Galosh

Abstract

 The invention relates to a galosh comprising:
- a light weight, from 2 sides impenetrable waterproof and fully flexible sole;
- a light weight flexible waterproof upper attached over the sole; and
- a leg part arranged at the upper and having an opening for foot (while wearing a shoe) insertion wherein the sole, upper and leg part comprise a flexible waterproof layer, such that the galosh can be wrapped.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a galosh comprising:

• a sole;
• an upper attached over the sole; and
• a leg part arranged at the upper and having an opening for foot insertion.

[0002] Galoshes are outer shoes worn in bad weather to protect the inner shoes and keep the feet dry. Galoshes are nowadays almost universally made of rubber. However, in the bootmakers' trade, a "galosh" is the piece of leather, of a make stronger than, or different from that of the "uppers", which runs around the bottom part of a boot or shoe, just above the sole.

[0003] Another term for galoshes is overshoes. Overshoes have evolved in the past decades and now are being made with more advanced features, such as high traction outsoles.

[0004] When galoshes are provided with long leg parts, they are also called waders. Waders have a waterproof boot extending from the foot to the chest, traditionally made from vulcanized rubber, but also available in more modern PVC, neoprene and Gore-Tex variants. Waders are generally distinguished from galoshes by leg height; A galosh having a leg part reaching to the chest is sometimes referred to as chest waders for emphasis.

[0005] Often waders are embodied as wellingtons with a waterproof overall sealed to it. These kind of waders are heavy and not easy to store or to carry along without having to wear them.

[0006] Waders have a wide range of applications. Regarding leisure purposes, they are worn while waterfowl hunting, hiking, water gardening, playing with model boats, and off-road riding of All-terrain vehicles. Industrially, heavy-duty waders are used by predominantly in the chemical industry, agriculture and in the maintenance of water supply, sewerage and other utilities.

[0007] The known galoshes are having a substantial rigid sole and rather rigid leg parts, similar to PVC wellingtons. When for example hiking it is cumbersome to carry those semi-rigid galoshes for the possibility that they are needed for crossing a creek.

[0008] One could try to wrap plastic bags around the feet, but as the terrain and creek bottom is rough, the chance is substantial, that the plastic bags will be torn and the bags will be flooded. Furthermore the plastic bags do not have a good fit around the shoes of a wearer, such that the bags can easily drop down or slip of the shoes.

[0009] Accordingly it is an object to provide galoshes which can be carried without much effort and which do not have the above mentioned disadvantages.

[0010] This object is achieved with a galosh according to the preamble, which is characterized in that the sole, upper and leg part comprise a flexible waterproof layer, such that the galosh can be wrapped.

[0011] By making the galosh out of a flexible waterproof layer, the galosh can be wrapped and carried along easily.

[0012] In a preferred embodiment of the galosh according to the invention, the sole comprises an impenetrable layer. This decreases the chance that the galosh will be punctured when walking over rough terrain. It also reduces the chance, that the galosh will be punctured from the inside. When an user puts a shoe in a galosh, the sole of the shoe could have some little stones in the profile of the shoe. If the user then starts to walk with the galosh, the stones in the profile of the shoe are pressed in the sole of the galosh. The impenetrable layer prevents the galosh to be punctured.

[0013] Another advantage of the impenetrable layer is that it is generally wear resistant. The shoe of the user rubs along the inside of sole of the galosh. This could result in wear and eventually penetration of the sole. According to the invention, this is prevented with the impermeable layer.

[0014] Preferably, the impenetrable layer comprises high strength fibers, like aramid or dyneema fibers. These high strength fibers provide a light, strong and impermeable layer, which is typically suitable for a galosh, which can be wrapped.

[0015] In another preferred embodiment of the galosh according to the invention the sole comprises an outer impenetrable layer, a center waterproof layer and an inner impenetrable layer.

[0016] The outer and inner impenetrable layer protect the center waterproof layer. When wearing and walking on the galoshes according to the invention, the outer layer protects the center waterproof layer from the rough terrain, while the inner impenetrable layer protects the waterproof layer from trash and dirt sticking to the sole of the shoe inserted in the galosh.

[0017] In another embodiment of the galosh according to the invention the at least one impenetrable layer extends from the heel of the galosh to the top of the toe part of the galosh. With the extension of the impenetrable layer from the heel of the galosh to the top of the toe part of the galosh, the galosh is protected during the full contact of time during a stride.

