U.S. patent application number 09/840223 was filed with the patent office on 2002-08-29 for waterproof relief outlet in breathable wader.
Invention is credited to Quinn, Michael P..
Application Number | 20020116742 09/840223 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25159581 |
Filed Date | 2002-08-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020116742 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Quinn, Michael P. |
August 29, 2002 |
WATERPROOF RELIEF OUTLET IN BREATHABLE WADER
Abstract
A waterproof relief outlet in a breathable chest wader
consisting of a zipper having a zipper portion capable of movement
from a closed position to an open position, wherein the zipper
prevents water from entering the interior of the chest wader when
the zipper portion is in said closed position. The wearer of the
breathable chest wader thereby has means for relieving himself
without having to substantially remove the waders and/or any
undergarments. Further, this is accomplished in a highly simplified
manner, wherein the wearer need only to grab a tab coupled to a
slide fastener of the zipper portion in order to move the zipper
portion from the closed position to the open position.
Inventors: |
Quinn, Michael P.; (Traverse
City, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Artz & Artz, P.C.
28333 Telegraph Road, Suite 250
Southfield
MI
48034
US
|
Family ID: |
25159581 |
Appl. No.: |
09/840223 |
Filed: |
April 23, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09840223 |
Apr 23, 2001 |
|
|
|
09793292 |
Feb 26, 2001 |
|
|
|
6363531 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/89 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A44B 19/32 20130101;
A41D 13/012 20130101; A41D 27/202 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/89 |
International
Class: |
A41D 003/08 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A waterproof relief outlet in a breathable chest wader
comprising: a vertical slit cut into a front portion of the
breathable chest wader at a position in the vicinity of a wader
crotch; and a non-corrosive zipper having a non-corrosive zipper
portion coupled to and surrounded by a waterproof outer cloth
portion, which is coupled to an interior breathable shell surface
of the breathable chest wader around said vertical slit such that
said non-corrosive zipper portion is exposed externally through
said vertical slit, said non-corrosive zipper portion being
moveable between a closed position and an open position; wherein
said non-corrosive zipper portion is internally exposed to a
wearer's undergarments when in said closed position and wherein
said non-corrosive zipper portion prevents water from entering the
interior of the breathable chest wader through said non-corrosive
zipper portion to a wearer's underclothing when said non-corrosive
zipper portion is in said closed position.
2. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 1, wherein said
non-corrosive zipper portion is selected from the group consisting
of a non-corrosive plastic zipper portion and a non-corrosive metal
zipper portion.
3. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 1, further comprising: a
flap coupled to an exterior breathable shell portion of the
breathable chest wader, wherein said flap substantially covers said
non-corrosive zipper portion.
4. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 1, wherein said
non-corrosive zipper portion has a slide fastener, a first set of
outer teeth, a second set of outer teeth, a first set of inner
teeth, a second set of inner teeth, a raised flange, and a lower
raised flange, wherein said first set of outer teeth are separated
from said first set of inner teeth by a first cloth portion and
said second set of outer teeth are separated from said second set
of inner teeth by a second cloth portion.
5. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 4, wherein the movement of
said slide fastener from said open position to said closed position
causes said first set of inner teeth to intermesh with said second
set of inner teeth and said slide fastener to abut said raised
flange to substantially seal said zipper portion, thereby
preventing seepage of water to an interior portion of said chest
wader through said zipper portion.
6. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 4 further comprising: a
first tab coupled to said slide fastener, wherein said first tab is
capable of moving said slide fastener from said closed position to
said open position and from said open position to said closed
position.
7. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 6 further comprising: a
second tab coupled to said slide fastener, wherein said first tab
is positioned along an exterior side of the chest wader and said
second tab is positioned within an interior side of the breathable
chest wader, wherein said first tab and said second tab are
separately capable of moving said slide fastener from said closed
position to said open position and from said open position to said
closed position.
8. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 1, wherein said waterproof
outer cloth portion is sealed to said an interior breathable shell
surface of the breathable chest wader using a waterproof sealing
material, wherein said waterproof sealing material prevents water
from entering the inside of the chest wader between said
non-corrosive zipper and said interior breathable shell
surface.
9. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 8, wherein said waterproof
sealing material comprises neoprene cement.
10. A method for making a breathable chest wader having a relief
outlet, the method comprising: forming a vertical slit in a chest
wader; coupling a waterproof, non-corrosive zipper having a cloth
portion and a zipper portion to the breathable chest wader such
that said zipper portion is exposed through said vertical slit and
is exposed to an interior breathable shell surface of the chest
wader, said zipper portion being capable of moving between an open
position and a closed position, wherein said closed position
prevents leakage of water to the interior of the chest wader and to
a wearer's underclothing through said zipper portion; and sealing
said cloth portion of said waterproof, non-corrosive zipper to said
interior breathable shell surface of the chest wader to prevent
leakage of water from the exterior of the chest wader to the
interior of the chest wader between said cloth portion and said
interior breathable shell surface in said closed position.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of sealing said cloth
portion comprises sealing said cloth portion of said waterproof,
non-corrosive zipper to said interior breathable shell surface
using a waterproof sealing material.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of sealing said cloth
portion of said waterproof, non-corrosive zipper to said interior
breathable shell surface using a waterproof sealing material
comprises sealing said cloth portion of said waterproof,
non-corrosive zipper to said interior breathable shell surface
using a neoprene cement.
13. The method of claim 10 further comprising: coupling a flap to
the exterior of the chest wader, wherein said flap substantially
covers said waterproof, non-corrosive zipper.
14. The method of claim 10 further comprising: coupling a first tab
to a slide fastener on said zipper portion.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: coupling a second
tab to said slide fastener, wherein said first tab is located along
an exterior side of the chest wader and said second tab is located
along an interior side of the chest wader.
16. A waterproof relief outlet in a chest wader comprising: a
vertical slit cut in a front portion of the chest wader at a
position in the vicinity of a wader crotch; a non-corrosive zipper
coupled to and surrounded by an outer cloth portion, wherein said
outer cloth portion is coupled to an interior breathable shell
surface of the chest wader around said vertical slit such that said
non-corrosive zipper is exposed to the exterior through said
vertical slit, wherein said non-corrosive zipper portion is capable
of movement from a closed position to an open position, wherein
said non-corrosive zipper is in communication with a wearer's
undergarments when in said closed position and wherein said
non-corrosive zipper portion prevents water from entering the
interior of the chest wader when said non-corrosive zipper portion
is in said closed position; and a flap coupled to an exterior
portion of the chest wader, said flap substantially covering said
non-corrosive zipper.
17. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 16, wherein said
non-corrosive zipper portion is selected from the group consisting
of a non-corrosive plastic zipper portion and a non-corrosive metal
zipper portion.
18. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 16, wherein said
non-corrosive zipper portion has a slide fastener, a first set of
outer teeth, a second set of outer teeth, a first set of inner
teeth, a second set of inner teeth, a raised flange, and a lower
raised flange, wherein said first set of outer teeth are separated
from said first set of inner teeth by a first cloth portion and
said second set of outer teeth are separated from said second set
of inner teeth by a second cloth portion.
19. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 18, wherein the movement
of said slide fastener from said open position to said closed
position causes said first set of inner teeth to intermesh with
said second set of inner teeth and said slide fastener to abut said
raised flange to substantially seal said zipper portion, thereby
preventing seepage of water to an interior portion of said chest
wader through said zipper portion.
20. The waterproof relief outlet of claim 18 further comprising a
first tab coupled to said slide fastener, wherein said first tab is
capable of moving said slide fastener from said closed position to
said open position and from said open position to said closed
position.
Description
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation in part of my application
Ser. No. 09/793,292, filed on Feb. 26, 2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to waders and more
particularly to a breathable wader having a waterproof relief
outlet formed therein.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Waders are sportswear that are used by individuals to
protect against water penetration while fishing, duck hunting, or
otherwise working in a stream or lake. Waders are traditionally
rubbers boots that are stepped into and pulled up to the chest of
the person. Typically, waders are held up by suspenders or some
other type of device to maintain the top of the wader above the
level of the water.
[0004] Recently, in an effort to improve comfort, waders have been
introduced that are lighter, more durable, and completely
waterproof yet allows moisture buildup within the wader due to
perspiration to pass through to the outside. These "breathable"
waders typically incorporate a denier nylon outer shell that is
weaved with microporous holes that are small enough prevent larger
water molecules from entering the interior of the wader, yet large
enough to allow vapor molecules (perspiration) to exit to the
exterior of the wader. Thus, a wearer of the wader remains dry and
comfortable regardless of weather conditions. To aid in insulating
the wader, a layer of insulating material such as Gore-Tex.RTM. or
Thinsulate.TM. liner may be added to the interior of the wader.
