Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02517311 2009-10-29
HOCKEY PANTS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to hockey pants having overlapping protective
pads for
covering the hips of the wearer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional hockey pants protect the area of the wearer that is delimited, at
an upper
end, by the waist and, at a lower end, by the knees. Protection is therefore
provided to
the upper leg and pelvic regions of the wearer. These pants may comprise an
adjustable dorsal protective pad adapted to extend over and protect the lower
spine
region of the wearer. Traditional hockey pants have inner protective pads that
do not
necessarily follow the contour of the hip regions when the wearer adopts
different
skating positions. There is therefore a need for hockey pants offering an
appropriate
level of protection while allowing greater mobility to the wearer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides
Hockey
pants for protecting a wearer having a lower spine region, lower ribs, a waist
region,
left and right hip regions, a crotch region, and left and right thighs, the
hockey pants
comprising an inner protective unit and an outer shell with its upper edge
connected to
the inner protective unit, the outer shell having an upper portion for
covering the waist
and left and right hip regions of the wearer, a crotch portion for covering
the crotch
region of the wearer and left and right leg portions for covering the
respective left and
right thighs of the wearer, the inner protective unit comprising a padded band
for
covering the waist region of the wearer, left separate first and second
protective pads
and right separate first and second protective pads for covering the
respective left and
right hip regions, a first elastic band connecting the left first and second
protective
pads and a second elastic band connecting the right first and second
protective pads,
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wherein the first elastic band has an upper end affixed to a left inner
surface of the
padded band of the inner protective unit and a lower end affixed to an upper
edge of
the left second protective pad, wherein the second elastic band has an upper
end
affixed to a right inner surface of the padded band of the inner protective
unit and a
lower end affixed to an upper edge of the right second protective pad,
wherein, in use,
each of the first and second elastic bands allows movement of each second
protective
pad relative to each first protective pad between an extended position,
wherein there is
a first overlapping between the first and second protective pads, and a
retracted
position, wherein there is a second overlapping between the first and second
protective pads, the second overlapping being larger than the first
overlapping, and
wherein the hockey pants further comprise left and right elastic bands
connecting the
respective second left and right protective pads to an inner surface of the
respective
left and right leg portions of the outer shell, each of the left and right
elastic bands
biasing the first and second protecting pads towards the extended position.
The invention also provides hockey pants for protecting a wearer having a
lower spine
region, lower ribs, a waist region, left and right hip regions, a crotch
region, and left
and right thighs, the hockey pants comprising an inner protective unit and an
outer
shell with its upper edge connected to the inner protective unit, the outer
shell having
an upper portion for covering the waist and left and right hip regions of the
wearer, a
crotch portion for covering the crotch region of the wearer and left and right
leg
portions for covering the respective left and right thighs of the wearer, the
inner
protective unit comprising a padded band for covering the waist region of the
wearer,
separate left first, second and third protective pads and separate right
first, second and
third protective pads for covering the respective left and right hip regions,
first and
third elastic bands connecting the left first, second and third protective
pads and
second and fourth elastic bands connecting the right first, second and third
protective
pads, wherein the first elastic band has an upper end affixed to a left inner
surface of
the padded band of the inner protective unit, wherein the second elastic band
has an
upper end affixed to a right inner surface of the padded band of the inner
protective
unit, wherein the third elastic band has a lower end affixed to an upper edge
of the left
third protective pad, wherein the fourth elastic band has a lower end affixed
to an
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upper edge of the right third protective pad, wherein, in use, each of the
first and
second elastic bands allows movement of each second protective pad relative to
each
first protective pad between an extended position, wherein there is a first
overlapping
between the first and second protective pads, and a retracted position,
wherein there is
a second overlapping between the first and second protective pads, the second
overlapping being larger than the first overlapping, and each of the third and
fourth
elastic bands allows movement of each third protective pad relative to each
second
protective pad between an extended position, wherein there is a first
overlapping
between the second and third protective pads, and a retracted position,
wherein there
is a second overlapping between the second and third protective pads, the
second
overlapping being larger than the first overlapping, and wherein the hockey
pants
further comprise left and right elastic bands connecting the respective left
and right
third protective pads to an inner surface of the respective left and right leg
portions of
the outer shell, each of the left and right elastic bands biasing the first,
second and
third protective pads towards the extended position.
Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to
the persons
skilled in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of
the
invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided
herein
below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the hockey pants constructed in accordance
with the
invention;
lo Figure 2 is a perspective view of the hockey pants of Figure 1 showing the
inner
protective unit and the outer shell;
Figure 3 is a top view of the hockey pants of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing overlapping protective
pads of
the inner protective unit in an extended position;
Figure 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view showing overlapping protective
pads of
the inner protective unit in a retracted position;
Figure 6 is a perspective view of a player wearing the hockey pants of Figure
1
wherein a portion of the outer shell is broken to show the overlapping
protective pads
in the extended position; and
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a player wearing the hockey pants of Figure
1
wherein a portion of the outer shell is broken to show the overlapping
protective pads
in the retracted position.
In the drawings, the embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
examples.
It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only
for the
purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not
intended to be a
definition of the limits of the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
To facilitate the description, any reference numerals designating an element
in one
figure will designate the same element if used in any other figures. In
describing the
embodiments, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity but
the
invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and
it is
understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents.
Shown in Figures 1 to 7 is the hockey pants 10 constructed in accordance with
an
lo embodiment of the present invention and adapted for being worn by a wearer
having a
lower spine region, lower ribs, a waist region, left and right hip regions, a
crotch
region, and left and right thighs.
The hockey pants 10 comprises an outer shell 12 having an upper portion 14 for
covering the waist and left and right hip regions of the wearer, a crotch
portion 16 for
covering the crotch region of the wearer and left and right leg portions 18,
20 for
covering the respective left and right thighs of the wearer. The outer shell
12 may be
made of a single or multi layer nylon material that is resistant to rib and
cuts. Other
synthetic and natural materials are likewise contemplated for alternate
embodiments.
The outer shell 12 should be made of a water resistant material so that water
from the
ice does not soak through the pants and reach the wearer's skin. The left and
right leg
portions 18, 20 are of tubular configuration to encircle the left and right
thighs of the
wearer. As it is well known in the art, the left and right leg portions 18, 20
comprise
inner pockets for receiving protective pads for covering the front, side and
back areas
of the left and right thighs of the wearer. Each of these protective pads may
have a
certain curvature in order to better follow the contour of the thighs of the
wearer. The
left and right leg portions 18, 20 may also comprise elastic regions allowing
greater
mobility to the wearer.
The pants 10 also comprise an inner protective unit 22 associated with the
outer shell
12. The upper edge of the outer shell 12 may be affixed to the inner
protective unit by
affixing means such as adhesive, thermal bonding, piping, zipper or stitches.
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The protective unit 22 comprises a padded band 24 for covering the waist
region of
the wearer. The padded band 24 may comprise a back portion 26 extending
upwardly
for covering the lower spine region of the wearer. It is understand that the
padded
band 24 may also at least partially cover the lower ribs of the wearer. The
padded
band 24 further comprises left and right belt portions 28, 30 that are
interconnectable
by affixing together respective rear and front overlapping surfaces of these
left and
right belt portions 28, 30 while allowing their size adjustment relative to
the waist
region of the wearer. One of the overlapping surfaces of the left and right
belt portions
28, 30 may comprise VELCRO loops and the other overlapping surfaces may
comprise VELCRO hooks.
The protective unit 22 may also comprise an adjustable belt located below the
left and
right belt portions 28, 30 in order to offer further size adjustment relative
to the waist
region of the wearer. The belt may be tightened in place by adjusting a
suitable
buckle. Adjustment of the left and right belt portions 28, 30 and belt is
performed
such that they snugly fits and encircles the waist region of the wearer.
The protective unit 22 comprises left first, second, third separate protective
pads 32,
34, 36 for covering the left hip region of the wearer and right first, second,
third
separate protective pads 38, 40, 42 for covering the right hip region of the
wearer.
The first, second, third pads 32, 34, 36 are connected by an elastic band 44
and the
first, second, third pads 38, 40, 42 are also connected by an elastic band 46.
