U.S. patent number RE34,662 [Application Number 07/862,794] was granted by the patent office on 1994-07-19 for dual-height wader.
Invention is credited to Robert W. Keller.
United States Patent |
RE34,662 |
Keller |
July 19, 1994 |
Dual-height wader
Abstract
Disclosed is a wader for use in fishing and other activities
having a body portion covering the lower body (including the legs,
feet, hips, and waist of the wearer), and a chest portion normally
folded inside the body portion but extendable upward about the
chest, but not the shoulders of the wearer. The chest portion is
preferably held about the chest by a drawstring, such as an elastic
drawstring, and is advantageously biased into the lowered position
inside the body portion by mans of a seam joining the two
portions.
Inventors: |
Keller; Robert W. (Bainbridge
Island, WA) |
Family
ID: |
23410450 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/862,794 |
Filed: |
April 3, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
358635 |
May 30, 1989 |
04912860 |
Apr 3, 1990 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/82; 2/227;
2/79; 36/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D
13/012 (20130101); A41D 13/02 (20130101); A41D
15/002 (20130101); A41D 27/245 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41D
13/012 (20060101); A41D 15/00 (20060101); A41D
27/00 (20060101); A41D 27/24 (20060101); A41D
013/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/2.1R,82,79,227,81
;36/4 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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14859 |
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Oct 1915 |
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GB |
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304988 |
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Jan 1929 |
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GB |
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2125681 |
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Aug 1983 |
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GB |
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2166039 |
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Nov 1984 |
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GB |
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Primary Examiner: Crowder; Clifford D.
Assistant Examiner: Hale; Gloria
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Knobbe, Martens, Olson &
Bear
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A waterproof wader system, adjustable as to provide varying
degrees of user body protection, comprising:
a first portion comprising a waist-high wader; and
a second extendable chest protective portion connected to said
first portion, said second portion adapted to be worn in both a
first lowered position folded inside said first portion and a
second extended position extending upwardly from said first first
portion over a user's upper chest area.
2. A waterproof wader garment, comprising:
a body portion for covering the feet, legs and waist of a
wearer;
a chest portion, wherein said body portion is joined to said chest
portion in a waterproof manner, and said chest portion is adapted
to both hang downwardly in a lowered position inside said body
portion and to extend upwardly from said body portion over a
wearer's chest area .[.in raised position.].; and
a means for securing said chest portion in said raised position
without extending said securing means over the shoulders of a
wearer.
3. The wader of claim 2, wherein said securing means comprises a
drawstring at the top of said chest portion that encircles a
wearers chest under the armpits.
4. The wader of claim 3, wherein said drawstring is elastic.
5. The wader of claim 3, wherein said wader is made of foam
neoprene and wherein the neoprene of said body portion is thicker
than that of said chest portion.
6. The wader of claim 3, further comprising means normally biasing
said chest portion into said lowered position.
7. The wader of claim 6, wherein said biasing means comprises a
seam joining said chest portion to said body portion, wherein the
material of which said wader is made reverses direction at said
seam, thereby biasing said chest portion into said lowered
position.
8. A waterproof wader garment, comprising:
a body portion for covering the feet, legs and waist of a wearer;
and
a chest portion made of material thinner than that of said body
portion, wherein said body portion is joined to said chest portion
in a waterproof manner, and said chest portion is adapted to both
hang downwardly in a lowered position inside said body portion and
to extend upwardly from said body portion over a wearer's chest
area in a raised position.
9. The wader of claim 8, wherein said wader is made of waterproof
material.
10. The wader of claim 9, wherein said waterproof material
comprises foam neoprene.
11. The wader system of claim 9, wherein said neoprene is a lined
neoprene.
12. The wader system of claim 11, wherein said lined neoprene is
nylon-lined neoprene.
13. The wader system of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of said
waterproof material is air-permeable.
14. The wader of claim 8, further comprising means for securing
said chest portion in said raised position around the chest of a
wearer.
15. The wader of claim 14, wherein said securing means comprises a
drawstring extending around said chest portion.
16. The wader of claim 8, wherein said body portion includes a pair
of boots attached to the remainder of said body portion in a
waterproof manner.
17. The wader of claim 8, wherein said wader further comprises
means for holding said wader up when said chest portion is in the
lowered position.
18. The wader of claim 17, wherein said holding means comprises a
belt.
19. The wader of claim 18, wherein said belt is held to said wader
by belt loops.
20. A waterproof wader garment, comprising:
a body portion for covering the feet, legs and waist of a wearer;
and
a chest portion, wherein said body portion is joined to said chest
portion in a waterproof manner, and said chest portion is adapted
to both hang downwardly in a lowered position inside said body
portion and to extend upwardly from said body portion over a
wearer's chest area in a raised position, wherein said chest
portion is joined to the body portion by a seam in such a manner
that the chest portion is biased downwardly by said seam into the
inside of said body portion. .Iadd.
21. The wader of claim 18, wherein the second portion folds down
and around the waist of said wearer, but remains above the belt of
the first portion when said second portion is in the lowered
position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
22. The wader of claim 18, wherein the upper portion folds down and
around the waist of said wearer, but remains adjacent the belt of
the first portion when said upper portion is in the lowered
position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
23. A waterproof wader system, adjustable as to provide varying
degrees of wearer body protection, comprising:
a first portion comprising a waist-high wader having a waist
portion and a leg portion; and
a second extendable chest protective portion connected to said
first portion, said second portion adapted to be worn in both a
first lowered position folded around said wearer's waist, and a
second extended position extending upwardly from said first portion
over wearer's upper chest area. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
24. The wader of claim 23, further comprising means for holding the
first portion up when the second portion is in the lowered
position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.25. The wader of claim 24, wherein the
means for holding the first portion up comprises a belt secured to
an upper region of the first portion so as to hold said upper
region against the wearer's body and thereby support the first
portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26. The wader of claim 25, wherein the
second portion folds down and around the waist of said wearer, but
remains adjacent the belt of the first portion when said second
portion is in the lowered position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The wader
of claim 24, further comprising a drawstring disposed inside said
second portion so as to encircle the wearer's chest under the
armpits for securing said second portion in the second extended
position without extending said drawstring over the shoulders of
the wearer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.28. The wader of claim 27, wherein the first portion is
thicker
than the second portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.29. The wader of claim 25,
wherein the second portion folds down and around the waist of said
wearer, but remains above the belt of the first portion when said
second portion
is in the lowered position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. A water proof wader
garment, comprising:
a body portion for covering the feet, legs and waist of a
wearer;
a chest portion, wherein said body portion is joined to said chest
portion in a waterproof manner, and said chest portion is adapted
to both fold downwardly in a lowered position around said wearer's
waist, and to extend upwardly from said body portion over a
wearer's chest area in a raised position; and
a means for securing said chest portion in said raised position
without extending said securing means over the shoulders of a
wearer. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.31. The wader of claim 30, further comprising:
means for holding the body portion up when the chest portion is in
the lowered position. .Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The wader of claim 31,
wherein the means for holding the body portion up comprises a belt
secured to an upper region of the body portion so as to hold said
upper region against the wearer's body and thereby support the body
portion. .Iaddend. .Iadd.33. The wader of claim 32, wherein the
upper portion folds down and around the waist of said wearer, but
remains adjacent the belt of the first portion
when said upper portion is in the lowered position. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.34. The wader of claim 32, wherein the second portion folds
down and around the waist of said wearer, but remains above the
belt of the first portion
when said second portion is in the lowered position. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.35. A waterproof wader garment, comprising:
a body portion for covering the feet, legs and waist of a wearer;
and
a chest portion made of material thinner than that of said body
portion, wherein said body portion is joined to said chest portion
in a waterproof manner, and said chest portion is adapted to both
fold downwardly in a lowered position around said wearer's waist,
and to extend upwardly from said body portion over a wearer's chest
area in a raised position. .Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to protective, water-resistant
clothing and particularly relates to a type of protective clothing
known as waders, used in conjunction with a variety of water sports
such as fishing; yet it is understood that the present invention is
also usable in non-water related activities, where body protection
from the elements is desired.
The use of wader-type protective clothing in conjunction with water
sports such as fishing or crabbing, and specifically fly fishing,
is well known and widely adopted. The waders are generally
manufactured of a waterproof fabric. One type of wader, generally
referred to as a "hip boot" style, is two boots which extend up to
the thigh and are generally supported by attaching them to the
wearer's belt. A second style of wader is the waist-high wader.
These waders are generally a one-piece wader that extends up to and
sometimes slightly above the waist of the wearer. Finally, there is
a full chest wader, that extends up to the armpits of the wearer
and is typically supported by shoulder straps.
