Abstract:
A garment for use in a wide variety of aquatic activities is described. The garment includes an elastomeric torso element running from a user&#39;s shoulders to the lower thigh area with tubular portions for the user&#39;s upper legs, and may include elastomeric leg coverings designed to cover the rest of the user&#39;s legs and to be detachably coupled to the torso element with a fastening mechanism. The top portion of the torso element and the tubular leg portions of the torso element can be folded over and fastened in a compacted position, easing movement in the garment when full coverage is not needed. The garment may include insulative boots for the user&#39;s feet, and the leg coverings may have built-in gravel guards that overlap the boots, preventing debris from entering into the boots.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 62/173,221, filed Jun. 9, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally apparel for use in aquatic environments. More specifically, the invention relates to a clothing system for use in aquatic sports that is designed for safety and comfort in most aquatic environments. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Various types of apparel for use in water are well known in the prior art. Such types run the range from bathing suits, which are merely cloth or other materials that are intended to provide coverage of certain body parts for modest but do not provide thermal insulation, to deep sea diving suits, which are dry suits that prevent any water from contacting the user, and which do provide thermal insulation as well as protection against the increased pressure found at significant sea depths and containment of the air needed by the diver. 
         [0004]    In between these two extremes are waders, which are typically designed to keep a user dry while wading in water, such as for fly fishing, and wetsuits, which provide some thermal protection by allowing only a thin layer of water to circulate between the user&#39;s skin and the thermally insulating wetsuit material. Both of these are well known in the prior art. 
         [0005]    Conventional waders are typically one-piece systems, often enclosing a user&#39;s feet, legs and lower torso, and reaching up to the user&#39;s chest. They are usually designed to be sealed and waterproof so as to allow fishermen to be in the water, for example in a stream or river, while staying dry for extended periods of time. In some cases soles may be attached to the bottom of the water to provide added traction on the stream or river bottom for the user; in other cases, an entire boot may be provided and attached to the rest of the wader with a waterproof seam. 
         [0006]    Such waders have a number of features and issues. They are easy to use, typically worn over, or in place of, a user&#39;s trousers or shorts, and sometimes over the user&#39;s shoes as well. They are typically not worn on the way to the stream or river, but rather are donned by the user just prior to entering the water. However, they are generally not adaptable to either changing conditions or varying environments, as they are intended for use only in water, and make no allowance for variations in either air or water temperature. 
         [0007]    Safety can be an issue with waders, as they may become dangerous in certain conditions. If the top of the wader, i.e., the user&#39;s chest, goes below the surface of the stream or river, water comes in over the top of the one-piece chest high wader, filling the wader with water. This will cause the user to be held down in the stream or river with the added weight of water inside the wader. If the stream or river is deep enough, this added weight may cause the user to sink and drown. 
         [0008]    In addition, waders are typically not designed or intended for use when the user is not in the water. In some instances the wader material, while waterproof, may be lightweight and not particularly durable. Thus, waders are often prone to leaks and/or tears, which can also allow water to flow inside the wader with the consequent safety issue described above. 
         [0009]    There are currently four main types of waders: rubber waders, nylon waders, neoprene waders, and breathable waders made of waterproof materials such as Gore Tex. Each of these types of waders has somewhat different characteristics. 
         [0010]    Rubber waders often have wading boots attached. Due to the rubber material, they tend to be heavy and bulky. They typically do provide some thermal insulation, and thus may in some cases be used in cold water. 
         [0011]    Nylon waders are typically made of thin nylon material and are thus light in weight. However, as nylon is not breathable, they are typically not comfortable as the user&#39;s perspiration will build up inside, and as the nylon does not provide any thermal insulation they are not well suited for cold water immersion. 
         [0012]    Neoprene waders are available in varying thicknesses. The neoprene material provides thermal insulation against the temperature of the stream or river and thus such waders are typically used in cold water and cold weather. However, they are not breathable and generally uncomfortable in hot weather, again due to the inability to allow the user&#39;s perspiration to escape. Further, neoprene waders are typically not fitted to the user&#39;s body, and thus provide no insulation if water gets inside the wader. 
