BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to garments and outer wear wherein a loose fitting or extended length leg covering extends down to or below the upper ankle, and more particularly, to an accessory for preventing a pant leg from dragging on the ground. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A recent trend in the fashion clothing industry is to make lower body coverings, notably pant legs, exceptionally long and wide. Reminiscent of bell-bottomed pants, fashion pants styles being sold today include pant legs that are exceptionally large in circumference and which extend below the upper ankle to the foot. In some cases, the bottoms of such pant legs may extend beyond the bottom of the foot so as to drag on the ground as the wearer walks. This poses several practical drawbacks, including the hazards of tripping, catching the garment on an object, soiling, as well as premature wear generated by contact with the ground as the wearer walks or moves. 
   In the past, others have proposed the use of a variety of trouser retention devices. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 229,031 to Campbell discloses a cuff protector secured to the bottom of a trouser leg by pins to protect the trouser from being soiled or worn through contact with the ground. While Campbell&#39;s device protects the bottom hem of the pant leg to some degree, the garment remains free to move independently of the shoe. Moreover, this device requires that the garment be pierced by a pair of pins. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 668,051 to Puffer, a trousers protector includes a clip that is used to catch the bottom edge of an extending trouser leg, and to attach it to a shoe. Puffer&#39;s clip includes a portion that must be inserted inside the wearer&#39;s shoe, posing some discomfort to the wearer. Moreover, Puffer&#39;s clip positions the lower edge of the pants leg proximate the upper edge of the wearer&#39;s shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 771,021 to Lux also discloses a clip to extend around the top of a shoe, but this device must actually be attached to a garment by stitches. All of these devices require a clip to extend over the shoe top, and into the shoe, which poses discomfort to the user, and which position the lower hem of the pant leg elevated well above the ground. 
   Some known trouser supports allow for adjustment of the elevation of the trouser hem relative to the top of the shoe. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 586,666 to Neuendorff discloses a trouser support clip mechanism that clips over the top of a shoe and which includes a mechanism for varying the length of the clip. U.S. Pat. No. 898,503 to Plummer discloses a trousers support clip using a chain that can be adjusted in length to vary the height at which the lower hem of the pant leg is supported. However, like the other double-clip devices discussed above, the Neuendorff and Plummer trouser retention devices still include the requirement for extending over and around the shoe top, extending behind, and in contact with, the wearer&#39;s heel. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,618,862 to Bunjes also discloses a double-clip pant leg support wherein a portion of the clip must be inserted inside the shoe. The Bunjes device is designed to support the lower hem relatively low to the ground. While the Bunjes device is made from flexible materials, the clip must still be inserted inside the compartment of the shoe that receives the wearer&#39;s foot. 
   Other devices are also known to attach pant cuffs to shoes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,115,906 to Lavine discloses a pair of releasable clips attached to opposite ends of an elongated elastic strap. The strap is extended around the bottom of the shoe, and the clips are attached to opposite sides of the lower hem of the pants leg. Lavine&#39;s device secures a trouser cuff simply by pulling it down toward the wearer&#39;s shoe. Such a strap will not, however, prevent an extending trouser leg from brushing on the ground. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,156 to Ogelsby also discloses a strap used to pull trouser legs down toward the wearer&#39;s shoes. Oglesby discloses the use of a snap fastener for attaching the strap to the pant leg. These snap fasteners can be attached either to the interior or the exterior of the trouser leg, and are a semi permanent fixture to the pant leg. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,582 Milburn discloses a trouser leg retaining device that prevents the bottom of the trouser leg from getting caught within the user&#39;s shoes. This device includes a strap to connect the shoe directly to the pant leg. One end of the strap includes an O-ring or clip for attachment to the shoe. The trouser leg portion fastens via a snap fastener through the garment material of the pant leg, requiring the piercing of the material to fasten the snap. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,829,847 to O&#39;Shea discloses a pant cuff protector for securing a pant leg to a shoe via the use of magnetic clamps. A first magnet is secured to the rear of a shoe. A second magnet is secured to a strap extending from the lower heel portion of the shoe. The second magnet is selectively positioned proximate the first magnet to clamp a pant cuff therebetween. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,591 to Leslie discloses a strap for securing a firefighter&#39;s trousers to his boots. The strap is attached to the top of the boot barrel. A snap is provided on the pant leg to snap onto the lower end of the strap. 
