Apparel – Guard or protector – Body cover
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-16
2001-04-24
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Body cover
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219841
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an immersion with a diagonal opening configured to permit easy donning and doffing of the suit by the user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Immersion suits are used for example by personnel in search and rescue and other high-risk occupations involving the chance of cold water immersion. The challenge is to create a full body suit that will keep the user dry when immersed in water but at the same time not restrict the user when performing daily activities. With traditional immersion suits for this role the user requires assistance to correctly do up the zippers while donning the suit. An immersion suit that allows the user to don/doff it themselves would be a significant improvement.
Traditional immersion suits usually have two water tight zippers, a donning/doffing zipper plus a defecate/urination zipper for males. With more and more female users, the need for a multi-sex immersion suit entry system is apparent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,795 issued Aug. 14, 1984 to Long et al discloses an easy access underwater diving suit wherein the torso portion of the suit and provides access by a zipper extending diagonally across the front from one shoulder to the opposite hip. The extra long torso portion is extended to permit the wearer to don the suit and is then adjusted to the size of the user and fastened in this position. This construction permits the user to don and doff the suit unaided, however it requires significantly extra material and is bulky when worn.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,517 issued Sep. 5, 1989 to Meistrell describes a wet suit with and offset zipper that extends at across the rear of the suit at an angle across the back bone of the user so that the zipper used to close the split does not interfere with bending movements of the user. While this system does use and diagonally extending zipper it is ineffective in solving the problems solved by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide an immersion suit that can be quickly and easily put on and taken off by the user without assistance.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved entry system to an immersion suit that allows both male and female users to relieve themselves.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an immersion suit that can be easily manufactured and reduces the number of seams to be sealed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an immersion suit in which the closure zipper does not unduly or significantly restrict the movement of the user.
Broadly the present invention relates to an immersion suit with a water tight entry system that starts at the crotch, runs diagonally up across and around the hip, diagonally across the back and ending at the underarm opposite the previous hip.
Broadly the invention relates to an immersion suit comprising an upper torso portion integral with a lower torso portion, a closeable opening line extending around said suit in spiral fashion between a crotch portion of said lower torso portion and on one side of said suit upward across a front of said suit around to a back of said suit and upward and across said back of said suit to terminate adjacent to an arm receiving portion of said upper torso portion, also on said one side of said suit.
Preferably said suit includes a waterproof zipper for opening and closing said closeable opening line.
Preferably said upper torso portion is provided with a neck receiving opening with a neck seal therearound.
Preferably said lower torso portion has a pair of waterproof leg receiving portions each or which includes a waterproof foot receiving portion and wherein said upper torso portion includes arm receiving protions
REFERENCES:
patent: 2582811 (1952-01-01), Williams
patent: 3058187 (1962-10-01), Gugen
patent: 3643264 (1972-02-01), Rector
patent: 3731319 (1973-05-01), O'Neill
patent: 4464795 (1984-08-01), Long et al.
patent: 4862517 (1989-09-01), Meistrell
patent: 5191658 (1993-03-01), Meistrell
patent: 5940879 (1999-08-01), Whitehouse
Calvert John J.
Muromoto Jr. Robert H.
Mustang Survival Corp
Rowley C. A.
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