The environmental condition faced by the user of such waders is
normally the decisive factor as to whether the user shall wear the
waist-high or chest-high version in his sporting endeavor. A
sportsman using the waders in high water levels, low air
temperatures, or foul weather conditions may desire to use the
chest-high version for its increased warmth and protective
qualities relative to the waist-high version. On the other hand, a
sportsman desiring protection in shallower water or relatively
higher air temperatures may desire to use hip waders or waist-high
waders. However, sportsmen in general and fly fishermen in
particular learn to anticipate a variety of conditions in any one
expedition. They may find themselves having to go through deep
water at one point in the day, but may spend most of the day in
shallower water. Often, a sunny, warm day develops into a cold day
as weather fronts move through. Such changing conditions often make
the choice of wader an unsatisfactory compromise.
Additionally, the chest-high waders, with their shoulder straps and
additional bulk, generally limit the user's freedom of movement
(for instance when rowing a raft or drift boat or carrying or
lifting an object) and are cumbersome and time-consuming to remove.
Therefore, in situations where maximum freedom of movement is
required, a user would be inclined to use the waist-high version,
even if environmental conditions dictate otherwise.
To circumvent the inherent mobility and temperature retentive
problems associated with the chest-high waders, many sportsmen wear
the chest-high waders in all environmental conditions, yet
disconnect them at the shoulder straps and fold or roll them down
on top of and over the wader to produce a waist-high model when
conditions dictate, with the shoulder straps and bib or
chest-protecting area hanging loosely beneath or rolled into a
"spare tire" about the torso. This situation is problematic for the
sportsman, as the bulky, heavy chest-high waders are not adapted
for use without support from the shoulders. Thus, they are
difficult to keep up when in this configuration. More importantly,
the sportsman may find the dangling or bulky chest and shoulder
portions interfering with his sporting endeavor. Although this can
be a problem in many sporting uses of waders, fishermen in
particular often cannot afford to have such extraneous matter
hanging from his clothing. The loose, hanging material comprising
the chest and shoulder portion of the waders will tend to interfere
with the use of the fisherman's equipment. Moreover, when wading in
even knee-high water, the folded down chest and shoulder portion
will tend to drag in the water.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
improved wader providing full freedom of movement while being
adaptable to varying conditions of temperature and water depth.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a waterproof wader system, adjustable to provide
varying degrees of user body protection, comprising a first portion
comprising a waist-high wader, and a second extendable chest
protective portion connected to the first portion, the second
portion adapted to be worn in both a first lowered position folded
inside the first portion and a second extended position extending
upwardly from the first portion over a user's upper chest area.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a waterproof wader garment, comprising a body portion
for covering the feet, legs and waist of a wearer, and a chest
portion, wherein the body portion is joined to the chest portion in
a waterproof manner, and the chest portion is adapted to both hang
downwardly in a lowered position inside the body portion and to
extend upwardly from the body portion over a wearer's chest area in
a raised position, and a means for securing the chest portion in
the raised position without extending the securing means over the
shoulders of a wearer. In one embodiment, the securing means
comprises a drawstring at the top of the chest portion that
encircles a wearers chest under the armpits. The drawstring may
advantageously be made of elastic material. Also, in a preferred
embodiment, the wader is made of foam neoprene and the neoprene of
the body portion is thicker than that of the chest portion.
One particularly preferred construction of the wader includes means
normally biasing the chest portion into the lowered position. The
biasing means in one embodiment comprises a seam joining the chest
portion to the body portion, wherein the material of which the
wader is made reverses direction at the seam, thereby biasing the
chest portion into the lowered position.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, there
is provided a waterproof wader garment, comprising a body portion
for covering the feet, legs and waist of a wearer, and a chest
portion made of material thinner than that of the body portion,
wherein the body portion is joined to the chest portion in a
waterproof manner, and the chest portion is adapted to both hang
downwardly in a lowered position inside the body portion and to
extend upwardly from the body portion over a wearer's chest area in
a raised position. In this embodiment as well, the wader material
may comprise foam neoprene, in whole or in part. This material may
advantageously be lined, as with fabric of nylon or spandex.
Alternatively, the wader may be made in whole or in part of
water-impermeable, vapor permeable material, including any of the
well-known breathable waterproof materials. Some of the recently
developed stretchable waterproof fabrics, such as waterproof
spandex, can also be used. The wader preferably includes means for
securing the chest portion in the raised position around the chest
of a wearer. This securing means can comprise a drawstring
extending around the chest portion, preferably an elastic
drawstring. In one embodiment, the body portion includes a pair of
boots attached thereto in a waterproof manner. The wader also
preferably includes means for holding the wader up when the chest
portion is in the lowered position. The holding means may comprise,
for example, a belt, and belt loops may be provided on the wader to
facilitate that construction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wearing the wader of the present
invention with the chest portion in the extended position.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wader with the chest portion in
the lowered position.
FIG. 3 is a perspective detail view of the chest portion of the
wader in the extended position.
FIG. 4 is a partial section taken along the line 4--4 in FIG. 3,
illustrating the drawstring and adjacent wader material in the
chest portion of the wader.
FIG. 5 is a partial section taken along the line 5--5 in FIG. 3,
illustrating the seam joining the lower portion and the chest
portion of the wader when the chest portion is in the extended
position.
FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 5, except that the chest portion is in
the lowered position.
FIG. 7 corresponds to FIG. 6, except that the view is taken in the
opposite direction (from the outside instead of the inside of the
wader) and illustrates the belt and belt loop at the top of the
lower portion of the wader.
FIG. 8 is a partial section taken along the line 5--5 in FIG. 3,
except that the chest portion is lowered, and illustrates an
alternative method for joining the chest portion to the wader.
FIG. 9 corresponds to FIG. 8, except that the view is taken in the
opposite direction (from the outside instead of the inside of the
wader) and illustrates the belt and belt loop at the top of the
lower portion of the wader.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
One preferred embodiment of the instant invention is depicted in
FIG. 1, wherein a sportsman user 10, in this instance a fisherman,
is depicted wearing a wader 1 in its extended or chest-high
position. The wader 1 comprises two portions: a lower or body
portion 3, and a chest portion 18. The body portion 3 has two legs
12, a waist 14, feet 16, and a chest portion 18. The waist area 14
preferably has associated with it a device to hold the wader 1 on
the user's body 10, most preferably a belt 20.
The belt 20 may be contained within belt loops 22 located around
the waist 14 of the wader 1, as best illustrated in FIG. 7. Such
loops 22 function to hold the belt 20 about the waist 14 in a
position adapted to support the waders 1 on the user's body 10.
The chest portion is adapted to be folded inside of the body
portion 3 when chest protection is not desired by the wearer. Thus,
the chest portion 18 fits inside the body portion 3 in a lowered or
retracted position. Additionally, the chest portion 18, as shown in
phantom line 24 in its extended position in FIG. 2, may be attached
separately, or may be integral with the body portion 3. However, in
either event, it is joined to the body portion 3 in a waterproof
manner. The chest portion 18, in its retracted position, is
preferably folded or tucked as to be extended downwardly into the
waist 14 of the wader 1, next to the user's body.
The wader 1 may be constructed in a stocking foot model, as
depicted in FIG. 2, wherein the wader 1 is continuous in material
construction throughout the legs 12 and into the feet 16,
configured as to allow for insertion of the feet 16 into an
appropriate boot or shoe.
Alternatively, the wader 1 may be constructed in a boot foot model,
wherein the legs 12 terminate in boots 30, as depicted in FIG. 1,
wherein the boots 30 may be integrally attached to the legs 12 to
produce a waterproof seal.
The wader 1 may be constructed of any of a number of durable,
natural or synthetic, waterproof or water-proofable materials or
combinations of materials. In a preferred embodiment, the wader 1
may be comprised of a semi-elastic or elastic material such as a
foam neoprene and, most preferably nylon-lined or spandex-lined
foam neoprene. Any type of lining material appropriate for use next
to the body or clothing of the user which preferably allows for
ease of getting into and out of the wader 1 and for comfort in user
10 movement and wearing is contemplated for use in the instant
invention. At the same time, it is also advantageous to provide
lining material on the outside of the wader to increase the
durability and snag resistance of the wader. Alternatively, a
breathable waterproof material, such as that sold under the
trademark "Goretex," may be used in an embodiment requiring a more
supple, less insulating wader. Most breathable materials are not
stretchy or elastic; thus, this characteristic is often sacrificed
if a breathable fabric is substituted for the foam neoprene.
However, it is contemplated that presently available and yet-to-be
introduced stretchable waterproof materials, such as the
commercially available waterproof spandex, can also be used to
advantage in the present invention.
The foam neoprene of the wader 1 body portion 3 preferably has a
thickness which maximizes the comfort of the user 10, yet provides
the desired degree of strength and warmth appropriate required to
protect the user 10 from the environmental conditions encountered.
