Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02841674 2014-01-31
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STRETCHABLE STRAP HAVING A PADDING ELEMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to stretchable adjustable straps for securing a
protective sport garment to a wearer and offering better protection to the
wearer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditional straps used in protective sport garments for adjusting or securing
different
parts of the garment to a wearer such as a hockey, lacrosse, football, or
baseball
player provide little protection to the player. These straps are generally
made of fabric
and are not optimal for absorbing impact such as that produced by an object
(e.g. a
ball, a puck or a stick) hitting the player. As a result, when the player
wears the
protective sport garment (e.g. shoulder pads, elbow pads, leg pads, etc.), the
location
of the strap is generally a point at which the player is vulnerable and where
less
protection is offered to the player.
There is therefore a need for a strap that is affixed at its first end portion
to a first part
of the protective sport garment and that is detachably affixed at its second
end
portion to a second part of the protective sport garment for allowing
adjustability of
the first and second parts of the garment on the wearer (player) while
offering better
protection to the wearer. The strap is made of a stretchable material such
that the
strap is movable between first and second lengths. Also, once affixed, the
strap
conforms to the wearer's body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
As embodied and broadly described herein, the present invention provides a
strap for
a protective sport garment wearable by a wearer, the garment comprising at
least
first and second parts separated by a space, the strap comprising: first and
second
1
layers made of stretchable material, the first and second layers defining a
hollow
space therebetween; and a padding element confined in the hollow space for
offering
impact protection to the wearer wearing the garment; wherein the strap
comprises a
first end portion configured to be affixed to one of the first and second
parts of the
garment and a second end portion configured to be detachably affixed to a
selected
location on the other one of the first and second parts of the garment, and
wherein, in
use, the strap is movable between first and second lengths for allowing the
second
end portion of the strap to be affixed at the selected location for allowing
adjustability
of the first and second parts and wherein the padding element has a first end
and a
second end, the second end of the padding element being affixed to the second
end
portion of the strap, the first end of the padding element being free to move
relative to
the first end portion of the strap; and wherein the strap is configurable in a
less
stretched position and in a more stretched position and wherein, in the more
stretched position, the first end of the padding element is further from the
first end
portion of the strap than in the less stretched position.
In accordance with another broad aspect, the invention provides a strap for a
protective sport garment wearable by a wearer, the garment comprising at least
first
and second parts separated by a space, the strap comprising: first and second
layers
.. made of stretchable material, the first and second layers defining a hollow
space
therebetween; and first and second padding elements confined in the hollow
space
for offering impact protection to the wearer wearing the garment; wherein the
strap
comprises a first end portion configured to be affixed to one of the first and
second
parts of the garment and a second end portion configured to be detachably
affixed at
a selected location on the other one of the first and second parts of the
garment, the
first padding element having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion
that is
adjacent the second end portion of the strap and the second padding element
having
a proximal end portion adjacent the first end portion of the strap and a
distal end
portion adjacent the second end portion of the strap, the second padding
element
.. defining a cavity for at least partially receiving the first padding
element; and wherein,
in use, the strap is movable between first and second lengths for allowing the
second
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end portion to be affixed at the selected location for allowing adjustability
of the first
and second parts while the proximal end portion of the first padding element
remains
within the cavity defined by the second padding element when the strap is
moved
from the first length to the second length and wherein the proximal end
portion of the
first padding element is configured to be free to move relative to the first
end portion
of the strap and relative to the proximal end portion of the second padding
element,
the distal end portion of the first padding element is affixed to the second
portion of
the strap, and wherein the strap is adjustable between a less stretched
position and a
more stretched position allowing the second end portion to be affixed to the
selected
location while the proximal end portion of the first padding element remains
within the
cavity defined by the second padding element.
In accordance with a further broad aspect, the invention provides a strap for
a
protective sport garment wearable by a wearer, the garment comprising at least
first
.. and second parts separated by a space, the strap comprising: first and
second layers
made of stretchable material, the first and second layers defining a hollow
space
therebetween; and first and second padding elements confined in the hollow
space
for offering impact protection to the wearer wearing the garment; wherein the
strap
comprises a first end portion configured to be affixed to one of the first and
second
parts of the garment and a second end portion configured to be detachably
affixed at
a selected location on the other one of the first and second parts of the
garment, the
first padding element having a distal end portion adjacent the second end
portion of
the strap and the second padding element having a proximal end portion
adjacent
the first end portion of the strap; wherein, in use: the first and second
padding
elements define a first overlap when the first and second padding elements are
in a
first position and the strap is in a first length; the strap is movable
between the first
length and a second length for allowing the second end portion to be affixed
at the
selected location for allowing adjustability of the first and second parts;
and the first
and second padding elements define a second overlap when the first and second
padding elements are in a second position and the strap is in the second
length and
wherein the strap is configurable in a less stretched position and in a more
stretched
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position in a direction of stretching and wherein the first and second padding
elements define a first amount of overlap within the hollow space in the
direction of
stretching when the strap is in the less stretched position; and the first and
second
padding elements define a second amount of overlap within the hollow space in
the
direction of stretching when the strap is in the more stretched position, the
second
amount of overlap being less than the first amount of overlap.
In accordance with a further broad aspect, the invention provides a strap for
a
protective sport garment wearable by a wearer, comprising first and second
parts, the
strap comprising : strap material including a first end portion configured to
be affixed
to the first part of the protective sport garment and a second end portion
detachably
affixable to the second part of the protective sport garment, the strap
material
defining a channel between the first and second end portions; and a padding
element
disposed in the channel for providing impact protection to the wearer of the
protective
sport garment; wherein the strap material has a first portion that is fixed
relative to the
padding element and a second portion that is free to move relative to the
padding
element and is configured to move further away from an end of the padding
element
when the strap is stretched.
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 a protective sport garment with left and
right straps
constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the protective sport garment of Figure 1,
with the
right strap shown in a released position;
3a
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Figure 3A is a perspective side view of the protective sport garment of Figure
1, with
a part broken away, and with the right strap in a first position and a first
length;
3b
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CA 02841674 2014-01-31
Figure 3B is a perspective side view of the protective sport garment of Figure
1, with
a part broken away, and with the right strap in a second position and a second
length;
Figure 4A is a cross-sectional view of the protective sport garment of Figure
3A taken
along lines 4A-4A and showing the left and right straps in the first position;
Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of the protective sport garment of Figure
3B taken
along lines 4B-4B and showing the left and right straps in the second
position;
Figure 5A is an enlarged perspective side view of the protective sport garment
of
Figure 3A, with parts broken away, and with the right strap in the first
position and the
first length;
Figure 5B is an enlarged perspective side view of the protective sport garment
of
Figure 3B, with parts broken away, and with the right strap in the second
position and
the second length;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the right strap taken along lines 6-6 in
Figure 5A;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the right strap taken along lines 7-7 in
Figure 5B;
Figure BA is an enlarged perspective side view of a protective sport garment
with
parts broken away and with a right strap constructed in accordance with a
second
.. embodiment of the invention, the right strap being in a first position and
a first length;
Figure 8B is an enlarged perspective side view of the protective sport garment
with
parts broken away and with the right strap constructed in accordance with the
second
embodiment in a second position and a second length;
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Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the right strap taken along lines 9-9 in
Figure 8A;
and
Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of the right strap taken along lines 10-10
in Figure
8B;
Figure 11A is an enlarged perspective side view of a protective sport garment
with
parts broken away and with a right strap constructed in accordance with a
third
embodiment of the invention, the right strap being in a first position and a
first length;
Figure 11B is an enlarged perspective side view of the protective sport
garment with
parts broken away and with the right strap constructed in accordance with the
third
embodiment in a second position and a second length;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the right strap taken along lines 12-12
in Figure
11A; and
Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of the right strap taken along lines 13-13
in Figure
11B.
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. 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. As
used in the following description, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "left",
"right", "up",
"down" and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof
(e.g.,
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CA 02841674 2014-01-31
r.)
"horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly", "radially", etc.), simply refer to
the orientation
of the illustrated structure. Similarly, the terms "inwardly," "outwardly" and
"radially"
generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its axis of
elongation, or axis
of rotation, as appropriate.
Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a protective sport garment 100 with left
and right
straps 101, 102, each strap being constructed in accordance with a first
embodiment
of the invention. The protective sport garment 100 is a protective sport
garment
wearable by a wearer when playing a sport (e.g. hockey, lacrosse, football or
to baseball) to protect his/her body against injury. In this embodiment, the
protective
sport garment 100 is shoulder pads for upper body protection of the wearer.
