AU704854B2

AU704854B2 - A garment

Info

Publication number: AU704854B2
Application number: AU52374/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Bradford Bissell; Mark Machado
Original assignee: Gordon & Rena Merchant Pty Ltd
Current assignee: GSM Operations Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1995-05-17
Filing date: 1996-05-17
Publication date: 1999-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2016-05-17
Also published as: AU5237496A

Description

1 "A GARMENT" This invention relates to a garment.

This invention has particular but not exclusive application to wetsuits and for illustrative purposes reference will be made to such application. However, it is to be understood that this invention could be used in other applications including clothing for workmen and sportsmen such as body suits for gymnasts and the like.

Wetsuits are tight-fitting water-permeable suits worn by divers, surfers, board sailors, and swimmers in order to retain body heat. Modern wetsuits typically consist of flexible, heat-insulative material such as elastomer foam, one example being Neoprene foam. Full body wetsuits exhibit full-length arm and leg portions as well as the trunk portion. A spring suit is one which has short sleeves and shortened leg portions, and is typically used by surfers who desire greater freedom of movement.

e Contemporary full body and spring suits have a vertical Szipper extending up the back which the wearer can unzip to form a large opening to step into and out of the suit. The zippers are typically made of a noncorrosive material, such as plastic. The zippers extending up and down the back, however, greatly restrict freedom of movement, especially in lforward bending.

It has also been noted that opening and closing the I vertical zipper can be quite difficult and wherein most S wetsuits include a strap attached to the end of the zipper to assist with same. Unfortunately, the strap can become 6 0

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sc trapped between the wearer's body and the lining of the wetsuit and as a consequence can be rather difficult to grab hold of. Furthermore, the free end of the strap may also become entangled about adjacent objects and may as a consequence endanger tha wearer's life.

Other wetsuits provide a zipper for entry into the suit horizontally disposed across the chest. Although this zipper position does not restrict freedom of movement in forward bending, there is some restriction of upper body movement, and particularly lateral arm movement. Furthermore, the design of the zipper across the front of the suit detracts from the aesthetic appearance of the suit, and interferes with continuous logos or designs on the front of the suit.

15 The present invention aims to alleviate at least one

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o of the above disadvantages and to provide a garment which will be reliable and efficient in use.

o With the foregoing and other objects in view, this o invention in one aspect resides broadly in a garment having a first collar defining an entryway for a human body, the first collar being made of a flexible and resilient material which permits sufficient expansion of S the collar so as to allow the wearer's trunk to extend S therethrough, and also being provided with sealing means 25 for effecting a seal between the wearer's neck and the

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garment so as to inhibit ingress of water into the garment.

The garment preferably includes a pair of opposing arm apertures through which respective arms may extend.

In addition, the garment may also be provided with a pair of opposing leg apertures through which respective legs may extend.

Preferably the garment is a wetsuit manufactured from a 3 o.s; heat-insulative material such as an elastomer foam and wherein the collar, which in a relaxed state may loosely approximate the neckline of the wearer, is capable of being stretched at least two times its relaxed size.

In one embodiment the sealing means may be adapted to effect a seal between the collar and the wearer's neck. For example, the wetsuit may include one or more straps or ties adapted to close the collar snugly about the wearer's neck.

In an alternative embodiment, the sealing means may include a second collar which may be fitted over the wearer's head and which may seal against both the wearer's neck and the wetsuit. For example, there may be provided a second or outer collar which is attached to 15 the wetsuit and which includes a closed circular portion adapted to stretch over the head of a wearer so as to S: overly the existing or inner collar already surrounding the wearer's neck and to supplement a seal at the entryway inhibiting water ingress to the wetsuit. The °o -20 outer collar is preferably mounted on a bib on a first side of the wetsuit such that it may Iivot in a generally vertical plane. The outer col.ar is preferably retained 4 0 0 0 o in an operative sealing position by retaining means, such o0 as press studs or hook and lo~ fasteners attached to 25 respective abutting surfaces of .t.e outer collar and a ou wetsuit.

However in an alternative embodiment there may also be provided a second bib mounted on a second side of the 0 fc K wetsuit, being opposite to the first side, and wherein the second bib is attached to the wetsuit such that it may pivot in a generally vertical plane. The outer i i collar may also include a fastener which is adapted to engage a complementary fastener pertaining to an adjustment strap belonging to the second bib so as to help seal the entryway.

