Abstract:
A shoe garter configured and designed to secure a shoe to a user&#39;s foot. The shoe garter device comprises a flexible strap with fastening means to secure the shoe garter about the shoe and foot of the wearer. The shoe garter device further comprises gripping member on the inner side for frictionally securing the garter to a shoe. The shoe garter may also be adapted and configured to comprise one or more designs, decorative elements, and/or indicia, for varying the decorative appearance and providing different styles to the shoe garter. Typically, the fastening means may comprise hook and loop type fasteners.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates generally to a shoe garter device for securing a shoe on a wearer and also providing a decorative ornament about the shoe. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Often times women or men find that shoes or other footwear devices have a tendency to slip off the back of the wearer&#39;s heels when walking. Specifically, women often become frustrated with high heel shoes when the heel portion of the shoe continuously slips off the back of the wearer&#39;s heel. The continuous slippage can make it difficult for the wearer to function in the shoes, and can cause chafing or blisters to form on the wearer&#39;s heels resulting in discomfort or further irritation. Additionally, continuous slippage can also cause the wearer to fall or become injured. Also, if the shoe or other footwear device slips off, there is a possibility that the heel of the shoe will break off. Further, many women purchase shoes solely because they have straps, even if the shoes are not their desired design choice option. Some wearers of the shoes may want to further decorate the shoes to accentuate the design of the shoe. Consequently, an effective solution is necessary. 
     There is a need for a shoe garter strap that is designed to secure a shoe to a user&#39;s foot, and that prevents continuous slippage. The present invention discloses a shoe garter device designed to secure a shoe to a user&#39;s foot. The shoe garter device can be used to secure stiletto heels, pumps, wedges, mules, and any other type of shoe that does not have adequate support over the top of the foot. Further, the shoe strap device of the present invention comprises an adjustable strap that can be clipped about the shoe to ensure that the user&#39;s foot does not slip out of the shoe, which prevents or reduces the likelihood of injury. Anyone that has shoes or other footwear devices which have a tendency to slip off the back of their heels when walking will appreciate the security and comfort that this invention affords. Anyone wishing to augment the look of the pair of shoes being worn would also appreciate the decorative features that this invention affords. 
     SUMMARY 
     The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. 
     The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises a shoe garter device designed to secure a shoe to a user&#39;s foot. The shoe garter device comprises a flexible strap with fastening means to secure the shoe garter about the shoe and foot of the wearer. The shoe garter device further comprises gripping member on the inner side for securing the garter to a shoe. Typically, the fastening means may comprise hook and loop type fasteners. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shoe garter strap device that is designed to secure a shoe to a user&#39;s foot, and that prevents continuous slippage. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a shoe garter device that can be used to secure various types of shoes including stiletto heels, pumps, wedges, mules, and any other type of shoe that does not have adequate support over the top of the foot. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a shoe garter device that reduces the likelihood of injury of the wearer of shoes by securing the shoes on the feet better. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there is disclosed a shoe garter device, which can further decorate the shoes to accentuate the design of the shoe. 
     In the description herein, numerous specific details are provided, such as examples of components and/or methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that an embodiment of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other apparatus, systems, assemblies, methods, components, materials, parts, and/or the like. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not specifically shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of the shoe garter device worn about a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective diagram illustrating the shoe garter device in a closed position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an elevational diagram of the outer side of the shoe garter device in an opened position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an elevational diagram of the inner side of the shoe garter device in an opened position in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a rear view perspective view of the shoe garter device worn about a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The novel features which are characteristic of the invention, as to organization and method of use, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following disclosure considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which one or more preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     As used herein, the term “comprises” refers to a part or parts of a whole, but does not exclude other parts. That is, the term “comprises” is open language that requires the presence of the recited element or structure or its equivalent, but does not exclude the presence of other elements or structures. The term “comprises” has the same meaning and is interchangeable with the terms “includes” and “has”. The term set has the meaning of one or more of said element. Furthermore, any use of the term “or” as used herein is generally intended to mean “and/or” unless otherwise indicated. Combinations of components or steps will also be considered as being noted, where terminology is foreseen as rendering the ability to separate or combine is unclear. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a side view of the shoe garter  100  being worn about the shoe S, of a wearer.  FIGS. 1, 2 and 5  illustrate the shoe garter  100  is illustrated in a closed position being secured by fastening means  30 .  FIGS. 3 and 4  show a diagram of the shoe garter  100  in an opened position with the outer side  14  facing up, as shown in  FIG. 3 ; and the inner side  12  facing up in  FIG. 4 . As shown in the figures, shoe garter  100  is comprised of fastening means  30  on both ends of the shoe garter  100 . The shoe garter  100  is primarily comprised of a unitary rectilinear flexible strap  10  having fastening means  30  on both ends, and a gripping member  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , the outer side  14  has a set of loop fasteners  34  attached to the distal end  11  thereof, and a set of corresponding hook fasteners  32  on the proximal end  13  thereof (see also  FIG. 4 ). In one embodiment, the set of male hook fasteners  32  are adapted and configured such that they matingly connect with corresponding and respective female loop fasteners  34  securing the closure of the fastening means  30  bringing both the proximal and distal ends together to thereby close the shoe garter  100 , as best seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     The fastening means  30  may comprise a set of one or more strips of female loop fasteners  34 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , which facilitates adjustable connecting lengths of the shoe garter  100  when the fastening means  30  are matingly fastened. For example, in one embodiment, three strips of female loop fasteners  34  may be provided in a row-like fashion having a first, second and third row. And, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the male hook fasteners  32  may matingly connect to the female loop fasteners  34  at the second row; and as shown in  FIG. 5  (worn about the shoe S) the male hook fasteners  32  may matingly connect to the female loop fasteners  34  at the first row. The fastening means  30  may be bonded by way of suitable bonding methods known to artisans having ordinary skill in the art, such as chemical, thermal, and or mechanical bonding means. 
     The gripping member  20  is bonded to the interior inner side  12  of the flexible strap  10  such that when the shoe garter  100  is in a closed position (see  FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 ) the gripping member  20  is in a secured circumferential contact with the shoe S and the wearer, to thus provide a friction contact surface to keep the shoe garter  100  and the shoe S in place about the foot of the wearer. The gripping member  30  may be bonded by way of suitable bonding methods known to artisans having ordinary skill in the art, such as chemical, thermal, and or mechanical bonding means. Such bonding means including, but not limited to adhesive bonding agents, heat sealing processes, and mechanical attachment methods. Such bonding means including, but not limited to adhesive bonding agents, heat sealing processes, mechanical attaching such as stitching, crimping, fastening. These include any variety of bonding solutions, or thermal bonding processes, or mechanical attachment means, or any combinations thereof. In one embodiment, an exemplary dimension of the thickness of the gripping member  20  may be in the range of approximately 2.5 mm to 5.0 mm and covering at least one quarter to one half of the length of flexible strap  10 . 
     The flexible strap  10  may be comprised of any suitable durable material that is flexible and durable. This flexible strap  10  may consist of one or more sub-layers of one or more material fabrics to provide structural support for encasing the shoe S when worn. The fabric may be synthetic or natural fiber structures, or blends thereof. Synthetic fiber structure refers to a fiber structure created from man-made materials such as petroleum distillates or regenerated or modified cellulosic materials. In most instances, synthetic fiber structures generally have a fiber length greater than about 0.01 meter. Examples of a synthetic fiber structure include nonwoven webs having petroleum distillate fibers, or semi-synthetic regenerated cellulosic fiber structures, such as products sold under the trade designation RAYON®. Natural fibers are textile fibers of mineral, plant, or animal origin. The more common natural fibers include cotton, wool, linen, hemp, and ramie. 
     The flexible strap  10  may also be adapted and configured to comprise one or more designs, decorative elements, and/or indicia, as well as one or more colors, for varying the decorative appearance and providing different styles to the shoe garter  100 . The flexible strap  10  may be sized and dimensioned to encase different sizes and types of shoes S. The length and width of the rectilinear flexible strap  10  are dimensioned such that the length is greater than the width and may be sized and dimensioned into a small, medium and large sizes—and the varying width sizes may be referred to as the ballerina sized strap (small), the Mary Jane sized (medium), or the grande (large) sized. The varying width sizes add a stylistic flair to the shoe garter  100  as it is worn about the shoe S. 
     In one embodiment, the dimension for the flexible strap  10  may be approximately 9 inches in length while having the varying small, medium and large width sizes. In one embodiment, the width of the small size is approximately ½ inch; and the medium size width is approximately one inch; and the large width size is approximately 1½ inch. In another embodiment, where the shoe garter  100  may not only extends about the shoe but also crisscross and extend about the ankle in an ankle strap, the flexible strap  10  would have a length approximately 3 times its length falling in a range of about 19-21 inches. 
     It is to be appreciated that one or more of the elements depicted in the drawings/figures can also be implemented in a more separated or integrated manner, or even removed or rendered as inoperable in certain cases, as is useful in accordance with a particular application. Thus, while the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosures, and it will be appreciated that in some instances some features of embodiments of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth. 
     Therefore, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the essential scope and spirit of the present invention. It is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular terms used and/or to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include any and all embodiments and equivalents falling within the scope of the instant disclosure. 
     For example, the shoe garter  100  may be comprised of a unitary part, however it is understood that as a manufacturing and/or design consideration that they may be comprised of one or more sections to make the whole. Moreover, the gripping member  20  may be a unitary structure or may be a set of strips as opposed to just one single member. In some embodiments, the gripping member  20  may extend about the entire interior side  12  of the shoe garter  100 . The set of hook and loop fastening means  30  may be comprised of any other suitable fastening means including but not limited to Velcro hook and loop fastening strip(s), or other attaching means such as snaps or buttons and the like. Furthermore, the configuration of the female loop fasteners  34  may comprise one or more strips which need not be in a row-like fashion, but rather any other configuration (non-linear, etc) so long as the corresponding male hook fasteners  32  are adapted and configured to mate therewith. 
     The foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention, including what is described in the Abstract, is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed herein. While specific embodiments of, and examples for, the invention are described herein for illustrative purposes only, various equivalent modifications are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate. As indicated, these modifications may be made to the present invention in light of the foregoing description of illustrated embodiments of the present invention and are to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention.