CA3024235A1

CA3024235A1 - Gaiter for foot garment

Info

Publication number: CA3024235A1
Application number: CA3024235A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Diane Abran
Original assignee: Da Nova Solutions Inc
Current assignee: Da Nova Solutions Inc
Priority date: 2018-11-15
Filing date: 2018-11-15
Publication date: 2020-05-15

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.

Description

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

2 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.

3 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;

4 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.

5 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

6 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.

Claims

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.