Boots – shoes – and leggings – Leggings and gaiters
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-19
2001-10-16
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Leggings and gaiters
C036S001500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301803
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to leggings, and in particular to a novel combination of features which when incorporated provide improved warmth, comfort, and ease of use over prior leggings, and in particular for children.
2. Description of the Background
Small children should be protected from cold and winter weather on all portions of their body to prevent discomfort and illness. This is particularly difficult for children wearing trousers or skirts. Frequently, the movement of an active child causes socks to fall around the ankles, and trousers and skirts to ride up, which exposes the ankles and lower legs to cold and winter weather. The distinct ways in which small children are carried in infant car seats and strollers also aggravates the problem of exposing the ankles and legs of small children to the elements.
Some fashions for children compensate by using elastic or closures at the ankles. Elastic can engage the extremities of the child too tightly and cause discomfort or chafing. Closures such as buttons and hook and pile fasteners are not desirable esthetically. It is desirable to protect these areas of a child's body without having to change his or her clothes, and without having to remove his or her shoes. A solution to this problem should also be compatible with seating in an infant car seat or a stroller.
The unique advantages of synthetic fleece material, also known as spun fleece material or polar fleece material, are well described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,450,630 to Hale, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,837 to Otto, et al., and will only be summarized here. Synthetic fleece is a lightweight, breathable, cushioning, and quick drying material that is well suited to retaining warmth and imparting comfort. It is amenable to waterproofing treatments and can be used by itself or as a liner to a garment with a weather resistant shell. Because of these advantages, spun fleece is now commonly used in many forms of outerwear. It is disclosed for use in a sock in the above mentioned references, but nowhere in the prior art is synthetic fleece material disclosed to protect the stocking and shoe from the elements, or to protect the extremities of a child in particular.
Leggings made of knit material and designed to be worn as a stocking and engage the lower leg and foot along its length are well known in the prior art. Such leggings are not designed for use over the shoes and stockings of the wearer. Leggings made of wool or flannel material are also known in the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,599,812 to Harmsen. These leggings do not employ synthetic fleece material for comfort and do not expose the bottom of the shoe for walking.
Protective devices such as gaiters made of waterproof material to protect the shoe, ankle, or lower leg, such as U.S. Pat. No.4,713,895 to Vallieres, are also known in the prior art. Such waterproof gaiters provide no protection from the cold, are not amenable to ornamentation, and require attachment means to be permanently affixed to the shoe. They are primarily directed to preventing water from entering the shoe upper, or for other protective purposes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide leggings constructed of synthetic fleece material for increased comfort and warmth that overcome the disadvantages of prior art leggings herein described.
It is a particular object of the invention to provide fleece leggings which engage the lower leg or knee of the wearer without sliding down and without causing discomfort or chafing. A further particular object of the invention is to provide fleece leggings which engage the foot or shoe of the wearer to provide warmth and comfort to the instep and sides of the foot.
Another object of the present invention is to provide leggings made of a synthetic fleece material that is easy and economical to make and that provides an excellent fit on the wearer's legs and feet whether wearing shoes or not.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of making synthetic fleece leggings in a facile, practical, and economical manner.
These and other objects are fulfilled by providing a fleece legging comprised of a lower portion which engages the periphery of the foot or shoe at the bottom edge of the legging and may have means of securing the legging to the bottom of the foot or shoe, and an upper portion that adjustably engages the lower leg along its length using closures such as hook and pile fasteners.
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Law offices of Royal W. Craig
Patterson M. D.
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