US20010013180A1

US20010013180A1 - Pant cuff saver

Info

Publication number: US20010013180A1
Application number: US09/283,661
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenjiro Kusumoto
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-04-01
Filing date: 1999-04-01
Publication date: 2001-08-16

Abstract

A cuff support in the form of an extension for a shoe, conveniently a golf shoe. The extension is integral with the shoe or individual ones of the extensions can be mounted on the shoe. In the latter event, adhesive material is used within the extension and connects the extension to the heel portion of the shoe. A member of the extension extends rearwardly and upwardly and serves to support the cuffs of the trousers of a user thereby to keep the trouser cuffs clean by maintaining the position of the cuffs within the extension and out of contact with the grass or ground.

Description

INTRODUCTION

This invention relates to a cuff holder or cuff stabilizer and, more particularly, to a cuff holder or cuff stabilizer which is positioned on the rear or heel portion of a shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When playing golf, a golfer typically wears a long pair of trousers and golf shoes. The trousers typically have cuffs which become dirtied over the course of play by reason of contact with grass which may be wet, by sand in traps and by dirt or other debris when out of bounds or in the rough. Sand, dirt or grass seed also can creep up the heel of the shoe as the golfer walks on the fairways, roughs and greens. When the round is finished, particularly under adverse weather or ground conditions, the trousers will need cleaning because of the cuffs while the trousers are otherwise clean. It is the intention of the present invention to prevent the necessity for such cleaning by maintaining the cuffs out of contact with the ground and debris resting on the ground.

Likewise, when golfing, particularly when playing a ball from a sand trap, the sand will enter the golf shoe from the rear as the heel of the user works its way back and forth within the shoe and leaves an open space for entry of the sand. The sand is an irritant to the foot in the shoe.

Golf trousers that do not have cuffs are similarly subject to the same type of soiling and similarly benefit from the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a shoe defined by a forward foot and toe portion and a heel portion connected with said forward foot and toe portion, an extension on said heel portion of said shoe, said extension including a rearwardly and upwardly projecting member defining an upwards angle, said member terminating in a rearwardly edge portion, said edge portion being at a distance rearwardly of said heel portion of said shoe and at an angle upwards from said commencement of said member on said heel portion of said shoe to support the cuffs of the trousers worn by a user.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided an extension for the heel portion of a shoe, said extension comprising a first rearwardly and upwardly projecting member defining an upwards angle, said member terminating in a rearwardly located edge portion, said edge portion being at a distance rearwardly of said heel portion and at an angle upwards from said commencement of said member on said heel portion to support the cuffs of the trousers worn by a user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with the use of drawings in which: [0007]
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a typical shoe with a mounted extension member according to the invention; [0008]
FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating the extension member of FIG. 1 in greater detail and particularly illustrating an extension member which is removable from the shoe; [0009]
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the extension member according to the invention mounted on the heel portion of a shoe; [0010]
FIG. 4 is a side view of the extension member illustrating the extension mounted on the heel portion of a shoe; and [0011]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the extension particularly illustrating the adhesive used to bind the extension member to the shoe of a user. [0012]

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, a shoe, conveniently a golf shoe, is shown generally at [0013] 10 in FIG. 1. The golf shoe 10 is defined by a foot and toe portion 11, 12, respectively, and a heel portion 13 illustrated more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4.
An extension or cuff holder according to the invention is generally illustrated at [0014] 14. Extension 14 has a surface of adhesive material 20 (FIG. 2) which adhesive material 20 is used to connect the extension 14 to the heel portion 13 of the shoe 10. A first member 21 extends upwardly behind the adhesive material 20 to which the adhesive material 20 is mounted and closely follows the contour of the heel 13 of shoe 10. The first member 21 terminates at an upper edge 22.
A [0015] second member 23 commences adjacent the heel portion 13 of the shoe 10 and is conveniently connected to the first member 21 as more clearly illustrated in FIG. 5. Second member 23 extends upwardly and rearwardly of the heel portion 13 of shoe 10 and terminates in an upper edge 23 which generally surrounds the heel portion 13 of shoe 10 as more clearly seen in FIG. 3. Edge 23 is designed to be above the upper end 22 of the first member 21 and to be a distance behind the heel portion 13 of the shoe 10 which thereby will allow the entry of a pant cuff (not shown) within the second member 23 between the second member 23 and the heel portion 13 of the shoe 10 while the user is walking as is the case while playing golf.

OPERATION

In operation, the user may purchase the [0016] extensions 14 separately and when commencing to walk where such extensions would be useful, a covering (not shown) over the adhesive 20 is removed and the extensions are fitted onto the heel portions 13 of shoe 10. The extensions 14 are therefore in the operating position illustrated in FIG. 5.
The cuff of the trousers of the user will be supported by the [0017] upper edge 23 of member 24 and the upwardly and rearwardly directed configuration of the member 24 will usually keep the cuff within the extension 14. When in a sand trap or simply walking along a fairway, the cuff will not contact the ground but will stay within the second member 24. Thus, the trouser cuff will complete the round of golf in a relatively dirt free and clean condition. If desired, the extensions 14 may be removed from the shoes 10 following the golf round or other event. The adhesive 20 may be reused or the extensions 14 may be manufactured to be disposable after one or a few uses.
The [0018] first member 21 may have a groove 30 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Groove 30 provides for a closer fit of first member 21 with the heel portion 13 of shoe 10 as seen more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 5. That is, the use of groove 30 provides an adjustment for the extension 14 and allows it to more closely fit the heel portion 13 of shoe 10 thereby providing more integrity for the adhesive material 20.
While it is contemplated that the [0019] extensions 14 may be sold in pairs separately from the shoes 14, it is also contemplated that the shoes 14 may have such an extension 14 integral with at least the heel portion 13 of the shoe 10. This would be particularly the case where the extension 14 is being used on a golf shoe where the shoe is only worn while playing golf.
Many modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and the specific embodiments described herein should be taken as illustrative of the invention only and not as limiting its scope as defined in accordance with the accompanying claims. [0020]

Claims

I claim:

1. A shoe defined by a forward foot and toe portion and a heel portion connected with said forward foot and toe portion, an extension on said heel portion of said shoe, said extension including a rearwardly and upwardly projecting member defining an angle, said member terminating in a rearwardly edge portion, said edge portion being at a distance rearwardly of said heel portion and at an angle upwards from said commencement of said member on said heel portion to support the cuffs of the trousers worn by a user.

2. A shoe as in

claim 1

wherein said extension is removable from said shoe, said extension having adhesive material to attach said extension to said shoe on said heel portion.

3. A shoe as in

claim 1

wherein said extension is integral with said shoe.

4. An extension for the heel portion of a shoe, said extension comprising a first rearwardly and upwardly projecting member defining an upwards angle, said member terminating in a rearwardly located edge portion, said edge portion being at a distance rearwardly of said heel portion and at an angle upwards from the commencement of said member on said heel portion to support the cuffs of the trousers worn by a user.

5. An extension as in

claim 4

and further comprising adhesive material on said extension, said adhesive material being used to position said extension on the heel of a shoe.

6. An extension as in

claim 5

wherein said extension is made from a plastic material.

7. An extension as in

claim 6

wherein said shoe is a golf shoe.