Fishermens waders

Abstract

 The waders 1 are in the form of salopettes or bib and brace comprising a trouser portion 2 having integrally formed leg and foot portions and a body portion 3 rising above the trouser portion 2 having cutouts 4 for the armpits and extending upwardly to cover the waist, chest and back of a wearer. Braces 5 upwardly between from the front and rear sections of the body portion 3 of the waders 1 to retain the waders on the wearer. Flotation panels 6,7,8,9 formed of closed cell polymeric foam are provided on the front and rear of the body portion 3 of the waders 1 above the waist of the wearer such that the body portion 3 of the waders resembles a life jacket, providing sufficient buoyancy to keep the wearers head above the water should the wearer fall or attempt to wade into deep water.

Description

[0001] The present invention concerns fishermens waders comprising flotation buoyancy aids:

[0002] It is common knowledge that a fisherman can fall over in a river/lake and drown as a result of his waders filling with water and being dragged down to the bottom and being trapped due to the weight of water inside the waders. Worldwide, many fishermen are drowned in this manner each year. It is known to provide fisherman's waders having inflatable buoyancy aids provided adjacent the upper region of the waders in order to mitigate this problem. An example of such known waders are disclosed in US 3,465,375 (Schnell) and US 3,154,800 (Anderson), both disclosing waders having inflatable air chambers providing a built in life jacket that may be readily inflated before or during an emergency.

[0003] However, known flotation buoyancy aids for waders have a number of disadvantages. Fishermen commonly use hooks and other sharp objects during the act of fishing and such objects might accidentally puncture any inflatable air chambers provided in the waders, resulting in the escape of air from such air chambers such that the buoyancy aid fails to operate.

[0004] According to the present invention there is provided waders for use by a fisherman comprising a trouser portion having leg and foot portions and a body portion rising above the trouser portion and dimensioned to cover the waist, chest and back of a wearer at least up to shoulder height, characterised in that the body portion is provided with buoyancy means formed of material having a density less than that of water.

[0005] Preferably the buoyancy means is formed form polymeric foam having a closed cell construction.

[0006] Preferably the buoyancy means is arranged above the waistline of the wearer extending upwardly towards the neck of the wearer. Preferably the buoyancy means is arranged to provide greater buoyancy in the chest region of the waders than in the back region of the waders such that the wearer will tend to float with their face upwards and clear of the water.

[0007] The use of a buoyancy means comprising polymeric foam avoids the problems associated with the prior art since, even when perforated or cut by sharp objects such as fishing hooks, the buoyancy of the polymeric foam is not compromised.

[0008] Preferably the buoyancy means comprises at least one closed cell foam plastic panel provided on the body portion of the waders, at least the on front portion thereof. The one or more foam plastic panels may be secured to either the inner or outer surfaces of the body portion of the waders by stitching, adhesive or other fastening means.

[0009] In a preferred embodiment of the foam plastic panels are inserted into envelopes or bags formed from fabric material, such as nylon, said envelopes or bags being secured to the body portion of the waders by stitching or other fastening means such as press studs, hook and loop fastening systems (e.g. Velcro RTM) or zippers.

[0010] It is envisaged that the buoyancy means could be detachable from the waders to permit removal and/or replacement thereof.

[0011] The thickness or otherwise nature or arrangement of the foam plastic panels is preferably greater on the front of the waders than on the back so that the face of the wearer remains clear of the water to prevent drowning.

[0012] The waders can be made from any material, fabric, such as neoprene, rubber, nylon, polyester or any other suitable material used for the production of waders.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided buoyancy means for attachment to the body portion of fisherman's waders, said buoyancy means comprising at least one closed cell foam plastic panel adapted to be secured to the body portion of the waders. Such panels could be supplied to modify existing waders, the panels being secured to the body portion of the waders by stitching, adhesive or other securing means.

[0014] The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view of a preferred form of wader from the front, and

Fig. 2 shows a view of the wader from the rear.

[0015] The waders 1 according to an embodiment of the invention are in the form of salopettes or bib and brace comprising a trouser portion 2 having integrally formed leg and foot portions and a body portion 3 rising above the trouser portion 2 having cutouts 4 for the armpits and extending upwardly to cover the waist, chest and back of a wearer up to shoulder height. Braces 5 upwardly between from the front and rear sections of the body portion 3 of the waders 1 to retain the waders on the wearer.

[0016] Flotation panels 6,7,8,9 formed of closed cell polymeric foam are provided on the front and rear of the body portion 3 of the waders 1 above the waist of the wearer such that the body portion 3 of the waders resembles a life jacket, providing sufficient buoyancy up to shoulder height to keep the wearers head above the water should the wearer fall or attempt to wade into deep water.

[0017] Each flotation panel 6,7,8,9 is inserted into a nylon pocket (not shown) stitched to the inner surface of the body portion of the waders. However, it is also envisaged that the flotation panels may be secured to the outer surface of the body portion of the waders. It is also envisaged that the flotation panels may be secured to waders by other means, such as adhesive or may be sandwiched between two layers forming the body portion of the waders.

[0018] The thickness of the flotation panels 6, 7 provided on the front region of the waders covering the chest of the wearer is greater than the thickness of the panels 8, 9 on the rear of the body portion covering the back of the wearer such that the front of the waders has a greater buoyancy than the rear so that the wearer will tend to float with their face upwards, reducing the risk of the wearers face being held beneath the water and thus reducing the risk of drowning in the event that the wearer is rendered unconscious in the event of an accident.

Claims

1. Waders (1) for use by a fisherman comprising a trouser portion (2) having leg and foot portions and a body portion (3) rising above the trouser portion and dimensioned to cover the waist, chest and back of a wearer at least up to shoulder height, characterised in that the body portion (3) is provided with buoyancy means formed of solid material having a density less than that of water.

2. Waders as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buoyancy means is formed form polymeric foam having a closed cell construction.

3. Waders as claimed in claim 2, wherein the buoyancy means comprises at least one closed cell foam plastic panel (6,7,8,9) provided on the body portion (3) of the waders (1), at least the on front portion thereof.

4. Waders as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the buoyancy means is arranged above the waistline of the wearer extending upwardly towards the neck of the wearer at least up to shoulder height.

5. Waders as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the buoyancy means is arranged to provide greater buoyancy in the chest region of the waders (1) than in the back region of the waders (1) such that the wearer will tend to float with their face upwards and clear of the water.

6. Waders as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one or more foam plastic panels (6,7,8,9) are secured to either the inner or outer surfaces of the body portion of the waders by stitching, adhesive or other fastening means.

7. Waders as claimed in claim 6, wherein the foam plastic panels (6,7,8,9) are inserted into envelopes or bags formed from fabric material, such as nylon, said envelopes or bags being secured to the body portion (3) of the waders by stitching or other fastening means such as press studs or hook and loop fastening systems (e.g. Velcro RTM).

8. Waders as claimed in claim 3, 6 or 7 wherein the thickness or otherwise nature or arrangement of the foam plastic panels (6,7,8,9) is greater on the front of the waders than on the back so that the face of the wearer remains clear of the water to prevent drowning.

9. Waders as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the buoyancy means is detachable from the waders (1) to permit removal and/or replacement thereof.

10. Buoyancy means for attachment to the body portion (3) of fisherman's waders (1), said buoyancy means comprising at least one closed cell foam plastic panel (6,7,8,9) adapted to be secured to the body portion of the waders.

Drawing