Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02777786 2012-05-18
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PROTECTIVE ATHLETIC GARMENT
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to protective athletic equipment and, more
particularly, to protective caps of protective athletic garments such as
shoulder
pads, elbow pads, and leg pads.
BACKGROUND
Shoulder pads are worn by players of contact sports, such as hockey, lacrosse
and football, for upper body protection. The shoulder pads typically comprise
front and back portions for respectively protecting front and back regions of
a
player's thorax and left and right shoulder protectors for respectively
protecting
the player's left and right shoulders.
Each shoulder protector usually comprises a protective cap, referred to as a
"shoulder cap", which includes a shell of rigid material (e.g., polycarbonate
or
other rigid plastic) for protecting at least part of the player's shoulder.
While the
shell's rigidity can improve protection of the player's shoulder, it can often
restrict
or otherwise adversely affect freedom of movement of the player's shoulder.
For
instance, the shell of the shoulder cap normally overlies an acromioclavicular
joint region of the player's shoulder and its rigidity can impede movement at
this
joint region as the player's moves his/her arm.
Similar issues can be encountered with protective caps of various other types
of
protective athletic garments, such as leg pads and elbow pads, worn by
individuals involved in athletic activities to protect their body.
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For these and other reasons, there is a need for improvements in protective
caps
of protective athletic garments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a broad aspect, the invention provides a protective athletic
garment
wearable by a user, the protective athletic garment comprising a protective
cap
for protecting a body part comprising an articulation of the user, the
protective
cap comprising: a shell for overlying the user's articulation, the shell
comprising a
first shell member and a second shell member that are disposed to overlie the
user's articulation; a liner mounted under the shell for being disposed
between
the shell and the user's articulation; and a link interconnecting the first
shell
member and the second shell member to hold the first shell member and the
second shell member together, the link extending along at least part of a
periphery of the first shell member and at least part of a periphery of the
second
shell member such that the first shell member and the second shell member are
movable relative to one another and relative to the liner in response to
movement
of the user's articulation, wherein each of the first shell member and the
second
shell member comprises an inner side for facing towards the user's
articulation
and an outer side for facing away from the user's articulation and wherein the
liner is spaced apart from the inner side of the first shell member and the
inner
side of the second shell member; and wherein each of the first shell member
and
the second shell member comprises a peripheral edge defined between its inner
side and its outer side and wherein the link covers the inner side, the outer
side
and the peripheral edge of the first shell member and covers the inner side,
the
outer side and the peripheral edge of the second shell member.
According to another aspect, the invention provides a protective athletic
garment
wearable by a user, the protective athletic garment comprising a protective
cap
for protecting a body part comprising an articulation of the user, the
protective
cap comprising: a shell for overlying the user's articulation, the shell
comprising a
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first shell member and a second shell member, wherein each of the first shell
member and the second shell member comprises an inner side for facing
towards the user's articulation, an outer side opposite the inner side and for
facing away from the user's articulation, and a peripheral edge defined
between
the inner side and the outer side; a liner mounted under the shell for being
disposed between the shell and the user's articulation; and a band
interconnecting the first shell member and the second shell member to hold the
first shell member and the second shell member together, the band extending
along at least part of a periphery of the first shell member and at least part
of a
periphery of the second shell member such that the first shell member and the
second shell member are movable relative to one another in response to
movement of the user's articulation, and wherein the band covers the inner
side,
the outer side and the peripheral edge of the first shell member and covers
the
inner side, the outer side and the peripheral edge of the second shell member.
According to a further aspect, the invention provides athletic shoulder pads
wearable by a user, the athletic shoulder pads comprising: a front portion for
covering at least part of a front side of a thorax of the user; a back portion
for
covering at least part of a back side of the thorax of the user; left and
right
shoulder arch portions for respectively arching over left and right shoulders
of the
user and interconnecting the front portion and said back portion; left and
right
shoulder caps mounted above the left and right shoulder arch portions for
respectively protecting the left and right shoulders of the player, each of
the left
and right shoulder caps comprising: a shell for overlying a respective one of
the
left and right shoulders of the user, the shell comprising a first shell
member and
a second shell member that are disposed to overlie the respective one of the
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left and right shoulders of the user; a liner mounted under the shell for
being
disposed between the shell and the respective one of the left and right
shoulders
of the user; and a link interconnecting the first shell member and the second
shell
member to hold the first shell member and the second shell member together,
the link extending along at least part of a periphery of the first shell
member and
at least part of a periphery of the second shell member such that the first
shell
member and the second shell member are movable relative to one another and
relative to the liner in response to movement of the respective one of the
left and
right shoulders of the user wherein each of the first shell member and the
second
shell member comprises a peripheral edge defined between its inner side and
its
outer side and wherein the link covers the inner side, the outer side and the
peripheral edge of the first shell member and covers the inner side, the outer
side
and the peripheral edge of the second shell member.
