Abstract:
A decorative article for boots comprising a cuff manufactured from either a length of material or elastic material having fur, feathers or other decorative articles fastened thereto. An interior pocket is included for storage of money, credit cards, I.D. warmers, coins and the like.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to apparel and, more specifically, to a decorative article for boots comprising a cuff manufactured from either a length of fabric material or elastic material having fur, feathers or other decorative articles fastened thereto. 
     The present invention further provides that dissimilar width of elastic can be used to bind the boot cuff to a boot where the top larger width is sewn along its top edge with it bottom edge simply tack, such as sewn, on opposing sides so that the bottom edge will form an ovoid for use with boots having a contoured top. Additionally the present invention provides for looping the exterior back into the interior making the boot cuff reversible. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other boot cuffs designed for placement over a boot. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 197,868 issued to Langford on Dec. 4, 1877. 
     Another patent was issued to Douglas on Nov. 10, 1903 as U.S. Pat. No. 743,625. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 1,746,485 was issued to Lynk on Feb. 11, 1930 and still yet another was issued on Mar. 8, 1966 to Fowler et al. as U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,537. 
     Another patent was issued to Lesley on May 21, 1985 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,685. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,915 was issued to Siciliano on Jun. 30, 1987. Another was issued to Thim on Jun. 2, 1998 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,671 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 14, 1999 to Maturaporn as U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,408. 
     Another patent was issued to Adeli on Apr. 3, 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,141. Yet another French Patent No. FR2606604 was issued to Letard on May 20, 1988. Another was issued to Wolters on May 4, 2001 as Netherlands Patent No. NL1017249 and still yet another was issued on Jan. 14, 2009 to Daping as Chinese Patent No. CN201178715. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 197,868 
     Inventor: Charles F. Langford 
     Issued: Dec. 4, 1877 
     As a new article of manufacture, a knee-protector, consisting of a tube of textile material, with ribbed ends and intermediate portion made larger in circumference than the ends, as herein set forth and described. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 743,625 
     Inventor: Elizabeth M. Douglas 
     Issued: Nov. 10, 1903 
     The combination of a straight elastic body portion open at both ends, an enlarged and thickened portion at one end, a contracting portion adjacent thereto; and a longitudinal slit in the back adjacent to the other end. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,746,485 
     Inventor: Zella Lynk 
     Issued: Feb. 11, 1930 
     A protector for the ankles, comprising a fabric band provided adjacent to its lower edge with a longitudinal hem and near its longitudinal center with an upper longitudinal hem, the band projecting upwardly beyond the upper hem in the form of a split cuff having a considerable width, elastic bands held within the hems and attached at their ends to the ends of the fabric band gathered, and snap fasteners embodying elements secured to the ends of the elastic bands. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,238,537 
     Inventor: Hilda Abrevaya Fowler 
     Issued: Mar. 8, 1966 
     An ankle warmer comprising an elongated flexible strip of material convexly contoured throughout its length and having an inturned end, the convex contouring approximating the contour of the human ankle; a lining extending along the interior surface of said strip of material and secured thereto; a rigid insert sandwiched between said inturned end and said strip; said insert being convexly contoured and arranged at one end of said strip; a plurality of spaced fastening members secured to the inturned end of said strip over said insert; and extending above the plane of said lining; and an anchoring member on the other end on the outer surface of said elongate strip of material, said anchoring member having cooperating portions for engagement with any one of said fastening members. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,685 
     Inventor: Gary M. Lesley 
     Issued: May 21, 1985 
     Retro-reflective material is secured to the exterior surface of an article of wearing apparel in a manner which maximizes the light-reflecting capability of the article. Specifically, the retro-reflective material is secured in a manner not requiring any add-on fasteners and which leaves the material ruffled or pleated. The invention increases the number of different surfaces available for gathering incident light rays and reflecting same back to the light source making the wearer more visible to the light source. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,915 
     Inventor: Anthony Siciliano 
     Issued: Jun. 30, 1987 
     The present invention relates to an article of wearing apparel, which is suitable for controlling body perspiration and eliminating the problems associated therewith. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,758,671 
     Inventor: Thoeum Thim 
     Issued: Jun. 2, 1998 
     A wearing accessory for use as a hair fastener, armband or legband and a method of making the same. The accessory includes an annular, flexible sleeve of cloth in which is provided a central annular pocket between outer portions. An annular flat elastic band is captured in the pocket with its wide dimension generally perpendicular to the radius of the band and sleeve but is allowed to move in the pocket. The accessory has an unstressed contracted condition wherein the sleeve is gathered circumferentially in closely bunched wrinkles along the pocket and is gathered in more widely spaced undulations or ruffles in the outer portions, and these undulations wind in a serpentine manner circumferentially of the accessory, partially or completely spiraling therearound, thereby creating a distinctive appearance. The accessory also has a stressed expanded conditions wherein the wrinkles and undulations remain, albeit each more widely spaced than in the unstressed condition. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,408 
     Inventor: Thawatchai Maturaporn 
     Published: Dec. 14, 1999 
