Patent Publication Number: US-2013239296-A1

Title: Decorative lace over the sock anklets for girls

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/611,450, filed Mar. 15, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to garments and, more particularly, to a decorative lace over-the-sock anklet. 
     Often times, the leading brand of lace socks tear easily, come in limited colors and are difficult to get cleaned due to the sock&#39;s delicate composition. 
     The average lace sock comes in white, which limits the choices available. The styles of the lace on the socks are often the same, further limiting choice. Once the sock itself is soiled or worn down or ruined, it has to be thrown away. 
     As can be seen, there is a need for a decorative lace garment that can be separate from the sock itself to provide greater choice and eliminate the need to discard the lace portion when the sock portion is worn or soiled. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a decorative over-the-sock anklet comprises a bottom fabric skirt; a lace fabric overlay disposed over at least a portion of the bottom fabric skirt; an upper fabric skirt disposed over the lace fabric overlay; and an elastic band disposed about an opening formed by shaping the bottom fabric skirt, the lace fabric overlay and the upper fabric skirt in a loop shape. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a decorative over-the-sock anklet comprises a bottom fabric skirt; a lace fabric overlay disposed over at least a portion of the bottom fabric skirt; an upper fabric skirt disposed over the lace fabric overlay; an elastic band disposed about an opening formed by shaping the bottom fabric skirt, the lace fabric overlay and the upper fabric skirt in a loop shape; and an accessory attached to the decorative over-the-sock anklet, wherein the accessory includes at least one of a ribbon and a button. 
     In a further aspect of the present invention, a method for wearing a lace accessory with a foot and leg garment comprises placing the foot and leg garment on a user&#39;s leg; placing a separate decorative lace over-the-sock anklet over the foot and leg garment by inserting a user&#39;s foot into an opening formed by a bottom fabric skirt, a lace fabric overlay disposed over at least a portion of the bottom fabric skirt, and an upper fabric skirt disposed over the lace fabric overlay each formed in a loop; and securing the decorative over-the-sock anklet about the user&#39;s leg proximate to a user&#39;s ankle with an elastic band disposed about the opening. 
     These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a decorative lace over-the-sock anklet, worn by a user about their ankle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the decorative lace over-the-sock anklet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating insertion of a socked foot into the decorative lace over-the-sock anklet of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a decorative lace over-the-sock anklet having an optional bow and an optional button, according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
     Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a decorative over-the-sock anklet that is worn over a sock so that, when the sock is worn or soiled and needs to be discarded, the decorative over-the-sock anklet can be worn with a different sock. The decorative over-the-sock anklet can be made in various configurations, colors, styles, lace designs, and the like, providing greater versatility as compared to conventional lace socks. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , a sock  10  can be worn over a user&#39;s foot and a decorative lace over-the-sock anklet can be worn over the sock  10 . The decorative lace over-the-sock anklet can include a bottom fabric skirt  12  and an upper fabric skirt  14  with a lace fabric overlay  16  disposed along the bottom fabric skirt  12 . The bottom fabric skirt  12  and the upper fabric skirt  14  can be shaped in a loop with an opening designed to be worn around a user&#39;s ankle. 
     An elastic band  18  can be disposed about the opening formed by the loop-shaped bottom fabric skirt  12  and the upper fabric skirt  14 . The elastic band  18  can stretch and allow the opening to resiliently enlarge to allow the decorative lace over-the-sock anklet to be easily slid on over the user&#39;s foot and onto their ankle. The elastic band  18  can provide enough force to secure the decorative lace over-the-sock anklet in place while being worn. The elastic band  18  can be attached about the opening in various manners. For example, the inner portion of the lace can be folded over and a fabric thread can stitch a narrow sleeve where the elastic band  18  can be fed through. The ends of the sleeved elastic band  18  can be then sewn together, forming a loop. 
     The decorative lace over-the-sock anklet can be worn at the desired height and, after wearing, the decorative lace over-the-sock anklet can be pulled off and worn again with a different sock or tight. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , various accessories can be added to the decorative lace over-the-sock anklet. For example, an optional ribbon  20  and/or an optional button  22  can be added to the anklet. While  FIG. 4  shows these two optional accessories, other similar accessories can be optionally attached to the anklet. In some embodiments, the accessories can be permanently stitched into the anklet. In other embodiments, the accessories can be removably attached to the anklet by various means, such as with a button, snap, hook and loop fastener, safety pin, or the like. 
     While the Figures show the decorative lace over-the-sock anklet of the present invention being worn over a sock, the anklet can be worn over various leg garments, such as socks, leggings, tights, and the like. In some embodiments, the anklet can be worn directly on the leg, without any leg garment. 
     It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.