Garment connection system

Abstract

A boot and trousers system including a pair of trousers, the trousers including a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids. The system further includes a boot having a body and an upper portion, wherein the upper portion is folded about the body of the boot to define a flap portion. The barrier material is releasably coupled to the flap portion and to the body.

1 . A boot and trousers system comprising:
 a pair of trousers, the trousers including a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids; and   a boot having a body and an upper portion, wherein said upper portion is folded about said body of said boot to define a flap portion, wherein said barrier material is releasably coupled to said flap portion and to said body.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said barrier material is generally impermeable to water vapor. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least part of the barrier material is positioned between said flap portion and said body. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the trousers includes an outer shell, and wherein part of the barrier material is positioned adjacent to said outer shell, and wherein the barrier material includes an extension portion extending beyond a lower edge of said outer shell, and wherein at least part of said extension portion of said barrier material is positioned between said flap portion and said body and wherein said extension portion is releasably coupled to said flap portion and to said body. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a distal end of said barrier material is positioned between said flap portion and said body portion and folded about itself to form a two-ply portion of barrier material. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said barrier material includes a first attachment portion positioned on a first side thereof and configured to be releasably coupled to a corresponding attachment portion of said flap portion, and wherein said barrier material includes a second attachment portion positioned on a second side thereof and configured to be releasably coupled to a corresponding attachment portion of said body. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said first attachment portion and said corresponding attachment portion of said flap portion are configured to be releasably attached in a fluid-tight manner, and wherein said second attachment portion and said corresponding attachment portion of said body are configured to be releasably attached in a fluid-tight manner. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said attachment portion of said flap portion and said attachment portion of said body are configured to be releasably attachable to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein each second attachment portion extends around substantially the entire perimeter of the associated boot or trousers leg. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said second attachment portion is positioned between said flap portion and said body. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said boot has a barrier material extending throughout the body thereof which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the barrier material of the trousers is directly releasably coupled to the barrier material of the boot to provide generally continuous barrier material protection. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said flap portion lacks a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said barrier material is generally liquid impermeable but generally moisture vapor permeable. 
     
     
         15 . A boot and trousers system comprising:
 a pair of trousers, the trousers including a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids; and   a boot having a body and an upper portion, wherein said upper portion is folded about said body of said boot to define a flap portion, wherein at least part of the barrier material is positioned between said flap portion and said body.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said barrier material is releasably coupled to said flap portion and to said body. 
     
     
         17 . A boot and trousers system comprising:
 a pair of trousers, the trousers including an outer shell and a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids and positioned adjacent to said outer shell, wherein said barrier material includes an extension portion extending beyond a lower edge of said outer shell; and   a boot including a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids, wherein the extension portion of said barrier material is directly releasably coupled to the barrier material of the boot to provide generally continuous fluid protection.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17  wherein said boot has a body and an upper portion, wherein said upper portion is folded about said body of said boot to define a flap portion, and wherein at least part of the barrier material of said trousers is positioned between said flap portion and said body. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said barrier material is releasably coupled to said flap portion and to said body. 
     
     
         20 . A system comprising:
 a first item configured to be worn by a wearer, the first item including a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids; and   a second item configured to be worn by a wearer and including a barrier material which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids, wherein said second item includes a body and a flap portion folded about said body, wherein the barrier material of the first item is releasably coupled to the flap portion and the body of the second item to provide generally continuous barrier protection.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein one of the items is a pair trousers and the other item is a boot; or one of the items is a coat and the other item is a glove; or one of the items is a coat and the other item is a hood; or one of the items is a coat and said the other item is a pair of trousers. 
     
     
         22 . A boot system comprising:
 a boot shaped and configured to receive a wearer's foot therein, said boot including first and a second attachment portions at or adjacent to an upper end thereof, wherein the boot is movable between a first configuration in which the first and second attachment portions are releasably attached together, and a second configuration in which the first attachment portion is attached to a first side of a barrier material of a pair of trousers which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids, the second attachment portion is attached to a second side of the barrier material of said trousers.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the first and second attachment portions are positioned on an outer surface of the boot and extend entirely around the perimeter thereof 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said boot has a barrier material extending throughout a body thereof which is generally impermeable to undesired fluids. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 22  wherein said boot is in said second configuration in which the first attachment portion is attached to said first side of said barrier material of the trousers, and wherein the second attachment portion is attached to said second side of the barrier material of said trousers. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein said boot an upper portion folded about said body thereof to define a flap portion, and wherein at least part of the barrier material of said trousers is positioned between said flap portion and said body. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the trousers includes an outer shell, and wherein part of the barrier material of said trousers is positioned adjacent to said outer shell, and wherein the barrier material of said trousers includes an extension portion extending beyond a lower edge of said outer shell, and wherein said extension portion of said barrier material is directly releasably coupled to the barrier material of the boot.