GAITER FOR FOOT GARMENT

GUETRE POUR ARTICLE CHAUSSANT

English Abstract

A gaiter for a foot garment including a tubular element made of flexible
material,
the tubular element having a bottom portion, and two strips attached to the
tubular element. The two strips are positioned along the bottom portion of the
tubular element to be placed under a forefoot and under a heel respectively.
Each strip is positionable at some distance from the corresponding end of a
sole of the foot garment. The strips present two longitudinal edges which are
positioned across the sole, each longitudinal edge comprising an anti-slipping
element. The two strips are removably installable on the foot garment and
remain attached to the gaiter, while the gaiter is continuously worn by a
user.
The strips including the anti-slipping elements can therefore be easily
installed
and removed from the foot garment as the user transitions between walking on
icy and non-icy floor surfaces.

Claims

7
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A gaiter for a foot garment comprising:
-a tubular element made of flexible material, the tubular element having
a bottom portion; and
-two strips attached to the tubular element, the two strips positioned
along the bottom portion of the tubular element to be placed under a
forefoot and under a heel respectively, each strip being positionable at
some distance from the corresponding end of a sole of the foot garment,
the strips presenting two longitudinal edges which are positioned across
the sole, each longitudinal edge comprising an anti-slipping element,
wherein the two strips are removably installable on the foot garment and
remain
attached to the gaiter, while the gaiter is continuously worn by a user.
2. The gaiter according to claim 1, wherein the anti-slipping element is
selected from the group comprising cleats, crampons, anti-slip surfaces, and
anti-slip materials.
3. The gaiter according to claim 1, wherein the anti-slipping element
comprises fragmented materials embedded into the strips.
4. The gaiter according to claim 3, wherein the fragmented materials
comprise glass.
5. The gaiter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the strips are
made from recyclable materials.
6. The gaiter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising
adjustment mechanisms to adjust a length of the strips.

