JAMBIERE POUR JOUEUR DE HOCKEY

LEG PAD FOR A HOCKEY PLAYER

Abrégé français

Linvention concerne une jambière pour joueur de hockey. La jambière sétend le long dun axe longitudinal et comprend une partie supérieure, une partie inférieure et une bande. La partie supérieure a une genouillère pour recouvrir une articulation du genou du joueur. La partie inférieure a une coque supérieure pour recouvrir une partie substantielle dun tibia du joueur de hockey et une coque inférieure pour recouvrir au moins partiellement le tibia et la cheville du joueur de hockey. La bande sétend le long dune partie dune périphérie de la coque supérieure et dune partie dune périphérie de la coque inférieure. La bande interconnecte la coque supérieure et la coque inférieure lune à lautre, la coque inférieure étant mobile par rapport à la coque supérieure entre une première position et une seconde position en réponse à la flexion de la cheville.

Abrégé anglais

The invention relates to a leg pad for a hockey player. The leg pad extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises an upper portion, a bottom portion and a band. The upper portion has a knee cap for covering a knee joint of the player. The bottom portion has an upper shell for covering a substantial part of a shin of the hockey player and a lower shell for at least partially covering the shin and ankle of the hockey player. The band extends along part of a periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery of the lower shell. The band interconnects the upper shell and the lower shell to one another wherein the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a first position and a second position in response to flexion of the ankle.

Revendications

CLAIMS
1. A leg pad for a hockey player, the leg pad extending along a
longitudinal axis and
comprising:
an upper portion having a knee cap for at least partially covering a knee
joint of the
player;
a lower portion having an upper shell for at least partially covering an upper
part of a
shin of the hockey player and a lower shell for at least partially covering a
lower part
of the shin and an ankle of the hockey player; and
a liner for at least partially facing the shin and ankle of the hockey player;
wherein the upper and lower shells are mounted to the liner;
wherein the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a first
position
and a second position in a lower region of the shin proximate to the ankle in
response
to flexion of the ankle;
wherein, in the first position, the lower shell is parallel to the
longitudinal axis, and in
the second position, the lower shell defines an angle relative to the
longitudinal axis;
and
wherein, in the first position, the upper and lower shells overlap and define
a first
overlap, and in the second position, the upper and lower shells overlap and
define a
second overlap, the second overlap being greater than the first overlap.
2. The leg pad as defined in claim 1 wherein, when the lower shell is in
the first position,
the overlap of the upper and lower shells is between 2 mm and 12 mm when
measured
along the longitudinal axis.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

3. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, when the
lower shell is
in the second position, the overlap of the upper and lower shells is between 5
mm and
20 mm when measured along, the longitudinal axis.
4. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the angle
relative to the
longitudinal axis of the leg pad is up to 15 .
5. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a
band extending
along part of a periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery of the
lower shell,
the hand interconnecting the upper shell and the lower shell to one another
such that
the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between the first and
second
positions.
6. The leg pad as defined in claim 5, wherein the upper shell has an outer
side opposed
to an inner side and a peripheral edge between the outer and inner sides of
the upper
shell, the lower shell has an outer side opposed to an inner side and a
peripheral edge
between the outer and inner sides of the lower shell, and wherein the band
overlies
the inner side, the outer side and the peripheral edge of the upper shell and
overlies
the inner side, the outer side and the peripheral edge of the lower shell.
7. The leg pad as defined in claim 6, wherein the peripheral edge of the
upper shell has
a bottom edge and left and right side edges and the peripheral edge of the
lower shell
has top and bottom edges and left and right side edges, wherein the band
covers the
left and right side edges of the upper and lower shells and wherein the bottom
edge of
the upper shell and the top edge of the lower shell are free of the band.
8. The leg pad as defined in claim 7, wherein the band further covers the
bottom edge of
the lower shell.
9. The leg pad as defined in claim 7, wherein the band is a braiding that
has a width large
enough for covering the left and right side edges of the upper and lower
shells and the
bottom edge of the lower shell.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

10. The leg pad as defined in claim 9, wherein a stitch line affixes the
braiding to at least
one of the inner and outer sides of either of the upper and lower shells.
11. The leg pad as defined in claim 5, wherein the band is a strip of woven
stretchable
fabric.
.. 12. The leg pad as defined in claim 5, wherein the band is a braiding.
13. The leg pad as defined in claim 5, wherein the band biases the lower
shell towards the
first position.
14. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the leg
pad also comprises
a strap connecting an inner side of the upper shell to an inner side of the
lower shell.
15. The leg pad as defined in claim 14, wherein the upper shell has a bottom
edge and the
lower shell has a top edge and wherein the strap restricts the bottom edge of
the upper
shell from moving between the leg of the hockey player and the top edge of the
lower
shell when the hockey player wears the leg pad.
16. The leg pad as defined in claim 15, wherein, in use, the strap ensures
that the lower
shell remains parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg pad when pressure
is applied
to the lower shell for moving the lower shell inwardly.
17. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the liner is
made of at
least one of foam, polyethylene, low density polyethylene and foam and is
covered by
layers of woven synthetic yarn.
18. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the upper and
lower shells
are made of at least one of nylon, polycarbonate, thermoplastics,
thermosetting resins,
polyethylene, high density polyethylene and polypropylene.
19. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the upper
shell has a
bottom edge and the lower shell has a top edge and wherein, in the second
position,
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

