Hybrid motorsport garment

• US 20060200887A1
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sullivans Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sullivans Incorporated
• Inventors: Bay, Marc A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,992,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/24
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0153 having hinged or separable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/065 Knee protectors
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2600/102 Motorcycling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/125 for the knee
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1258 for the shin, e.g. shin guards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet

Abstract

A hybrid motorsport garment is provided. The garment includes at least one leg covering and a knee padding and protective assembly. The knee padding and protective assembly includes a knee frame and a cylindrical shaped object.

Claims

1. A hybrid garment comprising:

a leg covering; and

a knee frame coupled partly interior and partly exterior to the leg covering and operative to protect a leg against impacts, where the frame extends from a femoral area to a shin area.

2. The garment of claim 1 wherein the frame comprises:

an upper assembly having an upper hard outer shell and an upper cushion section, the upper assembly being placed over the femoral area and the knee area, the upper hard outer shell being placed over the upper cushion section;

a lower assembly having a lower hard outer shell and a lower cushion section, the lower assembly being placed over the knee area and a shin area, the lower hard outer shell being placed over the upper cushion section; and

at least one set of pivotal units coupling the upper assembly to the lower assembly and operative to enable movement of the upper assembly to the lower assembly from a first knee position to a section knee position.

3. The garment of claim 2 wherein the at least one set of pivotal units comprises at least one set of hinge devices providing an angular movement of the upper assembly relative to the lower assembly.

4. The garment of claim 1 wherein the knee frame is permanently coupled to the leg covering.

5. The garment of claim 4 wherein the knee frame is sewn to the leg covering.

6. The garment of claim 1 further comprising a crash absorbing pad coupled to the frame and operative to absorb energy and reduce impacts to the knee area of the leg, the crash absorbing pad having a hard outer surface and a cushion inner portion, the cushion inner portion being coupled to and placed inside of the hard outer surface, and the crash absorbing pad being molded into a three-dimensionally shaped curve, wherein the crash absorbing pad aligns with and extends over the knee area.

7. The garment of claim 6 wherein the crash absorbing pad is permanently affixed to the frame.

8. The garment of claim 1 further comprising an object coupled to the frame and operative for sliding on a surface while cornering at high speeds.

9. The garment of claim 8 wherein the object comprises a material selected from the group consisting of:

ceramic, polymer, leather, wood and mixtures thereof.

10. The garment of claim 1 wherein the leg covering comprises a leather material, the leather material having an elastic material, wherein the elastic material being located behind the knee area of the leg covering such that the frame and the leg covering provide a snug and tight fit around the leg.

11. A knee padding and protection assembly comprising:

a substantially rigid structure operative to reduce impacts around a knee area and a shin area of a leg, the structure extending from a femoral area to the shin area; and

an impact absorbing pad coupled to the structure and having a hard outer surface and a compressible inner portion, the compressible inner portion being coupled to the hard outer surface, wherein the pad substantially aligns with and extends over the knee area.

12. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising an object coupled to the structure, wherein the disk-shaped object being operational for dragging on a road surface while cornering at high speeds.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein the disk-shaped object being temporarily affixed to the structure.

14. The assembly of claim 13 wherein the disk-shaped object is coupled to the structure by a hook and loop fastener.

15. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising a bridge device is coupled to the structure and operative to securely fasten to a boot.

16. The assembly of claim 15 wherein the bridge device comprises a telescopic device adjusting to accommodated different leg lengths and positions while fastened to the boot.

17. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the structure comprises:

an upper unit having an upper unyielding outer cover and an upper padding, the upper unit being placed over the femoral area and the knee area, wherein the upper padding being placed within and coupled to the upper unyielding outer cover;

a lower unit having a lower unyielding outer cover and a lower padding, the lower unit is placed over the knee area and a shin area, wherein the lower unyielding outer cover being placed over and coupled to the lower padding;

at least one set of swivel devices coupling the upper unit to the lower unit and operative to enable movement of the upper unit to the lower unit for a plurality of knee positions.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the at least one set of swivel devices comprises at least one set of hinge devices providing movement of the upper unit relative to the lower unit.

19. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising at least one band coupled to a lower portion of the structure, wherein the at least one band substantially extends circumferentially around the leg below the knee area of the leg.

20. The assembly of claim 11 further comprising at least one band coupled to an upper portion of the structure, wherein the at least one band substantially extends circumferentially around a femoral area of the leg.

21. The assembly of claim 11 wherein the impact absorbing pad having a three-dimensionally shaped curve shape.

22. A motor sport garment comprising:

a leg covering;

a knee frame coupled partly interior and partly exterior to the leg covering and operative to protect against leg impacts, the frame extending from a femoral area to a shin area of a leg; and

a device coupled to the frame and operational for dragging along a road surface while turning corners.

23. The garment of claim 22 further comprising a energy absorbing pad coupled to the frame, wherein the energy absorbing pad substantially reduces impacts to the knee area of the leg, the energy absorbing pad having a hard surface and an inner cushion inner, wherein the inner cushion being located and coupled to the hard outer surface, and wherein the energy absorbing pad contours and extends over the knee area.

24. The garment of claim 23 wherein the energy absorbing pad being permanently coupled to the frame.

25. The garment of claim 24 wherein the energy absorbing pad is coupled to the frame via an adhesive.

26. The garment of claim 22 further comprising:

an extension device coupled to the knee frame; and

a boot coupled to the extension device, the extension device being operative to securely attach to the boot.

27. The garment of claim 26 wherein the extension device comprises a telescopic device operative to extend and compress by sliding a lower section within an upper section and substantially fasten to the boot.

