Shin Guard With Variable and Interchangeable Protection

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present general inventive concept relates to a shin guard with variable and interchangeable protection.

2. Description of the Related Art

Presently, the world is becoming more health-conscious and fitness-aware.

Moreover, education and technological advances in exercise techniques have resulted in creation of new forms of fitness training, such as CrossFit, Mud Runs, Ninja-Style Obstacle courses, etc., which combine running, jumping, climbing, and lifting.

However, when an activity, such as CrossFit for example, involves running, dead-lifting weights, and box-jumping, an athlete could potentially be at risk for various types of injuries. More specifically, when an athlete dead-lifts weights, a barbell scrapes along his/her shins as the weights are lifted. Also, when an athlete performs box-jumps, he/she could miss the box accidentally, causing severe abrasion to the shin area. As such, the athlete's shins could experience various types of trauma during a single workout. In order to subside damage experienced

Conventional shin guards, such as soccer shin guards or field hockey shin guards, are designed to offer an athlete protection against outside obstacles, such as cleats, balls, or hockey sticks, for example. However, the conventional shin guards are bulky, heavy, inflexible, and cause sweat to pool against an athlete's skin (since an athlete's body heats up and produces sweat during exercise). Also, most of the conventional shin guards wrap entirely around the athlete's lower leg, requiring the athlete to take off his/her shoes when putting the shin guards on (or taking them off).

Other conventional shin guards that are lightweight are called “sleeves,” and still do not offer the athlete relief from sweat, undue compression of a lower leg of the user, or ease of removal.

As such, a shin guard made from a material that is breathable would allow sweat to evaporate from the athlete's skin, instead of accumulating and causing rashes and burns.

Also, a shin guard made with less material would result in cooler body temperature and less weight than conventional shin guards.

Further, a shin guard that is easily and quickly removable from an athlete's leg (or attachable thereto) would provide great convenience to the athlete, especially if the athlete's shoes were not required to be removed.

Moreover, a shin guard that is versatile for various different types of sporting and/or fitness needs could provide an athlete with a single shin guard for multiple different uses, such as soccer, field hockey, and CrossFit.

Finally, a durable and protective shin guard would provide a cost-effective method of preventing injuries to an athlete's shins, thereby saving the athlete money that would otherwise be spent on sports tape, wide bandages, antiseptics, and pain medication.

Accordingly, there is a need for a shin guard that is flexible, durable, lightweight, breathable, cooling, easily removeable/wearable, and universally-usable.

SUMMARY

The present general inventive concept provides a shin guard that is lightweight, durable, abrasion-resistant, and which has variable and interchangeable protection.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may be achieved by providing a shin guard, including a body, upper securing mechanisms disposed at a top portion of the body to secure the shin guard to an upper portion of a shin of a user, lower securing mechanisms disposed at a bottom portion of the body to secure the shin guard to a lower portion of the shin of the user, a pocket disposed within the body and including an opening, and an inner guard removably inserted within the pocket via the opening.

The body may include a fabric that is at least one of flexible, breathable, lightweight, abrasion-resistant, and stretchable.

The top portion of the body may be wider than the bottom portion of the body.

The upper securing mechanisms may secure the shin guard to the upper portion of the shin of the user by each wrapping around at least a partial portion of a lower leg of the user and connecting to each other, and the upper securing mechanisms may secure the shin guard to the lower portion of the shin of the user by each wrapping around at least a partial portion of the lower leg of the user and connecting to each other.

The foregoing and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept may also be achieved by providing a shin guard, including a body to cover at least a portion of a shin of a user while not covering at least a portion of a calf of the user, a first upper securing mechanism, including a first end connected to a first side of the body at an upper portion of the body closest to a knee of the user, and a second end extending away from the first side of the body, a second upper securing mechanism, including a first end connected to a second side of the body at the upper portion of the body closest to the knee of the user, and a second end to detachably connect to the second end of the first upper securing mechanism, and a first lower securing mechanism, including a first end connected to a first side of the body at a lower portion of the body closest to an ankle of the user, and a second end extending away from the first side of the body, a second lower securing mechanism, including a first end connected to a second side of the body at the lower portion of the body closest to the ankle of the user, and a second end to detachably connect to the second end of the first lower securing mechanism.

