Safety swimwear with floats made of gas-containing polymer fibers

Abstract

Safety swimwear 1 of the one-piece type, extending from at least the crotch to the top of the shoulders and comprising buoyancy elements 2, 7 configured to keep a user of the swimwear 1 out of the water from the shoulders, each buoyancy element 2, 7 comprising several sheets stacked on top of each other, the thickness of each sheet being between 1.05 mm and 1.50 mm, preferably between 1.10 and 1.30 mm, even more preferably being 1.20 mm, said sheets being made of fibers of a polymer containing a volume of a gas greater than the volume of the polymer. Figure for abstract: figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Safety swimwear with floats made of fibers of a polymer containing a gas

[0001] The invention relates to a safety swimwear garment of the one-piece type, extending from at least the crotch to the top of the shoulders.

[0002] The art of such swimwear is already known. They include integrated buoyancy elements. These buoyancy elements consist of a block of foam, or float, in the form of a right rectangular parallelepiped. These buoyancy elements of the prior art are rigid and are not ergonomic. They do not allow any freedom of movement. Flotation is permitted because the floats rise to the surface, thus forcing the user into a position that is not necessarily the swimming position. Furthermore, in the event of damage to the swimwear, the float may be forced to move or even be removed, which poses safety problems. Furthermore, floating swimsuits with integrated polystyrene tubes surrounding the torso and back hinder arm movements and cause a "cork effect" in small children.In fact, in small children, the center of gravity in the water is located at the head. The small user floats upright, but if they tip forward, their head will be pulled downward, which could cause a tipping, making recovery very difficult.

[0003] The invention aims in particular to provide a safety swimwear garment allowing greater freedom of movement.

[0004] For this purpose, the invention relates to a safety swimwear of the one-piece type, extending from at least the crotch to the top of the shoulders and comprising buoyancy elements configured to keep a user of the swimwear out of the water from the shoulders, each buoyancy element comprising several sheets stacked on top of each other, the thickness of each sheet being between 1.05 mm and 1.50 mm, preferably between 1.10 and 1.30 mm, even more preferably being 1.20 mm. Said sheets are made of fibers of a polymer containing a volume of a gas greater than the volume of the polymer.

[0005] Thus, the polymer fibers contain a very large majority of gas, that is to say that more than 80% of the volume of the fiber is made up of gas, preferably more than 95%, and even more preferably 97% or more.

[0006] The polymer fibers are obtained by extruding the polymer in the presence of a foaming agent so as to form cavities in the polymer, and injecting a gas to trap this gas in the cavities.

[0007] Thus the gas is trapped in the polymer fiber, according to a method described for example in American patent US 4,952,352.

[0008] The sheets, with their limited thickness, are relatively flexible and follow the movements of the body for optimal comfort. They have improved ergonomics. Thanks to the invention, certain areas are prevented from rising to the surface and the user can float in a horizontal position. The buoyancy is neither too little nor too much, the user is therefore encouraged to stimulate his motor skills to move and float, which ultimately allows him to learn the movements of swimming.

[0009] Furthermore, tests have shown that a cut in the buoyancy element according to the invention does not alter the buoyancy of the garment. In the swimwear according to the invention, the entire swimwear is buoyant. Also, there is no risk of the garment rising above the user's head, as can be observed with floats.

[0010] Finally, a thickness of approximately 1.2 mm allows a large quantity of gas to be stored. Thus, a 1.2 mm sheet contains 2.4 times more gas than a 0.5 mm sheet. By using sheets with a thickness between 1 and 1.5 mm, the number of sheets in the buoyancy element is reduced, compared to a solution in which the sheets would, for example, have a thickness of 0.5 mm. This results in better flotation and a reduction in thickness, providing greater ease of movement for the user.

[0011] According to other optional characteristics of the swimwear, taken alone or in combination:

[0012] - The polymer is an ethylene polymer, preferably a homopolymer ethylene, and even more preferably low-density polyethylene. The term "ethylene polymer" means a polymer comprising predominantly ethylene monomers. The polymer may be a homopolymer, in which case it will comprise ethylene as the only repeating unit, or an ethylene copolymer, comprising a second repeating unit such as propylene. Low-density polyethylene, LDPE, is a homopolymer of ethylene. It has a density close to 0.92. This results in improved buoyancy. Furthermore, this polymer is known for its great flexibility and allows for the manufacture of soft products. This polymer is therefore particularly suitable for improving the ergonomics of swimwear. It is also a recyclable and non-toxic polymer. It is used, for example, in food packaging. It is also very durable, used in the manufacture of objects likely to withstand shocks, such as boat hulls and bulletproof vests. It can also be treated with an anti-UV treatment to withstand long exposure to the sun, which is advantageous for outdoor swimming uses.

