BACKGROUND
This invention relates to a protective garment (girdle) designed to protect an athlete's legs, hip, and tailbone from impact forces incurred during sports activities, such as football, rugby, skiing, ice hockey, and other extreme sports.
Football girdles are long shorts worn under pants that fit snugly (compress) against the body and have a plurality of slots designed to receive pads (either removable or permanent pads) in order to protect the athlete in the event of an impact force acting thereon. These pads are typically located at the hips, tailbone, and thighs. Examples of protective sport garments are disclosed in the following U.S. patents: U.S. Pat. No. 759,833 (padded garment comprising a trouser having a plurality of pads permanently secured to the trouser with stitching to the outer surface of its body and legs): U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,844 (trouser undergarment made of stretchable material having pockets at the knees and thighs designed to receive removable padding, e.g., pockets stitched with the top open portion); U.S. Pat. No. 7,389,547 (garment having protective shields attached to the legs with releasable hook/loop fastener that allows the position of the shields on the legs to be adjusted and the shields to be removed from the legs).
The objects and advantages of the invention are embodied in the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings of a preferred embodiment of the protective garment.
SUMMARY
The invention provides a protective pad for protection from impact and also allows a user's body heat to efficiently and effectively exit the user's body surface even in locations of the user's body that are covered, padded and protected. The pad design allows for moisture management properties and tactical impact energy dispersion and also reduces the weight of the pads and covering without compromising the protection of the user.
The invention also includes a protective garment, e.g., a girdle or shorts for wearing under pants. The protective garment includes pads for protecting various parts of the body such as thighs, hips and tailbone.
A first aspect of the invention is a protective pad for protection from impact comprising: a foam part, and a plate part, wherein the foam part includes a plurality of channels, a plurality of cutout portions, and a plate accommodating section for receiving the plate part, the plurality of channels are formed in a first surface of the foam part and the plate accommodating section is formed in a second surface opposite to the first surface, the plate accommodating section being a recess in the second surface of the foam part, and the plurality of cutout portions of the foam part are through-holes formed in the foam part from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the plate part is arranged on the plate accommodating section of the foam part, and the plate part includes a plurality of cutout portions that are substantially aligned with the cutout portions of the foam part, the plurality of cutout portions of the plate part are through-holes formed in the plate part from a first surface adjacent to the foam part to a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the plurality of cutout portions of the plate part are tapered inward from the second surface towards the first surface.
In a second aspect of the invention, an opening percentage defined by the total area of all of the openings of the cutout portions of the plate part at the first surface of the plate part relative to an area of the first surface of the plate part defined by the outer perimeter of all of the plurality cutout portions of the plate part combined is 10 to 50%.
In a third aspect of the invention, the opening percentage is 20 to 30%.
In a fourth aspect of the invention, the plate part includes a stitching tab portion arranged near an outer edge around the plate part, and the plate part is stitched to the foam part at the stitching tab portion of the plate part and at the plate accommodating section of the foam part.
In a fifth aspect of the invention, the thickness of the foam part at a portion of the foam part not within the plate accommodating section and not within a channel is 6 to 20 mm.
In a sixth aspect of the invention, the plurality of cutout portions of the foam part and the plurality of cutout portions of the plate part are arranged in rows, the shape of the plurality of cutout portions of the foam part and the plurality of cutout portions of the plate part is substantially triangular, and adjacent rows of the cutout portions of the foam part and the plate part are formed as mirror-images from each other.
A seventh aspect of the invention is a protective garment for protection from impact forces comprising: a garment for wearing under pants having a body portion and a pair of left and right leg portions, a thigh pad on each of the left and right leg portions, the thigh pad comprising a protective pad as in the first aspect of the invention, a hip pad on each of a left and right side of the body portion, and a tailbone pad located at a back side of the body portion.
In an eighth aspect of the invention, the hip pads and the tailbone pad comprise a foam part including a plurality of channels and a plurality of cutout portions, the plurality of channels are formed in a first surface of the foam part, and the plurality of cutout portions are through-holes formed in the foam part from the first surface to a second surface that is opposite to the first surface.