The shin guard may further include a pocket disposed within the body and including an opening, and an inner guard removably inserted within the pocket via the opening.

The connection of the second end of the second upper securing mechanism to the second end of the first upper securing mechanism may secure the upper portion of the body to a first part of a lower leg of the user closest to the knee of the user, and the connection of the second end of the second lower securing mechanism to the second end of the first lower securing mechanism may secure the lower portion of the body to a second part of a lower leg of the user closest to the ankle of the user.

The first side of the body may not contact the second side of the body when the first upper securing mechanism is connected to the second upper securing mechanism and the first lower securing mechanism is connected to the second lower securing mechanism.

The shin guard may further include an auxiliary pocket disposed on the pocket and including an auxiliary opening, and an auxiliary inner guard removably inserted within the auxiliary pocket via the auxiliary opening.

The second end of the first upper securing mechanism may be connected to the second end of the second upper securing mechanism using at least one of Velcro, clasps, straps, zippers, tape, adhesive materials, buttons, elastic, and hooks, and the second end of the first lower securing mechanism may be connected to the second end of the second lower securing mechanism using at least one of Velcro, clasps, straps, zippers, tape, adhesive materials, buttons, elastic, and hooks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a shin guard according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of a shin guard according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a shin guard according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 4 is a front-side view of a shin guard according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept:

FIG. 5 is a view of an insertion of an inner guard into an inner pocket of a shin guard according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 6 is a front view of a shin guard 200 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a shin guard 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

The shin guard 100 has been designed to protect a user (e.g., athlete, weight-lifter, cross-trainer, etc.) from abrasions and bruises. More specifically, the shin guard 100 protects skin surrounding the lower leg of the user, namely a shin area (e.g., shin bone), from common abrasions resulting from contact with external objects, such as bars holding weights (barbells), rocks, edges of boxes, or any other object. The shin guard 100 also prevents bruising to the shin area resulting from impact from the aforementioned external objects. The shin guard 100 may also be referred to as a “guard” or “protector,” but is not limited thereto.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shin guard 100 may include a plurality of components, including, but not limited to, a body 110, upper securing mechanisms 120, and lower securing mechanisms 130.

The body 110 may be designed to receive the impact from the external objects, and may be made from a durable fabric that withstands impact and abrasions. The body 100 may cover at least a portion of the lower leg of the user, from approximately a knee area to an ankle area of the user. A calf of the user may be at least partially exposed. In other words, the body 110 may not wrap fully around the user's lower leg. Also, the body 110 may be wider at a top portion thereof, which is closer to a knee of the user when the shin guard worn by the user, as compared to a bottom portion thereof, which is closer to an ankle of the user when the shin guard 100 is worn by the user.

The upper securing mechanisms 120 may be located the top portion of the body 110. More specifically, the upper securing mechanisms 120 may be each attached at first respective ends to a portion of the body 110 that is closest to the knee of the user when the shin guard 100 is worn by the user. The upper securing mechanisms 120 may include an inner upper securing mechanism 121 and an outer upper securing mechanism 122. The inner upper securing mechanism 121 may have Velcro facing away from the user's lower leg, while the outer upper securing mechanism 122 may have Velcro facing toward the user's leg, such that the inner upper securing mechanism 121 may connect to the outer upper securing mechanism 122 at second respective ends. More specifically, when the Velcro of the inner upper securing mechanism 121 contacts and engages with the Velcro of the outer upper securing mechanism 122, the inner upper securing mechanism 121 connects to the outer upper securing mechanism 122 to allow the shin guard 100 to be secured to an upper portion of the user's lower leg, closer to the knee of the user. However, the inner upper securing mechanism 121 and the outer upper securing mechanism 122 are not limited to Velcro, and can be connected to each other using clasps, straps, zippers, tape, adhesive materials, buttons, elastic, hooks, etc., or any combinations above. Furthermore, although FIG. 1 illustrates that the inner upper securing mechanism 121 is located on the left side of the body 110, and the outer upper securing mechanism 122 is located on the right side of the body 110, the shin guard 100 is versatile, and the inner upper securing mechanism 121 may be alternatively located on the right side of the body 110, and the outer upper securing mechanism 122 may be alternatively located on the left side of the body 110. The inner upper securing mechanism 121 may have a same length as the outer upper securing mechanism 122, or may have length different from the outer upper securing mechanism 122. For example, the inner upper securing mechanism 121 may be located only on the body 110, while the outer upper securing mechanism 122 may extend away from the body 110.

