Clothing for use in under or above water activities

Abstract

A suit garment that is typically manufactured smaller than the correct size for its intended wearer is made from stretchable material so that the suit fits snugly on the wearer. The suit is constructed from a plurality of panels woven from synthetic or naturally occurring fibers joined to one another along their respective edges, usually along seams that are effectively sealed so that the resulting suit covers the entire body of the wearer, excepting extremities, and extends across the various joints of the wearer that would commonly be expected to flex during diving. The garment is additionally provided with at least one panel in the region of one or more joints of the wearer of the same woven material as the remaining materials. However, the panel that is cut from the material on the bias as opposed to parallel to the warp or weft of the weave of that material. In this manner, an exceedingly elastic suit, at least in the region of the joints of the when the suit is correctly worn, is achieved.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A garment that consists of a plurality of panels woven from synthetic or naturally occurring fibers joined to one another along their respective edges, the garment being tailored so as to be a snug fit on the wearer, characterized in that the garment is of a shape, size, and length so as to extend across one or more joints of the wearer that would commonly be expected to flex during wear, and in that the garment is provided with at least one panel in the region of the joint of the wearer that is cut on a bias as opposed to parallel to the warp or weft of the weave of that material.  
     
     
         2 . A garment according to  claim 1  characterized in that the garment is a diving wet or dry suit, consisting of a plurality of panels cut from a large piece of material in the conventional manner i.e., parallel to the warp or weft, and joined together in sealing manner along seams, and a plurality of bias cut panels of the same material also incorporated into the garment in like manner to the conventional cut panel along seams, the bias cut panels being located orientated and disposed with the garment so as to permit the wearer of the garment to flex joints on account of the relative capability of the bias cut panels to stretch.  
     
     
         3 . A garment according to  claim 1  characterized in that all the woven fiber panels from which the suit is constructed are cut on the bias.  
     
     
         4 . A garment according to  claim 1  characterized in that the orientation of the bias cut panels within the garment is arranged so that the direction of elongation or stretch of the panels bisects the warp and the weft of the yarns in the panel.  
     
     
         5 . A garment according to  claim 1  characterized in that the garment is a wet or dry suit for use in water consisting of a plurality of conventionally cut panels and a plurality of bias cut panels sealingly joined together, the garment having front and rear leg portions, front and rear torso portions, and front and rear arm portions that together define a cavity for the wearer within the garment, the rear torso portion including a zipper or other fastener to allow the wearer to don and remove the garment.  
     
     
         6 . A garment according to  claim 5  characterized in that one or more of the panels that constitute the front leg portions of the suit, particularly in the region where the shin, knee, and front thigh of the wearer would be disposed when the suit is being worn, is/are bias cut.  
     
     
         7 . A garment according to  claim 5  characterized in that one or more of the panels that constitute the rear arm portions of the suit, particularly in the region where the elbows of the wearer would be disposed when the suite is being worn, is/are bias cut.  
     
     
         8 . A garment according to  claim 5 , characterized in that one or more of the panels that constitute the rear torso portion of the suit, particularly in the region above where the buttocks of the wearer would be disposed when the suit is being worn, is/are bias cut.  
     
     
         9 . A garment according to  claim 1  characterized in that the angle of the bias cut is in the range of 30 to 60 degrees with respect to the weft or warp.  
     
     
         10 . A garment according to  claim 9  characterized in that the panel or panels are formed of the same woven material as the other material panels of the garment.  
     
     
         11 . A garment according to  claim 1  characterized in that the garment is dimensioned so as to be worn by wearers of determined size.  
     
     
         12 . A garment according to  claim 11  characterized in that the garment for a particular wearer size is dimension smaller than would a non stretching garment for the same wearer size.  
     
     
         13 . A method of forming a garment of clothing from a series of panels of material of synthetic or naturally occurring fibers, sais panel joined together along their common edges to form seams of the garment and the garment itself and characterized in that at least one of the panels of the material is at least one of the panels is arranged and formed such that it is cut on a bias as opposed to parallel to the warp or weft of the weave of the material.  
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13  characterized in that the panel is located on the garment so as to lie adjacent to joint of the wearer of the garment when worn.  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 13  characterized in that the method includes the step of positioning and joining a panel that is cut at a bias to the weft or warp of the material of the panel to lie adjacent each of the body joints of the wearer that lie within the garment when worn.