System for preventing boots from slouching

Abstract

A system is provided which prevents boot tops from slouching or sagging. The system includes a wrap-around garter for the leg, having on its outer surface a hook-and-loop fastener surface. Self-adhesive strips having the mating hook-and-loop surface are attached to the inside of the boot, near the top of the shaft. The garter is fastened to the leg at the appropriate height, the boot is pulled on, and the hook-and-loop surfaces on the strips are pressed against the hook-and-loop surface of the garter. The garter then holds the boot shaft to the leg, preventing the boot from sagging.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system for preventing the slouching of a boot shaft, comprising:
 (a) a garter band, adapted to be wrapped and fastened around a wearer's leg, having an outer surface bearing a first component of a two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces; and   (b) at least one adhesive patch, adapted to be adhered to the inner surface of a boot shaft, having on its surface a second component of the two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces is a hook-and-loop fastener system. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the garter band is elastic. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the garter band is elastic. 
     
     
         5 . A kit for preventing the slouching of a boot shaft, comprising:
 (a) at least one garter band, adapted to be wrapped and fastened around a wearer's leg, having an outer surface bearing a first component of a two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces; and   (b) at least two adhesive patches, adapted to be adhered to the inner surface of a boot shaft, having on their surfaces a second component of the two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces.   
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 5 , comprising at least two garter bands and at least four adhesive patches. 
     
     
         7 . A method for preventing the slouching of a boot shaft while the boot is being worn by a wearer, comprising:
 (a) adhering to the inner surface of the boot shaft at least one adhesive patch, wherein the patch has on its surface a first component of a two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces,   (b) attaching to the leg of the wearer a garter band, wherein the garter band has an outer surface bearing a second component of the two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces;   (c) placing the boot on a foot of the wearer;   (d) pulling the boot shaft to its full extension; and   (e) pressing together the two components of the two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces;   
       whereby the two components are made to adhere to one another, thereby holding the boot shaft to the leg in the fully extended position. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the two-component system of mutually and reversibly adherent surfaces is a hook-and-loop fastener system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the garter band is elastic. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the garter band is elastic.