[0005] One problem with currently available waders is that they
typically do not provide an easily accessible relief outlet.
Therefore, a person wearing waders must remove the waders, or at
least lower the waders below their waist, in order to relieve
himself.
[0006] One proposed solution to the relief outlet problem was
presented in U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,159 to Schmidt, in which a
waterproof relief outlet having a folded funnel within the chest
wader is disclosed. In this patent, a wearer of the chest wader can
relieve himself by unlocking the interlocking tongue and then
extending a funnel or sleeve through the interlocking tongue. The
funnel itself is sealed to the inner surface of the chest wader.
When stored, the funnel must be folded in order to ensure it
fitting within its allotted space. However, this invention is
complicated to use, requiring many steps for an individual to do
before being able to relieve his pressure. This problem is
exacerbated when a wearer's hands are gloved or not easily
manipulated do to cold temperatures. Further, the interlocking
tongue is not waterproof; it requires a cover to ensure that water
does not leak into the interior of the wader when the funnel
housing is held in a closed position.
[0007] Accordingly, there is a long felt need to provide an
improved breathable wader having a simplified waterproof relief
outlet that prevents ingress of water into the breathable waders
not heretofore attainable.
[0008] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a breathable wader having an easily accessible waterproof
relief outlet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the above and the other objects of the
present invention, a simplified waterproof relief outlet in a
breathable chest wader is provided. The breathable wader has a
zipper secured to a center seam therein. The zipper, in its closed
position, is completely waterproof and is enclosed at both ends
without any additional steps. A wearer of the chest wader can
relieve pressure by simply unzipping the breathable wader.
[0010] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent upon considering the following detailed description
and appended claims, and upon reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a front view of the breathable wader according to
a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the zipper of FIG. 1 in a
closed position;
[0013] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the zipper of FIG. 1 in an
open position;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a illustration of the zipper of FIG. 1 taken along
line 4-4;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the zipper of FIG.
2;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a side view of the zipper of FIG. 3 taken along
line 6-6;
[0017] FIG. 7 is an interior view of the zipper of FIG. 2; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a side view of the zipper of FIG. 1 taken along
line 8-8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 1 and 7, a water resistant breathable
chest wader 10 in accordance with the present invention is
depicted. The chest wader 10 may have a belt (not shown) for
cinching around a wearer to assist in fitting the wader and holding
it up thereby preventing leakage. The wader material is a
cloth-like material that is preferable comprised of an breathable
outer denier nylon shell and an inner insulating liner material
shell such as Gore-Tex.RTM. or Thinsulate.TM.. The breathable outer
denier nylon shell is a breathable material that is weaved with
tiny, microporous holes that are small enough to prevent water
molecules from entering the interior of the wader but large enough
to allow vapor material, typically perspiration, to exit from the
interior of the wader to the outer environment. Of course,
breathable materials other than a denier nylon shell and insulating
materials other than Gore-Tex.RTM. or Thinsulate.TM. may be used
and still fall within the spirit of the present invention. [0020] A
pair of suspenders (not shown) may be used in addition to or in
place of the belt. The wader 10 also has a waterproof zipper 14
formed therein. The waterproof zipper 14 is located in the vicinity
of the wader crotch and consists of a zipper portion 14a and a
cloth-like portion 16. A wearer of the chest wader 10 can relieve
pressure by simply pulling a tab 18 of the slide fastener 19 of the
zipper portion 14a downward to unlock the zipper portion 14a from a
closed position, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, to an open position, as
shown in FIG. 3.
[0020] As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, a raised flange 21 abuts
against the slide fastener 19 to ensure that the zipper 14 is
substantially sealed to prevent water leakage into the interior of
the wader 10 when the zipper 14 is in the closed position. In
addition, a rubber seal 27 is heat sealed to the inner portion 22
of the wader 10 to provide sealing within the zipper portion 14a.
The zipper is also depicted as having a lower raised flange 23.
