearer and has an opening 21 therethrough whichwill be in the facial region of the wearer.

Claims

A wetsuit structure having a zip extending from aneck opening of the wetsuit and down that portion of thewetsuit which, in use, will at least surround the upperpart of the torso of a wearer of the wetsuit, wherein abarrier panel of stretchable, substantially water proof,material is attached within the interior of the wetsuitadjacent to, and underlying, at least a major portion ofthe length of the zip.
A wetsuit structure having a detachable neck orcollar of stretchable, substantially water proof, materialadapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearerwhilst stretching in the process, but then relaxing to fitrelatively tightly into sealing engagement around the neckof the wearer, and means to detachably connect the neck orcollar to the body of the wetsuit.
A wetsuit structure as claimed in Claim 1,wherein there is also provided a detachable neck or collarof stretchable, substantially water proof, materialadapted, in use, to be pulled over the head of the wearerwhilst stretching in the process, but then relaxing to fitrelatively tightly into sealing engagement around the neckof the wearer, and means to detachably connect the neck orcollar to the body of the wetsuit.
A wetsuit structure as claimed in Claim 2 or 3,wherein the neck or collar is a simple neck or collar.
A wetsuit structure as claimed in Claim 2 or 3,wherein the neck or collar is formed as part of a hoodwhich, in use, will fit around the head of the wetsuitwearer with an opening therethrough in the facial region ofthe wearer.
A wetsuit structure as claimed in any one ofClaims 2 to 5, wherein the neck or collar has a downwardlyextending flap portion which is detachably connected to thebody of the wetsuit.
A wetsuit structure as claimed in Claim 6,wherein the downwardly extending flap portion is detachablyconnected to an upper portion of the barrier panel.
A wetsuit structure as claimed in any one ofClaims 2 to 7, wherein the means to detachably connect theneck or collar to the body of the wetsuit are a series ofpress studs.
A wetsuit structure, substantially ashereinbefore described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings.