Hem protector for open heel shoe

Abstract

A hem protector for preventing hems of skirts and cuffs of pants from slipping between the heel of a foot and an insole of an open heel shoe, is formed of a flexible elongate body having a first end and a second end. An opening is provided through the first end of the elongate body through which a heel of the shoe may extend to fix the first end of the elongate body to the shoe. The second end of the elongate body is configured for capturing a portion of an ankle strap of the open heel shoe. In this regard, a first portion of the second end of the elongate body is folded over the ankle strap and secured in place to either a second portion of the second end of the elongate body or to the heel of the shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hem protector for preventing hems of skirts and cuffs of pants from slipping between the heel of a foot and an insole of an open heel shoe, the hem protector comprising:
 a flexible elongate body having a first end and a second end;   an opening through the first end of the elongate body through which a heel of the shoe may extend to fix the first end of the elongate body to the shoe; and   means associated with the second end of the elongate body, for capturing a portion of an ankle strap of the open heel shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a solid color or a decorative pattern configured to match a color or decorative pattern of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body comprises a non-slip elastic material. 
     
     
         4 . The hem protector of  claim 3 , wherein the non-slip elastic material comprises neoprene or silicone or rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the opening through the first end of the elongate body includes a pinch having a width slightly narrower than the width of the elongate body. 
     
     
         6 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing means releasably secures the second end of the elongate body to the ankle strap. 
     
     
         7 . The hem protector of  claim 6 , wherein the second end of the elongate body comprises a loop through which the first end of the elongate body may be inserted to capture the ankle strap. 
     
     
         8 . The hem protector of  claim 7 , wherein the loop or first end of the elongate body has a figure eight shape. 
     
     
         9 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing means comprises a first portion of the second end of the elongate body folded over the ankle strap and secured in place to a second portion of the second end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         10 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing means includes means for securing the first portion of the second end of the elongate body to the second portion of the second end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         11 . The hem protector of  claim 10 , wherein the securing means comprises mating fasteners. 
     
     
         12 . The hem protector of  claim 11 , wherein the mating fasteners comprise hook and loop tape, snaps, a button and a buttonhole, or magnets. 
     
     
         13 . The hem protector of  claim 1 , wherein the capturing means comprises a first portion of the second end of the elongate body folded over the ankle strap and secured in place to the heel of the shoe. 
     
     
         14 . A hem protector for preventing hems of skirts and cuffs of pants from slipping between the heel of a foot and an insole of an open heel shoe, the hem protector comprising:
 a flexible elongate body having a first end and a second end;   an opening through the first end of the elongate body through which a heel of the shoe may extend to fix the first end of the elongate body to the shoe; and   means associated with the second end of the elongate body, for capturing a portion of an ankle strap of the open heel shoe, the capturing means releasably securing the second end of the elongate body to the ankle strap and comprising a first portion of the second end of the elongate body folded over the ankle strap and secured in place to either a second portion of the second end of the elongate body or to the heel of the shoe.   
     
     
         15 . The hem protector of  claim 14 , wherein the elongate body comprises a solid color or a decorative pattern configured to complement a color or decorative pattern of the shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The hem protector of  claim 15 , wherein the elongate body comprises a non-slip neoprene or silicone or rubber material. 
     
     
         17 . The hem protector of  claim 14 , wherein the second end of the elongate body comprises a loop through which the first end of the elongate body may be inserted. 
     
     
         18 . The hem protector of  claim 17 , wherein the opening through the first end of the elongate body and/or the loop includes a pinch having a width slightly narrower than the width of the elongate body. 
     
     
         19 . The hem protector of  claim 17 , wherein the opening through the first end of the elongate body and/or the loop has a figure eight shape. 
     
     
         20 . The hem protector of  claim 14 , wherein the capturing means includes means for securing the first portion of the second end of the elongate body to the second portion of the second end of the elongate body. 
     
     
         21 . The hem protector of  claim 20 , wherein the securing means comprises mating fasteners in the form of hook and loop tape, snaps, a button and a buttonhole, or magnets. 
     
     
         22 . The hem protector of  claim 14 , wherein the capturing means comprises a first portion of the second end of the elongate body folded over the ankle strap and secured in place to the heel of the shoe.