     A tubular jersey and rib sewingless scrunchy includes a holding element and a sewingless tubular fabric coating wrapping around the holding elements, wherein the holding element is a loop shape fabric elastic band and the sewingless tubular fabric coating is made of a tubular jersey and rib material wrapping around the loop shape fabric elastic band, two ends of the sewingless tubular fabric coating being connected together by ultrasonic welding to form an endless body. Accordingly, since the tubular jersey and rib sewingless scrunchy of the present invention has no sewing line provided along the length of the fabric coating of the scrunchy, so that it is free of the risk of splitting or rending at such sewing line. Moreover, the improved structure of the scrunchy is adapted for mass production with minimum processing steps, wherein no sewing process is required to manufacture the scrunchy, that can largely save the production time and the production cost. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,209,141 
     Inventor: Pamela Adeli 
     Issued: Apr. 3, 2001 
     A pair of sock bands or covers to be used in conjunction with an ordinary pair of socks which are tubular-shaped and made of a woven elastic material which can be slid onto the top of a sock. The sock bands may include a fastener which is disposed around the inner surface of the sock band. The outer surface of each sock bands may contain indicia such as a logo or name of a team or organization. 
     France Patent Number FR2606604 
     Inventor: Michel Letard 
     Published: May 20, 1988 
     The garment leg or sleeve according to the invention has an inner muff  4  which is connected at its free end  3  in order to extend upwards inside the garment in order to enclose the ankle or wrist of the user at a level which will remain the same when the garment rises in the direction A following the movements of the user. 
     Netherland Patent Number NL1017249 
     Inventor: Franciscus Johannes Wolters 
     Published: May 4, 2001 
     The protective device comprises a muff with an elastic worn around the wrist. 
     China Patent Number CN201178715 
     Inventor: Wu Daping 
     Published: Jan. 14, 2009 
     The utility model provides a rainproof rain gear of a bicycle, which consists of a plastic thin film and a fastening elastic band. The rainproof rain gear is characterized in that a rainproof kneeboot made of the plastic film is sleeved at the ankle, a kneeboot sleeve opening is respectively provided with a circle of fastening elastic bands; the rainproof rain gear covers the undersole, the shoe surface and the trousers below the knee, has large rain-proof area, is not easy to loosen, has light and thin materials, is convenient to carry and use, and has low cost, and the transparent plastic film is utilized and the appearance of shoes is not affected. In rainy days, the rainproof rain gear is taken out and is sleeved on the common shoes so as to prevent rain from soaking the shoes when a person walks or rides a bicycle; in addition, the person can wear the prior shoes to walk. If no rain, the rainproof rain gear can be folded to carry. The product can be produced mechanically in mass, thereby realizing the line production and having low production cost and high efficiency. 
     While these cuffs may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff for a boot. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff for a boot having an interior elastic band and an exterior fabric band. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said interior band is taken from the group of fabric material and elastic material. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said exterior band is taken from the group of fabric material and elastic material. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said exterior band has a decorative article attached thereto. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said decorative article is taken from the group of fur, feathers, elastic band, tassels and jewelry. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said exterior band is looped into the interior whereby said band is reversible. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said interior band is a plurality of elastic bands. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said plurality of interior elastic bands are of comparable width. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said plurality of interior elastic bands are of dissimilar width. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flexible cuff wherein said interior band has a pocket sewn thereto for Warmers, Coins, etc. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing The present invention relates generally to apparel and, more specifically, to a decorative article for boots comprising a cuff manufactured from either a length of material or elastic material having fur, feathers or other decorative articles fastened thereto. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative view of the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the prior art in use. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative view of women&#39;s boots. 
         FIG. 6  is an illustrative view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the present invention in use. 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view of an additional element of the boot cuff. 
         FIG. 10  is a sectional view of another additional element of the boot cuff. 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of another additional element of the boot cuff. 
         FIG. 12  is a side view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate the Decorative Elastic Boot Cuff of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
           10  Decorative Elastic Boot Cuff of the present invention     12  prior art     14  user     16  boot     18  fur cuff     20  fabric material     22  fur     24  elastic band     26  top of  16       28  elastic retaining band     30  elastic backing     32  decorative article     34  interior side pocket     36  drawstring     38  ribbon     40  feather     42  elastic strap     44  loop     46  pant leg     48  decorative strip     50  tassel       

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
       FIG. 1  is an illustrated view of the prior art  12  in use. Shown is an illustrative view of the prior art  12  comprising a fur cuff having an elastic band sewn into a hem on each opening of said cuff that would require the cuff top edge to be placed on the user&#39;s  14  leg when used with a boot  16  having a contoured top opening. 
