GB2302010A

GB2302010A - Pressure compensating diver's glove or sock

Info

Publication number: GB2302010A
Application number: GB9611697A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Shorrock Pierpo Parker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1995-06-10
Filing date: 1996-06-05
Publication date: 1997-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 2016-06-05
Also published as: GB9611697D0; DE19623052A1; GB2302010B; GB9511814D0

Description

1 DIVER'S GLOVE OR SOCK 2302010 This invention relates to a protective

glove or sock for use in water such as may be used by divers.

Gloves or socks for diving or other use in water are well known where the garment is constructed from moulded or fabricated elastomeric or plastic material and is affixed to a watertight suit by means of a membrane clamped or glued in position at an annular conjunction. Such 'dry' constructions are designed to prevent the ingress of water and may be used with an undergarment provided independently for thermal insulation. Some such devices may be designed to achieve a watertight seal by compression of a membrane to the wearer's skin, (or undergarment) whereby the garment is drawn over the forearm or calf and an annular membrane is stretched causing a watertight seal with the skin (or undergarment).

Another known construction of diver's glove or sock is a 'wet' arrangement where the garment comprises fabricated sections of sheet foam rubber or other elastomeric material such that water is permitted entry to the garment but remains still so that thermal insulation is provided by water or air filled cells or bubbles in the material.

These methods of construction do not independently provide warmth and dryness; neither are they designed to compensate substantial barometric changes encountered under water (unless integrated with a pressure compensating diving suit or other external device) in order to maintain a predetermined level of thermal insulation.

2 According to a first aspect of the invention I provide a diver's glove or sock comprising a water-proof layer, a thermally insulating layer, and pressure compensating means, the pressure compensating means being such that in use as a diver dives deeper, increasing the external pressure on the glove or sock, the pressure compensating means acts to compensate for the increased external pressure so that the insulating layer is not crushed, or is not substantially crushed, by the increasing pressure.

The pressure compensating means ensures that the glove or sock, e.g. the insulating layer in the finger region of the glove, maintains its shape well enough for the insulating properties of the insulating layer not to be compromised by collapse of the insulating layer.

This can be contrasted with the experience of diving with a conventional glove. As a diver dives deeper the increasing pressure compresses air in he insulating layer, and compresses the insulating layer itself (between the waterproof layer and the diver's hand). Thus the insulating layer is not at its desired configuration, and does not work properly. The diver's hand soon becomes cold and the diver has to end the dive. In extreme cases the insulating layer may be compressed almost completely, putting the waterproof layer in direct, or almost direct, thermal contact with the diver's hand, with resultant heat loss.

By maintaining the shape of the insulating layer, by compensating for increased pressure, my glove allows deeper, longer, dives.

Preferably the pressure compensation means comprises a region of the glove that is preferentially, or sacrificially, compressed. An air reservoir defined by flexible means may be provided as the pressure 3 compensating means. As the diver dives deeper the air reservoir is preferably preferentially compressed, increasing the pressure of the air in the glove (or sock), to compensate for the increasing external pressure. The air reservoir may be provided as an annular ring around the glove or 5 sock.

The pressure compensating means may be resilient. It may be more flexible than other parts of the glove or sock.

According to a second aspect of the invention I provide a method of maintaining the thermal insulating properties of an insulating layer in a diving glove or sock comprising providing the glove or sock with a pressure compensation air reservoir that is preferentially compressed in use as a diver dives deeper so as to pressurise the air in the glove or sock to compensate for increased external pressures, thereby maintaining the insulating layer in an uncollapsed state.

In addition to improving the thermal properties of the glove the pressure compensation means also improves the mobility of the user's hand at depth. If the fingers, or other hand parts of the glove, were to be compressed this would affect the flexibility of the glove and the user would lose dexterity.

According to another aspect the invention comprises the use of a pressure compensating structure in a divers glove so as to maintain the thermal properties of a thermal layer in the glove substantially constant at different depths.

Another way of looking at the invention is that according to another aspect of the invention I provide a glove or sock comprising a laminated 4 construction of materials preventing ingress of water and providing a constant thickness of insulation material against the skin irrespective of pressure changes caused through its use in varying water depths.

