Material having an expandable portion

Abstract

An article of apparel is disclosed. The article of apparel has a first portion that extends in a longitudinal direction of the article of apparel and a second portion that extends in the longitudinal direction. The second portion is attached to the first portion. The second portion is more expandable than the first portion. The second portion is expandable in both the longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The second portion is more expandable in the longitudinal direction in which the first portion and the second portion extend than in the transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a first portion that extends in a longitudinal direction of the article of apparel; and   a second portion that extends in the longitudinal direction, the second portion being attached to the first portion;   wherein the second portion is more expandable than the first portion;   wherein the second portion is expandable in both the longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and   wherein the second portion is more expandable in the longitudinal direction in which the first portion and the second portion extend than in the transverse direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.   
     
     
         2 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion is at least twice as expandable in the longitudinal direction than in the transverse direction. 
     
     
         3 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of expandable members is disposed in the second portion. 
     
     
         4 . The article of apparel of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of expandable members inflates when holding a pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         5 . The article of apparel of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of expandable members inflates when holding pressurized air, O 2 , or CO 2 . 
     
     
         6 . The article of apparel of  claim 4 , wherein the pressurized fluid is provided by an operation of an inflation device. 
     
     
         7 . The article of apparel of  claim 1 , wherein the article of apparel is a wetsuit. 
     
     
         8 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that is attached to the first portion;   wherein the second portion is more expandable than the first portion;   wherein the second portion includes a first expandable member and a second expandable member;   wherein the second portion includes a plurality of nonexpandable members disposed between the first expandable member and the second expandable member, each of the plurality of nonexpandable members having a first end portion and second end portion;   wherein at least one first end portion is attached to the first expandable member; and   wherein at least one second end portion is attached to the second expandable member.   
     
     
         9 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the nonexpandable members are shape-changeable while maintaining a substantially constant perimeter length. 
     
     
         10 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the nonexpandable members are shape-changeable when holding a pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the nonexpandable members are shape-changeable when holding a pressurized fluid provided by an operation of an inflation device. 
     
     
         12 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein the nonexpandable members are shape-changeable members that pull the first and second expandable members toward each other while stretching the expandable members when the nonexpandable members are filled with a pressurized fluid. 
     
     
         13 . The article of apparel of  claim 8 , wherein all first end portions are attached to the first expandable member and all second end portions are attached to the second expandable member. 
     
     
         14 . The article of apparel of  claim 3 , wherein the nonexpandable members are disposed substantially transversely to the first and second expandable members. 
     
     
         15 . An article of apparel, comprising:
 a first portion; and   a second portion that is attached to the first portion;   wherein the second portion is more expandable than the first portion;   wherein the second portion includes a first expandable member and a second expandable member;   wherein the second portion includes a plurality of intermediate expandable members disposed in one or more cavities formed between the first expandable member and the second expandable member; and   wherein at least one of the plurality of intermediate expandable members includes an air-tight chamber.   
     
     
         16 . The article of apparel of  claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of nonexpandable members disposed between the first and second expandable members. 
     
     
         17 . The article of apparel of  claim 16 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of nonexpandable members has a first end portion and second end portion;   at least one first end portion is attached to the first expandable member; and   at least one second end portion is attached to the second expandable member.   
     
     
         18 . The article of apparel of  claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of intermediate expandable members includes an air-tight chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The article of apparel of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate expandable members are inflatable. 
     
     
         20 . The article of apparel of  claim 15 , wherein the intermediate expandable members inflate when holding a pressurized fluid provided by an operation of an inflation device.