This application relates to the clothing arts and, more particularly, to a gaiter and related methods.
In many outdoor activities, it is desirable to wear a gaiter. Such gaiters typically run from the bottom of the foot to mid-calf and are made with sturdy weather-resistant materials. This design and fabrication protects the foot and lower leg from deep snow, wet underbrush or debris that you can pick up while hiking, cross-country skiing or mountaineering, as well as from insects and the elements.
Many past designs of gaiters suffer from several limitations. For one, they can be difficult to put on, especially over footwear. For this reason, they are often made oversized, and thus do not stay up, especially when worn under extreme conditions, such as wilderness hiking or in inclement weather. Past gaiters also lack any means of holding or storing objects, which would be especially useful to provide ready access.
Accordingly, a need is identified for a gaiter that addresses the foregoing issues and possibly others that have yet to be discovered.
According to a first aspect, an apparatus includes a gaiter including a connector for connecting one or more accessories.
According to a second aspect, an apparatus includes a gaiter including an adjustable strap including a retainer for connecting with a lace of an item of footwear.
According to a third aspect, an apparatus includes a gaiter including an adjustable stirrup.
According to a fourth aspect, an apparatus includes a gaiter including an upper end having a drawstring.
According to a fifth aspect, a method of using a gaiter in connection with footwear, the method includes adjusting the length of a loop associated with the gaiter.
According to a sixth aspect, a method of using a gaiter includes attaching at least one accessory to a connector on the gaiter.
These and additional features provided by the embodiments described herein will be more fully understood in view of the following detailed description, in conjunction with the drawings.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative and exemplary in nature and not intended to limit the subject matter defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and like numerals represent like details in the various figures. Also, it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that process or other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the invention is defined only by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Reference is now made to
Referring to
A cover 26, or flap, may also be provided for covering the connection once established, which may be along an inside surface of the side flaps 12c, 12d of the gaiter 10. The cover 26 may also comprise a connector for connecting with the fasteners on the cover, the gaiter, or both. Again, this allows for the length of the stirrup 20 to be readily adjusted to accommodate different situations in terms of size of the corresponding midsection of the footwear.
A retainer 28 may also be provided for retaining the stirrup 20 on the gaiter 10, where the retainer 28 may be sewn or otherwise coupled to the respective side flap 12c, 12d, to allow for the stirrup 20 to extend therethrough. While
Referring again to
The strap 16 includes a connector 16a adapted to connect with the strip 14a, and thus may loop back to a suitable location in order to form a connection once the lace L is engaged. The flap 12a may then be secured in place, engaging the connector 16a with the strips 14a, 14b, thus protecting the strap 16 from becoming dislodged and releasing the retainer 18. With both ends of the strap 16 attached to the body 12 with the retainer 18 coupled thereto, the retainer 18 may be engaged with the wearer’s footwear by hooking the hook 18a onto a lace or other feature on the footwear. The ability to adjust the length of the loop formed and thus the position of the retainer 18 allows for adjustments to be made to ensure a proper fit, which helps to ensure the gaiter remains in a proper position.
Referring to
Turning back to
Using this arrangement, it can be appreciated that the gaiter 10 not only performs its protective function, but also serves as a location for holding or storing accessories, such as for example a knife in a sheath (see
In certain embodiments, the gear 50 may be a protector 54 for attaching to the connectors 40 of one of the front flap 12a and the sidewall 52 to provide protection for the wearer’s legs. The protector 54 may be formed of a material that absorbs impact to the wearer’s legs, such as when climbing over solid structures, the material being, for example, such as rubber. In embodiments, the protector 54 may be a 0.5 inch thick serrated strip pad that attaches to the connectors 40 along the front flap 12a to protect a length of a shin of the wearer. In other embodiments, the protector 54 may be a shin-guard that is, for example, made of a rigid material such as plastic, metal, or the like, and attachable to one or more of the connectors 40.
Referring to
As used herein, the following terms have the following meanings:
“A”, “an”, and “the” as used herein refers to both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. By way of example, “a compartment” refers to one or more than one compartment.
“About,” “substantially,” or “approximately,” as used herein referring to a measurable value, such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of +/- 20% or less, including +/-10% or less, +/-5% or less, +/-1% or less, and +/-0.1% or less of and from the specified value, in so far such variations are appropriate to perform in the disclosed invention. However, it is to be understood that the value to which the modifier “about” refers is itself also specifically disclosed.
“Comprise”, “comprising”, and “comprises” and “comprised of” as used herein are synonymous with “include”, “including”, “includes” or “contain”, “containing”, “contains” and are inclusive or open-ended terms that specifies the presence of what follows e.g. component and do not exclude or preclude the presence of additional, non-recited components, features, element, members, steps, known in the art or disclosed therein.
Although the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it embraces all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the appended claims’ spirit and scope. All publications, patents and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated in their entirety by reference into the specification, to the same extent as if each individual publication, patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated herein by reference. In addition, the identification of any reference in this application shall not be construed as an admission that such reference is available as prior art to the present disclosure.
The present disclosure claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 63/299,696, filed on Jan. 14, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated by reference in it’s entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63299696 | Jan 2022 | US |