More
particularly, in this embodiment, the wearer is a hockey or a lacrosse player
playing
hockey or lacrosse such that the shoulder pads 100 are hockey or lacrosse
shoulder
pads. Although the straps 101, 102 shown in the figures are incorporated in
hockey or
lacrosse shoulder pads 100, it is understood that the straps 101, 102 can be
used for
any protective sport garment (e.g. elbow pad, leg pad) adapted to be worn by
hockey, lacrosse, football or baseball players.
The shoulder pads 100 comprise a front part 102 defining a neck opening 110
for
receiving a neck of the player, a rear part 104 and left and right shoulder
protectors
with left and right shoulder caps 106, 108. A front-back direction, a left-
right direction,
and a top-bottom direction of the shoulder pads 100 are respectively parallel
to the
front-back axis, the left-right axis, and the vertical axis of the upper body
of the
player. In this embodiment, the shoulder pads 100 also comprise left and right
arm
protectors 112, 114. The front part 102 may comprise left and right panels
116, 118
for at least partially covering the left and front sides of the player's
thorax or chest
and a middle panel 120 for at least partially covering for covering the middle
region
(sternum) of the player's thorax or chest.
With reference to Figures 1 to 7, the shoulder pads 100 comprise the left and
right
straps 101, 102 for allowing the player to adjust a fit of the shoulder pads
100. More
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=-
particularly, each of the straps 101, 102 is affixed at its first (proximal)
end portion to a
first part (rear part 104) of the shoulder pads 100 and is detachably affixed
at its
second (distal) end portion to a second part (front part 102) of the shoulder
pads 100
for allowing adjustability of the first and second parts (back and front parts
104, 102)
on the player when the player is wearing the shoulder pads 100.
Each of the straps 101, 102 covers a span between first and second parts of
the
shoulder pads 100 separated by a space 114. In this example, each of the
straps
101, 102 covers the span between the front part 102 and the rear part 104 of
the
shoulder pads 100. Each of the straps 101, 102 comprises a first (proximal)
end
portion 12 and a second (distal) end portion 14, the first end portion 12
being affixed
to the shoulder pads 100 and the second end portion 14 being detachably
affixed to
the shoulder pads 100. In this instance, the first end portion 12 of each of
the straps
101, 102 is affixed to the rear part 104 and the second end portion 14 of each
of the
straps 101, 102 is detachably affixed to the front part 102. It is understood
that the first
end portion 12 is "permanently" affixed to the first part (rear part 104)
using any
method known in the art such as lamination, stitching, gluing, needling,
overmolding,
thermal bonding, high-frequency bonding, vibration bonding, ultrasonic bonding
or
any combination thereof such that, in use, the strap is not detachable from
the
garment (shoulder pads). On the other end, in use, the second end portion 14
is
detachably affixed to the second part (front part 102) such that the second
end
portion 14 is detachable from the garment (shoulder pads). Each of the left
and right
straps 101, 102 thus allows adjustment of the front and rear parts 102, 104 in
the
front-back direction of the shoulder pads 100.
Each of the straps 101, 102 comprises a first (outer) layer 16 and a second
(inner)
layer 18 that may be held together by a binding element 20, a padding element
22
confined therein for providing impact protection to the player, and an
affixing means
24 for adjusting and securing the strap.
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As best shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first and second layers 16, 18 define a
generally rectangular shape with a hollow space 26 defined between these
layers
and in which the padding element 22 is confined. Each of the first and second
layers
16, 18 is made of stretchable material that comprises elastic "stretch" fabric
(e.g.
spandex, nylon, etc.). For example, each of the first and second layers 16, 18
may be
a stretchable fabric that may comprise a blend of a synthetic fiber and at
least 10% of
a stretchable fiber or it may be made of a blend of fibers selected from the
group
consisting of acetate, acrylic, nylon, olefin, polyester and rayon fibers with
more than
10% spandex fibers or other elastic fibers such as LYCRATM. The stretchable
fabric
can be a four-way stretch 85% nylon 15% spandex blend.