The lower securing mechanisms 130 may be located the bottom portion of the body 110. More specifically, the lower securing mechanisms 130 may be each attached at first respective ends to a portion of the body 110 that is closest to the ankle of the user when the shin guard 100 is worn by the user. The lower securing mechanisms 130 may include an inner lower securing mechanism 131 and an outer lower securing mechanism 132. The inner lower securing mechanism 131 may have Velcro facing away from the user's lower leg, while the outer lower securing mechanism 132 may have Velcro facing toward the user's leg, such that the inner lower securing mechanism 131 may connect to the outer lower securing mechanism 132 at second respective ends. More specifically, when the Velcro of the inner lower securing mechanism 131 contacts and engages with the Velcro of the outer lower securing mechanism 132, the inner lower securing mechanism 131 connects to the outer lower securing mechanism 132 to allow the shin guard 100 to be secured to a lower portion of the user's lower leg, closer to the ankle of the user. However, the inner lower securing mechanism 131 and the outer lower securing mechanism 132 are not limited to Velcro, and can be connected to each other using clasps, straps, zippers, tape, adhesive materials, buttons, elastic, hooks, etc., or any combinations above. Furthermore, although FIG. 1 illustrates that the inner lower securing mechanism 131 is located on the left side of the body 110, and the outer lower securing mechanism 132 is located on the right side of the body 110, the shin guard 100 is versatile, and the inner lower securing mechanism 131 may be alternatively located on the right side of the body 110, and the outer lower securing mechanism 132 may be alternatively located on the left side of the body 110. The inner lower securing mechanism 131 may have a same length as the outer lower securing mechanism 132, or may have length different from the outer lower securing mechanism 132. For example, the inner lower securing mechanism 131 may be located only on the body 110, while the outer upper lower mechanism 132 may extend away from the body 110.

It is important to note that when the outer upper securing mechanism 121 is engaged with the inner upper securing mechanism 122 while the outer lower securing mechanism 131 is engaged with the inner lower securing mechanism 132, a first side of the body 110 (e.g., a left side of the body 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1) may not contact a second side of the body 110 (e.g., a right side of the body 110 as illustrated in FIG. 1).

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the shin guard 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. To maintain succinctness in the present application, descriptions of components already described will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 2, the shin guard 100 includes a pocket 140. The pocket 140 may extend from a lower portion of the body 110 toward an upper portion of the body 110. The pocket 140 may extend across the entire body 110, or may extend partially across the body 110. The pocket 140 may also be an entire rear portion of the body 110.

The pocket 140 may include an opening 141 near the upper portion of the body 110. The opening 141 may receive an object therein, such that the pocket 140 may be filled with the object. The object will be described later.

Although FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the shin guard 100, the pocket 140 may be located on a front surface of the body 110 of the shin guard 100.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shin guard 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. To maintain succinctness in the present application, descriptions of components already described will be omitted.

FIG. 4 is a front-side view of the shin guard 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. To maintain succinctness in the present application, descriptions of components already described will be omitted.

FIG. 5 is a view of an insertion of an inner guard 150 into the pocket 140 of the shin guard 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. To maintain succinctness in the present application, descriptions of components already described will be omitted.

The inner guard 150 may be an internal protection device, an insert, a component, a polyethylene part, or any other component with dimensions suitable to fit within the pocket 140. Various inner guards 150 may have differing flexibilities, hardnesses, thicknesses, and sizes, based on aforeseen activities to be performed by the user. For example, if the user is going to simply be jogging on a country road, the inner guard 150 may be flexible and soft, whereas if the user is going to be box-jumping, the inner guard 150 may be less flexible and harder for added protection. In addition, the inner guard 150 could have a size that is approximately same as the rear portion of the body 110. Also, since the pocket 140 is designed to fit the inner guard 150 therewithin, the user can switch the inner guard 150 quickly and efficiently. Moreover, if the inner guard 150 becomes damaged, it can be replaced. FIG. 5 actually illustrates that the inner guard 150 is both insertable into and extractable from the pocket 140.

