Safety pants with removable knee pads

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6745398
  • Patent Number
    6,745,398
  • Date Filed
    Friday, June 6, 2003
    20 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 8, 2004
    19 years ago
Abstract
A safety pants with removable knee pads for providing a user with a pair of pants that would incorporate pockets which could house knee protection. The safety pants with removable knee pads include a pair of pants. The pants have a lower torso portion and two legs. Each of the legs has a front knee portion. Each one of a pair of pads has a size designed for covering one of the front knee areas. Each one of the pads provides a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position. A fastening assembly is for fastening each one of the pair of pads to an associated one of the legs for covering the knees of a user.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to pants and more particularly pertains to a new safety pants with removable knee pads for providing a user with a pair of pants that would incorporate pockets which could house knee protection.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of pants is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,920,902 describes knee pads for work pants having a pad held in place between the inside of the knee area of work pant leg and a rectangular fabric piece that is attached to the pant leg. Another type of pant is U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,408 describes work pants for use when performing work in which sitting and kneeling take place frequently. U.S. Pat. No. Des. 393,141 describes an ornamental design for work pants with kneeling pad pockets. U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,666 describes a garment especially adapted for protecting the knees while gardening. U.S. Pat. No. 4,613,991 describes a pair of work pants particularly designed for kneeling work activity having removable leather patches covering the knee area. U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,124 describes knee padding for work pants.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The object of the present invention is to provide a new safety pants with removable knee pads that would provide a cushioned surface for the knees to prevent nerve or cartilage damage.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a new safety pants with removable knee pads that could be easily removed for laundering, replacement, or when not needed.




To this end, the present invention generally comprises a pair of pants. The pants have a lower torso portion and two legs. Each of the legs has a front knee portion. Each one of a pair of pads has a size designed for covering one of the front knee areas. Each one of the pads provides a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position. A fastening assembly is for fastening each one of the pair of pads to an associated one of the legs for covering the knees of a user.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a front view of a new safety pants with removable knee pads according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to





FIGS. 1 through 2

thereof, a new safety pants with removable knee pads embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 2

, the safety pants with removable knee pads


10


generally comprises a pair of pants


12


. The pants


12


have a lower torso portion


14


and two legs


16


. Each of the legs


16


has a front knee portion


18


. Each one of a pair of pads


20


has a size designed for covering one of the front knee areas. Each one of the pads


20


provides a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position. A fastening assembly


22


is for fastening each one of the pair of pads


20


to an associated one of the legs


16


for covering the knees of a user.




Each of the pads


20


has a top wall


24


for facilitating insertion and removal of the pads


20


into the pocket


26


. An arcuate bottom wall


28


curves upward and joins a pair of side walls


30


. Each of the pads


20


is for protectively covering the knee area of a user. Each of the pads


20


has a generally curved shape for facilitating the fit of the pads


20


around the front knee areas of a user. Each of the pads


20


has a u-shaped cross-section. The pads


20


are constructed of a cushioning material such as foam rubber.




A pocket


26


is sized slightly larger that the pads


20


for providing a snug fit for the pads


20


. Each one of the pads


20


is slidably received by an associated one of the pockets


26


. The pocket


26


has three sides coupled to the front knee portion


18


. The pocket


26


has an open end


32


positioned opposite a closed bottom end


34


for facilitating insertion of the pad


20


into the pocket


26


. The three sides of the pocket


26


are double stitched to prevent the pocket


26


from being separated from the front knee portion


18


. Preferably, the pocket is square along the bottom and sides.




The pocket


26


further includes a tab portion


36


. The tab portion


36


is coupled to the open end for facilitating closure of the pocket


26


to the front knee portion


18


.




The fastening assembly further includes a hook and loop fastener means


38


attached to the pants


12


and the tab portion


36


. A first portion


40


of a hook and loop fastener


38


is coupled to the pants


12


. A second portion


42


of a hook and loop fastener


38


is coupled to the tab portion


36


. The first portion


40


and the second portion


42


are complimentary.




In a preferred embodiment, the tab portion


36


is positioned between the material of the pocket


26


, and second portion


42


of the hook and loop fastener


38


to improve durability of the tab portion


36


and the effectiveness of the tap portion


36


in opening the pocket


26


.




In an embodiment, the fastening assembly extends along an entire length of the top edge of the pocket.




In use, a user would place a pad into the pocket located on the knee portion of the pants and secure the open end of the pocket to the pants utilizing the hook and loop fastener. The pad would be in position to protect the knee of the user when kneeling on a horizontal support surface such as a floor.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A pant knee pad combination system for protecting the knees of a user comprising:a pair of pants, said pants having a lower torso portion and two legs, each of said legs having a front knee portion; a pair of pads, each of said pads having a size adapted for covering one of said front knee areas; each of said pads providing a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position; a fastening assembly for fastening each one of said pair of pads to an associated one of said legs for covering the knees of a users; each one of said two legs having a pocket being sized slightly larger that said pads for providing a snug fit for said pads, when each one of said pads are slidably received by an associated one of said pockets; and said pocket further comprises a tab portion, said tab portion being coupled to said open end for facilitating closure of said pocket to said front knee portion.
  • 2. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said pads has a top wall for facilitating insertion and removal of said pads into said pocket, an arcuate bottom wall curves upward and joins a pair of side walls, each of said pads being for protectively covering the knee area of a user.
  • 3. The system of claim 2, wherein each of said pads having a generally curved shape for facilitating the fit of said pads around the front knee areas of a user, each of said pads having a u-shaped cross-section.
  • 4. The system of claim 2, wherein said pads being constructed of a cushioning material such as foam rubber.
  • 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said pocket having three sides coupled to said front knee portion, said pocket having an open end positioned opposite a closed bottom end for facilitating insertion of said pad into said pocket.
  • 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said three sides of said pocket being double stitched to prevent said pocket from being separated from said front knee portion.
  • 7. The system of claim 1, wherein said fastening assembly further comprises a hook and loop fastener means attached to said pants and said tab portion;a first portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said pants; a second portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said tab portion; said first portion and said second being complimentary.
  • 8. A pant knee pad combination system for protecting the knees of a user comprising:a pair of pants, said pants having a lower torso portion and two legs, each of said legs having a front knee portion; a pair of pads, each of said pads having a size adapted for covering one of said front knee areas; each of said pads providing a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position; a fastening assembly for fastening each one of said pair of pads to an associated one of said legs for covering the knees of a user; wherein each of said pads has a top wall for facilitating insertion and removal of said pads into said pocket, an arcuate bottom wall curves upward and joins a pair of side walls, each of said pads being for protectively covering the knee area of a user; wherein each of said pads having a generally curved shape for facilitating the fit of said pads around the front knee areas of a user, each of said pads having a u-shaped cross-section; wherein said pads being constructed of a cushioning material such as foam rubber; wherein a pocket being sized slightly larger that said pads for providing a snug fit for said pads, when each one of said pads are slidably received by an associated one of said pockets; wherein said pocket having three sides coupled to said front knee portion, said pocket having an open end positioned opposite a closed bottom end for facilitating insertion of said pad into said pocket; wherein said three sides of said pocket being double stitched to prevent said pocket from being separated from said front knee portion; wherein said pocket further comprises a tab portion, said tab portion being coupled to said open end for facilitating closure of said pocket to said front knee portion; wherein said fastening assembly further comprises a hook and loop fastener means attached to said pants and said tab portion; a first portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said pants; a second portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said tab portion; and said first portion and said second being complimentary.
  • 9. A pant knee pad combination system for protecting the knees of a user comprising:a pair of pants, said pants having a lower torso portion and two legs, each of said legs having a front knee portion; a pair of pads, each of said pads having a size adapted for covering one of said front knee areas; each of said pads providing a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position; a fastening assembly for fastening each one of said pair of pads to an associated one of said legs for covering the knees of a user; each one of said two legs having a pocket being sized slightly larger that said pads for providing a snug fit for said pads, when each one of said pads are slidably received by an associated one of said pockets; and said pocket further comprises a tab portion, said tab portion being coupled to said open end for facilitating closure of said pocket to said front knee portion, said tab positioned medially on said open end, said tab extending upwardly beyond a peripheral edge of said pocket.
  • 10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of said pads has a top wall for facilitating insertion and removal of said pads into said pocket, an arcuate bottom wall curves upward and joins a pair of side walls, each of said pads being for protectively covering the knee area of a user.
  • 11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of said pads having a generally curved shape for facilitating the fit of said pads around the front knee areas of a user, each of said pads having a unshaped cross-section.
  • 12. The system of claim 10, wherein said pads being constructed of a cushioning material such as foam rubber.
  • 13. The system of claim 9, wherein said pocket having three sides coupled to said front knee portion, said pocket having an open end positioned opposite a closed bottom end for facilitating insertion of said pad into said pocket.
  • 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said three sides of said pocket being double stitched to prevent said pocket from being separated from said front knee portion.
  • 15. The system of claim 9, wherein said fastening assembly further comprises a hook and loop fastener means attached to said pants and said tab portion;a first portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said pants; a second portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said tab portion; said first portion and said second being complimentary.
  • 16. A pant knee pad combination system for protecting the knees of a user comprising:a pair of pants, said pants having a lower torso portion and two legs, each of said legs having a front knee portion; a pair of pads, each of said pads having a size adapted for covering one of said front knee areas; each of said pads providing a cushioning between a horizontal support surface and knees of a user when the user is in a kneeling position; a fastening assembly for fastening each one of said pair of pads to an associated one of said legs for covering the knees of a user; wherein each of said pads has a top wall for facilitating insertion and removal of said pads into said pocket, an arcuate bottom wall curves upward and joins a pair of side walls, each of said pads being for protectively covering the knee area of a user; wherein each of said pads having a generally curved shape for facilitating the fit of said pads around the front knee areas of a user, each of said pads having a u-shaped cross-section; wherein said pads being constructed of a cushioning material such as foam rubber; wherein a pocket being sized slightly larger that said pads for providing a snug fit for said pads, when each one of said pads are slidably received by an associated one of said pockets; wherein said pocket having three sides coupled to said front knee portion, said pocket having an open end positioned opposite a closed bottom end for facilitating insertion of said pad into said pocket; wherein said three sides of said pocket being double stitched to prevent said pocket from being separated from said front knee portion; wherein said pocket further comprises a tab portion, said tab portion being coupled to said open end for facilitating closure of said pocket to said front knee portion, said tab positioned medially on said open end, said tab extending upwardly beyond a peripheral edge of said pocket; wherein said fastening assembly further comprises a hook and loop fastener means attached to said pants and said tab portion; a first portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said pants; a second portion of a hook and loop fastener is coupled to said tab portion; and said first portion and said second being complimentary.
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4831666 Denman May 1989 A
4920577 Scharf May 1990 A
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5106473 Whitlaw et al. Apr 1992 A
5551084 Freese, III Sep 1996 A
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D393141 Glycenfer Apr 1998 S
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