In a further embodiment, the garment may include a tubular neck portion attached to an upper edge of the second collar, the neck portion being made of a material of greater flexibility than the second collar such that i it may snugly conform to the wearer's neck so as to supplement the entryway seal.

The garment may be constructed from a plurality of 15 panels each of which may be constructed from the same i material or different materials including materials which i exhibit varying degrees of flexibility and/or elasticity.

I In the case of a wetsuit, as previously mentioned, the i garment may be constructed from an elastomer foam such as various Neoprene foams comprising a layer of foam rubber sandwiched between opposing layers of a jersey like material such as nylon. However it is preferred that at o o least some portions of the wetsuit are constructed fronm materials which exhibit a greater flexibility and/or elasticity than conventional wetsuit materials. For example, in order to provide the wearer with greater freedom of movement, those portions of the wetsuit which overly the wearer's neck, back, shoulders and the lateral portions of the trunk may be constructed from materials which exhibit a greater flexibility and/or elasticity than conventional wetsuit materials.

In particular, selected portions of the wetsuit may be constructed from materials comprising a layer of foam Ii rubber lined on one side only, or both opposing sides, 35 with an extremely elastic material such as a nylon material having a

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low denier number such as a denier number less than or equal to 70, and preferably less than In another aspect this invention relates to a zipperless entry wetsuit having a collar defining an entryway for a human body, the collar being made of a resilient material which permits sufficient expansion of the collar so as to allow the wearer's trunk to extend therethrough, and also being provided with sealing means for effecting a seal between the wearer's neck and the garment so as to inhibit ingress of water into the garment. Preferably the wetsuit also includes a shoulder region with arms attached thereto, the shoulder region extending between upper portions of the arms. The K wetsuit may also include a bib attached to the wetsuit and which is free to pivot with respect thereto and having a second or outer collar formed as a closed circle. The location of the bib preferably allows the outer collar to extend over the head of a wearer of the wetsuit and overlie the shoulder region.

The collar defining the entryway, hereinafter referred to as the inner or first collar, is preferably located in the centre of the shoulder region between the arm upper portions and beneath the outer collar when the outer collar extends over the wearer's head. It is also preferred that the bib is attached to a first side of the wetsuit and wherein there is provided a second bib attached to the wetsuit on a second side opposite the first side. The outer collar preferably includes a 1 fastener and the second bib has an adjustment strap with a complementary fastener to mate therewith and help seal the entryway provided by the inner collar.

In still yet another aspect, the invention provides a method of manufacturing a garment, said method including:

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6 stitching together one or more panels of foam rubber material having an inner laminate of a jersy material so as to form a collar which in a relaxed state conforms approximately to a neckline of a wearer but wherein the material has sufficient flexibility to allow the collar to stretch sufficiently to allow a wearer's trunk to extend therethrough. Preferably the material has sufficient flexibility to allow the collar to stretch apart at least twice its relaxed size.

The method may also include attaching a bib to a first side of the collar so as to pivot in a generally vertical plane, the bib having a circular outer collar positioned so as to extend over the head of a wearer and to overly the existing collar surrounding the wearer's neck.

0000 15 The method may also include attaching a second bib to an o opposite side of the collar and wherein the second bib may include bifurcated adjustment straps with fastening means 00 0 complementary to fastening means provided on the outer collar.

The method may also include attaching a tubular neck oO, portion being formed of more flexible material than the i ~collar such that it may snugly conform to the wearer's neck.

0. In order that this invention may be more easily i j 25 understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:- FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a zipperless 1'tia wetsuit of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a rear perspective view of a zipperless wetsuit; FIGURE 3a is a front, elevational view of an upper portion of the wetsuit of FIGURE 1 prior to sealing an upper entryway; FIGURE 3b is a left side elevational view of the upper portion of the wetsuit prior to sealing an upper entryway; FIGURE 3C is a rear elevational view of the wetsuit prior to sealing an upper entryway; FIGURE 4a is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the wetsuit after sealing an upper entryway; FIGURE 4b is a left side elevational view of the upper 15 portion of the wetsuit after sealing an upper entryway; and FIGURE 4c is a rear elevational view of the upper portion of the wetsuit after sealing an upper entryway.