It is
understand that the elastic bands 44, 46 may be integrated elastic bands as
shown in
the figures or may be formed of separate elastic bands, first elastic bands
connecting
the respective first and second pads 32, 24; 38, 40 and second elastic bands
connecting the respective second and third pads.
As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the elastic band 44 allows movement of the second
pad
34 relative to the first pad 32 between an extended position (see Figure 4),
wherein
there is a first overlapping between the first and second pads 32, 34, and a
retracted
position (see Figure 5), wherein there is a second overlapping between the
first and
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second pads 32, 34, this second overlapping being larger than the first
overlapping.
The elastic band 44 also allows movement of the third pad 36 relative to the
second
pad 34 between an extended position (see Figure 4), wherein there is a first
overlapping between the second and third pads 34, 36, and a retracted position
(see
Figure 5), wherein there is a second overlapping between the second and third
pads
34, 36, this second overlapping being larger than the first overlapping.
Similarly, the elastic band 46 allows movement of the second pad 40 relative
to the
first pad 38 between an extended position (see Figure 4), wherein there is a
first
overlapping between the first and second pads 38, 40, and a retracted position
(see
Figure 5), wherein there is a second overlapping between the first and second
pads 38,
40, this second overlapping being larger than the first overlapping. The
elastic band
46 also allows movement of the third pad 42 relative to the second pad 40
between an
extended position (see Figure 4), wherein there is a first overlapping between
the
second and third pads 40, 42, and a retracted position (see Figure 5), wherein
there is
a second overlapping between the second and third pads 40, 42, this second
overlapping being larger than the first overlapping.
Figures 6 and 7 show a player in different skating positions. In Figure 6, the
right leg of
the player begins the pushing action against the ice while the left leg
reaches full
extension after its pushing action. In this full extension position, the left
leg is generally
straight and the pads 32, 34, 36 are in the extended position wherein movement
of the
left leg is not restricted. In Figure 7, the left leg is bent and the pads 32,
34, 36 are then in
the retracted position wherein movement of the left leg is not restricted. It
is understood
that the hockey pants 10 may also be worn by a goaltender who also needs
flexibility in
the hip regions when for example moving from a stand-up position to a
"butterfly style"
position.
Reverting to Figures 4 and 5, the first, second, third pads 32, 34, 36 are
confined in
respective envelopes 48, 50, 52 and the first, second, third pads 38, 40, 42
are also
confined in respective envelopes 54, 56, 58. The first envelopes 48, 54 have
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respective upper edges 60, 62 affixed to the padded band 24. The upper edges
60, 62
may be stitched to an inner surface of the padded band 24.
The elastic bands 44, 46 have respective upper ends 64, 66 also affixed to the
padded
band 24. The upper ends 64, 66 of the elastic bands 44, 46 may be stitched to
the
inner surface of the padded band 24, proximate to the respective upper edges
60, 62 of
the first envelopes 48, 54. The elastic bands 44, 46 may also be stitched to
an upper
edge of the respective first pads 32, 38. The elastic bands 44, 46 also have
respective
lower ends 68, 70 stitched to an upper edge of the respective third pads 36,
42.
Moreover, the elastic bands 44, 46 are stitched to an upper edge of the
respective
second pads 34, 40 at about mid distance.
The length of the elastic bands 44, 46 is selected such that, in the extended
position,
the third pads 36, 42 at least partially overlap the respective second pads
34, 40 and
the second pads 34, 40 at least partially overlap the respective first pads
32, 38 as
shown in Figure 4.
The left and right first, second and third separate protective pads 32, 34,
36; 38, 40, 42
may be made of thermoformable foam or any other suitable energy absorption
material while the respective envelopes 48, 50, 52; 54, 56, 58 and elastic
bands 44, 46
may be made of fabric or any other suitable elastic material.
The pants 10 may also comprise left and right elastic bands 72, 74 having an
upper
end affixed to a lower edge of the third pad 36; 42 and a lower end affixed to
the inner
surface of the leg portion 18; 20.
The above description of embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting
manner
since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the
spirit and
scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the
appended
claims and their equivalents.
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