Patent Publication Number: US-6907618-B2

Title: Hunting waders and jacket combination

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/119,111, filed Apr. 10, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,383, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/294,633, filed Jun. 1, 2001. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a waders and jacket combination in which the waders and jacket are attached to each other. 
   2. Description of Related Art 
   Protective suits and combination garments are well-known, as shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 336,355 issued on Jun. 15, 1993 to Jeffrey C. Holton, U.S. Pat. No. 353,254, issued on Dec. 13, 1994, U.S. Pat. No. 358,928, issued on Jun. 6, 1995 to Timothy Slagle et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 369,454 issued on May 7, 1996 to Neil Olsen. U.S. Pat. No. 492,643, issued on Feb. 28, 1893 to O. Van Oostrum, U.S. Pat. No. 2,087,246, issued on Jul. 20, 1937 to J. M. Edwards, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,130,416, issued on Apr. 28, 1964 to Jack Mitchell et al. further exemplify the state of the art in these protective garments. 
   Additionally, waders are common in the related art, e.g. as seen in U.S. Design Pat. No. 285,140, issued on Aug. 19, 1986 to Jack Ellenberger, and taught in U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,342, issued on Aug. 22, 1989 to Joh Nicholson et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,860, issued on Apr. 3, 1990, to Robert Keller, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,096, issued on Jun. 11, 1991 to David Pacanowsky, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,718, issued on Jan. 21, 1992 to David Carman et al. 
   Coats having head coverings are shown in U.S. Design Pat. No. 113,194, issued on Jan. 31, 1939 to Emma Story, and taught in U.S. Pat. No. 1,077,177, issued on Oct. 28, 1913 to Andrew Vagas et al. 
   None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is a waders and jacket combination in which the waders and jacket are attached to each other. Because the waders and the jacket are attached to each other, the elements cannot get in between the waders and the jacket, i.e. above the waders and below the jacket. Further, the combination will prevent the separation of the waders and the jacket and the inconvenience which may occur (i.e. by misplacing one) from their separation. The instant invention insures that the waders and the jacket are always together. The attachment will preferably be made by heat sealing the waders and the jacket together. However, it is noted that any manner which accomplishes the attachment of the waders and the jacket is contemplated by this invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a front elevational view of a hunting waders and jacket combination having one zipper according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevational view thereof. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the jacket showing the detail of the accordioned material. 
       FIG. 4  is a front elevational view of a hunting waders and jacket combination having two zippers. 
   

   Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The present invention is depicted in the attached figures.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the front and rear views of an outfit  10  having a jacket  12  attached to a pair of waders  14 . The jacket  12  may be made of Gore-Tex® (a water-repellant, breathable laminated fabric) or canvas material, has a turtle neck collar, which may be fastened with Velcro® (hook and loop fasteners) or zippers that zip to the collar. 
   The jacket  12  includes a detachable or fold-away hood  16  and a single zipper  18  for allowing entry into the outfit. The zipper  18 , shown in  FIG. 1 , is at a location indicating front entry of a wearer into the outfit  10 ; however, it is noted that locating the zipper to another portion of the jacket is well within the scope of the instant invention. The zipper  18  is waterproof and may be covered with a flap  20  of material to further minimize the effect of water, i.e. to make the outfit even more water resistant. Pockets  22  may be located on the front of the jacket  12  for use as hand warmers. 
   The waders  14  are waterproof and made of a material such as Cordura® (a durable fabric resistant to punctures, cuts, tears and scuffs), neoprene, vinyl, or rubber. The waders  14  may include buckle-release suspenders (not shown), knee pads  24  for reinforcement and attached boots  26 . The jacket  12  may include a holder for bullets (not shown). The boots  26  are preferably lined with Thinsulate® (a hypoallergenic low-loft synthetic fabric used in place of down for insulation). 
     FIG. 3  illustrates another way to further minimize the effect of water on the outfit  10 . Accordioned material  28  permanently attached to the inside of the zipper  18  will capture any water which gets through the zipper  18  and protect the wearer of the outfit  10 . This arrangement can be used with or without the flap  20 . The advantage of this material  28 , which accordions (or folds) along fold lines F, is that it prevents the outfit from fully opening (thereby increasing its water resistance) while allowing the expansion of the outfit for ease of a wearer&#39;s entry. The present invention contemplates the use of additional fold lines to increase the expansion of the outfit. The material  28  is expanded when the jacket is open as in FIG.  3 . When the jacket is closed, as in  FIG. 1 , the material  28  is folded (or accordioned) about the fold lines F. 
     FIG. 1  illustrates the use of one zipper  18 . The advantage of using only one zipper is that there are the fewest possible points of entry for water, an important consideration in the design of a garment for hunters and others who may be exposed to water. Because of ability of the flap  20  and the accordioned material  28  to minimize the wearer&#39;s exposure to water, the addition of an extra zipper should not increase the wearer&#39;s exposure to water. 
   An outfit  30  having a jacket  32  with two zippers  34  is also contemplated by the present invention and is shown in FIG.  4 . Opening the zippers  34  of the jacket  32  will result in a flap that can be folded over, allowing for easy entry of a wearer into the outfit. This two-zipper arrangement can be used with the flap  20  or the accordioned material  28  to reduce exposure to water. 
   It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.