Importance

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Abstract

A wetsuit and wetsuit fabric made of a multi-layer laminated fabric material having a plurality of interconnected air channels formed between the fabric layers. The air channels are formed by unattached regions between fabric layers that are otherwise attached such as by gluing. The unattached regions are free to separate from each other and expand in response to pressure from a gas such as air under pressure. The air is preferably introduced through a valve such as by the wearer blowing air into the valve to fill the air channels thereby expanding these 'unglued' regions. In a preferred embodiment, the air channels are selectively shaped to form a plurality of adjacent cells, thereby adding to the aesthetic appearance of the wetsuit fabric. These cells may be virtually any shape depending simply on the path chosen for the air channels. The fabric employing expandable air channels may be employed at virtually any location in a wetsuit as well as in accessories such as gloves, boots and hoods.

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First Claim