Waterproof garment connector

Abstract

A waterproof garment connector arrangement attaches a distal garment part (e.g. a glove) to a main body of a garment. The connector arrangement includes a first part having a first outward facing recess and an inward facing protrusion; and a second part having an outer engagement member for being received in the first outward facing recess and in inner engagement member for engaging the protrusion. The outer engagement member includes a second outward facing recess at least partially accommodated in the first outward facing recess. An annular member is fitted into the second outward facing recess, so that the annular member urges the outer engagement member against a wall of the first outward facing recess to secure the first part to the second part.

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A waterproof garment connector arrangement for attaching a distal garment part to a main body of a garment, the connector arrangement including:
 a first part having a first outward facing recess and an inward facing protrusion;   a second part having an outer engagement member for being received in the first outward facing recess and an inner engagement member for engaging the protrusion, the outer engagement member including a second outward facing recess at least partially accommodated in the first outward facing recess in use; and   an annular member for fitting into the second outward facing recess, the arrangement being such that the annular member, in use, urges the outer engagement member against a wall of the first outward facing recess to secure the first part to the second part;   wherein the first part extends from one of the distal garment part and the main body of the garment and the second part extends from the other of the distal garment part and the main body of the garment.   
     
     
         16 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the second part is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         17 . The connector arrangement of  claim 16 , wherein the second outward facing recess has an entrance having a width that is less than a width of the annular member, the arrangement being such that the entrance deforms in use to allow insertion of the annular member into the second outward facing recess, whereafter the entrance resiles. 
     
     
         18 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the second part is configured to be deformed during connection to the first part to slide over the wall of the first outward facing recess and the protrusion, whereafter the second part resiles to engage the first outward facing recess and the protrusion to hold the first and second parts together. 
     
     
         19 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the second part has a shore hardness of 45-75. 
     
     
         20 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the first part is resiliently deformable. 
     
     
         21 . The connector arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein the wall of the first outward facing recess and the protrusion of the first part are configured to be deformed during connection to the second part, whereafter the wall of the first outward facing recess and the protrusion resile. 
     
     
         22 . The connector arrangement of  claim 20 , wherein the first part has a shore hardness of 45-75. 
     
     
         23 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the first part includes an abutment formation facing the protrusion for abutting in use an end wall of the second part, the arrangement being such as to hold the second part in engagement with the protrusion. 
     
     
         24 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the first part and the second part are annular and the first and second outward facing recesses extend circumferentially. 
     
     
         25 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the distal garment part comprises at least one of a glove, wrist seal, foot-receiving part, ankle seal, a head-receiving part and a neck seal. 
     
     
         26 . The connector arrangement of  claim 15 , wherein the protrusion is inclined. 
     
     
         27 . A wet suit, immersion suit, survival suit, dry suit or semi dry suit including at least one connector arrangement as claimed in  claim 15 , the distal garment part comprising at least one of a glove, wrist seal, foot-receiving part, ankle seal, a head-receiving part and a neck seal of the suit. 
     
     
         28 . A method of attaching a distal garment part to a main body of a garment using a waterproof garment connector arrangement as defined in  claim 15 , the method including:
 pushing the first part and the second part together such that the outer engagement member is received in the first outward facing recess and the inner engagement member engages the protrusion; and   inserting the annular member in the second outward facing recess, such that the annular member, in use, urges the outer engagement member against the wall of the first outward facing recess to secure the first part to the second part.