Apparel – Guard or protector – Leg
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-07
2001-04-24
Neas, Michael A. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Leg
C280S087010, C280S087041, C002S911000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219845
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to knee supports and more particularly pertains to a new knee protector for supporting a keeling person and protecting his or her knees and feet.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of knee supports is known in the prior art. More specifically, knee supports heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art knee supports include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,380,021; 5,427,391; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 353,702; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,772,071; 2,971,769; and 718,875.
In these respects, the knee protector according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of supporting a keeling person and protecting his or her knees and feet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of knee supports now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new knee protector construction wherein the same can be utilized for supporting a keeling person and protecting his or her knees and feet.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new knee protector apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the knee supports mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new knee protector which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art knee supports, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a pair of knee supports each having a frame. Such frame has a hollow semi-spherical configuration with a closed bottom, an open top and an upper peripheral edge. The frame has a first portion of a pivot connector centrally coupled to an upper surface of the closed bottom thereof for reasons that will soon become apparent. A pair of D-rings are coupled to diametrically opposed points on the upper peripheral edge of the frame. Further, at least one strap is provided with ends having pile fasteners for forming a closed loop to attach to the D-rings of the frame.
The knee supports each have a pad including a hollow semi-spherical configuration with a closed bottom, an open top and an upper peripheral edge. It should be noted that the pad has a size similar to that of the frame. Further, the pad has a second portion of a pivot connector centrally coupled to a lower surface of the closed bottom thereof for releasably coupling with the first portion of the pivot connector on the frame. the first portion of the pivot connector is pivotable with respect to the second portion of the pivot connector for permitting pivoting between the pad and the frame. For attaching the pad and frame to a knee of a user, the pad further has two pairs of straps. Each pair of straps has inboard ends coupled to the upper peripheral edge of the pad in parallel relationship and outboard ends with pile fasteners.
Next provided as a component of each knee support are three wheel assemblies. Each wheel assembly has a bracket coupled to a lower surface of the bottom face of the frame such that a tripod configuration is defined. A fork is defined by a pair of legs and a top face. A post extends upwardly from the top face for being slidably and rotatably coupled within a bore formed in a lower surface of the bracket. Rotatably coupled between the legs of the fork is a malleable wheel. A coil spring is situated about the post between the frame and fork for urging the fork and wheel downwardly. A brake may be provided with a generally U-shaped configuration. The brake is equipped with a pair of ends hingably coupled to the legs of the fork adjacent to an axis of rotation of an associated wheel. A rake is formed in a cross bar of the brake. A disk-shaped tab is integrally coupled to one of the ends of the brake for rotating the same to a lowered orientation with the rake engaging a recipient surface. The brake may further be rotated to a raised orientation with the rake disengaged with the recipient surface.
A pair of foot supports each include an oval sleeve with an open end for allowing the insertion of a foot therein. A rectangular cut out is formed on a top face of the sleeve for accommodating the shape of a human foot. A pair of straps have inboard ends coupled to diametrically opposed edges of the open end of the sleeve and outboard ends with pile fasteners attached thereto. The straps of the foot sleeve are thus adapted for securing the sleeve to a foot of a user. Lastly, a caster wheel is rotatably mounted to a closed end of the sleeve opposite the open end.
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.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new knee protector apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the knee supports mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new knee protector which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art knee supports, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new knee protector which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new knee protector which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new knee protector which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such knee protector economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new knee protector which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art s
Neas Michael A.
Welch Gary L.
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