Wetsuit water catch device

Abstract

A wetsuit has a plurality of pieces of material that are stitched or glued together to form the wetsuit, and at least one drag-creating section provided on one of the pieces of material. The drag-creating section has a plurality of water catch devices, each water catch device having a flap piece and a base portion, with a cavity defined between each flap piece and the base of the piece of material or the base portion of an adjacent water catch device. Each flap piece is constructed such that it can be expanded and collapsed to allow water to enter and leave the cavity, and the plurality of water catch devices are arranged in series immediately adjacent to each other, with the cavity of each water catch device on the piece of material opening in the same direction towards another water catch device.

1 . A wetsuit, comprising:
 a plurality of pieces of material that are stitched or glued together to form the wetsuit; and   at least one drag-creating section provided on one of the pieces of material that has a base, the drag-creating section having a plurality of water catch devices, each water catch device having a flap piece and a base portion, with a cavity defined between each flap piece and the base of the piece of material or the base portion of an adjacent water catch device, each flap piece constructed such that it can be expanded and collapsed to allow water to enter and leave the cavity; and   wherein the plurality of water catch devices are arranged in series immediately adjacent to each other, with the cavity of each water catch device on the piece of material opening in the same direction towards another water catch device.   
     
     
         2 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the surface area of the flap piece is greater than the surface area of the underlying base of the piece of material or the underlying base portion. 
     
     
         3 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the flap piece is moved between a collapsed configuration where it is generally flat adjacent the underlying base of the piece of material or the underlying base portion, and an expanded configuration in which it stretches away from the underlying base of the piece of material or the underlying base portion. 
     
     
         4 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of water catch devices includes a first proximal-most water catch device that is stitched to the base of the piece of material, a second water catch device positioned directly adjacent the first water catch device with the cavity of the second water catch device opening towards the rear of the first water catch device and with the second water catch device stitched to the base portion of the first water catch device. 
     
     
         5 . The wetsuit of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of water catch devices includes a third water catch device that is stitched to the base portion of the second water catch device, a third water catch device positioned directly adjacent the second water catch device with the cavity of the third water catch device opening towards the rear of the second water catch device. 
     
     
         6 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein each water catch device further includes an inter-joining section between the flap piece and the base portions. 
     
     
         7 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the piece of material is a first arm piece of material and the at least one drag-creating section is a first drag-creating section, the plurality of pieces of material further including a second arm piece of material, and the at least one drag-creating section includes a second drag-creating section provided on the second arm piece of material, the second drag-creating section having a plurality of water catch devices that are arranged in series immediately adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         8 . A wetsuit, comprising:
 a plurality of pieces of material that are stitched or glued together to form the wetsuit; and   at least one drag-creating section provided on one of the pieces of material that has a base, the drag-creating section having a plurality of water catch devices, each water catch device having a flap piece and a base portion, with a cavity defined between each flap piece and the base of the piece of material or the base portion of an adjacent water catch device, each flap piece constructed such that it can be expanded and collapsed to allow water to enter and leave the cavity, and with the surface area of the flap piece being greater than the surface area of the underlying base of the piece of material or the underlying base portion;   wherein the plurality of water catch devices are arranged in series immediately adjacent to each other, with the cavity of each water catch device on the piece of material opening in the same direction towards another water catch device;   wherein the flap piece is moved between a collapsed configuration where it is generally flat adjacent the underlying base of the piece of material or the underlying base portion, and an expanded configuration in which it stretches away from the underlying base of the piece of material or the underlying base portion; and   wherein the plurality of water catch devices includes a first proximal-most water catch device that is stitched to the base of the piece of material, a second water catch device positioned directly adjacent the first water catch device with the cavity of the second water catch device opening towards the rear of the first water catch device and with the second water catch device stitched to the base portion of the first water catch device.   
     
     
         9 . The wetsuit of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of water catch devices includes a third water catch device that is stitched to the base portion of the second water catch device, a third water catch device positioned directly adjacent the second water catch device with the cavity of the third water catch device opening towards the rear of the second water catch device. 
     
     
         10 . The wetsuit of  claim 8 , wherein each water catch device further includes an inter-joining section between the flap piece and the base portions.