         [0013]    Breathable waders are made from breathable materials or incorporate breathable membranes such as Gore Tex. They thus allow body perspiration and heat to escape, while preventing water from entering through the material, thus often keeping the user dry and more comfortable than some of the other types of waders. However, they generally do not provide any thermal insulation, and thus may not be desirable in cold weather or cold water. 
         [0014]    It will thus be apparent that each type of wader works better in specific environments, and no single type provides a user with the ability to adapt the wader to changing conditions and environments. 
         [0015]    Again, common wader styles provide a watertight environment for the wearer up to the chest area, with suspenders over the shoulders, and continue as a single loose-fitting piece attached directly to neoprene or nylon stocking feet. The feet may fit into separate wading shoes, or may incorporate boots as a one-piece chest high wader system. In the case that a wader, such as someone fishing, loses his or her footing, the chest high waders can easily fill with water and become a weight which may pull the user downstream, possibly resulting in serious consequences, including drowning. 
         [0016]    Also as above, some wader materials typically provides no thermal insulation, and one&#39;s body heat can quickly be lost due to convection by the water, leaving a fisherman cold for the majority of the day or worse, suffering from hypothermia. One alternative is a long john style wader that is shoulder high and made of thick neoprene. However, while preventing heat loss to the water, this style often causes excessive retention of the user&#39;s body heat, leading to discomfort during periods out of the water in warm weather. 
         [0017]    Finally, some fishermen will typically wear their gear to the stream or river, often because of the difficulty of donning the gear along the bank once they have arrived. As above, since waders made of some materials do not allow for adequate release of the user&#39;s perspiration and body heat, a fisherman may often overheat in a shoulder or chest high wader system while walking or hiking to a desired location. Even if the wader is made of breathable material, this, along with the opening at the user&#39;s chest, may be insufficient to prevent overheating. 
         [0018]    Wetsuits, which as above allow a thin layer of water to circulate between the user&#39;s skin and the wetsuit material, typically neoprene, have different issues. They provide some insulation against the temperature of the water, although this is limited by the fact that the thin layer of water circulates and is replaced by new water as the user moves. Different thicknesses of neoprene will provide different amounts of temperature insulation. 
         [0019]    However, neoprene again is waterproof, and wetsuits are designed to conform to the contours of a user&#39;s body to as to limit the amount of water that enters the wetsuit. This also prevents the user&#39;s perspiration and body heat from easily escaping, and thus, when the user is not in the water, a wetsuit may be conducive to the user&#39;s overheating, particularly if the user is active. 
         [0020]    There are wetsuits with long sleeves and long legs for colder water environments, and “shorty” wetsuits with short sleeves and short legs for more moderate water temperatures. There are also convertible wetsuits which can change from full wetsuits to shorty wetsuits by removing portions of the arm and leg extensions; see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,404,213 (“the &#39;213 patent”). 
         [0021]    However, such shorty wetsuits (even converted ones) are generally all one piece, as easily seen in the &#39;213 patent, and even though there is typically a sealing mechanism, such as a zipper or Velcro strip, which partially opens the wetsuit for the user to get in or out, this still limits the user&#39;s ability to regulate his or her temperature when out of the water as most of the user&#39;s body is still covered. It is also often acknowledged that wetsuits are uncomfortable to walk in when the user is not in the water, and thus many users typically don them immediately before entering the water and remove them immediately after exiting the water. 
         [0022]    Neither waders nor wetsuits thus provide a garment appropriate for a wide range of aquatic activities. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The present invention provides a garment capable of use in a wide variety of aquatic activities. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, a garment for aquatic activities is described, comprising: an elastomeric torso element having front and back portions configured to cover the front and back of a user&#39;s torso, the torso element open at the top corresponding to a shoulder area, and having two tubular extensions corresponding to a location from a waist area to a thigh area configured to cover the user&#39;s upper legs; and a first fastening mechanism for detachably connecting the front and back portions of the torso element at the shoulder area. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the front of one embodiment of the aquatic garment of the invention with gravel guards in a down position. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the front of one embodiment of the aquatic garment of the invention with gravel guards in an up position. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the back of one embodiment of the aquatic garment of the invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of the torso portion of one embodiment of the aquatic garment of the invention being folded and fastened. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of left and right insulative bootie or socks that may be used in one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0030]    The present application describes a garment that is capable of use in a wide variety of aquatic activities, and that need not be entirely removed when the user is not in the water. This can provide an alternative to both conventional fishing waders and wetsuits so as to enable fishermen, hunters and other water enthusiasts to wade into streams and rivers for fishing, as well as to be immersed in water safely and in comfort in other situations. 
