GB2105573A

GB2105573A - Dry diving suits

Info

Publication number: GB2105573A
Application number: GB08123675A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Withrow; Markku Kantee
Original assignee: SCAN DIVING SYSTEMS Ltd
Current assignee: SCAN DIVING SYSTEMS Ltd
Priority date: 1981-08-03
Filing date: 1981-08-03
Publication date: 1983-03-30

Abstract

A dry diving suit has a body portion (10) made of a relatively inextensible elastomeric sheet material such as formylated sheet rubber, and has permanently secured thereto a neck dam (18) and/or a hood (15) made of a stretchable closed-cell foam rubber such as neoprene rubber. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Dry diving suits This invention relates to a dry diving suit of the type having a hood and/or a neck dam attached to the main body of the suit.

Conventional dry diving suits are of two main types, namely those made of a relatively soft elastomeric foam material such as closed-cell neoprene foam rubber and those made of an elastomeric sheet material such as formylated rubber. Either of these may have a textile material bonded to the inner surface of the rubber and the foam rubber type may also have an outer textile coating.

Suits made entirely of closed-cell foam rubber such as neoprene offer superior comfort and ease of movement and are relatively inexpensive to manufacture since the foam material can be easily stretched to accommodate divers of different sizes and shapes. They need not therefore be made to measure and are particularly suitable for those who dive as a pastime rather than for working purposes. They do however have the disadvantage that the foam rubber material can be easily torn or damaged, particularly if used by a working diver, causing the suit to flood. The knees for example are particularly vulnerable. Also, the clinging nature of neoprene foam makes it difficult for a diver already wearing several layers of underwear to climb into the suit.

A further disadvantage of neoprene suits is that they age and deteriorate rapidly so that the working life of such a suit is unlikely to exceed about two years.

Dry suits made entirely of natural sheet rubber are hardwearing and long lasting, and therefore more suitable for working divers. Because the sheet rubber is relatively inextensible the suits are made with a fuller cut which makes them easier to get in and out of. Also, any punctures which may occur are relatively easy to repair. The main disadvantages of sheet rubber suits are that the critical sealing areas of the suits have to be manufactured to close tolerances in order to provide a proper fit. This adds to the manufacturing cost of the suit and limits its use to divers of closely similar sizes.

The present invention provides a dry diving suit having a body portion made of a relatively inextensible elastomeric sheet material, the suit having permanently secured thereto a neck dam and/or a hood made of a stretchable closed-cell foam rubber.

The neck dam is a rubber collar permanently attached to the inside of the suit around the neck portion thereof which prevents the passage of air from the body of the suit into the hood region. This is achieved by folding the neck dam inwardly against the diver's neck to obtain a seal.

By means of the present invention, it is possible to provide a diving suit the main portion of which, including the most vulnerable parts such as the knees, is made of a tough hardwearing material while the hood and neck dam are of a relatively soft and pliable material allowing a snug fit around the head and neck and allowing easy movement of the head.

The method used to attach the head and neck dam to the main body of the suit is of importance since it has to allow for the different degrees of elasticity of the two materials used.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows a front view of a diving suit in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of an upper portion of the suit shown in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross sectional view showing how the hood and neck dam are attached to the main body of the suit.

Referring first to Figure 1 , the main body (10) of the suit is made of a relatively inextensible heavyduty sheet rubber material such as a formylated rubber. The sleeves of the suit fit around rigid plastics rings (14) at the wrists to which gloves (not shown) of similar sheet rubber can be attached in a conventional way. Alternatively, the suit may be made with integral gloves.

The suit has a hood (1 5) of neoprene foam rubber adhesively bonded to the main body of the suit at the neck. An annular strip (1 6) of sheet rubber is bonded over the seam.

The hood has an opening (11) at the front around which is bonded a layer (1 9) of sheet rubber which gives a close fit around the face and prevents stretching of the neoprene foam rubber around the opening.

Inside the neck of the suit, shown in dotted lines at (18), is a neck dam bonded to the inside of the sheet rubber portion of the suit along the line (17).

