US20140262658A1

US20140262658A1 - Rain Gear System

Info

Publication number: US20140262658A1
Application number: US14/165,807
Authority: US
Inventors: Adam Wegener
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-03-15
Filing date: 2014-01-28
Publication date: 2014-09-18

Abstract

A rain gear system including a carrying case, an umbrella, and two foldable boots having an upper portion and a lower portion. The carrying case of the invention includes at least two compartments. The two compartments may be separate pouches within the carrying case. The umbrella and the boots are constructed to fit within the carrying case when not in use. The umbrella of the invention has a foldable frame. The two foldable boots are water-proof or water-repelling. Each of the foldable boots includes at least one narrowing mechanism to secure the boots to a wearer's leg. Each boot also has an upper and a lower portion. The upper portion protects a wearer's leg and pants and the lower portion protects the wearer's footwear from rain. The lower portion of the foldable boots includes anti-slip features to provide grip or traction. Each foldable boot also includes a restriction mechanism to maintain itself in the folded position when not in use.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/787,564, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is related to rain protection gear, more particularly a rain protection system that allows the users to protect their feet and lower legs (and the shoes or apparel worn at the time) as well as to provide a shield for the user over his head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People often carry an umbrella when they expect rain, to protect their head and upper body from rainwater. However, as people navigate through wet and muddy streets on a rainy day, their shoes and pants often become dirty and wet as the umbrellas do not provide protection.
Accordingly, it is the object of this invention to provide a system that shields a person's head and upper body, while offering protection to parts of their lower body as well. It is a further object of the invention to provide a system that can be stored away easily when not in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

A rain gear system comprising a carrying case, an umbrella, and two foldable boots having an upper portion and a lower portion; wherein the umbrella and the boots are constructed to fit within the carrying case when not in use. The current invention also includes a rain gear assembly comprising a carrying component, an umbrella having a collapsible frame; and two water-repellent boots, each having an upper portion and a lower portion, the boots further comprising at least one narrowing mechanism to stabilize the boots onto a user when the boots are worn by the user; wherein the umbrella and the boots are constructed to fit within the carrying component.
The objects of this invention are achieved and the disadvantages of prior rain gear are overcome by providing a system for rain protection having a pair of boots and an umbrella housed in a pouch. The user may remove the boots and umbrella from the pouch to wear and use in the rain, and return them back into the pouch when the user is no longer in the rain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a raingear system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the raingear system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a raingear system in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a carrying component in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a boot in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a boot in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the boot of FIG. 6 in a rolled-up position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. In general, such embodiments relate to a rain gear system. It is to be understood that any size, shape or construction of the rain gear system are all within the scope of the invention. Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
A rain gear system 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1-5. The rain gear system 10 preferably includes a pair of boots 100, a carrying component 200, and an umbrella 300. The umbrella 300 and boots 100 may be housed within the carrying component 200 when not in use. Preferably, the volume of the carrying component 200 with the umbrella 300 and boots 100 housed therein preferably is not significantly greater than that of the umbrella by itself, more preferably not more than 20% greater than the volume of the umbrella, most preferably not more than 10% greater than the volume of the umbrella. Preferably, the carrying component 200 with the umbrella 300 and boots 100 housed therein is small enough to fit into a coat pocket for portability.
The carrying component 200 may be made from a number of different materials, such as plastic, rubber, textile, waterproof fabric, etc. It may be rigid, such as a hard case, or flexible and collapsible, such as a bag, so long as it can carry and store the other components of the current invention. It is preferably flexible and provides storage and carrying capacity, taking up as small space as possible, while being able to be easily tucked away into a pocket or a pocketbook when the other components are in use. Whereas it does not need to be waterproof or water repellent, it is preferably made of water repellent material and most preferably made from waterproof material, so that even if a wet umbrella 300 and/or boots 100 are inserted therein after use in the rain, the system 10 may be carried in the user's pocket or bag without getting the contents thereof wet. FIGS. 2-3 show a carrying component 200 housing an umbrella 200 and a pair of boots 100 therein, in two different arrangements.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, the carrying component 200 preferably has at least two compartments 210, 220. The compartments 210, 220 may be the same or different in size and/or shape, and may be constructed from a variety of materials and/or combinations thereof, preferably from an elastic material that can be stretched to accommodate the content within the compartment. It is also preferable to use quick drying material, or material that allows air-circulation for quick drying, including but not limited to a mesh material. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the compartments 210, 220 are accessible via opening mechanisms 212, 222, for example, zippers for opening and closing the opening to the compartments 210, 220. The compartments 210, 220 may be formed within the carrying component 200 by a divider within the carrying component 200. Alternatively, the compartments 210, 200 each may be a pouch within the carrying component 200, thus providing at least two layers of material between the boots 100 and umbrella 300 and the user when the boots 100 and umbrella 300 are housed therein.
The umbrella 300 is preferably lightweight and has a foldable or collapsible frame, and shields the user's head and upper body from rainwater.
An embodiment of the invention also includes a pair of boots 100. In certain situations, such as when it is raining, the boots 100 may be pulled over a user's feet, covering the user's shoes to protect them from rain and puddles. The boots are preferably elongated to extend upward along the user's legs when worn. Most preferably, the boots 100 extend tall enough to cover at least the bottom three to four inches of the user's legs and pants, if applicable, providing additional protection from rain and water.
Reference is made to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5-6, wherein the boots 100 have an upper portion 130 and a lower portion 120. The upper portion 130 is preferably made from waterproof or water repellent material, such as materials including but not limited to waterproof textile or manmade fabric. The upper portion 130 further includes an opening 131 to allow the user to insert his feet/shoes through and to allow the user to pull the boots 100 up along his legs. The boots 100 preferably also include a narrowing mechanism 132 to help stabilize and secure the boots 100 to the user. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the boots 100 include two narrowing mechanisms 132 and 121. The first narrowing mechanism 132 is located at or near the opening 131 of the upper portion 130 of the boots 100. The first narrowing mechanism 132 can be used to adjust the width and circumference of the opening 131. The second narrowing mechanism 121 is preferably located at or near where the upper portion 130 of the boot 100 meets the lower portion 120. The location preferably corresponds to the user's ankle region.
Various types of narrowing mechanisms may be used without deviating from the scope of the invention. In an embodiment of the invention, adjustable drawstrings are used as the narrowing mechanism. However, any narrowing mechanism known in the art, included but not limited to drawstrings, elastic, adjustable straps, or ties may be used. Alternatively, the narrowing mechanism may be sewn-in or otherwise attached elastic bands, which would allow users to pull and expand the opening at the top and near the ankle to allow feet and shoes to pass through, but still provide secure fitting when released.
The lower portion 120 of the boots may also be made from waterproof or water repellent materials, including but not limited to rubberized textile or recycled rubber sheets. Preferably, the lower portion 120 of the boots are made from waterproof, rubberized material, which would provide protection from water, and from slippery conditions by providing fraction. The lower portion of the boots may have different contours, shapes and sizes for different types of shoes. Additionally, the lower portion 120 of the boots may have additional elements to ensure that the user's shoes fit comfortably and securely in the boots. For example, there may be internal ribbing of elastic, external laces, or additional internal padding/inserts to ensure a proper fit.
Furthermore, the lower portion 120 of the boots 100 may optionally be texturized to further prevent slippage and provide traction. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the lower portion 120 may comprise a sole portion 122 made of a material having greater traction than the remainder of the lower portion 120 and upper portion 130.
Preferably, the boots 100 are constructed of a material flexible enough to permit the boots to be folded, rolled up, or otherwise reduced in volume for storing in the carrying component 200. The boots 100 may also have a restricting mechanism 140 to maintain the boots 100 folded, rolled up or otherwise reduced in volume. Embodiments of the restricting mechanism 140 include a strap and a fastener, for example, hook-and-loop fasteners such as Velcro®, buttons, snap buttons, elastic, ties, hook-and-eye fasteners, magnetic fasteners, and adhesive fasteners, by way of non-limiting example. For a restricting mechanism 140 having a strap, the strap may wrap around one or more boots and fasten onto itself or onto the boot(s) 100 via the fastener(s). Other embodiments of the restricting mechanism 140 include an elastic band that can wrap around one or more boots 100, a hook attached onto the body of the boot, and the manner in which the boot is folded. Additionally, the restricting mechanism 140 may be one or more of the narrowing mechanisms 32, 21.
It is to be understood that the components included in the system do not need to be any specific size or shape. With this system, the user is able to gain the protection of their shoes and pants/lower legs with little increase in size and weight from a traditional portable umbrella. Other embodiments/variations of the original design are possible, not limited to modifications in the physical style (while still encompassing the original elements of the design), height, and materials.
The examples provided are merely exemplary, and additional alterations can be made. As a way of non-limiting example, the length, width, thickness, size, shape or circumferences of the boots, umbrella and bag may vary as a matter of application specific design choice, and should not be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any way. For example, the carrying component may or may not include a strap to facilitate carrying the carrying component. Additionally, whereas zippers are illustrated, other opening mechanisms for the compartments are contemplated. Thus, while there have been shown, described and pointed out novel features of the present invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the disclosed invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A rain gear system comprising:

a carrying case;

an umbrella; and

two foldable boots having an upper portion and a lower portion;

wherein the umbrella and the boots are constructed to fit within the carrying case when not in use.

2. The rain gear system of claim 1, wherein the carrying case comprises at least 2 compartments.

3. The rain gear system of claim 2, wherein the 2 compartments are pouches within the carrying case.

4. The rain gear system of claim 1, wherein the umbrella has a foldable frame.

5. The rain gear system of claim 1, wherein the foldable boots are constructed of waterproof material.

6. The rain gear system of claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the foldable boots further comprises at least one narrowing mechanism.

7. The rain gear system of claim 1, wherein the lower portion of the foldable boots further comprises an anti-slip feature.

8. The rain gear system of claim 1, wherein the foldable boots further comprise a restriction mechanism constructed and arranged to maintain the boots in a folded position.

9. A rain gear assembly comprising:

a carrying component;

an umbrella having a collapsible frame; and

two water-repellent boots, each having an upper portion and a lower portion, the boots further comprising at least one narrowing mechanism constructed and arranged to stabilize the boots onto a user when the boots are worn by the user;

wherein the umbrella and the boots are constructed to fit within the carrying component.

10. The rain gear assembly of claim 9, wherein the carrying component is waterproof or water repellent.

11. The rain gear assembly of claim 9, wherein the two water-repellent boots comprise two narrowing mechanisms, the first narrowing mechanism positioned near the top of the upper portion and the second mechanism positioned around the area where the upper portion is connected to the lower portion.

12. The rain gear assembly of claim 9, wherein the two water-repellent boots are flexible and foldable.

13. The rain gear assembly of claim 9, wherein the two water-repellent boots further comprise a restriction mechanism constructed and arranged to maintain the boots in a folded position.

14. A rain gear assembly comprising: a bag, an umbrella and two boots, the boots constructed of a flexible and collapsible material, wherein the umbrella and the boots fit inside the bag.