Suit for to be worn in or on a body of water

Abstract

The invention relates to a suit such as a wetsuit or drysuit for use in or on a body of water. The wall of the suit includes an inner layer of wool or wool blended material, an intermediate membrane which is substantially impermeable to the passage of water therethrough and an outer layer which acts as a protective layer. There is no need to provide a layer of foam rubber and hence the thickness of the suit wall can be reduced in comparison to conventional suits. The invention also relates to the method of manufacture of the wool or wool blended layer and the provision of one or more panels including said layer which can be attached to the inner face of suits.

1 . A suit to be worn by a person when in contact with water, said suit comprising:
 at least an outer layer of material;   an intermediate layer being provided in the form of a membrane which is substantially impermeable to the passage of liquid therethrough; and   at least a portion of the suit includes an inner layer of wool, or wool blended with other fibres or materials, said layer provided to contact with the person and retain at least some of the liquid which enters the suit from an external source and/or from the person wearing the suit.   
     
     
         2 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate layer allows the passage of air therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . A suit according to  claim 2  wherein the intermediate layer is chemically breathable to allow air to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         4 . A suit according to  claim 2  wherein the intermediate layer includes porous openings which are large enough to allow molecules of air to pass therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate layer prevents the passage of air therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate layer is elastic in at least one direction. 
     
     
         7 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the intermediate layer is formed of polyurethane or urethane based material. 
     
     
         8 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein at at least a portion or portions of said suit, water can pass from the exterior of the suit into the volume between the inner surface of the said intermediate layer and the person wearing the suit and be retained therein. 
     
     
         9 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the wool or wool blend layer is provided wherever water is permitted to pass between the person and the intermediate layer of material. 
     
     
         10 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the wool blend layer is attached to an inner surface of the intermediate layer of material so as to lie adjacent the skin of the person wearing the suit. 
     
     
         11 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the suit includes an outer layer formed of lycra and/or a polyester stretch fabric. 
     
     
         12 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the wool blend includes a synthetic yarn in a proportion of about 1% to 40% more preferably 10-20% by weight of an overall weight of the blend. 
     
     
         13 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein a material is added to the wool which is at least partially elasticated to offer improved elasticity to the inner layer and the suit. 
     
     
         14 . A suit according to  claim 1  wherein the inner layer is provided as a panel of wool blended with other fibres or materials, said panel provided in attachment to a selected region of an inner surface of the suit and positioned such that the wool blend contacts the person's body when the suit is worn. 
     
     
         15 . A suit according to  claim 14  wherein the panel and face of the panel opposing the person wearing the suit is attached, or attachable, to the inner face of the suit. 
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a suit for use with water, said method comprising the following steps:
 forming outer and intermediate layers of material into a shape for wearing by a person;   providing an inner layer of wool or wool blend to lie between the person and the layer of material when the suit is worn; and   laminating the wool blend inner layer material as a lining to an inner surface of the intermediate layer of material which is provided as a liquid impermeable membrane.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16  wherein the wool blend inner layer includes a synthetic yarn which is set to define the level of extension or elasticity of the wool blend layer. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17  wherein the synthetic yarns are set once they have been integrated into the wool blend inner layer, at which stage the wool blend inner layer is stretched to a required amount and passed through heated calendared rollers, with opposing ends of the inner layer being retained and kept under tension so as to ensure that setting of the yarn by heat takes place with the inner layer at the required amount of stretch. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the setting by applying heat is performed after dying and drying of the wool blend inner layer. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18  wherein the wool and synthetic yarns are separately supplied to at least some needles of a knitting machinery used to form the inner layer, together and simultaneously. 
     
     
         21 . A suit to be worn by a person when in contact with water, said suit comprising:
 at least an outer layer of material, and   at least a portion of the suit includes at least at one portion thereof being an inner panel of wool, or wool blended with other fibres or materials, wherein the panel further includes:
 being in contact with the person, 
 having a dimension which is less than that of the overall suit, 
 being positioned adjacent to the person's body when the suit is worn, and 
 a face of the panel opposing the person wearing the suit being attached, or attachable, to an inner face of the suit. 
   
     
     
         22 . A panel provided to be applied to an inner face of a suit to be worn on or in a body of water said panel comprising:
 a layer of wool or wool blend positioned adjacent to the body of the person wearing the suit; and   a backing layer attachable to said inner face of the suit to allow a panel to form part of the suit.   
     
     
         23 . A panel according to  claim 21  wherein the panel is attached to the inner face of the suit so as to extend across at least one seam or join between panels of the suit. 
     
     
         24 . A panel according to  claim 22  wherein the backing layer is a water impermeable membrane. 
     
     
         25 . A panel according to  claim 22  wherein the panel is laminated to the inner face of the suit.