COMPRESSION FABRIC WITH PADDING PROTECTION THAT PREVENTS BRUISING FROM IMPACT OF A LACROSSE STICK ON AN UPPER ARM

Abstract

A compression fabric to which is attached a pocket into which is fitted padding that has a base and a plurality of half cylindrical shape portions that are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart by respective gaps and that project outward from the base. The compression fabric may be a short or long sleeve of a sports jersey or an arm band. The padding is thin enough to be trimmed with scissors to suit the length of the upper arm of the wearer as desired.

Description

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING,” A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND AN INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to compression fabric equipped with padding protection in a pocket to prevent bruising of an upper arm. The compression sleeve may be part of a long or short sleeve of a sports jersey or an arm band.

2. Description of Information Known to the Inventor, Including References to Specific Documents Related to the Invention, and Specific Problems Involved in the State of Technology that the Invention is Drawn Toward

According to an online article at: https://spineandsportsmed.com/3-common-lacrosse-injuries-prevent/

“Lacrosse, a sport that has existed for a long time in the country and has recently become even more famous is taking the country by storm. Dubbed “America's first sport”, lacrosse is fairly popular across high schools and colleges, with many players partaking in the game recreationally. The sport in itself combines multiple elements from other different sports such as soccer, basketball, and even hockey, making it an extremely fast-paced and competitive game. However, a sport with so many elements will definitely result in some common injuries if precautions are not taken. Without further ado, let us take a look at three of the most common lacrosse injuries and how to prevent them.”

“Contusions or bruises are fairly common in lacrosse because players are constantly swinging around a metal stick and an extremely hard rubber ball. Aside from the usual cuts, grazes and bruises, the more serious injuries involve deep contusions that increase in size over time. It is important to practice “RICE” immediately after you experienced any forms of contusions in order to recover faster.

R—Rest

I—Ice

C—Compression

E—Elevation

• • Prevention of contusions are fairly simple and they involve wearing proper protective equipment on the field. If you're afraid of getting bruises, always pad up and replace your paddings once they have worn out over time.”

According to US Patent Application Publication No. US2022039503A1:

• • “Conventional protective sports gear and armor systems for mitigating impact forces on the body typically include one or more pads integrated into a harness or supporting system. The harness or supporting system attaches the one or more pads to a user. Because the pads are integrated into the supporting system, each variation for a conventional padding and armor system is manufactured separately. Accordingly, padding and armor systems are typically manufactured as a universal fit or as one or more standard sizes. As a result, customizability and the ability to manufacture custom padding systems are limited with conventional padding systems.”

Further, there are:

• • benefits of a padding system having pads which are removable from the supporting systems, such as by being supported in one or more pockets.
  • manufacturing benefits of a padding system which has removable pads.

That is, the manufacturing benefit:

• • allows for rapid order fulfillment and customizability of padding systems, as different sizes, shapes, and types of pads may be employed with a base pad supporting system. The supporting system and pads may be manufactured separately and assembled at a point of sale, local manufacturing facility, and/or local distribution system.

Also:

• • the sleeve may be elastic to reliably secure one or more pads inside of the pocket as the pads are compressed against a wearer.

In girls/women's lacrosse there is minimal protective “gear” for the player to wear. The required protective gear for all is a mouthpiece and protective eyewear (goggles) for all field players (goalies have different/more protective gear) . . . that is it. The style of play continues to evolve and there is more and more contact with the stick & body that is considered allowable. With this evolution of play, the players can sustain contact injuries in areas that are unprotected . . . especially areas that are most vulnerable like the arms, ribs & hips.

The primarily focus is on the area between the elbow and shoulder—the bicep/tricep area that has the highest amount of contact with the lacrosse stick that is prone to contact injuries like cross checks. The solution to this exposure to injury problem in girls/women's lacrosse is in a padded covering that protects this area that is lightweight and removable without hindering the player's mobility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the invention resides in a padding protection to be worn on an upper arm (elbow to lower shoulder). The padding protection includes a compression fabric to which is attached a pocket containing padding. The padding has a base and a plurality of half cylindrically shaped portions that project from the base and extend parallel to each other and are apart from each other by respective gaps. In response to a force of impact from a lacrosse stick against the half cylindrically shape portions, the half cylindrically shaped portions spread laterally into the gaps as they absorb the force of the impact and prevent bruising of the upper arm that would otherwise occur without their presence.

The compression fabric may be configured as a long or short sleeve of a sports jersey or as an arm band. In each case, the compression fabric wraps around a length of a portion of the upper arm region between the shoulder and the elbow, i.e., wrapping outside the bicep muscle and covering the tricep muscle, approximately 50% of the upper arm surface area.

The padding is made from any conventional closed cell foam, such as a cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), polyethylene foam roll, neoprene, and polyethylene. Such is preferable because of its excellent strength and shock absorbing qualities that diffuse the impact of hits and falls without degrading. Further, the closed cell foam is impervious to bacteria and mildew and will not absorb the moisture that can cause odor.

The pocket is attached to the compression fabric has by stitching and into which is fitted the padding that will be arranged with its half-cylindrical shaped portions facing outward away from the wearer's body when worn. The user may trim the padding to a smaller size if desired using conventional scissors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a long sleeve sports jersey embodiment whose compression long sleeves have respective pockets on their exterior and into which are fitted respective padded pocket inserts.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of an arm band embodiment on an upper arm and whose compression fabric has a respective pocket on the exterior of the compression fabric and into which is fitted a padded pocket insert. The sports jersey has short sleeves that just cover the shoulders and end before where the arm band is positioned on the upper arm.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the short sleeve sports jersey whose compression fabric forms left and right short sleeves each having an exterior upon which is a respective pocket that extends along the respective upper arm region and into which is fitted a respective padded pocket insert.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of a short sleeve sports jersey embodiment of FIG. 3 that shows the left side short sleeve and that is symmetric to the right side view, albeit for the opposite right side short sleeve of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front view of two arm bands on respective upper arms and thus placed on either side of a conventional sleeveless sports jersey with each of the two arm bands having respective pockets into which is fitted respective ones of padded pocket inserts.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a further long sleeve jersey whose compression fabric long sleeves each have an interior facing side upon which is stitched a pocket that extends along the upper arm region above the elbow and into which is fitted respective padded inserts in accordance with a further long sleeve sports jersey embodiment of the invention. One of the padding inserts is shown being inserted into one of the pockets.

FIG. 7 is a cross section of the padded pocket insert across 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a cross section as in FIG. 7 but further shows the effect of a lacrosse stick impacting the half cylindrically shaped portions of the padding protection that causes them to resiliently spread out laterally into the gaps between neighboring ones of the half cylindrically shaped portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1-6 show a padding protection 10 in accordance with the invention that is fitted within a pocket 20. In the case of FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 6, the pocket 20 is attached to compression fabric that forms a sleeved sports jersey 30. In the case of FIGS. 2 and 5, the pocket is attached to compression fabric that forms an arm band 40.

The sleeved sports jersey 30 may have long sleeves 36 such as that of FIG. 1 or FIG. 6 or have short sleeves 38 such as that of FIGS. 3-4. The long sleeves extend over the upper arm, the lower arm and the elbow between the upper and lower arms when worn. The short sleeves 38 extend the length of the upper arm and perhaps over the elbow when worn. The pocket 20 may be arranged on the exterior facing side of the sleeved jersey 30 as in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 or on the interior facing side of the sleeved jersey such as that of FIG. 6.

As an alternative, the padding insert 10 may be fitted within a pocket 20 of an arm band 40 such as that of FIGS. 2 and 5. In the case of FIG. 2, a sports jersey 32 is shown whose shoulder sleeves 39 cover the shoulders but are too short to cover enough of the upper arm to prevent bruising of the upper arm if the padding is only located along the length of its shoulder sleeves 39, In the case of FIG. 5, a sleeveless sports jersey 34 is shown so attaching the pocket to sleeves is not an option.

The compression fabric is preferably a conventional blend of nylon and spandex (roughly 90% nylon and 10% spandex) to provide a force of compression when worn.

The padding protection 10 will stay in place in the pocket because of the compression force exerted from the sleeve and so that closure flaps for the pocket opening 20 are not required. The sleeves of the sports jersey 30 are compression sleeves that typically do not move during competitive activity. The padding protection 10 is designed to “form” or “flex” in concert with the shape of the athlete's arm.

The padding protection 10 is characterized, as best seen in FIG. 7, by a base portion 14 of padding and a plurality of half cylindrically-shaped portions 12 of the padding that are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps and that project outward from the base portion 14. While the drawings show five half cylinder-shaped portions 12, more or less provided instead. The gaps between the half cylindrically shaped portions 12 will allow flexibility as well as the gaps provide space for when contact is made upon impact from a lacrosse stick to enable room for the half cylindrically shaped portions 12 to spread laterally into the gaps to some extent (FIG. 8).

