Cuff protector

Abstract

The cuff protector is an accessory worn by the user to prevent a pants cuff from slipping between the heel of a foot and the user's footwear. The cuff protector includes an upper loop adapted to be releasably worn about the user's ankle and a lower loop adapted for releasable attachment to the heel of the user's footwear. The upper and lower loops are joined by a central connector or by a tether. Preferably, the upper loop, lower loop and the tether have adjustable lengths, respectively, allowing for adjustable and releasable attachment.

1 . A cuff protector, comprising:
 an upper loop adapted to be releasably worn about a user's ankle;   a lower loop adapted for releasable attachment to a heel of footwear worn by the user; and   a central connector joining the upper loop and the lower loop, whereby the upper loop and the lower loop, being joined together, prevent a pants cuff from slipping between a heel of a foot and the footwear.   
     
     
         2 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said central connector comprises a third loop having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end being connected to said upper loop, the lower end being connected to said lower loop, the third loop forming a tether. 
     
     
         3 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said central portion is a single strap having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end being attached to said upper loop, the lower end being attached to said lower loop, the strap forming a tether. 
     
     
         4 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting the circumference of said upper loop. 
     
     
         5 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said means for adjusting the circumference of said upper loop comprises a buckle attached to the loop. 
     
     
         6 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said upper loop is formed from a pair of cords, each said cord having an upper end and a lower end, the lower ends of the pair of cords being joined together, the cuff protector further comprising a sliding fastener, the upper ends of the pair of cords being adjustably held together to form said upper loop by the sliding fastener. 
     
     
         7 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said upper loop is formed from a pair of cords, each of the cords having an upper end and a lower end, the lower ends of the pair of cords being joined together, the cuff protector further comprising a pair of releasably lockable sliding fasteners adjustably holding the upper ends of the pair of cords together to form the upper loop. 
     
     
         8 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting the circumference of said lower loop. 
     
     
         9 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said means for adjusting the circumference of said lower loop comprises a buckle attached to the lower loop. 
     
     
         10 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said lower loop is formed from a pair of cords, each said cord having an upper end and a lower end, the lower ends of the pair of cords being joined together, the cuff protector further comprising a sliding fastener, the upper ends of the pair of cords being adjustably held together to form said upper loop by the sliding fastener. 
     
     
         11 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said lower loop is formed from a pair of cords, each of the cords having an upper end and a lower end, the lower ends of the pair of cords being joined together, the cuff protector further comprising a pair of releasably lockable sliding fasteners adjustably holding the upper ends of the pair of cords together to form the upper loop. 
     
     
         12 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising means for adjusting the length of said central portion. 
     
     
         13 . A cuff protector, comprising:
 an upper loop adapted to be releasably worn about a user's ankle;   a heel attachment element adapted for releasable attachment to a heel of footwear worn by the user; and   a tether joining the upper loop and the heel attachment element, whereby the upper loop, the heel attachment element, and the tether prevent a pants cuff from slipping between a heel of a foot and the footwear.   
     
     
         14 . The cuff protector according to  claim 13 , wherein said heel attachment element comprises a lower loop. 
     
     
         15 . The cuff protector according to  claim 13 , wherein said heel attachment element comprises at least one cord having a first end attached to said tether and a second end having means for releasable attachment to the heel of the footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said tether comprises a third loop having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end being connected to said upper loop, the lower end being connected to said lower loop, the third loop forming a tether. 
     
     
         17 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said tether comprises a single strap having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end being secured to said upper loop, the lower end being secured to said at least one cord. 
     
     
         18 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising means for adjusting the circumference of said upper loop. 
     
     
         19 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said means for releasable attachment comprises a corkscrew attached to the second end of said at least one cord. 
     
     
         20 . The cuff protector as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one cord comprises a pair of cords.