Catcher's Leg Guard

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This nonprovisional application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-092235 filed on Jun. 5, 2023 with the Japan Patent Office, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a catcher's leg guard.

Description of the Background Art

Since each of baseball and softball catchers is basically in a sitting posture with both knees being bent, conventional catcher's leg guards have been devised to improve a fit feeling when sitting (for example, see Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2014-236893). Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2014-236893 discloses a leg guard including a central protector portion, a shin protection portion divided into left and right protector portions, and a thigh protection portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, since the catcher is not only in the sitting posture but is often also in a standing posture, the above-described catcher's leg guard has room for improvement in terms of a fit feeling in the standing posture.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has an object to provide a catcher's leg guard allowing for an improved a fit feeling.

A catcher's leg guard according to the present disclosure is a catcher's leg guard wearable by a user. The catcher's leg guard includes a thigh protection portion and a shin protection portion. When the user wears the catcher's leg guard, the thigh protection portion is disposed at a position to cover at least a portion of a thigh part of the user. When the user wears the catcher's leg guard, the shin protection portion is disposed at a position to cover a shin part of the user. The thigh protection portion includes a protection member. The protection member is divided into a plurality of protection members.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a catcher's leg guard according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the catcher's leg guard according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the catcher's leg guard according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the catcher's leg guard along a line segment IV-IV in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the catcher's leg guard according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. It should be noted that unless stated particularly, the same or corresponding portions in the below-described figures are denoted by the same reference characters and will not be described repeatedly.

EMBODIMENTS
<Configuration of Catcher's Leg Guard>

FIG. 1 is a front view of a catcher's leg guard 1 according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of catcher's leg guard 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a rear view of catcher's leg guard 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of catcher's leg guard 1 along a line segment IV-IV in FIG. 2.

Catcher's leg guard 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 (hereinafter, also referred to as “leg guard 1”) is a leg guard to be worn by a baseball or softball catcher, for example. Catcher's leg guard 1 is worn on, for example, a leg of the catcher. Catcher's leg guard 1 shown in FIG. 1 is configured to protect one leg of the user.

Catcher's leg guard 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is a left leg guard 1 to be worn on the left leg of the user (catcher). It should be noted that catcher's leg guard 1 in the present embodiment may be a right leg guard 1 to be worn on the right leg of the user. For example, right leg guard 1 is configured to be mirror-symmetrical to left leg guard 1. The set of left leg guard 1 and right leg guard 1 may be worn on the respective legs of the user.

As shown in FIG. 1, leg guard 1 mainly includes a thigh protection portion 20, a knee protection portion 30, a shin protection portion 40, an instep protection portion 50, and a plurality of belts 60. When the user wears leg guard 1, thigh protection portion 20 is disposed at a position to cover a portion of the thigh part of the user. Specifically, thigh protection portion 20 is disposed at a position to cover a region of the thigh part close to the knee portion. When the user wears leg guard 1, knee protection portion 30 is disposed at a position to cover the knee part of the user. Further, shin protection portion 40 is disposed at a position to cover the shin part of the user. Further, instep protection portion 50 is disposed at a position to cover the instep of the user. Each of thigh protection portion 20, knee protection portion 30, shin protection portion 40, and instep protection portion 50 includes a protection member and a covering member as described later. A first direction X is defined as a direction in which thigh protection portion 20 is disposed as viewed from shin protection portion 40. In first direction X, thigh protection portion 20, knee protection portion 30, shin protection portion 40, and instep protection portion 50 are connected in this order. Thigh protection portion 20 and knee protection portion 30 are connected by a first connection member. Knee protection portion 30 and shin protection portion 40 are connected by a second connection member. Shin protection portion 40 and instep protection portion 50 are connected by a third connection member. Each of the first to third connection members is, for example, a strip-shaped member. The first connection member and the second connection member may be formed in one piece. Each of the first to third connection members may be composed of a material having a stretching property. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40 are disposed adjacent to each other. Knee protection portion 30 is disposed to extend over a boundary between thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40 in first direction X. That is, knee protection portion 30 is disposed to overlap with a portion of thigh protection portion 20 and a portion of shin protection portion 40 so as to cover a boundary portion at which thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40 are adjacent to each other.

