Improvements To Garments For Use In Water And Method Of Manufacture Of The Same

Abstract

A garment for use by a person when in a body of water, such as a sea, river or lake. The garment is of the type known as a wetsuit or drysuit which, when worn, provides protection and warmth for at least the torso, arms and legs of a wearer. A method of forming the garment having seams which allow an effective seal to be achieved between adjacent panels of the garment and, as a result, an effective garment to be formed.

1 . A garment for use in a body of water when worn by a person, said garment comprising:
 a series of panels positioned adjacent to each other with each respective edges joined together so as to form the garment of a particular shape and size; and   wherein a portion of said panels depending inwardly from at least part of the said edge of at least one of the series of panels has a reduced thickness with respect to a thickness of a remainder of the said panel.   
     
     
         2 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the said portions of the panels are formed along thea length of the edge of the said panel. 
     
     
         3 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein said portions of the panels are formed at the edges of respective panels which are to be joined together. 
     
     
         4 . The garment according to  claim 3 , wherein the said portions on the respective panels are located “in line” to form, in combination, a channel along a length of a join interface between said panels. 
     
     
         5 . The garment according to  claim 4 , wherein the channel receives therein a sealing material which overlies the join interface between abutting edges of the panels. 
     
     
         6 . The garment according to  claim 5 , wherein the sealing material is applied in a liquid state along the channel and then the sealing material hardens. 
     
     
         7 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the said panels are formed of a multilayer construction. 
     
     
         8 . The garment according to  claim 7 , wherein the layers comprise a base or core layer, and on at least one surface of the same there is provided a lining material layer. 
     
     
         9 . The garment according to  claim 8 , wherein the lining material layer is applied to a first surface of the base or core layer and the lining material layer is applied to a second surface of the base or core layer which opposes the said first surface. 
     
     
         10 . The garment according to  claim 8 , wherein the base or core layer and lining material layers are bonded together prior to formation of panels therefrom. 
     
     
         11 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein a quantity of material removed from an external surface of the panel to form the said portion to a required depth is to remove at least one lining material layer from a base or core layer. 
     
     
         12 . The garment according to  claim 11 , wherein at least part of the base or core is removed to form the portion to the required depth. 
     
     
         13 . A method of manufacture of a panel for use in a garment to be worn in a body of water, said method comprising the steps of: forming a series of panels to the required shapes, and wherein along at least part of a peripheral edge of at least some of said panels, a portion of the panel is removed to a depth so as to form a reduced thickness portion depending inwardly from an edge of said panel. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the method includes the steps of forming the panel as a multilayer structure comprising a core layer and applying at least one lining material layer to at least one surface of the core layer. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the method includes the step of providing a lining material layer on both opposing surfaces of a base or the core layer. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the multilayer panel which is removed is sufficient to remove a the lining material layer on one of the surfaces of a core layer. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claims 13 , wherein the method includes the steps of aligning and abutting adjacent edges of the panels which are to be joined together and the said portions on the respective panels form a channel. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein a join interface between the abutting panels is located in and along the said channel. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein a longitudinal axes of the join interface and the channel are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein an adhesive material is provided at a join interface so as to adhere the panels together. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claims 13 , wherein a sealing material is located along the channel. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the sealing material, when hardened, has an external surface which is substantially flush with the external surfaces of the adjacent panels. 
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 22 , wherein the sealing material masks the interface join from the an external surface of the garment. 
     
     
         24 . A series of panels for use when joined together to form a garment, said panels comprising:
 formed of a particular shape from a multi-layered sheet material structure and said panels positioned adjacent to each other with their respective edges joined together so as to form an interface join between said panels; and   wherein at and depending inwardly from the said edges, the panels have a thickness less than a thickness of a body of the panel so that when the edges are joined together a channel is formed along which the said interface join is located and said channel receives therealong a sealing material.