Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02839893 2014-01-15
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LEG PADS FOR A HOCKEY GOALKEEPER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to protective hockey equipment and, more
particularly, to leg pads for hockey goalkeepers.
BACKGROUND
Leg pads are worn by hockey goalkeepers to protect their legs against impacts
from pucks, balls, hockey sticks or other objects and/or to protect their legs
when
moving (e.g., dropping) them onto a playing surface.
A hockey goalkeeper's leg pad typically comprises protective padding for
providing padded protection to the goalkeeper's leg and an outer covering
disposed over the protective padding. The outer covering is typically made of
one
or more panels of synthetic pliable material such as synthetic leather (e.g.,
polyurethane (PU) leather) or fabric (e.g., nylon fabric, polyester fabric,
CorduraTM fabric, etc.) that are cut into a desired configuration so as to
cover the
protective padding.
The synthetic leather or fabric used for a leg pad's outer covering may have
some drawbacks. For example, in some cases, the synthetic leather or fabric
may be limited in its ability to provide protection in and of itself and/or
may
require additional components to be added to the leg pad, such as fabric
overlays for decoration and/or separate panels for attaching straps of the leg
pad.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for improvements in a hockey
goalkeeper's leg pads.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey goalkeeper
leg
pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a
leg of
the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises
a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured to be
positioned
adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the
hockey
goalkeeper leg pad is worn on the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises
a
molded outer shell comprising an outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg
pad, an
inner liner for facing the leg, and protective padding disposed between the
molded
outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey
goalkeeper
leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on
a
leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side respectively configured
to be
positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg
when the
hockey goalkeeper leg pad is worn on the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper
leg
pad. The outer shell comprises molded foam. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises an inner liner for facing the leg and protective padding disposed
between
the outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for
a hockey
goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to
protect the
leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side
respectively
configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral
side of the
leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises a molded outer
shell
comprising an outer surface of the leg pad. The molded outer shell comprises
an
upper leg portion, a knee portion, and a lower leg portion. The molded outer
shell has
a molded bent configuration such that the molded outer shell is bent in a
longitudinal
direction of the leg pad. The leg pad
2
comprises an inner liner for facing the leg and protective padding disposed
between the
molded outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for
a hockey
goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to
protect the
leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side
respectively
configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral
side of the leg
when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell
comprising
an outer surface of the leg pad; an inner liner for facing the leg; and
protective padding
disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding
comprises a
plurality of padding materials that are different from one another. A first
one of the
padding materials is disposed in at least one limited area over a second one
of the
padding materials to control a rebound effect in the at least one limited
area.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for
a hockey
goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to
protect the
leg. The leg pad comprises a front, a medial side, and a lateral side
respectively
configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral
side of the leg
when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell
comprising
an outer surface of the leg pad; an inner liner for facing the leg; and
protective padding
disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding
comprises a
plurality of padding materials that are different from one another. A first
one of the
padding materials is disposed in at least one limited area over a second one
of the
padding materials. Each of the at least one area occupies less than a length
of the
protective padding and less than a width of the protective padding.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for
a hockey
goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey
goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises a
frontal
portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be
positioned
adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the
hockey
goalkeeper leg pad is worn on the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises: an
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outer shell defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad
which
comprises an upper leg portion, a knee portion and a lower leg portion, the
outer shell
comprising molded material imparted with a molded shape. The hockey goalkeeper
leg
pad also comprises an inner liner for facing the leg, and protective padding
disposed
between the outer shell and the inner liner wherein the protective padding
accounts for
at least half of the thickness of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad and wherein
the molded
material of the outer shell is at least half as thick as a portion of the
hockey goalkeeper
leg pad that is between the protective padding and the outermost surface of
the hockey
goalkeeper leg pad.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for
a hockey
goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey
goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises a
frontal
portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be
positioned
adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the
hockey
goalkeeper leg pad is worn on the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises: an
outer shell defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad
which
comprises an upper leg portion, a knee portion and a lower leg portion, the
outer shell
comprising molded material imparted with a molded shape having a molded bent
configuration such that the outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of
the hockey
goalkeeper leg pad, the molded material of the outer shell comprising molded
foam. The
hockey goalkeeper leg pad also comprises an inner liner for facing the leg,
and
protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner
wherein the
protective padding accounts for at least half of the thickness of the hockey
goalkeeper
leg pad and wherein the molded material of the outer shell is at least half as
thick as a
portion of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad that is between the protective
padding and the
outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for
a hockey
goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey
goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises a
frontal
portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be
positioned
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CA 2839893 2018-06-21
adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the
hockey
goalkeeper leg pad is worn on the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises: an
outer shell defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, an
inner
liner for facing the leg, and protective padding disposed between the outer
shell and the
inner liner, the protective padding comprising a plurality of padding
materials that are
different from one another and configured to provide a customized rebound
effect in
different areas of the protective padding wherein the protective padding
accounts for at
least half of the thickness of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad and wherein the
molded
material of the outer shell is at least half as thick as a portion of the
hockey goalkeeper
leg pad that is between the protective padding and the outermost surface of
the hockey
goalkeeper leg pad.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for
a hockey
goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey
goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises a
frontal
portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be
positioned
adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the
hockey
goalkeeper leg pad is worn on the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad
comprises: an
outer shell defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad,
the outer
shell comprising an upper leg portion, a knee portion, a lower leg portion,
and a foot
portion. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad also comprises an inner liner for
facing the leg
and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner,
the
protective padding comprising a plurality of padding materials that are
difference from
one another, wherein a first one of the padding materials is disposed in at
least one
limited area of the protective padding on a second one of the padding
materials wherein
the protective padding accounts for at least half of the thickness of the
hockey
goalkeeper leg pad and wherein the molded material of the outer shell is at
least half as
thick as a portion of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad that is between the
protective
padding and the outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey
goalkeeper leg
pad, substantially as described herein.
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These and other aspects of the invention will now become apparent to those of
ordinary
skill in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of
the invention in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of embodiments of the invention is provided below, by
way
of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a front view of an example of leg pads for protecting legs of a
hockey goalkeeper in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a front view of the right leg pad;
Figures 3 to 6 show front, side, and back views of the right leg pad with
certain
details omitted;
Figure 7 shows an exploded view of certain parts of the right leg pad;
Figure 8 shows a molded outer shell of the right leg pad;
Figures 9A to 9D show renderings of at least part of the molded outer shell;
Figure 10 shows molded ornaments of the molded outer shell;
Figure 11 shows protective padding of the right leg pad;
Figure 12 shows a variant of the molded outer shell in another embodiment; and
Figure 13 and 14 show front and side views of the goalkeeper's right leg.
The description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating certain
embodiments of the invention 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 EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 to 6 show an example of leg pads 101, 102 wearable by a hockey
goalkeeper in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The leg pads
101, 102 are worn on the hockey goalkeeper's legs 161, 162 while playing
hockey
to protect the legs 161, 162 against an impact from a puck, ball, hockey stick
or
other object and/or to protect the legs 161, 162 when moving (e.g., dropping)
them onto a playing surface 12. In this embodiment, a type of hockey played is
ice hockey such that the leg pads 101, 102 are ice hockey goalkeeper leg pads,
the hockey goalkeeper is an ice hockey goalkeeper, and the playing surface 12
is
an ice playing surface.
The leg pads 101, 102 protect various regions of the goalkeeper's legs 161,
162.
With additional reference to Figures 13 and 14, each leg 16, of the goalkeeper
comprises an upper leg 18, a knee 19, a lower leg 20, and a foot 21. The upper
leg 18 is above the knee 19, while the lower leg 20 is below the knee 19 and
above the foot 21. The leg 16, of the goalkeeper has a front 22, a back 23, a
medial side 24 (sometimes referred to as an "inner side"), and a lateral side
25
(sometimes referred to as an "outer side").
In this embodiment, each leg pad 10, comprises an upper leg portion 30, a knee
portion 31, a lower leg portion 32, and a foot portion 33 respectively
configured to
be positioned adjacent to the upper leg 18, the knee 19, the lower leg 20, and
the
foot 21 of the goalkeeper's leg 16õ when the leg pad 10, is worn on the leg
16,.
