Patent Abstract:
An outdoor sports garment such as fisherman&#39;s waders ( 10 ) has an encased liquid crystal thermometer ( 20 ) adhered to the outer surface of the garment for viewing by the wearer.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The field of this invention relates to thermometers for outdoor sportsmen. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   Outdoor sportsmen have a need for determining the ambient temperature whether it is the ambient air or ambient water temperature. The temperature is important for two reasons. Firstly, the temperature should be known to assure adequate protective measures are taken against any cold weather. Secondly, hunters and fisherman need to known the temperature because temperature and the relative change of temperature affects the behavior of the animals or fish. A good sportsman takes animal behaviour into account during a sporting event such as hunting or fishing. 
   Commercially available thermometers have certain limitations and risks. Thermometers containing mercury pose a known environmental hazard due to the mercury content and the risk of spillage of the mercury into the outdoor environment. While alcohol based thermometers do not pose the same severity of environmental risk, the alcohol still needs to be encased in a glass tube. The glass tube is prone for breakage and in order to reduce the probability of breakage, the glass tube is housed in a metal housing with a viewing window. The metal housing has a loop for attachment to a chain, string or lanyard. In addition, the thermometer may have a clip for storage to a shirt or pants pocket. 
   For accurate reading of the ambient surrounding, the thermometer must then be removed from the pocket and a certain amount of time must elapse before an accurate reading is obtained. If the thermometer is hanging from the lanyard into the water, the lanyard must be pulled to retrieve the thermometer and then handled for reading. Furthermore, the thermometer can get separated from the lanyard and a person can easily lose it. 
   Liquid crystal digital thermometers have been known to be used in fishing environments. A separate plastic coated card with every 5° C. can be held beneath the water surface and retrieved and handled for reading. Furthermore, this type of thermometer can also be separated and lost just like regular analog thermometers. These scenarios make the presently known thermometers to be relatively inconvenient, cumbersome and subject to being is placed. 
   Electronic digital thermometers have seen much commercial acceptance in other fields but they have two main disadvantages for outdoor sportsmen. Firstly, they are relatively expensive and secondly they require a power source which must be sealed from the elements. The power source may be depleted during use without any way to replenish the power when in field use, i.e., in a remote forest or remote mountain. 
   What is needed is a convenient non-powered thermometer that is readily available for an accurate reading of the ambient surrounding by secure attachment to an outer sports garment. What is needed is a flexible liquid crystal thermometer that flexes with the outer garment and is adhered to a convenient location on the outer garment. What is also needed is a thermometer for use in rugged outdoor conditions safe for both the wearer and the environment. 
   SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
   In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a protective outer sports garment for a wearer includes an area on the sports garment with a heat insulation layer to reduce body heat from passing outward therethrough. A flexible liquid crystal thermometer is connected to an exterior side of the sports garment over the heat insulation material and positioned to be viewed by the wearer. The liquid crystal thermometer is in thermal connection to the ambient exterior over the heat insulation material for providing temperature indication of the ambient exterior with insignificant thermal loads registering from the wearer. 
   Preferably, the garment is in the form of fishing waders and has a waterproof layer below the heat insulation material. The liquid crystal thermometer is waterproof for submersion in ambient water. 
   It is also desirable, that the liquid crystal thermometer is encased in a clear elastomeric material of which a portion of the plastic material under the liquid crystal thermometer is the heat insulation layer. In one embodiment, the clear plastic material has an upper portion forming a recess window through which liquid crystal thermometer is viewed. The lower surface of the clear plastic material is adhered onto the outer sports garment by a waterproof adhesive material. 
   The recess window is shaped to receive a replacement liquid crystal thermometer. The replacement liquid crystal thermometer element is encased in a second housing shaped to be received and adhered to the recess window. 
   It is also desirable in an alternate embodiment that the garment is a winter outdoor weather protective garment. The liquid crystal thermometer registers temperature below freezing on the garment which has built-in heat insulation material. 
