EP0725575A1

EP0725575A1 - Improved close-fitting garment, particularly for sportswear such as diving suits

Info

Publication number: EP0725575A1
Application number: EP93902349A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nicolas Tronc
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-12-20
Filing date: 1992-12-18
Publication date: 1996-08-14
Also published as: US5603116A; JPH07502231A; FR2685170B1; FR2685170A1; WO1993012677A1

Abstract

Close-fitting garments, particularly diving suits and related footwear and gloves, are described. More generally, all kinds of garments that are so tight-fitting as to make dressing and undressing awkward are described. Therefore, a tight-fitting garment such as an item of sportswear, in particular a diving suit, including an outer layer (1) of a material having adhesive properties, is provided. Said tight-fitting garment interacts with a film (2) of non porous material which is applied onto at least part of the internal surface thereof and has local openings or holes (23).

Description

Improved tight fitting piece of clothing, especially for sportswear such as diving suits.

The field of the invention is that of clothing molded to the body, in particular but not exclusively clothing used for certain sports, such as for example scuba diving (or any other aquatic sport requiring the wearing of a suit, gloves or slippers) or even the motorcycle.

The invention applies very particularly to diving suits and to the corresponding slippers and gloves.

In general, the invention applies to all types of clothing whose tight fit to the body makes dressing or undressing difficult.

So we know that it is quite difficult to put on a wetsuit due in particular to its conformation and its elasticity. Likewise, when removing a wetsuit, after leaving the water, the diver must provide significant extraction efforts.

The reasons for these difficulties can be found in several phenomena.

First of all, the constituent materials of tight-fitting clothing are generally elastic and stretched when worn by the user. It is this elasticity which gives the tightness to the garment, but which also increases the frictional forces of the garment on the body during dressing or undressing.

In addition, these materials are often of the porous type, such as for example neoprene for diving suits or windsurfers. However, the pores of this material tend to expand in contact with body heat, which causes a sort of suction effect of the tight-fitting clothing on the underwear or on the skin. This suction effect is reinforced by sweating, by the possible penetration of sea water into the garment (in the case of a water sports suit), by the external surface pressure when the garment is used in an underwater environment, and probably also by the movements of the user which contribute to expel the trapped interstitial air if necessary when the piece of clothing has been put on.

On the other hand, at the outlet of the water, the water retained between the suit and the body is evacuated almost entirely by the ends of the suit. But because of the amount of water remaining (absorption of the material), the suit continues to adhere strongly to the skin by the same suction effect.

There are generally a number of ways in which users try to put on or take off their suits. One of the known solutions consists in removing the combination while remaining in water. However, with this solution, not only is the adhesion very little reduced, but moreover, the difficulty of the operation itself is often further increased.

Another solution is to lubricate the inside of the suit. Lubrication with, for example, soap or dish soap is not very effective and, moreover, pollutes. In general, the use of a lubricant is unpleasant, often ineffective, generally polluting, and sometimes even chemically aggressive towards the body and the material constituting the combination.

Patent document FR-A-1 379 022, filed on October 8, 1963 by

DUBOIS and BERAUD, describes a latex garment, molded to the desired shape, and on the back of which is fixed by bonding a flexible and very stretchy knit. This knit allows the garment to be pleasant to wear and to keep the body heat. This document specifies that the knitted lining can be coated with a thin layer of plastic material (or other) to facilitate donning and avoid contact of the knitted lining on the skin.

However, such a garment has several drawbacks. Thus, the fact that the skin slides over the thin layer of plastic (or other material), if it means that the garment is easy to put on, also means that the body is not held in the garment (the suction cup effect does not exist in this case), and may accidentally slip inside of it.

Furthermore, such a garment, in which the skin is in contact only with a thin layer of plastic, does not allow perspiration to be evacuated. Consequently, it clearly appears that during intense physical efforts, as is the case during a scuba diving, the wearing of such a garment is neither safe (for lack of body support), neither pleasant.

The object of the invention is in particular to overcome these various drawbacks of the state of the art.

More specifically, an objective of the invention is to provide means making it possible to put on as well as easily remove a piece of tight-fitting clothing of the type of sports clothing such as diving suits.

The invention also aims to provide such a piece of tight-fitting clothing which is pleasant to wear and which makes it possible to maintain the body perfectly, even during intense physical efforts.

Another object of the invention is to provide such means which are simple to use and inexpensive.

These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved according to the invention using a piece of tight-fitting clothing of the type of sports clothing such as diving suits comprising an outer layer of a material having adhesion characteristics, characterized in that it cooperates with a film of non-porous material applied internally in contact with at least a surface portion of said piece of tight-fitting garment, and in that said film of non-porous material has locally interruptions or holes.