According to a further aspect, the invention may provide a protective athletic
garment wearable b y a user, the protective athletic garment comprising a
protective cap for protecting a body part comprising an articulation of the
user,
the protective cap comprising: a shell for overlying the user's articulation,
the
shell comprising a first shell member and a second shell member that are
disposed to overlie the user's articulation; a liner mounted under the shell
for
being disposed between the shell and the user's articulation; and a link
interconnecting the first shell member and the second shell member to hold the
first shell member and the second shell member together, wherein the second
shell member is movable relative to the first shell member between an extended
position when the articulation is in a rest position and a retracted position
when
the articulation moves out of the rest position.
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 shoulder pads for upper body
protection of a user which comprise protective caps in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a rear view of the shoulder pads;
Figure 3 shows a front view of a protective cap of the shoulder pads;
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Figure 4 shows a rear view of the protective cap;
Figure 5 shows an exploded view of the protective cap;
Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the protective cap;
Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of part of a shell member of a shell of
the
protective cap;
Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view of part of a liner of the protective
cap;
Figures 9A and 9B show examples of movement of two shell members of the
shell of the protective cap relative to one another;
Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of part of a shell member of a shell of
the
protective cap in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; and
Figures 11A and 11B show front and back views of regions of an upper body of
the user.
It is to be expressly understood that 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.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 and 2 show an example of a protective athletic garment 10 wearable
by a user in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The protective
athletic garment 10 is protective athletic equipment wearable by the user when
playing a sport or performing another athletic activity to protect his/her
body
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against injury. In this embodiment, the protective athletic garment 10 is
shoulder
pads for upper body protection of the user. More particularly, in this
embodiment,
the user is a hockey player playing hockey such that the shoulder pads 10 are
hockey shoulder pads.
The shoulder pads 10 protect various regions of an upper body of the player.
As
shown in Figures 11A and 11B, a thorax 12 of the player has a front side FS
and
a back side BS. The front side FS of the thorax 12, which can also be referred
to
as a "chest" or "ventral" side, comprises left and right pectoral regions LPR,
RPR
overlying left and right pectoral muscles of the player and a sternum region
SR
overlying a sternum of the player. The back side BS of the thorax 12, which
can
also be referred to as a "dorsal" side, comprises a thoracic spinal region TSR
overlying thoracic vertebrae of the player, left and right trapezius regions
LTR,
RTR overlying left and right trapezius muscles of the player, and left and
right
latissimus dorsi regions LLR, RLR overlying left and right latissimus dorsi
muscles of the player. Left and right left shoulders 201, 202 of the player
join left
and right arms 241, 242 of the player to the thorax 12. Each of the left and
right
shoulders 201, 202 has a clavicle region CR, a scapular region BR, an
acromioclavicular joint region ACR, and a deltoid region DR respectively
overlying a clavicle, a scapula, an acromioclavicular joint, and a deltoid
muscle of
that shoulder. The upper body of the player has a front-back (i.e., a dorso-
ventral) axis FBA (which is perpendicular to the front and back views shown in
Figures 11A and 116), a left-right (i.e., dextro-sinistral) axis LRA, and a
vertical
(i.e., cephalo-caudal) axis VA.
The shoulder pads 10 comprise a front portion 30, a back portion 32, left and
right shoulder arch portions 341, 342, and left and right shoulder protectors
381,
382. A front-back direction, a left-right direction, and a top-bottom
direction of the
shoulder pads 10 are respectively parallel to the front-back axis FBA, the
left-
right axis LRA, and the vertical axis VA of the upper body of the player. The
front
portion 30, the back portion 32, and the left and right shoulder arch portions
341,
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342 define a neck opening 39 for receiving a neck of the player. In this
embodiment, the shoulder pads 10 also comprise left and right arm protectors
211, 212 and left and right lower straps 441, 442.