Referring to Figure 2, the position of the neck dam (18) can be seen rather more clearly. It can be seen that the neck dam comprises a tubular collar bonded right around its lower edge to the inside of the suit, the upper portion (22) being turned downwards and inwards to form a seal around the wearer's neck.

Across the back of the suit is an elongate opening (20) through which the suit is put on and taken off. This opening can suitably be closed by means of a side fastener. When the suit is put on, the head passes through the neck dam into the hood, and the hood can then be slid back over the head to enable the neck dam to be tucked in all round the neck.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of a part of the suit ringed at (24) in Figure 2, showing the seams along which the hood (15) and the neck dam (18) are attached to the main body of the suit.

Referring to Figure 3, the material of the hood (1 5) comprises a layer (30) of closed-cell foam rubber, preferably neoprene rubber, to each side of which is bonded a knitted or woven layer of textile material such as nylon. The main body of the suit, as has been stated above is made from sheet rubber, suitably formylated rubber. To its inner surface is bonded a knitted or woven textile layer (33).

The lower edge of the hood (1 5) is bonded to the inside of the upper edge of the suit body by means of an adhesive such as a petroleum-based contact cement. The limits of the overlap between the hood and the sheet rubber material of the suit are indicated by (34) in Figure 3. The strip (1 6) of sheet rubber is then adhesively bonded around the outside of the seam, approximately half of it being bonded to the outside of the upper edge of the sheet rubber suit, the other half being bonded to the outside of the hood. The width of the sheet rubber strip (1 6) is approximately twice that of the overlap between the hood and the sheet rubber.

The seam described above ensures that the lower edge of the hood is firmly held and the greater elasticity of the hood does not cause it to tear away from the sheet rubber of the suit.

The neck dam (18) is also made from a relatively soft closed-cell foam rubber such as neoprene and has a textile layer (35) bonded to its inner surface. The opposite surface of the foam rubber is directly bonded, again with a suitable adhesive, to the textile layer (33) along the line (17).

The textile linings (32) and (35) on the inner surfaces of the hood and the neck dam respectively enables them to slide easily over the head. The textile covering (31) on the outer surface of the hood gives added protection against wear and tear. The neck dam (18) does not however have an outer textile covering since the surface of the neoprene foam itself gives a better seal around the neck.

The width of each of the bonded layers is suitably 1 to 2 cm, the width of the rubber strip (16) being approximately 2 cm.

The suit of the invention takes full advantage of the advantageous features of both closed-cell foam rubber and sheet rubber. Both these materials are of course fully waterproof and the use of sheet rubber for the body of the suit means that it is long lasting and hardwearing and easy to put on and take off. At the same time, the foam rubber neck dam and hood give a close and comfortable fit around the wearer's neck and head and can easily be pulled over the head. The arrangement of the invention also makes the suit relatively easy to manufacture.

Claims

1. A dry diving suit having a body portion made of a relatively inextensible elastomeric sheet material, the suit having permanently secured thereto a neck dam and/or a hood made of a stretchable closed-cell foam rubber.

2. A suit according to Claim 1 the main body of which is made of a formylated sheet rubber.

3. A suit according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the closed-foam rubber of the neck dam and/or hood is a neoprene rubber.

4. A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein the neck dam is of essentially cylindrical shape and is bonded around one edge thereof to the inside of the main body of the suit and extends upwardly therefrom.

5. A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein an upper edge of the main body of the suit around the neck or shoulders overlaps the lower edge of the hood and is bonded thereto, a strip of elastomeric sheet material being bonded over the join around the outside of the suit.

6. A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein a textile material is bonded to the inner surface of the elastomeric sheet material forming the main body of the suit.

7. A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein a textile material is bonded to the inner surface of the neck dam.

8. A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein a textile material is bonded to the inner surface of the hood.

9. A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein a textile material is bonded to the outer surface of the hood.

10. A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein the hood has an opening for the face, a strip of elastomeric sheet material being bonded to the hood around the said opening.

1 A suit according to any preceding Claim wherein a slide fastener is provided across the back of the suit extending between the shoulders to enable the suit to be put on.

12. A dry diving suit substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.