the upper and lower shells overlap such that the bottom edge of the upper
shell entirely
covers the top edge of the lower edge.
20. The leg pad as defined in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the lower
shell is also
movable relative to the liner in response to flexion of the ankle.
21. A hockey leg pad for a hockey player, the hockey leg pad comprising:
an upper portion including a knee cap configured to overlie and protect a knee
joint of
the hockey player; and
a lower portion including a rigid upper shell configured to overlie and
protect an upper
part of a shin of the hockey player and a rigid lower shell configured to
overlie and
protect a lower part of the shin of the hockey player proximate to an ankle of
the hockey
player, the lower shell being smaller than the upper shell;
wherein the upper shell and the lower shell are connected to one another such
that the
lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between an extended
position and a
flexed position in response to flexion of the ankle of the hockey player while
skating;
wherein the upper shell and the lower shell overlap both in the extended
position and
in the flexed position;
wherein a bottom edge of the lower shell is configured to overlie the lower
part of at
least one of the shin of the hockey player and the ankle of the hockey player
in both
the extended position and the flexed position; and
wherein the overlap of the upper and lower shells when the lower shell is in
the flexed
position is greater than the overlap of the upper and lower shells when the
lower shell
is in the extended position.
22. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 21, the hockey leg pad extending
along a
longitudinal axis, wherein, when the lower shell is in the extended position,
the overlap
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

of the upper and lower shells is between 2 mm and 12 mm when measured along
the
longitudinal axis.
23. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 21 and 22, the hockey
leg pad
extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein, when the lower shell is in the
flexed
position, the overlap of the upper and lower shells is between 5 mm and 20 mm
when
measured along the longitudinal axis.
24. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 21 to 23, wherein the
lower shell
defines an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the hockey leg pad when
the lower
shell is in the flexed position.
25. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 24, wherein the angle relative to
the longitudinal
axis is up to 15 .
26. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 21 to 25, the hockey
leg pad
extending along a longitudinal axis and comprising a band extending along part
of a
periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery of the lower shell, the
band
interconnecting the upper shell and the lower shell to one another.
27. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 26, wherein the upper shell has an
outer side
opposed to an inner side and a peripheral edge between the outer and inner
sides of
the upper shell, the lower shell has an outer side opposed to an inner side
and a
peripheral edge between the outer and inner sides of the lower shell, and
wherein the
band overlies the inner side, outer side and peripheral edge of the upper
shell and
overlies the inner side, outer side and peripheral edge of the lower shell.
28. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 27, wherein the peripheral edge of
the upper
shell has a bottom edge and left and right side edges and the peripheral edge
of the
lower shell has top and bottom edges and left and right side edges, wherein
the band
covers the left and right side edges of the upper and lower shells and wherein
the
bottom edge of the upper shell and the top edge of the lower shell are free of
the band.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

29. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 28, wherein the band further covers
the bottom
edge of the lower shell.
30. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 28, wherein the band is a braiding
that has a
width large enough for covering the left and right side edges of the upper and
lower
shells and the bottom edge of the lower shell.
31. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 30, wherein a stitch line affixes
the braiding to
at least one of the inner and outer sides of either of the upper and lower
shells.
32. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 27, wherein the leg pad also
comprises a strap
connecting the inner side of the upper shell to the inner side of the lower
shell.
33. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 32, wherein the upper shell has a
bottom edge
and the lower shell has a top edge and wherein the strap restricts the bottom
edge of
the upper shell from moving between the leg of the hockey player and the top
edge of
the lower shell when the hockey player wears the hockey leg pad.
34. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 33, wherein, in use, the strap
ensures that the
lower shell remains parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg pad when
pressure is
applied to the lower shell for moving the lower shell inwardly.
35. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 26, wherein the band is a strip of
woven
stretchable fabric.
36. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 26, wherein the band is a braiding.
37. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 26, wherein the band biases the
lower shell
towards the extended position.
38. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 21 to 37, the hockey
leg pad
extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the lower shell is parallel to
the longitudinal
axis when in the extended position.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

39. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 21 to 38, wherein
the lower portion
is configured so as to bias the lower shell towards the extended position.
40. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 21 to 39, comprising a
liner
disposed behind the upper and lower shells, wherein the lower shell is movable
relative
to the liner.
41. The leg pad as defined in claim 40, wherein the liner is made of at
least one of foam,
polyethylene, low density polyethylene and foam and is covered by layers of
woven
synthetic yarn.
42. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 21 to 41, comprising
a link affixed
to the upper shell and the lower shell and configured such that the lower
shell is
movable relative to the upper shell between the extended position and the
flexed
position.
43. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 42, wherein a material of the link
is different
from a material of the upper shell and a material of the lower shell.
44. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 43, wherein the material of the
link is fabric.
45. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 42, wherein the link comprises a
band
extending along part of a periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery
of the
lower shell.
46. A hockey leg pad for a hockey player, the hockey leg pad comprising:
an upper portion including a knee cap configured to overlie and protect a knee
joint of
the hockey player; and
a lower portion including a rigid upper shell configured to overlie and
protect an upper
part of a shin of the hockey player and a rigid lower shell configured to
overlie and
16
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