[0013] - The gas is air or natural gas. The buoyancy properties of air are well known, and natural gas, which is a gaseous mixture of hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane, is lighter than air, allowing for a polymer sheet with even greater buoyancy. Natural gas also has the advantage of being non-polluting.

[0014] - The swimwear is configured to equip a child, and the flow elements stability each include four to fifteen leaves (13). Furthermore, the swimwear includes at least: - a buoyancy element extending over a front face of the garment, and configured to cover the upper part of the child's body, and comprising from fourteen to fifteen leaves, and - a buoyancy element extending across a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover an area from the pelvis to the top of the child's shoulders, and comprising seven to ten sheets. The choice of the number of buoyancy elements, their location on the swimwear, and the number of leaves they include allow the swimwear to be adapted to the child's weight, in order to provide suitable flotation.

[0015] - The swimwear is configured to fit a child having a weight of between between 13 and 19 kg, and it also includes: - a buoyancy element extending across a front face of the garment, and configured to cover a waistline of the child, and comprising four sheets, - a buoyancy element extending across a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover the child's waistline, and comprising seven or eight sheets. The buoyancy element extending across a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover the waistline, overlaps the buoyancy element covering the area from the pelvis to the top of the shoulders.

[0016] - The swimwear is configured to fit a child having a weight of between between 13 and 15 kg, and it further comprises a buoyancy element extending on a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover a bicep area of ​​the child, and comprising twelve sheets.

[0017] - The swimwear is configured to fit a child having a weight of between between 15 and 19 kg, and it further comprises a buoyancy element extending on a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover the nape of the child's neck, and comprising four leaves. The buoyancy element extending across a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover the nape of the neck, overlaps the buoyancy element covering the area from the pelvis to the top of the shoulders.

[0018] - The swimwear is configured to fit a child having a weight of between between 19 and 21 kg, and it further comprises a buoyancy element extending on a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover the nape of the child's neck, and comprising four leaves.

[0019] - The swimwear is configured to fit an adult, and the flow elements stability include six to ten leaves, and the swimwear includes: - a buoyancy element extending over a front face of the garment, and configured to cover an area between the pelvis and the chest of the adult's body, and comprising nine to ten leaves, and - a buoyancy element extending over a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover an area between the pelvis and the shoulder line of the adult, and comprising six sheets.

[0020] - The buoyancy elements are inserted into the swimwear, that is to say they are arranged on an internal surface of the swimwear.

[0021] - The buoyancy elements are assembled with the swimwear by sewing.

[0022] - The leaves are sewn together.

[0023] - The gas is enclosed in the polymer in the form of microbubbles. By stretching Under very high pressure, the polymer forms cavities trapping gas microbubbles. These microbubbles have variable dimensions and can slightly vary the final thickness of the polymer fiber.

[0024] The invention also relates to a floating mattress configured to support at least one user on the water, comprising two sheets stacked on top of each other, the thickness of each sheet being approximately 5 mm, said sheets being made of fibers of a polymer containing a volume of a gas greater than the volume of the polymer.

[0025] Thus, polymer fibers contain a very large majority of gas, that is to say that more than 80% of the volume of the fiber is made up of gas, preferably 80 to 85%.

[0026] The polymer fibers in the floating mattress are obtained by a process similar to that used to manufacture the fibers of the swimwear described above.

[0027] The floating mattress according to the invention has the advantage of being thin, while exhibiting good buoyancy performance. By using sheets approximately 5 mm thick, the number of sheets in the mattress is reduced, compared to a solution in which the sheets would, for example, have a thickness of 0.5 mm. This makes the mattress more rigid, which makes it possible to create new games in the water.

[0028] According to other optional characteristics of the floating mattress taken alone or in combination:

[0029] - The polymer is an ethylene polymer, preferably a homopolymer ethylene, and even more preferably low-density polyethylene.

[0030] - The gas is air or natural gas.