As stated above, the pocket 140 may be located on a front portion or a rear portion of the body 110 of the shin guard 100. The front portion of the body 110 may be the portion of the body 110 that does not contact the user's leg, while the rear portion of the body 110 may be the portion of the body 110 that does contact the user's leg.

The pocket 140 may include the opening 141 alternatively at a front portion, side portion, or lower portion thereof, in order to receive the inner guard 150.

If the pocket 140 is located at the rear portion of the body 110, in order to insert the inner guard 150 into the pocket 140, the user may easily detach the inner upper securing mechanism 121 from the outer upper securing mechanism 122, such that the rear portion of the body 110 is exposed. As such, the lower securing mechanisms 130 may remain connected to each other such that the shin guard 100 remains attached to the user's leg.

FIG. 6 is a front view of a shin guard 200 according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the shin guard 200 may include a plurality of components, including, but not limited to, a body 210, upper securing mechanisms 220, lower securing mechanisms 230, a pocket 240, an inner guard 250, an auxiliary pocket 260, and an auxiliary inner guard 270.

The body 210 may be designed to receive the impact from the external objects, and may be made from a durable fabric that withstands impact and abrasions. The body 200 may cover at least a portion of the lower leg of the user, from approximately a knee area to an ankle area of the user. A calf of the user may be at least partially exposed. In other words, the body 210 may not wrap fully around the user's lower leg. Also, the body 210 may be wider at a top portion thereof, which is closer to a knee of the user when the shin guard worn by the user, as compared to a bottom portion thereof, which is closer to an ankle of the user when the shin guard 200 is worn by the user.

The upper securing mechanisms 220 may be located the top portion of the body 210. More specifically, the upper securing mechanisms 220 may be each attached at first respective ends to a portion of the body 210 that is closest to the knee of the user when the shin guard 200 is worn by the user. The upper securing mechanisms 220 may include an inner upper securing mechanism 221 and an outer upper securing mechanism 222. The inner upper securing mechanism 221 may have Velcro facing away from the user's lower leg, while the outer upper securing mechanism 222 may have Velcro facing toward the user's leg, such that the inner upper securing mechanism 221 may connect to the outer upper securing mechanism 222 at second respective ends. More specifically, when the Velcro of the inner upper securing mechanism 221 contacts and engages with the Velcro of the outer upper securing mechanism 222, the inner upper securing mechanism 221 connects to the outer upper securing mechanism 222 to allow the shin guard 200 to be secured to an upper portion of the user's lower leg, closer to the knee of the user. However, the inner upper securing mechanism 221 and the outer upper securing mechanism 222 are not limited to Velcro, and can be connected to each other using clasps, straps, zippers, tape, adhesive materials, buttons, elastic, hooks, etc., or any combinations above. Furthermore, although FIG. 6 illustrates that the inner upper securing mechanism 221 is located on the left side of the body 210, and the outer upper securing mechanism 222 is located on the right side of the body 210, the shin guard 200 is versatile, and the inner upper securing mechanism 221 may be alternatively located on the right side of the body 210, and the outer upper securing mechanism 222 may be alternatively located on the left side of the body 210. The inner upper securing mechanism 221 may have a same length as the outer upper securing mechanism 222, or may have length different from the outer upper securing mechanism 222. For example, the inner upper securing mechanism 221 may be located only on the body 210, while the outer upper securing mechanism 222 may extend away from the body 210.

The lower securing mechanisms 230 may be located the bottom portion of the body 210. More specifically, the lower securing mechanisms 230 may be each attached at first respective ends to a portion of the body 210 that is closest to the ankle of the user when the shin guard 200 is worn by the user. The lower securing mechanisms 230 may include an inner lower securing mechanism 231 and an outer lower securing mechanism 232. The inner lower securing mechanism 231 may have Velcro facing away from the user's lower leg, while the outer lower securing mechanism 232 may have Velcro facing toward the user's leg, such that the inner lower securing mechanism 231 may connect to the outer lower securing mechanism 232 at second respective ends. More specifically, when the Velcro of the inner lower securing mechanism 231 contacts and engages with the Velcro of the outer lower securing mechanism 232, the inner lower securing mechanism 231 connects to the outer lower securing mechanism 232 to allow the shin guard 200 to be secured to a lower portion of the user's lower leg, closer to the ankle of the user. However, the inner lower securing mechanism 231 and the outer lower securing mechanism 232 are not limited to Velcro, and can be connected to each other using clasps, straps, zippers, tape, adhesive materials, buttons, elastic, hooks, etc., or any combinations above. Furthermore, although FIG. 6 illustrates that the inner lower securing mechanism 231 is located on the left side of the body 210, and the outer lower securing mechanism 232 is located on the right side of the body 210, the shin guard 200 is versatile, and the inner lower securing mechanism 231 may be alternatively located on the right side of the body 210, and the outer lower securing mechanism 232 may be alternatively located on the left side of the body 210. The inner lower securing mechanism 231 may have a same length as the outer lower securing mechanism 232, or may have length different from the outer lower securing mechanism 232. For example, the inner lower securing mechanism 231 may be located only on the body 210, while the outer lower securing mechanism 232 may extend away from the body 210.

