Hem protector for open heeled shoe

Abstract

A hem protector for an open-heeled slingback shoe has an elongated body with a first end and a second end. The second end includes an opening for securing the first end to a heel on the shoe, and a strap attachment means for attaching the second end to a strap on the shoe proximate to the heel. The strap attachment means has a flap that folds around the strap and is secured to the elongated body by mating fasteners. The hem protector is preferably a soft, non-slip rubber material, such as neoprene.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hem protector for an open-heeled shoe, comprising:
 an elongated body having a first end and a second end;   a heel securement means on said first end, said heel securement means for securing the first end to a heel on the shoe; and   a strap attachment means on said second end, said strap attachment means for attaching the second end to a strap on the shoe proximate to the heel.   
     
     
         2 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein said strap attachment means comprises a flap configured to fold around the strap and a flap securement means for securing the flap to the elongated body after being folded around the strap. 
     
     
         3 . The hem protector of  claim 2 , wherein the flap securement means comprises mating fasteners disposed on the flap and the elongated body proximate to a mid-point thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The hem protector of  claim 3 , wherein said mating fasteners comprise hook and loop material, snaps, a button and a button-hole, or magnets. 
     
     
         5 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein said heel securement means comprises an opening in the first end of the elongated body configured to fit around the heel. 
     
     
         6 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body has a solid color or a decorative pattern configured to match a color or decorative pattern of the shoe. 
     
     
         7 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is made from a non-slip, rubber material. 
     
     
         8 . The hem protector of  claim 7 , wherein the non-slip, rubber material is neoprene. 
     
     
         9 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated body is clear, transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         10 . A hem protector for an open-heeled shoe, comprising:
 an elongated body having a first end and a second end;   an opening in said first end, said opening configured to fit around a heel on the shoe and secure the first end to the heel; and   a flap on said second end configured to fold around the strap and a flap securement means for securing the flap to the elongated body after being folded around the strap, said flap and flap securement means for attaching the second end to a strap on the shoe proximate to the heel.   
     
     
         11 . The hem protector of  claim 10 , wherein the flap securement means comprises mating fasteners disposed on the flap and the elongated body proximate to a mid-point thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The hem protector of  claim 11 , wherein said mating fasteners comprise hook and loop material, snaps, a button and a button-hole, or magnets. 
     
     
         13 . The hem protector of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated body has a solid color or a decorative pattern configured to match a color or decorative pattern of the shoe. 
     
     
         14 . The hem protector of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated body is made from a non-slip, rubber material. 
     
     
         15 . The hem protector of  claim 14 , wherein the non-slip, rubber material is neoprene. 
     
     
         16 . The hem protector of  claim 10 , wherein the elongated body is clear, transparent or translucent. 
     
     
         17 . A hem protector for an open-heeled shoe, comprising:
 an elongated body having a first end and a second end, said elongated body made from neoprene;   an opening in said first end, said opening configured to fit around a heel on the shoe and secure the first end to the heel; and   a flap on said second end configured to fold around the strap and mating fasteners for securing the flap to the elongated body after being folded around the strap, said flap and flap securement means for attaching the second end to a strap on the shoe proximate to the heel disposed on the flap and the elongated body proximate to a mid-point thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The hem protector of  claim 17 , wherein said mating fasteners comprise hook and loop material, snaps, a button and a button-hole, or magnets. 
     
     
         19 . The hem protector of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated body has a solid color or a decorative pattern configured to match a color or decorative pattern of the shoe. 
     
     
         20 . The hem protector of  claim 17 , wherein the elongated body is clear, transparent or translucent.