   In another embodiment, a housing member has a lower surface with an adhesive bond to the garment. A thermometer element is encased in a secondary housing and is adhered to the upper surface of the housing member with an adhesive bond that is weaker than the adhesive bond of the housing member to the garment. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a fisherman&#39;s waders includes a thermometer device adhered onto a leg section of the waders for submersion into fishing water and registering the ambient temperature of the fishing water. The thermometer device is positioned to be directly viewable by a wearer of the waders. Preferably, the thermometer device is a flexible liquid crystal thermometer attached onto one of an upper leg section or lower leg section of the waders. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a sports thermometer includes a flexible liquid crystal thermometer encased in clear plastic for being water proof. The casing has an adhesive backing for adhering the thermometer onto the exterior of an outdoor sports garment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Reference now is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fisherman&#39;s waders in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a view of the waders in one position for indicating ambient temperature of ambient water; 
       FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of the liquid crystal thermometer shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the liquid crystal thermometer shown in  FIG. 3 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view taken along lines  5 — 5  shown in FIG.  4 . 
       FIG. 6  is a top plan view of a replacement liquid crystal thermometer for connection to the one shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view taken along the lines  7 — 7  shown in  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevational view of view similar to  FIG. 5  with the replacement thermometer installed thereon; 
       FIG. 9  is a view showing a outdoor upper garment with a liquid crystal thermometers connected to two positions on the sleeves; 
       FIG. 10  is a view of a glove with a liquid crystal thermometer attached on the back side thereof; and 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a garment with an attached liquid crystal thermometer. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a pair of waders  10  has the typical boots  12  and leggings  16 . A non-powered liquid crystal thermometer  20  is attached to either the lower leg portion  18  on the inside calf, or at the upper leg portion  19  above the knee or both positions as shown. The position of the liquid crystal thermometer  20  is determined by what is most convenient for a fisherman to view the thermometer when in the water. One such position just above the knee is convenient when the fisherman is kneeling such as the wader position shown in FIG.  2 . The lower position is satisfactory when the fisherman is able to lift a leg without jeopardizing has stance to view the lower thermometer  20 . 
   The liquid crystal thermometer is attached by a water proof adhesive layer  22  as shown in  FIG. 5  to the waders to be permanently affixed thereto. The liquid crystal thermometer is constructed to indicate the ambient temperature of the ambient exterior and eliminate or significantly reduce or minimize the effect of any body heat emanating from the wearer. In order to achieve this objective, a liquid crystal thermometer element  24  is encased in a clear transparent elastomeric casing  26  made from silicone or urethane which spaces and insulates the liquid crystal element  26  from the human body as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 . 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 5  the casing has a top recessed flat window  28  through which the indica  30  and the thermometer elements  32  also called an event are visible. As in conventional liquid crystal thermometers, each thermometric element  32 , also called an event, is set to change to a particular distinctive color when the temperature as indicated by the indicia is registered. This occurrence thereby shows a highlighted or distinctive color at or near the registered temperature when the other elements  32  are a much darker color, such as black or navy blue. It is foreseen the elements have a rectangular shape positioned adjacent the indicia  30 . However, other designs such as indicia  30  within the rectangular display of the element  32  can be used. Other shapes such as ovals or circles may also be used for the elements  32 . The range of display is foreseen to be between 34° and 68° F. at every 2° F. for use with the fisherman waders 
   The liquid crystal element  24  is positioned in a main casing section  34  just below the window  28  and then a case plug  36  is positioned in place and adhesively secured or sonically welded in place to assure a water tight seal for the liquid crystal display element. The adhesive layer  22  is then applied to the bottom of the casing  26  along with a protective plastic or paper peel away layer (not shown) for transportation and handling purposes until installation onto the waders  10 . The adhesive layer  22  along the casing  26  may also help insulate from the body heat. 