It is important to note that when the outer upper securing mechanism 221 is engaged with the inner upper securing mechanism 222 while the outer lower securing mechanism 231 is engaged with the inner lower securing mechanism 232, a first side of the body 210 (e.g., a left side of the body 210 as illustrated in FIG. 6) may not contact a second side of the body 210 (e.g., a right side of the body 210 as illustrated in FIG. 6).

As illustrated in FIG. 6, a pocket 240 may be located on a front surface of the body 210 of the shin guard 200.

The pocket 240 may extend from a lower portion of the body 210 toward an upper portion of the body 210. The pocket 240 may extend across the entire body 210, or may extend partially across the body 210. The pocket 240 may also be an entire rear portion of the body 210.

The pocket 240 may include an opening 241 near the upper portion of the body 210. The opening 241 may receive an inner guard 250, such that the pocket 240 may be filled with the inner guard 250.

The pocket 240 may include a pocket lid 242 to prevent the inner guard 250 from falling out from the pocket 240. More specifically, the pocket lid 242 may include Velcro, for example, which may attach to Velcro located on a surface of the pocket 240, such that the opening 241 is closed. However, other securing components may be used besides Velcro, such as clasps, straps, zippers, tape, adhesive materials, buttons, elastic, hooks, etc., or any combinations above.

The auxiliary pocket 260 may be located on a surface of the pocket 240, and may include an auxiliary opening 261 in order to receive the auxiliary inner guard 270 to provide additional protection. The auxiliary inner guard 270 may be substantially similar to the inner guard 250 in size, shape, and material, or may be substantially different based on varying needs of the user. Both the inner guard 250 and the auxiliary inner guard 270 may be substantially similar to the inner guard 150.

Although FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of the shin guard 200, the pocket 240 may be located on a rear surface of the body 210 of the shin guard 200.

A unique design feature of the shin guard 100 is allowing the user to quickly attach (i.e., put on, wear, secure, strap-on, etc.) and remove (i.e., take off, unstrap, etc.) the shin guard 100, without necessitating removing shoes of the user or sliding the shin guard 100 up and down the user's lower leg. More specifically, conventional shin guards on the market wrap around an entirety of the lower leg of the user, thereby requiring the user to take off his/her shoe before slipping the conventional shin guard off the user's leg. In other words, the conventional shin guards require the user to insert his leg through a one piece tubular protector that inconveniently wraps around the entirety of the user's lower leg. In contrast, if the shin guard 100 is used during a Cross-fit type competition, the user may remove the shin guard 100 from the lower leg very quickly by merely unstrapping the shin guard 100 from the user's lower leg by separating the upper securing mechanisms 120 and the lower securing mechanisms 130 from each other, respectively.

Another unique design feature of the shin guard 100 is the ability to quickly and easily change a level of impact protection, based on the user's need, by allowing for insertion of the inner guard 150 inside the pocket 140, which is an integral containment compartment within the body 110 of this shin guard 100. As stated above, various different inner guards 150 may have differing flexibilities, hardnesses, thicknesses, and sizes, based on the aforeseen activities to be performed by the user. Referring to FIG. 5, the user can switch different types of inner guards 150 quickly and efficiently. Also, referring to FIG. 6, the shin guard 200 may include multiple pockets having various sizes (such as the pocket 240 and the auxiliary pocket 260) to house inner guards of various sizes (such as the inner guard 250 and the auxiliary inner guard 270). Also, the auxiliary inner guard 270 can be inserted into the auxiliary pocket 260 without inserting the inner guard 250 into the pocket 240, as a smaller alternative shin protector.