   None of the aforementioned trouser retention devices serves both to prevent contact of the pants leg with the ground, while avoiding the need to either insert a clip into the inner portion of the shoe or substantially modify the shoe. Furthermore, typical retention devices do not provide for the placement of a logo, or other indicia, on the outer surface, nor do they allow for convenient replacement of such a logo. 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cuff clip that easily and conveniently serves to prevent the lower hem of a pant leg from becoming soiled or worn through contact with the ground. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a cuff clip that does not require any augmentation or damage to the pant leg material. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide for a strong and semi-permanent shoe portion attachment together with a separate cuff clip member that can be easily secured or removed as the wearer sees fit. 
   It is yet another object of this invention to provide for a semi-permanent attachment that can be installed on multiple shoes, each with a complimentary head fastener piece that can combine with a variety of cuff clips. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide such a cuff clip that is easy and inexpensive to manufacture. 
   A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a cuff clip adapted to display one or more logos. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the art as the description of the present invention proceeds. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Briefly described, and in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting the lower end of a pant leg from a shoe. A U-shaped body includes first and second panels extending substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. The first and second panels include interior and exterior walls; the interior walls of the first and second panels generally face each other and form an inner volume space therebetween for receiving the lower end of a pant leg. A first fastener is secured to the rear portion of a shoe proximate the heel portion thereof. A second fastener is secured to the exterior wall of the first panel of the U-shaped body. The second fastener releasably mates with the first fastener for selectively supporting the U-shaped body from the rear portion of the shoe proximate the heel of the shoe. Preferably, logo indicia is displayed upon the exterior wall of the second panel of the U-shaped body. 
   In one preferred embodiment, a cuff clip includes a shoe member attached to the lower, rear portion of a shoe and including a first coupling member. The cuff clip also includes a cuff support member for receiving, and releasably supporting, the lower end of a pant leg. The cuff support member includes a second coupling member adapted to releasably engage the first coupling member, thereby releasably coupling the cuff support member to the shoe member to supports the lower end of the pant leg from the lower, rear portion of the shoe. 
   In one preferred embodiment, the first coupling member may be in the form of an elongated fastener extending partially into, and secured within, a heel portion of the shoe. The portion of the elongated fastener that extends into the heel preferably includes an irregular outer surface for anchoring the elongated fastener within the heel of the shoe. In a preferred embodiment, the first coupling member includes a female hollow socket, while the second coupling member includes a complimentary male stud adapted to releasably engage the female hollow socket and form a snap fit therewith. In an alternate embodiment, the first coupling member includes a male stud, and the second coupling member includes a complimentary female hollow socket adapted to releasably receive the male stud. 
   The aforementioned cuff support member preferably includes a U-shaped body including first and second panels extending substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other to form a channel for receiving the lower end of the pant leg. The second coupling member is preferably secured to the exterior wall of the first panel, while the exterior wall of the second panel may be used to display logo indicia. In one preferred embodiment, the exterior wall of the second panel includes a bottom lip extending at least partially along a lower end of the exterior wall of the second panel, as well as first and second side lips extending at least partially along opposing sides of the exterior wall of the second panel. The bottom lip and opposing side lips may be used to releasably retain a generally planar logo element upon the exterior wall of the second panel. 