In use, each of the straps 101, 102 is movable from a first position, as shown
in
Figures 3A, 4A and 5A, to a second (extended) position, as shown in Figures
3B, 4B
and 5B. Each of the straps 101, 102 has a first length L1 in the first
position and a
.. second length L2 in the second position, the second length L2 being
different (longer)
from the first length Li. Moreover, because the first end portion 12 is
affixed to one of
the first and second parts (e.g. rear part 104) and the second end portion 14
is
detachably affixed at a selected location on the other one of the first and
second
parts (e.g. front part 102), in use, the strap is movable (stretchable)
between the first
and second lengths Li, L2 for allowing the second end portion 14 to be affixed
at a
selected location on the front part 102 for allowing adjustability of the
front and rear
parts 102, 104, i.e. in order to adjust the rear part 104 relative to the
front part 102
such that the player may adjust the shoulder pads 100 according to the size of
his/her upper body. Moreover, because each of the layers 16, 18 is made of
stretchable material, in use, the strap conforms to the player's (upper) body.
The
strap thus connects together the front and rear parts 102, 104 once the second
end
portion 14 of the strap is affixed at the selected location on the front part
102. It is
understood that the first end portion 12 of the strap may rather be
(permanently)
affixed to the front part 102 and the second end portion 14 may rather be
detachably
affixed at a selected location on the rear part 104.
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The binding element 20 is also made of a stretchable material; however, it may
be
less stretchable while offering further resistance at the periphery of the
strap. For
example, the binding element 20 may be a strip of fabric, band of material, or
braiding that may be made of woven polyester fabric, woven nylon fabric,
spandex, or
any other suitable material. The binding element 20 can be affixed to the
first and
second layers 16, 18 in various ways. For example, the binding element 20 may
be
affixed to the first and second layers 16, 18 by a stitching where the
stitching extends
through the binding element 20 and each layer in order to affix the layers to
the
binding elements. The binding element 20 may extend along a majority of the
perimeter of the layers in order to affix together the layers along their
respective edge
portions. In this example, the binding element 20 affixes or secures together
the first
and second layers 16, 18 at their upper edge portions and at their bottom edge
portions as best shown in Figures 6 and 7. However, as best shown in Figures
5A
and 5B, the binding element 20 may also affix or secure together the first and
second
layers 16, 18 at their end edge portions i.e. at the second (distal) end
portion 14 of
the strap. It is also understood that the binding element 20 may be omitted
and that
the first and second layers may then be affixed together along their edges by
any
method known in the art such as lamination, stitching, gluing, needling,
overmolding,
thermal bonding, high-frequency bonding, vibration bonding, ultra-sonically
bonding
or any combination thereof. Alternatively, it is also understood that the
first and
second layers may be integrally formed together while still defining a hollow
space in
which the padding element 22 is received or confined. For example, the layers
may
take the form of a sock in which the padding element 22 is received.
The padding element 22 may be affixed to the second end portion 14 of the
strap 10
by stitching, glue or any appropriate adhesive. For example, a distal end 22D
of the
padding element 22 may be affixed by stitching to the first layer and/or the
second
layer 18 at the second end portion 14 of the strap 10. However, the padding
element
22 may alternatively be affixed to the first and second layers 16, 18 at other
locations
of the strap 10.
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CA 02841674 2014-01-31
In accordance with another embodiment, the padding element may be confined
within the first and second layers 16, 18 but not affixed to these layers. In
this case,
the padding element would be snuggly retained within the first and second
layers 16,
18 and would not be stitched, glued or otherwise attached to the layers
The shape of the padding element 22 generally follows an outline of the strap
10 so
as to cover a maximum surface area therein. In some embodiments, the padding
element 22 may comprise a plurality of padding portions. For example, the
padding
element 22 may comprise two, three, four or more padding portions.
Furthermore, the padding element 22 may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid
material
such as a polymer (e.g. nylon, polyester, etc.) or a composite (e.g. carbon
fiber,
Kevlar, etc.). In some embodiments, the padding element 22 may instead
comprise a
foam material. For instance, the foam material of the padding element 22 may
comprise any suitable foam. For example, the foam material of the padding
element
22 may comprise ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, expanded polypropylene
(EPP)
foam, expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam, vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other
suitable foam. In some cases, the foam material of the padding element 22 may
include only one type of foam. In other cases, the foam material of the
padding
element 22 may include different types of foam in different areas of the strap
10.
Also, in some embodiments, the padding element 22 may comprise other shock-
absorbing materials. For instance, in some cases, the padding element 22 may
comprise gel material. In addition, in some embodiments, the padding element
22
may comprise a combination of the above mentioned materials whereby different
types of material are located in different areas of the strap 10.
