US20090260262A1

US20090260262A1 - Shoe and pant leg clip

Info

Publication number: US20090260262A1
Application number: US12/104,213
Authority: US
Inventors: Hector J. Munoz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-04-16
Filing date: 2008-04-16
Publication date: 2009-10-22

Abstract

A clip includes an elongate body portion and first and second hook portions extending away from opposed surfaces of the body portion. The first hook is hooked with a shoe and the second hook is hooked with a pant leg. The first hook is positioned above the second hook and the pant leg extends over the first hook.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to clips for garments.
2. Description of the Related Art
People often wear pants with pant legs that extend to their shoes. However, if the pant leg extends too far, it can engage the ground and be damaged. Clips have been provided to hold the pant leg to the shoe and reduce the likelihood of the pant leg engaging the ground. Some examples of clips can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,782,057, 6,054,091, 6,618,862, 6,701,582, 7,086,123 and 7,272,862, as well as the references cited therein.
These types of clips tend to be complicated because they include multiple components, which make them difficult and expensive to manufacture. Further, some of these clips may be too visible for some wearers, and most grasp the shoe and/or pant leg, which can be a problem if one forgets to undo the clip when undressing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a clip which includes an elongate body portion, wherein the elongate body portion is rectangular in shape and flat, and is made of a material that allows it to be flexible. The clip includes first and second hook portions extending from a surface and opposed surface, respectively, of the elongate body portion. The first hook portion is for hooking to a shoe and the second hook portion is for hooking a pant leg so that the clip restricts the movement of the pant leg relative to the shoe. In this way, the pant leg is less likely to engage the ground and be damaged.
In some embodiments, the first and/or second hooks are tapered towards the elongate body portion. However, in some embodiments, the first and/or second hook portions each include a tapered lip, wherein the tapered lips extend away from the elongate body portion.
The present invention provides a clip which includes an elongate body portion and first and second hook portions extending from opposed surfaces of the body portion. The first hook faces downwardly and the second hook faces upwardly, and the first hook is coupled with a shoe and the second hook is coupled with a pant leg. The first hook is typically positioned above the second hook and the pant leg typically extends over the first hook. The first and second hooks are slidingly engaged with the shoe and pant leg, respectively.
The present invention employs a method which includes providing a shoe and a pant leg and providing a clip which includes an elongate body portion. The method includes providing first and second hook portions extending from opposed surfaces of the body portion. The first hook is coupled with the shoe and the second hook is coupled with the pant leg. In some embodiments, the method includes slidingly engaging the first hook with the shoe. The method can include slidingly engaging the pant leg with the second hook.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings and description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe and clip, in accordance with the invention.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are cut-away side views of the shoe of FIG. 1 taken along a cut-line 2 a-2 a.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are side and perspective views, respectively of the clip of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 c and 3 d are close-up side views of a shoe hook and pant leg hook, respectively, of the clip of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a hook having a tapered end which can be included with a clip of the invention.