The upper leg portion 30 is above the knee portion 31, while the lower leg
portion
32 is below the knee portion 31 and above the foot portion 33. Each of these
portions of the leg pad 10, comprises a frontal part, a medial part, and a
lateral
part such that the leg pad 10, comprises a frontal portion 26, a medial
portion 27,
and a lateral portion 28 respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to
the
front 22, the medial side 24, and the lateral side 25 of the goalkeeper's leg
16,
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CA 02839893 2014-01-15
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when the leg pad 10x is worn on the leg 16,. The frontal portion 26 comprises
a
front 34 of the leg pad 10x, the medial portion 27 comprises a medial side 35
of
the leg pad 10õ, and the lateral portion 28 comprises a lateral side 36 of the
leg
pad 10x. In this embodiment, the knee portion 31 comprises a knee wing 39 and
the lower leg portion 32 comprises a calf wing 59.
The leg pad 10x can be secured to the goalkeeper's leg 16õ in any suitable
way.
For example, in this embodiment, the leg pad 10x comprises straps 501-50s to
secure the leg pad 10x to the goalkeeper's leg 16x.
With additional reference to Figure 7, in this embodiment, the leg pad lox
comprises an outer shell 42, an inner liner 44, and protective padding 40
disposed between the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44.
The outer shell 42 comprises an outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x that faces
away from the goalkeeper's leg 16x. With additional reference to Figures 8 and
9A to 9D, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises an upper leg
portion
52, a knee portion 53, a lower leg portion 54, and a foot portion 55 which
constitute respective parts of the upper leg portion 30, the knee portion 31,
the
lower leg portion 32, and the foot portion 33 of the leg pad 10x. Each of
these
portions of the outer shell 42 comprises a frontal part, a medial part, and a
lateral
part such that the outer shell 42 comprises a frontal portion 56, a medial
portion
57, and a lateral portion 58 which constitute respective parts of the frontal
portion
26, the medial portion 27, and the lateral portion 28 of the leg pad 10x.
In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 is a molded outer shell. That is, the
outer
shell 42 is formed by a molding process. A shape of the outer shell 42 is thus
a
molded shape imparted during the molding process. The outer shell 42
comprises molded material 70 that constitutes at least a majority (i.e., a
majority
or an entirety) of the outer shell 42 and has been formed during the molding
process to impart the shape of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this
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CA 02839893 2014-01-15
,
embodiment, the upper leg portion 52, the knee portion 53, the lower leg
portion
54, and the foot portion 55 of the outer shell 42 comprise respective parts of
the
molded material 70 which have been configured by the molding process. Also, in
this example of implementation, the outer shell 42 includes molded features
for
.. functional and/or aesthetic purposes, as further discussed later.
The molded shape of the outer shell 42 may have any suitable configuration. In
this embodiment, the outer shell 42 has a molded bent configuration such that
it
bends in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10,. More particularly, in
this
embodiment, the outer shell 42 includes a bend 60 in the longitudinal
direction of
the leg pad 10, between the upper leg portion 52 and the lower leg portion 54
adjacent to the knee portion 53, and a bend 61 in the longitudinal direction
of the
leg pad 10õ between the lower leg portion 53 and the foot portion 55. In this
example, the bend 60 is a curved part which defines a curvature of the outer
shell 42, while the bend 61 is an angular part which defines an oblique angle.
Also, in this embodiment, the molded bent configuration of the outer shell 42
is
such that the outer shell 42 bends in a widthwise direction of the leg pad
10,.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 includes a bend 68
in the
widthwise direction of the leg pad 10, between the frontal portion 56 and the
medial portion 57 of the outer shell 42, and a bend 69 in the widthwise
direction
of the leg pad 10, between the frontal portion 56 and the lateral portion 58
of the
outer shell 42. The molded bent configuration of the outer shell 42 may be
arranged in any other suitable way in other embodiments (e.g., include any
number of bends, curved or angular, disposed in any suitable manner).
In addition, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a cavity 62
receiving
and holding the protective padding 40. The cavity 62 lies opposite the outer
surface 51 of the leg pad 10, such that it faces the goalkeeper's leg 16õ.
More
particularly, in this embodiment, the medial portion 57 and the lateral
portion 58
of the outer shell 42 project rearwardly relative to the frontal portion 56 of
the
outer shell 42 to define the cavity 62. In this example, the outer shell 42
also
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CA 02839893 2014-01-15
. ,
comprises a top portion 63 and a bottom portion 64 which project reanivardly
relative to the frontal portion 56 to define the cavity 62.