         [0031]    In addition to wading for fishing, other applications for such a garment include potential use by water enthusiasts in situations that may require potential water immersion with comfort and safety in the aquatic environment, including, but not limited to, surfers, kayakers, canoers, wind and kite surfers, paddle boarders, hunters, etc. 
         [0032]    The central portion of the garment comprises a torso element and partial leg coverings wherein the upper portion of the torso section can be folded back and secured to the lower portion of the torso section for ease of movement prior to entry to the water. The partial leg coverings may also be folded up and secured to themselves for the same purpose. Various pieces may be added as desired for particular uses as will be described below. The garment and additional pieces will typically be made of neoprene or another elastomeric sheet material. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a garment as described herein. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the garment comprises a central torso-fitting piece  1  that covers most of the torso of the user, as well as the user&#39;s upper legs, but not the arms. The front and back portions of piece  1  are not attached to each other above the user&#39;s shoulders. Rather, there is a fastening mechanism to connect the front and back portions of piece one at the top of the user&#39;s shoulders. 
         [0034]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the fastening mechanism is a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro in which a loop portion  3  is attached to the front portion of piece  1  and a strap  2  containing a hoop portion extends from the back portion of piece  1  so that when portions  2  and  3  are in contact with each other piece  1  of the garment is attached across the user&#39;s shoulders. In other embodiments, a rotatable elongated metal projection, often brass, may be attached to the front portion of piece  1 , with an elongated metal eyelet embedded in the strap  2  through which the metal projection passes and is then rotated to lock the strap  2  to the front of portion  1  (such as is used in a rotating post hasp). In other embodiments, a zipper mechanism or a snap fastener may be used. A waterproof zippered pocket  4  may be provided at the top of the front of piece  1  for carrying small personal items like keys, a cellphone, and/or a wallet, allowing these items to be secured and dry. 
         [0035]    A zipper  6  may run from the bottom side of one armhole down piece  1 , terminating at waist height to allow for easy donning of the garment. A fastening mechanism may be located above the zipper with a flap running perpendicular to the zipper in order to further secure the zipper pull at a high or closed position of the zipper. For example, the fastening mechanism may comprise a flap  5  attached to piece  1  on one side of the end of zipper  6  and a hook and loop fastener on piece  1  on the other side of the end of zipper  13 . When closed, the fastening mechanism covers the end of zipper  6  so that zipper  6  is not inadvertently opened. 
         [0036]    Partial leg coverings  22  may be attached to piece  1  of the garment to provide additional leg protection and thermal insulation. The connection of the upper leg portion of piece  1  to the partial leg coverings  22  may be made, for example, by having a thinner neoprene section  15  circumnavigating the lower inside edge of the leg portions of piece  1  with a series of snap fasteners having brass buttons connecting with corresponding brass receptacles  16  of the upper inside of the partial leg coverings  22 , forming a secure connection. In alternative embodiments, the connection between piece  1  and partial leg coverings  22  can be either a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro or a zipper system. 