FIGS. 5 a and 5 b are flow diagrams of methods, in accordance with the invention, of wearing a clip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe 100 which carries a shoe and pant leg clip 110, in accordance with the invention. Shoe 100 can be of many different types, but in this embodiment, it includes a sole 103 coupled to a vamp having a sidewall 104, wherein the vamp defines an opening 105 for a person to move his or her foot through in a well-known manner.
In accordance with the invention, shoe and pant leg clip 110 is positioned with shoe 100 so that it extends downwardly from opening 105. Further, shoe and pant leg clip 110 is positioned with shoe 100 so that a portion of it extends through opening 105 and another portion does not extend through opening 105. In this embodiment, a portion of shoe and pant leg clip 110 extends along the interior of sidewall 104 and another portion extends along the exterior of sidewall 104. The interior of sidewall 104 is adjacent to opening 105 and the exterior of sidewall 104 is separated from opening 105 by sidewall 104. The interior of sidewall 104 faces opening 105 and the exterior of sidewall 104 faces away from opening 105.
Shoe and pant leg clip 110 can be carried by shoe 100 in many different ways. In this embodiment, shoe and pant leg clip 110 is hooked to shoe 100. Shoe and pant leg clip 110 can be hooked to shoe 100 in many different ways. In this embodiment, clip 110 includes a shoe hook which can be hooked to sidewall 104, wherein the shoe hook includes the portion of clip 110 that extends through opening 105. The shoe hook is hooked to sidewall 104 by slidingly engaging it therewith.
In some situations, the person wearing shoe 100 is also wearing pants having a pant leg. It is sometimes desirable to restrict the movement of the pant leg relative to the shoe and reduce the likelihood that the pant leg engages the ground. Hence, shoe and pant leg clip 110 includes a pant leg hook for hooking the pant leg. The pant leg hook is hooked to the pant leg by slidingly engaging it therewith. The pant leg hook includes the portion of clip 110 that does not extend through opening 105. Hence, the shoe clip holds clip 110 to shoe 100 and the pant leg clip holds the pant leg, so that the pant leg is coupled to shoe 100 by clip 110. In this way, the movement of the pant leg relative to shoe 100 is restricted by clip 110, and the pant leg is less likely to engage the ground and be damaged.
It should be noted that the shoe hook is positioned proximate to opening 105 and the pant leg hook is positioned away from opening 105. Further, the shoe hook is positioned proximate to opening 105 and the pant leg hook is positioned below opening 105. Further, one shoe and pant leg clip is carried by shoe 100 in FIG. 1 for illustrative purposes, but more than one can be carried, if desired.
FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are cut-away side views of shoe 100 taken along a cut-line 2 a-2 a of FIG. 1. In this embodiment, two shoe and pant leg clips are carried by shoe 100, wherein the shoe and pant leg clips are denoted as clips 110 a and 110 b. Shoe and pant leg clips 110 a and 110 b can be positioned with and carried by shoe 100 as discussed above with FIG. 1. Shoe and pant leg clips 110 a and 110 b are hooked to sidewalls 104 a and 104 b, respectively. Shoe and pant leg clips 110 a and 110 b can be hooked to sidewalls 104 a and 104 b in many different ways. In this embodiment, shoe and pant leg clips 110 a and 110 b each include a shoe hook 112 and pant leg hook 116 coupled together with a clip body 111, wherein clip body 111 extends between shoe hook 112 and pant leg hook 116. Shoe hook 112 of clip 110 a is for hooking clip 110 a to sidewall 104 a and shoe hook 112 of clip 110 b is for hooking clip 110 b to sidewall 104 b. Shoe hook 112 of clip 110 a is hooked to sidewall 104 a by slidingly engaging it therewith, and shoe hook 112 of clip 110 b is hooked to sidewall 104 b by slidingly engaging it therewith.
Clip body 111 can have many different shapes, but here it is an elongate body, wherein its length is greater than its width. Further, the thickness of clip body 111 is greater than its width. In this way, clip body 111 is flat. Clip body 111 can include many different materials. However, the material included with clip body 111 is generally chosen so that it is flexible. Clip body 111 is flexible so that it can be repeatably moved between biased and unbiased conditions, wherein clip body 111 is bent and unbent when in the biased and unbiased conditions, respectively. Examples of materials that can be included with clip body 111 include plastic and metal, such as aluminum. The thickness of clip body 111 is typically chosen so that it is flexible.
Shoe hook 112 and pant leg hook 116 can be of many different types, but here they are embodied as J-hooks. Shoe hook 112 extends outwardly from one surface of clip body 111 and pant leg hook 116 extends outwardly from an opposed surface of clip body 111. The surface of elongate body 111 of clip 110 a faces sidewall 104 a and the opposed surface faces away from sidewall 104 a. Further, the surface of elongate body 111 of clip 110 b faces sidewall 104 b and the opposed surface faces away from sidewall 104 a.
When shoe and pant leg clips 110 a and 110 b are carried by shoe 110, shoe hook 112 faces downwardly and pant leg hook 116 faces upwardly. Shoe hook 112 is positioned proximate to opening 105 and pant leg hook 116 is positioned away from opening 105. Further, shoe hook 112 is positioned proximate to opening 105 and pant leg hook 116 is positioned below opening 105. In this way, shoe hook 112 is positioned above pant leg hook 116, and pant leg hook 116 is positioned below shoe hook 112.
As shown in FIG. 2 b, a pant leg 107 is repeatably moveable between hooked and unhooked positions with shoe and pant leg clips 110 a and 110 b, wherein pant leg 107 is shown as being hooked and unhooked with clips 110 a and 110 b, respectively. Pant leg 107 is slidingly engaged with clip 110 a and can be slidingly disengaged from clip 110 a by moving pant leg 107 upwardly. When pant leg 107 is hooked with clip 110 a, it extends over shoe hook 112. Further, when pant leg 107 is slidingly engaged with clip 110 a, it extends over shoe hook 112.
FIGS. 3 a and 3 b are side and perspective views, respectively of shoe and pant leg clip 110. FIGS. 3 c and 3 d are close-up side views of shoe hook 112 and pant leg hook 116, respectively. In this embodiment, shoe hook 112 includes a shoe hook base 113 coupled to clip body 111, and a shoe hook head 114 extending outwardly from shoe hook base 113. Further, shoe hook 112 includes a shoe hook overhang 115 extending from shoe hook head 114. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, shoe hook base 113 extends upwardly along sidewall 104, shoe hook head 114 extends outwardly from sidewall 104 and shoe hook overhang 115 extends downwardly from shoe hook head 114. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, shoe hook base 113 extends upwardly towards opening 105, shoe hook head 114 extends outwardly from opening 105 and shoe hook overhang 115 extends downwardly from opening 105. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, shoe hook base 113 extends along the exterior of sidewall 104 and shoe hook overhang 115 extends along the interior of sidewall 104. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, shoe hook overhang 115 extends through opening 105.
In this embodiment, shoe hook base 113, shoe hook head 114 and shoe hook overhang 115 bound a shoe hook opening 120. Shoe hook 112 is slidingly engaged with shoe 100 by extending sidewall 104 through shoe hook opening 120. Shoe hook 112 is slidingly engaged with shoe 100 by sliding sidewall 104 through shoe hook opening 120 so it is between shoe hook base 113 and shoe hook overhang 115. Shoe hook opening 120 can have many different dimensions and shapes. In this embodiment, shoe hook opening 120 has an outer distance ti and inner distance t₂, wherein outer distance t₁is between hook base 113 and the distal end of shoe hook overhang 115 and inner distance t₂is between shoe hook base 113 and the proximal end of shoe hook overhang 115. The distal end of shoe hook overhang 115 is away from shoe hook head 114 and the proximal end of shoe hook overhang 115 is towards shoe hook head 114.
It should be noted that distances t₁and t₂are adjustable by biasing clip 110 so that shoe hook overhang 115 moves towards and away from shoe hook base 113. In general, distances t₁and t₂decrease as shoe hook overhang 115 moves towards shoe hook base 113 and distances t₁and t₂increase as shoe hook overhang 115 moves away from shoe hook base 113.
Distances t₁and t₂can have many different distance values relative to each other. In this embodiment, distance t₁is less than distance t₂so that shoe hook overhang 115 is angled towards clip body 111 in an unbiased condition. In this way, shoe hook 112 is tapered towards clip body 111. In some embodiments, distances t₁and t₂are the same so that shoe hook overhang 115 is parallel with clip body 111 in an unbiased condition.
Distances t₁and t₂can be adjusted to adjust the amount of force that shoe hook 112 applies to sidewall 104. In general, as distances t₁and t₂decrease, shoe hook 112 applies a larger force to sidewall 104 and as distances t₁and t₂increase, shoe hook 112 applies a smaller force to sidewall 104. Further, as distance t₁decreases, shoe hook 112 applies a larger force to sidewall 104 and as distance t₁increases, shoe hook 112 applies a smaller force to sidewall 104.
In this embodiment, pant leg hook 116 includes a pant leg hook base 117 coupled to clip body 111, and a pant leg hook head 118 extending outwardly from pant leg hook base 117. Further, pant leg hook 116 includes a pant leg hook overhang 119 extending from pant leg hook head 118. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, pant leg hook base 113 extends downwardly along sidewall 104, pant leg hook head 118 extends outwardly from sidewall 104 and pant leg hook overhang 119 extends upwardly from shoe hook head 114. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, pant leg hook base 118 extends downwardly away from opening 105, pant leg hook head 118 extends outwardly from opening 105 and pant leg hook overhang 119 extends upwardly towards opening 105. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, pant leg hook base 118 extends along the exterior of sidewall 104 and pant leg hook head 118 extends outwardly from sidewall 104. When clip 110 is carried by shoe 100, and pant leg hook overhang 119 is spaced from sidewall 104 by pant leg hook head 118.
In this embodiment, pant leg hook base 117, pant leg hook head 118 and pant leg hook overhang 119 bound a pant leg hook opening 121. Pant leg hook 116 is slidingly engaged with the pant leg by moving the pant leg through pant leg hook opening 121. Pant leg hook 116 is slidingly engaged with the pant leg by sliding it through pant leg hook opening 121 so it is between pant leg hook base 117 and pant leg hook overhang 119.
Pant leg hook opening 121 can have many different dimensions and shapes. In this embodiment, pant leg hook opening 121 has an outer distance t₃and inner distance t₄, wherein outer distance t₃is between pant leg hook base 117 and the distal end of pant leg hook overhang 119 and inner distance t₄is between pant leg hook base 117 and the proximal end of pant leg hook overhang 119. The distal end of pant leg hook overhang 119 is away from pant leg head 118 and the proximal end of pant leg hook overhang 119 is towards pant leg head 118.
It should be noted that distances t₃and t₄are adjustable by biasing clip 110 so that pant leg hook overhang 119 moves towards and away from pant leg hook base 117. In general, distances t₃and t₄decrease as pant leg hook overhang 119 moves towards pant leg hook base 117 and distances t₃and t₄increase as pant leg hook overhang 119 moves away from pant leg hook base 117.
Distances t₃and t₄can have many different distance values relative to each other. In this embodiment, distance t₃is less than distance t₄so that pant leg hook overhang 119 is angled towards clip body 111 in an unbiased condition. In this way, pant leg hook 116 is tapered towards clip body 111. In some embodiments, distances t₃and t₄are the same so that pant leg hook overhang 119 is parallel with clip body 111 in an unbiased condition.