Once the protective padding 40 is placed in the cavity 62 of the outer shell
42, in
this embodiment, the inner liner 44 is placed behind the protective padding 40
and secured into position. To that end, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42
comprises a fastening zone 65 to fasten the outer shell 42 to at least one of
the
inner liner 44 and the protective padding 40. In this example, the fastening
zone
65 is provided to fasten the outer shell 42 to both the inner liner 44 and the
padding 40. More particularly, in this embodiment, the fastening zone 65
comprises a fastening lip 66 in at least one, in this case each, of the medial
portion 57, the lateral portion 58, the top portion 63, and the bottom portion
64 of
the outer shell 42. A fastener 67 interacts with the fastening lip 66 of the
outer
shell 42 and the inner liner 44 to secure the inner liner 44, the protective
padding
40, and the outer shell 42 together. In this example, the fastener 67 is a
series of
stitches that stitch together the inner liner 44, the protective padding 40,
and the
outer shell 42. The fastener 67 may be any other suitable fastener in other
examples (e.g., an adhesive, a series of staples, etc.). The fastening zone 65
may be implemented in any other suitable way in other embodiments. In addition
to being retained between the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44, in this
embodiment, the protective padding 40 is also laced to the inner liner 40 via
laces 151-15L.
In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 has molded functional features which
provide certain functions to the leg pad 10,.
For example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a plurality of
flexion facilitators 81, 801-80F located at predetermined locations which are
spaced from one another to facilitate flexing of the outer shell 42 at these
predetermined positions when the goalkeeper's leg 16x moves. The flexion
facilitators 81, 801-80F are formed during the molding process of the outer
shell
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CA 02839893 2014-01-15
42. More particularly, in this embodiment, the flexion facilitator 81 is
located
between the lower leg portion 53 and the foot portion 55 of the outer shell 42
to
facilitate flexion of the foot portion 55 relative to the lower leg portion 53
when the
goalkeeper's foot 21 moves relative to his/her lower leg 20. The flexion
facilitator
81 thus provides a hinge between the lower leg portion 53 and the foot portion
55
of the outer shell 42. The flexion facilitators 801-80F are located adjacent
to the
upper leg portion 52 and the knee portion 53 of the outer shell 42 to
facilitate
flexion of the upper leg portion 52 and the knee portion 53 relative to the
lower
leg portion 53 when the goalkeeper's knee 19 bends. In this embodiment, each
of the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F comprises a reduction in thickness of
the
outer shell 42 at its predetermined position. More particularly, in this
embodiment, each of the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F comprises a recess
82.
These localized thickness reductions tend to induce bending of the outer shell
42
at the predetermined positions of the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F rather
than at
other positions. The flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F may be implemented in
various other ways in other embodiments.
As another example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a strap
attachment 71 for attaching the straps 501-50s to the leg pad 10x. The strap
attachment 71 is formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. More
particularly, in this embodiment, the strap attachment 71 comprises a
plurality of
strap connectors 721-72c to connect respective ones of the straps 501-50s to
the
leg pad 10x. In this example, each strap connector 72; comprises a strap-
receiving opening 73 for receiving a given one of the straps 501-50s. A first
subset of the strap connectors 721-72c is disposed in the medial portion 57 of
the
outer shell 42, while a second subset of the strap connectors 721-72c is
disposed
in the lateral portion 58 of the outer shell 42, such that respective ones of
the
strap connectors 721-72c in the medial and lateral portions 57, 58 of the
outer
shell 42 are generally aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction
of the
leg pad 10x to receive corresponding ones of the straps 501-50s. The strap
attachment 71 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
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CA 02839893 2014-01-15
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As yet another example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises an
edge projection 84 located in an edge region of the outer shell 42 adjacent to
the
lateral portion 58 of the outer shell 42. The edge projection 84 emulates a so-
called "outer roll" of a conventional ice hockey goalkeeper leg pad and may
help
to prevent a puck from hitting the leg pad 10, and skipping over the leg pad
lox
into the net. The edge projection 84 is formed during the molding process of
the
outer shell 42. In this example, the edge projection 84 is elongated in the
longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10,. More particularly, in this example,
the
edge projection 84 extends longitudinally from the upper leg portion 52 to the
foot
portion 55 of the outer shell 42. Also, in this example, the edge projection
84
includes a break 85 facilitating movement of a first part 861 of the edge
projection
84 in the upper and lower leg portions 52, 54 and the knee portion 53 of the
outer
shell 42 relative to a second part 862 of the edge projection 84 in the foot
portion
55 of the outer shell 42. The edge projection 84 may be implemented in various
other ways in other embodiments.
