211results about "Gaiters" patented technology

An apparatus and method for metabolic cooling and insulation of a user in a cold environment. In its preferred embodiment the apparatus is a highly flexible composite material having a flexible matrix containing a phase change thermal storage material. The apparatus can be made to heat or cool the body or to act as a thermal buffer to protect the wearer from changing environmental conditions. The apparatus may also include an external thermal insulation layer and/or an internal thermal control layer to regulate the rate of heat exchange between the composite and the skin of the wearer. Other embodiments of the apparatus also provide 1) a path for evaporation or direct absorption of perspiration from the skin of the wearer for improved comfort and thermal control, 2) heat conductive pathways within the material for thermal equalization, 3) surface treatments for improved absorption or rejection of heat by the material, and 4) means for quickly regenerating the thermal storage capacity for reuse of the material. Applications of the composite materials are also described which take advantage of the composite's thermal characteristics. The examples described include a diver's wet suit, ski boot liners, thermal socks, gloves and a face mask for cold weather activities, and a metabolic heating or cooling blanket useful for treating hypothermia or fever patients in a medical setting and therapeutic heating or cooling orthopedic joint supports.

Sports garment adapted to cover at least one limb or body member, such garment including a textile base primarily worn in close contact with the body and including a compression zone surrounding the limb/member, the compression zone including at least one film affixed to the textile base, the film including a plurality of openings. The compression zone includes at least one exclusive compression zone and at least one postural support zone, the yield strength of the garment portion forming the postural support zone being greater than that of the garment portion forming the exclusive compression zone, along at least one direction of bias.

A garment including a body of fabric having a waistband and at least two seams that extend from the waistband and a support structure that is connected to the at least two seams and the waistband is provided. The support structure further includes a pocket and a tape connected to the pocket that prevents elongation of the support structure between said at least two seams during the wearable life of the body of fabric.

A work garment for use by gardeners, roofers or others to protect their clothing while working and for holding articles in pockets, which may be changed by snapping on special pockets for different uses of the garment. The pockets can be of different sizes and be segmented or not for holding different articles. The garment may have permanent and snap-on pockets. The garment is fastened around the waist of the wearer by a belt and the legs fastened by straps around the wearer's legs. Kneepads in kneepad pockets protect the wearer's knees and make working more comfortable while kneeling. The garment extends from the waist to just below the knees for a lightweight easy to put on and easy to take off garment.

A protective leg sock suitable for use when operating a flexible line weed trimmer. The sock includes a tubular leg enclosing portion that has an upper open end that pulls up to just above the knee, and a lower open end that flares out to cover the front top portion and the rear heel portion of the user's shoe. An elastic ring encircles the tube above the lower open end to engage the ankle area and prevent material from entering from the bottom. A cord and spring biased barrel closure secures the tube to the leg just above the knee, and grommets on each side of the tube below the upper end provide ventilation. The sock is preferably made from four mil, diamond embossed, tubular plastic film stock.

Provided is activewear with hidden pockets. More particularly, athletic garments such as pants comprising one or more waistband pocket, preferably concealable, are included. In embodiments, athletic garments with an interior concealed pocket in the fold-over portion of a fold down waistband are provided. The waistband pocket enables the wearer to store items such as car keys, hotel room keys and/or smart phones relatively inconspicuously and securely in the waistband of the garment. A purpose of the concealment includes minimizing attention from the items stored within the pocket and allowing the wearer to participate in a variety of athletic sports or events while carrying personal items in a secure manner. Preferred embodiments include athletic pants comprising (i) a fold down waistband, (ii) an annular storage pocket capable of retaining items without any additional material added to the pant, and (iii) one or more slits for the opening for the pocket.

A flexible, elastic gaiter device designed to doubly encircle an upper rim of a wearer's footwear as well as the wearer's ankle to block ingress of debris into the footwear upper rim while bracing wearer's ankle protecting it against external and internal injury. The device is an elongated generally rectangular article. It comprises a closed loop nylon plush fabric outer layer to which is foamed an inner layer of synthetic rubber based on polychloroprene. At one end of the article's rubbery layer a fastener strip of hook elements is attached. The gaiter device is applied with its rubbery layer bridging the footwear upper rim, and firmly stretched to a double wrap, then secured by fastening the strip of hook elements with the plush outer layer. Lower edge corners of the article are diagonally cropped so that, when stretched, the lower edge will not have unsightly exposed portions.

