Patent Publication Number: US-6658666-B2

Title: Hunting garment with safety device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 6,305,024, issued Oct. 23, 2001, to the present inventor, James R. Schweer. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to articles of clothing and more specifically to a safety garment for hunters. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Numerous articles of clothing have been devised for enhancing the safety of their wearers. Over the years, some of the most significant advances in the art have involved safety devices directly incorporated into a piece of clothing. However, none of the techniques described hereinbelow results in a hunting garment which incorporates a safety harness which allows hunters to reliably secure themselves to a tree or other support structure, particularly when the hunter is positioned at some height above the ground. Moreover, none of the references herein described presents a camouflage garment that addresses the need of hunters to be able to quickly put on the requisite safety gear when in the field. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,046, discusses a safety jacket and harness system, including a body harness formed by a pair of torso bands and a pair of shoulder straps. The torso bands form an upper torso band and a lower torso band. Each torso band has a fastening member attached to end portions. The pair of shoulder straps each has a first shoulder strap portion and a second shoulder strap portion. Each shoulder strap portion is coupled together by a fastening member. Included is a center strap that is fixedly attached to the torso bands and has a locking member at a top end. A safety strap has a first safety strap end that can couple with the locking member of the center strap, and a second safety strap end that can be looped and fastened around a tree trunk. An escape strap is attached to the safety strap. A jacket receives the body harness when worn by a hunter using a tree stand with the center strap of the harness coupled to the safety strap looped around the trunk. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,970,517, issued to Jordan, discloses a harness assembly having an integral support line. The harness assembly includes a harness body having first and second ends that extend from the harness body. The harness is secured within a garment. The garment has a front opening which is normally covered by a releasable flap. The first and second ends of the support line extend through the front opening and are accessible when the flap is moved to an open position. The first end of the support line may be pulled away from the harness to extend the support line therefrom. The second end of the support line is secured to the harness. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,440, issued to Woodyard, discloses a safety vest which incorporates a safety harness between a vest inner lining and a vest outer shell with attachment couplers and rings incorporated in the vest in vest pockets that store the attachment couplers and rings out of sight in communicating between the harness and a lanyard external to the vest. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,979,153, issued to E. J. Hoagland et al., discloses a safety suit for supporting a person&#39;s body in an upright manner during hoisting including a garment arranged to extend around the torso of a body and a plurality of annularly extending straps defining body embracing nooses. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,177,877, issued to Gallinati, presents a vest adapted to be worn by a workman operating at perilous heights. 
     The vest has straps between the lining and the outer fabric. The straps have crossed sections in the back of the garment and vertical sections in the front panels. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,216, issued to Weissmann, discloses a safety jacket adapted to have a line secured thereto for anchoring the wearer of the jacket in the event he loses his footing. The jacket includes a harness having a pair of shoulder straps and a belt made of polypropylene which is threaded through loops at the ends of the shoulder straps. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,302,847, issued to Miles, discusses a body protective clothing to be worn over or in place of outer garments for protection while actively participating in various sports. A zippered vest-type garment including a resilient foam insert along the lower portion of the torso includes adjustable front closure straps for maintaining the position of the foam about the lower back and hip bones. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,731,882, issued to Ekman, discloses a garment that is connectable to a safety line or the like and which includes at least one band, which is intended to take up the weight of a person wearing the garment. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,136,724, issued to Grilliot et al., relates to a firefighter&#39;s trousers and safety harness combination. At least a portion of the safety harness is positioned and supported within the firefighter&#39;s trousers. 
     British Pat. No. 1,233,761 shows a safety harness having integral seat and jacket portions, the seat portion including couplers whereby the harness can be suspended from wires or ropes and the jacket portion including sufficient buoyancy to keep the wearer of the harness afloat if dropped into water. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,027, issued Sep. 8, 1992, to Petzl et al. describes a sit safety harness with high loops in the form of closed loops fitted on a belt with a central clasp. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,590, issued Mar. 1, 1994, to Larson, describes a combined work trousers and safety harness having leg loops. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,440, issued Mar. 14, 2000, to Woodyard describes a safety vest incorporating a safety harness with leg loops. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,244,379, issued Jun. 12, 2001, to Larson, describes an automatically adjustable safety harness having leg loops. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,189,651, issued Feb. 20, 2001, to Sadeck, describes a harness having a belt and leg loops. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,424,134, issued Jan. 28, 1969, to Rosenblum, describes a safety harness having leg loops. 
