FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a waterproof fishing and hunting wader that is both insulated and breathable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Waders are a critical piece of equipment for anglers and hunters who spend significant time either fishing or hunting in cold rivers, fishing or hunting in colder weather or wading in shallow lakes or ponds that have cold water temperatures. The purpose of the waders is to keep the wearer dry and/or also keep the wearer warm.

[0003] Waders are made of many different materials such as neoprene, breathable fabric (such as Gore-Tex), coated nylon, rubber, canvas, or a combination of these materials. Waders are available in different thicknesses, and different styles such as hip-high, waist-high and chest-high. Traditionally, waders worn in colder climates or seasons are waterproof and also comprise a layer of insulation or are made of an insulative fabric such as neoprene to keep the wearer warm. In warmer climates and seasons, waders do not typically comprise a layer of insulation and are instead made of a breathable fabric such as Gore-Tex. It is desirable to have a breathable wader in warmer weather so that moisture generated by the body of the wearer is not trapped inside the wade, but can escape, thus keeping the wearer drier and more comfortable. Waders may also be stocking foot waders comprising a neoprene sock attached to the bottom of the waders or may be boot- foot waders comprising a rubber boot attached to the bottom of the waders. Stocking foot waders require the wearer to also wear a separate pair of wading boots. Conventional boot-foot waders comprise boots made of rubber that are attached directly to the bottom of the waders.

[0004] Waders such as described above - either insulative or breathable - are known. In addition, breathable waders may have insulated boots attached, but the waders themselves have no insulation because of the potential interference with the breathability of the fabric. Because of this, wearers must have two different pairs of waders that have different insulative and breathable capabilities. What is needed is a wader which is both insulative and breathable

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed to waterproof fishing and hunting waders having an outer shell made of breathable fabric and also having an inner layer of insulation attached to the interior of the wader shell. The insulation is attached to the interior of the breathable shell at various attachment points. A fabric tab connects the insulation to the shell. The wader preferably further comprises an attached wading boot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0007] FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a wader according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0008] FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the wader of FIG. 1 ;

[0009] FIG. 3 depicts a top interior view of the crotch seam section of the wader of FIG. l ;

[0010] FIG. 4 depicts a side interior section view of the inseam of the wader of FIG. Ϊ ; and

[0011 ] FIG. 5 depicts a cross sectional view of the lining of the wader of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The present disclosure provides a wader, wherein the wader is made of a breathable fabric and comprises a layer of insulation. Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 a pair of waders 10 having front portion 12, rear portion 14, and two leg portions 16a, 16b made from part of said front portion and said rear portion. Waders 10 may optionally have a bib portion 18 as conventional chest-height waders have. Although depicted as a conventional chest-height wader, waders 10 may be other standard wader heights, such as waist-height or hip-height with the wader material terminating at the appropriate point.

[0013] Waders 10 comprise exterior shell 20 made of a breathable material such as polyester, Gore-Tex or other breathable fabrics known and used in the industry. Waders 10 are of conventional construction that is known in the art in terms of general shape, general construction and accessories and will not be discussed in detail herein. As is customary, side, front and back seams of shell 20 and of lining 21 are preferably stitched together and then covered with conventional seam tape to prevent leakage.

[0014] Lining 21 comprises waterproof layer 22 and insulation layer 24. Waterproof layer 22 is made of nylon fabric and is secured to insulation layer 24, which is preferably made of polyester fabric or other lightweight fabric having the desire insulative properties. It is also within the scope of the present invention for waterproof layer 22 to be made of other waterproof material known in the art such as rubber, PVC, urethane coated nylon (laminated nylon), neoprene or coated canvas or a combination of such materials. Waterproof layer 22 and insulation layer 24 each have a first and a second face. The first face of either waterproof layer 22 or insulation layer 24 is overlaid onto the first face of the other of either waterproof layer 22 or insulation layer 24 prior to securing the layers together. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, waterproof layer 22 and insulation layer 24 are preferably secured together using a quilted diamond stitch pattern. It is within the scope of the present invention to use a pattern other than a quilted diamond pattern, provided waterproof layer 22 and insulation layer 24 are secured together to form lining 21. Other means of securing waterproof layer 22 and insulation layer 24 together other than quilting which are known and used in the art may also be used.

