US20140082813A1

US20140082813A1 - Pants guard

Info

Publication number: US20140082813A1
Application number: US13/625,625
Authority: US
Inventors: Jonathan Fullen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-24
Filing date: 2012-09-24
Publication date: 2014-03-27

Abstract

A pants guard to protect a pants leg of a pair of pants comprising a cylindrical body, where the cylindrical body envelops the pants leg; a band at a top portion of the cylindrical body, where the band wraps around a leg of a user; and a strap attached to a bottom of the cylindrical body, where the strap warps beneath a shoe of the user. The cylindrical body includes a closure to open and close the body along a side, where the closure is a hook and loop fastener, a zipper or a plurality of buttons. The cylindrical body further includes a skirt around a bottom edge, where the skirt protects the shoe from debris.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO OTHER APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/538,859 filed on Sep. 24, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a protective guard for a pants cuff.
2. Description of Related Art
Trouser legs often become soiled from elements such as grass, rain, dirt, mud and snow. The prolonged or repeated exposure to these elements can compromise the integrity of the pants, and make wearing them uncomfortable for the wearer. Often times the pants cuffs may become frayed, stained or permanently creased after prolonged use, typically requiring hemming or replacement. Having to replace or repair the pants may become expensive if the behavior is habitual.
Various devices have been developed to assist a user in protecting their pants. For example, U.S. Patent Application No. 2006/0213036 by Vincent Flowers discloses pants cuff clip. The clip attaches to the pants cuff to adjust the length of the pants, thereby preventing the user from dragging their pants on the ground. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,176 by Robert Previdi discloses a leg rain protector. The leg protector consists of two square sheets that attach around a user's pants cuff to shield the cuff from water and debris. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,250 by Ronald Bell discloses a leg, ankle, and foot apparel protector. The protector fastens in front of the user's leg with bands around the knee and the ankle for front of leg protection. While these devices do either hold up the pants cuff or shield it from external debris there still exists a need for additional protection and comfort.
It would be desirable in the art to provide a pants protector that wraps around the entire leg, yet is easy to place and remove. It would also be beneficial in the art to provide a pants protector that includes fastening means that ensure that the protector remains in place during wear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the prior art, the general purpose of the present invention is to provide a pants protector or guard, configured to include all of the advantages of the prior art, and to overcome the drawbacks inherent therein.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a wrap around pants guard that protects the user's pants leg from external elements.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a side closure for the pants guard to easily receive the user's leg.
To achieve the above objects, in an aspect of the present invention, a pants guard is described to protect a pants leg of a pair of pants comprising a cylindrical body, where the cylindrical body envelops the pants leg; a band at a top portion of the cylindrical body, where the band wraps around a leg of a user; and a strap attached to a bottom of the cylindrical body, where the strap warps beneath a shoe of the user. The cylindrical body includes a closure to open and close the body along a side, where the closure is a hook and loop fastener, a zipper or a plurality of buttons. The cylindrical body further includes a skirt around a bottom edge, where the skirt protects the shoe from debris.
These together with other aspects of the present invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the present invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and form a part of this present invention. For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages, and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a pants guard in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention relates to a protective member to shield a user's pants leg from external elements. The pants guard fastens around a user's leg to provide pants leg protection from the shoe to the knee. The pants guard includes a side closure that opens and closes for easy application and removal. At the top and bottom of the pants guard are straps or bands that assist in securing the guard to the leg, and prevent sliding or shifting during wear.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, referring to FIG. 1, a side view of a pants guard 100 is shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The pants guard 100 may comprise a cylindrical body 120, which envelops a bottom portion of a user's leg and pants. The body 120 may extend from the cuff of the pants up towards the knee, and prevents water, mud or other debris from ruining the pants leg. At a top portion of the pants guard 100 is a band 110. The band 110 wraps around the user's calf or knee to ensure that the pants guard 100 remains in place. The band 110 may be a strap with a hook and loop, buckle, snap, or button fastener. Alternatively the band 110 may be made from an elastic material for a tight and secure fit with or without a fastener.
Along a side portion of the body 120 may be a closure 150 that runs the entire length of the pants guard 100. The closure 150 allows the body 120 to open and close thereby receiving the leg and then fastening around it. When using the pants guard 100, the body 120 is secured to the pants leg by the closure 150 where the closure 150 may be a hook and loop fastener, buttons, or a zipper. This further helps to ensure that the pants guard 100 protects the trousers from damage.
A fastening strap 140 may be attached to the body 120 at a bottom portion. The fastening strap 140 wraps underneath the user's shoe. The fastening strap 140 may be elastic for a flexible yet secure fit. The tension created as the band 110 is attached around the calf and the fastening strap 140 is looped under the shoe provides full pants cuff protection for the wearer.
Finally, at the bottom portion of the body 120 may be a skirt 130. The skirt 130 wraps around the entire bottom edge to prevent debris, water or rocks from getting into the user's shoes. The skirt 130 may be made from a more durable material like rubber, or plastic since it is in the closest contact with the shoes and the ground. The skirt 130 may include an inner lip that receives the pants cuff thereby enveloping the cuff and preventing any portion of the cuff to be exposed.
The pants guard 100 may be made from a lightweight, waterproof material like nylon, or latex. The pants guard 100 material may include a removable lining for added warmth during cold weather. The pants guard 100 may be pulled onto a lower leg of a user, similar to how a person puts on a sock. Alternatively, the pants guard 100 may be fastened to the lower leg like a sleeve. The pants guard may be available in various sizes from small, medium to large to accommodate pants of varying widths and lengths.
The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The exemplary embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

Claims

1. A pants guard to protect a pants leg of a pair of pants comprising:

a. a cylindrical body, where the cylindrical body envelops the pants leg, and covers a shin area of a user, and is made from one of at least nylon and latex;

b. a band at a top portion of the cylindrical body, where the band wraps around a leg of the user;

c. a skirt around a bottom edge of the cylindrical body to the protect a shoe of the user, further the skirt covers a portion of the shoe; and

d. a strap attached to a bottom of the cylindrical body, where the strap wraps beneath the shoe of the user.

2. The pants guard according to claim 1, where the cylindrical body includes a closure to open and close the body along a side of the pants guard.

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. The pants guard according to claim 1, where the skirt is made from rubber.

6. (canceled)

7. The pants guard according to claim 1, where the band is elastic.

8. (canceled)

9. (canceled)