Apparel – General structure – Pads
Reexamination Certificate
2003-12-05
2004-11-02
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
General structure
Pads
C002S455000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06810534
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention relates generally to protective, cushioned, iron-on patches for articles of clothing; and more specifically it relates to a protective clothing patch for the elbows, knees, shins, shoulder, buttocks, or any body part.
Children need protection while running, rollerblading, skateboarding, riding bikes and scooters or when just plain playing and “rough-housing”. Gardeners often kneel or sit for long periods of time which can be painful on the knees or buttocks. Recreational sports enthusiasts of all ages are subject to scrapes and abrasions and are in need of proper protection for the vulnerable body parts. Many workmen also need protection for their knees while performing their jobs such as roofers, tile installers, and floor installers. Cushioned protection minimizes impact to the knees and bones. These types of activities are also rough on the garments. The material tends to wear easily on knees, elbows, and buttocks because of abrasion against hard surfaces. Once the garment has holes created in high use areas, the garment must be repaired or thrown away. This protective patch is preventive maintenance in that the garment is prevented from acquiring holes because the patch is durable enough to withstand constant use. As the patch is affixed to the outside or exterior portion of the garment, no holes are created.
The subject invention is a cushioned, iron-on clothing patch for the vulnerable body parts made with a more functional design. The tough, durable and lightweight, practical design and targeted application assure that clothing remains versatile enough to wear for normal everyday use as well as for effective targeted protection or the abrasion areas.
The patch protects the clothing from wearing out in the heavily used areas and extends the lifespan of the garment. The subject invention is parabolic in shape and consists of two layers that are durable and lightweight. The shape and materials lends the pad to be flexible and versatile to be used on a variety of body parts.
There are many existing pads and protective clothing to protect the knee area. Many of the prior art patches are used after the garment has holes and is used to cover it up but with the present invention, the holes are never created. Additionally, many prior art inventions require active participation by the used to put on the pads each time before a job is performed or before playing a sport. Users tend to forget or are too lazy to put the pads on each time and therefore forego the protection. Other pads are pre-affixed in a particular location prior to purchase of the garment. These types of pads are not always effective as the pad may not be in the correct location as different persons are made of different heights and sizes. Lastly, other products are found which are too stiff or heavy to be versatile to place in any location. In order to make the pad protective to prevent tearing or wearing, some of the other prior art patches are made of several layers of material and thereby have created a stiff and heavy pad that is not flexible and versatile for a variety of body part protection.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,572,360, is a preformed injury pad consisting of a flexible semi-cylindrical body section having a flexible quadrispherical end section. An inelastic fabric facing is attached only to the entire outer surface of the semi-cylindrical body section.
Shelby, James E. Illustrates a Knee Pad Attachment in U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,322 the knee pad is for use on a supporting surface, and not attached to a person's knee, to provide support and cushioning to a person's knee. The pad has a lower region having a bottom for contacting the supporting surface, and a contoured upper region for contacting the front portion of the person's knee. The bottom has a frictional surface to resist sliding with respect to the supporting surface. Various properties of the upper region, relating to its contours and fitting with respect to the knee, are disclosed, particularly a concavity in the top of the pad. The concavity may be vacant. The top of the concavity may adjoin the top of the pad. The concavity may have a secondary inner concavity perimeter. The pad may have a plurality of outer perimeters, defining decreasing areas within the perimeters, from bottom to top of the pad.
The patent of Denman, Robert Z., a garment especially adapted for protecting the knees while gardening is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,666 A garment or pant specifically adapted for providing protection to a person's knees in a kneeling position while performing gardening or like chores is disclosed. The garment has a pair of legs, and a pocket affixed to the exterior of each leg. A padded cushioning member is substantially fixedly held in each pocket. The pockets are affixed to the legs in such positions that the pockets and the cushioning member register in the appropriate positions, to provide a cushioning and insulating barrier between the wearer's knees and the ground when the wearer is in kneeling position.
Ritter, William H., has disclosed a Knee Protector in U.S. Pat. No. 4,893,355 A knee protector covers the front of the knee, and extends rearwardly on both sides to protect against mechanical damage to the knee. The protector has foamed padding towards the leg for both comfort and mechanical protection, and a somewhat rigid outer shell to provide strength. For comfort as the leg is flexed, the front of the knee protector has a line about which the rigid shell can move, so that two sections of the shell are articulated, allowing movement in all directions. One side of the knee protector can be shortened to allow the use of a knee splint in conjunction with the knee protector.
Grimm, Thomas M., has disclosed a Knee Pad in U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,570 A knee pad includes a base member which, when unassembled, is planar. A top member is operatively connected to the base member. In a preferred embodiment, the top member is also, when unassembled, planar. The base member has first and second points of attachment and, when unassembled, are at a first distance from each other. The top member has first and second points of attachment which, when unassembled, are also a first distance from each other. Provided are means for securing the top member to the base member at the points of attachment wherein, when assembled, the first and second points of attachment of the base member are at a second distance from each other. The second distance is less than the first distance wherein the base member forms a cupped region. Also provided is a means for attaching the base and top members to a user's knee.
Zeller, Marvin invented the Detachable Knee Pad as shown in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 336,548. This is an ornamental design for a detachable knee pad, as shown and described.
The above-referenced prior art does not disclose any protective clothing pad in the form of a patch that can be adhered to a specific target area and a variety of body parts. Also none of the prior art act as a cushion and extend the lifespan of the garment at the same time. There is a need for a permanent clothing protective clothing patch that provides cushioning protection which can be precisely placed by the user and protects the underlying garment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a protective clothing patch that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a protective clothing patch that can be effectively used on elbows, knees, shins, shoulder, buttocks, or any body part area because of its targeted exact and precise placement. The protective clothing patch of the present invention is a light weight cushioned patch for protection of the elbows, knees, shins, shoulders, buttocks or any body part. The protective clothing patch has impact absorption properties targeted for at risk body parts and areas of constant use and contact with hard surfaces. It protects and extends the lifespan of the garment from wearing out.
The protective clothing patch provided
Durkin William Noon
Ferrara Diane M.
Hoey Alissa L.
Offenberg, Esq. Cristina M.
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