[0021] As best seen in FIG. 3, a vertical slit 12 is exposed when
the zipper portion 14a is opened. The lower raised flange 23
prevents is located on the bottom portion of the zipper 14 and
limits the movement of the slide fastener 19 downward. After the
user has relieved himself, the slide fastener 19 is simply pulled
upward to return the zipper portion 14a to the closed position. The
tab 18 is typically made of leather or some type of grippable,
mostly water resistant material and may be coupled to the slide
fastener 19 in a wide variety of method which are known in the
art.
[0022] As seen in FIG. 4, the cloth material 16 is sealed around
the vertical slit 12 to the inner portion 22 of the wader 10 such
that the zipper portion 14a extends through the vertical slit 12.
This allows the zipper portion 14a to be accessed from the exterior
of the wader. Preferably, the cloth material 16 is a water
resistant material and is secured to the inner portion 22 of the
shell of the wader 10 using a waterproof sealing material 24 such
as neoprene cement to prevent water from penetrating the interior
of the wader through the sealing material 24.
[0023] As best seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the zipper portion 14a
consists of a set of interlocking inner teeth 30a, 30b separated
from two sets of outer teeth 32a, 32b by a portion of the cloth
material 16. As the slide fastener 19 is pulled upward and guided
across the inner teeth 30a, 30b and the outer teeth 32a, 32b
towards a closed position, the inner teeth 30a, 30b are interlocked
to substantially seal. When the zipper portion 14a is in the closed
position, signified when all of the inner teeth 32a, 32b are
interlocked and the fastener 19 is at its uppermost position, water
is not able to penetrate through any portion of the zipper 14 to
the interior of the wader 10, thereby protecting a wearer's
undergarments and body from water exposure.
[0024] Preferably, the inner teeth 30a, 30b and the outer teeth
32a, 32b of the zipper portion 14a are constructed of a material
that is corrosion resistant and easy to manipulate from an open to
a closed position. For example, the inner teeth 30a, 30b and the
outer teeth 32a, 32b can be composed of plastic, a corrosion
resistant metal or alloy, or stainless steel.
[0025] In another preferred embodiment (not shown), the zipper
portion 14a may have a second tab accessible from the interior of
the wader 10. This would allow the zipper portion 14a to be opened
from the exterior or interior using either the tab 18 or second
tab. It is specifically contemplated that other preferred
embodiments of the chest wader 10 may have only an exterior tab 18,
or only an interior tab, and still fall within the scope of the
present invention.
[0026] In an alternative arrangement (not shown), a flap may extend
over a portion of the zipper 14 and the tab 18. The flap functions
to minimize water from being exposed to the zipper 14 and the tab
18. The flap is typically comprised of the same breathable
waterproof material as the wader 10. This is useful in keeping the
tab 18 dry for ease of use.
[0027] The breathable chest wader 10 having the zipper 14 is easily
manufactured. The chest wader 10 may be manufactured having a
vertical slit 12, or the vertical slit 12 may be cut into the chest
wader 10 by techniques that are well known in the art. The zipper
14 is then attached to the inner portion 22 of the shell of the
wader 10 by applying the waterproof sealing material 24 to the
cloth portion 16, pressing the cloth portion 16 to the inner
portion 22 of the shell, and drying the sealing material 24 between
the cloth portion 16 and the inner portion 22 for a period of time
sufficient to permanently seal the zipper 14 to the wader 10. In
addition, the flap 20 may be added during the initial manufacture
of the wader 10 or in a postproduction step by techniques that are
well known in the art. As stated above, this flap 20 may be of the
same material as the chest wader 10 or some other kind of
waterproof material.
[0028] The present invention provides the wearer of a breathable
chest wader 10 with a means for relieving himself without having to
substantially remove the waders and/or any undergarments. Further,
this is accomplished in a highly simplified manner, wherein the
wearer would only need to be able to grab the tab 18 of the zipper
portion 14a in order to move the slide fastener 19 from the closed
position to the open position. Finally, the zipper portion 14a
itself is fully waterproof in the closed position, thereby
protecting the wearer and his underclothing from water.
[0029] While the above invention is described for use in a
breathable chest wader 10, it is contemplated that the device may
be used in many different kinds of water-related outerwear. For
example, the zipper 14 could be incorporated into a breathable
wetsuit.
[0030] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred
embodiments, it will be understood, of course, that the invention
is not limited thereto since modifications may be made by those
skilled in the art, particularly in light of the foregoing
teachings.
* * * * *