Protective Garment and Related Methods

Abstract

A garment is provided that includes an outer tubular garment portion and an inner tubular garment portion that are each fabricated from the same, continuous piece of protective material. By being formed from continuous portion of material, a user is provided with protection from ingress of fluids around an appendage when such fluid might be otherwise introduced through breaks in the material that rely entirely on a circumferential seam to secure separate pieces of material together. The inner tubular portion is not removable or severable from the outer tubular garment portion but is extendible to allow a user flexibility of use (e.g., stretching) without sacrificing performance. A method of creating a circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal is also provided.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A garment fabricated from a continuous protective material comprising:
 an outer tubular garment portion comprising an outer cuff portion formed from a fold in the protective material; and   an inner tubular garment portion fabricated from the protective material of the outer tubular portion such that no circumferential breaks are present in the protective material, the inner tubular portion terminating in an inner cuff having an opening.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cuff includes one or more elastic members positioned between an outer fabric layer and an inner fabric layer of the inner cuff to form the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the opening is circumferentially expandable. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the protective material is water repellant, waterproof, or water resistant. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cuff forms a water resistant seal with a user. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tubular garment portion and inner tubular garment portion share a single, longitudinal, continuous inseam. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tubular garment portion forms a sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer tubular garment portion forms a pant leg. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal is formed with a glove when a glove cuff is donned over the inner cuff. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein a circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal is formed with a boot when a boot top portion is donned over the inner cuff. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cuff is fabricated from a sufficient length of continuous protective material from the outer tubular portion such that the inner cuff is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the outer tubular garment portion includes at least one hook and loop fastener connection. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 12 , wherein the hook and loop fastener connection secures the inner cuff in either a retracted position or extended position when engaged. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cuff includes a plurality of stitches to secure and reverse the direction of the protective material back against an inner surface of the outer tubular portion and form the fold. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of a jacket, coat, long sleeve shirt, pants, or bib overalls. 
     
     
         15 . A method of creating a circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal comprising:
 providing the garment of  claim 1 ; and   donning the garment to form a circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the garment is selected from the group consisting of a jacket, coat, long sleeve shirt, pants, or bib overalls. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal is formed at a wrist or ankle. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal is formed with a boot when a boot top portion is donned over the inner cuff. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the circumferentially continuous fluid impervious seal is formed with a glove when a glove cuff is donned over the inner cuff.