Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
WEARABLE SPORTS GUARD
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to guards, in particular
wearable sports
guards for the neck and wrist areas, which may provide both impact and cut
protection
when playing sports, such as in hockey.
Background
[0002] Sports, such as the game of ice hockey, are played in sometimes
dangerous
conditions, such as on an icy surface where two opposing teams try to move a
rubber
puck into the opponent's net/goal using hockey sticks. The players often use
specialized
equipment or implements, and in specialized environments. For example, they
may
maneuver on the ice using bladed footwear to skate on the surface. Hockey, for
example, may be a rough sport where the chance of injury may be high.
Consequently,
injuries from skate blades and other blunt objects may be a potential threat
to the safety
of the players. As such, the development of protective gear for this and other
sports, or
other endeavors where protection may be beneficial, is an ongoing process, in
order to
make for safer and/or more comfortable activity for the player.
[0003] However, there may be a tradeoff between protectiveness and weight of
the
protection. Conventional neck and wrist guards may be bulky, heavy or
otherwise less
desirable.
Summary
[0004] In some aspects there may be provided a wearable guard including a
wearable
piece of clothing including a cut-resistant material at least in a portion of
the clothing to
be worn over a protected area of the wearer; the wearable piece of clothing
including at
least one pocket for retaining at least one insert over the protected area of
a wearer; and
at least one insert being formed from an impact-resistant material.
[0005] In another aspect, the cut-resistant material may have cut-resistant
textile fibers.
[0006] In another aspect , the cut-resistant textile fibers comprise one or
more fiber
types that may be selected from the group consisting of: para-aramid fibers,
liquid crystal
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polymer (LCP) fibers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE)
fibers, nylon
fibers, polyphenylene benzobisox azole (PBO) fibers, glass fibers and steel
fibers.
[0007] In another aspect, at least one insert may be removably retained by at
least one
pocket.
[0008] In some embodiments the pocket may include cut-resistant material.
[0009] In some embodiments the wearable piece of clothing may be configured to
be
worn about a neck, a wrist or on a torso of the wearer.
[0010] In other aspects the wearable piece of clothing may be a shirt
configured to be
worn on the torso of the wearer, the cut-resistant material may be provided in
at least a
neck portion of the shirt, and at least one insert may be retained at least in
the neck
portion of the shirt.
[0011] In another aspect, the wearable piece of clothing may be a shirt
configured to be
worn on the torso of the wearer, the cut-resistant material may be provided in
at least a
wrist portion of the shirt, and at least one insert may be retained in at
least the wrist
portion of the shirt.
[0012] In another aspect, the wearable piece of clothing may be a neck guard
configured to be worn about the neck of the wearer, the cut-resistant material
may be
provided in at least a neck portion of the neck guard, and at least one insert
may be
retained in at least the neck portion of the neck guard.
[0013] In another aspect the neck guard may include at least one of a skirt
and a bib
which may be configured to be worn over a portion of a torso of the wearer,
wherein the
cut-resistant material may be further provided in at least one of the skirt
and the bib, and
wherein at least one insert may be further retained in the at least one of the
skirt and the
bib.
[0014] In another aspect the wearable piece of clothing may be a wrist guard
to be worn
about the wrist of the wearer, the cut-resistant material may be provided in
at least a
wrist portion of the wrist guard, and the at least one insert may be retained
at least in the
wrist portion of the wrist guard.
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[0015] In another embodiment the impact-resistant material may be a soft and
flexible
material capable of absorbing or dispersing energy upon impact.
[0016] In another embodiment the insert may be shaped to conform to the neck,
wrist or
torso of the wearer.
[0017] In another embodiment the insert may include a tab designed to protrude
from at
least one pocket when the insert may be inserted in at least one pocket, the
tab being
graspable for removing the insert from at least one pocket.
[0018] In another embodiment the insert may have a variable thickness, the
insert being
thicker in at least one portion of the insert to be worn over a more fragile
area of the
wearer.
[0019] In another embodiment at least one thicker portion may have a thickness
of
about 8mm, and the remainder of the insert may have a thickness of about 4mm .
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0020] Reference will now be made to the drawings, which show by way of
example
embodiments of the present disclosure, and in which:
[0021] FIGS. 1A-1D show an example embodiment of a wearable guard, in the form
of a
shirt or undershirt;
[0022] FIGS. 2A-2C show another example embodiment of a wearable guard, in the
form of a standalone neck guard;
[0023] FIG. 3 shows another example embodiment of a wearable guard, in the
form of a
standalone wrist guard;
[0024] FIGS. 4A-4C show examples of construction of a wearable guard;
[0025] FIG. 5 shows another example embodiment of a wearable guard, in the
form of a
standalone neck guard; and
[0026] FIGS. 6A-6C show examples of an insertable impact guard suitable for a
wearable guard.
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[0027] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features
are
identified by like reference numerals.
Detailed Description
[0028] Conventional slash guards for hockey may suffer from one or more
disadvantages. For example, an undershirt with rip-proof material included as
a layer in
the collar and the cuffs is described in Canadian Patent No. 2,219,072. This
undershirt
may act as a slash guard for the areas it is meant to protect. However, such a
garment
does not provide both impact and slash resistant components.
[0029] In the present disclosure, a wearable hockey guard is described, which
may
provide both impact and slash protection. For example, in various examples, a
wearable
guard as disclosed may include a slash-resistant material and may further
include
impact-resistant materials, such as impact-resistant inserts that may be
retained in
pockets in the wearable guard. Such a guard may help to reduce threats from
slashing
and impact from blunt objects at the same time.
[0030] In some examples, the present disclosure provides a slash- and impact-
resistant
wearable guard. This wearable guard may be in the form of a neck guard that
may
provide coverage surrounding the neck and/or clavicle region, and may be
embodied in
various wearable forms. For example, such a neck guard may be included in a
shirt or
an undershirt, which may be provided with a cut-resistant collar, optionally
surrounded
by a cut-resistant skirt and pockets allowing for the insertion of impact-
resistant material.
