Patent Publication Number: US-2020275741-A1

Title: Fishing garment

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a fishing garment, namely for whitewater fishing. 
     The present invention relates to the field of the manufacture of garments for use in the context of the practice of fishing, namely in whitewater. Such garments are, more particularly, known under the Anglo-Saxon name of waders. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Already known is a fishing garment, which includes, on the one hand, waterproof pants, which include two legs and, on the other hand, waterproof boots, which are each located in the extension of one of the legs of the pants and which are each welded to such a leg. 
     A first drawback of such a garment consists in that the boots of such a garment are not made for walking and do not permit to ensure a sufficient support for the foot of the fisherman, which is problematic when this fisherman moves in a river bed including obstacles such as stones, tree branches or grasses. 
     Another drawback consists in that, when the fisherman wishes to go to another fishing location (in particular by using his vehicle), he must remove his clothing, which is a long and tedious operation, namely because such clothing is wet, more particularly inside, due to perspiration. This drawback is amplified when the fisherman is old and/or when the temperatures are low, namely when the water is cold, which is the case when the fisherman is fishing to catch salmonids in whitewater. 
     In addition, when the water is cold (which is usually the case in whitewater, namely for salmonid fishing), the garment is uncomfortable and the fisherman can get cold. One solution then then consists, for the fisherman, in putting on additional warm underwear, even warm socks, before putting on his fishing garment. This solution has however the drawback of making it even more difficult to remove this fishing garment. 
     Also known is another type of fishing garment, which includes, on the one hand, waterproof pants, which include two legs and, on the other hand, waterproof inner-boots, which are each located in the extension of one of the legs of the pants and which are each welded or glued in a watertight way to such a leg. In order to practice fishing, the fisherman must then, on the one hand, put on such a fishing garment and, on the other hand and after having put on this garment, put on shoes, in particular walking shoes. 
     This solution has also many drawbacks. A first drawback consists in that the welding or gluing of the inner-boots to the legs represents sensitive spots, which can loosen and affect the water resistance of the fishing garment. In addition, in order to be able to accommodate the inner-boots of the fishing garment inside the shoes, these shoes must be oversized compared to the shoes the fisherman usually wears, so that he must have a pair of shoes specifically for fishing. In addition, these shoes are not waterproof and do not permit to prevent the penetration, inside of these shoes, of stones that are likely to pierce the inner-boots, which are then no longer waterproof. Another drawback consists in that wearing such a fishing garment does not permit a fisherman to move, in particular by car, without removing all his fishing garment. 
     From U.S. Pat. No. 924,249 is known a fishing garment, which includes waterproof pants with two legs each having a flange. This fishing garment also includes a pair of boots each including a ring onto which the flange of one leg of the pants is inserted, and which includes a rim under which said flange must be positioned. This fishing garment also includes a clamping strip, which is configured to be clamped onto the ring of the boot and to press the flange against and under the rim of the ring. This clamping strip includes a lock provided with a pin. 
     A first drawback of this fishing garment consists in that, when placing a leg of the pants on the boot, it is necessary to pass the flange of such a leg under the rim of the ring of a boot, which, on the one hand, requires a significant effort and, on the other hand, does not permit to visualize whether said flange is correctly positioned with respect to the ring and under the rim, which is detrimental to the tightness and following the dressing operations. In addition, when clamping the clamping strip on the ring of the boot, this clamping strip exerts a traction on the flange of the leg of the pants, which, on the one hand, causes a deformation of this leg and generates a risk of lack of tightness between the pants and the boot and, on the other hand, is detrimental to the comfort of the fisherman. In addition, the clamping strip only presses the flange of the leg of the pants against the rim of the boot ring, which does not permit to ensure sufficient support of such a leg of the pants on such a boot, in particular because of the tensile stresses exerted on the pants and on the boots by the fisherman, namely when putting on the fishing garment and when the fisherman moves (namely squats down) or walks. In addition, the bolt, which the clamping strip includes, is particularly fragile and subjected to shocks (namely when the fisherman hits an obstacle), which does not permit to guarantee a proper and lasting clamping of the clamping strip on the boot.. Finally, the clamping strip is a removable element that the fisherman is likely to forget when preparing his equipment before going fishing and that he is likely to lose in the event of a malfunction of the lock. 
