Apparel with telescoping sleeves

Abstract

An extensible sleeve having a first sleeve portion and a second sleeve portion is provided. The extensible sleeve is adapted to be used in a protective garment. A plurality of creases are disposed along one of the sleeve portions forming pleats. The other sleeve portion is placed internal and coincident to the first and the pleats are affixed to an outer surface of this internal sleeve portion. Pulling upon the sleeve portion would cause a partial to a total unfolding of at least one pleat resulting in a lengthening of the sleeve. The pleats may also prove useful in retaining a glove upon the sleeve.

1 . A radially telescoping sleeve section, comprising: 
 a first sleeve portion having a length, a plurality of pleats radially oriented and spaced apart along the length, each pleat having a first and a second radial crease, the first radial crease being a reverse fold of the second radial crease;    a second sleeve portion having a length, the second sleeve portion being axially extensible, the second sleeve portion being attachably affixed to the first sleeve portion at a plurality of the first radial creases such that the pleats are in a folded condition when the second sleeve portion is in a nonextended state and in an unfolded condition when the second sleeve portion is in an extended state.    
   
   
       2 . The sleeve section of  claim 1  wherein each pleat comprises a first side and a second side, originating at opposite sides of each pleat's second radial crease and terminating at adjacent first radial creases, one side being of greater length than the other side.  
   
   
       3 . The sleeve section of  claim 1  wherein each pleat is oriented such that the second radial crease of each pleat is biased in a first direction.  
   
   
       4 . The sleeve section of  claim 1  wherein the second sleeve portion is elastically extensible.  
   
   
       5 . The sleeve section of  claim 1  wherein each pleat comprises one of the first radial creases and one of the second radial creases, a leading side located between the first and second radial crease, and a trailing side located between the second radial crease and the first radial crease of a successive pleat, wherein the leading side is of greater length than the trailing side.  
   
   
       6 . The sleeve section of  claim 5  wherein each leading side is oriented toward a distal end of the sleeve with respect to its corresponding trailing side.  
   
   
       7 . The sleeve section of  claim 1  incorporated into a garment sleeve.  
   
   
       8 . The sleeve section of  claim 1  wherein the pleats are arranged such that liquid is captured within proximity to the first radial creases.  
   
   
       9 . A surgical gown comprising the sleeve section of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       10 . An extensible sleeve comprising: 
 a first material having a length, a plurality of creases incrementally and perpendicularly spaced along the length, the first material being formed into a first cylindrical sleeve portion, the plurality of creases comprising a first set of radial folds and a second set of radial folds, the individual folds alternating between the first and second set and disposed along the material so as to form a plurality of pleats in the first sleeve portion;    a second material formed into a second cylindrical sleeve portion, the second sleeve portion being coincident to the first sleeve portion, a portion of the first set of radial folds being affixed to an outer surface of the second sleeve portion.    
   
   
       11 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein each pleat comprises a first side and a second side, one side being longer than the other side.  
   
   
       12 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein the linear dimension of the first sides differ with respect to one another and the linear dimension of the second sides differ with respect to one another.  
   
   
       13 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein each pleat comprises one of the first radial creases and one of the second radial creases, a leading side located between the first and second radial crease, and a trailing side located between the second radial crease and the first radial crease of a successive pleat, wherein the leading side is of greater length than the trailing side.  
   
   
       14 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein each first radial crease is folded such that it is situated internally to the first sleeve portion.  
   
   
       15 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein application of a pulling force upon the second sleeve portion causes a partial to a total unfolding of at least one pleat resulting in a lengthening of the sleeve.  
   
   
       16 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein the second sleeve portion is elastically extensible.  
   
   
       17 . The sleeve of  claim 10  comprising an absorbent material placed proximate to at least some of the first radial creases within the pleats.  
   
   
       18 . The sleeve of  claim 10  wherein the sleeve is adapted to retain a glove thereon.  
   
   
       19 . A surgical gown comprising the material of  claim 10 .  
   
   
       20 . The surgical gown of  claim 19  wherein the material is adapted to provide adjustability in sizing the gown.