[0031] - The gas is enclosed in the polymer in the form of microbubbles. Brief description of the figures

[0032] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0033] [Fig-1] [Fig. 1] is a front perspective view of a swimwear garment according to a first embodiment of the invention;

[0034] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a rear perspective view of the swimwear of the [Fig.l];

[0035] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an exploded perspective front view of part of an element buoyancy for the swimwear of [Fig.l];

[0036] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a detail view of a sheet of the buoyancy element re presented in [Fig.3];

[0037] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is a sectional view of a polymer fiber constituting the sheet shown in [Fig.4];

[0038] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] a front perspective view of a swimwear garment according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0039] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a rear perspective view of the swimwear of the [Fig.6] ;

[0040] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] is a perspective view of a floating mattress according to a method of realization of the invention. Detailed description

[0041] Figures 1 and 2 show a safety swimwear according to a first embodiment of the invention, designated by the general reference 1. The safety swimwear 1 is of the one-piece type and extends from at least the crotch to the top of the shoulders. The swimwear 1 may include different buoyancy elements depending on the weight of the child. The location of the buoyancy elements on the swimwear 1 is identified by the references 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. The buoyancy elements 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 are configured to keep a user, not shown, of the swimwear 1, out of the water from the shoulders. The buoyancy elements 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 extend over an internal surface of a front or rear face of the swimwear 1.

[0042] As shown in [Fig. 3], which represents a part of the buoyancy element 2 of [Fig. 1], a buoyancy element according to the invention comprises several sheets 13 stacked and sewn on top of each other. In the example shown in [Fig. 3], the buoyancy element 2 comprises eight sheets 13. The other buoyancy elements 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 also comprise several sheets 13 stacked and sewn on top of each other. on the others. Each sheet 13 has a thickness between 1.05 mm and 1.50 mm. Preferably, this thickness is 1.20 mm.

[0043] As shown in [Fig.4], the sheets 13 are made of fibers 15 of a polymer. [Fig.5] is a sectional view of one of these fibers 15. These fibers 15 contain a volume of a gas 17 greater than the volume of the polymer. The gas is present in the polymer in the form of microbubbles.

[0044] In the example of Figures 1 and 2, the polymer is a low density polyethylene, and the gas 17 is natural gas.

[0045] The swimwear 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is configured to equip a child. The buoyancy elements 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 comprise from four to fifteen sheets 13, and are each presented below.

[0046] The buoyancy element 7 extends over a front face of the garment 1, it is configured to cover the upper part of the child's body, and it comprises fourteen to fifteen sheets 13. Due to its distribution throughout the upper part of the body, the buoyancy element 7 makes it possible to position the child's body horizontally in order to teach him to swim.

[0047] The buoyancy element 3 extends over a rear face of the garment 1, and is configured to cover an area from the pelvis to the top of the child's shoulders; it comprises seven to ten sheets 13.

[0048] The buoyancy element 2 extends over a front face of the garment 1, is configured to cover a waistline of the child, and comprises four sheets 13.

[0049] The buoyancy element 4 extends across a rear face of the garment 1, is configured to cover the child's waistline, and comprises seven or eight sheets 13. When present, the buoyancy element 4 overlaps the buoyancy element 3. The buoyancy element 4 increases the buoyancy of the upper body.

[0050] The buoyancy element 5 extends over a rear face of the garment 1, is configured to cover a biceps area of ​​the child, and comprises twelve sheets 13.

[0051] The buoyancy element 6 extends over a rear face of the garment 1, is configured to cover the child's neck, and comprises four sheets 13. When present, the buoyancy element 6 overlaps the buoyancy element 3. The buoyancy element 6 allows the head to be kept above water.

[0052] The buoyancy elements 2 to 7 are added according to the weight of the child, and the number of sheets they comprise is also adapted to the weight of the child. Thus, the swimwear 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises at least one buoyancy element 7 comprising fourteen to fifteen sheets 13, and one buoyancy element 3 comprising seven to ten sheets 13.

[0053] The following table shows, depending on the child's weight, the buoyancy elements used, as well as the number of sheets they include:

[0054] [Tables 1] Weight 13-15 kg 15-17 kg 17 - 19 kg 19-21 kg 21-24 kg Element 7 14 leaves 14 leaves 14 leaves 14 leaves 15 leaves Element 2 4 leaves 4 leaves 4 leaves Element 3 10 leaves 7 leaves 7 leaves 7 leaves 10 leaves Element 4 8 leaves 7 leaves 7 leaves Element 5 12 leaves Element 6 4 leaves 4 leaves 4 leaves

[0055] A swimwear item 1 configured to equip a child weighing between 13 and 19 kg, further comprises: - a buoyancy element 2 extending over a front face of the garment 1, and configured to cover a waistline of the child, and comprising four sheets 13, - a buoyancy element 4 extending on a rear face of the garment 1, and configured to cover the child's waistline, and comprising seven or eight sheets 13.

[0056] A swimwear item 1 configured to equip a child having a weight of between 13 and 15 kg further comprises a buoyancy element 5 extending on a rear face of the item 1, and configured to cover a biceps area of ​​the child, and comprising twelve sheets 13.