The left and right shoulder protectors 381, 382 comprise protective caps 401,
402,
which can be referred to as "shoulder caps". As further discussed later, the
shoulder caps 401, 402 are configured to facilitate movement of the left and
right
shoulders 201, 202 of the player when the player moves his/her left and right
arms 241, 242.
The front portion 30 is configured to cover at least part of the front side FS
of the
thorax 12 of the player. In this embodiment, the front portion 30, which can
also
be referred to as a front "panel", comprises left and right pectoral portions
421,
422 for covering the left and right pectoral regions LPR, RPR of the player
and a
sternum portion 46 for covering the sternum region SR of the player. The front
portion 30 comprises a top edge 25 delimiting the neck opening 39.
In this embodiment, the front portion 30 comprises protective padding 48
disposed between an inner liner 51 and an outer covering 55. The protective
padding 48 provides padded protection to the left and right pectoral regions
LPR,
RPR and the sternum region SR of the player. The protective padding 48 may
comprise any suitable shock-absorbing material. For instance, in some examples
of implementation, the protective padding 48 may comprise foam, such as
ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam,
expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam (e.g., low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
foam), vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other suitable foam, and/or may
comprise
shock-absorbing material other than foam (e.g., a gel in the sternum portion
46
for providing added protection to the sternum region SR of the player).
The inner liner 51 faces the thorax 12 of the player and comprises fabric. For
instance, in some examples of implementation, the fabric of the inner liner 51
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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 outer covering 55 faces away from the thorax 12 of the player and
may comprise any suitable material. For instance, in some examples of
implementation, the outer covering 55 may comprise a shell of rigid material
(e.g., one or more shell pieces of polycarbonate or other rigid polymeric
material)
and/or flexible non-foam polymeric material (e.g., polyurethane).
The front portion 30 may be implemented in various other ways in other
embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the front portion 30 may have
various other shapes, comprise various other components, and/or be made of
various other materials.
The back portion 32 is configured to cover at least part of the back side BS
of the
thorax 12 of the player. In this embodiment, the back portion 32, which can
also
be referred to as a back "panel", comprises a spinal portion 73 for covering
the
thoracic spinal region TSR of the player 14, left and right trapezius portions
741,
742 for covering the left and right trapezius regions LTR, RTR of the player,
and
left and right latissimus dorsi portions 761, 762 for covering the left and
right
latissimus dorsi regions LLR, RLR of the player. The back portion 32 comprises
a
top edge 78 delimiting the neck opening 39.
In this embodiment, the back portion 32 comprises protective padding 82
disposed between an inner liner 85 and an outer covering 86. The protective
padding 82 provides padded protection to the thoracic spinal region SR, the
left
and right trapezius regions LTR, RTR, and left and right latissimus dorsi
regions
LLR, RLR of the player. The inner liner 85 faces the thorax 12 of the player,
while
the outer covering 86 faces away from the thorax 12 of the player. In this
example of implementation, these components of the back portion 32 are similar
in construction to the protective padding 48, the inner liner 51, and the
outer
covering 55 of the front portion 30.
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The back portion 32 may be implemented in various other ways in other
embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the back portion 32 may have
various other shapes, comprise various other components, and/or be made of
various other materials.
The left and right shoulder arch portions 341, 342 are configured to
respectively
arch over the left and right shoulders 201, 202 of the player and interconnect
the
front portion 30 and the back portion 32. Each shoulder arch portion 34.
comprises a clavicle portion 53 and a scapular portion 84 for respectively
overlying the clavicle region CR and the scapular region BR of the shoulder
20x
over which it arches.
In this embodiment, the shoulder arch portion 34 comprises protective padding
60 disposed between an inner liner 62 and an outer covering 63. The protective
padding 60 provides padded protection to the clavicle region CR and the
scapular region BR of the shoulder 20.. The inner liner 62 faces the shoulder
20.,
while the outer covering 63 faces away from the shoulder 20.. In this example
of
implementation, these components of the shoulder arch portion 34, are similar
in
construction to the protective padding 48, the inner liner 51, and the outer
covering 55 of the front portion 30.
