Leg Protector

• US 20150034511A1
• Filed: 02/22/2013
• Published: 02/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sports Design Concepts Limited
• Original Assignee: Sports Design Concepts Limited
• Inventors: Hughes, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,656,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/278
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/015 with shock-absorbing means A41D13/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1258 for the shin, e.g. shin guards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1275 for the ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/18 for wearing apparel, headwear or footwear

Abstract

A leg protector for protecting the lower leg of a sports player against injury is disclosed. The leg protector comprises a sock and a plurality of protection pads. The sock is worn, in use, over the player'"'"'s lower leg. Each protection pad comprises a rear surface that is detachably engageable with the worn sock so that, when engaged, the rear surface faces inward towards the player'"'"'s lower leg and a corresponding front surface faces out away from the player'"'"'s lower leg. Each of the plurality of protection pads are arranged for placement at a position that protects a respective area of the player'"'"'s lower leg. A first protection pad can protect an upper shin area; a second protection pad can protect a lower shin and ankle area; and a third protection pad can protect a metatarsal area of the player'"'"'s lower leg.

Claims

1. A leg protector for protecting the lower leg of a sports player against injury, the leg protector comprising:

a sock worn, in use, over the player'"'"'s lower leg; and

a plurality of protection pads, each comprising a rear surface that is detachably engageable with the worn sock so that, when engaged, the rear surface faces inward towards the player'"'"'s lower leg and a corresponding front surface faces out away from the player'"'"'s lower leg; and

each of the plurality of protection pads being arranged for placement at a position that protects a respective area of the player'"'"'s lower leg, the plurality of protection pads comprising at least one of;

a first protection pad being shaped and adapted to protect an upper shin area of the player'"'"'s lower leg;

a second protection pad being shaped and adapted to protect a lower shin and ankle area of the player'"'"'s lower leg; and

a third protection pad being shaped and adapted to protect a metatarsal area of the player'"'"'s lower leg.

2. The leg protector of claim 1, wherein the first and second protection pads have complementarily-shaped mating portions enabling the first and second pads to be fitted together on the sock so as to substantially cover and protect the shin area of the player'"'"'s lower leg.

3. The leg protector of claim 1, wherein the second protection pad comprises:

a band portion arranged to fit, at least in part, around an ankle of the player'"'"'s lower leg; and

at least one flap integrally formed with and extending from the band portion so that when the band portion is fitted around the ankle, the at least one flap extends downwardly from the band portion to cover and protect a respective one of the ankle malleoli of the player'"'"'s lower leg.

4. The leg protector of claim 3, wherein at least one of the flaps defines a concavity on the rear surface that is shaped and arranged to cup and conform to a respective one of ankle malleoli of the player'"'"'s lower leg.

5. The leg protector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second protection pads is arranged to surround, at least in part, the player'"'"'s lower leg.

6. The leg protector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the protection pads is predominantly constructed of an integral piece of resilient sheet material.

7. The leg protector of claim 1, wherein at least one of the protection pads comprises one or more fold regions about which the at least one of the protection pads can flex between a first configuration in which the at least one of the protection pads can be flat-packed and a second fitted configuration in which the at least one of the protection pads can attach to the sock and conform to the shape of the respective area of the player'"'"'s lower leg.

8. The leg protector of claim 7, wherein a second at least one of the protection pads is predominantly constructed of an integral piece of resilient sheet material, and

wherein the sheet material has a plurality of regions of reduced thickness that define corresponding fold regions.

9. The leg protector of claim 1, further comprising a fastening means for detachably engaging at least one of the protection pads to the sock, thereby enabling the at least one of the protection pads to be adjustably positioned relative to one another and the sock.

10. The leg protector of claim 9, wherein the fastening means is permanently affixed to the rear surface of the at least one of the protection pads over an area avoiding a peripheral region of that rear surface.

11. The leg protector of claim 9, wherein a third at least one of the protection pads comprises one or more fold regions about which the third at least one of the protection pads can flex between a first configuration in which the third at least one of the protection pads can be flat-packed and a second fitted configuration in which the third at least one of the protection pads can attach to the sock and conform to the shape of the respective area of the player'"'"'s lower leg and wherein the fastening means is permanently affixed to the rear surface of the third at least one protection pads over an area predominantly avoiding the fold regions.

12. The leg protector of claim 9, wherein the rear surface of the at least one of the protection pads defines one or more depressions within which the fastening means is at least partly countersunk.

13. The leg protector of claim 1, further comprising an outer layer laminated onto the front surface of at least one of the protection pads onto which graphics and branding can be printed.

15. A flat-packed package containing at least one protection pad of a leg protector according to claim 1.

14. (canceled)