Pant cuff protector and system thereof

Abstract

A pant cuff protector for surrounding a portion of a pant leg is provided that, in one embodiment, includes a flexible U-shaped clip with two opposed ends. At least two pads are provided proximate each end to provide for gripping opposite sides of a shoe sole. The pant cuff protector holds the rear cuff of a pant tight against a heel of a person so the rear cuff does not drag on the ground.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/802,007, filed on May 19, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a pant cuff protector and, more particularly, to a pant cuff protector for surrounding a portion of a pant leg that grips with sides of a shoe sole.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Dirty, frayed and even torn rear cuffs of pants are prevalent on people everywhere. The distorted rear cuffs are a result of the cuffs dragging on the ground. Fashion trends have dictated the emergence of extra baggy pants with longer leg lengths. This has led both pant designers to produce larger-sized pants and fashion-conscious individuals to purposely buy pants that are too large. Wearing these baggy pants has resulted in the afore-mentioned distorted rear cuffs. A need exists for a device that protects rear cuffs on baggy pants.

The baggy pant epidemic has further resulted in accidents as people trip and stumble over the bottoms of their own pant legs with the heels of their shoes. Accordingly, a need exits for a device that protects the safety of people who wear oversized pants.

Moreover, many men like to wear the same pair of pants with both sneakers and dress shoes and many women like to wear the same pair of pants with both high-heeled shoes and flats. A discrepancy as to pant fit in relation to length to the ground exists for these situations, and most especially for women who tend to wear shoes with higher heels than men. A need exists for a device that allows people to wear the same pair of pants with shoes of varying heel heights.

In addition, many pants include unique and visually desirable cuffs, further deterring people from otherwise taking in or hemming the pant legs. A need exists for a device that allows people to show off distinctive cuffs on otherwise too long and/or baggy pants.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a pant cuff protector for surrounding a portion of a pant leg that, in the preferred embodiment, includes a flexible U-shaped clip with two opposed ends. At least two pads are provided proximate each end to provide for gripping opposite sides of a shoe sole.

In one preferred embodiment, the pant cuff protector surrounds an exterior portion of the pant leg above a rear portion of the pant cuff. In another preferred embodiment, the pant cuff protector is inserted through apertures in the rear portion of the pant cuff.

Numerous advantages may be realized by the present invention, namely, by providing a pant cuff protector that holds the rear cuff of a pant tight against a heel of a person so the rear cuff does not drag on the ground. The present invention will prevent people who wear oversized pants from tripping over their own pants, protect rear cuffs of such oversized pants and allow people to wear the same pair of pants with both high-heeled and flat shoes.

Other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description and from reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top plan view of a pant cuff protector in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side elevation view of an end of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 covered by a pad;

FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 attached to a shoe sole in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a side elevation view of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 attached to a shoe sole in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a rear elevation view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear elevation view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 attached to a shoe sole in accordance with another alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a side elevation view of a pant cuff with an end of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 to be inserted into it in accordance with yet another alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates a side elevation view of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 inserted through the pant cuff of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side elevation view of an end of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 to be inserted into a pad;

FIG. 11 illustrates a side elevation view of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 inserted through the pant cuff of FIG. 8 and attached to a shoe sole;

FIG. 12 illustrates a rear elevation view of the pant cuff protector of FIG. 1 inserted through the pant cuff of FIG. 8 and attached to a shoe sole;

FIG. 13 illustrates a rear portion of the pant cuff of FIG. 8 with clip receiving devices;

FIG. 14 illustrates a side elevation view of a pant cuff protector and pant combination in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 illustrates a side elevation view of a pant with straps in accordance with an alternate embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the Figures generally and to FIGS. 1 through 13, which illustrate the preferred embodiment, where like reference numerals denote like structure and elements, a pant cuff protector 10 is provided. Pant cuff protector 10 includes a flexible U-shaped clip 12 with two opposed ends 14 and 16 that surround a rear portion 18 of a pant leg 20 and grip onto opposite sides 22 and 24, respectively, of a shoe sole 26.

U-shaped clip 12 includes a main U-shaped body 28 and two opposed ends 14 and 16, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. U-shaped clip 12 is preferably composed of metal, plastic, rubber or other similar material as is known in the art that can withhold tension and grip into sides 22 and 24 of a shoe sole 26, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 11.