     From WO 97/05797 is known a garment, which includes boots as well as pants that can be connected to these boots. In fact, this garment includes, on the one hand, waterproof pants, which includes two legs, on the other hand, a pair of waterproof boots. This garment also includes fastening means for reversibly fastening the two legs of the pants each to one of the boots, in an active fastening position. These fastening means include, on the one hand, at least one annular rib, which each leg of the pants includes, and which has a hooking means and, on the other hand, at least one annular shoulder, which an elastic flap includes that each boot includes and which extends across the entire periphery of this boot, and which the fastening means of said at least one annular rib cooperates with. This garment also includes immobilizing means for immobilizing, in a reversible way, the two legs of the pants each with respect to one of the boots, in the active fastening position. These immobilization means are constituted by said elastic flap, which is configured to be folded vertically over the leg of the pants as well as over a collar that each boot includes. 
     A drawback of this garment consists in that the elastic flap does not permit to ensure an adequate tightness between this elastic flap and the leg of the pants, so that water can penetrate inside the boots. Another drawback consists in that, under the action of the movements of the wearer of the garment (walking, bending, squatting, falling), the leg of the pants exerts a traction on the elastic flap, which, because of its elasticity, tends to deform and release the leg of the pants, which is then no longer fastened to the boot. 
     From U.S. Pat No. 2,673,405 is known a garment, which includes waterproof boots with a double wall. In fact, this garment includes, on the one hand, waterproof pants, which includes two legs, on the other hand, a pair of waterproof boots. This garment also includes fastening means for reversibly fastening the two legs of the pants each to one of the boots, in an active fastening position. These fastening means include an inner wall and an outer wall, which the boots include and which delimit a space inside which the lower end of one leg of the pants is inserted. These walls are configured to be folded horizontally and folded back horizontally onto themselves, in the active fastening position. This garment also includes immobilization means for immobilizing, in a reversible way, the two legs of the pants each with respect to one of the boots, in the active fastening position. 
     These immobilization means include, on the one hand, a belt, which surrounds the leg of the pants as well as the inner and outer walls of the boot, and, on the other hand, clamping means for clamping the belt radially on the boot as well as over the leg of the pants and the inner and outer walls of the boot. 
     A drawback of this garment consists in that the boot must have an inner wall and an outer wall that are flexible, so that they can be folded and folded back onto themselves. This flexibility, as well as the folding and folding back are detrimental to the water tightness of the garment. In addition, according to another drawback, the insertion of the leg of the pants between the inner and outer walls as well as this folding and this folding back are tedious operations for the wearer of the garment. Finally, the immobilization requires a clamping of the belt, which, in order to ensure tightness, compresses the calf of the wearer of the garment, which is at least uncomfortable, even painful. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention pretends to cope with the drawbacks of the prior-art fishing garments. 
     To this end, the invention relates to a fishing garment, namely for whitewater fishing, this fishing garment includes, on the one hand, waterproof pants, which includes two legs, on the other hand, a pair of waterproof walking boots and, yet on the other hand, fastening means for fastening, in a tight and reversible way, the two legs of the pants each to one of the boots, in an active fastening position, also on the other hand, immobilization means for immobilizing, in a reversible way, the two legs of the pants each relative to one of the boots, in the active fastening position, and also on the other hand, means for making integral for making these immobilization means and these walking boots integral with each other. 
     According to another feature, the fastening means include, on the one hand, at least one annular bead, which each leg of the pants includes and, on the other hand, at least one annular groove, which each boot includes and which extends across the entire periphery of this boot, and inside which such an annular bead is accommodated, in the active fastening position. 
     Another feature relates to the fact that the fastening means include, on the one hand, at least one sleeve each leg of the pants includes and, on the other hand, at least one collar each boot includes, and above which such a sleeve extends, in the active fastening position. 
     According to another feature, the immobilization means include, on the one hand, a belt, which surrounds the leg of the pants, and, on the other hand, clamping means for clamping the belt radially on the boot and over the leg of the pants. 
     Yet another feature consists in that the fishing garment includes positioning means for positioning the immobilization means relative to the boot and the leg of the pants. 
     According to another feature, the means for making integral include an arm, which is configured to be curved, and which is integral, on the one hand, with the immobilization means and, on the other hand, with the boot. 
     Thus, the fishing garment according to the invention includes fastening means including at least one annular bead (which each leg of the pants includes) as well as at least one annular groove (which each boot includes, more particularly the outer wall of a tubular collar such a boot includes) inside which such an annular bead is accommodated. Such fastening means advantageously permit, on the one hand, an easy, appropriate and effortless positioning of a leg of the pants (more particularly of the bead such a leg includes) relative to a boot (more particularly inside the annular groove), on the other hand, to easily visualize that this positioning is appropriate and, yet on the other hand, a tight fastening of such a leg of the pants on such a boot. 