The affixing means 24 comprises mating components such as a first connector
and a
second connector. In this embodiment, the affixing means 24 comprises a hook-
and-
loop fastener. For instance, the inner side (second (inner) layer 18) of the
strap may
have a tab or a band with VELCRO hooks 26 at the second end portion 14 and the
front part 102 may have a tab or a band with VELCRO loops 28. The tab or band
with
CA 02841674 2014-01-31
r.
:.
1,
VELCRO hooks or loops may be affixed to the strap or shoulder pads by
stitching,
glue or any other suitable adhesive.
In the released position shown in Figure 2, the VELCRO hooks 26 do not engage
the
VELCRO loops 28 and the player can adjust the strap according to the
appropriate
length. Once the appropriate length is obtained, the VELCRO hooks 26 of the
second
end portion 14 are affixed at a selected location of the VELCRO loops 28 in
order to
adjust the rear part 104 relative to the front part 102. As such, in this
position, the
VELCRO loops and hooks 26, 28 engage together for maintaining in place the
strap
and the front and rear parts 102, 104.
In other embodiments, the affixing means may instead comprise a clip or any
other
means to affix the second end portion of the strap to the front part of the
shoulder
pads 100.
Figures 8A to 10 show a right strap 210 constructed in accordance with a
second
embodiment of the invention. The strap 210 comprises a first (proximal) end
portion
212 and a second (distal) end portion 214. The strap 210 also comprises first
and
second layers 216, 218 that may be held together by a binding element 220, a
padding element, and an affixing means 224 at the second end portion 214. The
padding element is confined in a hollow space between the first and second
layers
216, 218 and comprises first and second padding elements 226, 228.
The first padding element 226 has a proximal end portion 226P and a distal end
portion 226D that is adjacent the second end portion 214 of the strap 210 and
the
second padding element 228 has a proximal end portion 228P that is adjacent
the
first end portion 212 of the strap 210. The first padding element 226 is
similar in
construction to the padding element 22 described above and may have its distal
end
portion 226D attached by stitching, glue or any appropriate adhesive to the
second
end portion 214 of the strap 210. The proximal end portion 228P of the second
padding element 228 may be attached by stitching, glue or any appropriate
adhesive
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to the first end portion 212 of the strap 210. As for the straps 101, 102,
because the
first end portion 212 is affixed to one of the first and second parts (e.g.
rear part 104)
and the second end portion 214 is detachably affixed at a selected location on
the
other one of the first and second parts (e.g. front part 102), in use, the
strap 210 is
movable (stretchable) between first and second lengths L1, L2 for allowing the
second
end portion 214 to be affixed at a selected location on the front part 102 for
allowing
adjustability of the front and rear parts 102, 104.
As seen in Figures 9 and 10, the second padding element 228 defines a cavity
230
for at least partially receiving the first padding element 226. The second
padding
element 228 is generally rectangular and the cavity 230 has a cross-sectional
area
larger than a cross-sectional area of the first padding element 226 for at
least partially
receiving the first padding element 226 within the cavity 230.
The first and second layers 216, 218 are of similar construction to first and
second
layers 16, 18 previously described which allow the strap 210 to be movable
from a
first position, as shown in Figure 8A, to a second position, as shown in
Figure 88.
This entails that the strap 210 can have the first length L1 in the first
position, the
second different length L2 in the second position, and in use, the strap 210
is
movable between the first and second lengths L1, L2 for allowing the second
end
portion 214 to be affixed at the selected location of the front part 102 in
order to
adjust the rear part 104 relative to the front part 102 while the proximal end
portion
226P of the first padding element 226 remains within the cavity 230 defined by
the
second padding element 228 when the strap 210 is moved from the first length
L1 to
the second length L2.
The cavity 230 thus permits an interface between the first padding element 226
and
the second padding element 228 such that the proximal end portion 226P of the
first
padding element 226 remains within the cavity 230 when the strap is moved from
the
first length L1 to the second length L2. As best seen in Figure 88, this
feature allows
the first and second padding elements 226, 228 to cover a totality of the
surface area
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of the strap 210 even when the strap 210 stretches to the second (extended)
position.