protect a lower part of the shin of the hockey player proximate to an ankle of
the hockey
player, the lower shell being smaller than the upper shell;
wherein the upper shell and the lower shell are separate from one another and
connected to one another such that the lower shell is movable relative to the
upper
shell between an extended position and a flexed position in response to
flexion of the
ankle of the hockey player while skating;
wherein the lower shell is configured to surround at least part of a lower
region of the
shin proximate to the ankle; wherein the upper shell and the lower shell are
configured
to avoid a gap therebetween in both the extended position and the flexed
position;
wherein, both in the extended position and in the flexed position, the upper
shell and
the lower shell overlap; and
wherein the overlap of the upper shell and the lower shell when the lower
shell is in the
flexed position is greater than the overlap of the upper shell and the lower
shell when
the lower shell is in the extended position.
47. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 46, wherein a bottom of the lower
shell is
configured to overlie the lower part of at least one of the shin of the hockey
player and
the ankle of the hockey player in both the extended position and the flexed
position.
48. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 46 and 47, comprising a
liner
disposed behind the upper shell and the lower shell.
49. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 48, wherein the liner comprises
foam.
50. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 48, wherein the liner comprises
fabric.
51. The hockey leg pad as defined in any one of claims 46 to 50, comprising
a link affixed
to the upper shell and the lower shell and configured such that the lower
shell is
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

movable relative to the upper shell between the extended position and the
flexed
position.
52. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 51, wherein a material of the link
is different
from a material of the upper shell and a material of the lower shell.
.. 53. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 52, wherein the material of the
link is fabric.
54. The hockey leg pad as defined in claim 51, wherein the link comprises a
band
extending along part of a periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery
of the
lower shell.
55. The hockey leg pad as defined in in any one of claims 48 to 54, wherein
the lower shell
is movable relative to the liner.
56. A leg pad for a hockey player, comprising:
a plurality of shell elements for protecting different parts of a leg, each of
the shell
elements having an outer surface exposed to game objects and an inner surface
adapted to face the leg, each of the shell elements comprising a first
material;
a liner facing the inner surface of the shell elements, the liner comprising a
second
material, the first material being more rigid than the second material; and
affixing means connecting the liner to the shell elements;
wherein the affixing means is configured to allow movement of the shell
elements
relative to one another and relative to a portion of the liner adapted to face
part of the
leg protected by at least one of the shell elements in response to flexion of
said part
of the leg while the leg pad is attached to the leg, wherein said movement of
the shell
elements relative to one another comprises a pivotable movement and a
translational
movement.
57. The leg pad of claim 56, wherein a knee cap is disposed over a knee
portion of the leg.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

58. The leg pad of claim 57, wherein said shell elements comprise a lower
shell element
configured to overlie at least partially a shin and an ankle portion of the
leg.
59. The leg pad of claim 58, wherein said shell elements comprise an upper
shell element
between the knee cap and the lower shell element.
60. The leg pad of claim 56, wherein a band extends along part of a periphery
of said shell
elements, said band connecting said shell elements and said liner.
61. The leg pad of claim 59, wherein said shell elements comprise an overlap
between the
knee cap and the upper shell element where a portion of the upper shell
element is
distal relative to a portion of the knee cap.
62. The leg pad of claim 61, wherein said shell elements comprise an overlap
between the
lower shell element and the upper shell element where a portion of the upper
shell
element is distal relative to a portion of the lower shell element.
63. The leg pad of claim 59, wherein a pivot region of the upper shell element
relative to
the lower shell element is located away from a front of the leg pad.
64. The leg pad of claim 59, wherein said lower shell element moves to a first
position,
generally extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the leg pad such that
the lower and
upper shell elements are straight or rectilinear.
65. The leg pad of claim 64, wherein said lower shell element moves to a
second position
defining an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the leg pad, where the
lower shell
element is in a retracted or angled position.
66. The leg pad of claim 65, wherein said upper shell element said lower shell
element
overlap when said lower shell element is in the second position.
67. A leg pad for a hockey player, the leg pad extending along a longitudinal
axis and
comprising:
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

a plurality of shell elements for protecting different parts of a leg of a
wearer, each of
the shell elements having an outer surface exposed to game objects and an
inner
surface adapted to face the leg, each of the shell elements comprising a first
material,
the shell elements comprising an upper shell element and a lower shell
element; a
knee cap for protecting a knee joint and part of a shin of the player; an
upper region
adapted for at least partially covering a knee joint and an upper part of a
shin of the
player;
a lower region adapted for at least partially covering a lower part of the
shin and an
ankle of the hockey player;
wherein at least part of a first subset of the shell elements and the knee cap
cover the
upper region of the leg pad and at least part of a second subset of the shell
elements
and the knee cap cover the lower region of the leg pad;
a liner facing an inner surface of the shell elements, the liner comprising a
second
material and being connected to the shell elements by affixing means; and
a band extending along part of a periphery of said shell elements, said band
connecting
said shell elements and said liner;
wherein the first material is more rigid than the second material;
wherein the affixing means is configured to allow the shell elements of the
upper and
lower portions to be movable relative to a first portion of the liner
configured to overlie
a first member of the hockey player's leg when the hockey player wears the leg
pad
and flexes the first member; and
wherein the affixing means is configured to allow the shell elements of the
lower portion
to be movable relative to one another and relative to a second portion of the
liner
configured to overlie a second member of the hockey player's leg when the
hockey
player wears the leg pad and flexes the second member.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

