GB2308968A - Seamless diving suit - Google Patents

Abstract

A seamless body suit is coated on its outside surface with an elastomeric polymer coating. Depending on the type of coating used, the properties of oil resistance, fire or flame retardation, irradiation, biological or chemical resistance can be conferred to the suit. In particular, it is used as a diving suit which is less prone to damage due to the lack of seams.

Description

Seamless Diving Suit The present invention relates to a new and improved seamless coated body suit, particularly used for diving.

A diving suit performs many functions. Avoiding heat loss is one of these, particularly as water is a very efficient conductor of heat and large amounts of body heat may be lost if a diver is immersed in water that is colder than body temperature.

Furthermore, diving suits perform the function of protecting the skin from abrasive surfaces like wrecks, corals or accidental contact with hydroids or jeliyfish. The skin also has to be protected from strong sunlight.

At present, there are many suits available to divers, ranging from thin diveskins to heavy dry suits. This huge choice provides divers with suits which are appropriate for differing diving environments.

However, there remain many problems associated with the currently available diving suits. The thicker, heavier suits may provide better thermal insulation and warmth, but are cumbersome and restrict the mobility of the diver. The thinner lightweight suits associated with greater mobility may be convenient but are not suited for colder waters.

The present problems of punctures or tears during cave, wreck and coral dives where sharp surfaces come into contact with the diver are significant.

Perhaps the most significant of all problems is general wear and tear.

Leaks are one of the most significant problems and can occur where skin meets seal and occurs almost always along a seam. Currently, diving suits have seams which are stitched, glued, taped and even vulcanised in order to avoid seam leaks.

The present invention is made from a consideration of these problems.

One object of the present invention is to provide a complete diving suit garment or individual parts of a diving suit garment which are seamless and eliminate the likelihood of seam leakage.

A further object of the present invention is to reduce general wear and tear and to provide greater resistance to puncture and tear or abrasions.

A further object of the present invention is to give additional comfort and warmth without reducing mobility and also to reduce water drag thus providing easier movement and conserving valuable energy for the user.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a diving suit garment characterised by having a seamless, elastomeric, polymer coating thereon.

The advantage of this is that the elimination of seams consequently prevents leakage from all over the diving suit garment. The elastomeric polymer maintains the ease of mobility of the diver.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the diving suit garment is coated on its outside surface with an elastomeric polymer coating.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the polymer coating may be a natural polymer, synthetic polymer or a combination thereof. Particularly preferred is a natural rubber latex polymer, this may be pre-vulcanised.

By using different polymer coatings, the present invention may provide additional properties to the final product. The properties of oil resistance, fire or flame retardation, irradiation, biological or chemical resistance may be conferred depending on the type of polymer used to coat the diving suit garment. A synthetic hypalon/neoprene/nitrile polymer [Trade Marks] may be preferred.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the diving suit garment may comprise a complete, one piece, diving suit. Alternatively, the diving suit garment may solely comprise the trouser portion, known commonly as longjohns. The diving suit garment may also merely comprise the upper portion, or jacket.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention the elastomeric polymeric coating may be formed in varying thicknesses for differing requirements. The thicker ones providing the most warmth.

The coating itself provides additional comfort and warmth to the diver by the improved thermal insulating properties of the polymeric coating. It assists in retaining the body heat of the diver.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the diving suit garment may be formed with variable thicknesses with respect to different parts of the garment. For example, the elbow, knee, shin, heel, whamp and/or toe cap portion may be thicker than the remaining parts of the diving suit garment. Consequently the parts of the suit which are more likely to be damaged have the most protection by being more thickly coated.

This effect can be created by many techniques. For example heat sensitizing the chosen areas or pre-treating the chosen areas with additional amounts of coagulant will result in a thicker polymeric coating being formed in the chosen areas.

The diving suit itself may comprise a standard diving suit and may be made of any chosen material. Nylon, lycra, neoprene [Trade Marks] or any standard material may be used to form the diving suit. Neoprene/nylon [Trade Marks] sandwiched fabrics (crushed compressed or standard) may be used.

Furthermore, any fabrics, knitted woven or non-woven may be used in the present invention.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of producing a seamless diving suit garment by coating said diving suit garment with an elastomeric polymer coating.

The diving suit garment used in the method of the present invention may consist of any fabric such as those mentioned above.

In order that the present invention can be more readily understood a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only.

Example: The following is a preferred set of parameters for a diving suit garment of the present invention.