     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 safety device for hunters, naturalists, and other outdoorsmen provides a hunting garment which incorporates a safety harness into the body of a jacket, coat, or other apparel. The safety hunting garment allows hunters using elevated positions such as trees or tree stands to focus on the sport, instead of worrying about falling. The safety garment is made up of a safety harness with a central attachment ring for receiving a rope or line for releasably anchoring a wearer to an anchor point such as the trunk of a tree. The safety harness is sewn into the inside portion of the vest, jacket, shirt, parka or other garment, fully covering the harness so that it is essentially invisible from the outside. 
     The harness includes a waist belt and matching belt coupler on the belt ends which may be releasably interlocked as a buckle. The belt ends extend out from under the inner lining of the safety garment, the inner lining in the preferred embodiment being selectively removable. An opening is provided in the upper mid-portion of the safety garment&#39;s back, defining a pocket which passes through the safety garment&#39;s outer shell and has associated with it a flap, which acts to cover or overlie the opening. A strap having an attachment ring securely fastened thereon and being of a length sufficient to pass from the harness through the opening to the outside of the safety garment outer shell is also provided. The pocket serves as a cavity in which the ring, as well as its associated strap, is stored during nonuse. The overlying flap preferably carries a camouflage pattern similar or the same as that covering the outer shell of the safety garment. Removable leg straps are provided which attach in a variety of alternative ways to the waist belt of the harness. The use of leg straps with the safety harness as included in the garment jacket or vest is preferred in order to distribute the forces over the body during an arrested fall in order to protect the upper body from excessive force applied upon arrest of the fall. Such excessive force may, in some instances, tend to suffocate the wearer or cause bruises or broken ribs. 
     The harness includes a pair of shoulder straps or loops, each having respective ends attached to the waist belt and each forming front and back shoulder loop or strap portions. An important structural feature is that the back shoulder loop portions converge to intersect in the rear portion of the back to form a juncture connection. Underarm straps are also provided extending laterally to connect a respective pair of adjacent front and rear shoulder loop portions. Thus, the harness includes crossed back sections and vertical front sections. The crossed back sections are interconnected intermediate their ends in the juncture connection which is positioned intermediate the neck portion and the lower edge of the vest and medially between the sides. The safety strap is fixedly attached to the harness at this juncture and also at the waist belt at the point of intersection with the midline of the back. In the event the harness is in use, such as during a fall or when dragging a deer carcass, the pulling forces on the harness are equalized in both directions, providing maximally efficient distribution of force on the body harness. 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a hunting garment having a safety harness incorporated therein. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a hunting garment whereby the placement of a hunter&#39;s safety harness may be easily and more comfortably worn and positioned for maximum positive effect. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a hunter&#39;s safety garment wherein the harness is designed to work in combination with the outer layer of the garment to increase the wearer&#39;s safety. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a camouflaged hunter&#39;s safety garment. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved camouflage garment, which maximizes a wearer&#39;s continuous concealment when in the field. 
     It is yet another object of the invention to provide a garment as above having attachable and removable leg loops for attachment to the waist belt of the safety harness. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
    
    
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a hunting garment with safety device, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exterior front view of the hunting garment with safety device, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is an exterior rear view of the hunting garment with safety device, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the hunting garment with safety device, showing the front portion of the harness in ghost lines, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a rear view of the hunting garment with safety device, showing the rear portion of the harness in ghost lines and with the flap removed, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is an environmental, perspective view of a hunting garment with safety device employing removable leg loops, according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 7A is a front elevation view of a hunting garment as above with the liner removed showing leg loops attached by buckles to the inner waist belt. 
     FIG. 7B is a rear elevation view of the hunting garment as above with leg loops attached by buckles to the inner waist belt. 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevation view of a hunting garment as above with the liner removed showing attachment rings for attachment of leg loops to the waist belt. 