The first padding element 226 may comprise a rigid or semi-rigid material such
as a
polymer (e.g. nylon, polyester, etc.) or a composite (e.g. carbon fiber,
Kevlar, etc.). In
some embodiments, the first padding element 226 may instead comprise a foam
material such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, expanded polypropylene
(EPP)
foam, expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam, vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other
suitable foam. The second padding element 228 may be made of similar materials
as
the first padding element 226. However, because of the presence of the cavity
230 in
the second padding element 228, the second padding element 228 may be made of
plastic or other materials more suitable for making this element by a molding
process.
Figures 11A to 13 show a right strap 310 constructed in accordance with a
third
embodiment of the invention. The strap 310 comprises a first (proximal) end
portion
312 and a second (distal) end portion 314. The strap 310 also comprises first
and
second layers 316, 318 that may be held together by a binding element 320, a
padding element, and an affixing means 324 at the second end portion 314. The
padding element is confined in a hollow space 322 between the first and second
layers 316, 318 and comprises first and second padding elements 326, 328.
The first padding element 326 has a proximal end portion 326P and a distal end
portion 326D that is adjacent the second end portion 314 of the strap 310 and
the
second padding element 328 has a proximal end portion 328P that is adjacent
the
first end portion 312 of the strap 310 and a distal end portion 328D that at
least
partially overlaps the first padding element 326. The first padding element
326 is
similar in construction to the padding element 22 described above and may have
its
distal end portion 326D attached by stitching, glue or any appropriate
adhesive to the
second end portion 314 of the strap 310. The proximal end portion 328P of the
second padding element 328 may be attached by stitching, glue or any
appropriate
adhesive to the first end portion 312 of the strap 310. As for the straps 101,
102,
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because the first end portion 312 is affixed to one of the first and second
parts (e.g.
rear part 104) and the second end portion 314 is detachably affixed at a
selected
location on the other one of the first and second parts (e.g. front part 102),
in use, the
strap 310 is movable (stretchable) between first and second lengths L1, L2 for
allowing the second end portion 314 to be affixed at a selected location on
the front
part 102 for allowing adjustability of the front and rear parts 102, 104.
The second padding element 328 at least partially overlaps the first padding
element
326 such that, in use, the first and second padding elements 326, 328 define a
first
overlap when the first and second padding elements 326, 328 are in a first
position
and the strap is in a first length L1 (see Figures 11A and 12), the strap 310
is
movable between the first length L1 and the second length L2 for allowing the
second
end portion 314 to be affixed at the selected location for allowing
adjustability of the
first and second parts 102, 104, and the first and second padding elements
326, 328
define a second overlap when the first and second padding elements 326, 328
are in
a second position and the strap 310 is in the second length L2 (see Figures 11
B). The
second length L2 is greater than the first length L1 and the first overlap is
greater than
the second overlap.
The first and second layers 316, 318 are of similar construction to the first
and
second layers 16, 18 previously described which allow the strap 310 to be
movable
from a first position, as shown in Figure 11A, to a second position, as shown
in
Figure 11. This entails that the strap 310 can have the first length L1 in the
first
position, the second different length L2 in the second position, and in use,
the strap
310 is movable between the first and second lengths L1, L2 for allowing the
second
end portion 314 to be affixed at the selected location of the front part 102
in order to
adjust the rear part 104 relative to the front part 102 while the distal end
portion 328D
of the second padding element 328 at least partially covers the first padding
element
326 when the strap is moved from the first length L1 to the second length L2.
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CA 02841674 2014-01-31
The overlapping construction thus permits an interface between the first
padding
element 326 and the second padding element 328 such that the distal end
portion
328D of the second padding element 328 at least partially covers the first
padding
element 326 when the strap is moved from the first length L1 to the second
length L2-
As best seen in Figure 11B, this feature allows the first and second padding
elements
326, 328 to cover a totality of the surface area of the strap 310 even when
the strap
310 is moved to the second (extended) position (in the second length L2).
The first padding element 326 may comprise a foam material such as ethylene
vinyl
lo acetate (EVA) foam, expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam, expanded
polyethylene
(EPE) foam, vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other suitable foam. The second
padding
element 328 may be made of similar materials as the first padding element 326.
Any feature of any embodiment discussed herein may be combined with any
feature
of any other embodiment discussed herein in some examples of implementation.
Various embodiments and examples have been presented 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.
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