   The housing  26  may also be used for advertising or embossing brand names on the perimeter  29  that circumscribes recess member  28 . 
   While most waders  10  have useful life of about three years or more depending on usage, most liquid crystal element manufacturers only warranty the liquid crystal display for one year. Thus, while the casing  26  protects the liquid crystal thermometer element  24  from harmful humidity and ultraviolet radiation, there is a possibility that the thermometer element  24  may not last the full term for most waders. In order to assure that the waders can be fully used their entire live expectancy before their durability is completely spent, it may therefore be necessary to repair or replace the liquid crystal element. In such instances, it is foreseen that a liquid crystal replacement path  37  as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  can be installed on top of the recessed window  28  as shown in FIG.  8 . The patch as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  has a similar liquid crystal element  24  encased in a urethane or other clear plastic secondary housing  38  for rendering the liquid crystal element  24  weather resistant. The housing  38  is then adhered to the window  28  as shown in FIG.  8 . While after the patch is installed the liquid crystal element  24  has a flush appearance relative to the top of the casing  26  and the recessed appearance of the window  28  is eliminated. The original liquid crystal element  24  which is no longer functional is now concealed below the path  37  and upper liquid crystal element  24 . 
   It is also foreseen that other outdoor water sport applications are possible. The liquid crystal thermometer  20  may be applied to a sleeve of a wet suit for water sports such as snorkeling or diving. It may also be applied to gravel guards on a pair of waders. 
   It is also foreseen that this invention is applicable for other outdoor sports fields where cold weather gear is used. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the liquid crystal thermometer  20  may be adhered to a sleeve  40  of a parka or jacket  42  in either a longitudinal position as shown in the right sleeve portion  43  or laterally across a bottom portion  44  of sleeve  40  as shown in the left arm. The liquid crystal thermometer  20  on either sleeve  40  has the same basic structure as heretofore described. The thermometer on the bottom portion  44  of the sleeve  40  may be contoured to more appropriately wrap about the bottom portion contour. The parka  42  may also insulated for cold weather usage which further reduces the effect of body heat on the temperature element  24  and provides for an accurate thermometer reading of the ambient atmosphere. 
   The liquid crystal element  24  therein may have a different range of temperatures for the cold weather parka. Depending on the intended usage and insulation on the parka, ranges may vary from the range mentioned for the fishing waders. A range of, for example, −25° C. to 4° C. (−13° F. to 40° F.) is suitable for most moderate cold weather usage such as hunting or moderate mountain climbing or snowboarding and snow skiing. Liquid crystals covering such ranges are now commercially available. As liquid crystal cold weather ranges increase, applications may be extended to extreme cold weather usage such as high mounting climbing or for Artic or Antarctica usage which may extend significantly below the −25° C. mark. 
     FIG. 10  shows a liquid crystal thermometer  20  mounted across the back side  50  of a cold weather glove  52 . Again the insulation in the glove also reduces the effect of body heat on the liquid crystal element  24  to allow an accurate reading of the ambient air. The casing  20  may be sufficiently flexible to be normally contoured to complement the contour of the backside of the glove  52 . Again the position on the backside of the glove alloys easy reading of the thermometer for the wearer. 
   An alternate embodiment of thermometer  20  is shown in  FIG. 11 , in this embodiment, a first housing  60  is secured to garment  62  through a first adhesive bond layer  63  at its lower surface  64 . The liquid crystal thermometer element  24  is encased against humidity and ultra violet damage in a secondary housing  66 . The secondary housing  66  is attached to an upper surface  67  of housing  60  with an adhesive bond layer  65  therebetween the that is weaker than the adhesive bond between housing  60  and garment  62 . Different commercially appropriate waterproof adhesives may be used for each layer. Each of the bond layers  63  and  65  may be substituted with Velcro™ hook &amp; loop type fastener systems of varying adhesion or lock and tear ratings. 
   Other variations and modifications are possible without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0