The user may decide to trim the padding insert 10 to better suit the length of their upper arm. The padding thickness of the “ridges” (where the half cylindrically shaped portions are located) would be ¼″- 5/16″ and the “valleys” (where portions of the base between the half cylindrically-shaped portions 12 are located) would be ⅛′. Since it is all one piece of padding, trimming would not be problematic using any conventional scissors.

As should be appreciated, the present invention resides in prevention means for preventing bruising of the upper arm. The prevention means includes a compression fabric 30 configured to wrap around an upper arm and includes a pocket 20 attached to the compression fabric 30 and into which is fitted padding 10. The padding 10 has a base 14 and has a plurality of portions 12 that project outward from the base and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps. Each of the portions 12 has a half cylinder shape and extends parallel to each other. The portions 12 are configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick striking the padding 10 (FIG. 8) to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm.

In addition, the present invention resides in a method of bruise prevention, comprising the steps of preventing bruising of an upper arm by fitting padding 10 within a pocket 20 attached to a compression fabric 30 and wrapping the compression fabric 30 around the upper arm. The padding 10 has a base 14 and has a plurality of portions 12 that project outward from the base 14 and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps. Each of the portions 12 has a half cylinder shape and extends parallel to each other. The portions 12 are configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick 50 striking the padding 10 (FIG. 8) so as to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm. While FIG. 8 shows the head of the lacrosse stick striking the padding, the shaft of the lacrosse stick would cause more bruising damage upon impact against the upper arm today because the head of the lacrosse stick is typically made of a polymer that can bend upon impact while the shaft of the lacrosse stick is made of metal or wood that would not. Before the head was made of polymer as is common today, the head was made of wood. Thus, today, the padding of the upper arm is more protective against bruising from impact of the shaft of the lacrosse stick against it than from impact of the head against it.

While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bruise prevention device, comprising: prevention means for preventing bruising of the upper arm, the prevention means including a compression fabric configured to wrap around an upper arm and including a pocket attached to the compression fabric and into which is fitted padding, wherein the padding has a base and has a plurality of portions that project outward from the base and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps, each of the portions having a half cylinder shape and extending parallel to each other, the portions being configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick striking the padding to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm.

2. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the compression fabric forms a sleeve of a sports jersey, the pocket being attached to the sleeve and configured so that as the sleeve is worn on the upper arm, the pocket extends only adjacent the upper arm between a shoulder and an elbow without extending over the elbow.

3. The bruise prevention device of claim 2, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a short sleeve that wraps, when worn, around the upper arm only so as to leave clear an elbow that is between the upper arm and a lower arm.

4. The bruise prevention device of claim 2, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a long sleeve that wraps. when worn, over the upper arm, a lower arm and an elbow between the upper arm and the lower arm.

5. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the compression fabric forms an arm band that is worn only on the upper arm.

6. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the pocket is attached to an exterior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric wraps around the upper arm.

7. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the pocket is attached to an interior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric wraps around the upper arm.

8. A method of bruise prevention, comprising the steps of: preventing bruising of an upper arm by:fitting padding within a pocket attached to a compression fabric; andwrapping the compression fabric around the upper arm, wherein the padding has a base and has a plurality of portions that project outward from the base and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps, each of the portions having a half cylinder shape and extending parallel to each other, the portions being configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick striking the padding so as to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm.

9. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the compression fabric forms a sleeve of a sports jersey, the pocket being attached to the sleeve and positioned so that as the sleeve is worn on the upper arm, the pocket extends only adjacent the upper art between a shoulder and an elbow without extending over the elbow.

10. The method of bruise prevention of claim 9, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a short sleeve that wraps, when worn, around the upper arm only so as to leave clear an elbow that is between the upper arm and a lower arm.

11. The method of bruise prevention of claim 9, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a long sleeve that wraps, when worn, around the upper arm, a lower arm and an elbow between the upper arm and the lower arm.

12. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the compression fabric forms an arm band that is worn on the upper arm only.

13. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the pocket is attached to an exterior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric is worn on the upper arm.

14. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the pocket is attached to an interior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric is worn on the upper arm.

15. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, further comprising: trimming the insert to a smaller overall size.