A material of the protection member is, for example, a resin. As the resin of the protection member, polyethylene can be used, for example. As a material of the covering member, any material can be used as long as it has flexibility. The material of the covering member is, for example, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA).

Thigh protection portion 20 includes a thigh protection member 22 serving as the protection member and a thigh covering member 21 serving as the covering member. When the user wears leg guard 1, thigh covering member 21 is disposed to cover at least a portion of the thigh part of the user. Thigh covering member 21 is disposed between thigh protection member 22 and the thigh part of the user. A material of thigh protection member 22 may be, for example, a material having a higher hardness than that of the material of thigh covering member 21. Thigh protection member 22 protects the thigh part of the user from a ball having flown toward the catcher, such as a thrown ball or a ball slightly hit by a bat. Thigh covering member 21 is, for example, a cushioning member, and reduce an impact of the ball when the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat, hits against thigh protection member 22. As will be described later, thigh covering member 21 may be a coupling member having flexibility.

As shown in FIG. 4, thigh protection member 22 has a thigh protection surface 20s1. Thigh covering member 21 has a thigh covering surface 20s2. Thigh protection surface 20s1 is a surface that receives the impact of the ball having flown. In thigh protection portion 20, thigh covering surface 20s2 is a surface opposite to thigh protection surface 20s1. Thigh covering surface 20s2 is a surface of thigh covering member 21 that faces the front surface of the thigh part of the user when the user wears leg guard 1. Thigh covering member 21 is connected to thigh protection member 22. From a different viewpoint, it can be said that the outer peripheral shape of thigh covering member 21 substantially coincides with the outer peripheral shape of thigh protection portion 20 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thigh protection member 22 is fixed to a surface of thigh covering member 21 (surface of thigh covering member 21 opposite to thigh covering surface 20s2). As described later, thigh protection member 22 is divided into a plurality of members. That is, the plurality of members (central protection member 22c and two end-side protection members 22r, 22l) included in thigh protection member 22 are fixed to a surface of thigh covering member 21 at intervals.

Knee protection portion 30 includes a knee protection member 32 serving as the protection member and a knee covering member 31 serving as the covering member. When the user wears leg guard 1, knee covering member 31 is disposed to cover the knee part of the user. Knee covering member 31 is disposed between knee protection member 32 and the knee part of the user. A material of knee protection member 32 may be, for example, a material having a higher hardness than that of the material of knee covering member 31. Knee protection member 32 protects the knee part of the user from the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat. Knee covering member 31 is, for example, a cushioning member, and reduces the impact of the ball when the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat, hits against knee protection member 32.

Shin protection portion 40 includes a shin protection member 42 serving as the protection member, a shin slip prevention member 43, two pads 71, 72, and a shin covering member 41 serving as the covering member. When the user wears leg guard 1, shin covering member 41 is disposed to cover the shin part of the user. Shin covering member 41 is disposed between shin protection member 42 and the shin part of the user. A material of shin protection member 42 may be, for example, a material having a higher hardness than that of the material of shin covering member 41. Shin protection member 42 protects the shin part of the user from the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat. Shin covering member 41 is, for example, a cushioning member. Shin covering member 41 reduces the impact of the ball when the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat, hits against shin protection member 42.

Shin slip prevention member 43 is disposed at a position to cover the shin and a portion of the knee when the user wears leg guard 1. In first direction X, at least a portion of shin slip prevention member 43 is disposed at a position to overlap with a portion of knee covering member 31. Another portion of shin slip prevention member 43 is disposed between shin protection member 42 and shin covering member 41 at an upper portion (end portion on the knee side) of shin protection member 42. As shown in FIG. 2, shin slip prevention member 43 extends from between shin protection member 42 and shin covering member 41 at the upper portion of shin protection member 42 to a region overlapping with knee protection portion 30 (region adjacent to thigh protection portion 20). For example, when the user sits with the knee on the ground, shin slip prevention member 43 prevents slipping on the ground. A material of shin slip prevention member 43 is, for example, urethane.