Polymer type Pre-vulcanised Natural Rubber Latex Fabric of the diving suit Four layer construction, neoprene sandwiched between nylon fabrics [Trade Marks] Colour Black Temperature range -40"C to +100"C Elongation at break 800% minimum Tear strength 24N/mm Puncture resistance 8N Hardness 55 to 60 Shore Thickness 0.5 to 1.00 mm Chemical resistance 30% conc. most chemicals H.S.E. date Non-toxic, Biodegradable.

The above are mean physical properties.

The above product can be made via the steps of the following method.

Initially a garment is placed onto a mould and pre-treated in different areas. This is done so that variable thickness of the final coating can be produced. In this specific method, a commercially available coagulant is used on the specific areas which are required to be thicker, for example Calcium Nitrate compound.

The pre-treated garment is dried for approximately two hours at approximately 50"C. The time and temperature may be altered depending on the amount of coagulant added to the garment.

The next step involves immersing the whole garment into a bath containing a polymer at 21 "C. It is possible for the polymer to be sprayed or for methods involving electrolysis to be used. The polymer used in this instance is pre-vulcanised natural rubber latex.

The garment is immersed for two minutes and then slowly withdrawn and dried so that it is not sticky to the touch.

The step of immersion may be repeated again and again depending on how thick the coating is required to be.

The garment is then withdrawn slowly.

A colour pigment may be added to the final immersion and logos or signals may be incorporated to the final surface at this stage.

The texture of the outer surface may also be altered by treating with rollers, sponges, air blasters or a variety of known techniques involving means which are mechanic, pneumatic and so on.

The final garment is left to dry and finally may be treated with silicone spray.

Talcum powder may also be used to prevent one part of the garment from sticking to the other.

Different compounding together with alternative polymers or alternative base fabrics can give additional properties. The colour of the garment may be altered with ease.

In order that the present application is more readily understood, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a complete one piece diving suit in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a front elevation of an individual trouser portion of a diving suit in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 it can be seen that the complete diving suit garment 1 has a coating 2 all over the diving suit garment. Any seams such as those at the upper portion 3, wrist 4, arm 5, zip 6, neck 7, inner leg 8 and boot 9 are completely covered with the elastomeric polymer coating 2.

The thickness at particular points in the suit which receive most wear and tear can be increased. At the toe 10, heel 11, knee cap 12, rear 13 and elbow 14, the coating 2 is thicker than at any other point in the coating 2 of the diving suit garment 1.

Referring to Fig. 2, it can be seen that the individual trousers portion 1 5 of a diving suit has a coating 16 all over the trousers. Any seams such as those at the inner leg 17, boot 18, waist 19 and crotch 20 are completely covered with the elastomeric polymer coating 1 6.

The thickness at particular points in the trouser garment can be increased. At the toe 21, heel 22, knee cap 23 and rear 24, the coating 16 is thicker than at any other point in the coating 16 of the trouser garment 15.

It is to be understood that the above specific example is by way of description only. Many modifications and variations are possible.

Claims (14)

1. A diving suit garment characterised by having a seamless, elastomeric polymer coating thereon.

2. A diving suit garment according to claim 1, wherein said garment is coated on its outside surface with an elastomeric coating.

3. A diving suit garment according to claim 2, wherein the polymer coating is a natural polymer, synthetic polymer or a combination thereof.

4. A diving suit garment according to claim 3, wherein the polymer coating is a natural rubber latex polymer.

5. A diving suit garment according to claim 4, wherein the polymer coating is pre-vulcanised.

6. A diving suit garment according to claim 3, wherein the polymer coating is a synthetic polymer comprising at least one of the following polymers hypalon, neoprene and nitrile (Trade Mark).

7. A diving suit garment according to any preceding claim, comprising a complete, one piece, diving suit.

8. A diving suit garment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the garment solely comprises the trouser portion.

9. A diving suit garment according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the garment solely comprises the upper jacket portion.

10. A diving suit garment according to any preceding claim, wherein the elastomeric polymer coating is formed with varying thickness with respect to the garment as a whole, the thicker coatings providing more warmth for the diver.

11. A diving suit garment according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the diving suit garment is formed with variable thicknesses with respect to different parts of the garment, the thicker parts being less likely to be damaged.

12. A method of producing a seamless diving suit garment by coating said diving suit garment with an elastomeric coating.

13. A diving suit garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.

14. A method of producing a seamless diving suit garment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.