Apparel – Guard or protector – Leg
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-17
2001-01-30
Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Leg
C002S022000, C128S882000, C602S006000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178556
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a custom-fitted athletic body part protector. The guard is used for preventing injury to the player and to protect previous injuries while sports competition continues. The disclosure of this application relates specifically to a baseball knee, shin and foot protector, commonly referred to as a “shin protector” or “catcher's leg guard,” such as used by catchers, although the invention relates to and has application to any body-part protector.
The invention takes advantage of polymer chemistry to permit quick and easy molding of a pad to the body part to be protected. Shock attenuation is increased since the custom fit provides spreads contact between the protective pad and the body member over a wider surface area. Instead of buying one of a few standard sizes, a protector according to the invention can be molded exactly to the shape of the body part of the user, thus obtaining a more accurate and thus more protective fit. The protector may then be held in place by straps or bands. The shin protector provides multiple layers of protection, and includes an outer shell which is attached over the custom-molded portion of the protector.
Prior art body protectors include numerous types of guards which are fitted over the body part, such as the shin. These pads typically include a soft component to place near the skin and a hard, shell-like outer cover. The soft component is intended not only to provide a cushion, but also to accommodate itself to the varying configurations of differing sized and shaped body parts with a cantilever system of protection. For this reason, the cushioned part is substantially greater in thickness than required merely to provide the required amount of shock attenuation.
Other prior art devices include pads which are constructed of thermosetting materials, which are heated and then formed to the body while heated. These products require a source of heat, and are susceptible to either over-or-underheating. In addition, body heat itself can soften or at least increase the flexibility of the pad, thereby decreasing the effectiveness of the protection offered by the pad. Some prior art pads include air bladders which provide an air cushion against injurious blows.
Other prior art devices have a plurality of connected-together segments which are hinged for limited movement relative to each other, on the theory that such movement permits the pad to more closely conform to the body part. All of these prior art devices achieve only an approximation of a truly proper and anatomically correct fit. Catcher's leg guards are typically made in a limited number of sizes, and the catcher selects the size which approximates his leg size. In some cases, the guards are shared among several players.
The present invention permits quick and easy application of a protective pad to a body part in such a way as to achieve a true custom fit. The moisture curable resin system used results in a very rigid pad, which holds the shape of the molded pad to a very high degree. No heat is required, and a source of water is the only additional substance necessary to achieve a cure.
Atmospheric moisture alone will cure the pad into its hardened position in a relatively short period of time, but the resin in or on the pad will typically be activated by dipping in water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a multi-segment body part protector which can be molded to a body part to be protected.
It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-segment body part protector, each segment of which is independently moldable to a body part.
It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-part body part protector which hardens in the presence of moisture to form a very rigid but very lightweight protector.
It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-segment body part protector which is stored in a moisture-proof pouch until ready for application to the body part to be protected.
It is another object of the invention to provide a multi-segment body part protector which includes two or more pad segments.
It is another object of the invention to provide a catcher's leg guard which includes a custom-molded inner pad system and an outer, pre-molded protective shell to which the inner pad system is attached for use.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of constructing a multi-segment body part protector which can be custom-fitted to a wearer.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of custom-fitting a multi-segment body part protector to a wearer.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a body part protector for being custom-fitted to a body part, and comprising at least two protective pad inserts, each of the pad inserts having an initially flexible protective layer comprised of a support material impregnated with a moisture-curable resin which hardens upon curing to form a rigid structure which retains a body part-defined shape into which it is molded during curing. The protective pad inserts are stored in moisture-proof conditions until use to prevent hardening prior to application of the pad inserts to the body part to be protected. A pad is provided for enclosing the at least two protective pad inserts, the pad being conformable to the molded shape of the pad inserts. A hard shell outer protector is provided for receiving and carrying on an inner, concave surface thereof the pad and the at least two protective pad inserts positioned therein in protective position on the leg between the leg and the outer protector. The outer protector and the pad have complementary fastening elements for releasably securing the pad to the outer protector. Fasteners are carried by the hard shell outer protector for securing the molded and assembled body part protector to the body part to be protected.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective pad inserts each include a flexible inner cushion layer positioned on an inner side of the resin-impregnated layer for being placed closest to the body member.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the support material comprises a plurality of overlaid thicknesses of fiberglass.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of thicknesses of fiberglass comprises at least five thicknesses and no more than seven thicknesses.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pad comprises an envelope with compartments to hold the protective pad inserts.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the pad means comprises a lightweight fabric.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the complementary fastening elements comprise fastener straps carried by the pad having complementary touch fastener elements thereon and slots formed in the hard shell outer protector adjacent side edges thereof for receiving the fastener straps therethrough. Each of the fastener straps is adapted for being folded over itself and secured into a loop with a segment of the hard shell outer protector between a respective slot and adjacent side edge positioned therein.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention a baseball catcher's leg guard is provided for being custom-fitted to the leg of a baseball catcher, and comprises a shin pad and a knee pad, the shin pad and the knee pad each having an initially flexible protective layer comprised of a support material impregnated with a moisture-curable resin which hardens upon curing to form a rigid structure which retains the shape of the shin and knee, respectively, onto which they are molded during curing. The shin and knee pad inserts are stored in moisture-proof conditions until use to prevent hardening prior to application of the pad inserts to shin and knee, respectively. A pad is provided for enclosing the shin pad a
Foreman Louis J.
Winningham Matthew M.
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Hale Gloria M.
Parker Athletic Products, LLC
Patel Tejash
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