As yet another example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a
calf
wing member 97 constituting at least part of the calf wing 59 of the leg pad
10,
and a knee wing member 98 constituting at least part of the knee wing 39 of
the
leg pad 10,. The calf wing member 97 and the knee wing member 98 are formed
during the molding process of the outer shell 42. Hinges 751, 752 are
respectively
located between the calf wing member 97 and the lower leg portion 54 of the
outer shell 42 and between the knee wing member 98 and the knee portion 53 of
the outer shell 42. In this example, the hinges 751, 752 are formed during the
molding process of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this example,
each of
the hinges 751, 752 is a reduction in thickness of the outer shell 42 at its
location.
The calf wing member 97 and the knee wing member 98 may be implemented in
various other ways in other embodiments.
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In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a plurality of molded
ornaments
901-900 to enhance an appearance of the leg pad 10,. The molded ornaments
901-900 are molded relief elements that define a molded relief of the outer
shell
42 which is formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. With
additional reference to Figure 10, each of the molded ornaments 901-90o
includes a recess or projection relative to a base area 92 of the outer shell
42.
For instance, in this example, the molded ornaments 90, 9q, 90k are
projections,
while the molded ornament 90m is a recess. As they are formed during the
molding process, the molded ornaments 901-900 allow the leg pad 10, to have an
aesthetic design without requiring fabric overlays as is conventionally done
in ice
hockey goalkeeper leg pads.
More particularly, in this embodiment, various ones of the molded ornaments
901-
900 define a molded decorative pattern 93 of the outer shell 42. In this
example,
some of those molded ornaments 901-900 defining the molded decorative pattern
93 are elongated projections (e.g., ribs) or recesses. In this case, some of
those
molded ornaments 901-900 defining the molded decorative pattern 93 are curved
and intersect other ones of these molded ornaments. The molded decorative
pattern 93 may have any other suitable design in other embodiments.
Also, in this embodiment, certain ones of the molded ornaments 901-90o
graphically convey information to an observer of the leg pad 10,. For example,
in
this embodiment, each of the molded ornaments 904, 905 conveys a word (i.e., a
combination of characters), in this case "BAUER", which is indicative of a
brand
of the leg pad 10,. The molded ornaments 901-900 may graphically convey any
other suitable information (e.g., a model name, a logo, indicia, a serial
number,
etc.) in other embodiments.
In addition, in this embodiment, a plurality of decorative layers 951-950 may
be
received by given ones of the molded ornaments 901-900. Each of the decorative
layers 951-950 may comprise a decal, a sticker, paint, or any other decorative
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CA 02839893 2014-01-15
,
, .
element that can be applied to the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42.
For
example, in this embodiment, the molded ornaments 904, 905 include recesses
which receive the decorative layers 951, 952 constituting colored words. The
decorative layers 951-953 may be implemented in any other suitable manner in
other embodiments.
In this embodiment, the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 comprises
molded foam. This provides shock absorbability to the outer shell 42 which may
help in protecting the goalkeeper's leg 16x. More particularly, in this
embodiment,
the molded foam 70 is ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. Any other suitable
foam may be used in other embodiments (e.g., polyethylene foam (e.g., low-
density polyethylene foam), polyurethane foam, polypropylene foam, etc.). In
some examples of implementation, the molded foam may include a single type of
foam. In other examples of implementation, the molded foam may include two or
more different types of foam, such as foams having different densities and/or
different material compositions (e.g., an outer layer of foam that is denser
than
an inner layer of foam; a layer of EVA foam and another layer of polyurethane
foam; etc.).
