Watersuit for Enhanced Performance in the Water

• US 20120144541A1
• Filed: 12/14/2010
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aqua-Lung America Incorporated (Aqua-Lung)
• Original Assignee: Aqua-Lung America Incorporated (Aqua-Lung)
• Inventors: Mitchell, Todd Clayton, Keith, Glen Sheldon, Tyler, Robert Alan, Reeder, Paul Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/968,075
• Publication Number:
  US 20120144541A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/2.15
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 11/04 Resilient suits

Abstract

An improved watersuit having a stabilization belt, elastic stretch sections and a wetsuit arm positioning system. The watersuit stabilization belt system comprises a watersuit and at least one adjustable belt attached to the watersuit, which provides an adjustable tightness around a user'"'"'s mid-section. The improved watersuit also comprises an upper-body portion, a stretchable portion, and a lower-body portion, wherein the stretchable portion is more elastic than the upper and lower-body portions of the wetsuit. The improved watersuit further having a wetsuit arm positioning system, wherein the arm portions of the watersuit have extra buoyancy sections that wrap about the arm. These extra buoyancy sections are narrower around the front of the arms and wider around the back of the arms so as not to inhibit movement in the elbow region.

Claims

1. A watersuit stabilization belt system for streamlining a swimmer'"'"'s body position and stabilizing a swimmer'"'"'s muscles and lower back and improving watersuit fit, comprising:

a watersuit; and

at least one adjustable belt attached to the watersuit, wherein the belt provides an adjustable tightness around a user'"'"'s mid-section.

2. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the watersuit is a wetsuit, a dry suit, or a water speed suit.

3. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the watersuit is a one-piece watersuit.

4. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the watersuit is a two-piece watersuit.

5. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the belt is positioned within the watersuit and wraps at least partially around the back of the user.

6. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 5, wherein the belt has ends positioned at opposite lateral sides of the interior of the watersuit, and wherein the belt is fastened together at its center with hook and loop fasteners.

7. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 6, wherein the ends of the belt are sewn into side seams of the watersuit.

8. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 6, wherein the belt is made of a stretchable material.

9. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the watersuit is made of neoprene rubber and nylon.

10. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the belt is made of a non-buoyant material including but not limited to nylon.

11. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the belt is made of a stretchable material.

12. The watersuit stabilization belt system of claim 1, wherein the belt is positioned outside the watersuit.

13. A watersuit comprising:

an upper-body portion;

a stretchable portion connected to the upper-body portion; and

a lower-body portion connected to the stretchable portion, wherein the stretchable portion is more elastic than the upper and lower-body portions and wherein the stretchable portion extends from underarm regions down lateral side regions and across a lower back region of the wetsuit.

14. The watersuit of claim 13, wherein the watersuit is a wetsuit, a dry suit, or a water speed suit.

15. The watersuit of claim 13, wherein the stretchable portion is located on the shoulder and arm areas of the wetsuit.

16. The watersuit of claim 13, wherein the upper-body portion extends down the user'"'"'s back.

17. The watersuit of claim 16, wherein the upper-body portion extends down the user'"'"'s back to a position below the user'"'"'s elbows.

18. The watersuit of claim 13, wherein the stretchable portion is V-shaped or U-shaped across the user'"'"'s back.

19. The watersuit of claim 13, wherein the upper-body portion, stretchable portion and lower-body portion are all made of the same material, and wherein the upper and lower-body portions are thicker than the stretchable portion.

20. The watersuit of claim 13, wherein stretching of the stretchable portion facilitates rotation of the user'"'"'s hips as the user'"'"'s arm extends forward during a swimming stroke.

31. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 20, wherein the extra buoyancy sections are colored for high visibility.

21. A watersuit arm positioning system, comprising:

a watersuit; and

an extra buoyancy arm portion positionable above the elbow of the watersuit.

22. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy section wraps fully around the arm.

23. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy section wraps partially around the arm.

24. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy section is integrally formed into the watersuit.

25. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy section is separately removable from the watersuit.

26. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy section is narrower around the front of the arms and wider around the back of the arms.

27. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy section of the arm portions are made of the same material as the remainder of the arm portions.

28. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy section of the arm portions are made of a different material as the remainder of the arm portions.

29. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy sections are thicker than the remainder of the arm portions.

30. The watersuit arm positioning system of claim 21, wherein the extra buoyancy sections are colored differently from the remainder of the arm portions.

36. The improved watersuit of claim 23, wherein arm portions of the watersuit have an extra buoyancy section above the elbow, wherein the extra buoyancy section wraps around the arm, and wherein the extra buoyancy section is narrower around the front of the arms and wider around the back of the arms.

32. An improved watersuit, comprising:

an upper-body portion;

a stretchable portion connected to the upper-body portion;

a lower-body portion connected to the stretchable portion, wherein the stretchable portion is more elastic than the upper or lower-body portions; and

at least one adjustable belt disposed on the wetsuit and positioned to wrap at least partially around the user.

33. The improved watersuit of claim 32, wherein the watersuit is a wetsuit, a dry suit, or a water speed suit.

34. The improved watersuit of claim 32, wherein the upper-body portion extends down the user'"'"'s back to a position below the user'"'"'s elbows, and wherein the stretchable portion is V-shaped or U-shaped across the user'"'"'s back and extends from underarm regions down lateral side regions and across a lower back region of the wetsuit.

35. The improved watersuit of claim 32, wherein the belt has ends positioned at opposite lateral sides of the interior of the wetsuit, and wherein the belt is fastened together at its center with hook and loop fasteners.