Patent ID: 7398607

Claim:
A heel strap apparatus for securing the rear portion of a strapless shoe to the ankle of a wearer foot, the apparatus comprising: a linking strap segment having a linking strap segment first end and a linking strap segment second end defining a heel engaging back loop, for fitting around the back of a wearer heel; an ankle engaging portion extending from said linking strap segment for wrapping around the front of the wearer ankle to engage the wearer ankle; and a shoe engaging portion extending from said linking strap segment for fitting around the bottom of the wearer shoe to engage the wearer shoe; wherein said ankle engaging portion comprises an ankle strap segment having an ankle strap free end and extending from said linking strap segment first end for wrapping forwardly around the wearer ankle, and an ankle strap segment anchor structure extending from said linking strap segment second end and comprising an ankle strap fastener for anchoring said ankle strap segment free end to secure said apparatus to a wearer ankle; wherein said shoe engaging portion comprises a shoe engaging bottom loop, wherein said shoe engaging bottom loop comprises a first shoe strap segment extending from said linking strap segment first end and a second shoe strap segment extending from said linking strap segment second end, and a shoe strap segment fastener for interconnecting said first and second shoe strap segments to secure said apparatus to a wearer shoe; and wherein said ankle strap segment and said first shoe strap segment diverge from said linking strap segment first end in a Y-configuration, and said ankle strap segment anchor structure and said second shoe strap segment diverge from said linking strap segment second end in a Y-configuration.