   In still another preferred embodiment, the cuff clip includes an anchor portion that is fixedly secured to the heel portion of a shoe, as by being molded into the rear portion of the sole of the shoe. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to provide any releasable coupling between the cuff clip and a fastener within the shoe. If desired, the coupling between the anchor and the cuff clip may be detachable for allowing the cuff clip to be released from the anchor when not in use. 
   Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of releasably attaching the lower edge of a garment to a shoe. In practicing such method, a first coupler is installed within the lower portion of a shoe. A cuff clip is provided for releasably engaging the lower edge of the garment. The lower edge of the garment is inserted into the cuff clip. A second coupler is provided on the cuff clip, the second coupler being complementary with the first coupler for being releasably engaged therewith. The second coupler is engaged with the first coupler for releasably attaching the lower edge of the garment to the lower portion of the shoe. In one preferred embodiment of such method, an elongated fastener is provided to form the first coupler. At least the first end of the elongated fastener is secured within a heel portion of the shoe, while the second end of the elongated fastener is used as the first coupler. 
   In practicing an alternate embodiment of such method, the cuff clip includes an anchor portion, and the method includes forming the rear portion of the sole of the shoe around the anchor portion of the cuff clip during manufacture of the shoe, thereby fixedly securing the cuff clip to the heel portion of the shoe. The lower edge of the garment is simply inserted into the cuff clip. 
   In practicing the aforementioned method, the cuff clip is preferably formed by providing first and second substantially parallel, spaced-apart panels, and joining the lower edges of the first and second panels to form a generally U-shaped body. Interior walls of the first and second panels form an inner space, or channel, for receiving the lower edge of the garment. Preferably, the second coupler is secured to an exterior wall of the first panel, while the exterior wall of the second panel is used to display indicia, such as a logo. In the preferred embodiment, the indicia to be displayed is generally planar; a bottom lip is formed along a lower end of the exterior wall of the second panel, and opposing side lips are formed along opposing sides of the exterior wall of the second panel. The indicia to be displayed is engaged with, and retained by, the bottom lip and opposing side lips for being displayed from the exterior wall of the second panel of the cuff clip. 


   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cuff clip constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the cuff clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a cross sectional view of the cuff clip shown in  FIG. 1  viewed from the opposite side as that shown in  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 4  is an angled view of the cuff clip shown in  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 5  is a top view of the cuff clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 6  is a frontal view of the cuff clip shown in  FIG. 1  and showing three lips that may be used to secure display indicia upon an exterior wall thereof. 
       FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the cuff clip shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the cuff clip of  FIG. 1  mated with the head of a fastener used to releasably attach the cuff clip to the heel portion of a shoe. 
       FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the cuff clip of  FIG. 1  wherein generally planar display indicia is inserted into, and retained by, the three lips shown in  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 10  is a top view of the fastener shown in  FIG. 8 , illustrating that the head of such fastener includes slots for receiving a screw driver, as well as a hollow socket for mating with a rear stud of the cuff clip. 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the fastener including a threaded shaft. 
       FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional side view of the fastener shown in  FIG. 8  illustrating slots for receiving a screw driver, as well as the hollow socket for mating with the rear stud of the cuff clip. 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the fastener shown in  FIGS. 8 and 12 . 
       FIG. 14  is a partial sectional view of the heel portion of a shoe, with the cuff clip apparatus installed for supporting the lower hem of a pant leg from the shoe. 
       FIG. 15  is a bottom view of the shoe and cuff clip apparatus shown in  FIG. 14 . 
       FIG. 16  is a partial sectional view of a shoe formed to incorporate a cuff clip at the time of manufacturing the shoe. 
   


   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   A cuff clip for supporting the lower end of a pant leg from a shoe, and constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is shown in  FIG. 1  and is designated generally by reference numeral  20 . Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-7 , cuff clip  20  is preferably formed as a U-shaped body including a first panel  22  and a second panel  24  extending substantially parallel to first panel  22 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , and in the bottom view of  FIG. 7 , the lower edges of panels  22  and  24  are joined to each other by bottom wall  26  to form a generally U-shaped body. Also, as shown best in the top view of  FIG. 5  and the bottom view of  FIG. 6 , panels  22  and  24  may be bowed along their length to form a slightly arcuate structure that more closely adapts to the rounded rear peripheral portion of a shoe heel. 
   Still referring to  FIGS. 1-7 , first panel  22  includes an interior wall  28  and an exterior wall  30 . As best illustrated in the sectional drawing of  FIG. 3 , interior wall  28  of first panel  22  is not precisely flat; rather, first panel  22  is thicker proximate its top edge than proximate its lower edge. Second panel  24  also includes an interior wall  32  and an exterior wall  34 . Interior walls  28  and  32  of first and second panels  22  and  24  generally face each other and are spaced slightly apart from each other to form an inner space, or channel  36  therebetween. As mentioned above, interior wall  28  preferably has a cross-sectional contour, and is shaped to cause channel  36  to have a narrow opening towards the top, gradually opening into a wider space towards the bottom; this preferred shape of channel  36  provides space to receive a relatively thick hem at the bottom of the channel, while maintaining a tight grip on the garment edge at the top of the clip. Channel  36  is arcuately curved along its length, following the curvature of panels  22  and  24 . Channel  36  is adapted to releasably receive the lower end of a pant leg, cuff, or the lower edge of another garment (not shown). Cuff clip  20  is sometimes referred to herein as a cuff support member since it can be used to support the cuff of a pant leg. 
   Referring briefly to  FIG. 8 , a first fastener  38  is shown releasably secured to exterior wall  30  of cuff clip  20 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , fastener  38  is in the form of a nail having a barbed shaft  40  and an attachment head  42 . As indicated in  FIGS. 12 and 13 , the end  44  of shaft  40  forms a sharp, tapered point to assist in puncturing the heel portion of a shoe, or alternatively, to help guide fastener  38  into a pre-formed bore hole in the heel of the shoe. Fastener  38  is adapted to be secured inside the heel portion of a shoe, preferably by drilling, or otherwise forming, a bore extending into the shoe heel having a diameter slightly less than the outer diameter of the barbed ridges on shaft  40 . After forming such bore, pointed end  44  of fastener  38  is directed into such bore, and fastener  38  is then urged further into the bore. The barbed ridges on shaft  40  prevent fastener  38  from falling out of the shoe heel after being secured thereto. Accordingly, fastener  38  is sometimes referred to herein as a shoe member since it is adapted to be secured to the lower, rear portion of a shoe, e.g., the heel. 
   Referring briefly to  FIG. 14 , shoe  62  includes a sole having a heel portion  64 . Fastener  38  is secured within heel portion  64  of the sole, preferably from the rear of shoe  62 . Preferably, attachment head  42  is recessed within heel portion  64 , as shown in  FIG. 14 ; this allows cuff clip  20  to abut the rear of shoe  62  and conform to the curvature of the rear portion of shoe  62 , as shown in  FIG. 15 . Alternatively, if desired, attachment head  42  can protrude slightly from heel portion  64 . Cuff clip  20  is releasably secured to attachment head  42  of fastener  38 , and the lower hem of pant leg  66  is releasably engaged within channel  36  of cuff clip  20 . 
     FIG. 11  shows an alternate embodiment of the first fastener, designated as  38 ′, wherein shaft  40 ′ has a helical screw thread formed about its periphery for approximately five-eighths of an inch of axial length, rather than barbs. In either case, shaft  40  preferably has an irregular outer surface for anchoring fastener  38  to the heel of the shoe. As indicated in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , attachment head  42 ′ may include a first slot  46  for receiving the blade of a conventional flat-bladed screwdriver for use in screwing fastener  38 ′ into a bore formed in the heel of shoe. If desired, a second slot  48  (see  FIG. 10 ) may be formed in attachment head  42 , perpendicular to first slot  46 , for receiving the blade of a Phillips-head screwdriver. 