     FIG. 9A is a detail view of a hunting garment as above with snaps for attachment of leg loops to the waist belt. 
     FIG. 9B is a detail view of a hunting garment as above with an attachment ring and a snap hook for attachment of leg loops to the waist belt. 
     FIG. 9C is a detail view of a hunting garment as above with an attachment buckle shown in an open position for attachment of leg loops to the waist belt. 
     FIG. 9D is a detail view of a hunting garment as above with a loop over knot for attachment of leg loops. 
     FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a hunting pant with leg loops sewn within the interior of the pant and having threaded rings for attachment to the waist belt of the hunting garment as above. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevation view of the hunting pant as above attached to attachment rings of the waist belt of the hunting garment with the liner removed as above. 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevation view of the hunting garment jacket with the liner removed showing crotch straps attachable at one end to the rear portion of the waist belt of said jacket through slits in the jacket back and at the other end to the front portion of the waist belt, spaced from the first attachment waist which may wrap around the legs or be tightened directly within the crotch. 
     FIG. 13 is a rear elevation view similar to that of FIG. 12 with the hunting jacket having the harness sewn between inner and outer layers and buckled leg straps inserted into zippered slits in the back outer layer for attachment to the waist strap inside the garment. 
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to a safety device for hunters, naturalists, and other outdoorsmen by providing a combination camouflaged hunting garment and harness. 
     As diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, an environmental view in which a Hunter H is readying himself for the kill is shown. The hunter H, is shown wearing the safety camouflage garment  10 . The hunter H is safely suspended from a tree T by a safety line attached to the invention, which provides him with a stable and secure line to keep him from falling from his tree stand X in case of a misstep. The safety device for hunters  10 , hereinafter also referred to as the “safety garment,” allows the hunter H to focus on the sport, instead of worrying about falling. 
     Every year thousands of deer hunters are crippled, paralyzed, or even killed after falling from trees or elevated tree stands. Some statistics indicate that as many as two thirds of hunters fail to wear safety equipment when climbing or descending, or when entering or exiting their stands. While many hunters are aware of the safety advantages of wearing harnesses during climbing or when descending from a tree, they report that they fail to do so, because the harness gets in the way of the stand as they climb or they simply do not want to spend the time dealing with it. Commentators have observed that this complacency in hunters may come from a lifetime of having climbed trees and ladders without safety restraints, and then carrying over this behavior to the woods, where trees and tree stands are unstable and natural vegetation can provide an unrealistic sense of relative height above ground. 
     The International Hunter Education Association reported 19 deaths from tree stand falls in 1997, the last year for which statistics were available. Currently it is estimated that more than 37 percent of hunters using tree stands have fallen at least once. The present invention presents an excellent solution to this problem by providing a safety strap/harness which is incorporated directly into the body of a camouflaged hunting garment. And, as shown in FIG. 1, this can include any kind of apparel, such as a jacket  12 , or a pair of trousers  14 . Furthermore, any kind of harness may be used, though a preferred harness system is herein described. 
     In a recent report published from Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, it was shown that volunteers suspended in mid air while wearing safety belts began to become unconscious anywhere from 30 seconds to up to 4.5 minutes, while test subjects wearing chest harnesses began to lose consciousness between one and 13 minutes. The present invention provides an important improvement by incorporating a safety harness directly into the structure of a hunting jacket, creating better distribution of pressure on the subject&#39;s torso in case of accidental fall. 
