FOOTWEAR RETENTION SYSTEM

1 . A device for preventing loss of footwear, the device comprising:

a strap comprising a first end and an opposite second end, the second end being permanently connected with the first end to define a loop;

a tether comprising a first end that is coupled to the strap and an opposite second end; and

a fastener coupled to the second end of the tether, the fastener being configured to connect the second end of the tether to an article of footwear.

2 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the first end of the tether is coupled to the second end of the tether by a connector.

3 . The device recited in claim 2 , wherein the connector is movable between a first orientation in which the first end of the tether is connected to the second end of the tether by the connector and a second orientation in which the first end of the tether is not connected to the second end of the tether by the connector.

4 . The device recited in claim 2 , wherein the connector is a side release buckle fastener.

5 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the first end of the tether comprises a band coupled to the strap, the band being coupled to a first end of a connector, the second end of the tether being coupled to a second end of the connector, the second end of the connector being configured to releasably engage the first end of the connector.

6 . The device recited in claim 5 , wherein the first end of the connector is a male component of the connector and the second end of the connector is a female component of the connector, the female component being configured to receive the male component.

7 . The device recited in claim 5 , wherein the first end of the connector is a female component of the connector and the second end of the connector is a male component of the connector, the female component being configured to receive the male component.

8 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the second end of the tether comprises a hoop, a first portion of the fastener being positioned within the hoop, a second portion of the fastener comprising a snap hook, the second portion being rotatable relative to the first portion.

9 . The device recited in claim 8 , wherein:

the second portion comprises a body, a hook extending from the body, and a gate; and

the gate is movable between a first orientation in which the gate engages a tip of the hook and a second orientation in which the gate is spaced apart from the tip of the hook.

10 . The device recited in claim 9 , wherein the gate is biased to the first orientation by a spring.

11 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a trigger snap swivel hook.

12 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the fastener comprises a body and a clamp that is rotatable relative to the body, the clamp comprising a plurality of teeth.

13 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the clamp is movable between a first orientation in which the teeth are spaced a first distance apart from the body and a second orientation in which the teeth are spaced an increased second distance apart from the body.

14 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the clamp is maintained in the first orientation by a lever.

15 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a suspender clip.

16 . The device recited in claim 1 , wherein the tether has a fixed length defined by the distance from the strap to the fastener.

17 . A retention system comprising:

a strap comprising a first end and an opposite second end, the second end being permanently connected with the first end to define a loop;

a tether comprising a first end that is coupled to the strap and an opposite second end;

a fastener coupled to the second end of the tether; and

an article of footwear releasably coupled to the fastener.

18 . The retention system recited in claim 17 , wherein the article of footwear is configured to be worn by a person and the loop is configured to encircle a limb of the person while the person is wearing the article of footwear.

19 . The retention system recited in claim 17 , wherein the article of footwear comprises a hoop, the fastener extending through the hoop to releasably couple the article of footwear to the fastener.

20 . A retention system comprising:

an elastic strap comprising a first end and an opposite second end, the second end being permanently connected with the first end to define a loop;

a tether comprising a first end and an opposite second end, the first end of the tether comprising a band, the band being coupled to the strap, the second end of the tether comprising a hoop;

a connector coupling the first end of the tether to the second end of the tether, the band being coupled to a first end of the connector, the second end of the tether being coupled to a second end of the connector, the second end of the connector being configured to releasably engage the first end of the connector;

a fastener coupled to the second end of the tether, a first portion of the fastener being positioned within the hoop, a second portion of the fastener comprising a snap hook, the second portion being rotatable relative to the first portion; and

an article of footwear releasably coupled to the snap hook,

wherein the article of footwear is configured to be worn by a person and the loop is configured to encircle a limb of the person while the person is wearing the article of footwear,

wherein the second portion comprises a body, a hook extending from the body, and a gate,

wherein the gate is movable between a first orientation in which the gate engages a tip of the hook and a second orientation in which the gate is spaced apart from the tip of the hook, and

wherein the gate is biased to the first orientation by a spring.