In a preferred embodiment, the neoprene thickness in the body
portion 3 of the wader 1 may be between about 3-5 mm, with a
preferable thickness of 3 mm. However, thicker or thinner neoprene
may be used, depending on the freedom of body movement desired,
environmental temperatures during use and/or desired degree of
wader 1 durability. Additionally, areas of the wader 1 may be
reinforced with additional layers of neoprene, to provide greater
strength and durability.
The wader 1 is preferably constructed from a minimum number of
individual pieces, thereby reducing labor and the amount of
waterproof seams required in manufacture. This in turn will tend to
increase the integrity and waterproof characteristics of the wader
1. The seams 46 of the wader, as depicted in FIG. 5, may be joined
and waterproofed in any of a variety of commercially available
and/or manufacturing methods, with the seams 46 preferably
waterproofed and sealed together with an heat activated adhesive
tape 32 comprising a urethane backing. One suitable tape is
commercially available under the trademark MELCO, marketed by Turbo
Trading International, of Kobe, Japan. Tapes such as these provide
a durable and effective waterproof seal, are lightweight, and are
relatively thin, so as not to produce any unsightly seams or
functionally problematic areas.
The chest portion 18 of the wader 1 is preferably comprised of the
aforementioned waterproof or water-proofable materials or
substances; preferably neoprene and, most preferably, nylon or
spandex lined foam neoprene. However, waterproof fabric such as
nylon or a urethane coated nylon may also be used when reducing
bulk is more important than providing an elastic chest portion 18
that can accommodate different individuals or movement-related
changes in chest diameter. Referring to FIG. 3, there is depicted a
perspective view of the chest portion 18 and waist 14 of the wader
1. The chest portion 18 may be integral with the wader body 3, and
may be constructed with the waist 14 in one unitary, continuous
piece of material. However, in the preferred alternative, the chest
portion 18 is attached as a separate neoprene sleeve inside of the
wader 1 at or around the waist 14.
One significant and preferred aspect of the present invention
requires that the seam 46 is constructed in such a manner that it
biases the chest portion 18 of the wader 1 into the lowered or
retracted position inside of the body portion 3 of the wader 1.
This construction is best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 6,
the seam 46 joining the body portion 3 and the chest portion 18 of
the wader 1 is constructed in such a manner that the material of
which the wader 1 is made reverses direction at the seam 46. Thus,
in FIG. 6, the body portion 3 material extends up to the seam 46,
and then the chest portion 18 material extends down from the seam.
The seam itself holds the respective materials in these relative
positions in the normal or unstressed state. When the body portion
3 is pulled up into the extended position, however, the material of
which it is made must fold back upon itself, in opposition to the
natural elastic tendencies of the foam neoprene to remain in a
relatively flat configuration. Folding the chest portion 18 into
the inside of the body portion 3 is thus facilitated by the natural
bias of the seam 46. This construction minimizes the bulk of the
seam 46 when the chest portion 18 is in this position.
Any suitable thickness may be chosen for the material making up the
chest portion 18. However, the chest portion 18 material preferably
has a thickness less than that of the wader body 3 material, in
order to minimize the bulk of the wader around the users waist when
the chest portion 18 is in the lowered position. In a preferred
embodiment, the chest portion is made of neoprene having a
thickness of approximately 1.5 mm.
The chest portion 18 may be of a length which allows for a complete
upward extension of the sleeve from its point of attachment of the
waist 14 up to approximately the chest or armpit area of the user
10. The waist 14 is thus located at least half way between the
crotch of the wader 1 and the armpit area of the user, so that the
chest portion 18 may be short enough to fit inside the top of the
body portion 3 without bunching at the top of the leg area.
In assembly, the chest portion 18 may be attached to the outside or
inside of the wader body portion 3. However, it is preferably
attached to the inside of the wader 1, as not to interfere with the
wader 1 function when worn by a user 10 in its waist-high
configuration. In addition, when the chest portion 18 is attached
to the inside of the body portion 3, folding of the chest portion
into the body portion 3 is facilitated. It is preferred that the
chest portion 18 be attached to the very top of the body portion 3.
However, one may also attach the chest portion 18 to a point both
inside of the body portion 3 and below the top of the body portion
3, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The attachment point for the chest
portion may thus be 1/2 inch, and as much as 3/4 inch or 1 inch
below the top of the body portion 3.
