Waders for hunting, fishing, and recreation

Abstract

Waders have a main body formed from a one-piece fabric panel with minimal seams, an enhanced boot connection, multi-use pockets, and/or molle panel(s). The waders' wide and deep crotch is formed by extensions on two sides/ends of the one-piece panel, which curve rearward between the legs and upward at the back of the waders. The one-piece panel may be configured so the main body has only two seams, a single leg seam forming both right and left legs, and a short crotch seam between the two extensions, for example, without seams on the waders left or right side, torso back, or waist. The waders may include features that prevent pooling of water above the boots, and give quick either-handed access to torso pocket interiors and/or to hung/stowed items on exterior molle panels.

1 . A waders garment comprising a main body and right and left waterproof boots, the main body comprising a single panel of fabric defined by an outer edge surrounding the single panel, the single panel forming a torso, legs, and a crotch region, wherein the crotch region is formed by two extension portions of said single panel that curve between the legs from a front of the legs to a back of the legs, the main body comprising only two seams that attach portions of the outer edge of the single panel together, said only two seams being a leg seam that attach outer leg edges of the single-panel to form the legs and a crotch seam that extends down from a front zipper to attach together lower torso portions of the outer edge of the single panel together and extends between said two extension portions to attach said two extension portions together in the crotch region. 
     
     
         2 . The waders garment of  claim 1 , wherein the single panel is continuous waterproof fabric with no apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The waders garment of  claim 1 , further comprising belt loops, shoulder straps, a right pocket system, and a left pocket system that are each stitched onto regions of an outer surface of the main body where the said belt loops, shoulder straps, a right pocket system, and a left pocket system are not in direct contact with said two seams and are not connected to said main body by said two seams. 
     
     
         4 . The waders garment of  claim 1 , wherein an upper portion of the single panel has a right edge and a left edge that are connected by said front zipper extending longitudinally along a front side of the torso from a top edge of the main body to said crotch seam. 
     
     
         5 . The waders garment of  claim 1  wherein the main body has a back area having no zipper and no seams above the crotch region. 
     
     
         6 . The waders garment of  claim 1  that has no seams on the right side and the left side between a top edge of the main body and the boots. 
     
     
         7 . The waders garment of  claim 1  that further comprises a right and a left stiffening band extending up from the right and left boots and attached to fabric of the right and left legs, respectively, for preventing the fabric of the right and left legs from sagging into the top end of the boot and forming a water-containing recess. 
     
     
         8 . The waders garment of  claim 1  that comprises right and left pocket systems, each pocket system comprising an inner pocket and an out pocket that are stacked together on the torso of the main body, with the outer pocket being in front of the inner pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The waders garment of  claim 8  wherein each inner pocket comprises an inner pocket panel stitched to an inside surface of the main body and an inner pocket opening through the main body that is accessible from a front side of the torso, an outer pocket that comprises an outer pocket panel stitched to an outer surface of the main body and an outer pocket opening between said outer surface and the outer pocket panel that is accessible from a front side of the torso; and a modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) panel on said outer pocket panel. 
     
     
         10 . A waders garment comprising:
 a one-piece panel of waterproof fabric forming a main body of the garment, the panel having an upper portion formed into a torso of the main body, and a lower portion having a leg cut-out between leg portions of the panel, the leg cut-out being defined by inner leg edges, wherein the leg portions of the panel forming right and left legs of the main body that are connected to right and left waterproof boots, the leg portions being formed into said legs by a leg seam attaching the outer leg edges of said panel to said inner leg edges of said panel, the leg seam extending from the right boot up the right leg across a crotch portion of the main body and down along the left leg to the left boot, said crotch region being formed by right and left extensions of the one-piece panel that extend from right and left sides of the one-piece panel and curve rearward between said legs of the main body, the right extension being connected to the left extension in the crotch region by a crotch seam, and the right and left extensions attached to the inner leg edges at an upper end of said leg cut-out of the panel, wherein the crotch region has a width that is at least 80 percent of a combined width of the right and left extensions.   
     
     
         11 . The waders garment of  claim 10 , wherein the crotch region has a width that is at least 90 percent of a combined width of the right and left extensions. 
     
     
         12 . The waders garment of  claim 10 , wherein the upper portion is formed into said torso by a right edge and a left edge of the upper portion of the panel being connected by a torso zipper extending longitudinally along a front side of the torso and by the crotch seam extending down from the torso zipper through the crotch region between said right and left extensions. 
     
     
         13 . The waders garment of  claim 10  wherein said leg seam and said crotch seam extend between the legs and up to a seat area at a back of the torso of the waders, and wherein the back of the torso comprises no seams between the crotch region and a top edge of the main body. 
     
     
         14 . The waders garment of  claim 10  that has no seams on right and left sides of the main body between the top edge of the main body and the boots. 
     
     
         15 . The waders garment of  claim 10  that further comprises right and left stiffening bands extending up from the right and left boots and connected to the right and left legs of the main body, respectively, for preventing the right and left legs from sagging into, and forming recesses for holding water at, top ends of the right and left boots. 
     
     
         16 . The waders garment of  claim 10  that comprises right and left pocket systems, each pocket system comprising an inner pocket and an outer pocket that are stacked together on the torso of the main body, with the outer pocket being in front of the inner pocket, wherein the outer pocket has a modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) panel on an outer surface of the outer pocket. 
     
     
         17 . A waders garment comprising a main body having a torso with a top edge, and right and left legs attached to right and left boots, the improvement comprising the main body being formed from a single, continuous waterproof panel having an outer perimeter edge around the panel, wherein portions of the outer perimeter edge are attached to each other to form said torso and said legs, by connections comprising a torso zipper, a leg seam extending along the right leg from the right boot through a crotch region and along the left leg to the left boot, and a crotch seam extending from the torso zipper through the crotch region. 
     
     
         18 . The waders of  claim 17 , wherein the crotch region comprises right and left extensions of the single continuous panel that extend between the legs and rearward toward a seat area of the main body, and wherein the crotch region has a width that is at least 80 percent of a combined width of the right and left extensions to provide extra room between top ends of the legs for comfort of the wearer. 
     
     
         19 . The waders garment of  claim 17  that further comprises right and left stiffening bands extending up from the right and left boots and connected to the right and left legs, respectively, for preventing the right and left legs from sagging into, and forming recesses for holding water at, top ends of the right and left boots. 
     
     
         20 . The waders garment of  claim 17  that comprises right and left pocket systems, each pocket system comprising an inner pocket and an out pocket that are stacked together on the torso of the main body, with the outer pocket being in front of the inner pocket.