The left and right shoulder arch portions 341, 342 may be implemented in
various
other ways in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, each of
the left and right shoulder arch portions 341, 342 may have various other
shapes,
comprise various other components, and/or be made of various other materials.
The left and right shoulder protectors 381, 382, which comprise the shoulder
caps
401, 402, are configured to respectively cover at least part of the left and
right
shoulders 201, 202 of the player. In this embodiment, each of the shoulder
caps
401, 402 comprises an acromioclavicular joint portion 41 and a deltoid portion
43
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for respectively covering at least part of the acromioclavicular joint region
ACR
and the deltoid region DR of the shoulder it protects.
Each of the left and right shoulder protectors 381, 382 is connected to at
least one
of the front portion 30, the back portion 32, and a given one of the left and
right
shoulder arch portions 341, 342. In this embodiment, each shoulder cap 40, is
connected to the shoulder arch portion 34x arching over the shoulder 20x that
it
protects. Also, in this embodiment, the shoulder cap 40x is connected to the
arm
protector 21x which is on the arm 24x extending from the shoulder 20x it
protects.
The shoulder cap 40x may be directly connected (e.g., sewed) to the shoulder
arch portion 34x and/or the arm protector 21x or may be indirectly connected
(e.g., via one or more straps sewed) to the shoulder arch portion 34x and/or
the
arm protector 21x. In this example, the shoulder cap 40x is sewed to the
shoulder
arch portion 34x and is connected via a strap to the arm protector 21x.
The left and right arm protectors 211, 212 are configured to cover at least
part of
the left and right arms 241, 242 of the player. Each arm protector 21x
comprises
an outer arm portion 27 for overlying an outer region of the arm 24, it
protects
and a strap 28 for retaining itself on the arm 24x.
In this embodiment, the arm protector 21x comprises protective padding 57
disposed between an inner liner 72 and an outer covering 79. The protective
padding 57 provides padded protection to the outer region of the arm 24x. The
inner liner 72 faces the arm 24x, while the outer covering 63 faces away from
the
arm 24x. In this example of implementation, these components of the arm
protector 21, are similar in construction to the protective padding 48, the
inner
liner 51, and the outer covering 55 of the front portion 30.
The left and right arm protectors 211, 212 may be implemented in various other
ways in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, each of the left
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and right arm protectors 211, 212 may have various other shapes, comprise
various other components, and/or be made of various other materials.
With additional reference to Figures 3 to 8, each shoulder cap 40, comprises a
shell 50 for overlying the player's shoulder 20, that it protects. The shell
50
comprises a first shell member 521 and a second shell member 522. The
shoulder cap 40, also comprises a link 54 interconnecting the shell members
521,
522 to hold the shell members 521, 522 together. The link 54 extends along at
least part of a periphery of the first shell member 521 and at least part of a
periphery of the second shell member 522 such that the shell members 521, 522
are movable relative to one another in response to movement of the shoulder
20,
of the player. The shoulder cap 40, also comprises a liner 56 mounted under
the
shell 50 to be disposed between the shell 50 and the shoulder 20õ of the
player.
In this embodiment, the shell 50 and the liner 56 are connected to one another
through the link 54.
