This invention further relates to boots with connectable trousers or overalls.

This invention further relates to an apparatus for forming a seal between a garment leg and a boot.

Boots and clothing can be, it is well know, produced as protective items for both domestic and industrial use. Wellington boots are well known items of protective footwear. Overalls and trousers are also well known protective clothing.

Wellington boots, however, do not protect against dirt or liquid above the top of the boot. When worn with protective overalls or trousers and submerged above the top of the boot liquid will enter the boot between the top and the trouser leg.

Boots which are not connected to trousers will not prevent liquids, gases or other material from entering the protective footwear and clothing.

Boots can be welded or adhered to the trouser leg of protective clothing and currently are.

Boots permanently welded or adhered to the trouser leg of protective clothing can be difficult to put on or remove (especially when soiled) and can provide expensive when either the boots, or the clothing is damaged or worn and subsequently both have to be replaced.

Known arrangements comprise formations integral with a boot and garment leg

respectively, which interlock to form a seal. These known arrangements have various problems; they are not interchangeable, dedicated garments and boots are required, the boots and garments are joined together with complex fastenings which are time consuming and difficult to undo and/or the integrity of the seals is not sufficient, especially in cases where the garments and boots are for use in hazardous environments.

Further known arrangements, such as that set out in GB 2132072 use a steel band placed inside the top of the boot leg, deforming it outwardly and sealing with a resilient garment leg pulled over the boot leg; this again provides an imperfect seal and requires considerable skill in forming the seal.

According to the present invention there is provided a boot to clothing detachable connector comprising a boot collar, a trouser leg collar, a seal and a number of fastening devices to provide a water tight seal.

According to the present invention there is provided, in combination, a pair of trousers or overalls and a pair of boots, the clothing having towards the lower end a formation for retention by a co-operating formation provided on the top of the boots such that a seal is formed around the periphery of each leg portion.

According to the invention there is further provided an apparatus for forming a seal between a garment leg and an item of footwear comprising a first part arranged to be attached in a substantially liquid tight seal to a garment leg and a second part arranged to be attached in a substantially liquid tight seal to an item of footwear, at least one of the first and second parts being releasably attachable to the garment leg and footwear respectively, and the first and second parts

being releasably attachable together in a substantially liquid tight seal. As a result a simple, reusable/interchangeable system is provided.

Further preferred features of the invention are set out in the appended claims.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 shows a part cut-away perspective view of the boot top and clothing leg separated; Figure 2 shows the clamps open and closed; Figure 3 shows the boot and clothing leg connected and secured with clamps; Figure 4 shows in an alternative embodiment a perspective view of first and second sealing parts for attachment to a garment and boot; Figure 5 is a sectional drawing with the boot and garment shown schematically; Fig. 6 shows in a further embodiment the leg collar and the boot collar detached; Fig. 7 illustrates the plan view corresponding to Fig. 6; Fig. 8 shows in perspective the hook detail on the boot collar and trouser collar separated, corresponding to Fig. 6; and Fig. 9 shows the fastening device corresponding to Fig. 6 in the open position.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3, the boot with connecting clothing comprises a boot 10 leg of clothing 12 and securing clamps 14.

In order to connect the leg 12 to the boot 10 via boot collar 15 and leg rim 16, the clamps 14 have to be in the down position as shown in Figure 1.

The clothing leg 12 with the integral peripherally extending rim 16 is lowered down onto the boot collar 15 so that the rim 16 is seated onto the seal 17 as shown in Figure 2.

In order to connect in a waterproof and gas proof method, the clothing leg 12 to the boot 10 using the rim 16 and the collar 15. The three clamps 14 are pulled upward to grip the hook part 18 under securing lip 19 by lifting the lever 20.

The lever 20 pivots on a lug 21 and is held by a pin 22. When lifted the lever 20 pulls the hook 18 which is held and pivoted on the lever 20 by a pin 23 as shown in Figure 2.

The lever 20 snaps into closed up position as shown in Figure 2 with a firm spring action as the seal 17 is firmly depressed thus causing a waterproof gas proof seal.

To remove the clothing leg 12 from the boot 10 pull down the three levers 20 which releases the hooks 18 then lift the rim 16 and leg 12 to remove from boot collar 15 and boot 10 as shown in Figure 2 and Figure 1.

In an alternative embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 a further means of connecting a boot and leg of a garment is shown. In particular the connecting means includes a first, upper part 50 attachable to the garment leg and a second, lower part 80 attachable to the boot. The upper and lower parts are substantially cylindrical and hollow in shape, and preferably substantially elliptical in cross section to fit the leg.

The upper part 50 includes a pair of downwardly projecting, diametrically opposed projecting formations 52 which are a snap-fit into a respective cooperating open ended receiving formation 82 on the lower part. In particular each downwardly projecting formation comprises a pair of locating limbs 52a, 52b flanked by resilient limbs having downwardly tapered barbs 53a, 53b at their lowermost points. The downwardly projecting formations 52 are arranged such that as they pressed into engagement with the cooperating formations 82 on the lower part the resilient limbs flex inwardly as the barbs 53a, 53b slide into the cooperating formation 82 and then snap outwardly once the barbs have passed through the cooperating formation 82. They are then held in place by the barbs 53a, 53b. To release the downwardly projecting formation the barbs 53a, 53b are simply pressed inwardly while the upper part is lifted upwardly.

The upper part 50 includes a lower, comparatively thin cylindrical wall 51 and an upper, comparatively thicker upper cylindrical portion 55 of reduced internal diameter such that an internal radial step is formed between the parts presenting a downwardly facing annular seal face 57. Projecting downwardly from the upper part seal face 57 is a cylindrical sealing projection 59.

Referring to Figure 5 the upper annular face of the lower part 80 includes a circumferential groove 86 and presents a lower part annular seal face 84. A conventional O-ring seal element 88 is received in the groove 86. When the upper and lower parts 50,80 are snap fitted together the respective annular seal faces 57,84 abut, and the sealing projection 59 compresses the seal element 88 against the base and sides of the groove 86 (which may be appropriately profiled to allow deformation of the seal element 88) to form a reliable seal.

The lower part 80 further comprises a circumferential groove 90 on its outer cylindrical face, arranged to receive a further conventional O-ring seal element 88. When the upper and lower parts 50,80 are snap fit together the upper portion cylindrical wall 51 embraces at least a portion of the lower portion outer cylindrical face and seals against the seal element 88 under shear.

The upper part 50 includes a circumferential groove 56 on its outer cylindrical face. As shown in Figure 6, in which the interior of the boot is to the left of the drawing as viewed, in order to attach the upper part 50 to the garment leg 58 the garment is preferably turned inside out and the upper part is placed at the leg end of the garment with the formations 52 pointing upwardly into the garment.

A securing band 60 such as a releasably fastenable steel or plastics material band of any suitable known type is then placed around the garment leg 58 in the region of the groove 56 and fastened as appropriate to draw the garment leg 58 into the groove 56, to provide a secure fastening and seal. In addition a seal element, for example a rubber seal element 62 can be incorporated between the garment leg 58 and the steel band 60. When the garment is then turned the right way round the upper part projects 50 downwardly from the garment leg 58 and is securely fastened and sealed. At the same time it will be seen that the upper part 50 can easily be detached from the garment simply by releasing the steel band such that it is reusable and/or the garment or upper part 50 are replaceable.

The lower part 80 includes on its lower annular face 92 a circumferential groove 94 defining inner and outer cylindrical walls 95a, 95b between which the rim 96 of the boot is inserted. Once again a steel band 98 or other appropriate fastening means such as a plastics material band is applied around

the circumference of the rim 96 of the boot, preferably under the upper flange 97 thereof to grip the boot tightly against the inner cylindrical wall 95a. In the embodiment shown adhesive is applied to the inside of the boot rim 96 to adhere against the inner cylindrical wall 95a and improve the seal. It will be appreciated that instead a further suitable seal element can be used such that the lower part 80 is detachable from the boot. This arrangement provides a particularly simple manner of fitting the boot to the lower part, making use of the inner wall of the lower part as a face to retain the boot against.

Accordingly this further embodiment provides a reliable seal between each of the garment leg, boot and upper and lower parts respectively, which can optionally be releasable for re-use or replacement of the parts. In addition a double seal is formed between the upper and lower parts themselves which has been tested under both positive and negative pressure and shown to perform to the desired level under both sets of conditions. At the same time, however, the upper and lower parts are easily attached and detached from one another using a simple snap-fit arrangement. Of course the material of the boots, garments, upper and lower parts and seal elements, and the integrity of the seal, can be selected to achieve a required level of seal for the environment required.

Referring to Figs. 6 to 9, in a further embodiment the connector comprises a trouser leg collar 10 and a boot collar 12 and a number of suitable fastening devices 14 and hooks 15.

The trouser leg collar 10 is attached to trouser leg 16 and the boot collar 12 is attached to the boot 17.

To connect the connector the hook 15 is inserted under the lip 18 and the trouser collar 10 is hinged down onto the boot collar 12. The fastening device 14 is then clipped over the rim 19 and pushed down to depress the seal ring 20 and snap shut via hinge 21 ensuring a water tight seal.

To detach the connector, lift the fastening device 14 by pulling out hinge 21 thus opening the device, lift trouser collar 10 and dislocate hook 15 from lip 18.