The molded material 70 may comprise any suitable material other than foam in
other embodiments (e.g., polymeric material such as thermoplastic polyurethane
or any other elastomeric material, a gel, etc.). For example, in some
embodiments, as shown in Figure 12, the molded foam of the molded material 70
be a foam layer 83 and the molded material 70 may comprise a non-foam layer
88 over the foam layer 83. For instance, in some examples of implementation,
the non-foam layer 88 may be thinner than the foam layer 83 and/or may have a
greater resistance to wear and/or a greater resistance to rupture (i.e., to
cutting
or tearing) than the foam layer 83. For example, in some cases, the non-foam
layer 88 may be a polyurethane layer or a layer of any other non-foam
polymeric
material.
12
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A thickness T of the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 may have any
suitable value. For example, in some embodiments, the thickness T of the
molded material 70 may be at least 4 mm, in some cases at least 5 mm, in some
cases at least 6 mm, in some cases at least 7 mm, in some cases at least 8 mm,
and in some cases even more (e.g., 10 mm or more). The thickness T of the
molded material 70 may have any other suitable value in other embodiments. In
some examples, the thickness T of the molded material 70 may be substantially
constant over the outer shell 42. In other examples, the thickness T of the
molded material 70 may vary such that it has different values in different
regions
of the outer shell 42.
The molding process of the outer shell 42 may employ any suitable molding
method. In this embodiment, the molding process is compression molding such
that the outer shell 42 is a compression molded outer shell. An amount of
material which is to become the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 is
introduced into a mold that is initially open and then shaped into the outer
shell
42 by heat and by pressure created as the mold is closed and the material is
forced into contact with all mold areas. A deflashing (i.e., flash removal)
operation may be performed to remove any excess material from the molding
operation. The outer shell 42 may be molded using any other suitable molding
method in other embodiments (e.g., injection molding, thermoforming, etc.).
The outer shell 42 may be implemented in various other ways in other
embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the outer shell 42 may not
comprise any molded strap attachments such as the strap attachment 71 for
attaching the straps 501-50s to the leg pad 10,, but may rather be fastened
(e.g.,
sewn) to a separate strap attachment (e.g., a fabric panel) to which the
straps
501-50s are attached. As another example, in other embodiments, flexion
facilitators such as the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F may be formed after
molding of the outer shell 42 (e.g., by being cut after molding). As yet
another
example, in some embodiments, such as in some examples mentioned above,
13
CA 02839893 2014-01-15
,
õ
the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 may include two or more different
constituents (e.g., two or more layers of different foams, or a foam layer and
a
non-foam layer). As yet another example, in some embodiments, a layer of paint
may be applied to at least part of the outer shell 42 for decoration.
The protective padding 40 provides padded protection to the goalkeeper's leg
16x. With additional reference to Figure 11, in this embodiment, the
protective
padding 40 comprises an upper leg padding portion 481, a knee padding portion
482, a lower leg padding portion 483 and a foot padding portion 484
constituting
respective parts of the upper leg portion 30, the knee portion 31, the lower
leg
portion 32, and the foot portion 33 of the leg pad 10x. In this example,
respective
ones of the padding portions 481-48p are part of a common continuous pad that
extends from the upper leg portion 30 to the foot portion 33 of the leg pad
10,.
In this embodiment, the protective padding 40 comprises a plurality of padding
materials 891-893 that are different from one another. In this example, the
padding materials 891-893 are different types foam, such as polyurethane foam,
ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, polypropylene (PP) foam, polyethylene (PE)
foam), vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other suitable foam. More particularly,
in this
example, the padding material 891 is a type of polyethylene foam (e.g., high-
density polyethylene foam), the padding material 892 is a different type of
polyethylene foam (e.g., low-density polyethylene foam), and the padding
material 893 is a polyurethane foam (e.g., Poron XRDTm). In other embodiments,
one or more of the padding materials 891-893 may be material other than foam,
such as a gel or any other suitable shock-absorbing material.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the padding material 891 forms an outer
layer 38 of the protective padding 40 and is stiffer (e.g., denser) than the
padding
material 892 which forms an inner layer 41 of the protective padding 40. This
may
impart rigidity to the protective padding 40 or enhance an impact resistance
and/or a shock absorbance of the protective padding 40. Also, in this
14
CA 02839893 2014-01-15
embodiment, the padding material 893 is disposed in specific limited areas
37.'-
373 over the padding material 891 to control a rebound effect at these areas
when
a puck hits these areas. For example, the goalkeeper may prefer a long rebound
or a short rebound when a puck hits in a particular area and the padding
material
893 may be distributed to customize a puck rebound profile of the leg pad 10x
according to the goalkeeper's preference. For a given puck impact speed, the
rebound effect is thus different in the areas 371-373 of the padding material
893
than outside these areas. In this example, the areas 371-373, which are spaced
from one another, are respectively located in the upper leg padding portion
481,
the lower leg padding portion 483 and the foot padding portion 484 of the
protective padding 40. Each of the areas 371-373 is limited in that it
occupies less
than a width of the protective padding 40 and less than a length of the
protective
padding 40. In this case, each of the areas 371-373 occupies less than 90%,
here
less than 80%, of the width of the protective padding 40 and less than half,
here
less than one-third, of the length of the protective padding 40. Also, in this
example, each of the areas 371-373 has a tapered configuration. More
particularly, in this example, each of the areas 371-373 tapers in the
widthwise
direction of the leg pad 10x.
