Wetsuit

Abstract

A wetsuit is provided, the wetsuit comprising: a sleeve, formed from at least a first material and a second material, the sleeve having an upper arm portion and a forearm portion, wherein the first material defines a boundary that is arranged to extend from the forearm portion, around a bicep region in the upper arm portion and back to the forearm portion, and the second material is arranged to be positioned within the boundary in the bicep region and forearm portion, and wherein the first material has a first elastic modulus and the second material has a second elastic modulus, the first elastic modulus being greater than the second elastic modulus.

I/We claim: 
     
         1 . A wetsuit, comprising:
 a sleeve, formed from at least a first material and a second material, the sleeve having an upper arm portion and a forearm portion,   wherein the first material defines a boundary that is arranged to extend from the forearm portion, around a bicep region in the upper arm portion and back to the forearm portion, and the second material is arranged to be positioned within the boundary in the bicep region and forearm portion, and   wherein the first material has a first elastic modulus and the second material has a second elastic modulus, the first elastic modulus being greater than the second elastic modulus.   
     
     
         2 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic modulus is at least 10% greater than the second elastic modulus. 
     
     
         3 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first elastic modulus is at least 25% greater than the second elastic modulus. 
     
     
         4 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary extends along a posterior region of the forearm portion of the sleeve. 
     
     
         5 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary extends from a cuff region of the sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The wetsuit of  claim 5 , wherein the boundary extends back to the cuff region of the sleeve. 
     
     
         7 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve has an elbow region, and the second material is positioned at the elbow region, within the boundary. 
     
     
         8 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the boundary defines a channel within which the second material is positioned. 
     
     
         9 . The wetsuit of  claim 8 , wherein the channel extends to the cuff of the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The wetsuit of  claim 8 , wherein the channel is tapered in the forearm portion. 
     
     
         11 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a composite material. 
     
     
         12 . The wetsuit of  claim 11 , wherein the first, composite, material comprises neoprene and at least one layer of fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the second material is a composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The wetsuit of  claim 13 , wherein the second, composite, material comprises neoprene sandwiched between two layers of fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the second material extends from the bicep region to the elbow region. 
     
     
         16 . The wetsuit of  claim 15 , wherein the second material extends from the elbow region to the forearm portion. 
     
     
         17 . The wetsuit of  claim 1 , wherein the wetsuit is a triathlon wetsuit. 
     
     
         18 . A wetsuit, comprising:
 a sleeve, formed from at least a first material and a second material, the sleeve having an upper arm portion and a forearm portion,   wherein the first material has a boundary that is arranged to extend around a bicep region in the upper arm portion of the sleeve and around an elbow region of the sleeve, and   wherein the first material has a first elastic modulus and the second material has a second elastic modulus, the first elastic modulus being greater than the second elastic modulus.   
     
     
         19 . The wetsuit of  claim 18 , wherein the second material is positioned in a channel defined by the boundary that extends from the bicep region to at least the elbow region of the sleeve. 
     
     
         20 . The wetsuit of  claim 19 , wherein the second material extends from the elbow region and along the forearm portion to a cuff region of the sleeve.