   As shown best in  FIGS. 10 and 12 , attachment head  42  of fastener  38  has a hollow socket  50  formed therein and adapted to releasably receive a rounded stud. While fasteners  38  and  38 ′ may be made of a wide variety of materials, including metal, fasteners  38  and  38 ′ are preferably formed of molded plastic to minimize manufacturing expense. 
   Referring again to  FIGS. 1-7 , a second fastener, in the form of a rounded male stud  52 , is secured to, and extends from, exterior wall  30  of first panel  22  of the U-shaped cuff clip  20 . Rounded stud  52  is of a size and configuration to releasably mate with, and be received within, hollow socket  50  of attachment head  42  for selectively supporting cuff clip  20  from the rear portion of a shoe (not shown), proximate the heel thereof. It should be noted that attachment head  42  and rounded stud  52  are sometimes referred to herein as coupling members since they are adapted to be releasably coupled with each other. Attachment head  42  and stud  52  form a snap-type fastener for releasably securing the cuff support member from the lower, rear portion of a shoe. Rounded stud  52  is preferably integral with exterior wall  30  of first panel  22 . In the preferred embodiment, cuff clip  20  is molded from a plastic material as an integral structure. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the locations of socket  50  and stud  52  could be reversed, if desired, by forming a rounded stud on attachment head  42  of fastener  38 , and by including a hollow socket upon exterior wall  30  of first panel  22 . 
   Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that a shoe manufacturer could allow for the support of such a cuff clip at the time that a shoe is being manufactured. In this regard,  FIG. 16  illustrates a shoe  62 ′ having a sole that includes heel portion  64 ′. The sole of shoe  62 ′ is formed of a molded material. Cuff clip  20 ′ is shown in  FIG. 16  as including an integral anchor  74 ; anchor  74  includes an enlarged backing plate coupled by a short stub shaft to the exterior wall of cuff clip  20 ′ that faces shoe  64 ′. The shoe manufacturer molds the heal portion  64 ′ of the sole around the enlarged backing plate of anchor  74  to secure cuff clip  20 ′ to shoe  62 ′. While  FIG. 16  shows anchor  74  being integral with cuff clip  20 ′, those skilled in the art will appreciate that anchor  74  could instead include an attachment head  42  of the type shown on fastener  38  in  FIGS. 10 and 12  for mating with a complementary fastener on cuff clip  20 ′. While  FIG. 16  shows anchor  74  being molded into heel portion  64 ′ of shoe  62 ′, those skilled in the art will appreciate that, if desired, a shoe manufacturer could instead secure anchor  74  to the upper body of the shoe, as by, for example, securing the backing plate of anchor  74  between outer and inner layers of material used to form the upper body of the shoe. 
   As mentioned above, one of the objects of the invention is to allow logos, or other indicia, to be displayed from cuff clip  20 . Exterior wall  34  of second panel  24  is preferably used for this purpose. Such logo or other indicia may be molded into, printed upon, adhered to, or otherwise secured to exterior wall  34  of second panel  24  for being displayed as the user stands or walks. Preferably, lips are formed upon the bottom and side edges of exterior wall  34  for allowing logos or other indicia to be easily interchanged; no lip is formed along the top edge of exterior wall  34  to avoid interfering with the insertion of display indicia. Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  and  FIG. 8 , bottom upturned lip  54  extends along the lower end of exterior wall  34  of second panel  24 . A first inwardly-turned side lip  56  extends at least partially along one side of exterior wall  34 , while a second inwardly-turned side lip  58  extends at least partially along the opposite side of exterior wall  34 . A generally planar indicia element, bearing a logo or the like, may be removably inserted upon the exterior wall of second panel  24  and retained within bottom lip  54  and first and second side lips  56  and  58  . 
   The above-described manner of displaying an indicia element upon cuff clip  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 9 , which shows an alternate embodiment of the cuff clip, and wherein primed reference numerals indicate features already described above using like reference numerals. In  FIG. 9 , bottom lip  54 ′ extends only along the center portion of the bottom edge of second panel  24 ′, rather than all the way across. Likewise, in  FIG. 9 , side lips  56 ′ and  58 ′ terminate before reaching the upper end of second panel  24 . Within  FIG. 9 , element  60  represents a generally planar indicia element, bearing a logo or the like, which has been inserted upon the exterior wall of second panel  24 ′ and retained thereon by bottom lip  54 ′ and first and second side lips  56 ′ and  58 ′. 
   It will be recalled that another aspect of the present invention relates to an improved method of releasably attaching the lower edge of a garment to a shoe. In practicing such method, a first coupler, e.g., attachment head  42 , is secured to the lower portion of a shoe. A cuff clip, e.g., cuff clip  20 , is provided to releasably engage the lower edge of a garment. The lower edge of the garment is inserted into the cuff clip, e.g., into channel  36  of cuff clip  20 . A second complementary coupler, e.g., rounded stud  52 , is provided on the cuff clip to releasably engage the first coupler. The second coupler is engaged with the first coupler for releasably attaching the lower edge of the garment to the lower portion of the shoe. In one preferred embodiment, the first coupler is secured to the lower portion of the shoe by providing an elongated fastener, such as fastener  38 , anchoring at least a first end of the elongated fastener into a heel portion of the shoe, and using the opposing second end (e.g., attachment head  42 ) of the elongated fastener as the first coupler. 
   In practicing a preferred embodiment of the aforementioned method, the cuff clip is provided by providing first and second panels extending substantially parallel to each other and spaced slightly apart from each other to form an inner space or channel therebetween for receiving the lower edge of the garment. In the preferred embodiment, the second coupler is provided by securing the second coupler to an exterior wall of the first panel. Also in the preferred embodiment of such method, a bottom lip is formed at least partially along a lower end of the exterior wall of the second panel, and first and second side lips are formed at least partially along opposing sides of the exterior wall of the second panel to receive a generally planar indicia element upon the exterior wall of the second panel. 
   After securing a suitable fastener to the user&#39;s shoe, engaging the lower end of a pant leg with the cuff clip, and snapping the cuff clip onto the shoe-mounted fastener, the cuff clip and shoe-mounted fastener work together to maintain a garment edge in a fixed position relative to the shoe. 
   Those skilled in the art will now appreciate that a cuff clip apparatus has been described which easily and conveniently serves to prevent the lower hem of a pant leg from becoming soiled or worn through contact with the ground. The described cuff clip does not result in any discomfort due to contact between the clip device and the user&#39;s foot, as it does not extend within the compartment of the shoe that receives the user&#39;s foot. The novel cuff clip does not require any alteration of the pant leg, while requiring only minor modification of a shoe. Should the user so desire, the cuff clip can be released from the shoe fastener to disconnect the lower edge of the pant leg from the shoe. The same cuff clip may be used with two or more pairs of shoes, provided that each pair of shoes includes a complementary fastener of the general type described herein. Alternatively, two or more different cuff clips may be used with the same pair of shoes. The described cuff clip apparatus is easy and inexpensive to manufacture, and can be formed of durable materials. Moreover, the disclosed cuff clip apparatus can advantageously be used to display fixed, or interchangeable, logos or other indicia. While the present invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments thereof, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Various modifications and changes may be made to the described embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
A cuff clip secures a loose trouser leg to a shoe, and support the lower edge of such trouser leg above the ground. A fastener is embedded within a lower portion of the shoe, leaving a coupling head exposed outside the shoe. The cuff clip engages the bottom edge of the trouser leg. The cuff clip includes a snap coupler that mates with the coupling head of the fastener embedded within the shoe. An outwardly-directed exterior wall of the cuff clip includes a bottom lip and opposing side lips to releasably receive a rectangular logo.