The ability of the shell members 521, 522 to move relative to one another can
facilitate movement of the player's shoulder 20, when he/she moves (e.g.,
raises)
his/her arm 24,). More particularly, in this embodiment, the second shell
member
522 is movable relative to the first shell member 521 between an extended
position and a retracted position, examples of which are shown in Figures 9A
and
9B. When the second shell member 522 is in the retraction position (Figure
9B),
the shell members 521, 522 overlap. When the second shell member 522 is in the
extended position (Figure 9A), the shell members 521, 522 are positioned
relative
to one another to avoid a gap therebetween through which the shoulder 20, of
the player could be impacted. In this example of implementation, the shell
members 521, 522 overlap when the second shell member 522 is in the extended
position. An overlap of the shell members 521, 522 when the second shell
member 522 is in the retracted position, as shown in Figure 9B, is greater
than an
overlap of the shell members 521, 522 when the second shell member 522 is in
the extended position, as shown in Figure 9A. The overlap of the shell members
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,
4.,
521, 522 in each of the retracted position and the extended position can be
taken
as a distance between a portion 68 of the peripheral edge 67 of the first
shell
member 521 that overlaps the second shell member 522 and a portion 69 of the
peripheral edge 67 of the second shell member 522 that overlaps the first
shell
member 521 measured along a direction of motion of the second shell member
522 relative to the first shell member 521. For example, in some embodiments,
the overlap of the shell members 521, 522 when the second shell member 522 is
in the retracted position (Figure 76) may be at least 10%, in some cases at
least
20%, and in some cases at least 30% or more (e.g., 50%) greater than the
overlap of the shell members 521, 522 when the second shell member 522 is in
the extended position. In other examples of implementation, the shell members
521, 522 may not overlap when the second shell member 522 is in the extended
position, but may rather be close enough to avoid a gap therebetween that
would
expose the player's shoulder 20x to an impact though such gap.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the players shoulder 20. moves as the
player's arm 24 moves upwardly, the second shell member 522 can pivot
medially (i.e., in a direction towards a medial (midsagittal) plane of the
player's
body) relative to the first shell member 521. This is represented by an arrow
in
Figure 9A indicating a direction of movement of the second shell member 522
relative to the first shell member 521 such that the second shell member 522
moves from the extended position shown in Figure 9A towards the retracted
position shown in Figure 9B. Conversely, when the player's shoulder 20 moves
as the player's arm 24 moves downwardly, the second shell member 122 can
pivot laterally (i.e., in a direction away from the medial (midsagittal) plane
of the
player's body) relative to the first shell member 121. This would be a
movement
of the second shell member 522 in a direction opposite to the arrow in Figure
9A.
Accordingly, while the rigidity of the shell 50 of the shoulder cap 40x
provides
proper protection of the player's shoulder 20., the ability of the shell
members
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521, 522 to move relative to one another facilitates movement of the player's
shoulder 20.
Each shell member 52, of the shell 50 of the shoulder cap 40x is rigid and has
an
inner side 63 facing towards the shoulder 20x, an outer side 65 opposite the
inner
side 63 and facing away from the shoulder 20x, and a peripheral edge 67
between the inner side 63 and the outer side 65. In this example of
implementation, the shell member 521 is curved such that its inner and outer
sides 63, 65 are curved. More particularly, in this example, the shell member
52,
is curved in two orthogonal directions such that its inner side 63 is
generally
concave and its outer side 65 is generally convex.
In this embodiment, the shell member 52, comprises a rigid core 58 and a
fabric
layer 60 covering at least part of the rigid core 58. More particularly, in
this
embodiment, the fabric layer 60 overlies an outer surface of the rigid core 58
such that it forms at least part of the outer side 65 of the shell member 52,.
The
rigid core 58 and the fabric layer 60 may be made of any suitable material.
For
example, in some embodiments, the rigid core 58 may comprise polycarbonate,
high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene, polyurethane, or any other
rigid polymeric material or any other suitably rigid material. The fabric
layer 60
may comprise a woven fabric (e.g., a woven polyester or nylon fabric), a
nonwoven fabric, synthetic microfibers, a synthetic woven knit, a polyurethane
laminate, a mesh, or any other suitable fabric.
The shell 50 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
For example, in other embodiments, the shell members 521, 522 may have
various other shapes and/or be made of various other materials. For instance,
Figure 10 illustrates another embodiment in which the shell member 522
includes
a projection 96 which can be engaged by the shell member 521 as the shell
members 521, 522 move relative to one another to limit this relative movement.
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The link 54 may extend along any suitable extent of the shell 50 to
interconnect
and hold together the shell members 521, 522. In this embodiment, the link 54
extends along at least a majority of a perimeter of the shell 50. More
particularly,
in this embodiment, the link 54 extends along an entirety of the perimeter of
the
shell 50 such that it surrounds the shell 50. Also, in this embodiment, the
link 54
overlies the inner side 63, the outer side 65 and the peripheral edge 67 of
the
first shell member 521 and the inner side 63, the outer side 65 and the
peripheral
edge 67 of the second shell member 522.