Preferably the construction compensates the changes in pressure by means of an elastic chamber. Preferably the chamber is integral within the cuff of the glove or sock and in use volumetric changes occur in the chamber so that the insulating parts of the device experience no, or substantially no, volumetric change.

Preferably the glove or sock is made substantially from a material that is less easily stretched or contracted than the region (e.g. cuff or seal) which contains the pressure compensating chamber.

Preferably the insulating layer is separated from the waterproof layer by means of an absorbent layer. Preferably the insulating layer is movable relative to the absorbent layer at least at a substantial member of areas. The insulating layer may be fixed to the absorbent layer at a number of regions, but not at other regions.

The glove or sock is preferably arranged such that in use a constant thickness, or substantially constant, layer of insulation permits water vapour and moisture to pass through from the hand to the absorbent layer.

Preferably moisture (e.g. sweat) or water vapour is trapped as condensate by the absorbent layer, which is preferably in close association with the waterproof layer.

Preferably the waterproof layer is constructed of more heat 30 conductive material than the linings such that in use it remains colder than the linings, providing a surface for condensation of water vapour, when the glove is used in cold water.

Preferably the glove or sock has an elastic seal designed to fit watertight to the wrist, arm, ankle or calf or to other apparels.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:- Figure 1 shows a glove in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a transverse section of the glove illustrating the method of watertight scaling and pressure compensation; and Figure 3 shows a representation of the laminar construction illustrating the method by which the hand is maintained substantially dry and without significant heat exchange with the environment.

Figure 1 shows a diver's glove 1 having a hand portion 2, an annular wrist seal 3, and a pressure compensation chamber 4 defined by an annular ring 5 of flexible material.

With reference to Figure 2, the glove portion 2 comprises an elastic fabric of absorbent material 6 comprising an absorbent layer (e.g. cotton) onto which is bonded (e.g. dip moulded) an elastomeric material 7 which is impervious to water and which comprises a waterproof layer 8. An insulating layer 9 (e.g. of acrylic knitted material) is provided as an inner glove that is generally looselmovable relative to the absorbent layer and waterproof layer, but which is fixed relative to them at a few points (e. g.

6 affixed to them at a ring 10, Figure 3, at the edge of the insulating layer, and at the finger tip regions 11 of the fingers of the glove).

The insulating layer 9 has a predetermined thickness.

The glove has a cuff 12 to which is bonded an elastomeric annular membrane 13 which is shaped and inverted into the cuff in such a manner as to provide the pressure compensating chamber 4 such that volumetric changes to the glove will not distort or disturb the fit of the glove to the hand and fingers. The elastomeric membrane has constructed in it the wrist seal 3 which is an annular ring of material to apply a constant sealing force to the surface of the wrist or other surface.

To put on the glove 1 the diver inverts the wrist seal so that it is inside the cuff of the glove. He then thrusts his hand into the glove whilst grasping the folded edge of the glove with his other hand. The wrist seal 3 of the glove seals to the diving suit of the diver (the diving suit is referenced as 14 in Figure 2). A lubrication, such as French chalk, talcum powder, or soap, may be used. It may be applied to the wrist seal.

When water vapour from perspiration occurs in the glove it passes through the insulating layer 9, which remains warmer than the waterproof layer 8, and condenses on the colder surface of the waterproof layer. The condensate is retained by the absorbent fabric of the absorbent layer 6 between these layers, thus maintaining the hand in a dry, warmer condition for longer periods.

The ability of the glove to compensate volumetric changes ensures that the insulating layer is not unduly compressed by increased ambient pressures and that condensate will not thus wet or affect the skin. By the 7 same means, decreased ambient pressures will not cause undue inflation of the glove. The pressure of the composite layer on the skin of the hand remains in either case perfect with that required to achieve the desired insulation and dexterity of hand.

Thus one embodiment of my invention provides a diver's glove or sock which comprises a composite lamination of materials into which is incorporated a membrane seal and a pressure compensating chamber, the garment being watertight, thermally insulating, and able to accommodate barometric change without detriment to the insulating thickness of material and independently of other apparel or equipment. The glove is a self-contained unit and does not need other equipment to work properly.