FIGURES 1 and 2, respectively, illustrate front and rear 20 views of a zipperless wetsuit 20 of the present invention.

As used herein, the term "zipperless" refers to the lack of a zippered main entryway in the wetsuit 20, and it will be understood that auxiliary zippered structures, such as pockets or let closures, may be incorporated. Although the 25 present zipperless wetsuit is shown and described in conjunction with a full-body suit, many of the inventive o* aspects can readily be adapted to other styles, such as spring suits, which typically make use of a zippered entry

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The wetsuit 20 comprises a trunk portion 22, a pair of legs 24, a pair of arms 26, and an upper entryway 28 in the region of a neck of a wearer 30, shown in phantom. The wetsuit 20 is generally continuous in a single layer in all areas except for the upper entryway 28. The wearer 30 steps into the wetsuit 20 through the upper entryway 28, as will be more fully described below.

The wetsuit 20 is made with a plurality of panels of foam rubber, preferably Neoprene, having at least an inner layer or laminate of nylon for strength, some of the panels being more pliable than others. In particular, certain regions in the upper body portion of the wetsuit 20 are significantly more stretchy than a majority of the trunk portion 22 of the wetsuit, which is made of conventional wetsuit material. Wetsuits are typically constructed entirely of two or three millimetre thick foam rubber sandwiched between two laminates of nylon, inside and 0 0 outside. This conventional type of wetsuit material is very durable, and has a high heat insulation capacity.

I r oThe nylon laminate is formed by a weave of long nylon I 0 5 strands and is characterized by a particular density, or Sdenier number, according to industry standards. The denier I number is a unit of fineness denoting the weight (or mass) of a specified length of nylon strand. One industry standard used is the grant weight of the nylon per 9000 meters of S' strand. A conventional type of nylon used in wetsuits has a denier number of 70. The nylon strands are twisted together J.

in a crosswise fashion, and the higher the density of the weave, the closer together the adjacent parallel strands, resulting in more and bigger loops in each cross strands, and visa versa. Because there are more and bigger loops per strand, each strand travels a longer path through a given length of material and, consequently, has more I slack therein, allowing greater expansion when the ends are pulled. Over an area of such high density nylon weave, the fabric can be stretched in two dimensions to a much greater extent than straighter weave nylon fabric.

Because there are more strands per area of fabric, a finer nylon is used with a reduced denier number below preferably less than half the denier number used in material. The finer strands allow for the I more pliable weave without unduly increasing the overall c* weight of the garment. Additionally, to ensure maximum stretchiness, the nylon fabric is laminated onto the inner foam layer in an unstretched state.

As mentioned above, conventional wetsuit material includes inner and outer laminates of nylon having a denier number of 70 grams per 9000 meters of nylon ~00 strand. One type of conventional material used in the 0. o wetsuit 20 of the present invention includes an inner layer of 3-mm. thick foam rubber sandwiched between outer 0 laminates of 70 denier nylon fabric, and is termed herein '3-mm Nylon II." Also utilized in the wetsuit 20 is a slightly thinner type of conventional wetsuit material termed "2-mm Nylon II." The 2-mm Nylon II material also has inner and outer laminates of 70 denier -:ioc a

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r~ nylon, as indicated by the Roman number II designation, but the sandwiched layer of foam rubber is only 2 millimeters thick. This results in a slightly less effective heat insulator which is slightly more pliable and stretchy.

The wetsuit 20 is also constructed from a type of wetsuit material which allows for greater freedom of movement in the upper body portion, as well as the selective expansion of the zipperless entryway 28 surrounding the neck of the suit. The particular material has an inner laminate of nylon, and may also have an outer laminate of nylon, the strands of nylon in the laminates being finer with a denier of less than 70, and preferably less than 35. In a preferred embodiment, the strands of nylon in the laminates have a denier number of about 30, equivalent to a mass of 30 grams 15 per 9000 meters of yarn. The finer nylon strands enable the o*o nylon weave to be closer together, with more loops, than a OW conventional weaves, which greatly increases the pliability «c a S° and stretchiness of this material. Several types of this new f material are used throughout the wetsuit 20. A first type includes a 2- or 3-mm thick layer of foam rubber with a single laminate of 30 denier nylon, and is termed "Nylon I s 04,% Megastretch." A second type, termed "Nylon II Megastretch, which is slightly less pliable, includes a 2- or 3-mm thick a layer of foam rubber surrounded by laminates of the 30 denier nylon. Material utilizing 3-mm thick as opposed to 2-mm thick foam rubber is norinally less stretchy, the stretchiness being primarily retrained by the type of nylon laminate. Thus, the Megastretch material using 30 denier ;ii 'Ii i 77 nylon laminates and a closer weave is significantly more stretchy than conventional material using 70 denier nylon laminates and a conventional weave regardless of the thickness of the foam rubber layer.