     This fishing garment also includes fastening means, which include, on the one hand, at least one sleeve (preferably of the elastic type), which each leg of the pants includes, and, on the other hand, at least one collar, which each boot includes, and over which extends such a sleeve, in the active fastening position. Such fastening means advantageously permit a fastening of a leg of the pants relative to a boot, in a tight and waterproof way. 
     This fishing garment also includes means for immobilizing a leg of the pants relative to a boot. These immobilization means include, on the one hand, a belt, which surrounds said leg and, on the other hand, means for clamping the belt radially on the boot and over this leg. These immobilization means advantageously permit to guarantee the immobilization of such a leg of the pants on such a boot, more particularly in an appropriate position as mentioned above, more particularly in the active fastening position. These immobilization means then permit in particular to reinforce the fastening ensured by the fastening means, by preventing the annular bead of the leg of the pants from coming out of the annular groove of the boot. These immobilization means also permit to compensate for a traction force exerted by the fisherman when he is moving, even when he is falling. 
     This fishing garment also includes positioning means for positioning the immobilization means relative to the boot and the leg of the pants. The presence of these positioning means advantageously permits to position these immobilization means in an appropriate way and with a view to such an immobilization. This positioning also permits to guarantee, subsequently and after immobilization, on the one hand, the durability of such a positioning and, as a results, maintaining a leg of the pants on a boot and, on the other hand, the tightness of the fishing garment. 
     Finally, the fishing garment includes means for making integral, which advantageously permit to ensure that the immobilization means are always integral with a boot, even in the inactive immobilization position of a leg of the pants relative to such a boot, namely when putting on this fishing garment, when removing this fishing garment, when handling it or storing it. This advantageously permits to avoid losing, misplacing or forgetting these immobilization means. 
     Further aims and advantages of the present invention will became evident during the following description relating to embodiments, which are given only by way of indicative and non-restrictive examples. 
     The understanding of this description will be facilitated when referring to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic side, partial view of a fishing garment according to the invention, in the active fastening and inactive immobilization position. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of a detail of a fishing garment shown in  FIG. 1 , in the inactive fastening and inactive immobilization position. 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic front, exploded and partial view of a fishing garment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the inactive fastening and inactive immobilization position. 
         FIG. 4  shows a schematic, front and partial view of the fishing garment shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , in the active fastening and active immobilization position. 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of a detail of the fishing garment shown in  FIG. 4 , in the active fastening and active immobilization position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is related to the field of the manufacture of clothing for use in the context of the practice of fishing, especially in whitewater. 
     The invention therefore relates to a fishing garment  1 , which is usually known under the Anglo-Saxon name of “waders”. 
     Such fishing garment  1  includes waterproof pants  2 , which include two legs  3 . 
     Each leg  3  includes waterproof leggings  30 , more particularly constituted by a (namely waterproof) fabric and/or a (namely waterproof) web and/or a (namely waterproof) rubber. 
     Each leg  3  also includes a flange  31 , which is tightly integral with the leggings  30 , which this leg  3  includes, more particularly with a free end of these leggings  30 . This flange  31  can also (and preferably) be waterproof. This flange  31  is preferably of the elastic type. According to a preferred embodiment, this flange  31  is formed of a waterproof rubber. 
     Such a flange  31  includes at least one sleeve  32 . More particularly, such a sleeve  32  is tightly integral with the leggings  30  (more particularly with the free end of these leggings  30 ). Such a sleeve  32  can also (and preferably) be waterproof. Such a sleeve  32  is preferably of the elastic type. According to a preferred embodiment, this flange  31  is formed of a waterproof rubber. 
     Such a flange  31  also includes at least one annular bead  33 , which is (directly or indirectly) tightly integral with the leggings  30  this leg  3  includes, more particularly with the free end of these leggings  30 . Such an annular bead  33  is preferably waterproof. Such an annular bead  33  is preferably of the elastic type. According to a preferred embodiment, such an annular bead  33  is formed of a waterproof rubber. Such an annular bead  33  is preferably formed by a seam. 
     Thus, said flange  31  includes said at least one sleeve  32  as well as said at least one annular bead  33 . Preferably, this flange  31  is formed by a single piece and includes said at least one sleeve  32  and said at least one annular bead  33 , which are made of the same material. 
     The fishing garment  1  also includes a pair of waterproof walking boots  4 . Such a waterproof walking boot  4  will be referred to as “boot” in the following description, for reasons of simplification. 
     Such a boot  4  includes, on the one hand, a sole  40  and, on the other hand, a high top  41 , which extends from said sole  40 , and which includes a tube  42  inside which at least the fisherman&#39;s calf is positioned. 
