Ski pant gaiter

Abstract

A ski pant gaiter includes a continuous piece of material defining a tubular shaped body having opposing first and second ends. The first end has an inlet opening and the second end has an outlet opening. The first end is configured for attachment to a pant leg. The ski pant gaiter also includes an elastic member extending around the tubular shaped body at the second end. The elastic member is configured to restrict a size of the outlet opening. At least one intermediate opening is formed in the tubular shaped body at a location spaced between the first and second ends. The at least one intermediate preformed opening is configured to receive a fastening strap of a boot that extends from within the tubular shaped body to an exterior of the tubular shaped body to provide a positive attachment of the gaiter to the boot.

1 . A ski pant, comprising:
 a pant leg;   a gaiter comprising:
 a first end portion attached to the pant leg; 
 a second end portion; 
 a sidewall defining a gaiter inner surface and a gaiter outer surface; 
 at least one side opening preformed through the sidewall at a position between the first and second end portions. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side opening is configured to receive a fastener that extends from the gaiter inner surface to the gaiter outer surface. 
     
     
         3 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the gaiter includes first and second side openings defined in the gaiter along opposing sides of the gaiter. 
     
     
         4 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the gaiter includes an elastic member extending around the second end portion and configured to restrict a size of an outlet opening of the gaiter. 
     
     
         5 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the pant leg includes a patent leg end that extends distally beyond the second end portion of the gaiter. 
     
     
         6 . The ski pant of  claim 2 , wherein the gaiter includes a plurality of side openings through which the fastener extends. 
     
     
         7 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one side opening includes a double welt construction. 
     
     
         8 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the pant leg includes an inner surface, and the first end portion of the gaiter is secured to the inner surface of the pant leg. 
     
     
         9 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the gaiter is permanently attached to the pant leg. 
     
     
         10 . The ski pant of  claim 1 , wherein the gaiter further comprises a cover portion positioned on the gaiter outer surface and configured to adjustably cover the at least one side opening. 
     
     
         11 . A ski pant gaiter, comprising:
 a continuous piece of material defining a tubular shaped body having opposing first and second end portions, the first end portion having an inlet opening, and the second end portion having an outlet opening, the first end portion being configured for attachment to a pant leg;   an elastic member extending around the tubular shaped body at the second end portion, the elastic member configured to restrict a size of the outlet opening;   at least one intermediate opening formed in the tubular shaped body at a location spaced between the first and second end portions, the at least one intermediate opening being configured to receive a fastening strap of a boot that extends from within the tubular shaped body to an exterior of the tubular shaped body.   
     
     
         12 . The ski pant gaiter of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one intermediate opening includes a right side opening and a left side opening. 
     
     
         13 . The ski pant gaiter of  claim 11 , wherein the first end portion defines an upper end portion, and the second end portion defines a lower end portion, and the at least one intermediate opening is located in the lower end portion. 
     
     
         14 . The ski pant gaiter of  claim 12 , wherein the right side opening is configured to receive a first strap portion of the fastening strap, and the left side opening is configured to receive a second strap portion of the fastening strap. 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing a ski pant, the method comprising:
 providing first and second pant legs and first and second gaiters, the first and second gaiters each comprising first and second end portions, an elastic member positioned at the second end portion to provide an adjustable sized outlet opening, and at least one side opening configured to receive a fastener member;   positioning the first gaiter within the first pant leg;   positioning the second gaiter within the second pant leg;   attaching the first end portion of the first gaiter to an inner surface of the first pant leg;   attaching the first end portion of the second gaiter to an inner surface of the second pant leg.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising forming the at least one side opening in each of the first and second gaiters with a double welted construction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one side opening in each of the first and second gaiters includes left and right side openings that extend from an interior to an exterior of the first and second gaiters. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the attaching steps include releasably attaching. 
     
     
         19 . A method of connecting a boot to a gaiter, the method comprising:
 providing a pant leg, a gaiter having at least one side opening, and a boot having a fastening strap;   pulling up the pant leg;   attaching the gaiter to the boot by extending a portion of the fastening strap through the at least one side opening;   adjusting the boot while the gaiter is attached to the boot;   pulling down the pant leg.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adjusting the boot includes adjusting tension in the boot using the fastening strap. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein adjusting the boot includes adjusting at least one tightening member of the boot accessible from outside the gaiter. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein attaching the gaiter to the boot includes extending a first portion of the fastening strap through a left side opening of the gaiter, extending a second portion of the fastening strap through a right side opening of the gaiter, and connecting the first and second portions of the fastening strap together. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gaiter is attached to an inner surface of the pant leg, and pulling up and pulling down the pant leg does not change a position of the gaiter relative to the boot. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the gaiter includes a cover portion positioned on an outer surface of the gaiter, the method comprising adjusting the cover portion to cover the fastening strap after attaching the gaiter to the boot.