Shin protection portion 40 has a shin protection surface 40s1 and a shin covering surface 40s2. Shin protection surface 40s1 is a surface of shin protection member 42 that receives the impact of the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat. In shin protection portion 40, shin covering surface 40s2 is a surface opposite to shin protection surface 40s1. Shin covering surface 40s2 is such a surface that shin covering member 41 faces the front surface of the shin part of the user when the user wears leg guard 1. Shin protection member 42 is connected to a surface of shin covering member 41 opposite to shin covering surface 40s2.

As shown in FIG. 3, two pads 71, 72 are connected to shin covering surface 40s2 of shin covering member 41 and the inner peripheral surface (surface facing the front surface of the user's shin or knee) of shin slip prevention member 43, respectively. Specifically, pad 72 is disposed between shin slip prevention member 43 and the patella tendon and kneecap of the user when the user wears leg guard 1. In first direction X, a central position p2 of pad 72 is disposed such that pad 72 protects the patella tendon of the user. Pad 71 is disposed between shin covering member 41 and the shin part when the user wears leg guard 1. Two pads 71, 72 are, for example, cushioning members, and further reduce the impact of the ball when the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat, hits against shin protection member 42 or shin slip prevention member 43.

Instep protection portion 50 includes an instep protection member 52 and an instep covering member 51. Instep covering member 51 is disposed to cover the instep part of the user when the user wears leg guard 1. Instep covering member 51 is disposed between instep protection member 52 and the instep part of the user. A material of instep protection member 52 may have a higher hardness than that of the material of instep covering member 51, for example. Instep protection member 52 protects the instep part of the user from the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat. Instep covering member 51 is, for example, a cushioning member, and reduces the impact of the ball when the ball having flown toward the catcher, such as the thrown ball or the ball slightly hit by a bat, hits against instep protection member 52.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of belts 60 are connected to the covering members. It should be noted that each of belts 60 in the present specification includes not only a belt main body portion composed of a fabric or the like but also a length adjusting member, a fixing fastening fixture, and the like, which are connected to the belt main body portion. Specifically, two belts 61, 62 are connected to thigh protection portion 20. Two belts 61, 62 are connected to thigh covering member 21. End portions of two belts 61, 62 are fixed to both thigh covering member 21 and thigh protection member 22 in a state in which they are sandwiched between thigh covering member 21 and thigh protection member 22. As a fixing member for each of belts 61, 62, a pin that extends through thigh covering member 21, belt 61 or belt 62, and thigh protection member 22 can be used. Each of belts 61, 62 can be wound around the thigh part of the user when the user wears leg guard 1. In this way, the positions of thigh protection member 22 and thigh covering member 21 with respect to the thigh can be securely determined using belts 61, 62. Three belts 63, 64, 65 are connected to shin protection portion 40. Belt 63 is connected to shin slip prevention member 43. Two belts 64, 65 are connected to shin covering member 41. End portions of belts 64, 65 are fixed to both shin covering member 41 and shin protection member 42 in a state in which they are sandwiched between shin covering member 41 and shin protection member 42. As a fixing member for each of belts 64, 65, a pin that extends through shin covering member 41, belt 64 or belt 65 and shin protection member 42 can be used. Each of belts 63, 64, 65 can be wound around the lower thigh of the user when the leg of the user is stretched in a state in which the user wears leg guard 1. One belt 66 is connected to instep protection portion 50. Belt 66 is connected to instep covering member 51. An end portion of belt 66 is fixed to both instep covering member 51 and instep protection member 52 in a state in which it is sandwiched between instep covering member 51 and instep protection member 52. As a fixing member for belt 66, a pin that extends through instep covering member 51, belt 66, and instep protection member 52 can be used. Since the covering member, the belt, and the protection member are fixed by the same fixing member in this way, the structure of leg guard 1 can be simplified as compared with a configuration in which the fixation of the covering member and the protection member and the fixation of the belt and the covering member or the fixing member are performed separately. Belt 66 can be wound around the foot part of the user when the user wears leg guard 1. Specifically, belt 66 can be wound around the foot part so as to fix a spike and instep protection portion 50. By winding the plurality of belts 60 around the leg in this way when the user wears leg guard 1, leg guard 1 is fixed to the leg of the user.