     Such a boot  4  includes at least one annular groove  43 , which extends across the entire periphery of this boot  4 , more particularly across the entire periphery of the high top  41  of this boot  4 . 
     In this respect, it should be observed that this high top  41  includes a collar  44 , at the free and upper end of this high top  41 . 
     This collar  44  is rigid and adopts the form of a tube. Such a collar  44  advantageously permits the clamping of the leg  3  of the pants  2  on the boot  4  without causing deformation to this boot  4 , but also without clamping the calf of the fisherman. 
     More particularly, this collar  44  includes said at least one annular groove  43 , at the level of the outer wall of this collar  44 , more particularly at the level of the outer wall of the tube forming this collar  44  Such an annular groove  43  then extends across the entire periphery of the collar  44  of the boot  4 , more particularly across the entire outer wall of this collar  44 , more specifically across the entire outer wall of the tube of this collar  44 . 
     It should be observed that, according to a first embodiment, the boot  4  (which includes such a collar  44 ) can be manufactured by implementing a specific method for manufacturing such a boot  4 . 
     However and according to another embodiment, such a collar  44  can complement a boot  4 , which corresponds to an existing model of boot  4  and initially without such a collar  44 , and which is obtained by implementing a method for manufacturing such a boot  4  without such a collar  44 . 
     A fishing garment  1  also includes fastening means  5  for fastening, in a waterproof and reversible way, the two legs  3  of the pants  2  each to one of the boots  4 , in an active fastening position shown in  FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 . 
     In this respect, it should be observed that these fastening means  5  then include, on the one hand, said at least one annular bead  33 , which each leg  3  of the pants  2  includes, and, on the other hand, said at least one annular groove  43 , which each boot  4  includes (more particularly which the high top  41  of each boot  4  includes, more specifically which the collar  44  of the high top  41  of such a boot  4  includes), and inside which  43  such an annular bead  33  is (preferably tightly and/or in a waterproof way) accommodated, in the active fastening position. 
     Alternatively or (and preferably) in addition, these fastening means  5  include, on the one hand, said at least one sleeve  32 , which each leg  3  of the pants  2  includes, and, on the other hand, said at least one collar  44 , which each boot  4  includes, and over which such a sleeve  32  extends (preferably in a tight and/or waterproof way), in the active fastening position. 
     Another feature relates to the fact that the fishing garment  1  includes immobilization means  6  for immobilizing, in a reversible way, the two legs  3  of the pants  2  each relative to one of the boots  4 , in said active fastening position, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     These immobilization means  6  include, on the one hand, a belt  60 , which surrounds (more particularly externally) the leg  3  of the pants  2 . In fact, this belt  60  surrounds at least part of the flange  31  (which such a leg  3  of the pants  2  includes), more particularly said annular bead  33  and/or at least part of the sleeve  32 , which such a flange  31  includes. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 2 to 5 , such a belt  60  includes two free ends ( 600 ;  600 ′). 
     On the other hand, these immobilization means  6  include clamping means  61  for clamping such a belt  60  radially on the boot  4  (more particularly on the high top  41  of this boot  4 , more specifically on the collar  44  of this high top  41  and over the leg  3  of the pants  2  (more particularly over at least part of the flange  31  and/or over the leggings  30  such a leg  3  includes). 
     In this respect, it should be observed that these clamping means  61  include, on the one hand, a tongue  610 , which one  600  of the two free ends ( 600 ;  600 ′) of the belt  60  includes, and which includes a hook  611  and, on the other hand, at least one notch  612 , which the other free end  600 ′of the belt  60  includes, and which cooperates with the hook  611  of the tongue  610 . 
     As can be seen in the attached Figures, these clamping means  61  preferably include a plurality of notches  612 , in order to adjust the clamping force and/or to permit an adjustment of the clamping means  61  and/or in order to permit to compensate for wear or fatigue of these clamping means  61 . 
     Another feature relates to the fact that the immobilization means  6  also include a lever system  62  for mounting the tongue  610  in movement (more particularly in rotation and in translation, namely longitudinally relative to the free end  600 ) on the free end  600  of the belt  60  and relative to this free end  600 . Such a lever system  62  advantageously permits, on the one hand, to ensure an appropriate and sufficient clamping force in order to immobilize the two legs  3  of the pants  2  each relative to one of the boots  4 , on the other hand, to guarantee the durability of this clamping and, yet on the other hand, to prevent a too easy loosening of the clamping means  61 , under the action of a shock, namely when the fisherman hits an obstacle. 
