Kneepad

Details Kneepad Kneepad

2000-07-12

2001-11-20

Hale, Gloria M. (Department: 3765)

Apparel

Guard or protector

Leg

C602S026000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06317888

ABSTRACT:

The present invention relates to a protective padding for use on joints on the body but particularly for protection of the knee.
Kneepads are used in protecting elbows and knees during sporting and leisure activities such as roller blading and gardening. Trades persons such as carpenters use knee pads since kneeling on hard surfaces is a regular activity in the trade. Traditional protective kneepads comprise rigid pad members fitted to the knee with straps above and below the knee. This has been found to be uncomfortable for the wearer as the straps tend to dig into the wearer's flesh when the knee is bent. The rigidity of the pad member does not allow the kneepad to bend with the knee which causes digging of the straps into the back of the knee. Whilst it has been found that less rigid pads meliorate comfort, there is still sufficient pull on the straps of more flexible pads to cause discomfort to the wearer.
Variations to the traditional kneepad include providing a single strap designed to wrap around the leg just below the back of the knee. Whilst this design has proved moderately successful, there is some discomfort and inconvenience with the strap slipping or gathering behind the leg.
The present invention intends to overcome the above problems by providing a kneepad that is comfortable to wear at all times and that will firmly remain on the leg.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided a kneepad comprising an elongate member formed from an elastomeric material adapted to cover the front of a knee, the member having a front surface and a rear surface, and substantially rigid arms extending from a lateral, lower portion of the elongate member and rearwardly of the member such that, in use, the arms grip around a wearer's leg below the knee extending only partly around the leg.
The arms are preferably curved and may include straight sections to fit and grip around a leg by conforming to the shape of a leg. There are preferably a plurality of parallel arms extending laterally of the elongate member, and more preferably three arms. Cushioning pads can be provided on the ends of the arms to increase comfort for the wearer.
Preferably, the front surface of the elongate member is convex whereas the rear surface is concave to accommodate the shape of the knee. The elongate member is preferably formed with an outer layer, a middle layer and an inner layer fixed together. The arms are preferably an extension of the middle layer which is formed of a substantially rigid material such as polyvinyl chloride. The outer layer is preferably semi-rigid and typically made from medium density polyurethane. The inner layer is a cushion made from natural rubber or the like.
The front surface further preferably comprises a series of flexible individual segments defining an arc in an upper portion of the elongate member.


REFERENCES:
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patent: 5031240 (1991-07-01), Nierhaus
patent: 5301370 (1994-04-01), Henson
patent: 5334135 (1994-08-01), Grim et al.
patent: 5347657 (1994-09-01), Unsell
patent: 5500955 (1996-03-01), Gongea
patent: 5537689 (1996-07-01), Dancyger
patent: 5760868 (1998-06-01), Jannard et al.
patent: 5794261 (1998-08-01), Hefling

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