In this example of implementation, the link 54 extends along a majority of the
peripheral edge 67 of the first shell member 521 and a majority of the
peripheral
edge 67 of the second shell member 522. More particularly, in this example,
the
link 54 extends along all the peripheral edge 67 of the first shell member 521
except along a portion 68 of the peripheral edge 67 of the first shell member
521
that overlaps the second shell member 522 when the second shell member 522 is
in the retracted position. Similarly, the link 54 extends along all the
peripheral
edge 67 of the second shell member 522 except along a portion 69 of the
peripheral edge 67 of the second shell member 522 that overlaps the first
shell
member 521 when the second shell member 522 is in the retracted position. In
other words, each of the portion 68 of the peripheral edge 67 of the first
shell
member 521 and the portion 69 of the peripheral edge 67 of the second shell
member 522 is free of the link 54. This creates a space 70 between the shell
members 521, 522 allowing them to move relative to another when the shoulder
20x of the player moves.
In this embodiment, the link 54 comprises a connecting band 72. More
particularly, in this embodiment, the connecting band 72 is a connecting strip
of
fabric. In this example, the strip of fabric constituting the connecting band
72 is a
braiding. For instance, in some examples of implementation, the strip of
fabric
constituting the connecting band 72 may comprise a woven polyester fabric, a
woven nylon fabric, or any other suitable textile. The connecting band 72 may
be
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made of any other suitable material in other examples of implementation (e.g.,
polyurethane, rubber or another elastomer, spandex, etc.).
The link 54 can be affixed to the shell members 521, 522 in various ways. In
this
embodiment, the link 54 is affixed to the shell members 521, 522 by a
stitching 71.
More particularly, the stitching 71 extends through the link 54 and each shell
member 52; to affix the link 54 to the shell member 52. The stitching 71 may
extend along a majority of the perimeter of the shell 50. In this example, the
stitching 71 surrounds the shell 50. In other embodiments, the link 54 may be
affixed to the shell members 521, 522 by staples, an adhesive, or any other
suitable affixing means.
The link 54 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
For example, in other embodiments, the link 54 may have various other shapes
and/or be made of various other materials.
The liner 56 is flexible. In this embodiment, the liner 56 comprises a
flexible core
75 and a fabric layer 77 covering at least part of the flexible core 75. More
particularly, in this embodiment, the fabric layer 77 overlies inner and outer
surfaces of the flexible core 75. The flexible core 75 and the fabric layer 77
may
be made of any suitable material. For example, in some embodiments, the
flexible core 75 may comprise foam, such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE)
foam, polyurethane foam, EVA foam, VN foam, or any other suitable foam. The
fabric layer 77 may comprise a woven fabric (e.g., a woven polyester or nylon
fabric), a nonwoven fabric, synthetic microfibers, a synthetic woven knit, a
polyurethane laminate, a mesh, or any other suitable fabric. In this
embodiment,
the liner 56 also comprises a braiding 81 along its periphery.
A perimeter of the liner 56 is at least as large as the perimeter of the shell
50. In
this embodiment, the perimeter of the liner 56 is larger than the perimeter of
the
shell 50. More particularly, in this embodiment, the shell 50 is disposed
generally
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concentrically on the liner 56. The perimeter of the shell 50 is disposed
within the
perimeter of the liner 56 such that the liner 56 includes a margin 83 that is
left
exposed.
In this example, the liner 56 is connected to the shoulder arch portion 34,
and the
arm protector 21,, directly or indirectly, in order to connect the shoulder
cap 40,
to the shoulder arch portion 34, and the arm protector 21,. More particularly,
in
this example, the liner 56 is sewed to the shoulder arch portion 34, and is
connected to the arm protector 21, via a strap which is sewed to the liner 56,
the
shoulder arch portion 34, and the arm protector 21,.
The liner 56 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
For example, in other embodiments, the liner 56 may have various other shapes
and/or be made of various other materials.
