Patent Application
20240057698
The present invention is directed to an improved kneepad system, and more specifically to first and second kneepad assemblies including a pocket, a corresponding kneepad insert, and a protective layer, each designed to be removably attached to pants.
Many persons must kneel in performance of their work. For example, carpet installers must kneel when attaching nail strips around the periphery of the area to be carpeted. They must also kneel when the carpet sections are joined and when the carpet is stretched. This kneeling is hard on the user's knees unless they are protected. A plurality of various occupations also require kneeling. For example, plumbers must kneel to do plumbing work near the floor. Carpenters must kneel on the floor to do carpentry at low levels.
In addition, there are non-work situations where kneeling is helpful. With any long term effort near the ground, kneeling is preferable to bending. Thus, garden work often requires kneeling for attention to plants or planting. There are pads which can be carried along and put in position for kneeling. There are foam kneepads which can be strapped around the leg so that they are presumably in position when the user wants to kneel. However, such kneepads are inconvenient, or do not remain in position. Also, the use of straps on this prior art example can cut off blood circulation to a user's lower leg, thereby being uncomfortable and often painful for the user. Thus, there is a need for a structure which properly positions the kneepad and holds it in place.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an improved kneepad system for removably attaching a pair of kneepads to a pair of pants. The improved kneepad system includes one or more external kneepad assemblies to be disposed along an outer surface of the pants. A fastening assembly is designed for removably attaching the one or more external kneepad assemblies to the pants. Each of the kneepad assemblies includes a pocket which houses a corresponding kneepad insert. Finally the kneepad assemblies includes a protective layer.
According to a second embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an improved kneepad system for removably attaching a pair of kneepads to a pair of pants. The improved kneepad system includes one or more external kneepad assemblies to be disposed along an outer surface of the pants. A fastening assembly is designed for removably attaching the one or more external kneepad assemblies to the pants. Each of the kneepad assemblies includes an expandable spandex or durable cloth material pocket formed of connected first and second panels and having an opening on a top edge. The expandable spandex or durable cloth material pocket houses a corresponding kneepad insert. Each of the kneepad assemblies includes a protective layer having a hard but flexible shell portion.
The structure, operation, and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures (FIGS.). The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views may be in the form of “slices”, or “near sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a “true” cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity.
In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) may be used to identify elements. If legends are provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader, and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting.
In the description that follows, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. Well-known processing steps are generally not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obfuscating the description of the present invention.
In the description that follows, exemplary dimensions may be presented for an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The dimensions should not be interpreted as limiting. They are included to provide a sense of proportion. Generally speaking, it is the relationship between various elements, where they are located, their contrasting compositions, and sometimes their relative sizes that is of significance.
In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, often both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) will be used to identify elements. If legends are provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting.
Almost everyone is aware of the discomfort that follows a kneeling position maintained for even a short interval. To those whose occupations require working in that position for long intervals, on floors and floor coverings, for example, kneepads are used to minimize such discomfort.
The constant pressure, moving, sliding, leaning and the like, while working on the floor or ground and on one's knees, all cause great pain in the knee area. Such people include construction workers, floor refinishers, shelf stockers, roofers, janitorial personnel and the like. One common method of combating this pain is to wear external kneepads over their pants. While undoubtedly this provides cushioning while kneeling, the external kneepads pinch and bind the wearer's leg when standing. However, kneepads can interfere with leg circulation when they are wrapped tightly around the knee.
This quickly becomes an unsuitable solution for those who are constantly up and down on their knees. Additionally, the use of external kneepads with this drawback usually requires them to be removed during breaks or while going for lunch thus spending time and effort to relocate them and put them back on after break or lunch is over.
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of kneepads now present in the prior art, the improved kneepad system 10 provides a new protective knee system construction wherein the same can be utilized for attaching a pair of kneepads to pair of pants to protect the wearer's knees. The kneepad system 10 is designed as a removable kneepad 12 that may simply and temporarily be added to a user's 11 existing pair of pants 14. The kneepad 12 provide a cushioned surface for the knees to prevent nerve or cartilage damage.
The kneepad system 10 includes a pair of work pants 14 removably positional over the
The one or more kneepad assemblies 12 can be easily removed from the pants 14 for laundering, replacement, or when not needed. Each kneepad assembly 12 provides a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position. A fastening assembly 16 is for fastening each one of the pair of kneepads 12 to an associated one of the pants 14 legs for covering the knees of a user.
As illustrated in
The work pants 14 are designed typically similar to that of conventional pants having a waistband, a left leg member 20, a right leg member 22, a plurality of variable sizeable pockets 24 and 26, belt loops 28, and means to put on and take off the pants 30, i.e. button and zipper. As customary, the left leg member 20 is preferably, but not essentially, the mirrored image of the right leg member 22 fabricated and designed similarly
Removeably attached to the front of the left leg member 20 is a first kneepad assembly 12a. A similar second kneepad assembly 12b can be removably attached to the front of the right leg member 22. The kneepad assemblies 12a and 12b are identical, and although it is within the terms of the embodiment that there only be one of the kneepad assemblies included, it is preferable for the system 10 to include first and second kneepad assemblies 12a and 12b.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The pocket 52 is formed of connected first and second panels 52a and 52b, respectively. The first and second panels 52a and 52b forming the pocket 52 are stitched or sewn on three sides, leaving an opening 56 on the top edge. The pocket 52 is preferably constructed of an expandable spandex or durable cloth material to accept the kneepad insert 54 and maintain it securely. The opening 56 will be sufficiently small to prevent the kneepad insert 54 from being pushed out during use. The kneepad insert 54 is generally soft and flexible, and can be collapsed to fit into the opening 56 of the pocket 52. Upon release, the kneepad insert 54 will assume the volume or cavity of the pocket 52.
Disposed on the first panel of the pocket 52 is means of connection such as first Velcro strip 60. The Velcro strip 60 corresponds to an accompanying second Velcro strip 62 on the rear of the protective layer 55, as seen in
As previously mentioned, the second kneepad assembly 12b, although not shown in detail, is identical in shape, dimensions, and functionality to the first kneepad assembly 12a, including the same components.
Each of the first and second kneepad assemblies 12a and 12b include a fastening assembly 16 is for fastening each one of the kneepad assemblies to the pants 14. As illustrated in
It also must be noted that the improved kneepad system 10 may be used with shorts, whereby a top edge of the kneepad assembly 16 is removably attached to the shorts, and a bottom edge attaches to the user's leg. The bottom edge of the of the kneepad assembly 16 may connect to the user's leg utilizing straps which may be adjustable and connected to the bottoms of the user's shoes.
Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to a certain preferred embodiment or embodiments, certain equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functions performed by the above described components (assemblies, devices, etc.) the terms (including a reference to a “means”) used to describe such components are intended to correspond, unless otherwise indicated, to any component which performs the specified function of the described component (i.e., that is functionally equivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosed structure which performs the function in the herein illustrated exemplary embodiments of the invention. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more features of the other embodiments as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.