In another example, the neck guard may be provided as a standalone neck guard,
such
as in the form of a collar, optionally surrounded by a skirt and bib made
using cut-
resistant material with integrated pockets for impact-resistant inserts. In
yet another
example, the wearable guard may be in the form of a wrist guard that may
include cut-
resistant material with pockets for impact-resistant inserts.
[0031] In various examples, the slash resistance may be provided by the use of
a cut-
resistant material (e.g., a cut-resistant fabric), and the impact resistance
may be provide
by the use of one or more impact-resistant inserts (e.g., made of an impact-
resistant
material).
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[0032] Although the wearable guard may be described as being a hockey guard,
such a
guard may also be suitable for use in situations where slash and impact
protection may
be desirable, such as in other sports or any other activity, including non-
sports activities.
The wearable guard may be designed for comfort, usability and/or washability,
such as
in example embodiments designed for use by sports players. The wearable guard
may
be designed such that it may be easily worn and removed by the wearer, but may
be
snug and/or adjustable enough that at least the areas of protection does not
shift when
worn (e.g., during gameplay). The materials used in the construction of the
guard may
be soft, flexible, sweat wicking, and/or anti-microbial so that the guard may
be laundered
or otherwise easily cleaned. The wearable guard may be easily stretched,
twisted and/or
bent, for additional comfort during wear and/or to avoid interfering with the
wearer's
movements. The impact-resistant insert may be designed to be removable from
the
wearable guard, so that the guard may be laundered without the insert.
[0033] FIGS. 1A-1D show an example embodiment of a wearable guard in
accordance
with the present disclosure. In this example, the wearable guard may be in the
form of a
shirt or undershirt 100 wearable on the torso of a wearer, to cover the torso
and arms of
the wearer. FIG. 1A shows a front view of the shirt 100, FIG. 1B shows a close-
up view
of the front of the neck portion of the shirt 100, FIG. 10 shows a close-up
view of the
back of the neck portion of the shirt 100, and FIG. 1D shows a close-up view
of the wrist
portion of the shirt 100.
[0034] The shirt 100 may include a neck opening 105, a torso opening 110, and
hand
openings 115. The neck opening 105 may be adjustable (e.g., sufficiently
elastic or with
adjustable fasteners) to allow for a range of head sizes to pass, for example.
Similarly,
the torso opening 110 and the hand openings 115 may be adjustable to fit the
wearer.
The shirt 100 may largely (e.g., the majority of the torso and sleeve regions)
be made of
any suitable material for a sport garment including, for example, cotton,
spandex, or
other suitable material.
[0035] The shirt 100 may include a neck guard 120 positioned to be worn about
the
wearer's neck. The neck guard 120 may provide cut protection, impact
protection or
both. In the example of FIGS. 1A-1D, the neck guard 120 may provide both cut
and
impact protection.
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[0036] The neck guard 120 may be configured to substantially surround the
wearer's
neck when worn, and may define the neck opening 105 of the shirt 100. In the
example
shown, the neck guard 120 may include a fastener 125 for fastening the neck
guard 120
about the wearer's neck when worn. The fastener 125 may be, for example, a
hook-and-
loop fastener, a snap, a button, a magnet or a zipper, among others. In the
example
shown, the fastener 125 may be a hook-and-loop fastener, such as Velcro. The
fastener
125 may be adjustable to fit different neck sizes and to allow the neck guard
120 to fit
snugly against the wearer's neck. Alternatively, the neck guard 120 may
include an
elastic material such that the neck guard 120 can be pulled over the wearer's
head and
may fit snugly against the wearer's neck with or without the use of a fastener
125.
[0037] The neck guard 120 may define two or more regions, such as a collar 121
that
may be worn about the wearer's neck, a skirt 122 that may extend from the
collar 121
and may be worn over a portion of the wearer's clavicle, and a bib 123 that
may extend
from the skirt 122 and may be worn over a front portion of the wearer's torso.
Other
configurations for the neck guard 1 20 may be possible, for example the neck
guard 120
may only include the collar 121, or may only include the collar 121 and skirt
122. The
sizes and configurations of the collar 121, skirt 122 and/or bib 123 may be
adjusted to
cover more or less of the wearer, and may vary depending on the amount of
slash and
impact protection desired, for example.
[0038] The neck guard 120 may be permanently attached to the shirt 100 (e.g.,
formed
integrally with the body of the shirt 100 or stitched onto the shirt 100), as
in FIGS. 1A-1D,
or may be removably attached to the shirt 100 (e.g., using suitable fasteners,
such as a
hook-and-loop fastener, a snap, a button or a zipper, among others).
[0039] The neck guard 120 may include a cut-resistant material, such as cut-
resistant
textile fibers, such as para-aramid fibers, liquid crystal polymer (LCP)
fibers, ultra-high
molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers, nylon fibers, polyphenylene
benzobisoxazole (PBO) fibers, glass fibers and steel fibers, among others. For
example,
the cut-resistant material may be integrally formed with (e.g., knitted into
or melted onto)
all or a portion of the neck guard 120 and/or may be otherwise attached (e.g.,
separately
formed and subsequently attached) to all or a portion of the neck guard 120.
The cut-
resistant material may be a fabric made of spun cut-resistant yarn or any
suitable cut-
resistant textile fibers, such as those listed above. The cut-resistant
material may be
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provided only on one surface of the neck guard 120, for example on a surface
of the
neck guard 120 that is to be worn facing towards the wearer (also referred to
as the
inner Side) or on a surface of the neck guard 120 that is to be worn facing
away from the
wearer (also referred to as the outer side), or may be provided on both the
inner and
outer sides. Where the cut-resistant material is attached to the neck guard
120, the cut-
resistant material may be permanently attached (e.g., sewn on) or removably
attached
(e.g., attached by a hook-and-loop fastener).
