Device for protecting a heel

Abstract

A device for protecting a heel of a shoe includes a body including an upper end and a lower end, a flexible material positioned along a portion of an outer edge of the body, and an attachment mechanism positioned at the upper end of the body.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for protecting a heel of a shoe, comprising:
 a body including an upper end and a lower end;   a flexible material positioned along a portion of an outer edge of the body; and   an attachment mechanism positioned at the upper end of the body.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material is positioned within a channel along the portion of the outer edge of the body and wherein the attachment mechanism comprises first and second portions of the flexible material extending from the channel at the upper end of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the portion of the outer edge of the body is folded and stitched to form the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the channel is formed by attaching a tubular material to the outer edge of the body. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible material comprises one of a string, a cord, and a ribbon. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible material comprises an elastic material that is secured to the portion of the outer edge of the body. 
     
     
         7 . A device for protecting a heel of a shoe of a user comprising:
 a body including a channel along a portion of an outer edge; and   a flexible material positioned within the channel, wherein a length of the flexible material is greater than the length of the channel.   
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein first and second portions of the flexible material extend out of the channel at an upper end of the body. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible material comprises one of a string, a cord, and a ribbon. 
     
     
         10 . A method for protecting a heel of a shoe of a user, wherein the heel extends between a heel tip and a counter of the shoe, comprising:
 providing a device comprising:
 a body including an upper end and a lower end; 
 a flexible material positioned along a portion of an outer edge of the body; and 
 an attachment mechanism positioned at the upper end of the body; 
   positioning the lower end of the body about the heel tip of the shoe;   positioning the upper end of the body adjacent to the counter of the shoe;   attaching the upper attachment mechanism to one of the counter of the shoe and an ankle of the user so that the body of the device rests against the heel of the shoe.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body includes a channel along the portion of the outer edge, wherein the flexible material is positioned within the channel, and wherein the attachment mechanism comprises first and second portions of the flexible material extending from the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the step of attaching the upper attachment mechanism to one of the counter of the shoe and an ankle of the user comprises tying the first and second portions of the flexible material around an ankle of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible material comprises an elastic band secured along a portion of the periphery of the body.