Each end 14 and 16 of U-shaped clip 12 further includes at least one pad 30 and 32, respectively, for gripping opposite sides 22 and 24 of shoe sole 26, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 10 and 11. First pad 30 is disposed proximate to first end 14 and second pad 32 is disposed proximate second end 16. In accordance with the invention, first and second pads 32 and 34 are removably secured to ends 14 and 16, respectively, via interior sleeves 31 and 33 of pads 30 and 32, respectively. When pads 30 and 32 are attached to ends 14 and 16, pads 30 and 32 cover all exposed surfaces of ends 14 and 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 11. First pad 30 extends inward toward second end 16 and second pad 32 extends inward toward first end 14, as best illustrated in FIG. 1. It is contemplated that first and second pads 30 and 32 may be composed of the same or different material than main U-shaped body 28 and ends 14 and 16. For example, first and second pads 30 and 32 may be composed of a rubber or a plastic and ends 14 and 16 may be composed of a metal or plastic. Alternately, first and second pads 30 and 32, respectively, and first and second ends 14 and 16, respectively, may be composed of a plastic, metal or a rubber. It is contemplated that any combination of material type may be used as determined by those skilled in the art.

In an alternate embodiment (not illustrated), U-shaped clip 12 does not include pads 30 and 32, but rather, opposed ends 14 and 16 are of circumferences 34 and 36 slightly larger than a circumference of main U-shaped body 28. In this embodiment, opposed ends 14 and 16 directly grip into opposing sides 20 and 24, respectively, of shoe sole 26.

Further, in accordance with the invention, U-shaped clip 12 has an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 1 and a closed position, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 11.

First and second ends 14 and 16 are spaced apart by a first distance 38 when U-shaped clip 12 is in an open position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. When U-shaped clip 12 is in a closed position, first and second ends 14 and 16 are spaced apart by a second distance (not illustrated) that is less than first distance 34. It is contemplated that both first distance 38 and second distance are at least one inch in length.

In the preferred embodiment, U-shaped clip 12 surrounds an exterior portion 40 of pant leg 20 above a rear portion 42 of a pant cuff 44, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 11. In one embodiment, U-shaped clip 12 is adjacent to pant cuff 44 on exterior portion 40 of pant leg 20, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 6. FIGS. 3 and 5 illustrate U-shaped clip 12 placed directly adjacent to pant cuff 44 with shoe sole 26 exposed. FIGS. 4 and 6 illustrate U-shaped clip 12 placed above pant cuff 44, allowing pant cuff 44 to drape over shoe sole 26. In another embodiment, pant cuff 44 is folded up and around U-shaped clip 12, thereby exposing an interior portion 46 of pant leg 20, as illustrated in FIG. 7.

Upon engagement with shoe sole 26, U-shaped clip 12 holds rear portion 42 of pant cuff 44 tight against a heel 48 of a person so pant cuff 44 does not drag on the ground, as best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 1. In the preferred engagement position, ends 14 and 16 or pads 30 and 32 grip into sides 20 and 24, respectively, at a location prior to pant seam 50, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 11.

It is contemplated that shoes 52 to which pant cuff protector 10 is attached are athletic shoes, loafers or other shoes with thick shoe soles 26. Shoe soles 26 that are thick provide the best fit for pads 30 and 32 or ends 14 and 16 to grip or clamp down into sides 22 and 24 of shoe soles 26, preferably in the area where shoe sole 26 meets cloth 54 of shoes 52, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

Although ends 14 and 16 via pads 30 and 32 are securely gripped to shoe sole 26, U-shaped clip 12 is removably secured and may be removed from shoe sole 26 and shoe 52 upon changing shoes, pants or as otherwise desired.

In an alternate embodiment, prior to removably securing U-shaped clip 12 to shoe sole 26, opposed ends 14 and 16 of U-shaped clip 12 are inserted through at least one clip receiving device 56 and 58 in rear portion 42 of pant cuff 44, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 13. Clip receiving devices 56 and 58 can be located on a first layer 60 of rear portion 42 of pant cuff 44, thereby concealing U-shaped clip 12 from exposure to elements. Alternately, clip receiving devices 56 and 58 can be located on first and second layers 60 and 62, respectively, of rear portion 42 of pant cuff 44, thereby exposing a portion 64 of main U-shaped body 28, as illustrated in FIG. 12.

In keeping with this embodiment, it is contemplated that clip receiving devices 56 and 58 are slightly larger than circumferences 34 and 36 of ends 14 and 16 of U-shaped clip 12, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, so U-shaped clip 12 can be inserted therewith and to further accommodate for movement of the pant legs 20 once pant cuff protector 10 is attached to shoe sole 26. In one embodiment, clip receiving devices 56 and 58 are apertures, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, 12 and 13. In alternate embodiments (not illustrated), clip receiving devices may be loops, hooks, straps, velcro or other similar structure as contemplated by one skilled in the art.

FIGS. 8, 9, 12 and 13 illustrate pant leg 20 to which U-ship clip 12 attaches. Pant cuff 44 is folded over exterior portion 40 of pant leg 20, thereby exposing interior portion 46 of pant leg 20 and interior portion 66 of pant cuff 44. In the preferred embodiment, clip receiving devices 56 and 58,are located a few centimeters from a bottom hem 68 of pant cuff 44, as illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9, 12 and 13. In one embodiment, clip receiving devices 56 and 58 are located on first layer 60 of pant cuff 44. It is contemplated that first layer 60 is an interior layer of pant material. U-shaped clip 12, after insertion into pant cuff 44 in this embodiment, is not visible on exterior portion 70 of pant cuff 44 of pant leg 20.

In another embodiment, clip receiving devices 56 and 58 are located on first and second layers 60 and 62, respectively, of pant cuff 44. In this embodiment, U-shaped clip 12 extends through both first and second layers 60 and 62, interior and exterior layers, respectively, and portion 64 of U-shaped body 28 is visible on exterior portion 70 of pant cuff 44, as illustrated in FIG. 12. It is contemplated that, in this embodiment, portion 64 of U-shaped clip 12 may include indicia such as a design, brand name or other ornamental or decorative feature that would be displayed on exterior portion 70 of pant cuff 46.

Further, in accordance with the invention, a pair of pants (not illustrated) may be provided with pant legs 20 and pant cuffs 44 and at least two clip receiving devices 56 and 58. Pursuant to the invention, clip receiving devices 56 and 58 are sized and shaped to receive first and second ends 14 and 16 of U-shaped clip 12. In keeping with the invention, clip receiving devices 56 and 58 may be apertures, loops, hooks, straps, Velcro or similar structure as contemplated by one skilled in the art.

In an alternate embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, a pair of pants 72 is provided with at least one clip receiving device (not illustrated) on pant cuff 44. Further, at least two straps 74 and 76 are provided for insertion through clip receiving devices to be combined above a foot 78 of a person and hold pant cuffs 44 tight against heel 48 of person. It is contemplated that straps 74 and 76 may combine by Velcro, snap, button or other engagement structure as known in the art or may simply be tied together.

Further, in accordance with the invention, a method of protecting a person's pant cuff 44 above ground relative to a shoe 52 the person is wearing is provided. The method comprises the steps of inserting first end 14 of U-shaped clip 12 through clip receiving devices 56 and 58 on pant cuff 44 of pant leg 20, as illustrated in FIG. 8. In the preferred method, pant cuff 44 is turned first inside out, thereby exposing interior portion 46 of pant leg 20 and interior portion 66 of pant cuff 44. If no clip receiving devices 56 and 58 are located on pant cuff 44, then the method includes poking through first layer 60 of pant cuff 44, which is the interior layer, of interior portion 66 of pant cuff 46, thereby forming clip receiving devices 56 and 58 shaped as apertures, as illustrated in FIG. 13. Then, U-shaped clip 12 is inserted through first interior layer 60 via aperture 56, as illustrated in FIG. 8. Next, first end 14 of U-shaped clip 12 is threaded through interior portion 66 of pant cuff 44 until it reaches second aperture 58 on pant cuff 44, as illustrated in FIG. 9.

In an alternate method, U-shaped clip 12 is inserted through both first and second layers 60 and 62, interior and exterior layers, respectively, of pant cuff. In this embodiment, threading occurs on exterior portion 70 of pant cuff 44. Similar to the prior method, if no clip receiving devices 56 and 58 are located on pant cuff 44, the method includes poking through both first and second layers 60 and 62, interior and exterior layers, respectively, of pant cuff 44, thereby forming apertures 56 and 58.

After ends 14 and 16 are threaded through pant cuff 44, first and second ends 14 and 16 are inserted into interior sleeves 31 and 33 of first and second pads 30 and 32, thereby removably securing pads 30 and 32 to ends 14 and 16. Lastly, in both methods, first and second pads 30 and 32 are attached to opposing sides 22 and 24 of shoe sole 26 via a gripping or similar mechanism. U-shaped clip 12 is removably securable to shoe sole 26 and may be removed when so desired, for example, when changing shoes, pants or otherwise as desired.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of numerous changes, modifications and rearrangements and such changes, modifications and rearrangements are intended to be covered by the following claims.

Claims

1. A pant cuff protector for surrounding a portion of a pant leg, the pant cuff protector comprising:

a flexible U-shaped clip with a U-shaped body and two opposed ends; and

a first pad and a second pad, the first pad disposed proximate one of the opposed ends and the second pad disposed proximate the other of the disposed ends, wherein the first and second pads are provided for gripping opposite sides of a shoe sole.

2. The pant cuff protector of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second pads extend inward toward the opposed end.

3. The pant cuff protector of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped clip has an open position and a closed position for gripping sides of a shoe sole, wherein the opposed ends of the U-shaped clip are spaced apart by a first distance when the U-shaped clip is in the open position and wherein the opposed ends of the U-shaped clip are spaced apart by a second distance when the U-shaped clip is in the closed position.

4. The pant cuff protector of claim 1 wherein the opposed ends of the U-shaped clip are spaced apart by at least 1 inch.

5. The pant cuff protector of claim 1 wherein the clip is composed of a first material and the pad is composed of a second material, wherein the first material is different from the second material.

6. The pant cuff protector of claim 1 wherein the clip is composed of a first material and the pad is composed of a second material, wherein the first material is the same as the second material.

7. The pant cuff protector of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped clip surrounds an exterior portion of the pant leg above a rear portion of the pant cuff.

8. The pant cuff protector of claim 7 wherein the U-shaped clip is adjacent to the pant cuff.

9. The pant cuff protector of claim 7 wherein the pant cuff is folded up and around the U-shaped clip, thereby exposing the interior of the pant cuff.

10. The pant cuff protector of claim 1 wherein the U-shaped clip surrounds a portion of a rear portion of the pant cuff.

11. The pant cuff protector of claim 10 wherein the U-shaped clip is inserted through at least one clip receiving device in the rear portion of the pant cuff.

12. The pant cuff protector of claim 11 wherein the clip receiving devices are located on a first layer of said rear portion of the pant cuff.

13. The pant cuff protector of claim 11 wherein the clip receiving devices are located on first and second layers of said rear portion of the pant cuff.

14. The pant cuff protector of claim 11 wherein the clip receiving devices are slightly larger than a circumference of said ends of said U-shaped clip.

15. The pant cuff protector of claim 11 wherein the clip receiving device comprises one or more apertures.

16. The pant cuff protector of claim 11 wherein the clip receiving device comprises one or more loops.

17. The pant cuff protector of claim 11 wherein the clip receiving device comprises one or more hooks.

18. The pant cuff protector of claim 11 wherein the clip receiving device comprises one or more straps.

19. A pant cuff protector for surrounding a portion of a pant leg, the pant cuff protector comprising:

a flexible U-shaped clip with a U-shaped body and two opposed ends;

wherein each of said opposed ends are of a circumference slightly larger than a circumference of said U-shaped body;

wherein said ends are provided for gripping opposite sides of a shoe sole; and

wherein the U-shaped clip has an open position and a closed position for gripping sides of a shoe sole, wherein the disposed ends are spaced apart by a first distance when the U-shaped clip is in the open position and are spaced apart by a second distance when the U-shaped clip is in the closed position.

20. A system for protecting pant cuffs, the system comprising:

a flexible U-shaped clip with two opposed ends; and

a pair of pants with two pant legs, wherein each pant leg includes at least one clip receiving device on a rear portion of a pant cuff and wherein the clip receiving device is adapted to receive said ends of the U-shaped clip.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the clip receiving device is located on a first layer of said rear portion of the rear cuff.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the clip receiving device is located on first and second layers of said rear portion of the pant cuff.