Abstract: A boxer-type swim suit for a water skier in which the suit has at least one rear panel, a liner attached thereto along a waistband, a band attached to the rear panel and an elongated strip having its upper edge joined to the rear panel and its lower edge joined to the liner. The elongated strip and band define opposing sides of a vent which extends across substantially the entire width of the rear portion of the swim suit. The vent allows first water and then air to escape which would otherwise be trapped below the waistband of a water skier's swim suit. Both the strip and band are disposed generally parallel to an edge of the waistband and proximate thereto and are joined to each other along a plurality of junctures situated between the ends of the band. Disposed generally perpendicularly to the waistband, contiguous pairs of these junctures are spaced sufficiently apart from each other to allow either water or air to flow substantially unimpeded through the vent.

Abstract: A loose-fitting boxer-type bathing suit having a pair of elongated, trapezoidally-shaped stays insertable into pockets stitched to the inside of the legs of the suit. Each pocket includes a short seam which juts inwardly, partially blocking the entrance to the pocket. The distance between this short seam and a bottom of the pocket is approximately equal to the overall length of the stay, so that a snug fit between it and the pocket is attained. Away from the short seams, the upper edges of both stays slope downwardly towards the wearer's crouch. The stays are positioned a sufficient distance below the waistband of the bathing suit that both upper edges lie generally parallel to and slightly below the two natural creases that form between the wearer's torso and his thighs when his body is bent forward at the hips. These natural creases tend to prevent the legs of the bathing suit, reinforced by the stays, from riding up. In the event the legs do ride up anyway, the stays make them pop back down.

Abstract: A knee guard and brace having both lateral and medial side members in which a single, medial condyle support pad is affixed to a plate hingedly connected to the inner side of an upper longitudinal rib within the medial side member. A spacer mounted on the plate and rotatable about a pivot thereon determines the angle at which the longitudinal centerlines of the medial condyle support pad and of the upper rib are inclined with respect to each other when the pad is pressed as far as possible medially, that is, in a direction toward the median plane of the human body. The spacer includes an eccentric arm with a ramp which can be rotated about the pivot. The medial condyle support pad is readily positioned to accommodate a particular user without elaborate custom-fitting once the thigh and calf support pads in the lateral side member have been custom-fitted to his leg and strapped thereon.

Abstract: A knee guard and brace with a single, laterally-worn side member having elongated thigh and calf support pads each of which is connected by a floating joint to one of two ribs. The ends of these ribs remote from the floating joints are interconnected by a centrally located mechanical joint structure. The floating joint connections between the elongated pads and the ribs are disposed generally in the middle of the pads and are sufficiently flexible to allow each pad to fit snugly, along its entire length, against a wearer's leg when the knee guard and brace is strapped to it. This closeness of fit is achieved without elaborate custom-fitting. Once the knee guard and brace is secured to a wearer's leg, movement of the section of each pad proximate the knee joint inwardly and away from the ribs can be prevented by adjusting the position of spacers rotatably attached to the ribs.