Affixable gaiter-containing pouch

Abstract

A gaiter-containing pouch for use with a number of boots or other footwear. The pouch is comprised of an inner wall, an outer wall, with the gaiter held between them. The back of the inner wall includes a fixation surface to allow it to be attached to any of a number of different types of boots. The outer wall includes one or more enclosure means that allows the outer wall to be attached to the inner wall when the gaiter is contained inside the pouch in a storage position. The enclosure means can be released allowing access to the gaiter for use. When the gaiter is no longer required, the gaiter can be collapsed into the pouch and the enclosure means used to close the pouch.

1 . A pouch for affixing to a piece of footwear, the pouch comprising an outer wall, an inner wall, a gaiter releasably stored between the inner wall and outer wall, and enclosure means to open or close the pouch, wherein the inner wall comprises a back surface having at least one footwear-fixation surface, and wherein a lower edge of the gaiter is secured between the inner and outer walls, and wherein the pouch is selectively removable by cutting from the footwear after the one or more fixation surfaces have been affixed to the footwear. 
     
     
         2 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the piece of footwear is a shoe or boot selected from the group of rubber boots, hiking boots, “duck” boots, hiking shoes, winter shoes, and winter boots. 
     
     
         3 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one footwear fixation surface comprises two footwear fixation surfaces disposed near the upper and lower edges of the inner wall respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one footwear fixation surface is a rubber and is affixed to the piece of footwear using glue or rubber welding. 
     
     
         5 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the lower edge of the gaiter is secured between the lower edges of the inner and outer walls. 
     
     
         6 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosure means is selected from the group consisting of Velcro™, Ziploc™, zipper, pull tie, snap fasteners and hooks and loops. 
     
     
         7 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the outer wall further comprises one or more secondary enclosure means which extend from the upper edge to near the lower edge. 
     
     
         8 . The pouch of  claim 7 , wherein the secondary releasable enclosure means is selected from the group consisting of Velcro™, zipper, snap fasteners and hooks and loops. 
     
     
         9 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the storable gaiter is comprised of a lightweight flexible material. 
     
     
         10 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the storable gaiter further comprises an elastic band disposed at or near the upper edge of the gaiter. 
     
     
         11 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the storable gaiter further comprises one or more fastening means selected from the group consisting of Velcro™, straps, hooks, pull ties, and combinations thereof that are disposed at or near the upper edge of the gaiter. 
     
     
         12 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the storable gaiter further comprises means for attaching the gaiter to another similar gaiter on another paired piece of footwear. 
     
     
         13 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the pouch is sized to be affixed around the upper circumference of the footwear upper. 
     
     
         14 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the gaiter further comprises an attachment means to engage with the outer wall enclosure means when the gaiter is in a use position. 
     
     
         15 . The pouch of  claim 1 , wherein the gaiter is comprised of a waterproof material. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A boot incorporating the pouch of  claim 1 .