Corner protector

• US 8,356,788 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2008
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas J. Drew
• Original Assignee: Thomas J. Drew
• Inventors: Drew, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US12/287,534
• Publication Number:
  US 20090120034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,565 Days
• Field of Search: 428/122, 428/188, 428/121, 428/131, 428/134, 428/343, 428/354, 248/345.1, 248/346.01, 248/205.3, 527/822.2, 527/831, 522/881, 522/871, 108/27
• US Class Current: 248/345.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47B 95/043 Protecting rims, buffers or the like
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24198 Channel-shaped edge component [e.g., binding, etc.]

Abstract

A human impact protection apparatus includes a body portion formed of a first resilient material and a plurality of members protruding radially outward from the body portion. The plurality of members are formed of a second resilient material which is the same as or different from the first resilient material. The plurality of members are adjacent one another and are separated by one or more spaces. An adhesive material or a mechanical fastener is disposed about one or both of the body portion and the plurality of members, whereby the apparatus may be affixed to a surface.

Claims

1. A human impact protection apparatus comprising:

a body portion formed of a first resilient material;

three or more members protruding radially outward from said body portion so that said body portion is formed within said three or more members and said three or more members border said body portion, said three or more members being formed of a second resilient material, wherein said three or more members are adjacent to one another and are separated by one or more spaces; and

an adhesive material or a mechanical fastener disposed about one or both of said body portion and said three or more members, whereby the apparatus may be affixed to a plurality of different shaped surfaces,

wherein said body portion and said three or more members are both substantially flat and are foldable over said plurality of different shaped surfaces to cover said plurality of different shaped surfaces thereby padding any dangerous surface that a user may encounter,

wherein said body portion is substantially flat when connected to a substantially flat surface and is folded around an irregular surface or any other surface when connected to said irregular surface or any other surface,

wherein each of said three or more members is flexible and substantially flat when connected to said substantially flat surface and is folded around said irregular surface or any other surface when connected to said irregular surface or any other surface,

wherein said first resilient material and said second resilient material are selected from the group consisting of;

a resilient elastomeric material, a foam rubber, a polyvinyl chloride, a closed cell resistant foam plastic material, a polypropylene, a polyurethane, a polyethylene, and any combinations thereof.

2. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said three or more members provide relief or non-bulging or non-curling when the human impact apparatus is applied to said plurality of different shaped surfaces so that the human impact apparatus can be folded over a corner, an edge, or irregular surface without bulging against another human impact apparatus or a portion of the human impact apparatus.

3. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein said three or more members and said body portion form a star shape.

4. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 3, wherein said three or more members are a first member, a second member, a third member, a fourth member, and a fifth member that are each a triangular shape, and wherein said triangular shape tapers outwardly from said body portion to an apex.

5. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 4, wherein said one or more spaces have a triangular shape wherein an apex of such space is positioned adjacent to said body portion.

6. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 5, wherein said one or more spaces and said three or more members are interleaved with a second plurality of members of at least one additional human impact protection apparatus having the same shape, wherein at least one of said space from said human impact protection apparatus receives a member from said additional human impact protection apparatus and/or at least one space from said additional human impact protection apparatus receives said member from said human impact protection apparatus.

7. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 3, wherein said star shape is symmetrical and/or complimentary along at least one plane therethrough.

8. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 1, wherein each said member comprises an end portion and a connecting portion, wherein said connecting portion is disposed between said body portion and said end portion, and wherein said end portion has a greater width than said connecting portion.

9. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 8, wherein said end portion has a tip with an arcuate shape.

10. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 8, wherein said space has an arcuate shape between each of said three or more members.

11. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 10, wherein said space has a configuration such that it is capable of receiving said end portion therein.

12. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 9, wherein said space has a width that is smaller between said end portions of said three or more members than said connecting portions of said three or more members.

13. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 12, wherein said one or more spaces and said three or more members are interleaved with a second plurality of members of at least one additional human impact protection apparatus having the same shape, wherein at least one said space from said human impact protection apparatus receives a member from said additional human impact protection apparatus and/or at least one space from said additional human impact protection apparatus receives said member from said human impact protection apparatus.

14. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 8, wherein said three or more members has at least three members disposed equidistantly around said body portion.

15. The human impact protection apparatus of claim 14, wherein said three or more members has at least six members disposed equidistantly around said body portion.