Garment Accessories and Methods

Abstract

A garment accessory including an elongate strap and a connecting mechanism. The elongate strap may have a first end, a second end, and an elastic portion between the first and second ends. The strap may be configured to wrap around a portion of a wearer's body in such a manner that the strap crosses over itself. The connecting mechanism may be configured to attach the first end and second end of the strap to a garment worn by a wearer. The connecting mechanism may include a loop rotatably attached to the connecting mechanism, the loop being configured to receive the strap; a jaw portion configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the jaw portion being securable to a portion of the garment when in the closed position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment accessory comprising:
 an elongate strap having a first end, a second end, and an elastic portion between the first and second ends, the strap being configured to wrap around a portion of a wearer's body in such a manner that the strap crosses over itself;   a connecting mechanism configured to attach the first end and second end of the strap to a garment worn by the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is configured to wrap around at least a portion of a wearer's foot and leg. 
     
     
         3 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap is configured to wrap around at least a portion of a wearer's hand and arm. 
     
     
         4 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , elongate strap comprises a plurality of elongate straps. 
     
     
         5 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting mechanism includes:
 a loop rotatably attached to the connecting mechanism, the loop being configured to receive the strap;   a jaw portion configured to move between an open position and a closed position, the jaw portion being securable to a portion of the garment when in the closed position;   a dish-shaped cover rotatably attached to the connecting mechanism and configured to cause the jaw portion to open and receive the garment.   
     
     
         6 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the loop is configured to rotate between 0 degrees and 150 degrees in relation to the plane of the connecting mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting mechanism is a button hole configured to be attached to a button on the garment. 
     
     
         8 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting mechanism is a selected from the group consisting of one or more hooks, snaps, and hook-an-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a slot in the garment configured to allow the strap to pass through and a hook-and-loop fastener patch on the garment configured to secure the strap to the garment. 
     
     
         10 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes one or more inelastic portions. 
     
     
         11 . The garment accessory of  claim 10 , wherein the first end includes a first inelastic portion, the second end includes a second inelastic portion, and wherein the first and second inelastic portions are joined by an elastic portion. 
     
     
         12 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes photoluminescent material. 
     
     
         13 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes reflective material. 
     
     
         14 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes light-emitting material. 
     
     
         15 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes a lighting device. 
     
     
         16 . The garment accessory of  claim 14 , wherein the lighting device comprises a piezoelectric element configured to light up when the wearer moves the portion of the body around which the strap is wrapped. 
     
     
         17 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes a material configured to absorb heat and to provide at thermal therapy benefit to the wearer when worn. 
     
     
         18 . The garment accessory of  claim 1 , wherein the strap includes fastener portions configured to attach an insert to the strap. 
     
     
         19 . A method of attaching a garment accessory having an elongate strap and a connecting mechanism, the method comprising:
 wrapping the strap underneath the arch of a wearer's foot;   crossing the strap over itself on a top portion of the wearer's foot;   wrapping the strap around the back of the wearer's leg;   crossing the strap back over the front of the leg; and   attaching the strap to the wearer's garment using the connecting mechanism.   
     
     
         20 . A garment accessory system comprising:
 an elongate strap having a first end, a second end, and an elastic portion between the first and second ends, the strap being configured to wrap around a portion of a wearer's body in such a manner that the strap crosses over itself;   a garment having an integrated connecting mechanism configured to attach the first end and second end of the strap to the garment.