The shell 50 can be affixed to the liner 56 in various ways. In this
embodiment,
the shell 50 is affixed to the liner 56 by a stitching 80. In this example,
the
stitching 80 extends through the link 54 which interconnects the shell members
521, 522 and through the liner 56. The stitching 80 may extend along all or
less
than all of the perimeter of the shell 50. In this example, the stitching 80
extends
along all of a proximal side, a front side and a back side of the perimeter of
the
shell 50 and along part but not all of a distal side of the perimeter of the
shell 50
such that a portion 87 of the perimeter of the shell 50 is free from
attachment to
the liner 56. In other embodiments, the shell 50 may be affixed to the liner
56 by
the stitching 78 which fixes the link 54 to the shell members 521, 522. In
other
words, the stitching 78 may extend through the shell members 521, 522, the
link
54 and the liner 56. In other embodiments, the shell 50 may be affixed to the
liner
56 by staples, an adhesive, or any other suitable affixing means.
Flexibility of the liner 56 may facilitate motion of the shell members 521,
522
relative to one another since the shell 50 and the liner 56 are interconnected
CA 02777786 2012-05-18
.^
.=
through the link 54 in this embodiment. For example, in this embodiment, when
the shell member 522 moves relative to the shell member 521 towards its
retracted position, a portion of the liner 56 through which extends a portion
of the
stitching 80 that also extends through the shell member 522 may bend towards
the shell member 521 to facilitate motion of the shell member 522. Conversely,
when the shell member 522 moves relative to the shell member 521 towards its
extended position, the portion of the liner 56 through which extends the
portion of
the stitching 80 that also extends through the shell member 522 may bend away
from the shell member 521 to facilitate motion of the shell member 522.
In this embodiment, the shoulder cap 40x comprises a restraint 85
interconnecting the shell members 521, 522 to restrain movement of the second
shell member 522 relative to the first shell member 521. In this example of
implementation, the restraint 85 is implemented as a tether which is a strap
that
is connected (e.g., sewed) to the shell members 521, 522 on their respective
inner
side 63.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the restraint 85 is configured to
prevent the
second shell member 522 from moving from a given one of the inner side 63 and
the outer side 65 of the first shell member 521 to an opposite one of the
inner
side 63 and the outer side 65 of the first shell member 521, in this case from
the
inner side 63 to the outer side 65 of the first shell member 521. The
restraint 85
prevents the peripheral edge 67 of the second shell member 522 to move over
the peripheral edge 67 of the first shell member 521 and onto the outer side
65 of
the first shell member 521 when the second shell member 522 pivots laterally
(i.e., in a direction away from the medial (midsagittal) plane of the player's
body).
The restraint 85 may be implemented in various other ways in other
embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the restraint 85 may have
various other shapes and/or be made of various other materials.
16
,
CA 02777786 2012-05-18
The shoulder caps 401, 402 may be implemented in various other ways in other
embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, each of the shoulder caps
401, 402 may have various other shapes, comprise various other components,
and/or be made of various other materials.
While in this embodiment the shoulder pads 10 are hockey shoulder pads, in
other embodiments, shoulder pads constructed using principles described herein
in respect of the shoulder pads 10, including the protective caps 401, 402,
may be
another type of shoulder pads for upper body protection of a player playing
another type of contact sport (sometimes referred to as "full-contact sport"
or
"collision sport") in which there are significant impact forces on the player
due to
player-to-player and/or player-to-object contact. For example, in other
embodiments, shoulder pads constructed using principles described herein in
respect of the shoulder pads 10 may be lacrosse shoulder pads for upper body
protection of a lacrosse player. As another example, in other embodiments,
shoulder pads constructed using principles described herein in respect of the
shoulder pads 10 may be football shoulder pads for upper body protection of a
football player.
Although in embodiments considered above the shoulder pads 10 are a
protective athletic garment for a user playing a contact sport, a protective
athletic
garment constructed using principles described herein in respect of the
shoulder
pads 10, including the protective caps 401, 402, may be used in athletic
activities
other than contact sports in which protection against body injury is desired.
While in this embodiment the protective caps 401, 402 are part of shoulder
pads,
a protective cap constructed using principles described herein in respect of
the
protective caps 401, 402 may be used in other types of protective athletic
garments. For example, in other embodiments, a protective cap constructed
using principles described herein in respect of the protective caps 401, 402
may
be a knee cap of a leg pad or an elbow cap of an elbow pad worn by a user in
17
CA 02777786 2012-05-18
order to protect a knee or an elbow of the user. A protective cap constructed
using principles described herein in respect of the protective caps 401, 402
may
be used to protect any articulation of the user while facilitating movement of
that
articulation.
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.
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