     The safety garment  10  of the present invention comprises a safety harness with a central attachment ring for receiving a rope or line for releasably anchoring a wearer of the safety garment to an anchor point such as the trunk of a tree. An important advantage of the safety garment  10 , from both an aesthetic and practical viewpoint, is that it is sewn directly into the inside portion of the vest, jacket, or garment, fully covering the harness so that it is essentially not visible from the outside. By being tightly incorporated into the safety garment, the invention presents an important advantage in that it may be easily adapted to fit around a wearer&#39;s torso in the manner of putting on and suitably adjusting a conventional jacket to fit. Thus, the combination camouflaged jacket/safety harness is an important contribution to the art which provides an ideal level of safety and comfort to users. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the jacket  12  includes a waist belt  16  and matching belt coupler  18  on the belt ends which may be releasably interlocked as a buckle. The belt couplers or buckle  18  are part of the harness  20  (partially obscured by the mesh netting indicated by  22 ) and also preferably made of plastic, which is much quieter than metal devices which can create noise and scare game animals. As shown, the belt  16  ends extend out from under the inner lining  24  of the safety garment  10 , the inner lining  24  in the preferred embodiment being selectively removable. As explained in greater detail hereinbelow, the waist belt  16  is connected to the harness  20 , the general arrangement of which, again, can be partially seen folded over itself through the netting  22 . This netting  22  may form a portion of the inner lining  24  of the safety garment  10  or be entirely independent thereof. The netting  22  is preferably made of a mesh having a loosely knit construction to facilitate proper air and moisture ventilation. The outer shell  26  of the jacket  12  preferably has pockets with openings (not shown) in the outer shell  26  through which the ends of the waist belt  16  may pass from inside the safety garment  10  to the outside of the safety garment shell to provide a neat and sporty appearance. The present invention may also include an adjustable hood. 
     The conventional hunter&#39;s coat is less than ideal not only for the disruption and inconvenience it provides when having to put a separate safety harness on but also because of the problem which arises when human body odors, the detection of which is the first line of defense for many animals, are released into the environment when opening or taking off a garment, “spooking” game even after a hunter leaves the area. 
     Of course, these problems are not limited to hunters who like to stalk their game. Bird-watchers, who, commonly, want to see a wide array of species on an outing, will sometimes mount tree stands to get a better view. The present device allows a bird-watcher to quickly, safely, and “scentlessly” blend into the background, providing him an enormous advantage. 
     As seen in FIG. 2, adjacent and along a line substantially parallel to the seam line is a zipper, generally  30 , for reversibly attaching to mating elements (not shown) approximately located adjacent mating seam line  32 . It should be understood that though specific fastening elements are described for the preferred embodiment, fasteners of any kind or combination commonly known in the art and in conventional usage may be substituted. 
     The invention provides another important advantage in that it is camouflaged. Camouflage indicia, indicated by ghost lines  28 , covers the exterior surface of the outer shell  26  of the jacket  12 . Moreover, any camouflage pattern may be used, though the invention is best suited to camouflage patterns which represent leafy, woody, or forest areas. In the present invention, when on sale, the suit  10  may be provided with an assortment of camouflage patterns, such as moss-covered oak or wetlands, common themes for camouflage found in stores across the nation. In the preferred embodiment, the camouflage pattern would completely cover the garment  10 , though in alternative embodiments, the garment  10  may be provided with camouflage only in particular areas, such as the hood, arms, and chest. These patterns may be designed to cover only a certain portion of these areas. This specification also embraces indicia which are outside of the visible human spectrum, as some animals such as deer may be able to detect objects in the ultraviolet spectrum, especially in low light conditions. 
     Turning now to FIG. 3, an opening  34  is provided in the upper mid-portion of the safety garment&#39;s  10  back, defining a pocket which passes through the safety garment&#39;s outer shell  26  and has associated with it a flap  36 , which acts to cover or overlie the opening  34 . A safety strap  38  having an attachment ring  40  securely fastened thereon and being of a length sufficient to pass from the harness (not shown) through the opening  34  to the outside of the safety garment outer shell  26  is also seen. The pocket, serves as a cavity in which the ring  40 , as well as its associated strap  38 , are stored during nonuse. The overlying flap  36  preferably carries a camouflage pattern similar to or the same as that covering the outer shell  26  of the safety garment  10 . The opening  34  is normally covered by the flap  36 , which is preferably releasable. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the outer layer  26 , along with the harness  22 , and the inner layer  26  may be laundered separately, allowing the outer layer  26  to be infrequently cleaned, thereby protecting the clarity of the particular camouflage patterns from washout. This attribute responds to the long felt problem in the art of camouflage patterns becoming less distinct and more blurry after being cleaned, sometimes even after just a few washes, making them significantly less effective. 
     Some importance should be ascribed to the material out of which the outer layer  26  is made. Preferable materials, thus, would be synthetic textiles, such as polyester or polyamide materials. Alternatively, more conventional materials may be used having, synthetic filaments incorporated therein for strength and flexibility. 
     Ideally, the material out of which the entire suit  10  is made would be quiet upon movement to allow for efficient stalking of game or bird watching. The inner layer or shell  24  could be made of any suitably durable substance, including cotton, wool, polymeric material, a synthetic blend or even a lightweight polyester fabric for easy carrying and storage. In alternative embodiments, the outer layer  26  may also have draw cords for a more snug fit, as well as elastic throughout. The entire garment  10  should be machine washable and may include different sized mesh backing  22  to allow for air flow while preventing the ingress of insects. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4-5, showing the front and rear portions of the harness  20  in ghost lines, it can be seen that the harness includes a pair of shoulder straps, each generally  55  and having strap ends attached to the waist belt  16 , and each forming a front shoulder loop portion  42  and a back shoulder loop portion  44 , disposed over the wearer&#39;s shoulders. An important structural feature is that the back shoulder loop portions  44  converge to intersect in the rear portion of the back, substantially as shown. Under arm straps  46  are also provided extending laterally to connect a respective pair of adjacent front  42  and rear  44  loop portions, substantially as shown. Thus, the harness  20  includes crossed back sections and vertical front sections. The crossed back sections are interconnected intermediate their ends in a juncture connection  50  which is positioned intermediate the neck portion and the lower edge of the vest and medially between the sides. The safety strap  38  is fixedly attached to the harness  20  at this juncture  50  and also at the waist belt  16  at the point of intersection with the midline of the back. 
     In the event the harness  20  is in use, such as during a fall or when dragging a deer carcass, the pulling forces on the harness  20  are equalized in both directions, providing maximally efficient distribution of force on the body harness  20 . The structure of the safety garment  10  together with the structure of the harness  20  assure a proper positioning of the straps  55  during wear. Thus, when the safety garment  10  is in use, the safety system is also initiated (once the front buckle or clasp is closed) in contrast to the conventionally used systems, that use two separate pieces—a safety harness and a garment alone. However, it should be understood that although the structure of the harness  20  is particularly well suited for the physical requirements described herein, this specification embraces any structural design for the harness  20  wherein a camouflaged article of clothing has a harness incorporated within. 
     In addition to the above mentioned structural characteristics, the safety garment may also be provided with pockets, or any other conventional accouterment typically associated with apparel, especially that used for hunting. The various pockets include the front waist pockets with openings in the outer shell  26  through which the waist belt ends  18  may pass from inside the safety garment to the outside of the safety garment shell  26 . The product line also includes any and all variations in size and design, such as parkas, heavy coats, rain jackets, wind breakers, vests and the like, for both portly men and women, and children. And so in alternative embodiments, the safety garment  10  may be in the form of overalls or a one piece jacket and trousers, as well as other conventionally known garments, such as a hoodless jacket, vests, shirts, pants, and headgear or any combination thereof. 
     Now it may be understood how a user would implement the safety garment  10  in the field; whenever a hunter H would wish to use then invention to support himself, he would need only to casually reach over his back, lifting the flap  36 , to pull out the ring  40 , neatly stored just inside the safety garment  10  and manually accessible. The ring  40 , which is preferably made of steel coated with rubber, can then be easily attached to a safety line. The safety device  101  could then be easily engaged before mounting a tree stand, the nylon straps of the harness  20  being sufficiently strong and the safety strap  38  being of sufficient length to allow for maximum convenience for the wearer. 
     Although camouflage garment patterns are preferred, the inventive garment may include any color and color pattern, e.g. solid color such as blaze orange, etc. 
     The harness is preferably sewn inside the jacket, i.e., between the liner and the outer shell, but alternative arrangements are contemplated by the present invention, such as attachment of the harness inside the jacket to the inner liner using adhesive or stitching, or allowing the harness to be free of connection to either garment portion. 
     It is further contemplated by the invention that a pre-existing safety harness system may be inserted between the jacket and the liner in any manner described above. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an environmental perspective view of a hunting garment with removable leg loops  110 . Hunting garment  110  comprises jacket  12  and pants  14  jacket  12  having leg loops  112  removably attached to the safety harness waist belt  16  (see FIG.  7 A). Hunter H is suspended on tree T by platform X in a position to acquire game. 
     Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, there is shown a front elevation and a rear elevation view of hunting garment jacket  12  having inner disposed harness waist belt  16 . Leg loop assemblies  112  each have leg loop portion  114  having adjustment buckles  116  and leg loop straps  118  attaches as by sewing at attachment point  119 . Leg loop attachment straps  118  are attached to waist belt  16  by means of attachment buckles  120  and waist strap attachment belts  122 . Waist strap attachment belts  122  are attached as by sewing to waist belt  16  at attachment points  124  and  125 . Leg loops  112 , and waist strap attachment belt  122  are preferably of the same material and has the same width and thickness as waist belt  16 . 
     Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a front elevation view of a hunting garment jacket as above with attachment rings  126  attached to waist belt  16  by means of waist strap attachment belts  122 . It is noted that waist strap attachment belts  122  may be a sewn single layer strap, a free loop looping waist belt  16 , or a sewn loop sewn in place as desired in all the embodiments described herein. Attachment rings  126  or any equivalent attachment means disclosed herein may be attached to waist belt  16 , waist strap attachment belts  122 , or any other strap originating in the upper garment and attached to harness  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9A, there is shown a detail view of a hunting garment as above with leg loop strap  118  looped around waist belt  16  and secured by attachment snaps  128  secured by snap receivers  130  mounted on loop strap  118 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9B, there is shown a detail view of a hunting garment as above with leg loop strap  118  having snap hook  132  for attachment to attachment ring  126 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9C, there is shown a detail view of a hunting garment as above with leg loop strap  118  for attachment to waist belt  16  by means of buckle  120 , buckle  120  being shown separated into leg loop-strap attachment buckle receiver  134  and leg loop-strap attachment buckle snap insert  136 . 
     Referring to FIG. 9D, there is shown a detail view of a hunting garment as above with leg loop strap  118  looped over waist belt  16  with a loop-over knot  140 . A loop is formed on the attachment end of leg loop strap  118  as by sewing which is of such sized as to allow the entire leg loop assembly to be threaded through and around waist strap  118 . 
     Referring to FIG. 10, there is shown a perspective view of a hunting pant  142  with leg loop portions  114  attached to the interior of the pant  142  as by sewing. Attachment threaded rings  144  having ring securing collars  145  are shown for attachment of leg loop straps  118  to a hunting jacket such as previously described. Alternatives to sewing to secure leg loop portions  114  and leg loop straps  118  to the inner side of pant  142  include VELCRO, adhesive, and heat sealing, snaps, loops, etc., depending on materials used. 
     Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a front elevation view of the hunting pant  142  as above attached to attachment rings  126  of waist belt  16  of the hunting jacket  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown a front elevation view of the hunting garment jacket  12  with crotch straps  150  acting as leg loop straps  118 . Crotch straps  148  are attachable at one end to the rear portion of the waist belt  16  through jacket through-holes  152  in the jacket back. Crotch straps  148  are shown permanently attached at the other end at crotch strap belt attachment  150 , the front portion of the waist belt, which is spaced from the rear portion of the waist belt  16 . The straps  148  may alternatively be removably attached at attachment  150  by any of the several attachment means discussed above. Crotch straps  148  may be wrapped around the wearer&#39;s respective legs to act as leg loop portions  114  or may be tightened directly within the crotch of the wearer. Crotch straps  150  may be of such length as to fit the user or may include adjustment buckles (not shown). 
     Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a rear elevation view similar to that of FIG. 12 with the hunting jacket  12  having the harness sewn between the inner lining and outer shell and buckled leg straps  118  inserted into slits  154  having zippers  156  in the back outer shell of jacket  12  for attachment to the waist strap inside the garment. Equivalent attachment means as described above may be substituted for buckles  120 . 
     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.