Referring again to FIGURES 1 and 2, the trunk portion 22 is made of a single panel of 3-mm Nylon II material. The trunk portion 22 extends from a generally horizontal front stitch line 32 downward to a pair of kneepads 34 defined by a thick padded region made from an aromatic polyamide textile such as that sold under the trade mark Kevlar. The region 36 between the thighs is also made of 3-mm Nylon II material.

In the lower leg area, a large panel 40 of 3-mm Nylon II material extends substantially around the leg, except in a small vertical strip, or lower leg flexure, 42.

From a belt line 44, seen in FIGURE 2, downward, the wetsuit 20 is composed of panels of only conventional 3-mm Nylon II or 2-mm Nylon II material. In this regard, in addition to the vertical strips, or lower leg flexures, 42, a knee flexure 46 structured of 2-mm Nylon II material, is provided. Two generally vertical strips, or hip flexures, 48 extend from the belt line 44 downward on the outer side of the thighs to the knee region. The lower leg flexure 42, knee flexure 46, and hip flexure 48 are all made of 2-mm Nylon II material, and provide increased freedom of movement 25 for the wearer 30 in the leg region. Additionally, triese strategically placed panels of 2-mm Nylon II material allow S for a more "one size fits all" wetsuit 20. In other words, the lower portion of the wetsuit 20 stretches somewhat more the lower portion of the wetsuit 20 stretches somewhat more 4; Ai ji oeo o' A

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than a monolithic panel of 3-mm Nylon II material would, and thus fits a greater range of sizes of wearer 30. The only other portion of the wetsuit 20 which incorporates panels of conventional wetsuit material, are the wrist flexures which are preferably constructed of 2-mm Nylon II material for added pliability for the forearm of the user.

The remainder of the wetsuit 20 is constructed of panels of either 2- or 3-mm Nylon I Megastretch, or Nylon II Megastretch. In a departure from conventional wetsuits, the present suit 20 incorporates a large area of Nylon I Megastretch, which does not include an outer laminate of nylon. Although this decreases the durability of the material somewhat, the added benefit from greater freedom of movement is valued more highly by many wearers. Furthermore, *joD 15 the panels of Nylon I Megastretch are positioned in areas 'a which allow for great freedom of movement of the upper body, S* but which are less likely to be abraded from contact with *2 rough surfboards, for example. Although the single laminate of nylon is preferably formed on the inside of the wetsuit 20 for comfort of the wearer, it is conceivable that the laminate could be formed on the outside.

oJ* With reference again to FIGURES 1 and 2, a large back o*la L region 52 made of Nylon I Megastretch extends between a rear stitch line 54 and the belt line 44 in the back, and extends around the front at 52a to join with the trunk portion 22.

*o The back region 52 represents a significant change between J *9 ooa5 the present wetsuit 20 and previous wetsuits which include a zipper up the back. The back of the suit is thus extremely zipper up the back. The back of the suit is thus extremely .:1 i!-u i i; ;I i i; lr' ;i ,"rrti' ~~t t A: 4 I8 0

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x9vLOooo.iLsVd1 -~.ii i: -i "::iF i-(r pliable, and may stretch to a much greater extent than if a rigid zipper were in place, or if the region were made of conventional wetsuit material. This allows much greater freedom of movement in forward bending for the wearer The upper lateral edges of the back portion 52 are joined with an underarm region 56, which is preferably constructed of Nylon II Megastretch. The Nylon II Megastretch is preferred in this region, because of the repeated abrasions from arm movement. The elbow regions 58 on the arms connected to the wrist flexures 50 are constructed of Nylon I Megastretch material for maximum flexibility. Farther up the arm, the shoulder region 60, which, as will be seen below with reference to FIGURES 3a-c, extends across the upper body 0" portion of the suit 20, is preferably constructed of Nylon II 15 Megastretch. The upper entryway 28 includes a variety of *1 0 00 o different panels of material, as will be more fully explained below with reference to the manner in which the wearer 30 can enter the suit FIGURES 3a-c illustrate various views of the upper portion of the wetsuit 20 with the outer collar 76 removed *e t from the neck of the wearer 30, therefore allowing entry to the suit. FIGURES 4a-c, on the other hand, illustrate the g upper portion of the wetsuit 20 with the upper entryway 28 i closed and sealed. It can be seen from the views of FIGURES j 25 3a-c that the shoulder region 60 extends across the suit from side-to-side. More particularly, the shoulder region includes upper arm sections 62, clavicle sections 64 joined at a front seam 66, and rear upper back portions 68 joined at

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14 a read seam 70. The use of Nylon II Megastretch material across the entire shoulder region 60 is a departure from previous suits, which relied on less pliable, albeit more durable, conventional 3-mm Nylon II material. Surfers in particular require great freedom of motion in the upper body when paddling to catch waves. The present suit 20 greatly facilitates this upper body motion. j As seen in the views of FIGURES 1 and 2, and in FIGURES 4a-4c, a front bib 72, and a rear bib 74, cover the central portion of the shoulder region 60. The front bib 72 comprises a continuous circular collar 76 topped at an upper j edge by a tubular neck 78. The circular region extends over the head of the wearer 30 and attaches by a flap 80 at a front bib seam 82 to the lower edge of the clavicle region 000 15 64. The flap 80 is preferably constructed of relatively durable 3-mm Nylon II material, while the collar 76 is o constructed of 3 millimetre nylon plush material, which b S includes an inner laminate of nylon, and an outer layer of hook material 84. The neck 78, on the other hand, is constructed of pliable Nylon I Megastretch material. As 0 *0 mentioned, the collar 76 extends over the head of the wearer, 0 *0 0 4a so that the neck 78 snugly conforms to the wearer's neck.

The rear bib 74, as best seen in FIGURE 3c, comprises a flap portion E5 attached to the rear upper back portion 68 of 25 the shoulder region 60 at a rear seam 88. The rear bib 74 0 further includes a pair of bifurcated adjustment straps 90 having large patches of hook material 92 fastened to the inner surface of the free ends. In contrast to the front bib .o.o wetsuits include a strap attached to the end ot rne zipp jL L assist with same. Unfortunately, the strap can become i back region 52. The rear bib 74 is adapted to extend upward either side of the wearer's neck. More partc the 72, the rear bib 74 is constructed entirely of Nylon I Megastretch material desirably forms a continuation of the back region 52. The rear bib 74 is adapted to extend upward with the bifurcated adjustment straps 90 extending around either side of the wearer's neck. More particularly, the rear bib 74 is adapted to attach to the front ?:ib 72 to close and seal the upper entryway 28 by engagement between the hook and loop regions 84, 92. Although hook and loop fasteners ii are preferred for their flexibility and ease of use, other types of fasteners such as bra-hook types, double D-ring and strap types, plastic buckle types, etc., may be substituted.

Because the front and rear bibs 72, 74 are repeatedly disengaged and experience a significant amount of stress at their connections with the suit the seams 82 and 88 are 0 15 curved with a centre portion higher than the edge portions.

This curved preferably reduces localized stresses imposed on °o o; the edges, as which would be the case if the stitch lines 82 and 88 were horizontal. Furthermore, as seen in FIGURES 4a and 4c, the edges of the stitch lines 82 and 88 ar reinforced with bar tacks 94 comprising a highly concentrated region of stitching. These bar tacks are conventionally used in the apparel industry to reinforce critical areas which experience o the greatest stress.

1 The shoulder region 60 defines an inner collar 96 which i' I 25 drops down farther in the front than in the rear, as seen in

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FIGURES 3a. The inner collar 96 helps prevent water from entering underneath the wetsuit 20 in concert witn the overlapping outer collar 76. In this respect, the inner 0o o 0 o *s 00 0

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966 16 collar 96 does not tightly conform to the neck of the wearer, but is instead formed to allow the wearer easy entry to the suit 20. More specifically, the inner collar 96 follows a neckline of the wearer 30, as best seen in FIGURE 3a, which traverses the base of the wearer's neck and drops down in front to approximately the top of the sternum. The particular relaxed diameter of the inner collar 96 will vary depending on the intended wearer, and thus is best characterised as conforming to the neck of the wearer underneath the outer collar 76. The border of the inner collar 96 is left raw and unhemmed so as to allow for maximum stretch of the entry opening formed thereby.

The present wetsuit 20 enjoys the advantages of no zippered opening due to the stretchy inner collar 96 while 15 still .orming an effective seal around the entryway 28. The Nylon II Megastretch material of the inner collar 96 is not sufficiently rigid to prevent water ingress to the inside of the suit 20. The outer collar 76, however, constructed of stiffer conventional wetsuit material, supplements the seal of inner collar 96. More particulary, the outer collar 76 clamps down on the region around the inner collar 96 and effectively seals the entryway 28 from ingress of water. The adjustment straps 90 on the rear bib 74 pull downward on the outer collar 76 to further seal the entryway 28. The closely 25 conforming neck 78 extending up the wearer's neck from the outer collar 76 further enhances the water seal.

It should be noted that although in the preferred embodiment the outer collar 76 forms a part of the front bib to *r o 9, 0 J I i .il

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42 72, it could alternatively form a part of the rear bib 74, with the adjustment straps 90 extending over the shoulder region from the front to the rear. Indeed, the outer collar 76 might also extend from the side of the neck region with the adjustment straps joined on the suit on the opposite side. Still another embodiment could eliminate the adjustment straps 90 altogether with a hook and loop fastener provided between the inside of the outer collar 76 and the exterior of the shoulder region 60. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, various configurations of a stretchy inner collar and a stiffer overlying outer collar are possible within the scope of the present invention.

To put on the wetsuit 20, the wearer spreads the inner collar 96 apart a sufficient distance to insert the feet 0#@t o~o 15 first, and then the remainder of his or her body. With the 4., use of Nylon II Megastretch for the entire shoulder region S°o including the inner collar 96, the entry opening may easily be stretched apart 2-3 or more times its relaxed size without undue stress on the material. Desirably, the inner collar 96 20 may repeatedly be stretched at least as wide as the width of the shoulder region 60, to provide the wearer easy entry into r the suit 20, without material failure. The seams 66 and 4 at the front and back of the shoulder region 60 are reinforced at the inner collar 96 with adhesive tape patches 25 98. These tape patches are installed with a heat transfer glue, and one type is sold under the name Melco tape patches.

4 The patches 98 must be used at the inner collar 96 because the collar is not hemmed, but is rather left raw.

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i T nL 78 tt 18 Once the wearer 30 has entered the suit 20 by stretching apart the inner collar 96, the front bib 72 pivots upward in a generally vertical plane about the stitchline 82 and the wearer pulls the outer collar 76 down over his or her head.

The reck 78 thus conforms snugly to the wearer's neck. The rear bib 74 is then pivoted upward about the stitchline 88 so that the two adjustment straps 90 extend around to the front of the wearer on either side of his or her neck, as been seen in FIGURE 4a. Pressing down the free ends of the adjustment straps 90 engages the hook material 92 with the loop material 84 on the collar 76. Due to the stretchiness of the adjustment straps 90, the upper entryway 28 seal can be tightened or loosened, depending on the relative size of the wearer. This further enhances the "one size fits all" 0o0c i. 15 characteristic of the present wetsuit o oo The majority of the panels of the wetsuit 20 are 0° 0.o stitched together using conventional wetsuit apparel 0 techniques. In this regard, blind stitches are used between the panels of conventional wetsuit material. Where the single lined Nylon I Megastretch material is used, on the S other hand, blind stitches are not used, because the "0 stitching would puncture the outer surface of foam rubber, possible instigating rips therein. In this regard, such is at the junction surrounding the back region 52, a singleo. 25 sided stitch is used on the interior of the suit, the back S

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region 52 having a laminate of nylon on the inner surface.