[0015] Lining 21 is secured to interior side of shell 20 at various attachment points 36 to prevent sliding and movement of lining 21 in relation to shell 20. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, fabric tabs 32 secure lining 21 to interior side of shell 20 at attachment points 36. Lining 21 is attached to interior side of shell 20 in a side-by-side fashion at various attachment points 36 on the body of the shell interior 20 rather than conventional attachment along the side seams, inseams 26, front rise seam 28, and back rise seam 30.

[0016{ Fabric tabs 32 connect lining 21 to interior side of shell 20 at attachment points 36. Fabric tabs 32 are preferably made of nylon fabric, but could be other materials which would provide sufficient strength, durability and structure for proper positioning of lining 21 in relation to shell 20. Although various sizes of fabric tabs 32 are within the scope of the present invention, fabric tabs 32 are most preferably approximately ¾ inches wide and 2 inches long to provide sufficient connection between lining 21 and shell 20. First end 33 of fabric tab 32 is preferably stitched onto seam tape sections 34. Seam tape sections 34 are adhered to the interior side of shell 20 at the attachment points 36. Attachment points 36 are most preferably located approximately 2 inches from inseam 26, front rise seam 28 and back rise seam 30. Seam tape sections 34 are preferably welded onto interior side of shell 20. Although lining 21 is preferably not sewn directly onto shell 20 so as not to affect the waterproof feature, but is preferably welded with reinforced welding tape, in another embodiment, first end 33 of fabric tab 32 may be stitched into seams. [0017] Second end 35 of fabric tab 32 is preferably stitched into the seam allowance of quilted lining 21 at attachment points 36. Most preferably, second end 35 of fabric tab 32 is stitched to lining 21 approximately 2 inches from either side of wader crotch 25. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an embodiment of the present invention preferably comprises four attachment points 36 located on interior of shell 20 for first end 33 of fabric tabs 32 and four corresponding attachment points 36 located in seam allowance of lining 21 for receiving second end 35 of fabric tabs 32. Although attachment points 36 are described above as being four in number for shell 20 and a corresponding four in number for lining 21, it is within the scope of the present invention to have more or fewer than four attachment points 36. It is also within the scope of the present invention to have attachment points 36 located at a distance other than approximately 2 inches from wader crotch 25 and seams 26, 28 and 30.

[0018] Quilted lining 21 is also secured to top edge 17 of shell 20, preferably by stitching. Lining 21 is further preferably attached to lower edge 19 of shell 20 at approximately 1 inch above lower edge 19 with seam tape, but could also be attached by stitching, such that lining 21 is attached at the upper edge of wader 10, at lower edges of legs 16a and 16b and also at various points around the crotch seams and side seams of wader 10. Such attachment of lining 21 to lower edge 19 of shell 20 may also be at a distance other than approximately 1 inch.

[0019] In another embodiment, a toggle, button or other securing mechanism (not shown) is secured to the first end 33 or second end 35 of fabric tab 32 such that said securing mechanism may be passed though a loop (not shown), button hole or other mating aperture located on the lining 21 or along the interior of shell 20 at the seams for securing the lining 21 thereto. The lining 21 in this embodiment is removable from wader 10.

[0020] Waders 10 may additionally comprise various straps, suspenders, fastening belts, buckles, pockets, drains, D-rings, insulation, padded knees, chafe guards and the like for adjusting waders to fit the user, for comfort, and for added functionality. Such accessories are known in the industry and will not be discussed in detail herein.

[0021] Waders 10 may be of either stocking foot or boot foot construction, as is known in the industry, in an embodiment shown in FIG. 1, each leg portion 16a, 16b has a boot 38a, 38b attached at the lower edge of the leg portions 16a, 16b, respectively. The wading boots 38a, 38b are an integral part of the wader 10. Boots 38 are preferably made of EVA and comprise cleats, but can be of any conventional material known in the industry.

[0022] All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0023] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above, in addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.