There are various methods contemplated for constructing the seam 46
between the chest portion 18 and the body portion 3. One such
method is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Referring to FIG. 6, the
chest portion 18 is attached with the seam 46 associated with the
wader body portion 3 near the waist 14 of the wader body portion 3.
Preferably, the chest portion 13 is initially glued to the body
portion 3, and is then securely attached to the body portion 3 by a
heat activated urethane backed tape 32 applied to the seam 46 at
the point of juncture between body portion 3 and the chest portion
18, at the front side 50 of the seam 46, as depicted in FIG. 6. The
chest portion 18 is preferably attached to the body portion 3 in
its retracted or downward position.
Next, referring to FIG. 5, the chest portion 18 is lifted up in its
extended position, and the back side 52 of the seam 46 is then
sealed by another application of the heat activated, urethane
backed tape 32, as to produce a water-tight seal along the area of
association between the chest portion 18 and the body portion 3 of
the wader 1.
Referring to FIG. 7, there is represented a perspective
cross-sectional view of the outer surface 72 of the waist 14 of the
wader 1, depicting a belt loop 22 and belt 20, said belt 20
extending between the belt loop 22 and the waist 14. On the inner
surface 70 there is depicted the chest portion 18 attached to the
body portion 3 in its retracted position. The belt loops 22 may be
attached to the waist 14 of the wader 1 in any of a variety of
commercially available methods, such as through the use of a
waterproof adhesive, by use of heat-activated urethane-backed
adhesive tape 32, or both. The belt loops 22 may be manufactured of
any material sufficient to provide adequate strength and durability
to hold the belt 20 in place during the stress and strain of the
wader 1 use, and are preferably comprised of the same nylon-backed
neoprene foam comprising the body portion 3. Preferably, the nylon
backing of the neoprene foam faces the body portion 3 of the wader
allowing for ease of belt 20 movement through the belt loops
22.
A preferred alternative method for making the junction between the
body portion 3 and the chest portion 18 is illustrated in FIG. 8.
In this method, the top of the body portion 3 is first glued to the
top portion 18 in the area of the seam 46. Then, spandex tape 47 is
wrapped over the abutting edges of the body portion 3 and chest
portion 18 and is sewn in place, firmly joining the two portions.
Thereafter, the chest portion 18 is raised into its extended
position and heat activated tape 32 is applied to the thus-exposed
underside of the seam 46, in the same manner as explained in
connection with FIGS. 5 and 6.
A variation of the technique for attaching the belt loop 22 to the
waders 1 is shown in FIG. 9. Instead of using heat activated tape
to attach the top of the belt loop, as shown in FIG. 7, the top can
be sewn in place under the spandex tape 47, as illustrated in FIG.
9. The belt loop 22 is preferably glued in place prior to sewing
the top end thereof into the seam 46.
Additionally, the belt 20 may be made of any of a variety of
materials which provide adequate strength and durability as to hold
the wader 1 upon the body of the user 10. Preferably, the belt 20
may be woven nylon or other polymer material, and may have
associated with it a conventional fastening or buckling mechanism.
This mechanism is preferably non-metallic or corrosion-resistant
and or water-resistant, thereby providing for ease of adjustment
and secure fastening of the belt 20 around the user 10.
As depicted in FIG. 1, the chest portion 18 may have a length which
allows for a comfortable range of motion of the user 10, while the
chest portion 18 is worn in its extended position. Referring to
FIG. 3, the chest portion 18 may be secured in its extended
position around the user's chest by any of a number of commercially
available means, including belts, cord ties or velcro; most
preferably an elastic shock cord draw string 34. The draw string 34
may be held within a sleeve 46 formed by a folding the uppermost
edge 40 of the chest portion 18 around and into the extended
portion of the chest portion 18. As shown in FIG. 4, the draw
string 34 extends out through a grommet hole 42 to the inside of
the chest portion 18 in its extended position next to the user's
body, to avoid draw string 34 interference with any other clothing
or paraphernalia that the user 10 may be carrying. The material
making up the sleeve holding the draw string 34 is preferably
stitched around the circumference of the outer edge of the chest
portion, and may be attached and held there by use of water-proof
tape. The draw string 34 extends through a fastener 44 which allows
for secure and convenient loosening or tightening of the draw
string 34 around the chest portion 18 to compensate for the body
size of the wearer and ensure a comfortable fit.
As an alternative to the draw string 34, the chest portion 18 may
be held in place when in the extended position through the use of
simple shoulder straps.
* * * * *