In some embodiments, distance t₁is larger than distance t₃so that, in the unbiased condition, shoe hook opening 120 is larger than pant leg hook opening 121. In other embodiments, distance t₁is smaller than distance t₃so that, in the unbiased condition, shoe hook opening 120 is smaller than pant leg hook opening 121. In some embodiments, distance t, is the same as distance t₃so that, in the unbiased condition, shoe hook opening 120 is the same size as pant leg hook opening 121. It is useful to be able to adjust the dimensions of openings 120 and 121 so that clip 110 can accommodate shoes having sidewalls with different thicknesses and pants having pant legs with different thicknesses of material. The dimensions of openings 120 and 121 can also be adjusted by adjusting the dimensions of shoe hook 112 and pant leg hook 116, as will be discussed in more detail presently.
Distances t₃and t₄can be adjusted to adjust the amount of force that pant leg hook 116 applies to the pant leg. In general, as distances t₃and t₄decrease, pant leg hook 116 applies a larger force to the pant leg and as distances t₃and t₄increase, pant leg hook 116 applies a smaller force to the pant leg. Further, as distance t₃decreases, pant leg hook 116 applies a larger force to the pant leg and as distance t₃increases, pant leg hook 116 applies a smaller force to the pant leg.
The dimensions of openings 120 and 121 can be adjusted by adjusting the dimensions of the corresponding shoe hook overhang and shoe hook head. For example, in some embodiments, shoe hook overhang 115 is longer than pant leg hook overhang 119. In other embodiments, shoe hook overhang 115 is shorter than pant leg hook overhang 119. In some embodiments, shoe hook overhang 115 and pant leg hook overhang 119 have the same length. In some embodiments, shoe hook head 114 is longer than pant leg hook head 118. In other embodiments, shoe hook head 114 is shorter than pant leg hook head 118. In some embodiments, shoe hook head 114 and pant leg hook head 118 have the same length.
FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of a hook 123 which can be included with a shoe and pant leg clip of the invention. It should be noted that hook 123 can be used as a shoe hook and a pant leg hook, such as those discussed in more detail above. In this embodiment, hook 123 includes a hook base 124 coupled to clip body 111 and a hook head 125 extending outwardly from hook base 124. Hook 123 includes a hook overhang 126 extending from hook head 125. Hook base 124, hook head 125 and hook overhang 126 bound a hook opening 128.
In this embodiment, hook 123 includes a lip 127 extending from hook overhang 126, wherein lip 127 extends outwardly from a distal end of hook overhang 126. Lip 127 extends away from hook base 124 and clip body 111, and is tapered with hook overhang 126. In this way, hook 123 includes a tapered end. The tapered end is useful because it can be grasped with a person's finger and pulled so that hook overhang 126 is moved away from hook base 124 and the dimensions of hook opening 128 increase. The shoe sidewall or pant leg can be more easily released from hook opening 128 when the dimensions of hook opening 128 increase. The shoe sidewall or pant leg can be more easily slidingly disengaged from hook opening 128 when the dimensions of hook opening 128 increase.
FIG. 5 a is a flow diagram of a method 200, in accordance with the invention, of wearing a shoe and pant leg clip. In this embodiment, method 200 includes a step 201 of providing a shoe and a step 202 of providing a pant leg. It should be noted that the shoe and pant leg are typically worn by a person in a well-known manner. Method 200 includes a step 203 of providing a clip which includes an elongate body portion, and first and second hook portions extending from opposed surfaces of the body portion. Method 200 includes a step 204 of coupling the first hook with the shoe and a step 205 of coupling the second hook with the pant leg. The first hook typically faces downwardly and the second hook typically faces upwardly. Further, the second hook is typically positioned below the first hook.
It should be noted that method 200 can include many other steps. For example, in some embodiments, method 200 includes a step of slidingly engaging the first hook with the shoe. In some embodiments, method 200 includes a step of slidingly engaging the pant leg with the second hook.
FIG. 5 b is a flow diagram of a method 210, in accordance with the invention, of removing a shoe and pant leg clip. In this embodiment, method 210 includes a step 211 of providing a shoe and a step 212 of providing a pant leg. It should be noted that the shoe and pant leg are typically worn by a person in a well-known manner. Method 210 includes a step 213 of providing a clip which includes an elongate body portion, and first and second hook portions extending from opposed surfaces of the body portion. The first hook portion is slidingly engaged with a sidewall of the shoe and the second hook portion is slidingly engaged with the pant leg. The first hook portion typically faces downwardly and the second hook portion typically faces upwardly. Further, the second hook is typically positioned below the first hook. Method 210 includes a step 214 of slidingly disengaging the pant leg with the second hook. The pant leg is slidingly disengaged with the second hook by pulling it upwardly. In some embodiments, method 210 includes a step 215 of slidingly disengaging the first clip from the sidewall of the shoe. The first clip is slidingly disengaged from the sidewall of the shoe by moving the clip upwardly.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are exemplary and numerous modifications, variations and rearrangements can be readily envisioned to achieve substantially equivalent results, all of which are intended to be embraced within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A clip, comprising:

