Apparel – Guard or protector – Leg
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-08-28
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Leg
C002S455000, C602S062000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279160
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective knee and elbow protectors employed by athletes and the like, particularly adapted to prevent injuries to the knee and the proximal anatomical structure associated therewith.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various knee and elbow protector devices are known in the art. It has been found that by placing a protector element atop the kneecap, injuries sustained in physical activity are reduced. Further, it has been determined by using such devices, the incidence of aggravating a current injury is also reduced. As such, knee and elbow protector devices are beneficial in the sport and athletic arts.
Examples of knee and elbow protector protectors and other protector devices for use during athletic activity are described in the following U.S. Patents:
U.S. Pat. No. 2,641,761 to Schultz discloses a knee brace or stabilizer.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,044,075 to Rawlings discloses a protective device to protect the wearer at impact points.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,322,873 to Hitchcock discloses a resilient body protector for use over various portions of the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,725 to Gaylord discloses a protective pad to be employed generally with jointed portions of the body. This pad would be placed atop the jointed element to prevent debilitating bedsores and ulceration.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,570 to Barlow discloses a protective knee support.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,885 to to Applegate discloses a knee brace with a resilient pad for surrounding the patella. There exists no central pad, merely a central opening to receive the extended portion of the patella therethrough.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,280 Hayes discloses a contact sport joint protector.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,484,361 to Leighton discloses a knee and elbow pad and a method of manufacturing the same.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,573,216 to Wortbeg discloses an impact dissipater to protect bones from impacts or falls. This device is primarily designed to be used proximal the bony region of the hip portion of the body.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,698 to Aleylein discloses a knee orthosis. This device includes a right and a left lateral extension which is integral to the elastic cylindrical element. The device does not include a central foam element nor does it include an upper or lower lateral extension.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,322 to Shelby discloses a knee pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,303 Atwater discloses a knee protector pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,956 to Fatool discloses a knee brace.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,837 to Meistrell discloses a knee or elbow protector.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,473 to Valtakwi discloses an athletic outfit having pockets for protective pads.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,306,229 to Brandt discloses an elastic articular bandage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,037 to Hess discloses a knee-joint bandage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,524 to Carg discloses a joint support.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,657 to Valtakwi discloses protective pads for insertion into pockets to protect from impact while playing sports.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,021 to Tsujino discloses protective head gear for wrestlers containing a gel cushioning material.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,695,452 to Grim discloses a formed resilient orthopedic pad.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,809 to Witzell discloses a below the joint amputation limb protector.
The following US design patents include pads and protectors for knees and other joints:
U.S. Pat. No. 327,961 to Decker, U.S. Pat. No. 341,005 to Pratt, U.S. Pat. No. 341,229 to Tsuiino, U.S. Pat. Nos. 360,284, 360,285, 360,286 and 360,287 to Pafet, U.S. Pat. No. 363,147 to Chen, U.S. Pat. Nos. 394,332 and 394,333 to Tsujino.
All of the forementioned patents are directed to protecting the knee or other body part from a direct impact. The instant invention is directed to a knee and elbow protector having a specific structure that protects the knee from an oblique, non-direct, or proximal impact. None of these references, either singly or in combination, disclose the instant invention and the benefits derived therefrom.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a novel knee protector that is comfortable to wear a and is contured to surround the knee.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a knee protector that is easily placed around the knee.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a knee protector that provides a unique cushioning effect to protect the knee when impacted.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a knee protector that includes a silicon gel cushioning system to enhance the protection to the knee.
It is another object of this invention to provide a knee protector for use by athletes and the like, that is adapted to prevent injuries to the knee and the proximal anatomical structure associated therewith from oblique, non-direct, and/or proximal impacts.
It is another object of the invention to provide an elastic sleeve to be worn over the leg of an athlete, the sleeve including a pocket enclosure for receiving a novel foam protective element therein, thereby providing protection to the kneecap and the regions surrounding the kneecap.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide securing means to secure the foam protective element assembly in the pocket enclosure in such a fashion to prevent dislocation despite severe impact.
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the joint protector of this invention used for protecting an extremity of a person. The protector is predominantly used as a knee and elbow protector. The protector comprises a generally cylindrical elastic member having an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper opening and a lower opening. The elastic member is of a size such that when the extremity is slipped through the upper and lower openings the elastic member snugly encloses the extremity and joint and is held firmnly in place thereon. A pocket enclosure is provided that is located intermediate the outer surface and the inner surface at a location in the elastic member that overlies the joint when the elastic member is slipped over the extremity. A cushioning assembly is provided for cushioning the joint upon impact. The cushioning assembly is located and secured in the pocket enclosure, the pocket enclosure substantially conforming to the shape of the cushioning assembly. The cushioning assembly has an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface being closest to the extremity and joint being protected. The cushioning assembly preferably also includes a central cushioning pad portion having a silicon gel cushioning insert on the interior surface of the pad. The assembly additionally has a top cushioning flap, a bottom cushioning flap, a right side cushioning flap, and a left side cushioning flap radiating from and integral with the central portion. The interior surface of the central portion is shaped to substantially conform to the contour of the joint when snugly covering the joint.
When the protector is slipped over the persons extremity the interior surface of the central pad cushioning portion of the cushioning assembly and, preferably, the silicon gel cushioning insert over lay the joint of the person and the coaction of the cylindrical elastic member, and all of the cushioning flaps causes the cushioning assembly to surround and conform to the contour of the joint to provide protection against both direct and oblique impacts to the joint.
Preferably each cushioning flap has a plurality of apertures that penetrate completely through the cushioning flap. This has the effect of increasing the flexibility of the cushioning flap members as well as their porosity to sweat and the like.
Additionally, the pocket enclosure may include an opening to permit the foam protective element assembly to be removed, which would permit the elastic sleeve to be washed.
With the above and other objects in view, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in th
Asics Corp
Calvert John J.
Patel Tejash
Zall Michael
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