Abstract:
An apparatus for supporting the ankle-shin area of pant legs having a “W” shaped bar with a first loop and a second loop on each end and a strap having each end connected to each loop respectively. The strap has an adjustment buckle coupled to it for adjusting the tension on the strap.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/642,017, filed Jan. 7, 2005. This application is related to application Ser. No. 29/224,679 entitled “J-BANDS”, filed Mar. 3, 2005. These above applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     People have used rubber bands, strings and the like for years to hold their pant legs in place, whether to hold their pant legs off the ground, out of the way to allow riding a bike without a chain guard or to help keep the pant legs up to prevent the shoes or boots from staining the pant legs. This presents an unsightly appearance to the viewing public.  
         [0003]     There is therefore a need for a device or apparatus that will perform this function while providing a colorful style in different sizes without having the person present an unsightly appearance. Such an apparatus has to be simple to use, and be an accessory to the style of clothing a person may wear. Therefore, to meet this style requirement there is a need for an improved apparatus for providing this style requirement.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The J-Band is a pant accessory that allows the person to display the tongue of his or her boot or shoe. The J-Band can also be worn over the entire pant legs, to prevent long pants from dragging under a heel of the shoe. A company logo may be placed or engraved on the center portion of the J-Band or along the bar. The advantage of the J-Band over the use of rubber bands and the like is that the J-Band allows the person to add to their style rather than detract from it.  
         [0005]     In an aspect, the J-Band supports the ankle-shin area of pant legs. The J-Band has a “W” shaped bar with a first loop and a second loop on each end. A strap has each end connected to each loop respectively. The strap has an adjustment buckle coupled to it for adjusting the tension on the strap, thereby allowing tightening and loosing of the J-Band against the leg of the person.  
         [0006]     Additional embodiments and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the appended claims when considered with the accompanying drawing. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]      FIG. 1  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a J-Band, according to the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective front view of a J-Band of  FIG. 1 , according to the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective side view of a J-Band of  FIG. 1 , according to the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective top view of a J-Band of  Fig.1 , according to the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 5  shows a side-view perspective of a J-Band  100  of Fig. 1  in use, according to the present invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 6  shows a side-view perspective of a J-Band  100  of  FIG. 1  in another use, according to the present invention; and,  
         [0013]      FIG. 7  shows a front view perspective of a J-band in use, according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a J-Band  100 , according to the present invention.  FIG. 2  shows a perspective front view of a J-Band, according to the present invention. The J-Band  100  includes a bar  101  and a strap  102 .  
         [0015]     The bar  101  includes a loop  103  having a loop hole  104 , and loop  105  having a loop hole  106 . In the present invention, bar  101  is cast in a “W” shape having a center portion  107  and an interior elbow  108  and an interior elbow  109 . Typically, the center portion  107  is cast in such a way as to accommodate a decal, such as, a manufacture&#39;s decal or sport decal and the like. Likewise, the decals may be placed on the sides of the bar  101  or the strap  102 . Typically, the bar  101  is made of harden plastic but may be made of rubber, metal or the like.  
         [0016]     The strap  102  includes an adjustment buckle  110 . Typically, strap  102  is made of an elastic material but it may be made of rubber or a non-elastic material. In the present invention, the adjustment buckle  109  is made of plastic but may also be made of metal or be formed by using a Velcro assembly (not shown), which is known in the art. How the J-Band  100  is assembled will be discussed next.  
         [0017]     As stated above, the bar  101  has a loop  103  having a loop hole  104 , and loop  105  having a loop hole  106 . Loop holes  105  and  106  are cast to accommodate Strap  102 . Strap  102  has an end  111  that is threaded through loop hole  104  and then attached to strap  102 . Typically, end  111  is attached to strap  102  by sewing it to strap  102 . Another end  112  of strap  102  is threaded through loop hole  106  and then through the adjustment buckle  109 , by a method known in the art, and then attached to strap  102 . Typically, end  112  is attached to strap  102  by sewing it to strap  102 , as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  shows a perspective side view of a J-Band, according to the present invention. Center portion  107  angles away from interior elbows  108 ,  109  (not shown) and loops  103 ,  105  (not shown).  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a side-view perspective of a J-Band  100  in use, according to the present invention.  FIG. 7  shows a front view perspective of a J-band in use, according to the present invention. As shown in theses views a person may place the strap  102  of J-Band  100  directly against a leg  113  and then place a front of a pant leg  114  on the interior elbows  108 ,  109  and behind center portion  107 . The person may also place a front portion  114  of the pant legs  115  in front (not shown) or behind a tongue  116  of a shoe  117 . By wearing the J-Band  100  in this way the person only shows the center portion  107  and the interior elbows  108 ,  109  and is also allowed a freedom of style in what is displayed to the public.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a side-view perspective of a J-Band  100  in another use, according to the present invention. The person may also place the strap  102  of the J-Band  100  on the out side of a pant leg  1   15 . Used in this way, the J-Band  100  is completely visible. The person may also place a front portion  114  of the pant legs  115  in front (not shown) or behind the tongue  116  of the shoe  117 .  
         [0021]     The J-Band  100  is a pant accessory that allows the person to display the tongue  116  of his or her shoe  117 . The J-Band can also be worn over the entire pant legs  115 , to prevent long pants from dragging under a heel  118  of the shoe  117 . A company logo may be placed or engraved on the center portion  107  or along the bar  101 .  
         [0022]     The foregoing detailed description is merely illustrative of several physical embodiments of the invention. Physical variations of the invention, not fully described in the specification, may be encompassed within the purview of the claims. Accordingly, any narrower description of the elements in the specification should be used for general guidance, rather than to unduly restrict any broader descriptions of the elements in the following claims.