Another unique design feature of the shin guard 100 involves the type of fabric used to make the body 110, which combines a highly abrasion-resistant fabric that stretches in multiple directions, in order to force the inner guard 150 to conform to a user's unique lower leg profile/structure, while providing enough support to fit around the user's leg without slipping off during an intense workout or movement such as running sprints, doing box jumps, or even burpees. More specifically, the shin guard 100 is made from a fabric that is durable, flexible, and secure, all simultaneously. For example, even when the front of the body 110 of the shin guard 100 experiences trauma (such as a box or barbell bar rubbing against it), the fabric is designed to be durable enough to prevent tearing or ripping. As such, the shin guard 100 lasts for a long time and does not show the wear and tear that conventional shin guards show. Also, since the shin guard 100 conforms to the user's lower leg, the user will not experience discomfort during use. In other words, a user can run and jump without worrying whether the shin guard 100 is flexible enough. Furthermore, although the inner guard 100 is designed to protect the user's lower leg from experiencing impact, the inner guard 150 is also flexible to allow for freedom of movement and flexibility. An example of such a fabric has the trade name Spandura, but the present general inventive concept is not limited thereto, and may include any fabric that provides the same type of functionality.

Another unique design feature of the shin guard 100 is the use of a more breathable fabric that serves as a lightweight and breathable containment vessel to comfortably house the inner guard 150, while leaving at least a portion of the lower leg uncovered (i.e., between 10% and 90%), to help an athlete dissipate more body heat than the more commonly used conical single-piece/tubular sleeves that completely cover the skin of the user's lower leg. Breathable means that air can easily flow through the fabric. The above mentioned advantage is to allow the athlete to stay cooler and promote efficiency in his or her workouts. Also, the fact that the shin guard 100 remains secured to the user's leg without unnecessarily compressing it prevents the user's blood circulation from being cut off. In other words, the shin guard 100 is securely attached to the lower leg of the user without cutting off the user's blood circulation. Moreover, the material comprising the shin guard 100 is designed to allow sweat excreted from the lower leg of the user to easily evaporate therefrom.

Another unique design feature of the shin guard 100 includes allowing a variable level of impact protection, which can be adjusted by the user without the use of any outside tools. More specifically, the design of the pocket 140 allows the inner guard to be easily inserted into and/or removed from the inner guard 150.

The above unique design elements apply to both the shin guard 100 and the shin guard 200.

Accordingly, the present general inventive concept is directed to a single-piece, multiple component shin guard with a top and bottom hook and loop strap and an almost conical profile, designed to provide an athlete with a lighter weight, breathable tool, to protect the athlete from abrasions or bruises resulting from impact of a knurled surface barbell making contact with skin of a shin when performing an Olympic lift or the shin making sudden contact with a sharp edge of a hard material, such as when an athlete misses a box jump thereby scraping the shin across the top edge of a commonly used wooded box.

Moreover, the present general inventive concept is directed to staying in contact with the a user's leg, while minimizing discomfort associated with conventional shin guards that cover an entirety of the user's calf. More specifically, the present general inventive concept allows the shin guard to be attached to the user's leg at two focus points that are each less than two inches thick, and may include straps, buckles or any other devices, used to restrain, or cause a product to stay attached to a limb while in motion. A conical shape of the shin guard uniquely allows the shin guard to stay attached to the lower portion of the leg while the leg is in motion, as this profile more heavily concentrates a majority of the shin guard's material to contact the user's skin at the upper portion of the lower leg, while decreasing the material's mass and contact with the user's skin towards the bottom most portion of the leg. Simply put, the shin guard's contact with the skin is minimized by only applying contact where the profile of a typical lower leg muscle tapers to a smaller diameter as it approaches the knee, thus allowing the shin guard to be held more securely from slipping and thus eliminating the need for a 3rd or 4th strap (i.e., securing mechanism). More importantly, the amount of product material is reduced by no longer needing to envelope completely around the user's leg, from top to bottom of the guard. The added benefit is a lighter product and one that allows more of an athlete's skin to breathe.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Shin Guard With Variable and Interchangeable Protection

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS