Garment for muffling sound generated by a user's footstep

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A garment for muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep includes a circumferential sidewall having an upper end, a lower end, and a circumferential lower portion near the lower end. When the garment is worn, the upper end encircles the user’s leg, and the lower position surrounds the user’s foot and shoe portion that surrounds the foot. The lower portion has a circumference substantially larger than the circumference of a user’s shoe, whereby the lower portion is spaced away from the user’s shoe during at least part, if not all, of a user’s footstep. In this fashion, the garment creates an enlarged chamber for muffling sounds generated by the user’s footstep.

1.  A garment for muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep, comprising: 
        a circumferential sidewall including an upper end, a lower end, and a circumferential lower portion proximate the lower end, the upper end encircling a user’s leg and the lower portion surrounding a user’s leg and shoe when the garment is worn, 
        the lower portion having a circumference substantially larger than the circumference of a user’s shoe, whereby the lower portion is spaced away from a user’s shoe during at least a part of a user’s footstep when the garment is worn, thereby creating an enlarged chamber for muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep. 
     
     
         2.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein the circumferential sidewall is flexible. 
     
     
         3.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the lower end extends downward beyond the level of a bottom of a user’s shoe when the garment is worn and a user’s foot is sufficiently elevated above a ground surface, whereby the portion of the lower end contacts the ground surface before the bottom of a user’s shoe contacts the ground surface. 
     
     
         4.  The garment of  claim 3  wherein the garment includes a longitudinal axis, and the circumferential sidewall is compressible in the direction of the longitudinal axis, whereby when the portion of the lower end contacts the ground surface, the garment does not inhibit a user from lowering a user’s foot and shoe onto the ground surface. 
     
     
         5.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment includes a longitudinal axis, and the circumferential sidewall is compressible in the direction of the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein the lower end is resiliently deformable, whereby the lower end may form a contour that generally corresponds with the contour of a ground surface upon which the lower end is placed when the garment is worn. 
     
     
         7.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein the lower end includes a generally downwardly oriented wall comprising a resiliently deformable material. 
     
     
         8.  The garment of  claim 7  wherein the resiliently deformable material includes a rubber material. 
     
     
         9.  The garment of  claim 8  wherein the resiliently deformable material is constructed and arranged so as to form a series of fringe-like strips. 
     
     
         10.  The garment of  claim 7  wherein the resiliently deformable material is constructed and arranged so as to form a series of fringe-like strips. 
     
     
         11.  The garment of  claim 7  wherein the generally downwardly oriented wall includes a plurality of layers. 
     
     
         12.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein the circumferential sidewall includes a stiffening element. 
     
     
         13.  The garment of  claim 12  wherein the garment includes a longitudinal axis, and the stiffening element includes an elongated resilient member oriented at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14.  The garment of  claim 13  wherein the elongated resilient member extends at least partway around the circumferential sidewall. 
     
     
         15.  The garment of  claim 12  wherein the stiffening element includes a layer of a resilient foam material. 
     
     
         16.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein the circumferential sidewall generally is tapered in the direction of the upper end. 
     
     
         17.  The garment of  claim 1  wherein the circumferential sidewall includes multiple layers, the multiple layers assisting in muffling sound generated by a user’s footstep. 
     
     
         18.  The garment of  claim 1  further including an elevating member, the elevating member constructed and arranged to releasably retain at least a part of the lower portion of the circumferential sidewall in a position that is elevated relative to a bottom of a user’s shoe when the garment is worn. 
     
     
         19.  The garment of  claim 1  further including a pocket constructed and arranged to receive a scent applicator or a heat-generating device. 
     
     
         20.  The garment of  claim 1  further including a fastening member, the fastening member constructed and arranged to facilitate wearing the garment in a suitable position encircling a user’s leg and shoe. 
     
     
         21.  The garment of  claim 1  in combination with an article of clothing that includes a pant leg, the garment being connected to the pant leg. 
     
     
         22.  The garment of  claim 21  wherein the garment and the pant leg are detachably connected.