[0057] A swimwear item 1 configured to equip a child having a weight of between 15 and 19 kg further comprises a buoyancy element 6 extending on a rear face of the item 1, and configured to cover the nape of the child's neck, and comprising four sheets 13.

[0058] A swimwear item 1 configured to equip a child having a weight of between 19 and 21 kg further comprises a buoyancy element 6 extending on a rear face of the item 1, and configured to cover the nape of the child's neck, and comprising four sheets 13.

[0059] Figures 6 and 7 show a swimwear item 1 according to a second embodiment of the invention. This swimwear item 1 essentially comprises the characteristics described for the swimwear item 1 of Figures 1 and 2 but it differs therefrom in that: - it is configured to equip an adult, - it comprises buoyancy elements 21, 23 which comprise six to ten sheets 13 of 1.2 mm thickness, - the buoyancy element 21 extends over an internal surface of a front face of the garment 1, is configured to cover an area between the pelvis and the chest of the adult's body, and comprises nine to ten sheets 13, and - the buoyancy element 23 extends over an internal surface of a rear face of the garment 1, is configured to cover an area between the pelvis and the shoulder line of the adult, and comprising six sheets 13.

[0060] The following table shows, depending on the weight of the adult, the buoyancy elements used, as well as the number of sheets they include:

[0061] [Tables2] Weight 46“ 55 kg 45 “ 65 kg 66 “ 75 kg 76 - 85 kg Element 21 9 sheets 9 sheets 9 sheets 10 sheets Element 23 6 sheets 6 sheets 6 sheets 6 sheets

[0062] [Fig. 8] shows a floating mattress 30, configured to support at least one user on the water, according to one embodiment of the invention. The floating mattress 30 comprises two sheets 13 stacked on top of each other. These sheets 13 are similar in all respects to the sheets 13 described for the swimwear 1 according to the invention. However, they differ in that their thickness is approximately 5 mm. In the embodiment of [Fig. 8], the polymer is a low-density polyethylene, and the gas 17 is natural gas.

[0063] The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented and other embodiments will become clear to those skilled in the art. It is in particular possible to use sheets in another polymer, having a suitable density and making it possible to manufacture flexible products. Also, the gas that can be used is not limited to natural gas. For example, air or any gas lighter than air could be used.

Claims

Claims

1. Safety swimwear (1) of the one-piece type, extending from at least the crotch to the top of the shoulders and comprising buoyancy elements (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21, 23) configured to keep a user of the swimwear (1) out of the water from the shoulders, each buoyancy element (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 21, 23) comprising several sheets (13) stacked on top of each other, the thickness of each sheet (13) being between 1.05 mm and 1.50 mm, preferably between 1.10 and 1.30 mm, even more preferably being 1.20 mm, said sheets (13) being made of fibers (15) of a polymer containing a volume of a gas (17) greater than the volume of the polymer, the garment (1) being configured to equip a child, in which the buoyancy elements (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) each comprise from four to fifteen sheets (13),the swimwear (1) comprising at least: - a buoyancy element (7) extending on a front face of the garment (1), and configured to cover the upper part of the child's body, and comprising from fourteen to fifteen leaves (13), and - a buoyancy element (3) extending on a rear face of the garment (1), and configured to cover an area from the pelvis to the top of the child's shoulders, and comprising from seven to ten leaves (13)..,

2. Swimwear (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the polymer is an ethylene polymer, preferably an ethylene homopolymer, and more preferably low density polyethylene.

3. A swimwear garment (1) according to any preceding claim, wherein the gas (17) is air or natural gas.

4. A swimwear garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, configured to equip a child having a weight of between 13 and 19 kg, the garment (1) further comprising: - a buoyancy element (2) extending on a front face of the garment (1), and configured to cover a waistline of the child, and comprising four sheets (13), - a buoyancy element (4) extending on a rear face of the garment (1), and configured to cover the waistline of the child, and comprising seven or eight leaves (13).

5. Swimwear (1) according to the preceding claim, configured to equip a child having a weight between 13 and 15 kg, the garment (1) further comprising a buoyancy element (5) extending on a rear face of the garment (1), and configured to cover a biceps area of ​​the child, and comprising twelve sheets (13).

6. A swimwear garment according to claim 4, configured to equip a child having a weight between 15 and 19 kg, the garment further comprising a buoyancy element (6) extending on a rear face of the garment (1), and configured to cover the nape of the child's neck, and comprising four sheets (13).

7. A swimwear garment (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, configured to equip a child having a weight of between 19 and 21 kg, the garment further comprising a buoyancy element (6) extending on a rear face of the garment, and configured to cover the nape of the child's neck, and comprising four sheets.

Images