[0040] Impact resistance of the neck guard 120 may be provided by the presence
of an
impact protector 135. The impact protector 135 may be retained by the neck
guard 120
using a retainer, such as a pocket 130. The pocket 130 in FIGS. 1A-1D is
illustrated in
the collar 121 of the neck guard 120, however one or more similar pockets may
be
alternatively or additionally provided in the skirt 122 and/or the bib 123 of
the neck
guard. For example, the collar 121 may include a single pocket 130 configured
to hold
an impact protector 135 to cover a portion, a majority or substantially the
entire length of
the collar 121. Similarly, a single pocket 130 may span the skirt 122 and the
bib 123 and
may be configured to hold an impact protector 135 to cover a portion, a
majority or
substantially the entire area of the skirt 122 and the bib 123. In some
examples, multiple
pockets 130 may be provided to each retain a respective impact protector 135,
to cover
different portions of the neck guard 120. The impact protector(s) 135 may be
sized and
shaped to match the size and shape of the respective pocket(s) 130 in which
the impact
protector(s) 135 are retained.
[0041] The pocket(s) 130 may be formed by a double layer of material in the
neck guard
120, such as by stitching together two or more layers of material, or by
folding over the
material of the neck guard 120. The pocket(s) 130 may also be formed by
attaching
(e.g., sewing, knitting or gluing) a piece of material to the inner or outer
side of the neck
guard 120, for example.
= [0042] The impact protector(s) 135 may include an impact-protecting
material. The
impact protector(s) 135 may be removably or permanently retained in the
pocket(s) 130.
For example, the impact protector(s) 135 may be insertable and removable from
the
pocket(s) 130 or the impact protector(s) 135 may be sewn into or otherwise
permanently
retained by the pocket(s) 130.
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[0043] Where the impact protector(s) 135 is removable from the pocket(s) 130,
the
pocket(s) 130 may include a fastener (not shown) (e.g., a hook-and-loop
fastener, a
zipper, a snap, a button or a magnet, among others) to close the pocket(s) 130
in order
to retain the impact protector(s) 135 in the pocket 130. Alternatively, the
pocket(s) 130
and the retained impact protector(s) 135 may be sufficiently held against the
wearer's
body (e.g., by elasticity of the neck guard 120) and/or the retained impact
protector(s)
135 may be shaped and/or sized relative to the opening of the pocket(s) 130
(e.g., the
impact protector(s) 135 may be larger than the opening of the respective
pocket(s) 130)
such that a fastener is not required to keep the impact protector(s) 135
retained in the
pocket(s) 130. The pocket(s) 130 may include additional elastic features, such
as Lycra
binding, to help fit the impact protector(s) 135 snugly about the wearer's
body when
worn.
[0044] Although FIGS. 1A-1D show the neck guard 120 as including a
substantially
tubular collar 121, a surrounding skirt 122 and a front bib 123, the neck
guard 120 may
have other regular or irregular configurations. For example, the neck guard
120 may be
configured to cover more of the back of the wearer's neck than the front, or
vice versa, to
offer greater protection where the wearer's neck may be more susceptible to
injury, for
example. The neck guard 120 may also include stiffeners (not shown) (e.g., as
additional
inserts and/or integrated into the neck guard 120) to help keep the neck guard
120 snug
against the wearer's neck and prevent the neck guard 120 from slipping or
folding over
during wear. The neck guard 120 may be thicker (e.g., using thicker impact
protector(s)
135) in one or more portions (e.g., corresponding to the front or back of the
wearer's
neck) than others, to offer greater protection where the wearer's neck may be
more
susceptible to injury, for example.
[0045] The shirt 100 may further include a wrist guard 140 positioned to
substantially
surround each of the wearer's wrists and/or a portion of the wearer's
forearms. The wrist
guard 140 may provide cut protection, impact protection or both. In the
example of FIGS.
1A-1D, the wrist guard 140 may provide both cut and impact protection.
[0046] The wrist guard 140 may be configured to substantially surround each of
the
wearer's wrists and/or a portion of the wearer's forearms when worn, and may
define the
hand openings 115 of the shirt 100. The wrist guard 140 may include a fastener
141 for
fastening the wrist guard 140 about the wearer's wrist and/or forearm when
worn. The
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fastener 141 may be, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap, a button,
a magnet
or a zipper, among others. The fastener 141 may be adjustable to fit different
hand and
wrist sizes and to allow the wrist guard 140 to fit snugly against the
wearer's wrist and/or
forearm. The wrist guard 140 may be elastic such that the wrist guard 140 can
be pulled
over the wearer's hand and fit snugly against the wearer's wrist and/or
forearm with or
without the use of a fastener 141.
[0047] The wrist guard 140 may be permanently attached to the shirt 100 (e.g.,
formed
integrally with the body of the shirt 100 or stitched onto the shirt 100), as
in FIGS. 1A-1D,
or may be removably attached to the shirt 100 (e.g., using suitable fasteners,
such as a
hook-and-loop fastener, a snap, a button or a zipper, among others).
[0048] The wrist guard 140 may include a cut-resistant material, such as any
suitable
cut-resistant textile fibers, such as para-aramid fibers, LOP fibers, UHMWPE
fibers,
nylon fibers, PBO fibers, glass fibers and steel fibers, among others. For
example, the
cut-resistant material may be integrally formed with (e.g., knitted into or
melted onto) all
or a portion of the wrist guard 140 and/or may be attached (e.g., separately
formed and
subsequently attached) to all or a portion of the wrist guard 140. The cut-
resistant
material may be a fabric made of spun cut-resistant yarn or any suitable cut-
resistant
textile fibers, such as those listed above. The cut-resistant material may be
provided
only on one surface of the wrist guard 140, for example on a surface of the
wrist guard
140 that is to be worn facing towards the wearer (also referred to as the
inner side) or on
a surface of the wrist guard 140 that is to be worn facing away from the
wearer (also
referred to as the outer side), or may be provided on both the inner and outer
sides.
Where the cut-resistant material is attached to the wrist guard 140, the cut-
resistant
material may be permanently attached (e.g., sewn on) or removably attached
(e.g.,
attached by a hook-and-loop fastener).