Here, a feature of catcher's leg guard 1 according to the present embodiment lies in that thigh protection portion 20 includes the protection member divided into the plurality of protection members. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, thigh protection member 22 includes central protection member 22c and two end-side protection members 22r, 22l. Two end-side protection members 22r, 22l are configured as a pair, and are disposed to sandwich central protection member 22c. The pair of end-side protection members 22r, 22l are disposed to be separated from each other in a direction perpendicular to first direction X when the leg of the user is stretched in the state in which the user wears leg guard 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the pair of end-side protection members 22r, 22l are disposed to be separated from each other in a second direction Y, which is a direction perpendicular to first direction X. Thigh covering member 21 is located at least below a boundary portion between central protection member 22c and each of two end-side protection members 22r, 22l. Thigh covering member 21 is a coupling member that connects central protection member 22c and two end-side protection members 22r, 22l. Thigh covering member 21 has flexibility.

Since thigh protection member 22 thus divided into the plurality of portions is connected to thigh covering member 21 serving as the coupling member having flexibility, the position of thigh protection member 22 is appropriately adjusted in accordance with bulging of a muscle of the thigh part. It is generally said that the quadriceps muscle of thigh is the largest among the muscles of the human body. Therefore, for example, when the posture is changed from the sitting posture to the standing posture, the muscle of the thigh part is greatly bulged. Since each of baseball and softball catchers is basically in the sitting posture with both the knees being bent, conventional catcher's leg guards are often produced to conform to the sitting posture with both the knees being bent. Therefore, in the case where a member that protects the thigh is present in each of the conventional catcher's leg guards, this member may be disposed at an unfavorable position in the standing posture when the posture of the catcher is changed from the sitting posture to the standing posture, for example. Hence, in the case where thigh protection member 22 is divided into the plurality of protection members as in leg guard 1 according to the present embodiment, thigh protection member 22 can be disposed at an appropriate position when the posture of the catcher is changed from the sitting posture to the standing posture. Therefore, also in the standing posture, the user can play while maintaining the fit feeling of leg guard 1 as in the sitting posture.

In catcher's leg guard 1 according to the present embodiment, thigh protection member 22 is divided into three, but may be divided into four or more, and may be divided into, for example, into five.

As shown in FIG. 1, second direction Y is defined as a direction perpendicular to first direction X and perpendicular to a perpendicular line at the central portion of thigh protection surface 20s1. A third direction Z is defined as a direction perpendicular to first direction X and second direction Y. Central protection member 22c has a first region Q1 and a second region Q2. Second region Q2 is disposed at a position away from shin protection portion 40 with respect to first region Q1. Width L2 of second region Q2 in second direction Y may be different from width L1 of first region Q1 in second direction Y. As viewed in third direction Z, central protection member 22c can employ any shape. Specifically, the shape of central protection member 22c as viewed in third direction Z may be a polygonal shape, such as a trapezoidal shape as shown in FIG. 1, a hexagonal shape, or a diamond shape. Central protection member 22c has a first end surface and a second end surface. In central protection member 22c, the first end surface is disposed at a position furthest away from shin protection portion 40 in first direction X. In central protection member 22c, the second end surface is disposed at a position closest to shin protection portion 40 in first direction X. The width of the second end surface in second direction Y may be different from the width of the first end surface in second direction Y. When the width of the second end surface in second direction Y is shorter than the width of the first end surface in the second direction, the shape of central protection member 22c as viewed in third direction Z is an inverted trapezoidal shape. The width of the second end surface in second direction Y may be the same as the width of the first end surface in second direction Y. In this case, the shape of central protection member 22c as viewed in third direction Z is a regular polygonal shape. Width L2 of second region Q2 in second direction Y may be the same as width L1 of first region Q1 in second direction Y. In this case, central protection member 22c has a rectangular shape as viewed in third direction Z. Each of the side surfaces of end-side protection members 22r, 22l adjacent to central protection member 22c may extend in a direction along a direction in which the side surfaces of central protection member 22c extend. For example, the side surfaces of central protection member 22c may be parallel to the side surfaces of end-side protection members 22r, 22l. Central protection member 22c and each of end-side protection members 22r, 22l may be disposed with a space being interposed therebetween. As a result, the position of thigh protection member 22 is appropriately adjusted due to thigh covering member 21 being deformed in accordance with the stretching and contracting of the muscle of the thigh part.