A shape of the protective padding 40 generally conforms to the outer shell 42.
In
this embodiment, the protective padding 40 has a bent configuration such that
it
bends in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x to generally conform to
the
molded bent configuration of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this
embodiment, the protective padding includes a bend 29 in the longitudinal
direction of the leg pad 10x between the upper leg padding portion 481 and the
lower leg padding portion 483 and a bend 43 in the longitudinal direction of
the
leg pad 10õ between the lower leg padding portion 483 and the foot padding
portion 484. In this example, the bend 29 is a curved part which defines a
curvature of the protective padding 40, while the bend 43 is an angular part
which defines an oblique angle. The bent configuration of the protective
padding
may be arranged in any other suitable way in other embodiments (e.g.,
,
CA 02839893 2014-01-15
include any number of bends, curved or angular, disposed in any suitable
manner).
The protective padding 40 may be manufactured in any suitable way. In this
embodiment, the outer layer 38 of the protective padding 40, which is made of
the padding material 891, is molded or machined, while the inner layer 41 of
the
protective padding 40, which is made of the padding material 892, is machined.
Also, in this embodiment, the padding materials 891-893 are adhesively bonded.
Any suitable adhesive may be used (e.g., Contact CementTm, Spray Glue, etc.).
The padding materials 891-893 may be retained together in any other suitable
way in other embodiments (e.g., by being overmolded). The protective padding
40 may be made using any other suitable manufacturing methods in other
embodiments.
The protective padding 40 may be implemented in various other ways in other
embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the padding 40 may be made
of a single shock-absorbing material (e.g., a single foam). As another
example, in
other embodiments, different ones of the padding portions 481-484 may be part
of
distinct pads separate from one another.
The inner liner 44 faces the goalkeeper's leg 16x and may comprise any
suitable
material. For example, in this embodiment, the inner liner 44 comprises fabric
76.
For instance, in some examples of implementation, the fabric of the inner
liner 44
may comprise a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, synthetic microfibers, a
synthetic woven knit, a polyurethane laminate, a mesh, or any other suitable
fabric. The inner liner 44 may be implemented in various other ways in other
embodiments.
The leg pads 101, 102 may be constructed in various other ways in other
embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the leg pads 101, 102 may
have any other suitable shape and/or be made of any other suitable material.
16
,
CA 02839893 2014-01-15
Although in embodiments considered above the leg pads 101, 102 are designed
for playing ice hockey, in other embodiments, leg pads constructed using
principles described herein in respect of the leg pads 101, 102 can be hockey
goalkeeper leg pads for playing roller hockey or another type of hockey (e.g.,
field or street hockey) on a dry playing surface (e.g., a polymeric, concrete,
wooden, or turf playing surface or any other dry playing surface on which
roller
hockey or field or street hockey is played).
Any feature of any embodiment discussed herein may be combined with any
feature of any other embodiment discussed herein in some examples of
implementation.
To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in
one figure has been used to designate the same element if used in any other
figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology has been 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.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with
the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written
description of this invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms
"horizontal",
"vertical", "left", "right", "up", "down" and the like, as well as adjectival
and
adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly",
"upwardly",
"radially", etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated
structure.
Although various embodiments and examples have been presented, this was for
the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various
modifications
and enhancements will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art
and
are within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended
claims.
17