[0049] Impact resistance of the wrist guard 140 may be provided by the
presence of an
impact protector 150. The impact protector 150 may be retained by the wrist
guard 140
using a retainer, such as a pocket 145. The pocket 145 in FIGS. 1A-1D is shown
to
extend over the majority or substantially all of the wrist guard 140. A single
impact
protector 150 may be retained in the pocket 145 to cover the majority or
substantially all
of the wearer's wrist and/or a portion of the forearm. Alternatively, multiple
pockets 145
may be provided to each retain a respective impact protector 150, to cover
multiple
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portions of the wrist guard 140. The impact protector(s) 150 may be sized and
shaped to
match the size and shape of the respective pocket(s) 145 in which the impact
protector(s) 150 are retained.
[0050] The pocket(s) 145 may be formed by a double layer of material in the
wrist guard
140, such as by stitching together two or more layers of material, or by
folding over the
material of the wrist guard 140. The pocket(s) 145 may also be formed by
attaching
(e.g., sewing, knitting or gluing) a piece of material to the inner or outer
side of the wrist
guard 140, for example.
[0051] The impact protector(s) 150 may include an impact-protecting material,
which
may be any material that is suitable soft and/or flexible, for example with
molecules that
lock together to absorb and/or disperse energy upon impact. This material may
be in the
form of a foam, non-foam or rubber, among others. The impact protector(s) 150
of the
wrist guard 140 may be made of a similar material as the impact protector(s)
135 of the
neck guard 120. The impact protector(s) 150 may be removably or permanently
retained
in the pocket(s) 145 to substantially surround the wearer's wrist and/or
portion of
forearm. For example, the impact protector(s) 150 may be insertable and
removable
from the pocket(s) 145 or the impact protector(s) 150 may be sewn into or
otherwise
permanently retained by the pocket(s) 145.
[0052] Where the impact protector(s) 150 is removable from the pocket(s) 145,
the
pocket(s) 145 may include a fastener (not shown) (e.g., a hook-and-loop
fastener, a
zipper, a snap, a button or a magnet, among others) to close the pocket(s) 145
in order
to retain the impact protector(s) 150 in the pocket(s) 145. Alternatively, the
pocket(s) 145
and the retained impact protector(s) 150 may be sufficiently held against the
wearer's
wrist and/or forearm (e.g., by elasticity of the wrist guard 140) and/or the
retained impact
protector(s) 150 may be shaped and/or sized relative to the opening of the
pocket(s) 145
(e.g., the impact protector(s) 150 may be larger than the opening of the
respective
pocket(s) 145) such that a fastener is not required to retain the impact
protector(s) 150 in
the pocket(s) 145. The pocket(s) 145 may include additional elastic features,
such as
Lycra binding, to help fit the impact protector(s) 150 snugly about the
wearer's wrist
and/or forearm when worn.
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[0053] Although FIGS. 1A-1D show a wrist guard 140 on each of the two sleeves
of the
shirt 100, in other examples the shirt 100 may include only one wrist guard
140 on one
sleeve (e.g., where only one wrist and/or forearm of the wearer is susceptible
to injury).
[0054] Although FIGS. 1A-1D show the wrist guard 140 as having a substantially
tubular
configuration, the wrist guard 140 may have other regular or irregular
configurations. For
example, the wrist guard 140 may be configured to cover more of the back of
the
wearer's inner wrist than the outer wrist, or vice versa, to offer greater
protection where
the wearer's wrist may be more susceptible to injury, for example. The wrist
guard 140
may also include stiffeners (not shown) (e.g., as additional inserts and/or
integrally
formed in the wrist guard 140) to help keep the wrist guard 140 snug against
the
wearer's wrist and/or forearm and prevent the wrist guard 140 from slipping or
folding
over during wear. The wrist guard 140 may be thicker (e.g., using thicker
impact
protector(s) 150) in one or more portions (e.g., corresponding to the inner or
outer side
of the wearer's wrist/forearm) than others, to offer greater protection where
the wearer's
wrist and/or forearm may be more susceptible to injury, for example.
[0055] FIGS. 2A-20 show another example embodiment of the disclosed wearable
guard. In this example, the wearable guard may be in the form of a standalone
neck
guard 200. FIG. 2A shows an inner side of the neck guard 200, in an unfastened
configuration, FIG. 2B shows a front view of the neck guard 200, in a fastened
configuration, and FIG. 2C shows a back view of the neck guard 200, in a
fastened
configuration. The neck guard 200 may provide cut protection, impact
protection or both.
In the example of FIGS. 2A-2C, the neck guard 200 may provide both cut and
impact
protection.
[0056] The neck guard 200 may include a neck opening 205. The neck opening 205
may be adjustable (e.g., sufficiently elastic or with adjustable fasteners) to
allow for a
range of head sizes to pass, for example.
[0057] The neck guard 200 may be similar to the neck guard 120 described
above. The
neck guard 200 may be configured to substantially surround the wearer's neck
when
worn. In the example shown, the neck guard 200 may include a fastener 225 for
fastening the neck guard 200 about the wearer's neck when worn. The fastener
225 may
be, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, a snap, a button, a magnet or a
zipper,
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among others. In the example shown, the fastener 225 may be a hook-and-loop
fastener, such as Velcro. The fastener 225 may be adjustable to fit different
neck sizes
and to allow the neck guard 200 to fit snugly against the wearer's neck. In
some
examples, the neck guard 200 may include an elastic material such that the
neck guard
200 can be pulled over the wearer's head and may fit snugly against the
wearer's neck
with or without the use of a fastener 225.
[0058] The neck guard 200 may define two or more regions, such as a collar 221
that
may be worn about the wearer's neck, a skirt 222 that may extend from the
collar 221
and may be worn over a portion of the wearer's clavicle, and a bib 223 that
may extend
from the skirt 222 and may be worn over a front portion of the wearer's torso.
Other
configurations for the neck guard 200 may be possible, for example the neck
guard 200
may only include the collar 221, or may only include the collar 221 and skirt
222. The
sizes and configurations of the collar 221, skirt 222 and/or bib 223 may be
adjusted to
cover more or less of the wearer, and may vary depending on the amount of cut
and
impact protection desired, for example.
[0059] The neck guard 200 may include a cut-resistant material, such as cut-
resistant
textile fibers, such as para-aramid fibers, LCP fibers, UHMWPE fibers, nylon
fibers, PBO
fibers, glass fibers and steel fibers, among others. For example, the cut-
resistant
material may be integrally formed with (e.g., knitted into or melted onto) all
or a portion of
the neck guard 200 and/or may be attached (e.g., separately formed and
subsequently
attached) to all or a portion of the neck guard 200. The cut-resistant
material may be a
fabric made of spun cut-resistant yarn or any suitable cut-resistant textile
fibers, such as
those listed above. The cut-resistant material may be provided only on one
surface of
the neck guard 200, for example on a surface of the neck guard 200 that is to
be worn
facing towards the wearer (also referred to as the inner side) or on a surface
of the neck
guard 200 that is to be worn facing away from the wearer (also referred to as
the outer
side), or may be provided on both the inner and outer sides. Where the cut-
resistant
material is attached to the neck guard 200, the cut-resistant material may be
permanently attached (e.g., sewn on) or removably attached (e.g., attached by
a hook-
and-loop fastener).
[0060] Impact resistance of the neck guard 200 may be provided by the presence
of an
impact protector 235. The impact protector 235 may be retained by the neck
guard 200
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using a retainer, such as one or more pockets 230. FIGS. 2A-20 illustrate a
pocket 230
provided in each of the collar 221, the skirt 222 and the bib 223. In other
examples, one
or more pockets 230 may span one or more of the collar 221, the skirt 222 and
the bib
223. In some examples, the collar 221 may include a single pocket 230
configured to
hold an impact protector 235 to cover a portion, a majority or substantially
the entire
length of the collar 221. Similarly, the skirt 222 may include a single pocket
230
configured to hold an impact protector 235 to cover a portion, a majority or
substantially
the entire area of the skirt 222; and the bib 223 may include a single pocket
230
configured to hold an impact protector 235 to cover a portion, a majority or
substantially
the entire area of the bib 223. Multiple pockets 230 may be provided to each
retain a
respective impact protector 235, to cover different portions of the neck guard
200.
Alternatively, the neck guard 200 may include a single pocket 230 for
retaining an impact
protector 235 over a portion, a majority or substantially all of the neck
guard 200. The
impact protector(s) 235 may be sized and shaped to match the size and shape of
the
respective pocket(s) 230 in which the impact protector(s) 235 are retained.
[0061] The pocket(s) 230 may be formed by a double layer of material in the
neck guard
200, such as by stitching together two or more layers of material, or by
folding over the
material of the neck guard 200. The pocket(s) 230 may also be formed by
attaching
(e.g., sewing, knitting or gluing) a piece of material to the inner or outer
side of the neck
guard 200, for example.
[0062] The impact protector(s) 235 may include an impact-protecting material,
which
may be any material that is suitable soft and/or flexible, for example with
molecules that
lock together to absorb and/or disperse energy upon impact. This material may
be in the
form of a foam, non-foam or rubber, among others. The impact protector(s) 235
may be
made of a material similar to that of the impact protector(s) 135, 150 of the
shirt 100
described above The impact protector(s) 235 may be removably or permanently
retained
in the pocket(s) 230. For example, the impact protector(s) 235 may be
insertable and
removable from the pocket(s) 230 or the impact protector(s) 235 may be sewn
into or
otherwise permanently retained by the pocket(s) 230.
[0063] Where the impact protector(s) 235 is removable from the pocket(s) 230,
the
pocket(s) 230 may include a fastener (not shown) (e.g., a hook-and-loop
fastener, a
zipper, a snap, a button or a magnet, among others) to close the pocket(s) 230
in order
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CA 2807099 2018-10-09
to retain the impact protector(s) 235 in the pocket 230. Alternatively, the
pocket(s) 230
and the retained impact protector(s) 235 may be sufficiently held against the
wearer's
body (e.g., by elasticity of the neck guard 200) and/or the retained impact
protector(s)
235 may be shaped and/or sized relative to the opening of the pocket(s) 230
(e.g., the
impact protector(s) 235 may be larger than the opening of the respective
pocket(s) 230)
such that a fastener is not required to retain the impact protector(s) 235 in
the pocket(s)
230. The pocket(s) 230 may include additional elastic features, such as Lycra
binding, to
help fit the impact protector(s) 235 snugly about the wearer's body when worn.
[0064] Although FIGS. 2A-2C show the neck guard 200 as including a
substantially
tubular collar 221, a surrounding skirt 222 and a front bib 223, the neck
guard 200 may
have other regular or irregular configurations. For example, the neck guard
200 may be
configured to cover more of the back of the wearer's neck than the front, or
vice versa, to
offer greater protection where the wearer's neck may be more susceptible to
injury, for
example. Although the skirt 222 and bib 223 have been described as being
configured to
cover the clavicle and front torso portion of the wearer when worn, other
configurations
for the skirt 222 and bib 223 is possible. For example, the skirt 222 and bib
223 may be
configured to cover a back portion or both front and back portions of the
wearer's torso
when worn. The skirt 222 and bib 223 may be further configured to cover one or
more
shoulder portions of the wearer when worn.
[0065] The neck guard 200 may also include stiffeners (not shown) (e.g., as
additional
inserts and/or integrated into the material of the neck guard 200) to help
keep the neck
guard 200 snug against the wearer's body and prevent the neck guard 220 from
slipping
or folding over during wear. The neck guard 200 may be thicker (e.g., using
thicker
impact protector(s) 235) in one or more portions (e.g., corresponding to the
front or back
of the wearer's neck) than others, to offer greater protection where the
wearer's neck
may be more susceptible to injury, for example.
[0066] FIG. 5 shows another example embodiment of the disclosed wearable
guard, in
the form of a standalone neck guard 200b. The neck guard 200b may include
features
similar to those of the neck guard 200 described above.
[0067] The neck guard 200b may include an inner layer of material and an outer
layer of
material at least in the collar 221b. The inner and outer layers may be made
of different
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materials and/or configured for different uses. For example, the outer layer
of the neck
guard 200b may be made of a cut-resistant material, as described above. The
inner
layer of the neck guard 200b may be made of a material designed for comfort,
such as a
Coolmax material and/or a soft and/or anti-microbial knit material, for
example. The skirt
222b and/or bib 223b may be a single layer, and may be made of a cut-resistant
material, as described above.
[0068] There may be two or more openings defined for a pocket 230b in the
collar 221b.
For example, there may be an opening (e.g., a buttonhole shaped opening)
defined in
the inner layer of the collar 221b, and an additional opening may be defined
in the outer
layer (e.g., along the neckline of the collar 221b, in the front of the neck
guard 200b) for
inserting the impact protector 235b. In the example shown, the impact
protector 235b
may be designed to better fit younger hockey players.
[0069] Reference is now made to FIG. 3, showing another example embodiment of
the
disclosed wearable guard. In this example, the wearable guard may be in the
form of a
standalone wrist guard 300 configured to be worn about a wearer's wrist and/or
forearm.
The wrist guard 300 may be cut resistant, slash resistant, or both. In the
example of FIG.
3, the wrist guard 300 may be both cut and slash resistant.
[0070] The wrist guard 300 may be similar to the wrist guard 140 described
above. The
wrist guard 300 may be configured to substantially surround each of the
wearer's wrists
and/or a portion of the wearer's forearms when worn. The wrist guard 300 may
include a
fastener 341 for fastening the wrist guard 300 about the wearer's wrist and/or
forearm
when worn. The fastener 341 may be, for example, a hook-and-loop fastener, a
snap, a
button, a magnet or a zipper, among others. The fastener 341 may be adjustable
to fit
different hand and wrist sizes and to allow the wrist guard 300 to fit snugly
against the
wearer's wrist and/or forearm. The wrist guard 300 may be elastic such that
the wrist
guard 300 can be pulled over the wearer's hand and fit snugly against the
wearer's wrist
and/or forearm with or without the use of a fastener 341.
[0071] The wrist guard 300 may include a cut-resistant material, such as cut-
resistant
textile fibers, such as para-aramid fibers, LCP fibers, UHMWPE fibers, nylon
fibers, PBO
fibers, glass fibers and steel fibers, among others. For example, the cut-
resistant
material may be integrally formed with (e.g., knitted into) all or a portion
of the wrist
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guard 300 and/or may be attached to all or a portion of the wrist guard 300.
The cut-
resistant material may be a fabric made of spun cut-resistant yarn or any
suitable cut-
resistant textile fibers, such as those listed above. The cut-resistant
material may be
provided only on one surface of the wrist guard 300, for example on a surface
of the
wrist guard 300 that is to be worn facing towards the wearer (also referred to
as the
inner side) or on a surface of the wrist guard 300 that is to be worn facing
away from the
wearer (also referred to as the outer side), or may be provided on both the
inner and
outer sides. Where the cut-resistant material is attached to the wrist guard
300, the cut-
resistant material may be permanently attached (e.g., sewn on) or removably
attached
(e.g., attached by a hook-and-loop fastener).
[0072] Impact resistance of the wrist guard 300 may be provided by the
presence of an
impact protector 350. The impact protector 350 may be retained by the wrist
guard 300
using a retainer, such as a pocket 345. The pocket 345 in FIG. 3 is shown to
extend over
the majority or substantially all of the wrist guard 300. A single impact
protector 350 may
be retained in the pocket 345 to cover the majority or substantially all of
the wearer's
wrist and/or a portion of the forearm. Alternatively, multiple pockets 345 may
be provided
to each retain a respective impact protector 350, to cover different portions
of the wrist
guard 300. The impact protector(s) 350 may be sized and shaped to match the
size and
shape of the respective pocket(s) 345 in which the impact protector(s) 350 are
retained.
[0073] The pocket(s) 345 may be formed by a double layer of material in the
wrist guard
300, such as by stitching together two or more layers of material, or by
folding over the
material of the wrist guard 300. The pocket(s) 345 may also be formed by
attaching
(e.g., sewing, knitting or gluing) a piece of material to the inner or outer
side of the wrist
guard 300, for example.
[0074] The impact protector(s) 350 may include an impact-protecting material,
which
may be any material that is suitable soft and/or flexible, for example with
molecules that
lock together to absorb and/or disperse energy upon impact. This material may
be in the
form of a foam, non-foam or rubber, among others. The impact protector(s) 350
of the
wrist guard 300 may be made of a similar material as the impact protector(s)
135, 150
and 235 described above. The impact protector(s) 350 may be removably or
permanently retained in the pocket(s) 345 to substantially surround the
wearer's wrist
and/or portion of forearm. For example, the impact protector(s) 350 may be
insertable
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CA 2807099 2018-10-09
and removable from the pocket(s) 345 or the impact protector(s) 350 may be
sewn into
or otherwise permanently retained by the pocket(s) 345.
[0075] Where the impact protector(s) 350 is removable from the pocket(s) 345,
the
pocket(s) 345 may include a fastener (not shown) (e.g., a hook-and-loop
fastener, a
zipper, a snap, a button or a magnet, among others) to close the pocket(s) 345
in order
to retain the impact protector(s) 350 in the pocket(s) 345. Alternatively, the
pocket(s) 345
and the retained impact protector(s) 350 may be sufficiently held against the
wearer's
wrist and/or forearm (e.g., by elasticity of the wrist guard 300) and/or the
retained impact
protector(s) 350 may be shaped and/or sized relative to the opening of the
pocket(s) 345
(e.g., the impact protector(s) 350 may be larger than the opening of the
respective
pocket(s) 345) such that a fastener is not required to retain the impact
protector(s) 350 in
the pocket(s) 345. The pocket(s) 345 may include additional elastic features,
such as
Lycra binding, to help fit the impact protector(s) 350 snugly about the
wearer's wrist
and/or forearm when worn.
[0076] Although FIG. 3 shows the wrist guard 300 as having a substantially
tubular
configuration, the wrist guard 300 may have other regular or irregular
configurations. For
example, the wrist guard 300 may be configured to cover more of the back of
the
wearer's inner wrist than the outer wrist, or vice versa, to offer greater
protection where
the wearer's wrist may be more susceptible to injury, for example. The wrist
guard 300
may also include stiffeners (not shown) (e.g., as additional inserts and/or
integrated into
the material of the wrist guard 300) to help keep the wrist guard 300 snug
against the
wearer's wrist and/or forearm and prevent the wrist guard 300 from slipping or
folding
over during wear. The wrist guard 300 may be thicker (e.g., using thicker
impact
protector(s) 250) in one or more portions (e.g., corresponding to the inner or
outer side
of the wearer's wrist/forearm) than others, to offer greater protection where
the wearer's
wrist and/or forearm may be more susceptible to injury, for example.
[0077] FIGS. 4A-4C show examples of the construction of an example neck guard
200.
Although not shown, other embodiments of the wearable guard, such as the shirt
100,
the neck guard 200b and the wr ist guard 300, may have similar construction.
[0078] In FIG. 4A, the neck guard 200 may be constructed from a single piece
of knit
material with integrated pocket(s) 230, and may be made from a single-layered
material.
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FIG. 4A shows a front view (upper figure) and a back view (lower figure) of
the neck
guard 200, in an unfastened configuration. The cut-resistant material may be
integrally
formed with (e.g., knitted into or melted onto) the material. The pocket(s)
230 may be
attached to the neck guard 200 (e.g., sewn or separately knitted) in the
collar 221, skirt
222 and/or bib 223 of the neck guard 200, depending on the configuration. The
fastener
225 may be attached (e.g., separately knitted or sewn), and any other
embellishments
(e.g., a logo, a tag or other components) may also be attached (e.g.,
separately knitted,
transferred, sewn and/or embroidered).
[0079] In FIG. 4B, the neck guard 200 may be constructed as a knit piece with
multiple
types of yarn, and may be multi-layered. FIG. 4B shows the neck guard 200 in a
pre-
assembled configuration, before the knit piece is sewn together. In this
example, the
neck guard 200 may include an outer layer 405 that forms the surface facing
away from
the wearer, and an inner layer 410 that forms the surface facing towards the
wearer. The
outer layer 405 may be made (e.g., knitted) using a first yarn material and
the inner layer
410 may be made (e.g., knitted) using a different second yarn material. For
example, the
outer layer 405 may be knit with a cut-resistant yarn and may provide cut
protection,
while the inner layer 410 may be knit with a softer, more comfortable and/or
sweat-
wicking yarn. For example, the yarn may include a cut-resistant fibers, such
as para-
aramid, LCP, UHMWPE, nylon, PBO, glass fibers and steel fibers, among others.
The
outer and inner layers 405, 410 may be knit as a single piece of material, for
example,
that may be subsequently folded and sewn together to form the multi-layers of
the neck
guard 200. The pocket(s) 230 may be integrally formed (e.g., by knitting) with
the outer
or inner layer 405, 410, or may be separately attached (e.g., sewn on).
[0080] In FIG. 4C, the neck guard 200 may be made by haying all the components
cut
as separate pieces and attached (e.g., sewn) together to form a multi-layered
neck
guard 200. FIG. 40 shows the neck guard 200 in a pre-assembled configuration,
before
the separate pieces are sewn together. In this example, the cut resistant
material 415
may be provided as a separate piece that may be attached as the outer layer
405, inner
layer 410 or sandwiched between the outer and inner layers 405, 410 of the
neck guard
200. The pocket(s) 230 may be integrally formed (e.g., by knitting) with the
outer or inner
layer 405, 410, or may be separately attached (e.g., sewn on).
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CA 2807099 2018-10-09
[0081] The shirt 100, the neckguard 200b and the wrist guard 300 may be
similarly
formed in single-layered or multi-layered configurations. The shirt 100 may be
constructed by forming the neck guard 120, such as described above, and
attaching
(e.g., sewing or knitting) the neck guard 120 onto the torso of the shirt 100.
Where the
neck guard 120 is removable from the shirt 100 (e.g., to allow for easy
laundering),
appropriate complementary fastening component (e.g., complementary components
of a
hook-and-loop fastener, buttons, snaps, magnets or a zipper) may be attached
to the
neck guard 120 and shirt torso.
[0082] In some examples, the neck guard 120, 200, 200b the wrist guard 140,
300,
and/or the shirt 100 may be made in part or entirely of a cut-resistant
material. This
material may be provided as an inner layer or outer layer of the wearable
guard, and
may also be sandwiched between other layers. In some examples, the wearable
guard
may be easily stretchable, for example because the cut-resistant material may
be
knitted. In comparison with a woven fabric, a knitted material may be formed
by linked
loops that may allow for greater strechability, without the addition of
elastic fibers.
[0083] In some examples, the cut-resistant material may be knitted using a
yarn that
includes a blend of components combining the advantages of various fibers. For
example, the cut-resistant material may include a mixture of cut-resistance,
anti-
microbial, sweat-wicking and/or stretchable fibers mixed into a single yarn
blend. Such a
yarn blend may provide cut-resistance, anti-microbial, sweat-wicking and/or
stretchable
properties, and may be used to make portions or the entirety of the wearable
guard.
[0084] FIGS. 6A-60 show other example impact protectors 600a, 600b, 600c that
may
be suitable for use in a wearable guard, such as the neck guard 120, 200,
200b. In these
examples, the impact protectors 600a, 600b, 600c may be shaped to conform to
the
area of the wearer to be protected, in this case to the neck of the wearer.
The impact
protectors 600a, 600c may be contoured, for example along a top edge 605
(e.g., having
a scoop shape) and side edges 610, to accommodate the shape of the neck, to
allow for
better fit, comfort and/or functionality when worn. Although certain contours
and shapes
are shown, other configurations may be possible (e.g., where the side regions
of the
impact protector 600a, 600b, 600c are further raised) as suitable. The impact
protectors
600a, 600b, 600c may also include one or more perforations 615, which may help
to
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CA 2807099 2018-10-09
decrease the weight of the impact protectors 600a, 600b, 600c and/or increase
breathability of the 600a, 600b, 600c, while maintaining impact protection.
[0085] The impact protectors 600a, 600b, 600c may include a protrusion that
may cover
the wearer's clavicle area when worn, which may provide protection over the
wearer's
clavicle area. The protrusion may extend from the pocket(s) 230, 230b of the
neck guard
120, 200, 200b when the impact protector 600a, 600b, 600c is inserted, and may
help to
keep the impact protector 600a, 600b, 600c in place within the pocket(s) 230,
230b
and/or may serve as a tab that can be grasped to assist in removing the impact
protector
600a, 600b, 600c from the pocket(s) 230, 230b (e.g., in order to replace the
impact
protector 600a, 600b, 600c or to remove the impact protector 600a, 600b, 600c
prior to
washing the neck guard 120, 200, 200b).
[0086] The thickness of the impact protector 600a, 600b, 600c may be
substantially
constant throughout or may be variable. For example, different portions of the
impact
protector 600a, 600b, 600c may have different thicknesses, in order to provide
added
protection where appropriate without being unnecessarily bulky where added
protection
is not needed. In some examples, the impact protector 600b, 600c may include a
central
portion 620 (which may be worn over the wearer's trachea region) and/or side
portions
625 (which may be worn over the side of the wearer's neck) that are thicker
(e.g., about
6-10mm, such as about 8mm thick) compared to the remainder of the impact
protector
600b, 600c (which may be about 2-6mm, such as about 4m m thick).
[0087] In some examples, the wearable guard may provide cut protection, impact
protection, or both. For example, the neck guard 120, 200, 200b may not be
made of a
cut-resistant material, but may retain the impact protector 135, 235, 235b
such that the
neck guard 120, 200, 200b provides impact protection. Similarly, the wrist
guard 140,
300 may provide cut protection, impact protection, or both. For example, the
wrist guard
140, 300 may not be made of a cut-resistant material, but may retain the
impact
protector 150, 350, such that the wrist guard 140, 300 provides impact
protection.
[0088] In some examples, where the wearable guard is provided as a standalone
neck
guard 200, 200b or a standalone wrist guard 300, the wearable guard may be
configured
to be worn over or under conventional sports wear (e.g., over or under a
conventional
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CA 2807099 2018-10-09
hockey shirt) and/or may be configured to be attachable (e.g., using hook-and-
loop
fasteners) to conventional sports wear.
[0089] The neck guard 120, 200, 200b and/or the wrist guard 140, 300 may
include
multiple retainers (e.g., pockets 130, 145, 230, 230b, 345) and multiple
impact protectors
135, 150, 235, 235b, 350. In some examples, the number of pockets 130, 145,
230,
230b, 345 may be greater than the number of impact protectors 135, 150, 235,
235b,
350. This may allow for different placement of the impact protector(s) 135,
150, 235,
235b, 350 according to the wearer's choosing. Multiple pockets 130, 145, 230,
230b,
345 may also allow for placement of different types of impact protector(s)
135, 150, 235,
235b, 350 at different positions and/or replacement of a impact protector 135,
150, 235,
235b, 350 without replacing all impact protectors 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350
(e.g., where
an impact protector 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350 at a certain location is more
susceptible to
damage).
[0090] In some examples, the impact protector(s) 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350 may
include
two or more layers of material, including layers of different materials. This
may be useful
to impart the impact protector(s) 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350 with multiple
properties (e.g.,
different ranges of impact and/or cut protection, certain amount of stiffness,
etc.) that
may be difficult to attain using a single material. In some examples, the
impact
protector(s) 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350 may include a mixed or composite
material.
[0091] The pocket(s) 130, 145, 230, 230b, 345 may also be used to retain
materials
other than impact protector(s) 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350. For example, other
materials
that may be retained by the pocket(s) 130, 145, 230, 230b, 345 include, for
example,
cooling or heating materials, sweat-absorbing materials, and odor-absorbing
materials,
among others. Such other materials may be included as a fiber and/or as a
finishing in
the yarn used, for example.
[0092] Where the impact protector(s) 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350 are removably
retained
in the pocket(s) 130, 145, 230, 230b, 345, the impact protector(s) 135, 150,
235, 235b,
350 may be removed during washing of the shirt 100, neck guard 200, 200b or
wrist
guard 300, to replace an old or damaged impact protector(s) 135, 150, 235,
235b, 350
and/or to insert a different material into the pocket(s) 130, 145, 230, 230b,
345, for
example.
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CA 2807099 2018-10-09
=
[0093] The impact protector(s) 135, 150, 235, 235b, 350 may be made of an
impact-
resistant material that may withstand impact forces expected to be experienced
by a
player in a contact sport (e.g., hockey), for example sufficient to satisfy
safety standards,
such as the CAN/BNQ 9415-370/2007 standard. Such a material may be developed
specifically for this purpose, or may be developed for other uses (and may be
modified,
such as in shape and/or density, for use according to the present disclosure).
For
example, such a material may be designed to be relatively pliable, to be
comfortable
when worn, relatively breathable, lightweight and/or washable.
[0094] Different materials, whether woven, non-woven, knitted or otherwise
formed, may
be used throughout the wearable guard as appropriate. Other forms of the
wearable
guard (e.g., sleeve or vest) may be suitable in addition to those descr ibed.
[0095] The embodiments of the present disclosure described above are intended
to be
examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations to the disclosure may
be made
without departing from the intended scope of the present disclosure. In
particular,
selected features from one or more of the above-described embodiments may be
combined to create alternative embodiments not explicitly described. All
values and sub-
ranges within disclosed ranges are also disclosed. The subject matter
described herein
intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology.
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