Among the plurality of belts 60 wound around the lower thigh of the user when the user wears leg guard 1, belt 63 disposed at a position closest to the kneecap of the user in first direction X is preferably disposed at one of thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40. In other words, belts 60 should not be disposed at knee protection portion 30. In this way, belts 60 are not wound at the back of the knee of the user. In catcher's leg guard 1 according to the present embodiment, since the center of the kneecap of the user is located substantially at central position p2 of pad 72 as shown in FIG. 3 when the user wears leg guard 1, belt 63 is preferably located on the instep side with respect to central position p2 of pad 72, for example. Belt 63 may be disposed on the instep side with respect to the kneecap. Since belt 63 is disposed at a position displaced from the center of the kneecap in first direction X in this way, belt 63 is not wound at the back of the knee of the user. If belt 63 is wound at the back of the knee of the user, the fit feeling of leg guard 1 is decreased when the user sits, thereby impeding movement of the user. To address this, since belt 63 is disposed so as not to be wound at the back of the knee of the user, the fit feeling of leg guard 1 can be suppressed from being decreased, thereby preventing occurrence of such a problem that the movement of the user is impeded.

From a different viewpoint, it can be said that belt 63 may be disposed on the instep side with respect to a third region Q3 as shown in FIG. 1. Specifically, knee protection portion 30 has third region Q3. Third region Q3 is a region separated, in the direction in which shin protection portion 40 is disposed as viewed from center p1 of length T1 of knee protection portion 30 in first direction X, from center p1 by a distance T2 of ¼ of length T1. When the user wears leg guard 1, belt 63 disposed at the position closest to the kneecap in first direction X among belts 63, 64, 65 wound around the lower thigh may be disposed on the instep side of the user with respect to third region Q3. In this way, belt 63 is disposed at the position displaced from the center of the kneecap in first direction X. As a result, belt 63 is not wound at the back of the knee of the user.

FIG. 5 is a side view of leg guard 1 according to the embodiment. FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 5, also in the standing posture, the thigh part of the user may be able to be changed in position with respect to shin protection portion 40 and knee protection portion 30 so as to avoid application of load on the thigh part. Specifically, when catcher's leg guard 1 is placed on a horizontal plane with shin covering surface 40s2 facing downward, a fourth region Q4 is defined as a region above a point at which a distance from the horizontal plane is the largest in shin protection surface 40s1. A fifth region Q5 is defined as a region located on the horizontal plane side with respect to fourth region Q4. Thigh protection portion 20 may be connected to shin protection portion 40 such that a point p3 furthest away from shin protection portion 40 in thigh protection portion 20 can be moved from fifth region Q5 to fourth region Q4. Conventional catcher's leg guards are often produced to conform to the sitting posture with both the knees being bent. Therefore, a movable range of thigh protection portion 20 is narrow, with the result that movement of the thigh part in the standing posture is restricted. Accordingly, in each of the conventional catcher's leg guards, when the posture of the user is changed from the sitting posture to the standing posture, load may be applied to the thigh part by thigh protection portion 20, thus presumably resulting in decreased performance of the user.

As shown in FIG. 5, by increasing the movable region of thigh protection portion 20 so as to avoid application of load to the thigh part of the user also in the standing posture, performance of the user can be suppressed from being decreased. In leg guard 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the end portion of knee protection portion 30 on the thigh protection portion 20 side has a curved shape protruding to the front side of knee protection portion 30. As shown in FIG. 4, the shape of thigh protection surface 20s1 is curved so as to conform to the shape of the front surface of the thigh part of the user.

In this way, the shapes of the portions of knee protection portion 30 and thigh protection portion 20 at which they are in contact with each other are curved to protrude in the same direction. As a result, point p3 furthest away from shin protection portion 40 in thigh protection portion 20 can be readily moved from fifth region Q5 to fourth region Q4 without impeding the movement of thigh protection portion 20 excessively by knee protection portion 30. That is, the movable range of thigh protection portion 20 can be made large so as to avoid application of excessive load to the thigh part of the user in the standing posture of the user.

