Apparel worn on, in or under the water and a manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

An article of apparel designed to be worn by divers and swimmers which is formed by placing a prefabricated male mold inside a prefabricated female mode. Then a polymeric material is injected into a gap formed between the male mold placed inside the female mold. Also included is a built-in air bladder system to change a buoyancy of the diver and swimmer.

1 . An article of apparel, comprising: 
 a pre-molded polymeric material formed by injecting the polymeric material into a gap formed between a male mold placed inside a female mold.    
     
     
         2 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 fabric on at least one side of the apparel.    
     
     
         3 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of an ankle and wrist portion of the article of apparel is skin tight.  
     
     
         4 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , further comprising a built-in airtight bladder.  
     
     
         5 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the airtight bladder member includes at least one of 1) the polymeric material, and 2) fabric.  
     
     
         6 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a fabric material that precludes or minimizes bleed-through of the polymeric material.  
     
     
         7 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material comprises a material selected from the group of block copolymer gels.  
     
     
         8 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material includes at least one of SEBS, SEPS, and SEEPS.  
     
     
         9 . The apparel according to  claim 2 , wherein the fabric is bulkable yarns with non-woven sheet substrates.  
     
     
         10 . The apparel according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 polymer or metal coatings on a surface of the fabric.    
     
     
         11 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric material includes a thermal-regulating additive.  
     
     
         12 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pre-molded contour feature configured to receive an external device.  
     
     
         13 . The apparel according to  claim 12 , wherein the external device includes at least one of a diving computer, an air tank, and a diving knife.  
     
     
         14 . The apparel according to  claim 12 , wherein the pre-molded contour feature comprises a ring shape.  
     
     
         15 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 stretch seams at predetermined locations on the article of apparel.    
     
     
         16 . The apparel according to  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel comprises a diving suit.  
     
     
         17 . The apparel as shown in the figures, and described in the specification.