It will be appreciated that the diver's glove or sock will not be usable beyond a certain depth. I believe that it is usable through a range of pressure changes of up to 3 bar depending on the circumstances of use, but after that the size of the air reservoir would have to be too large for the glove to be practical.

In the preferred embodiment the pressure compensating means is a pliant air store whose volume is reduced by increasing ambient pressure so as to pressurise other parts of the glove (e.g. fingers) so that their volume i& maintained substantially constant. The insulating layer therefore operates in its desired/intended structural relationship with the absorbent layer.

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Claims

1. A diver's glove or sock comprising a water-proof layer, a thermally insulating layer, and pressure compensating means, the pressure compensating means being such that in use as a diver dives deeper, increasing the external pressure on the glove or sock, the pressure compensating means acts to compensate for the increased external pressure so that the insulating layer is not crushed, or is not substantially crushed, by the increasing pressure.

2. A glove or sock according to claim 1 in which the pressure compensation means comprises a region of the glove or sock that is preferentially, or sacrificially, compressed.

3. A glove or sock according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the pressure compensation means comprises an air reservoir defined by flexible means, the arrangement being such that in use as the diver dives deeper the air reservoir is preferentially compressed, increasing the pressure of the air in the glove or sock, to compensate for the increasing external pressure.

4. A glove or sock according to claim 3 in which the air reservoir is provided as an annular ring around the glove or sock.

5. A glove or sock according to any preceding claim pressure compensating means is resilient.

in which the

6. A glove or sock according to any preceding claim in which the pressure compensating means is more flexible than other parts of the 30 glove or sock.

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7. A diver's glove or sock substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of maintaining the thermal insulating properties of an insulating layer in a diving glove or sock comprising providing the glove or sock with a pressure compensation air reservoir that is preferentially compressed in use as a diver dives deeper so as to pressurise the air in the glove or sock to compensate for increased external pressures, thereby maintaining the insulating layer in an uncollapsed state.

9. A method according to claim 8 in which in addition to improving the thermal properties of the glove the pressure compensation means also improves the mobility of the user's hand at depth.

10. A method of maintaining the thermal insulating properties of an insulating layer in a divers glove or sock substantially as described herein.

11. The use of a pressure compensating structure in a diver's glove so as to maintain the thermal properties of a thermal layer in the glove substantially constant at different depths.

12. A glove or sock comprising a laminated construction of materials preventing ingress of water and providing a constant thickness of insulation material against the skin irrespective of pressure changes caused through its use in varying water depths.

13. A glove or sock according to claim 12 in which the construction compensates the changes in pressure by means of an elastic chamber.

14. A glove or sock according to claim 13 in which the chamber is integral within the cuff of the glove or sock and in use volumetric changes occur in the chamber so that the insulating parts of the device experience no, or substantially no, volumetric change.

15. A glove or sock according to claim 13, or any claim dependent directly or indirectly on claim 13 in which the glove or sock is made substantially from a material that is less easily stretched or contracted than the region (e.g. cuff or seal) which contains the pressure compensating chamber.

16. A glove or sock according to any one of claims 12 to 15 in which there is an insulating layer and waterproof layer, and in which the insulating layer is separated from the waterproof layer by means of an absorbentlayer.

17. A glove or sock according to claim 16 in which the insulating layer is movable relative to the absorbent layer at least at a substantial number of areas.

18. A glove or sock according to claim 16 or claim 17 in which the insulating layer is fixed to the absorbent layer at a number of regions, but not at other regions.

19. A glove or sock according to any one of claims 12 to 18 in which there is an absorbent layer and in which the glove or sock is arranged such that in use a constant thickness, or substantially constant, layer of insulation permits water vapour and moisture to pass through from the hand (or foot) to the absorbent layer.

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20. A glove or sock according to claim 19 in which moisture (e.g.

sweat) or water vapour is trapped as condensate by the absorbent layer.

21. A glove or sock according to claim 16, or any claim dependent directly or indirectly from claim 16, in which the waterproof layer is constructed of more heat conductive material than the linings such that in use it remains colder than the linings, providing a surface for condensation of water vapour, when the glove is used in cold water.

22. A glove or sock according to any one of claims 12 to 21 in which the glove or sock has an elastic seal designed to fit watertight to the wrist, arm, ankle or calf or to other apparels.