Functions and Effects

A catcher's leg guard 1 according to the present disclosure is a catcher's leg guard 1 wearable by a user. Catcher's leg guard 1 includes a thigh protection portion 20 and a shin protection portion 40. When the user wears catcher's leg guard 1, thigh protection portion 20 is disposed at a position to cover at least a portion of a thigh part of the user. Shin protection portion 40 is disposed at a position to cover a shin part of the user. Thigh protection portion 20 includes a protection member. The protection member is divided into a plurality of protection members.

In this way, the positions of the divided portions (the plurality of thigh protection members 22) of thigh protection portion 20 can be appropriately adjusted in accordance with the thickness of the thigh part or stretching and contracting of a muscle of the thigh part. For example, in the case where thigh protection member 22 is disposed at an appropriate position when the posture of the user is changed from the sitting posture to the standing posture, an excellent fit feeling similar to the fit feeling of leg guard 1 in the sitting posture can be obtained also in the standing posture.

In catcher's leg guard 1, thigh protection portion 20 includes a coupling member (thigh covering member 21) having flexibility. The coupling member couples the divided protection members. In this way, the position of thigh protection member 22 can be appropriately adjusted in accordance with the stretching and contracting of the muscle of the thigh part.

In catcher's leg guard 1, thigh protection member 22 includes a central protection member 22c and a pair of end-side protection members 22r, 22l. The pair of end-side protection members 22r, 22l are disposed to sandwich central protection member 22c. A first direction X is defined as a direction in which thigh protection portion 20 is disposed as viewed from shin protection portion 40. The pair of end-side protection members 22r, 22l are disposed to be separated from each other in a direction (second direction Y) perpendicular to first direction X. In this way, the position of thigh protection member 22 can be appropriately adjusted in accordance with the stretching and contracting of the muscle of the thigh part. As a result, an excellent fit feeling can be obtained.

In catcher's leg guard 1, thigh protection portion 20 has a thigh covering surface 20s2 and a thigh protection surface 20s1. Thigh covering surface 20s2 is a surface facing a front surface of the thigh part of the user when the user wears catcher's leg guard 1. Thigh protection surface 20s1 is a surface opposite to thigh covering surface 20s2. Central protection member 22c has a first region Q1 and a second region Q2. Second region Q2 is disposed at a position away from shin protection portion 40 with respect to first region Q1 in first direction X. A second direction Y is defined as a direction perpendicular to first direction X and perpendicular to a perpendicular line at a central portion of thigh protection surface 20s1. A width L2 of second region Q2 in second direction Y is different from a width L1 of first region Q1 in second direction Y. In this case, when thigh protection portion 20 employs a shape conforming to the shape of the thigh part, the position of thigh protection member 22 can be appropriately adjusted in accordance with the stretching and contracting of the muscle of the thigh part. As a result, an excellent fit feeling can be obtained.

Catcher's leg guard 1 further includes: at least one belt 60 that is able to be wound around a lower thigh of the user; and a knee protection portion 30. Knee protection portion 30 covers a knee part of the user. Knee protection portion 30 is disposed to extend over a boundary between thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40 in first direction X. When a leg of the user is stretched in a state in which the user wears catcher's leg guard 1, belt 63 disposed at a position closest to a kneecap of the user in first direction X is disposed at one of thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40. In other words, belt 60 should not be disposed at knee protection portion 30. In this way, belt 60 is not wound at the back of the knee of the user when the leg of the user is bent. Thus, the user does not feel a sense of discomfort due to belt 60 being wound at the back of the knee. Therefore, performance of the user can be prevented from being compromised.

In catcher's leg guard 1, knee protection portion 30 has a third region Q3. Third region Q3 is a region separated, in a direction in which shin protection portion 40 is disposed as viewed from a center p1 of a length T1 of knee protection portion 30 in first direction X, from center p1 by a distance T2 of ¼ of length T1. When the leg of the user is stretched in a state in which the user wears catcher's leg guard 1, belt 63 disposed at the position closest to a kneecap of the user in first direction X is disposed on the instep side of the user with respect to third region Q3. In this way, belt 63 is not wound at the back of the knee of the user, thereby preventing performance of the user from being compromised.

