Shoe accessory

Abstract

Apparatus and methods secure an open-backed shoe during use. The apparatus prevents the bottom of a pant leg from slipping between a person's heel and a shoe bed of the shoe when walking. The apparatus is external to the shoe and comprises an anklet, which is worn around the ankle and adjustable to the size of an individual's ankle. The anklet is coupled to a heel strap that couples to a heel loop, which attaches to a heel of the shoe.

1 . An apparatus for wearing with a shoe, comprising:
 an adjustable ankle strap having at least two free ends that are configured to wrap around a person's ankle;   a heel strap having a first end that is coupled to the ankle strap; and   a heel loop that is coupled to a second end of the heel strap, wherein the heel loop is configured to wrap around an outer surface of a heel of the shoe, and wherein the heel strap extends from the ankle strap to the heel loop and is configured to traverse along a backside of the person's heel.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener for coupling the two free ends together around the person's ankle. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus in  claim 2 , wherein the fastener allows for adjustment of the ankle strap around the person's ankle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the two free ends are coupled together so that the ankle strap forms a closed loop. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first end of the heel strap is coupled to an outer surface of the closed loop formed by the ankle strap. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the heel strap is coupled to an outer surface of the heel loop. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ankle strap and the heel strap form a substantially T-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ankle strap and the heel strap have substantially the same widths. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ankle strap and the heel strap are formed from a single continuous piece of material. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the ankle strap, the heel strap, and the heel loop is formed from a stretchable material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heel loop includes two free ends that are coupled together to form a closed loop. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the ankle strap, the heel strap, and the heel loop are formed from a single continuous piece of material. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heel loop includes a first end that is integral with the second end of the heel strap, and a second end having an aperture, and wherein the heel strap is disposed through the aperture to thereby form the heel loop. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the heel strap is sewn to the ankle strap, and wherein the second end of the heel strap is sewn to the heel loop. 
     
     
         15 . A method of attaching a shoe accessory to a shoe, comprising:
 providing a shoe accessory having an ankle strap, a heel strap, and a heel loop;   coupling two free ends of the ankle strap together around a person's ankle; and   coupling the heel loop to a heel of the shoe such that the heel loop wraps around an outer surface of the heel, and such that the heel strap traverses a backside of the person's heel from the ankle strap to the heel loop and prevents a portion of the person's clothing from moving into a space between the person's heel and the shoe.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the ankle strap and the heel strap form a substantially T-shaped configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heel strap and at least one of the ankle strap and the heel loop are formed from a single continuous piece of material. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the heel loop includes a first end that is integral with an end of the heel strap, and a second end having an aperture, and further comprising disposing the heel strap through the aperture to form the heel loop. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising adjusting at least one of the ankle strap and the heel loop to fit around the person's ankle and the heel of the shoe, respectively. 
     
     
         20 . The method in  claim 15 , further comprising putting on the shoe prior to coupling at least one of the ankle strap and the heel loop to the person's ankle and the heel of the shoe, respectively.