Stockingfoot wader

Abstract

A wader comprising a body portion and a bootie. The bootie is attached to the body portion. The bootie is comprised of a toe piece, an ankle piece, and a sole piece. The toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are adhered together to form the bootie. The toe piece has an outside surface, and the toe piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the outside surface. The ankle piece has an inside surface, and the ankle piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the inside surface. The toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are all comprised of a neoprene material. The raised neoprene area on the inside surface of the ankle piece is configured to wick moisture up and away from the foot of the wearer.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wader comprising a body portion and a bootie;
 wherein the bootie is attached to the body portion;   wherein the bootie is comprised of a toe piece, an ankle piece, and a sole piece;   wherein the toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are adhered together to form the bootie;   wherein the toe piece has an outside surface, and the toe piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the outside surface;   wherein the ankle piece has an inside surface, and the ankle piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the inside surface; and   wherein the toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are all comprised of a neoprene material.   
     
     
         2 . The wader of  claim 1 , wherein the raised neoprene area on the inside of the ankle piece comprises an ankle segment that is situated proximate the ankle of a wearer when the bootie is worn;
 wherein the ankle segment comprises a top edge;   wherein the raised neoprene area on the inside of the ankle piece further comprises a plurality of vertically oriented segments with bottom ends;   wherein the vertically oriented segments are configured to form a fluid channel around a top area of the ankle segment between the bottom ends of at least some of the vertically oriented segments and the top edge of the ankle segment; and   wherein the vertically oriented segments are configured to form vertically oriented fluid channels between the vertically oriented segments.   
     
     
         3 . The wader of  claim 2 , wherein the bootie has an inside with a circumference formed by the ankle piece and the sole piece; and
 wherein the vertically oriented segments extend circumferentially around an entire inside of the bootie except for that portion of the bootie that is formed by the sole piece.   
     
     
         4 . The wader of  claim 2 , wherein the vertically oriented segments are configured to form an arch over a midfoot of the wearer; and
 wherein the bottom ends of the vertically oriented segments are configured to form an arch over an ankle bone of the wearer.   
     
     
         5 . The wader of  claim 1 , wherein the bootie comprises an inside surface; and
 wherein an entire inside surface of the bootie is coated with an antimicrobial chemical.   
     
     
         6 . The wader of  claim 1 , wherein the raised neoprene area on the outside of the toe piece is manufactured by compression molding a single layer of neoprene material; and
 wherein the raised neoprene are on the inside of the ankle piece is manufactured by compression molding a single layer of neoprene material.   
     
     
         7 . The wader of  claim 6 , wherein after compression of the toe piece, the raised neoprene area on the outside of the toe piece has a durometer of 11 and that portion of the single layer of neoprene material that is compressed has a durometer of 20 using a GS-701N type C durometer tester; and
 wherein after compression of the ankle piece, the raised neoprene area on the inside of the ankle piece has a durometer of 11 and that portion of the single layer of neoprene material that is compressed has a durometer of 25 using a GS-701N type C durometer tester.   
     
     
         8 . The wader of  claim 6 , wherein after compression of the toe piece, the raised neoprene area of the toe piece has a thickness of six millimeters and that portion of the single layer of neoprene material that is compressed has a thickness of four millimeters; and
 wherein after compression of the ankle piece, the raised neoprene area of the ankle piece has a thickness of eight millimeters and that portion of the single layer of neoprene material that is compressed has a thickness of four millimeters.   
     
     
         9 . The wader of  claim 1 , wherein the raised neoprene area on the outside surface of the toe piece comprises a lateral portion that extends laterally across a front of the toe area, two extensions extending rearwardly from a center part of the lateral portion, and two wings that are parallel to and situated outside of each of the two rearwardly extending extensions; and
 wherein the lateral portion, rearwardly extending extensions and wings are all interconnected.