Protective garment having improved accessibility

Abstract

Provided in embodiments of the present invention is a water sport garment providing protection from cold water and having an improved access system for entry into or exit from the garment. In one embodiment, the water sport protective garment includes a torso portion, pant-leg portions extending from the torso portion, non-openable sleeve portions extending from the torso portion, and at least one openable seam extending from the torso portion down each of the pant-leg portions such that when the openable seam is opened a section of the torso portion and sections of the leg portions can be displaced to improve access into and egress from the protective garment.

1 . A wetsuit having improved access for persons with limited mobility, the wetsuit comprising:
 a torso portion having a neck opening;   un-openable sleeve portions extending from the torso portion to sleeve-ends;   first and second pant-leg portions extending from the torso portion respectively to first and second pant-ends;   a first zipper extending from the neck opening of the torso portion to the first pant-end of the first pant-leg portion; and   a second zipper extending from the neck opening of the torso portion to the second pant-end of the second pant-leg portion.   
   
   
       2 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , where the first and second pant-ends respectively open by use of the first and second zippers. 
   
   
       3 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second pant-leg seals respectively integrated with the first and second pant-ends, the first and second pant-leg seals being fixed and un-openable. 
   
   
       4 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , further comprising first and second booties respectively integrated with the first and second pant-ends. 
   
   
       5 . The wetsuit of  claim 4 , further comprising hand flap folds attached to each of the sleeves adjacent to the sleeve-ends, each hand flap fold arranged such that it can fold over the corresponding sleeve-end. 
   
   
       6 . The wetsuit of  claim 5 , further comprising a hood integrated with at least a portion of the neck opening of the torso portion. 
   
   
       7 . The wetsuit of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one cinching mechanism. 
   
   
       8 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , where the first and second zippers are arranged on front panels of the torso and pant-leg portions. 
   
   
       9 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , where the first and second zippers are arranged on back panels of the torso and pant-leg portions. 
   
   
       10 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , where the first and second zippers are arranged on side panels of the pant-leg portions, and side panels and a front panel of the torso portion. 
   
   
       11 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , where the first and second zippers are arranged on side panels of the pant-leg portions, and side panels and a back panel of the torso portion. 
   
   
       12 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , further comprising sleeve seals integrated with the sleeve-ends. 
   
   
       13 . A water sport protective garment structured to protect a person wearing the garment from cold water when the person is at least partially submerged in the cold water, the protective garment comprising:
 a torso portion;   pant-leg portions extending from the torso portion;   at least one openable seam extending from the torso portion down each of the pant-leg portions such that when the openable seam is opened a section of the torso portion and sections of the leg portions can be displaced to ease access into and egress from the protective garment; and   non-openable sleeve portions extending from the torso portion.   
   
   
       14 . The protective garment of  claim 13 , where the openable seam extends partially down the pant-leg portions such that a section of the pant-leg portions remains unopened when the openable seam is opened. 
   
   
       15 . A water sport protective garment comprising:
 a torso portion having an integrated front section, an integrated back section, integrated side sections, an upper section having a neck opening, and a lower section:   first and second sleeve portions integrated with the upper section of the torso portion, each sleeve portion extending from the torso portion to sleeve-end sections;   first and second pant-leg portions integrated with the lower section of the torso portion, each pant-leg portion extending from the torso portion to pant-end sections;   sleeve seals formed at each sleeve-end section, each sleeve seal being fixed and un-openable; and   at least one openable seam extending from the ends of the pant-end sections to the upper section of the torso portion such that at least a portion of the torso portion and portions of the first and second pant-leg portions can be displaced to facilitate entry into and exit from the protective garment.   
   
   
       16 . The protective garment of  claim 15 , where the openable seam includes a single zipper track extending from the first pant-end section to the upper section of the torso portion and continuing to extend from the upper section of the torso portion to the second pant-end section. 
   
   
       17 . The protective garment of  claim 16 , further comprising a neck seal formed at the neck opening of the upper section of the torso portion, the neck seal being fixed and un-openable. 
   
   
       18 . The protective garment of  claim 17 , where the sleeve seals and neck seal are structured so that a person wearing the protective garment while at least partially submerged in water remains dry under the protective garment. 
   
   
       19 . The protective garment of  claim 18 , further comprising leg seals formed at each pant-end section, each leg seal being un-openable and structured so that the person wearing the protective garment while at least partially submerged in water remains dry under the protective garment. 
   
   
       20 . The protective garment of  claim 18 , further comprising booties integrally formed with each pant-end section.