PANTS-COVERING AND SHOE-COVERING GARMENTS

Description

Object of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a combined overtrousers and overshoes garment that affords essential characteristics of novelty and notable advantages compared with the means that are known and used for the same purposes in the current state of the art.

[0002] More specifically, the present invention provides a system of clothing, made from one garment, which is worn with normal everyday clothes, and which protects the users against certain aggressive conditions, such as bad weather and other similar conditions, during the normal practice of an activity or in any other circumstances and, more specifically, for use by motorcyclists, who must wear clothes designed for this purpose on a regular basis, instead of normal everyday clothes.

[0003] The system proposed by the invention discloses a garment consisting in a first portion (or upper part) which protects the trousers, and a second portion (lower part) which protects the footwear, both portions being joined together as one item, or used separately with the possibility of adjusting the height, with an opening fitted with a quick-fastening device, running along the length of both portions or, at least, from the lower portion of the footwear-protection up to a significant section of the trouser-protection, thus allowing the user to quickly put on or take off the garment.

[0004] The field of application of the invention is obviously included in the manufacturing and/or auxiliary garment-making industrial sector, particularly of the type used by motorists and for other similar use.

Background and Summary of the Invention

[0005] It is a known fact that certain users, not only those who frequently use motorcycles for professional, leisure or any other purposes, but also those who practise other activities, such as cyclists, anglers, horse riders, golfers, etc., need clothing items that can protect them against the harsh conditions of the outdoors, or against severe conditions caused by practising the activity concerned. The products currently available on the market for protecting the lower extremities of the body are known to be limited and not always satisfactory. For example, when users must wear a certain type of dress in accordance with the requirements of their working conditions, serious difficulties are encountered in finding garments that provide the protection required for the lower portion of the body, with the appropriate level of functionality and comfort. This is because the products available on the market are limited to the type of garment which must replace normal everyday trousers, and which, in very few cases, is designed to be worn over said trousers, and in no case can be worn directly over both trousers and footwear which is why professionals, having to use a vehicle such as a motorcycle, are greatly restricted, since they cannot wear normal clothes to carry out their activity, unless they are prepared to continually change their clothes, which is clearly neither comfortable nor advisable, with the added problem of always having to use separate footwear protection, which is awkward to put on.

[0006] However, as far as protection of the upper portion of the body is concerned, the situation is completely different, since there is a wide and varied choice of garments on the market which can be worn with normal clothes: leather and other jackets, gloves, neck protectors, helmets, etc., all of which provide a range of weather protection or passive protection, it being possible to find the most suitable item of clothing for any time of the year, which is easy to remove to show one's "normal" clothing.

[0007] As can be seen, the way in which the type of clothes mentioned above have developed is totally different depending on the portion of the body the user needs to protect.

[0008] As far as the lower portion of the body is concerned, the only valid option, which currently exists, is protection against adverse weather conditions, which consists in waterproof clothing, together with gaiters or boot-covers for footwear protection. However, it should also be mentioned that the use of these types of garment is not very usual, due to the fact that they are very cumbersome to put on, and they are only used in very bad conditions, such as heavy rain, because they are awkward to put on, with water-proof trousers with zips which, in most cases, are too short, and with boot-protectors which are complicated to attach, and the user is usually put off wearing them, except in cases of extreme necessity.

[0009] There is therefore a need on the market for a garment, which meets certain specific requirements, such as comfort and quick and easy use, and which provides effective protection against extreme environmental conditions, as mentioned above. The provision of a garment with these characteristics will undoubtedly attract users, given that, if properly developed, will be usable with normal everyday clothing worn by the person in question.

[0010] To meet these requirements, the present invention has developed a garment for the lower half of the user's body, i.e., from the waist down to, and including, the feet, made in the form of a leotard, perfectly adapted to the needs of a motorcyclist or other user with similar requirements, and said garment being made with openings running along practically the whole height, by virtue of which all parts of the garment can be sufficiently enlarged so that the user can comfortably put on or take off the garment, such openings then being fastened using the means provided, and which will preferably be of a zip type, Velcro®, or any other suitable fastener. The upper portion of the garment is the trouser protection, and the lower portion is the footwear protection, both portions being able to be joined together, i.e., to form a single item, or which can consist, as and when preferred, in two separate portions, which can be joined together using any fastening system, although a preferred fastening is an edging strip of Velcro®; this preferred embodiment allows the total length of the garment to be adjusted depending on the needs of the user.

[0011] It will therefore be understood, that the material used for manufacturing a garment of the type proposed could be any textile material which provides the protective characteristics required, and the invention also provides for the garment to be used, if required, to incorporate other functional elements, such as inner linings or layers for different weather insulation, safety protection, reinforced instep for gear-changing protection on motorcycles, reflectors, pockets, or any other element which is deemed necessary.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0012] These and other characteristics and advantages of the invention, will become clearer from the detailed description given below of a preferred embodiment, which is provided purely as an illustrative and non-limitative example, and which makes reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatical view of a protection garment embodied in accordance with the present invention.

Description of a Preferred Embodiment

[0013] In accordance with what is indicated above, the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention will be explained below using the attached drawings, in which only a system comprising a trouser-protection and footwear-protection garment is represented in accordance with the techniques of the invention. And, as seen in Figure 1, the invention garment has an upper portion 1, which serves as the trouser protection and is therefore made in the corresponding shape for this purpose, running along practically the length of the user's leg, and a lower portion 2 which constitutes the footwear-protection part, and whose shape can also be adjusted for such use. Both portions together make up a leotard-type garment, which fastens at the bottom to enclose the footwear element, and opened on the upper part, i.e., around the waist area.

[0014] As indicated earlier, this is a preferred embodiment, but it must not be interpreted as the only embodiment for the garment, given that a number of variations are possible on different parts of the garment. For example, the lower portion 2 appears in the drawing as being fastened at the bottom, so that the user's footwear is completely enveloped. A variation of this is for the bottom of this portion to be open and to include textile elements, which can be adapted to fit the sole of the foot, such as, for example, an elastic tape, a toe support, or other element.

[0015] Coming back to the drawing in Figure 1, it can be seen that in this case the embodiment selected is one in which said lower portion 2 completely envelopes the user's foot, by using a lower sole 3, which can be made of any material with the characteristics suitable for the required purpose.

[0016] As said earlier, the garment includes an opening 4 on each side, running along the whole of the length, i.e., from the waistband 5 (or at least from approximately knee-height), to the sole 3 of the foot, which allows the space inside the garment to be enlarged for more comfortable use, such openings having a conventional method for quick fastening. In the case of the embodiment shown, the use of a zip 6 has been chosen, but this feature must not be interpreted as being limitative, given that, instead of the zip, a Velcro® strip could, for example, be used along the length of the aforementioned opening, or any other suitable fastening. It is clear that the opening 4 appears on the outer portion of each garment leg, which is only a preferred characteristic, and is in no way limitative, given that the opening could be situated anywhere else within the user's reach, such as, for example, along the edge of the inner surface.

[0017] As an additional feature, the invention provides for the upper 1 and lower 2 portions, to preferably be separate portions, which can be joined together for use in more appropriate conditions. Both portions 1 and 2 mentioned above, therefore include an edging strip 7 of Velcro® or similar, in the area joined, which enables both portions to be fastened quickly together. In this way, the user may choose not to use the lower portion 2 and wear only the upper portion 1. In other embodiments, both portions can be used to make a single item. The fastening device of the lowest stretch of the opening 4 is preferably done using both strips 8 of Velcro® or similar, running along the edges of said opening stretch, so that there is just one fastening for both portions 1 and 2.

[0018] In all cases, if wished, the trouser-protection and footwear-protection garment can be embodied to include a strip 9 of any suitable textile material of a specific width, stretching along the length of the opening 4, fixed to the inside surface of the trouser-protection portion and, if necessary, of the footwear protection too, which restricts the opening movement of said lengthwise opening. It is clear that the width of the aforementioned inside strip 9 will be such that it allows the garment to be enlarged sufficiently for it to be put on quickly by the user.

[0019] It can be seen from the above, that the garment of the invention is extremely quick, comfortable and easy to use. For this, all that is required is a device for fastening (zip 6 or similar) the opening 4 enabling it to be opened as far as possible, allowing the space inside to be enlarged sufficiently enough so that the user can be dressed, and all that then needs to be done is use fastening methods which adjust the garment to the user's body. See the positing of the footwear element 10 situated at the bottom of the lower portion 2 of the garment. Lastly, adjustment of the relative joining between portions 1 and 2 also enables the garment to be adjusted to the user's height, making it more comfortable to wear. It can be seen that the time required to put on and take off the garment is greatly reduced, because the user can wear it over normal clothes, for protection while riding a motorcycle, and take the garment off quickly when it is no longer required.

[0020] It is not deemed necessary to give a more detailed description for an expert in the field to understand the scope and advantages of the invention, as well as developing and putting the purpose of the invention into practice.

[0021] However, it must be understood that the invention has been described in accordance with a preferred embodiment, which can be modified without any alteration being made to said basic invention, it being possible to make such modifications, in particular, to the shape, size and/or manufacturing materials of the whole garment or parts thereof.

Claims

1. Trouser-protection and footwear-protection garment, preferably for use by motorcyclists or for other similar activities, extendable from the waist to the user's feet, which can be worn by the user with normal clothing, to cover said clothing, characterized in that it consists in a garment made in the form of trousers or a leotard, comprising an upper part (1), for use as trouser protection, and a lower part (2), for use as footwear protection, both having an opening (4) extending over the whole length of both portions and provided with closing means of the zip-type fastening (6) or similar type, and preferably provided with a strip (9) on the inner face, in the position in the mean position (6) in the open state.

2. Garment according to claim 1, characterized in that the parts (1 and 2) are separate elements, which can be joined together, at different heights, by means of a fastener using respective edging strips (7) made of a material such as Velcro or similar.

3. Garment according to claim 2, characterized in that both parts (1 and 2) are alternatively made into a single item.

4. Garment according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lower footwear-protection part (2) is closed at the bottom with a sole (3) on the inner surface of which is the user's footwear (10).

5. Garment according to claim 4, characterized in that, alternatively, the bottom of the lower part (2), instead of the sole (3), comprises elements which fit closely to the sole of the user's foot, such as an elastic band, a toe support, or something of a similar nature.