Trouser retaining strap

Abstract

A retaining strap for a trouser leg includes a band of stretchable fabric arranged, in use, to loop around the circumference of a user's foot, and at least one attachment device arranged to releasably attach the band to the trouser leg. The attachment device is further arranged to attach to a front portion of the trouser leg such that, in use, the attachment device is positioned over the top of a user's foot.

1 . A retaining strap for a trouser leg, the retaining strap comprising:
 a band of fabric,   wherein said band of fabric comprises an elongate strip having first and second ends in a longitudinal direction, the second end opposing the first end;   engagement means for the first and second ends such that, in use, the band forms a loop to extend around the circumference of a user's foot; and   at least one attachment means arranged to releasably attach the band of fabric to said trouser leg, the or each attachment means being further arranged to attach to a front portion of the trouser leg such that, in use, the or each attachment means is positioned over the top of a user's foot, wherein the or each attachment means is secured to the band of fabric at a fixed position in a longitudinal direction of the band of fabric, the fixed position of the or each attachment means being relative to a position of the engagement means such that, in use, when the or each attachment means is attached to a front portion of a lower end of a trouser leg, the engagement means is positioned at an inner side of a user's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the band of fabric is comprised of stretchable fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 2 , wherein the band of fabric is comprised of knitted or woven elastic. 
     
     
         4 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second attachment means arranged such that, in use, both first and second attachment means are permitted to simultaneously attach to said front portion of said trouser leg, such that both first and second attachment means are positioned over the top of a user's foot, in use. 
     
     
         5 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the band of fabric has an adjustable circumference. 
     
     
         6 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the or each attachment means extends perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the band of fabric. 
     
     
         7 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the engagement means comprises a buckle provided at the first end, and wherein the second end is arranged to engage with the buckle such that the band of fabric forms a loop. 
     
     
         8 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 1 , wherein the fixed position at which the or each attachment means is secured to the band of fabric is closer to one of the first end or the second end than to the other one of the first end or second end. 
     
     
         9 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 8 , further comprising: at least two attachment means, wherein the fixed position of each attachment means is closer to the same end of the band of fabric. 
     
     
         10 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 8 , wherein the fixed position of the or each attachment means is closer to the first end than the second end. 
     
     
         11 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 9 , wherein the or each attachment means comprises a clip. 
     
     
         12 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 11 , wherein the attachment means comprises a clip portion arranged to releasably attach to a trouser leg, an eye portion attached to the clip portion, and a fabric portion affixed to and/or looped around the band of fabric, said fabric portion passing through the eye portion so as to hold the clip portion on the band of fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The retaining strap, according to  claim 12 , wherein the fabric portion is bonded to the band of fabric so as to secure the fabric portion, and thereby the attachment means, to the band of fabric at a fixed position.