Rashguard

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rash protection apparel or clothing piece that is used to protect athletes, and more particularly watersports athletes from rashes that occurs surface waters, waves, or surf boards. The rash protection apparel contains a clothing piece with a head opening with a high neck, openings for arms and legs, and an opening of sufficient size for a user to enter the rash protection apparel. The rash protection apparel protects the wearer from rashes especially around the neck area.

1 . A rash protection apparel, comprising a one-piece garment of stretchable deformable material comprising:
 a. two arm openings;   b. two leg openings;   c. a neck opening comprising a raised neck that fits snugly around a wearer's neck and extends above the neckline of a conventional wet suit, but does not extend to the top of the wearer's neck; and   d. An opening in the mid-section of the rash protection apparel to allow ingress and egress into and out of the garment.   
   
   
       2 . (canceled) 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the opening in the mid-section of the rash protection apparel is of sufficient size such that a user can enter the rash protection apparel through the opening. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the rash protection apparel is shaped in the form of a one piece bathing suit. 
   
   
       7 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is on the front of the rash protection apparel. 
   
   
       8 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is on the back of the rash protection apparel. 
   
   
       9 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the opening is on the back of the rash protection apparel. 
   
   
       10 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the rash protection apparel is made of an elastic material. 
   
   
       11 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the rash protection apparel is made of an elastic material. 
   
   
       12 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the rash protection apparel is In the shape of a one piece bathing suit. 
   
   
       13 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the rash protection apparel is in the shape of a one piece bathing suit. 
   
   
       14 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 2 , wherein the neck is made of an elastic material. 
   
   
       15 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the neck is made of an elastic material. 
   
   
       16 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the inside of the rash protection apparel is lined. 
   
   
       17 . The rash protection apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the inside of the rash protection apparel is lined. 
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . A method of using the rash protection apparel comprising a one-piece garment of stretchable deformable material, comprising the steps of:
 a. Providing a stretchable, deformable rash protection garment;   b. Stepping into an opening in the mid-section of the rash protection apparel such that each leg extends through each leg opening;   c. Pulling up the rash protection apparel from the legs upward until the opening in the mid-section of the rash protection apparel is raised above the wearer's waist so that the arms can enter the arm openings through the opening in the mid-section of the rash protection apparel, and said opening in the mid-section is raised further above the wearer's head so that the head can enter through the neck opening of the rash protection apparel through said opening in the mid-section.   d. Putting an arm through each arm opening of the garment; and   e. Placing the head through the neck opening so that the neck of the garment extends above the collar of a conventional wet suit.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising the additional step of wearing a wetsuit over the rash protection apparel.