68. The leg pad of claim 67, wherein the first subset of the shell
elements and the knee cap
comprises the knee cap and the upper shell element and the second subset of
the shell
elements and the knee cap comprises the upper shell element and the lower
shell
element.
69. A leg pad for attachment to a leg, comprising:
an upper shell and a lower shell for protecting different parts of the leg;
and
a liner at least partially adapted to face a part of the leg protected by the
lower shell;
wherein the liner interconnects the upper and lower shells;
a band extending along part of a periphery of said upper and lower shells,
said band
connecting said shells and said liner; and
wherein the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a first
position
and a second position in response to flexion of at least part of the leg while
the leg pad
is attached to the leg; and
wherein, in the first position, the upper and lower shells overlap and define
a first
overlap, and in the second position, the upper and lower shells overlap and
define a
second overlap, the second overlap being greater than the first overlap.
70. The leg pad of claim 69, wherein a knee cap is disposed over a knee
portion of the leg.
71. The leg pad of claim 70, wherein said shells comprise an overlap between
the knee cap
and the upper shell where a portion of the upper shell is distal relative to a
portion of
the knee cap.
72. The leg pad of claim 71, wherein said shells comprise an overlap between
the lower
shell and the upper shell where a portion of the upper shell is distal
relative to a portion
of the lower shell.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

73. The leg pad of claim 69, wherein the lower shell is configured to overlay
at least partially
a shin and an ankle portion of the leg.
74. The leg pad of claim 70, wherein the upper shell is disposed between the
knee cap and
the lower shell.
75. A leg pad for attachment to a leg, comprising:
an upper shell and a lower shell for protecting different parts of the leg;
and
a liner at least partially adapted to face a part of the leg protected by the
lower shell;
wherein the liner interconnects the upper and lower shells; and
a band extending along part of a periphery of said upper and lower shells,
said band
connecting said shells and said liner;
wherein the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a first
position
and a second position in response to flexion of at least part of the leg while
the leg pad
is attached to the leg; and
wherein the upper and lower shells overlap such that the lower shell is at
least partially
between the upper shell and the liner both in the first position and in the
second
position.
76. The leg pad of claim 75, wherein a knee cap is disposed over a knee
portion of the leg.
77. The leg pad of claim 75, wherein the lower shell is configured to overlie
at least partially
a shin and an ankle portion of the leg.
78. The leg pad of claim 76, wherein the upper shell is between the knee cap
and the lower
shell.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

Description

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
LEG PAD FOR A HOCKEY PLAYER
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a leg pad for a hockey player. The leg pad
provides
adequate protection and flexion in the ankle region of the player.
Background of the invention
In recent years, sporting equipment has been evolving to accommodate the need
for
increased protection. Due to the competitive and aggressive nature of some
sports,
it has been an objective of sports equipment makers to improve protective gear
all
the while permitting flexibility and comfort for the player. However, in many
cases,
an increase in protection can lead to a decrease in maneuverability due to the
rigidity of the protective material.
Conventional hockey leg pads generally comprise two protective portions. One
portion is located in the knee region and the other portion generally protects
the shin
region. However, depending on the length of the shin protecting region, the
ankle
may not be adequately protected. In cases where the shin protecting region
substantially overlaps the ankle, the player may exhibit discomfort while
moving and
skating due to the obstructive nature of the rigid protective material at the
bottom
part of the leg pad. More specifically, the player may experience a limited
range of
motion in occurrences that require flexing the player's ankle. On the other
hand,
should the player need a greater range of motion in the ankle region, the
player may
use a shorter leg pad, but a part of the ankle or forefoot may then be
exposed.
There is therefore a need for a hockey leg pad providing adequate protection
in the
ankle region and having an upper shell and a lower shell is movable relative
to the
upper shell. According to one feature, a band interconnects the lower shell to
the
upper shell such that the lower shell is movable between a first position and
a
1

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
second position in response to flexion of the ankle. The bottom part of the
upper
shell and the top part of the lower shell may overlap when the lower shell is
in the
first position.
Summary of the invention
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg pad
for a
hockey player. The leg pad extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises an
upper portion, a bottom portion and a band. The upper portion has a knee cap
for
covering a knee joint of the player. The bottom portion has an upper shell for
covering a substantial part of a shin of the hockey player and a lower shell
for at
least partially covering the shin and ankle of the hockey player. The band
extends
along part of a periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery of the
lower shell.
The band interconnects the upper shell and the lower shell to one another
wherein
the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a first
position and a
second position in response to flexion of the ankle.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg
pad for
a hockey player. The leg pad extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises
an
upper portion, a bottom portion and a band. The upper portion comprises a knee
cap for covering a knee joint of the player. The bottom portion has an upper
shell for
covering a substantial part of a shin of the hockey player and a lower shell
for at
least partially covering the shin and ankle of the hockey player. The band
extends
along part of a periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery of the
lower shell.
The band interconnects the lower shell to the upper shell such that the lower
shell is
movable between a first position and a second position in response to flexion
of the
ankle. The upper shell and the lower shell overlap when the lower shell is in
the first
position.
2

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
hockey leg
pad. The hockey leg pad comprises: an upper portion having a knee cap for at
least
partially covering a knee joint of a wearer of the hockey leg pad; a lower
portion
having an upper protective section for at least partially covering an upper
part of a
shin of the wearer and a lower protective section for at least partially
covering a
lower part of the shin and an ankle of the wearer. The upper and lower
protective
sections are connected to one another such that the lower protective section
is
movable relative to the upper protective section between an extended position
and a
flexed position in response to flexion of the ankle. When the hockey leg pad
is worn
by the wearer carrying out a skating stride, a bottom edge of the lower
protective
section is configured for at least partially covering the ankle of the wearer
in both the
extended position and the flexed position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
hockey leg
pad extending along a longitudinal axis. The hockey leg pad comprises: an
upper
portion having a knee cap for at least partially covering a knee joint of the
player; a
lower portion having an upper shell for at least partially covering an upper
part of a
shin of the hockey player and a lower shell for at least partially covering a
lower part
of the shin and an ankle of the hockey player; and a liner for at least
partially facing
the shin and ankle of the hockey player. The upper and lower shells are
mounted to
the liner. The lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a
first
position and a second position in a lower region of the shin proximate to the
ankle in
response to flexion of the ankle. In the first position, the lower shell is
generally
parallel to the longitudinal axis, and in the second position, the lower shell
defines an
angle relative to the longitudinal axis. In the first position, the upper and
lower shells
overlap and define a first overlap, and in the second position, the upper and
lower
shells overlap and define a second overlap, the second overlap being greater
than
the first overlap.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
hockey leg
pad. The hockey leg pad comprises: an upper portion including a knee cap
2a
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

configured to overlie and protect a knee joint of the hockey player; and a
lower
portion including a rigid upper shell configured to overlie and protect an
upper part of
a shin of the hockey player and a rigid lower shell configured to overlie and
protect a
lower part of the shin of the hockey player proximate to an ankle of the
hockey
player, the lower shell being smaller than the upper shell. The upper shell
and the
lower shell are connected to one another such that the lower shell is movable
relative to the upper shell between an extended position and a flexed position
in
response to flexion of the ankle of the hockey player while skating. The upper
shell
and the lower shell overlap both in the extended position and in the flexed
position.
A bottom edge of the lower shell is configured to overlie the lower part of at
least one
of the shin of the hockey player and the ankle of the hockey player in both
the
extended position and the flexed position. The overlap of the upper and lower
shells
when the lower shell is in the flexed position is greater than the overlap of
the upper
and lower shells when the lower shell is in the extended position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
hockey leg
pad. The hockey leg pad comprises: an upper portion including a knee cap
configured to overlie and protect a knee joint of the hockey player; and a
lower
portion including a rigid upper shell configured to overlie and protect an
upper part of
a shin of the hockey player and a rigid lower shell configured to overlie and
protect a
lower part of the shin of the hockey player proximate to an ankle of the
hockey
player, the lower shell being smaller than the upper shell. The upper shell
and the
lower shell are separate from one another and connected to one another such
that
the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between an extended
position
and a flexed position in response to flexion of the ankle of the hockey player
while
skating. The lower shell is configured to surround at least part of a lower
region of
the shin proximate to the ankle; wherein the upper shell and the lower shell
are
configured to avoid a gap therebetween in both the extended position and the
flexed
position. Both in the extended position and in the flexed position, the upper
shell
and the lower shell overlap. The overlap of the upper shell and the lower
shell when
2b
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

the lower shell is in the flexed position is greater than the overlap of the
upper shell
and the lower shell when the lower shell is in the extended position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
hockey leg
pad. The hockey leg pad comprises: shell elements for protecting different
parts of a
leg, each of the shell elements having an outer surface exposed to game
objects
and an inner surface for facing the leg, each of the shell elements comprising
a first
material; a liner facing the inner surface of the shell elements, the liner
comprising a
second material, the first material being more rigid than the second material;
and
affixing means connecting the liner to the shell elements. The affixing means
is
configured to allow movement of the shell elements relative to one another and
relative to a portion of the liner facing part of the leg protected by at
least one of the
shell elements in response to flexion of said part of the leg while the leg
pad is
attached to the leg.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
hockey leg
pad extending along a longitudinal axis. The hockey leg pad comprises: an
upper
portion for at least partially covering a knee joint and an upper part of a
shin of the
player; a lower portion for at least partially covering a lower part of the
shin and an
ankle of the hockey player; each of the upper portion and the lower portion
comprising shell elements comprising a first material; and a liner facing an
inner
surface of the shell elements, the liner comprising a second material and
being
connected to the shell elements by affixing means. The first material is more
rigid
than the second material. The affixing means is configured to allow the shell
.. elements of the upper portion to be movable relative to one another and
relative to a
first portion of the liner overlying a first member of the hockey player's leg
when the
hockey player wears the leg pad and flexes the first member. The affixing
means is
configured to allow the shell elements of the lower portion to be movable
relative to
one another and relative to a second portion of the liner overlying a second
member
.. of the hockey player's leg when the hockey player wears the leg pad and
flexes the
second member.
2c
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg
pad for
attachment to a leg. The hockey leg pad comprises: an upper shell and a lower
shell for protecting different parts of the leg; and a liner for at least
partially facing a
part of the leg protected by the lower shell. The liner interconnects the
upper and
lower shells. The lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a
first
position and a second position in response to flexion of at least part of the
leg while
the leg pad is attached to the leg. In the first position, the upper and lower
shells
overlap and define a first overlap, and in the second position, the upper and
lower
shells overlap and define a second overlap, the second overlap being greater
than
the first overlap.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg
pad for
attachment to a leg. The hockey leg pad comprises: an upper shell and a lower
shell for protecting different parts of the leg; and a liner for at least
partially facing a
part of the leg protected by the lower shell. The liner interconnects the
upper and
lower shells. The lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a
first
position and a second position in response to flexion of at least part of the
leg while
the leg pad is attached to the leg. The upper and lower shells overlap such
that the
lower shell is at least partially between the upper shell and the liner both
in the first
position and in the second position.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg
pad for
a hockey player. The leg pad comprises: a plurality of shell elements for
protecting
different parts of a leg, each of the shell elements having an outer surface
exposed
to game objects and an inner surface adapted to face the leg, each of the
shell
elements comprising a first material. A liner facing the inner surface of the
shell
elements, the liner comprising a second material, the first material being
more rigid
than the second material. Affixing means connecting the liner to the shell
elements.
The affixing means is configured to allow movement of the shell elements
relative to
one another and relative to a portion of the liner adapted to face part of the
leg
2d
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

protected by at least one of the shell elements in response to flexion of said
part of
the leg while the leg pad is attached to the leg, wherein said movement of the
shell
elements relative to one another comprises a pivotable movement and a
translational movement.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg
pad for
a hockey player. The leg pad extending along a longitudinal axis and
comprises: a
plurality of shell elements for protecting different parts of a leg of a
wearer, each of
the shell elements having an outer surface exposed to game objects and an
inner
surface adapted to face the leg, each of the shell elements comprising a first
material, the shell elements comprising an upper shell element and a lower
shell
element. A knee cap for protecting a knee joint and part of a shin of the
player. An
upper region adapted for at least partially covering a knee joint and an upper
part of
a shin of the player. A lower region adapted for at least partially covering a
lower
part of the shin and an ankle of the hockey player. At least part of a first
subset of
the shell elements and the knee cap cover the upper region of the leg pad and
at
least part of a second subset of the shell elements and the knee cap cover the
lower
region of the leg pad. A liner facing an inner surface of the shell elements,
the liner
comprising a second material and being connected to the shell elements by
affixing
means. A band extending along part of a periphery of said shell elements, said
band
connecting said shell elements and said liner. The first material is more
rigid than
the second material. The affixing means is configured to allow the shell
elements of
the upper and lower portions to be movable relative to a first portion of the
liner
configured to overlie a first member of the hockey player's leg when the
hockey
player wears the leg pad and flexes the first member. The affixing means is
configured to allow the shell elements of the lower portion to be movable
relative to
one another and relative to a second portion of the liner configured to
overlie a
second member of the hockey player's leg when the hockey player wears the leg
pad and flexes the second member.
2e
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg
pad for
attachment to a leg. The leg pad comprises: an upper shell and a lower shell
for
protecting different parts of the leg. A liner at least partially adapted to
face a part of
the leg protected by the lower shell. The liner interconnects the upper and
lower
shells. A band extending along part of a periphery of said upper and lower
shells,
said band connecting said shells and said liner. The lower shell is movable
relative
to the upper shell between a first position and a second position in response
to
flexion of at least part of the leg while the leg pad is attached to the leg.
In the first
position, the upper and lower shells overlap and define a first overlap, and
in the
second position, the upper and lower shells overlap and define a second
overlap,
the second overlap being greater than the first overlap.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a leg
pad for
attachment to a leg. The leg pad comprises: an upper shell and a lower shell
for
protecting different parts of the leg. A liner at least partially adapted to
face a part of
the leg protected by the lower shell. The liner interconnects the upper and
lower
shells. A band extending along part of a periphery of said upper and lower
shells,
said band connecting said shells and said liner. The lower shell is movable
relative
to the upper shell between a first position and a second position in response
to
flexion of at least part of the leg while the leg pad is attached to the leg.
The upper
and lower shells overlap such that the lower shell is at least partially
between the
upper shell and the liner both in the first position and in the second
position.
2f
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-23

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
This and other aspects and features of the present invention will now become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following
description
of specific embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is provided
hereinbelow with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front view of a leg pad in accordance with an embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 2 is a side view of the leg pad of Figure 1;
Figure 3A is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the bottom portion of
the leg
pad;
Figure 3B is an enlarged exploded front view of the bottom portion of the leg
pad
showing only the upper shell and the lower shell;
Figure 4A is an enlarged front view of the bottom portion of the leg pad
showing the
upper shell, the lower shell, the liner, the band and the stitching lines;
Figure 4B is an enlarged rear view of the bottom portion of the leg pad
showing the
upper shell, the lower shell, the strap, the band and the stitching line;
Figure 5A is an enlarged side view of the bottom portion of the leg pad
showing the
lower shell in the first position;
Figure 5B is an enlarged side view of the bottom portion of the leg pad
showing the
lower shell in the second position;
3

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
Figure 6A is a side view of the leg pad showing a partial cross section of the
lower
portion of the leg pad and the lower shell in the first position;
Figure 6B is a side view of the leg pad showing a partial cross section of the
lower
portion of the leg pad and the lower shell in the second position; and
Figure 7 is a side exploded view of the leg pad showing a cross section of the
lower
portion of the leg pad.
In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
example. It
is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for
purposes of illustration and as an aid to understanding, and are not intended
to be a
definition of the limits of the invention.
Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention
To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in
one
figure will designate the same element if used in any other figures. In
describing the
embodiments, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity but
the
invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and
it is
understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with
the
specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written
description of
this invention. As used in the following description, the terms "horizontal",
"vertical",
"left", "right", "up", "down" and the like, as well as adjectival and
adverbial derivatives
thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly", "radially", etc.),
simply refer to
the orientation of the illustrated structure. Similarly, the terms "inwardly,"
"outwardly"
and "radially" generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its
axis of
elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
4

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a non-limiting example of a
leg
pad 10 in accordance with the invention. The leg pad 10 extends along a
longitudinal
axis A-A and comprises an upper portion 12, a bottom portion 14, a liner 16
and a
band 18. The upper portion 12 comprises a knee cap 20 for protecting the knee
of a
player's leg. The bottom portion 14 comprises an upper shell 22 and a lower
shell
24.
With reference to Figures 3A and 313, the upper shell 22 and the lower shell
24 are
shown in more detail. The upper shell 22 has an outer side 26 and an inner
side 28,
the outer side 26 being opposed to the inner side 28. The lower shell 24 has
an
outer side 30 and an inner side 32, the outer side 30 being opposed to the
inner side
32.
The upper shell 22 also comprises a top edge 38, a bottom edge 40, a left edge
42
and a right edge 44 and the lower shell 24 also comprises a top edge 48, a
bottom
edge 50, a left edge 52 and a right edge 54. The upper shell 22 substantially
protects the shin portion of a player's leg and the lower shell 24
substantially
protects the ankle portion of a player's leg. More specifically, the lower
shell 24
covers the lower front part of the player's ankle and may also cover the
player's
forefoot.
The upper and lower shells 22, 24 may be made of a rigid plastic material for
providing adequate protection in case of impact with a stick, a puck, or
collisions with
another player for example. It is known in the art that hockey leg shells can
be
made of NYLON, polycarbonate materials, thermoplastics, thermosetting resins,
polyethylene, high density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene or any other
suitable
material. In one embodiment, the upper shell 22 and the lower shell 24 may be
formed of the same material. In another embodiment, the upper shell 22 and the
lower shell 24 may be formed of different materials. In yet another embodiment
the
upper shell 22 and the lower shell 24 may each comprise a combination of at
least
5

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
two materials. The upper and lower shells 22, 24 may be manufactured or shaped
via any method that is known in the art. For example, the upper and lower
shells 22,
24 may be molded or thermoformed.
The liner 16 is mounted under the upper and lower shells 22, 24 and is adapted
to
be disposed between the upper and lower shells 22, 24 and the player's shin
and
ankle. The liner 16 may be made of any suitable material or composition or
materials
that provide the degree of cushioning and protection that is desired. The
liner 16
may be made of a soft material such as foam, polyethylene, low density
polyethylene (LDPE) or any other suitable material. The liner 16 may also be
made
of foam material covered by layers of woven synthetic yarn, such as closed
cell foam
of ethylene vinyl acetate covered by a mesh outer layer of a woven synthetic
material such as polyester. Such materials would conform itself to the anatomy
of
the player and may dampen any blows that might occur on the upper shell 22 or
lower shell 24. The liner 16 may also be slightly oversized with respect to
the upper
and lower shells 22, 24 such that the liner 16 may further envelop and protect
areas
of the player that are not substantially covered by the upper and lower shells
22, 24.
It is understood that the liner 16 may be omitted if the upper and lower
shells 22, 24
are made, for example, of a rigid outer layer and a soft inner layer affixed
to the rigid
outer layer.
The band 18 extends along part of a periphery of the upper shell 22 and part
of a
periphery of the lower shell 24, the band 18 interconnecting the upper shell
22 and
the lower shell 24 to one another. In one embodiment, the band 18 extends
along
the entire periphery of the assembled upper shell 22 and lower shell 24. In
another
embodiment, the band 18 may extend along a portion of the peripheries of the
upper
shell 22 and lower shell 24.
The band 18 may be a strip of fabric such as a woven stretchable fabric. The
band
18 may also be a braiding.
6

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
The band 18 may have a width large enough to cover at least partially the
outer and
inner sides and edges of the upper and lower shells 22, 24. As shown in
Figures 4A
and 4B, the band 18 is wide enough to cover a portion of the outer and inner
sides
26, 28 and the left and right edges 42, 44 of the upper shell 22 and a portion
of the
outer and inner sides 30, 32 and the left, right and bottom edges 52, 54, 50
of the
lower shell 24. Moreover, as best shown in Figures 4A, 5A and 5B, the bottom
edge
40 of the upper shell 22 and the top edge 48 of the lower shell 24 are free of
the
band 18 such that these edges may move relative to one another.
The leg pad 10 may comprise a stitching line 56 passing through the band 18
and
the upper shell 22 and passing through the band 18 and the lower shell 24 in
order
to affix the band 18 to the upper and lower shells 22, 24 such that the band
18
interconnects the upper shell 22 and the lower shell 24 to one another.
It is however understood that the affixation of the band 18 to the upper shell
22 and
the lower shell 24 is not limited to such stitching. For example, in another
embodiment, the band 18 may be affixed to the upper shell 22 and the lower
shell 24
via an adhesive or any other affixing means known in the art.
Furthermore, the band 18 may be attached to the peripheries of the upper shell
22
and the lower shell 24 such that the band 18 biases the lower shell 24 towards
the
first position. Such a bias would avoid that the lower shell 24 undesirably
remain in
the second position even after the player has extended his/her foot.
The leg pad 10 may also comprise a stitching line 58 passing through the band
18
and the upper shell 22 and liner 16 and passing through the band 18 and the
lower
shell 24 and liner 16 in order to affix the assembled upper shell 22 and lower
shell
24 to the liner 16 such that the band 18 also interconnects the upper and
lower
shells 22, 24 to the liner 16.
7

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
In either case, the lower shell 24 is movable relative to the upper shell 22
in
response to a flexion motion of the player's ankle. As best shown in Figures
5A, 5B,
6A and 6B, the movement induced by the flexion movement of the player's ankle
will
cause the lower shell 24 to move from a first position to a second position.
As best
shown in Figures 5A and 6A, when the lower shell 24 is in the first position,
the lower
shell 24 may be in an extended position where it extends generally parallel to
the
longitudinal axis A-A of the leg pad such that the upper and lower shells 22,
24 are
generally straight or rectilinear. As best shown in Figures 5B and 6B, when
the lower
shell 24 moves from the first position to the second position in response to
the
flexion motion of the player's angle, the lower shell 24 then pivots about a
pivot
region P and defines an angle 0 relative to the longitudinal axis A-A of the
leg pad.
Hence, in the second position, the lower shell 24 may be in a retracted or
angled
position where it extends along an axis that defines an angle B relative to
the
longitudinal axis A-A. In one embodiment, the angle 0 relative to the
longitudinal
axis may be up to 10 . In another embodiment, the angle 0 relative to the
longitudinal axis may be up to 15 . It is understood that the movement of the
lower
shell 24 relative to the upper shell 22 may be a combination of a pivotable
movement and a slight translation movement that is allowed, for example, by
the
stretchability of the band 18 (see the band 18 in the pivot region P).
As shown in Figure 6A, when the lower shell 24 is in the first position, the
upper and
lower shells 22, 24 are positioned relative to one another to avoid a gap
therebetween. More particularly, in the first position, there is a first
overlap between
the bottom edge 40 of the upper shell 22 and the top edge 48 of the lower
shell 24.
In the first position, the first overlap, when measured along the longitudinal
axis A-A,
may be between 2mm and 12mm. In another embodiment, this first overlap may be
between 5mm and 1 Onnm. When the lower shell 24 is in the second position, as
shown in Figure 6B, there is a second overlap between the bottom edge 40 of
the
upper shell 22 and the top edge 48 of the lower shell 24, the second overlap
being
greater than the first overlap. In the second position, the second overlap,
when
measured along the longitudinal axis A-A, may be between 5mm and 20nnm. In
8

CA 02931819 2016-05-31
another embodiment, this second overlap may be between 15mm and 20mm. As
best shown in Figures 5A, 5B, 6A and 6B, the bottom edge 40 of the upper shell
22
overlaps the top edge 48 of the lower shell 24 in order to avoid a gap when
the lower
shell 24 moves from the second position to the first position.
As best shown in Figures 4B and 7, the leg pad 10 may comprise a strap 60
which
connects the upper shell 22 and the lower shell 24. The strap 60 may be
connected
to the inner sides 28, 32 of the upper and lower shells 22, 24. The strap 60
may
restrict the top edge 48 of the lower shell 24 from moving over the bottom
edge 40 of
the upper shell 22. The strap 60 may also ensure that the lower shell 24
remains
generally parallel to the longitudinal axis A-A of the leg pad 10 when
pressure is
applied on the lower shell for moving/pivoting the lower shell 24 inwardly
(for
example, in a direction towards a player's ankle).
Although various embodiments have been illustrated, this was for the purpose
of
describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various changes, modifications
and
enhancement may be made to the embodiments and the scope of the claims should
not be limited by the embodiments, but should be given the broadest
interpretation
consistent with the description as a whole.
9

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