     In addition, the fishing garment  1  may include holding means  10  for holding the immobilization means  6  (more particularly the tongue  610  and/or the lever system  62 ), in an active position of immobilization ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ). Such holding means  10  can adopt the form of a clip, a press button, a staple or the like. 
     Another feature relates to the fact that the fishing garment  1  also includes positioning means  7  for positioning the immobilization means  6  relative to the boot  4  (more particularly relative to the collar  44  of the boot  4 , namely relative to the annular groove  43  of such a boot  4 ) and to the leg  3  of the pants  2  (more particularly relative to the leggings  30  and/or relative to the flange  31 , namely relative to the sleeve  32  and/or to the annular bead  33 ), which such a leg  3  of the pants  2  includes). 
     In fact, these positioning means  7  are configured to position these immobilization means  6  in an appropriate position relative to the boot  4  and to the leg  3  of the pants  4 , corresponding to an appropriate position of these immobilization means  6  to achieve an appropriate immobilization (more particularly an appropriate clamping through the clamping means  61 , which these immobilization means  6  include), before such clamping or while waiting for such a clamping. 
     As can be seen in the attached Figures, the positioning means  7  include at least, on the one hand, interlocking means  70 , which the belt  60  includes, and, on the other hand, complementary interlocking means  71 , which the boot  4  (more particularly the collar  44  of the boot  4 ) includes, and which cooperate with the interlocking means  70  of the belt  60 . 
     As mentioned above, the belt  60  includes two free ends ( 600 ;  600 ′). In fact, these free ends ( 600 ;  600 ′) then each include one of the interlocking means  70 , which are each formed by a recess or an orifice, more particularly which a tab  63  includes, which such a free end ( 600 ,  600 ′) of the belt  60  includes, and which extends laterally relative to such a free end ( 600 ;  600 ′). 
     As can be seen in the attached figures, each boot  4  (more particularly the collar  44  of such a boot  4 ) includes a support  45 , which extends laterally relative to and from the collar  44  of this boot  4 , and which includes (more particularly on both sides of this support  45 ) the complementary interlocking means  71 . The latter  71  are each formed by a finger, a stud or the like configured to cooperate with the recess or the orifice of one of the above-mentioned interlocking means  70 . 
     In fact and as can be seen in the attached figures, the free ends ( 600 ;  600 ′) of the belt  60  (more particularly, the tabs  63  of these free ends  600 ,  600 ′) are positioned on both sides of such a support  45 . 
     Yet another feature of the fishing garment  1  according to the invention consists in that it includes means for making integral  8  for making integral the immobilizing means  6  and the walking boots  4 . 
     In fact, these means for making integral  8  are, more particularly, configured to make integral the belt  60  (which the immobilizing means  6  include) and either the high top  41  of these boots  4  or the collar  44  of these boots  4 . 
     As can be seen in the attached figures, the means for making integral  8  include an arm  80 , which is configured to be curved, more particularly to permit the belt  60  to be moved away from the boot  4  (more particularly relative to the collar  44  of this boot  4 ), in order to permit the placing of a leg  3  of the pants  2  over such a boot  4 , more particularly the placing of the leggings  30  and/or the flange  31  of such a leg  3  over the collar  44  of this boot  4 . 
     As can be seen in the attached Figures, such an arm  80  is integral, on the one hand, with the immobilization means  6  (more particularly with the belt  60 , which these immobilization means  6  include) and, on the other hand, with the boot  4  (more particularly with the high top  41  or the collar  44  of this boot  4 ). 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the fishing garment  1  includes an element  9 , which is formed of a single piece (single-piece element), and which includes at least the arm  80  of the means for making integral  8  as well as the belt  60  of the immobilization means  6 . 
     According to a first embodiment, this arm  80  is integral with the boot by being fastened to this boot  4  (to the collar  44  or, and preferably, to the high top  41  of this boot  4 ) by a weld, by a glue or (and preferably) a rivet  81 . 
     According to another embodiment, this arm  80  is integral with the boot  4  (more particularly with the collar  44  or the high top  41  of this boot  4 ) through at least one fastening element of the reversible type. 
     Such a reversible fastening element can adopt the form of a clip adopting (in particular by pivoting) an active position of making integral and an inactive position of making integral. 
     Such a reversible fastening element advantageously permits the immobilization means  6  to be removed, with a view to using the boots  4  for an activity other than fishing, in particular for gardening, for walking or the like. 
     As mentioned above, the fishing garment  1  includes positioning means  7 . In this respect, it should be observed that, in addition to the above-mentioned interlocking means  70  and complementary interlocking means  71 , these positioning means  7  can also, at least in part, consist of the above-mentioned means for making integral  8 .