Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2115515
~ Thi~ invention relates to shin and knee pads for
sports, and in particular to a shin and knee pad assembly
which permits the shin pad to be used alone, or the knee pad
to be used alone, or both to be used together.
Pads which protect the shin only are well known,
such as those used in the sport of soccer, for example. Pads
which protect the knee only are also well known, such as those
used in in-line skating, for example. Pads which protect both
the shin and the knee are also well known, such as those used
in ice hockey, and more recently in in-line hockey.
Hitherto, however, there are have been no pads which
could provide protection for both the shin and the knee, and
which would also allow the shin pad portions and knee pad
portions to be used separately.
It is therefore an object of the invention to
provide such a pad, i.e. which could provide protection for
both the shin and the knee, and which would also allow the
shin pad portions and knee pad portions to be used separately.
In the invention, it was realized that such a pad
assembly would be very useful, since it would provide a person
with pads which could be used for various sports. For
example, the shin pad only could be used for soccer; the knee
pad only could be used for in-line skating; and the assembly
of both pads could be used for in-line hockey. The pads could
of course potentially be used for other sports or activities
as well.
Accordingly, in the invention, the pad assembly
includes a shin pad and a knee pad, with connection means
2115515
between the shin pad and the knee pad to permit the pads to be
separated or joined as desired, with the joined pad providing
a fully functional shin and knee pad, and the separated pads
providing fully functional separate shin and knee pads.
Preferably, the connection means comprises hook and
pile fastening material (e.g. VELCRO trademark), namely hook
fastening material on the outside of the lower portion of the
knee pad, and corresponding pile fastening material on the
inside of the upper portion of the shin pad.
Further features of the invention will be described
or will become apparent in the course of the following
detailed description.
In order that the invention may be more clearly
understood, the preferred embodiment thereof will now be
described in detail by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred
embodiment, with the two pads fastened together;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred
embodiment, with the two parts separate; and
Fig. 3 is a rear view of the shin pad.
Referring to the drawings, the pad assembly includes
a generally conventional shin pad 2 and a generally
conventional knee pad 4.
The shin pad and the knee pad are connectable to
each other, such that the joined pads provide a fully
functional shin and knee pad, and the separated pads provide
fully functional separate shin and knee pads. Preferably, the
211551~
~connection means comprises hook and pile fastening material
(e.g. VELCR0 trademark), namely hook fastening material 6 on
the outside of the lower portion of the knee pad, and
corresponding pile fastening material 8 on the inside of the
upper portion of the shin pad. Alternative conventional
fastening means could be employed if desired, although such
fastening means should not interfere with either protection or
comfort. For this reason, the VELCR0 portion 8 on the inside
of the shin pad should be pile material, not hook material.
The shin pad includes conventional shin padding
material 10 and a plastic shield 12 extending along a
substantial portion of a front surface thereof. Upper and
lower straps 14 secure the shin pad around the person's shin,
via VELCR0 hook portions 16 and pile portions 18.
The knee pad includes conventional padding material
20 and a plastic shield 22 on the front thereof. A main strap
24 wraps around the back of the knee from one side, through a
buckle 26 and back onto itself, for fastening via VELCR0 hook
portion 28 and pile portion 30. A secondary strap 32 passes
around above the knee, and fastens back onto the padding
material via pile material 34 on the strap and hook material
36 on the padding.
It will be appreciated that the above description
relates to the preferred embodiment by way of example only.
Many variations on the invention will be obvious to those
knowledgeable in the field, and such obvious variations are
within the scope of the invention as described and claimed,
whether or not expressly described.