       FIG. 2  is an illustrated view of the prior art  12 . The prior art  12  provides a boot cuff  18  mountable to a user boot  16  comprising a length of material  20  having fur  22  attached thereto. An elastic band  24  is sewn into a hem on each open end wherethen a user can place the cuff  18  on a boot  16 . As illustrated, many women&#39;s boots have a curvilinear top edge requiring that the cuff  18  of the prior art to be placed on the user&#39;s leg  14  and then onto the boot  16  which may cause the cuff  18  to bunch at the top of the boot  16 . The present invention provides an elastic strap that will hold the cuff to the top of the boot having a greater dimensional width than the prior art  12 . 
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the present invention  10 . Shown is the boot cuff  18  of the present invention in use, where a boot  16  having a linear or contoured top  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , has the boot cuff  18  attached to the boot top  26 . 
       FIG. 4  is an illustrated view of the present invention  10  in use. The boot  16  has a linear or contoured top  26 , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , has the boot cuff  18  attached to the boot  16  having a comparable full boot height. 
       FIG. 5  is an illustrated view of the present invention  10  employed with various women&#39;s boots  16 . Illustrated are typical women&#39;s boots  16  that have a variety of boot openings from linear to contoured. The present invention  10  provides for the various boot tops  26  having a full elastic band as opposed to elastic strips positioned on the top and bottom of the cuff  18  as illustrated in the prior art. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the present invention  10 . The present invention  10  provides a decorative article for boots comprising a cuff  18  manufactured from either a length of fabric material  20  and elastic backing  30  having fur, feathers or other decorative articles  32  fastened to the fabric material  20 . The interior of the cuff  18  has a top side length with an elastic retainer band  28  that is fastened either adhesively or sewn along one longitudinal side leaving the other free thereby providing a strap that can be attached to the top lip of the boot or anywhere else as desired by the user. 
       FIG. 7  is an illustrated view of the present invention  10 . The present invention  10  provides a boot cuff  18  mountable to a user&#39;s boot  16  comprising a length of fabric material  20  bonded to an elastic backing  30  with fur or other decorative elements  32  such as fur  22  attached thereto. The interior of the cuff  18  has an elastic retainer band  28  fixedly attached along the top edge of the cuff  18  having its other longitudinal side free so that it can be attached to the top of a boot  16  or anywhere else as desired by the user. The advantage being that the elastic retainer band  28  allows the cuff  18  to be attached to a boot  16  having a curvilinear top edge by virtue of the elastic retainer band  28  having an appropriate dimensional width. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the present invention  10 . As aforementioned, the present invention  10  provides a fur cuff  18  mountable to a user&#39;s boots  16  comprising a length of fabric material  20  and elastic backing  30  with fur  22  or other decorative elements  32  attached to the fabric material  20 . The interior of the cuff  18  has an elastic retainer band  28  fixedly attached along the top edge of the cuff  18  having its other longitudinal side free so that it can be attached to the top of a boot  16  or anywhere else as desired by the user. The advantage being that the elastic retainer band  28  allows the cuff  18  to be attached to a boot  16  having a curvilinear top edge by virtue of the elastic strap having an appropriate dimensional width. Optionally provided is an interior side pocket  34  wherein a user may keep money, credit cards or other valuables. 
       FIG. 9  is a front and sectional view of an additional element of the present invention  10 . The present invention  10  provides for an additional element wherein the boot cuff  18  having an elastic backing  30  with a decorative article  32  such as fur  22  attached to the fabric material  20  uses a drawstring  36  as closure to cinch the boot cuff  18  to a desired location on the boot. The drawstring  36  may be a ribbon  38  which cinches to the outside of the cuff or a cord that may be tied to the interior side of the cuff. 
       FIG. 10  is a front and sectional view of another additional element of the present invention  10 . The present invention  10  provides for an additional element wherein the boot cuff  18  has a decorative article  32  such as fur  22  including an elastic strap  42  with feathers  40  attached thereto. 
       FIG. 11  is a front and top view of another additional element of the present invention  10 . The present invention  10  provides for another additional element wherein the boot cuff  18  is looped  44  back on both ends into the interior so that the boot cuff is reversible. 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is a side view of the decorative boot cuff  18  of the present invention installed on the bottom portion of the shaft of a boot  16  with the user&#39;s pants  46  over the boot. 
       FIG. 13  is side view of the present invention  10 . Shown is a side view of the decorative boot cuff  18  illustrating the versatility of possible styles, colors and patterns available to adorn it. Depicted is the boot cuff  18  with a decorative strip  48  and tassels  50 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.