[0018] In yet another embodiment of the galosh according to the invention an adjustable strap is arranged around the opening of the leg part. With this strap the opening of the leg part can be tightened around the leg of the wearer. This is in particular of advantage when a wide opening is provided to create easy access for a shoe to the galosh.

[0019] Still another embodiment of the galosh according to the invention comprises an adjustable strap arranged along the heel and the instep of the galosh. This strap enables a wider galosh to improve access of a shoe in the galosh. After inserting the shoe in the galosh, the strap can be tightened such that the part of the galosh between the instep and the heel is tightened around the shoe. This improves the wear comfort during walking.

[0020] With this strap around the heel and the instep it is possible to reduce the number of sizes of galoshes.

[0021] Preferably, the flexible waterproof layer is a fabric of for example nylon or polyester.

[0022] The invention also relates to a combination of a body part made of a flexible waterproof layer and two galoshes according to the invention arranged to the body part, in order to provide a chest wader.

[0023] Preferably the combination comprises suspenders arranged to the body part.

[0024] A chest wader according to the invention can easily be wrapped to a small package and carried along during for example a hiking trip or during holidays.

[0025] These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a galosh according to the invention.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the embodiment of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of combination according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment 1 of a galosh according to the invention. The galosh 1 has a sole 2, an upper 3 and a leg part 4. The leg part 4 has an opening 5 for insertion of a shoe in the galosh 1. A cord 6 is arranged around the opening 5. This cord 6 is kept together by a clamp 7.

[0026] A second strap 8 is arranged around the instep of the galosh 1. This strap 8 can be adjusted by a clamp 9. With this strap 8, the galosh 1 can be tightened around the shoe of the wearer.

[0027] Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view of the galosh according to figure 1. The galosh 1 is composed out of a waterproof layer 10, which runs along the sole 2, the upper 3 and the leg part 4. To protect this waterproof layer 10, an outer impermeable layer 11 is arranged at the sole 2. This outer layer 11 extends from the heel 12 to the toe 13 of the galosh. This ensures that during each step, there is always a part of the outer layer 11 in contact with the ground.

[0028] To attach the different layers 10, 11, 14 proven seam seal technology is used. Also if the sole, upper and leg part could not be made out of one piece, the proven seam seal technology is used.

[0029] On the inside of the galosh an inner impermeable layer 14 is arranged. This impermeable layer protects the waterproof layer 10 from the shoe which is arranged in the galosh 1.

[0030] Figure 3 shows a combination 20 according to the invention. This combination 20 comprises two galoshes 21, 22 with long leg parts, which are connected to a body part 23. Two suspenders 24 are attached to the body part 23 to form a chest wader.

[0031] As the combination 20 is made from flexible layers and even the soles are made from flexible layers, the combination 20 can easily be wrapped, stored and carried along.

[0032] The sole of the galosh 1, 21, 22 can be provided with a anti slip layer which can be arranged with known glue techniques to ensure the flexibility of sole.

[0033] Furthermore, a bio active agent may be integrated in the upper. The agent may prevent the wearer of (cross) contamination when the product is used in polluted water.

Claims

1. Galosh comprising:

- a sole;

- an upper attached over the sole; and

- a leg part arranged at the upper and having an opening for foot insertion, characterized in that the sole, upper and leg part comprise a flexible waterproof layer, such that the galosh can be wrapped.

2. Galosh according to claim 1, wherein the sole comprises an impenetrable layer.

3. Galosh according to claim 2, wherein the impenetrable layer comprises high strength fibers, like aramid or dyneema fibers.

4. Galosh according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the sole comprises an outer impenetrable layer, a center waterproof layer and an inner impenetrable layer.

5. Galosh according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the at least one impenetrable layer extends from the heel of the galosh to the top of the toe part of the galosh.

6. Galosh according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an adjustable strap is arranged around the opening of the leg part.

7. Galosh according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an adjustable strap is arranged along the heel and the instep of the galosh.

8. Galosh according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the flexible waterproof layer is a fabric of for example nylon or polyester.

9. Combination of a body part made of a flexible waterproof layer and two galoshes according to the preceding claims arranged to the body part, in order to provide a chest wader.

10. Combination according to claim 9, comprising suspenders arranged to the body part.

Drawing