In catcher's leg guard 1, shin protection portion 40 has a shin covering surface 40s2 and a shin protection surface 40s1. Shin covering surface 40s2 is a surface facing the shin part of the user when the user wears catcher's leg guard 1. Shin protection surface 40s1 is a surface opposite to shin covering surface 40s2. When catcher's leg guard 1 is placed on a horizontal plane with shin covering surface 40s2 facing downward, a fourth region Q4 is defined as a region above a point at which a distance from the horizontal plane is the largest in shin protection surface 40s1. A fifth region Q5 is defined as a region located on the horizontal plane side with respect to fourth region Q4. Thigh protection portion 20 is connected to shin protection portion 40 such that a point p3 furthest away from shin protection portion 40 in thigh protection portion 20 can be moved from fifth region Q5 to fourth region Q4. In this way, excessive load is not applied to the thigh part of the user also in the standing posture. As a result, performance of the user can be suppressed from being decreased.

A catcher's leg guard 1 according to the present disclosure is a catcher's leg guard 1 wearable by a user, and includes a thigh protection portion 20, a knee protection portion 30, and a shin protection portion 40. When a leg of the user is stretched in a state in which the user wears catcher's leg guard 1, thigh protection portion 20 is disposed at a position to cover at least a portion of a thigh part of the user. Shin protection portion 40 is disposed at a position to cover a shin part of the user. A first direction X is defined as a direction in which thigh protection portion 20 is disposed as viewed from shin protection portion 40. Knee protection portion 30 is disposed to extend over a boundary between thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40 in first direction X. Catcher's leg guard 1 further includes at least one belt 60 that is able to be wound around a lower thigh of the user when the leg of the user is stretched in the state in which the user wears catcher's leg guard 1. When the leg of the user is stretched in the state in which the user wears catcher's leg guard 1, belt 63 disposed at a position closest to a kneecap of the user in first direction X is disposed at one of thigh protection portion 20 and shin protection portion 40. In this way, belt 63 is not wound at the back of the knee of the user when the leg of the user is bent. Thus, the user does not feel a sense of discomfort due to belt 63 being wound at the back of the knee. Therefore, performance of the user can be prevented from being decreased due to the sense of discomfort.

In catcher's leg guard 1, knee protection portion 30 has a third region Q3. Third region Q3 is a region separated, in the direction in which shin protection portion 40 is disposed as viewed from a center p1 of a length T1 of knee protection portion 30 in first direction X, from center p1 by a distance T2 of ¼ of length T1. When the leg of the user is stretched in the state in which the user wears catcher's leg guard 1, belt 63 disposed at a position closest to a kneecap of the user in first direction X is disposed on the instep side of the user with respect to third region Q3. In this way, belt 63 can be securely prevented from being wound at the back of the knee of the user when the leg of the user is bent.

A catcher's leg guard 1 according to the present disclosure is a catcher's leg guard 1 wearable by a user, and includes a thigh protection portion 20 and a shin protection portion 40. When the user wears catcher's leg guard 1, thigh protection portion 20 is disposed at a position to cover at least a portion of a thigh part of the user. Shin protection portion 40 is disposed at a position to cover a shin part of the user. Shin protection portion 40 has a shin covering surface 40s2 and a shin protection surface 40s1. Shin covering surface 40s2 is a surface facing the shin part of the user when the user wears catcher's leg guard 1. Shin protection surface 40s1 is a surface opposite to shin covering surface 40s2. When catcher's leg guard 1 is placed on a horizontal plane with shin covering surface 40s2 facing downward, a fourth region Q4 is defined as a region above a point at which a distance from the horizontal plane is the largest in shin protection surface 40s1. A fifth region Q5 is defined as a region located on the horizontal plane side with respect to fourth region Q4. Thigh protection portion 20 is connected to shin protection portion 40 such that a point p3 furthest away from shin protection portion 40 in thigh protection portion 20 is able to be moved from fifth region Q5 to fourth region Q4. In this way, excessive load is not applied to the thigh part of the user also in the standing posture. As a result, performance of the user can be suppressed from being decreased.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and non-restrictive in any respect. At least two or more of the embodiments disclosed herein may be combined as long as they are not contradictory. The basic scope of the present disclosure is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the embodiments described above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

Catcher's Leg Guard

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