In a ninth aspect of the invention, the plate part of the thigh pad includes a stitching tab portion arranged near an outer edge around the plate part, and the plate part is stitched to the foam part at the stitching tab portion of the plate part and at the plate accommodating section of the foam part, wherein the foam part of the thigh pad includes a stitching tab portion arranged near an outer edge around the foam part, and the foam part of the thigh pad is stitched to the shorts.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a protective garment having pads in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of the protective garment having pads shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a back view of the protective garment having pads shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 4 is a left side view the protective garment having pads shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 5 is a right side view of the protective garment having pads shown in FIG. 1 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a thigh pad in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 7 is a front view of the thigh pad shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 8 is a back view of the thigh pad shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 9 is a left side view of the thigh pad shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 10 is a right side view of the thigh pad shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 11 is a top view of the thigh pad shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the thigh pad shown in FIG. 6 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 13 illustrates pattern for protective garment in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 14 is a thigh pad foam, including sectional views A-A′ and B-B′ in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 15 is a thigh pad foam, before and after die cut in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 16 is a hip pad, including sectional views A-A′ and B-B′ in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 17 is a hip pad, before and after die cut in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 18 is a tailbone pad, before and after die cut in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 19 is a thigh pad plate, including sectional view in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and
FIG. 20 is an assembly drawing of thigh pad to protective garment in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Several embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings show embodiments of the invention drawn to scale. The embodiments as shown in the figures and discussed below are exemplary of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention to that explicitly shown or described.
With reference to the drawings, one embodiment of this invention includes a protective garment (e.g., girdle) 1 having a body portion 1a and a pair of left and right leg portions 1b. The body portion 1a includes a flexible waist band adapted to surround a person's (athlete) abdomen. The leg portions 1b extend above the person's knees and surround the person's thighs. However, the leg portions may also be designed to extend past the knees. The garment 1 is made from elastic, washable and durable fabric. An example of such fabric is Lyrcra®, Spandex, and/or mesh. A plurality of pads are provided at locations of the garment 1 to absorb impact forces, such as from direct or indirect contact with opposing player(s), object(s), or ground surface. The locations of the pads are selected to protect the person's thighs, hips, and tailbone.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the body portion 1a includes left and right hip pads 3 and a tailbone pad 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the leg portions 1b includes left and right thigh pads 7. As shown in FIGS. 6-12, the thigh pad 7 comprises a foam part 7a and a thigh pad plate 7b. The thigh pad foam part 7a, hip pads 3, and tailbone pad 5 may be formed from a known foam type, including EVA, LDPE, HDPE, PU, VN, or visco-elastic foam. These components may be formed by heat compressed foam, molded, or injection foam. The foam thickness may be 5-20 mm, preferably 8-12 mm, most preferably 10 mm. The thigh pad plate 7b may be formed from a known hard plastic material, such as ABS, PP, HDPE, PC, or a composite (glass or carbon based), or any of blend of these resins, or any of these resins mixed with 0-15% glass or carbon reinforcement.
One objective of the novel design for the various pad features included in the protective garment described herein is to allow a user's body heat to efficiently and effectively exit the user's body surface even in locations of the user's body that are covered, padded, and protected. The pad design allows for moisture management properties and tactical impact energy dispersion.
FIG. 13 illustrates an embodiment of a pattern used to form the protective garment 1. The pattern includes a plurality of cut lines and fold lines designed to form the overall shape of the protective garment and to accommodate the pads attached (stitched) to an outside surface of the protective garment 1. The protective garment 1 includes several panel portions separated by cut lines. The panel portions may be formed of mesh or lycra material, depending on the desired function of the panel portion.
FIG. 14 illustrates a foam part 7a of left thigh pad 7, without the pad plate 7b. As shown in section A-A′, the foam part 7a is formed with a plurality of channels 7c, pad plate accommodating portion 7b′, and a first plurality of cutout portions 7d. The thickness of foam part 7a may be 5-20 mm, preferably 8-12 mm, most preferably 10 mm. In this embodiment, the foam plate accommodating portion 7b′ is a recessed portion having a depth of 3 mm and thickness of 7 mm; however, it is known to use a dimension suitable to accommodate a desired pad plate 7b thereon. Each of the channels 7c is preferably 5 mm deep and formed such that at least 2 mm of material remains at an upper surface thereof. For example, in the portion of 10 mm foam part 7a that is not the foam plate accommodating portion 7b′, the channel is formed 5 mm deep and there is 5 mm of material remaining at an upper surface thereof. As shown in section B-B′, the plurality of cutout portions 7d are formed as vertical through-holes extending from the upper surface through a lower surface of the foam part 7a. The plurality of cutout portions 7d are formed on the entire foam part 7a, including the pad plate accommodating portion 7b′. Each of the plurality of cutout portions 7d may be configured of the same shape or different shapes (e.g., aesthetics). In this embodiment, for example, the cutout portions are formed in rows of mostly triangular shaped cutouts having rounded edges wherein the shapes of the cutout portions in adjacent rows are formed generally as mirror-images from one another.
It is important to arrange the cutouts in a manner that protects the user (e.g., tactical impact energy dispersion), allows the user's skin to effectively and efficiently breathe and release heat, and reduces the weight of the pads and covering. This can be accomplished by designing a pad with the most amount of cutouts in the padding and covering without compromising the protection to the player (e.g., structural integrity of the pad).
FIG. 15 illustrates a top and bottom view of the left thigh pad foam part 7a, before and after a die cut process used to form the plurality of cutout portions 7d. As shown in the top view before die cut, the pad plate accommodating portion 7b′ in this embodiment is a 3 mm recess designed to fit the pad plate 7b. The thigh pad 7 includes a stitching tab portion 7e formed along the contour of the thigh pad 7. The stitching tab portion 7e is preferably formed free of cutout portions 7d in order to allow for continuous stitching of the thigh pad 7 to the protective garment 1 along the entire contour of the thigh pad 7.
FIG. 19 illustrates a thigh pad plate 7b. The thigh pad plate 7b is arranged (e.g., stitched) on a top of pad plate accommodating portion 7b′. The thigh pad plate 7b may be made with a flexible plastic material that has a certain amount of flexibility and that is stitchable for stitching the thigh pad plate 7b to the foam part 7a. The thigh pad plate 7b may alternatively include holes formed on a contour thereof to allow for stitching the pad plate 7b to the foam part 7a. However other known attaching means can be used to attach the pad plate 7b to the foam part 7a. For example, the pad plate 7h may be inserted into pockets on the foam part 7a or protective garment 1.
The thigh pad plate 7b may be formed from a known hard plastic material, such as ABS, PP, HDPE, PC, or a composite (glass or carbon based), any of blend of these resins, or any of these resins mixed with 0-15% glass or carbon reinforcement. A second plurality of spaced-apart cutout portions 7d′ is formed in a central section 7f of the thigh pad plate 7b, which may be surrounded by an outer edge 7g of the thigh pad plate. As shown in FIG. 19, the outer edge 7g does not include the spaced-apart cutout portions 7d′. The pad plate 7b is located on a surface of the thigh pad 7 so that each of the cutout portions 7d′ are arranged generally in line with the corresponding underlying cutout portions 7d of the foam part 7a, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6-10. The cutout portions 7d′ of the thigh pad plate and the cutout portions of the foam part 7a may be formed in a grid pattern. For example, an exemplary cutout portion 7d′a may be spaced apart from the outer edge 7g of the thigh pad plate 7b, such that the cutout portion 7d′a is situated entirely within the central section 7f of the thigh pad plate. According to this embodiment, each of the cutout portion 7d′ is formed to taper inward. Each cutout portion 7d′ is spaced apart approximately 6 mm from each adjacent cutout portion 7d′ and is approximately 6 mm in depth. However, a dimension suitable to mate with the corresponding foam part 7a and to provide adequate structural integrity for the desired impact absorption properties can be used.
The cutout portions 7d′ of pad plate 7b provide a large amount of ventilation while still providing strength for impact protection. As shown in FIG. 7, the cutout portions 7d′ of the pad plate 7b provide a certain opening percentage relative to the total surface in a zone defined by the outer perimeter of the pad plate 7b cutout portions 7d′. FIG. 8 shows the inner surface of the foam part. In FIG. 8, the inner openings of the cutout portions of the pad plate 7b correspond with the cutout portions of the foam part 7a excluding the cutout portions grouped together along the right edge of the foam part.
The opening percentage calculated based on the inner openings of cutout portions 7d′ relative to the total surface in the zone defined by the outer perimeter of the cutout portions 7d′ of pad plate 7b on the inner surface (leg side) is preferably 10% or more preferably 15% or more, more preferably 20% or more. The opening percentage of the inner opening of cutout portions 7d′ is preferably 50% or less, more preferably 40% or less, more preferably 30% or less, more preferably 25% or less. FIG. 7 shows an opening percentage of 22% for the inner openings of cutout portions 7d′ relative to the total surface in the zone defined by the outer perimeter of the cutout portions 7d′ of pad plate 7b.
The channels in the thigh pad plate 7b provide ventilation and also disperse impact energy to the foam part 7a more efficiently than a solid hard plate. Moisture-wicking technology in the fabric of the protective garment 1 is designed to remove sweat and to accelerate evaporation and cooling. Mesh panels, e.g., polyl spandex, enhance ventilation to keep the user's core body temperature generally consistent and cool. Compression fabric portions of the protective garment are provided to contour to the user's body for optimal fit and improved range of motion. Flat seam, design of the protective garment 1 is designed to diminish irritation during movement. The protective garment 1 and pads may include anti-microbial treatment to reduce odor causing bacteria.
FIG. 16 illustrates a left side hip pad 3. As shown in section A-A′, the hip pad 3 is formed with a first plurality of channels 3c on a first, upper surface of hip pad 3; a second plurality of channels 3f on a second, lower surface of hip pad 3; a medial segment 3m in between the upper surface and lower surface of hip pad 3; a plurality of cutout portions 3d; and a contour stitching tab 3e. As illustrated in FIG. 16, the second plurality of channels 3f include open ends 3k along the second, lower surface of hip pad 3. Medial segment 3m separates the first plurality of channels 3c from the second plurality of channels 3f. As illustrated by circled portion 3h in FIG. 16, at least one channel 3c in the upper surface may overlap with at least one channel 3f in the lower surface (that is, a portion of first channel 3c may be directly opposite from a portion of second channel 3f). The hip pad 3 may include a horizontal channel 3b, preferably 5 mm thick, extending horizontally across the upper surface of hip pad 3 from one end portion of the hip pad 3 to the opposite end portion of the hip pad 3. Horizontal channel 3b may intersect with at least one channel of the first plurality of channels 3c; an example of an intersection of horizontal channel 3b with a channel 3c is shown in area 3p of FIG. 16. As shown in sections A-A′ and B-B′, the width of horizontal channel 3b may be larger than the width of at least one of the first plurality of channels 3c and larger than the width of at least one of the second plurality of channels 3f. The thickness of hip pad 3 may be 6-20 mm, preferably 8-12 mm, most preferably 10 mm. Each of the channels 3f is preferably 5 mm deep and formed such that at least 2 mm of material of hip pad 3 remains between an inner boundary 3f′ of the channel (see section A-A′) and the upper surface of the pad 3 for structural integrity. For example, in the portion of 10 mm hip pad 3 including a channel 3f formed 5 mm deep, the vertical portion of the pad above the channel (specifically, above inner boundary 3f′ of the channel) is 5 mm thick. As shown in section B-B′, the plurality of cutout portions 3d are formed as vertical through-holes extending from the upper surface through the medial segment 3m to a lower surface of the hip pad 3 with parallel side walls 3g. As shown in FIG. 16, the contour stitching tab portion 3e is formed along the contour of the hip pad. The stitching tab portion 3e is preferably formed free of cutout portions 3d in order to allow for continuous stitching of the hip pad 3 to the protective garment 1 along the entire contour of the hip pad 3. Each of the plurality of cutout portions 3d may be configured of the same shape or different shapes. In this embodiment, for example, the cutout portions are formed in rows of mostly triangular shaped cutouts having rounded edges wherein the shapes of the cutout portions in adjacent rows are formed generally as mirror-images from one another.
FIG. 17 illustrates a top and bottom view of the left hip pad 3, before and after a die cut process used to form the plurality of cutout portions 3d. As shown in the top views, the first plurality of channels 3c on the upper surface of hip pad 3 may form a first pattern of closed cells 3i. Similarly, and as shown in the bottom views, the second plurality of channels 3f on the lower surface of hip pad 3 may form a second pattern of closed cells 3j. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 17, the closed cells 3i and 3j may have polygonal shapes. As shown in FIG. 17 and section B-B′ in FIG. 16, at least one of the cutout portions 3d may have an upper opening 3n situated within one of the closed cells 3i formed by the first plurality of channels 3c.
FIG. 18 illustrates a tailbone pad 5. The tailbone pad 5 is formed with a plurality of channels 5c, a plurality of cutout portions 5d and a contour stitching tab 5e. The thickness of tailbone pad 5 may be 6-20 mm, preferably 8-12 mm, most preferably 10 mm. Each of the channels 5c is preferably 5 mm deep and formed such that at least 2 m of material remains at an upper surface thereof for structural integrity. For example, in a 10 mm portion tailbone pad 5 including a channel formed 5 mm deep, the vertical portion above the channel is 5 mm thick. The plurality of cutout portions 5d are formed as vertical through-holes extending from the upper surface through a lower surface of the tailbone pad 5. The contour stitching tab portion 5e is formed along the contour of the tailbone pad 5. The stitching tab portion 5e is preferably formed free of cutout portions 5d in order to allow for continuous stitching of the tailbone pad 5 to the protective garment 1 along the entire contour of the tailbone pad 5. Each of the plurality of cutout portions 5d may be configured of the same shape or different shapes. In this embodiment, for example, the cutout portions are formed in rows of mostly triangular shaped cutouts having rounded edges wherein the shapes of the cutout portions in adjacent rows are formed generally as minor-images from one another.
FIG. 20 is a drawing illustrating an assembly of the thigh pad plate 7b to the thigh pad foam 7a, and the thigh pad 7 to the protective garment 1. As illustrated, the thigh pad plate 7b is attached to the pad plate accommodating portion 7b′ of the foam part 7a so that each of the cutout portions 7d′ are arranged generally in line with the corresponding underlying cutout portions 7d of the foam part 7a, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6-10. As shown in FIG. 20, the pad plate 7b may be attached to the foam part 7a by stitching the outer edge 7g of the pad plate 7b to pad plate accommodating portion 7b′ of the foam part 7a via the holes formed in the stitching tab portion 7e. According to this embodiment, the thigh pad plate 7b may be concave such that a portion of the central section 7f of the thigh pad plate (e.g., plate portion 7h in FIGS. 19 and 20) is spaced apart from the pad plate accommodating portion 7b′. The plate portion 7h may include the cutout portion 7d′a. The thigh pad 7, integrally comprising the foam part 7a and plate portion 7b, is then attached to the protective garment. The thigh pad 7 may be attached to the protective garment 1 by placing the thigh pad 7 on an inner side of a desired location on the protective garment 1, preferably floating mesh layer, and performing a flatlock (flatseam) contour seam. However, other known methods, such as cover stitching and overlocking may be performed. The hip pad 3 and tailbone pad 5 may also be attached to the protective garment 1 by placing the respective pad on an inner side of a desired location on the protective garment 1, preferably floating mesh layer, and performing a flatlock (flatseam) contour seam.
Illustrative embodiments are described herein with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as providing examples of the principles of the invention and such examples are not intended to limit the invention to preferred embodiments described herein and/or illustrated herein.
Patent Grant
12311249
