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  Garment accessoryUSPTO Application #: 20060143768Title: Garment accessory Abstract: A garment accessory is disclosed for preventing the fabric of a pair of pants or a skirt from being entangled between the heel and shoe sole during movement, such as walking. The garment accessory is affixed to the base of a pants leg or skirt, on the back and inside portion of the pants, at the region closest to the heel. The garment accessory temporarily stiffens the region of the pants or skirt around the heel, so as to avoid entanglement of the garment fabric between the heel and the backless shoes during movement. (end of abstract) Agent: Carrie A. Boone, P.C. - Houston, TX, US Inventor: Nan F. Lockwood USPTO Applicaton #: 20060143768 - Class: 002046000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Garment Protectors The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060143768. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] The present application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/901,944, filed on Jul. 30, 2004, which claim priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/492,505, filed on Aug. 5, 2003. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to garments, and, more particularly, to a device for avoiding the entanglement of garments between heels and backless shoes during movement. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Whether practical or fashionable, garments are available in a variety of forms. Blouses, skirts, pants, jackets, dresses, and shorts are among the selections one may choose when dressing for the day. Even among pants, many options exist, from chinos to jeans, Capri's to bell-bottoms, hip-huggers to high-waisted, boot-cut to straight-legged, and so on. [0004] One limitation to the myriad of available choices in clothing selection is fit. A poorly fitting garment is not only unflattering, it may be impractical. A long skirt on a person with short stature may, for example, cause the person to trip while walking. Certainly, the ability to walk with ease and comfort is desirable when fitting ones clothes. [0005] What constitutes a proper fit may depend on the accessories one wears. A certain pair of pants may fit well when worn with high heels, but need to be cuffed when worn with penny loafers. [0006] Shoes present a particular problem for some pants wearers. When a wearer of long pants is walking in backless shoes, such as strapless sandals, thongs, or mules, the lower leg of the pants fabric may unintentionally slip between the shoe and the heel of the walker when the heel separates from the shoe. When the heel again makes contact with the shoe, the pants may be pulled down somewhat toward the foot, rather than resting against the leg. The walker awkwardly removes the bottom of the pants leg from between the heel and the shoe, hoping the mishap can be avoided in succeeding steps. A similar accident may occur when simultaneously wearing backless shoes with very long skirts. [0007] Thus, there is a continuing need for a way to keep long pants (or skirts) from being disposed beneath ones feet during wear. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] In accordance with the embodiments described herein, a garment accessory is disclosed for preventing the fabric of a pair of pants or a skirt from being entangled between the heel and shoe sole during movement, such as walking. The garment accessory comprises a portion of material upon which an adhesive strip is affixed. The adhesive strip is covered with a removable covering, such as wax paper, protecting the exposed side of the adhesive until such time as the garment accessory is to be used. [0009] Upon removal of the covering, the garment accessory is affixed to the base of a pants or skirt leg, on the back and inside portion of the pants, at the region closest to the heel. The size of the garment accessory may vary, but is intended to stiffen the region of the pants or skirt around the heel. The garment accessory provides temporary stiffness to the pants region, minimizing the possibility that the pants will become entangled between the heel and the backless shoes during movement. When the pants are removed, the garment accessory may be discarded. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a pair of pants upon which a garment accessory is affixed, according to one embodiment of the invention; [0011] FIG. 2 is a detailed diagram of the garment accessory of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention; [0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the garment accessory of FIG. 1, according to one embodiment of the invention; [0013] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a long skirt upon which a garment accessory is affixed, according to one embodiment of the invention; [0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the garment accessory of FIG. 1 being worn by a woman wearing pants, according to one embodiment of the invention; and [0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the garment accessory of FIG. 1 being worn by a woman wearing a long skirt, according to one embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0016] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. However, it is to be understood that other embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be construed in a limiting sense, as the scope of the present invention is defined by the claims. [0017] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a garment accessory 50 is depicted, according to one embodiments of the invention. In FIG. 1, a back view of pair of pants 20 is depicted, having legs 10A and 10B, in which garment accessory 50A and 50B (collectively, garment accessories 50) are affixed to the inside of the back of the legs 10A and 10B, respectively. The garment accessories 50 are depicted using dotted lines, to indicate their invisibility to an observer, as the garment accessories 50 are affixed to the inside of the pants garment. [0018] In the side view of FIG. 2, the garment accessory 50 is shown. The garment accessory 50 includes a support portion 32, an adhesive strip 30, and a covering 60. The adhesive strip 30 has two-sided adhesion, such that one side is permanently affixed to the support portion 32, while the other side is to be temporarily affixed to a garment, once the covering 60 is removed. Although a rectangular strip 30 is shown in FIG. 2, the garment accessory 50 can include any number of horizontal strips, vertical strips, block-shaped strips, circular strips, and so on, as long as temporary affixation to a fabric material is possible. [0019] The support portion 32 of the garment accessory 50 is preferably made from a cardboard stock or other paper material that provides some stiffness, yet remains light enough to be affixable to the garment material without being noticed, either by the wearer of the garment or by a third party. The stiffness of the support portion 32 is greater than the stiffness of the material to which it is being affixed. However, the support portion 32 need not be very much stiffer than the garment material to be effective at preventing the garment from being disposed between the wearer's shoes and the wearer's heel. Continue reading... Full patent description for Garment accessory Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Garment accessory patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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