Description

1
GAITER FOR FOOT GARMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to traction systems for foot garments.
More particularly, it relates to a gaiter for a foot garment integrating anti-
slipping
elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Several different traction systems have been developed to allow users to walk
on icy surfaces
Some traction systems can the entire length of the outsole of a shoe, and
require a significant amount of material to manufacture, which can be costly.
Other traction systems can be attached to the perimeter of a shoe with a
rubber
harness.
US 9,185,949 discloses a traction device including a pliable securing portion
configured to connect the traction device to footwear.
Known traction systems are problematic in conditions where a user transitions
from walking on an icy or slippery surface to a non-icy/non-slippery surface,
for
example when entering a building after walking outside. In fact, continuing to
wear the traction system on a rigid surface can become dangerous for the user
as the traction system offers less adherence due to the reduced contact
surface
between the feet of the user and the floor, through the cleats or crampons.
Consequently, the user is motivated to remove the traction system when
walking inside a building (for example, when going for shopping) or when
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transitioning to walking on dry pavement. Unfortunately, given that the user
has
been just recently walking on icy, slushy or wet conditions outside, the
manipulation of the traction system is not pleasant as the traction system may
still be wet or in contact with melted ice or snow. Therefore, the traction
system
cannot be easily or cleanly stowed away (for example in a pocket or a bag),
especially if the user intends to return to the icy surface and wants an easy
way
to reinstall the traction system.
There, there is still presently a need for a traction system that can address
at
least one of the above-identified problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to propose a gaiter for a foot garment
that
satisfies at least one of the above-mentioned needs.
According to the present invention, that object is accomplished with a gaiter
for
a foot garment comprising:
-a tubular element made of flexible material, the tubular element having
a bottom portion; and
-two strips attached to the tubular element, the two strips positioned
along the bottom portion of the tubular element to be placed under a
forefoot and under a heel respectively, each strip being positionable at
some distance from the corresponding end of a sole of the foot garment,
the strips presenting two longitudinal edges which are positioned across
the sole, each longitudinal edge comprising an anti-slipping element,
wherein the two strips are removably installable on the foot garment and
remain
attached to the gaiter, while the gaiter is continuously worn by a user.
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In some implementations, the anti-slipping element is selected from the group
comprising cleats, crampons, anti-slip surfaces, and anti-slip materials.
In some implementations, the anti-slipping element comprises fragmented
materials embedded into the strips.
In some implementations, the fragmented materials comprise glass.
In some implementations, the strips are made from recyclable materials.
In some implementations, the gaiter further includes adjustment mechanisms
to adjust a length of the strips.
The strips including the anti-slipping elements can therefore be easily
installed
and removed from the foot garment as the user transitions between walking on
icy and non-icy floor surfaces.
A non-restrictive description of a preferred embodiment of the invention will
now
be given with reference to the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective top view of a gaiter in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective bottom view of the gaiter shown in Figure 1 with the
anti-slipping element strips in their installed configuration over the foot
garment;
Figure 3 is a perspective bottom view of the gaiter shown in Figure 1 with the
anti-slipping element strips in their removed configuration from the foot
garment;
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to any one of Figures 1 to 3, a gaiter 10 for a foot garment 12 is
disclosed. The gaiter is configured to conform around foot garments, including
but limited to, shoes or boots.
As shown in Figure 1, according to the present invention, the gaiter 10 for
the
foot garment 12 includes a tubular element 14 made of flexible material, the
tubular element 14 having a bottom portion 16. Two strips 18a,18b are attached
to the tubular element. The two strips 18a,18b are positioned along the bottom
portion 16 of the tubular element 14 to be placed under a forefoot 20 and
under
a heel 22 respectively of the foot garment 12. Each strip 18a,18b is
positionable
at some distance from the corresponding end of a sole 24 of the foot garment
.. 12. As better shown in Figure 2, the strips 18a,18b present two
longitudinal
edges 26 which are positioned across the sole 24, each longitudinal edge 26
comprising an anti-slipping element 28. The two strips 18a,18b are removably
installable on the foot garment 12 and remain attached to the gaiter 10, while
the gaiter 10 is continuously worn by a user. The strips 18a,18b including the
anti-slipping elements 28 can therefore be easily installed and removed from
the foot garment as the user transitions between walking on icy and non-icy
floor surfaces.
Figure 2 shows the strips 18a,18b with the anti-slipping elements 28 in their
installed configuration over the foot garment 12.
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Figure 3 shows the strips 18a,18b with the anti-slipping elements 28 in their
removed configuration from the foot garment 12.
In some implementations, the anti-slipping element 28 is selected from the
group comprising cleats, crampons, anti-slip surfaces, and anti-slip
materials.
In some implementations, the anti-slipping element 28 comprises fragmented
materials embedded into the strips 18a,18b.
In some implementations, the fragmented materials comprise glass.
In some implementations, the strips 18a,18b are made from recyclable
materials.
In some implementations, the gaiter 10 further includes adjustment
mechanisms to adjust a length of the strips.
The strips including the anti-slipping elements can therefore be easily
installed
and removed from the foot garment as the user transitions between walking on
icy and non-icy floor surfaces or pavement. Moreover, as the strips 18a,18b
remain attached to the gaiter 10, if the strips 18a,18b are wet or dirty from
use,
the strips 18a,18b do not have to be stowed when not being used, while the
user is still wearing the gaiter. At the same time, the strips 18a,18b can be
easily
reinstalled on the foot garment 12 as they are attached to the gaiter and in
close
proximity of area of the foot garment where they are to be installed as shown
in
Figures 2 and 3.
Although the present invention has been explained hereinabove by way of
preferred embodiments thereof, it should be pointed out that any modifications
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to these preferred embodiments within the scope of the appended claims is not
deemed to alter or change the nature and scope of the present invention.
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Representative Drawing