Thus the film of non-porous material improves the sliding when putting on or removing such a piece of tight-fitting clothing.

In addition, thanks to the holes or interruptions, the water located between the film and the skin can be evacuated. Perspiration can also be wicked away.

Finally, at the locations of the holes or interruptions, the body is directly in contact with the material having characteristics of adhesion. Therefore, by correctly choosing the size and location of these holes or interruptions, the body cannot slide on the film of non-porous material, and is perfectly held in the piece of clothing. In a first embodiment, said film of non-porous material is secured to the piece of molding garment. In this way, the skin slides over the film of non-porous material.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said integral film consists of a layer of non-porous material deposited by projection.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, said integral film is constituted by at least one sheet of non-porous material secured at least by points to said external layer.

In a second embodiment, said film of non-porous material is independent of the molding piece of clothing. Advantageously, said independent film is a piece of undergarment. In this way, after having put on such a piece of undergarment, it becomes easy to put on or take off a piece of tight-fitting clothing.

Advantageously, said piece of underwear is of the type belonging to the group:

- vests,

- shorts,

- Pants,

- jerseys, - gloves,

- socks.

Advantageously, said piece of undergarment comprises elastic clamping means at its ends. This prevents the piece of undergarment from being entrained when the piece of tight-fitting clothing is put on or taken off. Advantageously, the piece of tight-fitting clothing comprises means for securing to said piece of undergarment. piece of tight clothing thanks to the piece of undergarment, the joining of these two elements avoids possible subsequent slippage and ensures good support of the body in the corresponding piece of tight clothing. Indeed, a combination, for example, must always be fixed relative to the body, it must somehow constitute a second skin. Otherwise, the suit while moving, would become troublesome.

Advantageously, said piece of undergarment comprises surface portions having qualities of adhesion. These qualities of adhesion ensure good support, the benefit of which has been presented previously.

Advantageously, whatever the embodiment chosen, said non-porous material is a plastic material, for example polyethylene.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a glove comprising a film applied internally in contact with at least one of the regions of the body belonging to the group comprising the palm and the back of the hand.

The invention also relates to a bootie comprising a film applied internally in contact with at least one of the regions of the body belonging to the group comprising the sole and the back of the foot.

In this way, whether for the glove or the liner respectively, the film of non-porous material placed only on certain parts of the hand, respectively of the foot, makes it possible to preserve the sliding of the skin on the film of non-porous material. , and therefore makes it easy to put on and take off the glove or the liner respectively.

On the other hand, this also allows the hand or the foot to be well maintained since in certain places (fingers and toes) the skin is in direct contact with the outer layer of a material having adhesion characteristics .

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of indicative and non-limiting example, and the appended drawings, corresponding to a first embodiment for Figures 1 to 4, and a second embodiment for Figures 5 to 8 in which: Figure 1 shows a diving suit according to the invention with part of the outer layer of the suit not shown , - Figure 2 shows a schematic section of a piece of combination as presented in FIG. 1, FIGS. 3A and 3B show the two sides of the same glove according to the invention with a part of the outer layer of the glove, not shown; - Figure 4 shows a liner according to the invention with part of the outer layer of the liner not shown; Figure 5 shows a jersey according to the invention; Figure 6 shows shorts according to the invention, Figures 7A and 7B show the two sides of the same glove according to the invention; Figure 8 shows a sock according to the invention. The clothes described below relate to scuba diving. It is clear however that they can easily be adapted to numerous other applications, without departing from the scope of the invention. Two preferred embodiments will be successively described in House respectively with Figures 1 to 4 on the one hand and 5 to 8 on the other hand.

To put on his suit, the diver has a lot of difficulty. Indeed, the outer layer of a suit is made of a material, neoprene for example, having adhesion characteristics. To allow easy donning of the suit, the invention is based on the idea of greatly reducing the grip effect usually encountered by adding an additional sliding element

In the first embodiment, described below, the sliding element complémen¬ is a film of non-porous material secured to the tight fitting garment, and which facilitates the sliding of the whole garment and film on the skin.

On the other hand, in a second embodiment also coming within the scope of the invention, the complementary sliding element is a film essentially independent of the tight-fitting garment, usable as undergarment, and which promotes the sliding of the tight-fitting garment. on the film. The combination as shown in Figure 1 shows the film 2 of non-porous material, here a macro molecular plastic, which at least partially coats the interior of the suit. Indeed, in this figure, part of the outer layer 1 of the combination has not been shown. A line 3 delimits this part, not shown. Plastic 2, represented by hatching, allows the skin to slide when donning or removing such a combination.

Figure 2 shows a schematic section of a piece of wetsuit as shown in Figure 1. The outer layer of neoprene 1 has adhesion characteristics. However, this outer layer is coated with a plastic film 2. So when you put on such a combination, the skin slides on the plastic 2.

The film 2 is made of plastic, or any non-porous material allowing good sliding of the skin.

The coating 2 may consist of a layer of plastic deposited by projection or of a sheet of material secured at least in points to the outer layer 1 of neoprene, for example by welds or seams.

This film 2 of non-porous material locally has holes 23.

In the embodiment presented, the holes 23 are staggered and have a diameter or an extent of the order of a few millimeters. These holes 23 allow the evaluation of perspiration as well as of the water located between the film 2 and the skin.

As explained more precisely below for gloves and slippers, the film 2 of non-porous material may also locally have larger holes or interruptions.

At the locations of these holes or interruptions, the skin is directly in adherent contact with the material having adhesion characteristics.

By correctly choosing these locations (locations corresponding, for example, to the fingers, toes, heels, shoulders, etc.), the body is perfectly held in the piece of clothing.

Gloves and slippers are the accessories that accompany a wetsuit. In FIGS. 3A and 3B, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, part of the outer layer 1 (generally) of neoprene is not shown. A line 3 delimits the part of the external layer 1 shown and the part not shown revealing the plastic film 2. So that the glove does not slide unintentionally when it has been put on, the film 2 has interruptions and does not entirely cover the interior of the glove. A second line 4 delimits the zone corresponding to the plastic film 2. On one side, shown in FIG. 3A, only the part of the glove corresponding to the palm of the hand is coated internally with a plastic film 2. On the other side, shown in Figure 3B, only the part of the glove corresponding to the back of the hand is coated internally with a plastic film 2.

Figure 4 shows a slipper. Only the part of the boot corresponding to the back and the sole of the foot is covered internally with a plastic film 2. Again, this part is delimited by a line 4. The combination, the glove and the liner, shown respectively in FIGS. 1, 3A and 3B, and 4, are easy to put on because the skin is not in contact with the neoprene 1 but with a plastic film 2 on which it slides easily To allow a good support of a member in a corresponding part (the body in the suit, the hand in the glove, or the foot in the liner) the film of plastic has interruptions and does not completely cover the interior of said room. The fingers and toes, for example, are in direct contact with the neoprene, preventing accidental slippage of the glove or liner.

In a second embodiment of the invention, an undergarment comprises an external plastic film and is made entirely of plastic.

So, at first, the diver puts on different underwear

(jersey, shorts, gloves, socks), then, in a second step, he can easily put on his wetsuit, his gloves and his diving shoes. Indeed, the underwear comprising an external plastic film, this film slides on the neoprene when putting on or taking off the wetsuit as well as the diving accessories.

If necessary, it can be provided that the clothes and the underwear are hinged together by a few end points (wrists, lower legs) to avoid their mismatch or their loss. FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively show a jersey and shorts comprising an external plastic film 5 intended to slide on the neoprene of a suit which is put on or taken off.

In addition, this jersey includes elastic bands located at the neck 6, sleeves 7, and size 8, allowing the jersey to stay fixed on the body when putting on or taking off the suit and not to be even when the plastic film slides over the neoprene.

Likewise, once donned, the suit should no longer slip over the undergarment. This is why the jersey does not entirely cover the body (that is to say includes interruptions or holes) and also includes self-adhesive strips located in the zones corresponding to the shoulder 9, to the anterior region. from the elbow 10, to the side 11 and at the waist 12.

For the same reasons of fixity of the undergarment relative to the body, and fixity of the suit relative to the undergarment, the shorts also include elastic bands and self-adhesive bands. Elastic bands are located at waist 13 and thighs

14. The self-adhesive strips are located in the areas corresponding to the size and the anterior region of the thigh 16.

If the self-adhesive strips are Velcro (registered trademark) strips, the two complementary tapes making up the Velcro will be located respectively on the undergarment and on the outer neoprene layer of the suit.

The invention also relates to a vest and pants having respectively the same characteristics as the jersey and the shorts described above. The manufacture of these two other pieces of clothing (waistcoat and pants) therefore follows clearly from that of the first two pieces (jersey, shorts). FIGS. 7A and 7B show the two sides of the same glove. In the presented embodiment, the glove is in fact a kind of mitten since it leaves bare the last two knuckles of the fingers. The plastic film 51, 52 covering this mitten therefore only corresponds to the palm 51 and the back 52 of the hand. As for the jersey and the shorts, in order to preserve the fixity of the glove relative to the hand, the glove may include elastic bands placed at the wrist 17 and at the end of the last phalanx of each finger 18 located towards the palm.

To preserve the fixity of the neoprene glove (accessory of the diving suit) relative to the glove (undergarment covered with a plastic film), the "undergarment glove" comprises two self-adhesive strips 19 located on both sides of the wrist

Figure 8 shows a sock covered with a plastic film 5 comprising elastic bands at the ankle 20 and the area 21 located before the toes. In the embodiment presented, the sock does not cover the toes.

In addition, the sock includes adhesive strips 22 located on each side of the ankle.

Whatever the embodiment chosen, piece of tight-fitting garment internally coated with a film of non-porous material or piece of undergarment comprising an external film of non-porous material, the choice of oriented polyethylene as non-porous material is very advantageous. In fact, by taking care to orient the polyethylene film along an axis perpendicular to the axis of the tensile forces which are exerted when the suit or the associated accessories are put on or removed, the strength of the polyethylene film is improved. and we prevent it from tearing or deforming.

Plastic film 2, 5, 51, 52 has gaps or holes

23. These holes allow the evacuation of perspiration as well as of the water located between the film 2 and the skin. Furthermore, these interruptions or these holes (when they are large) make it possible to maintain the body in the workpiece. tight fitting clothing allowing direct contact of the skin with the material having adhesion qualities.

The invention is in no way limited to the arrangement of holes or interruptions as presented in relation to FIGS. 1 to 8. During tests intended to test different types of plastic films, the inventor obtained very good results with trash bag type bags, made of low density polyethylene, with a thickness of approximately 27 microns.

The above description relates to the clothing used for scuba diving. It is clear, however, that the invention can be generalized to any other type of clothing whose tight fit to the body makes dressing or undressing difficult. The various garments according to the invention of course have characteristics specific to the needs and / or the functionalities linked to their respective uses. Thus many adaptations can be envisaged for such garments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Piece of tight fitting clothing of the type of sports clothing such as diving suits comprising an outer layer (1) made of a material having adhesion characteristics, characterized in that it cooperates with a film (2) of material non-porous applied internally in contact with at least a surface portion of said piece of molding garment, and in that said film of non-porous material locally has interrup¬ tions or holes (23).

2. Piece of tight-fitting clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that said film of non-porous material is integral with the piece of tight-fitting clothing

3. Molding piece of clothing according to claim 2, characterized in that said film (2) integral consists of a layer of non-porous material deposited by projection.

4. Molding piece of clothing according to claim 2 characterized in that said film (2) integral is constituted by at least one sheet of non-porous material secured at least by points to said outer layer.

5. Piece of tight-fitting clothing according to claim 4, characterized in that said securing means belongs to the group comprising:

- collage,

- sewing.

6. Piece of tight-fitting clothing according to claim 1, characterized in that said film (2) of non-porous material is independent of the piece of tight-fitting clothing

7. Molding piece of clothing according to claim 6, characterized in that said independent film (2) is a piece of undergarment

8. Molding piece of clothing according to claim 7, characterized in that said piece of undergarment is of the type belonging to the group: - vests, - shorts,

- Pants,

- the suits,

- gloves, - socks.

9. Molding piece of clothing according to any one of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that said piece of undergarment comprises means (6,7,8; 13,14; 17,18; 20,21 ) elastic clamping at its ends.

10. Molding piece of clothing according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that it comprises securing means

(9,10,11,12; 15,16; 19; 20) with said piece of undergarment

11. Molding piece of clothing according to claim 10, characterized in that said securing means are of the type belonging to the group:

- press studs, - zippers,

- self-adhesive tapes.

12. Molding piece of clothing according to any one of claims 7 to 11, characterized in that said piece of undergarment has surface portions having qualities of adhesion.

13. Molding piece of clothing according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said non-porous material is a plastic material.

14. Molding piece of clothing according to claim 13, characterized in that said plastic material belongs to the group comprising: - polyethylene,

- low density polyethylene,

- oriented polyethylene.

15. Piece of tight clothing or piece of undergarment according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that said holes or interruptions (23) are staggered.

16. Piece of tight clothing or piece of undergarment according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that said holes or interruptions (23) have a diameter or an extent of the order of a few millimeters.

17. Glove according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said film is applied internally in contact with at least one of the regions of the body belonging to the group comprising the palm (51) and the back (52) of the hand.

18. Slipper according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that said film is applied internally in contact with at least one of the regions of the body belonging to the group comprising the sole and the back of the foot.