A lower leg appliance provides padding and cushion support for the knee, ankle and hip joints in the leg, by providing a hard surfaced knee pad, a hard surfaced ankle pad and a soft surface calf and thigh pad positioned between the calf and thigh, held in place by at least three adjustable straps having a closure means, the three pads working in conjunction to provide relief and support to a persons knees, ankles and hips while squatting or kneeling during chores, activities or labor.

In one embodiment a gaitor interface may be used to connect a gaitor to many different types of footwear. The gaitor interface provides a removable attachment between the gaitor and the shoe. One part of the gaitor interface comprises a track that can be mounted along the exterior of the shoe. The track includes a pair of elongated arms that define an interior flex track. Another part of the gaitor interface comprises a connector for attaching to the track. The connector has a bead portion that can be slid into the flex track. The interlock between the bead portion and the flex track provides a releasably secure connection between the gaitor and the shoe. In another embodiment, a convertible shoe having a removable shoe collar is provided. The removable collar may be reversible and may have different linings or covering for the inner and outer surfaces.

Apparel and processes for covering a foot, leg and/or a portion thereof. The apparel may include a sock-like tube made of wearable material that is sized to fit over the foot and the leg. The sock-like tube may have a closed end, an open end, and an opening near but not at the closed end that is sized for the foot to pass through. The processes may include sliding the sock-like tube over the foot and leg while positioning the opening so that it ends up over the top of the foot and moving the toes through the opening.

A medical undergarment system effective for supporting an ostomy system consists of a first diagonal catheter channel, a second diagonal catheter channel, a first vertical catheter channel, and a second vertical catheter channel. The system consists of tubing, a base undergarment, and a fluid bag. The medical undergarment system provides a comfortable yet stable ostomy system that can easily be slipped on and off by a user. The system enables convenient and easy removal of bodily fluid when using a catheter.

A protective gaiter having a closed state and an open state. In the closed state the gaiter includes an essentially frustoconical shaped body. The gaiter includes an at least partially elastic upper edge forming a small diameter upper opening in the closed state, and a lower edge forming a large diameter lower opening in the closed state. The gaiter further includes a zipper fastener extending between the upper edge and the lower edge for selectively joining and separating opposing side edges of the body, thereby allowing the gaiter to alternate between the closed and open states.

A sports garment comprising a pocket, wherein the pocket comprises an opening for bottom loading of the pocket, and wherein a first border of the pocket is arranged with an at least partial overlap with a first cut line of the sports garment.

An outsole with a configuration of protrusions that allows attachment of a gaiter. The protrusions may be similar to conventional lugs and perform ordinary lug functions or they may be highly specialized protrusions dedicated to attachment of a gaiter. Attachment is accomplished by jamming an expanded end of a gaiter cord amongst specialized surfaces on protrusions. Typically a gaiter cord first passes between protrusions typically on either the outboard side of footwear, or at the heel. Thereafter, the gaiter cord passes through a narrow slot and then enters a space wide enough for the expanded end. Tensioning of the gaiter cord further jams the expanded end of the cord in the outsole; thereby attaching the gaiter to the outsole.

A boot cover for a boot having an elongated tubular throat portion is provided which includes a textile sheath having an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge having a length sized to at least partially encircle the throat portion of the boot at an upper attachment location offset from a mouth of the boot, and the lower edge having a length sized to at least partially encircle the throat portion of the boot at a lower attachment location in the lower region of the boot. The boot cover also includes an attachment system coupled to the textile sheath to removably attach the boot cover to the throat portion of the boot in a secure manner. The textile sheath is configured to conceal a substantial portion of the throat portion of the boot when the boot cover is attached thereto. Methods of attaching boot covers to a boot are also provided.