an elongate body portion;

a first hook portion extending away from a surface of the elongate body portion; and

a second hook portion extending away from an opposed surface of the elongate body portion.

2. The clip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second hook portions is tapered towards the elongate body portion.

3. The clip of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second hook portions includes an outwardly extending lip.

4. The clip of claim 1, wherein the elongate body portion is flexible.

5. The clip of claim 1, wherein the first and second hook portions are flexible.

6. The clip of claim 1, wherein the first and second hook portions have different size hook openings.

7. Apparatus, comprising:

a shoe;

a pant leg;

a clip which includes an elongate body portion and first and second hook portions extending away from opposed surfaces of the body portion;

wherein the first hook is hooked with the shoe and the second hook is hooked with the pant leg.

8. The clip of claim 7, wherein the first hook is positioned above the second hook.

9. The clip of claim 7, wherein the pant leg extends over the first hook.

10. The clip of claim 7, wherein the first hook faces downwardly and the second hook faces upwardly.

11. The clip of claim 7, wherein the first and second hooks are slidingly engaged with the shoe and pant leg, respectively.

12. The clip of claim 7, wherein the first and second hooks have different size hook openings.

13. The clip of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first and second hook portions includes an outwardly extending lip.

14. The clip of claim 7, wherein the elongate body portion is flat.

15. A method, comprising:

providing a shoe;

providing a pant leg;

providing a clip which includes an elongate body portion and first and second hook portions extending away from opposed surfaces of the body portion;

hooking the first hook with the shoe; and

hooking the second hook with the pant leg.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first hook is hooked with the shoe by slidingly engaging it therewith.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the second hook is hooked with the pant leg by slidingly engaging it therewith.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of hooking the second hook with the pant leg includes slidingly the pant leg through a hook opening of the second hook.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the first hook faces downwardly and the second hook faces upwardly.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the second hook is positioned below the first hook.