The exterior line of these junctions may be sealed with a suitable flexible adhesive. Furthermore, as seen in FIGURE I 'i t^ 19 3a, reinforcing tape patches 100 are utilised at the junction between the neck 78 and the collar 76. This region experiences a high level of stress when the wearer inserts his or her head through the neck 78, and must be reinforced without the use of bar tacks.

It will of course be realised that while the above has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein defined in the claims.

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Claims

4. WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. The garment having a first collar defining an entryway for a human body, the first collar being made of 4 a stretchy and resilient material which permits sufficient expansion of the first collar so as to allow the wearer's trunk to extend therethrough, and wherein the garment is provided with sealing means for effecting a seal between the wearer's neck and the garment so as to inhibit ingress of water into the garment. 2. The garment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the garment includes a pair of opposing apertures through -:915 which respective arms may extend and a pair of opposing apertures through which respective legs may extend. 3. The garment as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the garment is a wetsuit manufactured from a heat-insulative material. 4. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, 4 wherein the sealing means is adapted to effect a seal4 between the collar and the wearer's neck. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, ~4 wherein the sealing means includes a second collar which is adapted to fit over the wearer's head and to seal against both the wearer's neck and the garment.
6. The garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second collar includes a closed circular portion adapted to stretch over the head of the wearer so as to overly the first collar and to supplement a seal at the entryway inhibiting water ingress into the garment.
7. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein there is also provided retaining means for retaining said sealing means in an operative position. 21
8. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second collar extends from a first bib on a first side of the garment.
9. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein a second bib extends from a second side of the garment, being opposite to the first side. The garment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the second collar includes one or more fasteners, and wherein the second bib has at least one adjustment strap with at least one fastener adapted to engage a complementary fastener or fasteners provided on the second collar.
11. The garment as claimed in claim 9, wherein the 0.9 second bib includes bifurcated adjustment straps, each strap having at least one fastener adapted to engage S complementary fasteners provided on the second collar.
12. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 11 including a tubular neck portion attached to an upper edge of the second collar, the neck portion being made of A Sa material of greater flexibility than the second collar.
13. The garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the garment is constructed from a plurality of panels, at least some of which are made from different materials with differing degrees of flexibility.
14. The garment as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the panels is constructed from a material comprising a layer of foam rubber lined on one side only 1 with a nylon material having a denier number less than The garment as claimed in claim 13, wherein at least one of the panels is constructed from a material comprising a layer of foam rubber lined on one side only om 22 with a nylon material having a denier number less than
16. The garment as claimed in claim 14 or claim wherein said layer of foam rubber is 2 3 mm thick.
17. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein at least one of the panels is constructed from a material comprising a layer of foam rubber lined on both sides with a nylon material having a denier number less than
18. The garment as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, wherein at least one of the panels is constructed from a material comprising a layer of foam rubber lined on both sides with a nylon material having a denier number less than 4- S19. The garment as claimed in claim 5, wherein the o 20 second collar is made of a material having a layer of foam rubber and at least one laminate of nylon, the first collar is made of a material having a layer of foam S: rubber and at least one laminate of nylon, wherein the nylon used in the construction of the first collar has a lower denier number than the nylon used in the construction of the second collar. The garment as claimed in claim 19, wherein the S nylon used in the construction of the first collar has a denier number of less than half the denier number of the nylon used in the construction of the second collar.
21. The garment as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the garment includes a trunk portion with 3i 5 arms attached thereto, and the first collar forms a central portion of a shoulder region extending between an upper portion of said arms, said shoulder region and the 1 -first collar being constructed of the same material. 23
22. A garment substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. lv DATED THIS 4 1h day of March 1999 GORDON RENA MERCHANT PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys CULLEN CO. 00 I a. 0 5 0) ii .1 I A i 4 ,1~ 6 0L I. ~s 3 24 Abstract This invention relates to a garment having a collar defining an entryway for a human body, the collar being made of a resilient material which permits sufficient expansion of the collar so as to allow the wearer's trunk to extend therethrough. Preferably the garment is a wetsuit manufactured from a heat-insulative material such as an elastomer foam and wherein the collar, which in a relaxed state may loosely approximate the neckline of the wearer, is capable of being stretched at least two times its relaxed size. I h 0 A 0 Sa| O r L jjb 1 j: