FR3077469A1 - ARRANGEMENT OF A CLOSURE OF AN ISOTHERMAL COMBINATION OF SWIMMING - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is an arrangement of a slide fastener (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, in particular of neoprene material, comprising a body part (16) and a hood (18), the whole being monolithic, said zipper (20) being attached from a point A above the hood area corresponding to the occiput of the wearer, immediately below the summit point corresponding to the skull of the wearer and extends in the lower part to a point B located in the back area corresponding to the kidneys of the wearer.

Description

ARRANGEMENT FOR A CLOSURE OF AN INSULATED SWIMMING COMBINATION

The present invention relates to an arrangement of a zipper of an insulated, integral hooded suit.

We know that in nautical sports, wearing a wetsuit is often a need.

In practice, the suit is generally made of neoprene of variable thickness depending on the applications.

For the remainder of the description, only wet suits are concerned, that is to say in which a very small volume of water from the aquatic medium enters between the body of the wearer and is heated by the body of the wearer.

In fact, a suit intended for protection against the cold outside or in deep diving will be much thicker than a suit for swimming intended for dynamic freedivers in swimming pool or swimmers in natural environment.

The neoprene provides an insulating character and limits the losses of the body during the immersion, in contact with water since there is no more direct exchanges on the whole surface of the body. Neoprene, by its insulating power, provides comfort allowing the swimmer's body to be kept at its temperature and therefore the swimmer to maintain all of its natural performance at normal room temperature for muscle and joint functioning.

The suit also provides an interesting glide due to its lower wettability coefficient than that of the skin. It should also be noted that the flow around the body of the swimmer wearing a wetsuit is more laminar because the hair, ears, hair, joints are masked in a monolithic envelope, comprising a minimum of prominences.

If the least obstruction to laminar flow is desired, it is necessary to reduce the prominences as much as possible.

The combination concerned by the present invention includes a hood because this accessory provides real effects on the reaction of the body. Indeed, the head does not receive cold signals and therefore, not having to fight against losses, allows to maintain an irrigation including on the surface therefore ensures the maintenance of performance.

In fact, the so-called full wetsuit with attached hood poses problems for donning.

There are many solutions with several zippers that open the suit in different locations, but if this does not matter for diving because the hydrodynamic performance is not particularly stressed, it is quite different in the case swimming and even more when it comes to dynamic apnea because it is really necessary to limit all the obstacles to loss, brain signals and the management of adverse effects because not only the body is subject to physical performance and muscular effort but it is necessary to manage the absence of temporary supply of oxygen and the evacuation of carbon dioxide and toxins linked to anaerobic effort, not to mention that the heart rate is slowed down during these phases.

Thermal comfort and regulation must therefore be preserved as much as possible.

Another problem is that of the flexibility of the suit which must limit the consumption of energy to deform it during movements. Neoprene is therefore generally thin, with a high void rate and therefore fragile.

It is advisable to limit the obstacles to the flow therefore the roughness linked to the zippers, the seams etc.

This is all the more true since, for a freediver swimmer for example, it is the whole body which is immersed, throughout the apneic phase while a surface swimmer has a dorsal surface outside the fluid medium the large majority of swimming time.

The problem is to have a resealable opening with the shortest possible zipper, while providing an opening for donning said full suit with his hood, without degrading it due to its natural fragility.

Once donned, said combination must allow a perfect molding of the body like a real second skin, without discomfort during swimming, in a least exposed area, in the direction of movement which we know is the one that limits the most disturbance of the flows therefore which limits the turbulent flows which themselves generate a drag therefore a loss of speed and performance.

The arrangement according to the present invention is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment but in no way limiting. The illustrative figures represent respectively:

FIG. 1: a front view of a swimmer, outside the aquatic environment, wearing an integral suit arranged according to the present invention,

FIG. 2: a back view of a swimmer, outside the aquatic environment, wearing an integral suit arranged according to the present invention,

Figure 3: a detailed view of the combination alone before donning, open zipper,

Figure 4: a side elevational view of a freediver swimmer, wearing the suit arranged according to the present invention, swimming, with the disturbances caused.

In Figure 1, there is shown a swimmer 10, wearing a suit 12, arranged according to the present invention. The non-limiting example used is that of a sleeveless neoprene suit.

The combination 12 retained is integral and monolithic. The combination is carried out by cutting anatomical pieces 12-1 to 12-n and by assembling said anatomical pieces, edge to edge, by gluing.

A finishing strip 14, if any, makes it possible to smooth the joints, to strengthen the connections and to perfect the aesthetics.

The combination shown is of the type comprising a body part 16 covering from the ankles to the neck and the entire bust.

The suit is sleeveless so as to leave total freedom of movement knowing that the arms are highly stressed in all swimming activities.

The legs, often fitted with fins or a single fin, requiring only a shearing movement, are little affected by the presence of a double skin.

The body part 16 extends beyond the neck, integrally by a hood 18. This hood leaves part of the face free to allow the use of accessories such as mask, snorkel, nose clip.

In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the arrangement of the combination according to the invention leads to affixing a zipper 20 in the dorsal median part, that is to say in the zone corresponding along the spine of the carrier.

The zipper 20 preferably extends from a point A located above the region of the hood corresponding to the wearer's occiput, immediately below the summit point corresponding to the wearer's skull and extends in the lower part to a point B located in the back area corresponding to the wearer's kidneys.

This length from A to B is 55 cm for a wearer size between lm70 and lm77.

This length from A to B is 60 cm for a carrier size between lm75 and lm82.

This length from A to B is 65 cm for a carrier size between lm79 and lm86.

Preferably, the foot of the zipper is located at point A.

Preferably, the slide fastener has a large link to facilitate cross guidance when the wearer closes said slide fastener and exerts an oblique pull.

Preferably, a traction strap 22 is integral with a zipper carried by the slider of the zipper to facilitate traction by the wearer himself, limiting twists. The combination arranged according to the present invention, when open as shown in FIG. 3, thus presents the cursor in the high position of the hood, at point A.

The wearer can therefore put on the legs first then the pelvis part of the body part 16.

The wearer then plunges his hands into the opening to pass his arms through the sleeveless openings.

The wearer then puts his head in the hood 18.

Threading is extremely easy, without contortion and above all without risk of deterioration of the combination by too great tensions when fitting.

The length from A to B makes it possible to open the part corresponding to the bust so as to allow the passage of the shoulders, often of great width in swimmers.

The tension of the combination and the molding of said combination to the profile of the body are obtained during the translational movement of the cursor of the zipper from point A to point B.

We note that the tension is progressive and that, despite the very satisfactory opening to put on the suit, it adjusts gradually, without difficulty and above all without exerting efforts on the bonding of the anatomical pieces and on the edges of the jumpsuit tied to the ribbon.

It should be noted that the traction is exerted in a perfectly symmetrical manner, thus balancing the tensions before any movement from the threading, which gives an excellent wearing and a great ergonomic comfort.

In addition, most of the combinations for these types of disciplines, of course even more clearly for discerning amateurs and professionals, the combinations are tailor-made so as to obtain the best compromise between comfort, freedom of movement and the molding of the body to limit the thickness of the film of water on the one hand and the movements of water during movements on the other hand.

In Figure 4, in elevation, note the advantage of positioning the zipper according to the arrangement of the present invention.

Indeed, the closure is in the direction of movement and immersion, the zipper brings a minimum of turbulence because the flow in the back is necessarily turbulent due to the anatomy of the man and the jump between the head and the neck, even in the position of seeking perfect flow, that is to say by bringing the chin a little against the chest to limit this cervical hollow.

On the other hand, beyond point B, the flow becomes more laminar and slides along the lower part located in line with the buttocks and legs.

The arrangement according to the present invention responds to the problem posed in the best way and overcomes a prejudice linked to the fact that the known combinations have zippers with numerous geometries, numerous lengths and numerous positions while the arrangement of the present invention with its ergonomic studies, of perfectly defined dimensions and at the minimum of needs leads to an integral combination of high performance.

The suit has been described for an application to the practice of dynamic apnea but could find an application for applications to other practices such as triathlon.

The body part 16 has been described without a sleeve but could include sleeves.

Likewise, the material could be that of other types of wetsuit or swim.

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, in particular made of neoprene material, comprising a body part (16) and a hood (18), the assembly being monolithic, said zipper (20) being brought from a point A located above the area of the hood corresponding to the wearer's occiput, immediately below the summit point corresponding to the wearer's skull and extends in the lower part to a point B located in the back area corresponding to the wearer's kidneys. 2. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, according to claim 1, characterized in that the length from A to B is 55 cm for a wearer size between lm70 and lm77 . 3. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, according to claim 1, characterized in that the length from A to B is 60 cm for a wearer size between lm75 and lm82 . 4. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, according to claim 1, characterized in that the length from A to B is 65 cm for a size of wearer between lm79 and lm86 . 5. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the foot of the zipper (20) is disposed at point A. 6. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the zipper (20) is with large links. 7. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cursor of the zipper (20) is provided with a zipper and in that there is provided a traction strap (22), integral with said zipper puller of the zipper (20). 8. Arrangement of a zipper (20) for a swimming suit for a wearer, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the body part (16) is sleeveless.