Karate protective equipment

• US 4,361,912 A
• Filed: 09/19/1980
• Issued: 12/07/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lawrence E. Arthur
• Original Assignee: Lawrence E. Arthur
• Inventors: Arthur, Lawrence E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scanlan, Jr., Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US06/189,102
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 2/16, 2/18, 2/20, 2/22, 2/24, 2/161 A, 36/2 R, 36/96, 36/97, 36/102, 36/106, 36/113, 36/114, 36/9 R, 36/10, 36/72 R
• US Class Current: 2/18
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1283 for the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/12 for the body or the legs , e.g. for the shoulders A63B71/081 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/145 Boxing gloves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/91 Hand or wrist protector
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/912 Garment having a hook-loop type fastener

Abstract

Karate protective equipment including a glove, a boot and a shinguard, is formed of an outer soft foam material and selectively positioned harder, inner foam layers for added protection.

Claims

1. Protective equipment for use in karate and the like comprising:

(a) a first, outer, relatively large formed, foam material formed in the shape of a glove having inner and outer surfaces for conforming to and protecting the hand of the wearer, said first foam material being relatively soft; and

(b) a second inner relatively harder formed foam material secured to the inner surface at areas of impact.

2. Protective equipment as defined in claim 1 including a wrist encircling portion and an elastic strap encircling said wrist portion.

3. Protective equipment as defined in claim 1 including a first protective side portion and a thumb receiving recess therein, a second protective side portion opposite said first protective side portion, a finger protective portion extending forward of said side portions, and means on said finger protective portion for drawing said finger protective portion toward said side portions whereby the hand of the wearer is essentially completely enclosed within the glove.

4. Protective equipment as defined in claim 3 wherein said drawing means includes finger gripping means formed by foam wrapped within sheet material secured to said finger protective portion.

5. Protective equipment as defined in claim 3 wherein said second inner foam material is positioned on the inner surface of said finger protective portion.

6. Protective equipment as defined in claim 3 wherein said second inner foam material is positioned on the inner surface of one of said side portions.

7. Protective equipment as defined in claim 3 wherein said second inner foam material is positioned on the inner surface of the glove between said side portions.

8. Protective equipment as defined in claim 3 wherein said second inner foam material is positioned on the inner surface of the glove and includes a first piece on the side portion opposite the thumb and a second piece secured thereto and to the inner surface of the glove between the side portions whereby the glove is formed with the side portion opposite the thumb at substantially a right angle to said second piece.

9. Protective equipment as defined in claim 3 including reinforcing means between said side portions and said finger protective portion for resisting stress and tearing.

10. Protective equipment as defined in claim 3 wherein said thumb recess is formed by inserting a dart therein to form a curved top portion and a thumb retaining means formed by sheet material enclosing the area formed by the curved top portion and including extensions on said sheet material extending along the side portions on which the thumb recess is formed and extending over the outer surface of the curved top portion.

25. Protective equipment as defined in claim 1, 11 or 17 including a protective casing coated thereon.

26. Protective equipment as defined in claim 1, 11 or 17 wherein said second foam material has greater compression deflection and higher tensile strength and is less resilient relative to said outer foam material.

11. Protective equipment for use in karate and the like comprising:

(a) a first, outer, relatively large formed, foam material formed in the shape of a shin-guard having inner and outer surfaces for conforming to and protecting the shin of the wearer, said first foam material being relatively soft; and

(b) a second inner relatively harder formed foam material secured to the inner surface at areas of impact.

12. Protective equipment as defined in claim 11 wherein said shin-guard is elongated and wherein said inner foam material includes an elongated member secured substantially centrally on the inner surface of said outer foam material.

13. Protective equipment as defined in claim 12 wherein said shin-guard is formed in a curve to conform to the wearer'"'"'s leg by inserting a dart at one end thereof.

14. Protective equipment as defined in claim 12 including a fastener at one end thereof for joining to a complementary fastener on the top of a boot.

15. Protective equipment as defined in claim 14 wherein said fasteners are of the hook and pile type.

16. Protective equipment as defined in claim 12 including a plurality of leg encircling straps thereon.

17. Protective equipment for use in karate and the like comprising:

(a) a first, outer, relatively large formed, foam material formed in the shape of a boot having a heel and an upper, and further having inner and outer surfaces for conforming to and protecting the foot of the wearer, said first foam material being relatively soft; and

(b) a second inner relatively harder formed foam material secured to the inner surface at areas of impact.

18. Protective equipment as defined in claim 17 including a strap encircling the ankle support.

19. The protective equipment as defined in claim 17, wherein said second inner formed foam material is adhesively secured to said inner surface.

20. Protective equipment as defined in claim 17 or 19 wherein said outer foam material has a compression deflection of approximately 2-5 p.s.i., a tensile strength of approximately 65 p.s.i. min. and a resilience of approximately 28-38 Bayshore (% rebound average, 1/2" thickness at 72°

F.); and

said inner foam material has a compression deflection of approximately 4-8 p.s.i., a tensile strength of approximately 90 p.s.i. min. and a resilience of approximately 12-18 Bayshore (% rebound average, 1/2" thickness at 72°

F.).

21. Protective equipment as defined in claim 17 or 19 further including said inner foam material on the inner surface of the heel.

22. Protective equipment as defined in claim 17 or 19 wherein said boot has a substantially open bottom, foot retaining means including a pair of side panels secured to the sides of said boot, and a pair of integral straps extending between said side panels across the open bottom.

23. Protective equipment as defined in claim 17 or 19 including an ankle support, a pair of slotted openings extending from a top opening in the ankle support to a pair of generally circular openings in the side of the boot adjacent the wearer'"'"'s ankle bone.

24. Protective equipment as defined in claim 17 or 19 including a fastener adjacent the top of the boot for cooperating with a complementary fastener on a shin-guard.