Footwear retention system

Abstract

In some embodiments, a footwear ensemble includes (i) a pair of socks, (ii) a pair of press-snap fasteners, (iii) a pair of shoes, and (iv) a pair of tethers. The pair of socks may include a first sock and a second sock, each of which may have a toe compartment and a leg opening opposite the toe compartment. The pair of press-snap fasteners may include a first press-snap connector and a second press-snap connector, each of which may be interchangeable and include a cap/socket portion and a stud/eyelet portion. The pair of tethers may include a first tether and a second tether, each of which may have an anchor end and a retention end. The retention end may include a shoe-retaining mechanism that is configured to releasably secure a shoe in the pair of shoes.

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         21 . A footwear ensemble comprising:
 a pair of socks comprising a first sock and a second sock, each of the first sock and second sock having a toe compartment and a leg opening opposite the toe compartment;   a plurality of nubs disposed on an interior surface of the first sock adjacent its leg opening and on an interior surface of the second sock adjacent its leg opening;   a pair of press-snap fasteners comprising a first press-snap connector and a second press-snap connector, each of the first press-snap connector and second press-snap connector being interchangeable and comprising a cap/socket portion and a stud/eyelet portion; and   a pair of tethers comprising a first tether and a second tether, each of the first tether and second tether comprising an anchor end, a length-adjustable middle portion, and a retention end, wherein the retention end comprises a shoe-retaining mechanism;   wherein the cap/socket portion of the first press-snap connector is disposed on the first sock adjacent its leg opening, the stud/eyelet portion of the first press-snap connector is disposed on the second sock adjacent its leg opening, the stud/eyelet portion of the second press-snap connector is disposed on the first tether at its anchor end, and the cap/socket portion of the second press-snap connector is disposed on the second tether at its anchor end.   
     
     
         22 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 21 , wherein the length-adjustable middle portion comprises a slide that divides the tether into a first portion having one layer of tether material, and a second portion having two layers of tether material that form a loop, wherein translation of the slide in one direction causes the loop to decrease in size thereby lengthening the tether, and translation of the slide in an opposite direction causes the loop to increase in size thereby shortening the tether. 
     
     
         23 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 21 , wherein each nub in the plurality of nubs comprises silicone and has a diameter that is less than 10 millimeters. 
     
     
         24 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 21 , wherein each nub in the plurality of nubs extends no farther beyond an interior surface of a sock than 200% of a thickness of either sock in the pair of socks. 
     
     
         25 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 21 , wherein a coefficient of friction of a nub in the plurality of nubs is at least 50% greater than a coefficient of friction of a material comprising the pair of socks. 
     
     
         26 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 21 , wherein the first sock and second sock each further comprise a heel compartment between the leg opening and the toe compartment. 
     
     
         27 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 26 , further comprising a second plurality of nubs comprising the same material as the plurality of nubs and being disposed on bottom portions of the toe compartment and heel compartment. 
     
     
         28 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 21 , further comprising a pair of shoes having a first shoe and a second shoe. 
     
     
         29 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 28 , wherein the shoe-retaining mechanism is configured to releasably secure a tether from the first tether or second tether to a shoe from the first shoe or second shoe. 
     
     
         30 . A footwear ensemble comprising:
 a pair of socks comprising a first sock and a second sock, each of the first sock and second sock having a toe compartment and a leg opening opposite the toe compartment;   a pair of press-snap fasteners comprising a first press-snap connector and a second press-snap connector, each of the first press-snap connector and second press-snap connector being interchangeable and comprising a cap/socket portion and a stud/eyelet portion; and   a pair of tethers comprising a first tether and a second tether, each of the first tether and second tether comprising an anchor end, a length-adjustable middle portion, and a retention end, wherein the retention end comprises a shoe-retaining mechanism;   wherein the cap/socket portion of the first press-snap connector is disposed on the first sock adjacent its leg opening, the stud/eyelet portion of the first press-snap connector is disposed on the second sock adjacent its leg opening, the cap/socket portion of the second press-snap connector is disposed on the second tether at its anchor end, and the stud/eyelet portion of the second press-snap connector is disposed on the first tether at its anchor end.   
     
     
         31 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 30 , wherein the pair of press-snap connectors are disposed on the first sock, second sock, first tether, and second tether to facilitate joining the first sock and second sock, the first tether and second tether, the first tether and first sock, or the second tether and second sock. 
     
     
         32 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 30 , wherein the shoe-retaining mechanism comprises at least one of a spring-loaded jaw clip, and a clasp and loop. 
     
     
         33 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 30 , wherein the length-adjustable middle portion comprises a slide that divides the tether into a first portion having one layer of tether material, and a second portion having two layers of tether material that form a loop, wherein translation of the slide in one direction causes the loop to decrease in size thereby lengthening the tether, and translation of the slide in an opposite direction causes the loop to increase in size thereby shortening the tether. 
     
     
         34 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 30 , wherein the first sock and second sock each comprise a plurality of nubs on an interior surface, adjacent their respective leg openings. 
     
     
         35 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 34 , wherein the plurality of nubs comprises silicone, rubber, foamed rubber or a synthetic resin. 
     
     
         36 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 34 , wherein each nub in the plurality of nubs extends no farther beyond an interior surface of a sock than 200% of a thickness of either sock in the pair of socks. 
     
     
         37 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 30 , wherein the first sock and second sock each further comprise a heel compartment between the leg opening and the toe compartment. 
     
     
         38 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 37 , further comprising a second plurality of nubs comprising the same material as the plurality of nubs and being disposed on bottom portions of the toe compartment and heel compartment. 
     
     
         39 . The footwear ensemble of  claim 30 , further comprising a pair of shoes. 
     
     
         40 . A footwear ensemble comprising:
 a pair of socks comprising a first sock and a second sock, each of the first sock and second sock having a toe compartment and a leg opening opposite the toe compartment;   a pair of press-snap fasteners comprising a first press-snap connector and a second press-snap connector, each of the first press-snap connector and second press-snap connector being interchangeable and comprising a cap/socket portion and a stud/eyelet portion;   a pair of shoes comprising a first shoe and a second shoe; and   a pair of tethers comprising a first tether and a second tether, each of the first tether and second tether comprising an anchor end, a length-adjustable middle portion, and a retention end, wherein the retention end comprises a shoe-retaining mechanism, the shoe-retaining mechanism configured to releasably secure either the first shoe or the second shoe;   wherein the cap/socket portion of the first press-snap connector is disposed on the first sock adjacent its leg opening, the stud/eyelet portion of the first press-snap connector is disposed on the second sock adjacent its leg opening, the cap/socket portion of the second press-snap connector is disposed on the second tether at its anchor end, and the stud/eyelet portion of the second press-snap connector is disposed on the first tether at its anchor end.