         [0037]    Partial leg coverings  22  may also have built in gravel guards  17  that are designed to fold down to cover a wading shoe. Each gravel guard  17  may, for example, hook onto the shoe with one or more hooks to keep gravel or other material from going into the wading shoe. If this feature is not necessary to engage the gravel guard can remain in the up position.  FIG. 1  shows gravel guards  17  in the down position, covering the tops of wading shoes  19 , while  FIG. 2  shows gravel guards  17  in the up position so that the tops of wading shoes  19  are exposed. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  shows how the torso portion of piece  1  is made collapsible in order to avoid overheating when the neoprene thermal properties are not required. When zipper  6  along the side of piece  1  is in the full open position, easy folding of the upper portion of piece  1  down and over the lower portion of piece  1  is possible as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0039]    If desired, the folded down portion of piece  1  may be secured to the lower portion of piece  1  by a series of hook and loop pads  7  and  8 , such as Velcro, which may be located along the front of the suit, for example on the side opposite to zipper  6 , as shown in  FIG. 1 . This will allow the upper portion of piece  1  to be secured to the lower portion of piece  1  in a folded position s shown in  FIG. 4 . Note that the pads  7  and  8  are the opposing elements of a hook and loop system, i.e., one is a pad of hooks and one is a pad of loops. The two pads attach as the suit is folded down. In an alternative embodiment, hook and loop pads  7  and  8  may be replaced by snap fasteners. 
         [0040]    Each upper leg portion of piece  1  may also have a single zipper  13  set on the outside of the upper leg portions of piece  1  as seen in  FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 . This will allow the upper leg portions of piece  1  to similarly easily fold up over themselves as also shown in  FIG. 4 . The folded up portions of the leg portions may similarly be secured into place with hook and loop pads  9  and  10  which align vertically along the leg portions of piece  1  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and pads  11  and  12  as shown in the back in  FIG. 3 . As with zipper  5  above, each zipper  13  may be further secured in the closed position by, for example, a flap  14  which is attached to piece  1  on one side of the end of zipper  13  and a hook and loop fastener on piece  1  on the other side of the end of zipper  13 . 
         [0041]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a pair of insulative boots or socks  18  that may be used with the described garment. The partial leg coverings  22  described above, which may be attached to piece  1  as above, may also be configured to be inserted into the tops of insulative boots  18 . The insulative boots  18  provide thermal comfort for the user&#39;s feet in cold water. 
         [0042]    Insulative boots  18  may be designed to be used alone, or alternatively may be worn inside of wading boots so as to provide additional insulation and/or better traction on an underwater bed. The design of insulative boots  18  is intended to allow them to be fastened tightly to the foot and leg. In one embodiment, a long strap  19 , sewn to the outer-facing surface of the insulative boot  18 , can connect to the opposite side of insulative boot  18  and be fastened in place to a hook and loop pad  20  to allow the boot  18  to be tightened after being placed on the foot of a user. 
         [0043]    By making the garment in the way described, a user may wear only piece  1  and may fold down the upper portion from the torso and fold up part of the upper leg portions so as to minimize the coverage of the garment. This may allow a user to, for example, walk or hike to a stream, river or other body of water without overheating. In some environments and for some activities, it may be sufficient for a user to wear only piece  1 , by folding the upper portion of the torso back up and attaching the shoulder straps  2  and folding the upper leg portions down, so that the coverage of the garment is similar to that of a shorty wetsuit other than coverage of the upper arms. For shallow water applications, the user may opt to only wear the lower leg portion (with coverage up to the mid-thigh). 
         [0044]    For other activities and environments, the user may carry the other pieces of the garment, i.e., the lower leg portions  22  and boots  18  while traveling to the desired location, again with piece  1  folded to provide minimal coverage and avoid overheating. Once at the desired location, the user may add the lower leg portions  22  and boots  18  if desired, and thus be comfortable when in the water. In some embodiments, the elastomeric material used in the lower leg portions  22  and boots  18  may be of a different thickness than the main torso piece  1 . 
         [0045]    The disclosed method and apparatus have been explained above with reference to several embodiments. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure. Certain aspects of the described garment may readily be implemented using configurations other than those described in the embodiments above, or in conjunction with elements other than those described above. 
         [0046]    For example, other elastomeric materials than neoprene, such as polychloroprene, may be used for the body of the garment. In some cases, in addition to the alternative embodiments mentioned above, zippers, snap fasteners, buttons, or twistable connectors passed through elongated eyelets may be substituted for the connectors described herein. 
         [0047]    These and other variations upon the embodiments are intended to be covered by the present disclosure, which is limited only by the appended claims.