28. The garment of claim 27 wherein the extension device is coupled to the boot and the frame using at least one fastening device.

30. The garment of claim 27 wherein the extension device is temporary coupled to the frame and to the boot.

31. The garment of claim 22 wherein the frame comprise a polymeric material such that the frame is rigid and durable.

32. The garment of claim 22 wherein the leg covering is constructed to produce a tight and snug fit around the leg within the frame.

33. The garment of claim 22 further comprising at least one belt coupled to an upper assembly of the frame and operative to extend circumferentially around the femoral area of the leg.

34. The garment of claim 22 further comprising at least one belt coupled to a lower assembly of the frame and operative to extend circumferentially around the leg below a knee area of the leg.

35. A method of manufacturing a garment comprising:

making a leg covering;

producing a substantially rigid leg component; and

coupling the rigid leg component to the leg covering, wherein the rigid leg component is coupled partly interior and partly exterior to the leg covering.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein coupling the rigid leg component to the leg covering further comprises sewing the rigid leg component to the leg covering.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein providing the rigid leg component further comprises:

producing an upper assembly;

making a lower assembly;

manufacturing at least one set of swivel units; and

pivoting the lower assembly relative to the upper assembly, using the set of swivel units, to enable movement of the upper assembly to the lower assembly for a plurality of knee positions.

38. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

manufacturing at least one belt;

affixing the at least one belt to an upper portion of the rigid leg component; and

strapping the at least one upper belt circumferentially around the leg covering within or above a knee area.

39. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

producing at least one belt;

affixing the at least one belt to a lower portion of the rigid leg component; and

strapping the at least one belt circumferentially around the leg covering below a knee area.

40. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

manufacturing a device for sliding on a road surface while cornering; and

coupling the device object to the rigid leg component.

41. The method of claim 35 further comprising:

manufacturing a pad for absorbing an impact force;

coupling the pad to the rigid leg component; and

aligning the pad substantially within the knee area of the rigid leg component.

42. A bridge device comprising:

an upper unit adaptive to couple to a rigid leg member, and

a lower unit coupled to the upper unit and adaptive to couple to a boot, where the lower unit slides within the upper unit adjusting for different leg lengths and leg positions when attached to the boot and the rigid leg member.

43. The device of claim 42 further comprising at least one fastening device coupled to the upper unit and operational to securely affix the upper unit to the rigid leg member.

44. The device of claim 43 wherein the at least one fastening device comprises at least one bolt and screw unit.

45. The device of claim 42 further comprising at least one fastening device coupled to the lower unit and operational to securely adhere the lower unit to the boot.

46. The device of claim 45 wherein the at least one fastening device comprises at least one bolt and screw unit.

47. A hybrid garment comprising:

a leg covering having a parameter defining a hole; and

an inflexible leg protector coupled adjacent to the parameter and operative to protect against leg impacts.

48. The hybrid garment of claim 47 further comprising a device coupled to the inflexible leg protector and operative to slide on a road surface while cornering at high speeds.

49. The hybrid garment of claim 47 further comprising an impact absorbing pad coupled to the inflexible leg protector and operative to substantially reduce impacts to the knee area of the leg, and wherein the impact absorbing pad is placed beneath the inflexible leg protector within the hole of the leg covering.

50. The hybrid garment of claim 49 wherein the impact absorbing pad being permanently coupled to the inflexible leg protector.

51. The hybrid garment of claim 50 wherein the impact absorbing pad is coupled to the inflexible leg protector via an adhesive.

52. The hybrid garment of claim 47 further comprising

an extension device coupled to the inflexible leg protector;

and

a boot coupled to the extension device, the extension device being operative to securely attach to the boot.

53. The hybrid garment of claim 52 wherein the extension device comprises a telescopic device operative to extend and retract by sliding a lower section within an upper section, and the telescopic substantially fastens to the boot.

54. The hybrid garment of claim 52 wherein the extension device is coupled to the boot and the inflexible leg protector using at least one fastening device.

55. The hybrid garment of claim 52 wherein the extension device is temporary coupled to the inflexible leg protector and to the boot.

56. The hybrid garment of claim 47 wherein the inflexible leg protector comprise a polymeric material such that the inflexible leg protector is rigid and durable.

57. The hybrid garment of claim 47 wherein the leg covering is constructed to produce a tight and snug fit around the leg within the inflexible leg protector.

58. The hybrid garment of claim 47 further comprising at least one belt coupled to an upper assembly of the inflexible leg protector and operative to extend circumferentially around the femoral area of the leg.

59. The hybrid garment of claim 47 further comprising at least one belt coupled to a lower assembly of the inflexible leg protector and operative to extend circumferentially around the leg below a knee area of the leg.

60. The hybrid garment of claim 47 wherein the inflexible leg protector is coupled party exterior and partly interior to the leg covering.

61. A method of manufacturing a garment comprising:

producing a leg garment having a parameter defining a hole;

manufacturing a substantially inflexible leg structure; and

coupling the inflexible leg structure adjacent to the parameter.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein coupling the inflexible leg structure to the leg garment further comprises sewing the inflexible leg structure to the leg garment.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the inflexible leg structure further comprises is made of a polymeric material.

64. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

manufacturing at least one band;

affixing the at least one band to an upper portion of the inflexible leg structure; and

strapping the at least one upper band circumferentially around the leg garment within or above a knee area.

65. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

producing at least one band;

affixing the at least one band to a lower portion of the inflexible leg structure; and

strapping the at least one band circumferentially around the leg garment below a knee area.

66. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

providing a device for sliding on a road surface while cornering; and

coupling the device object to the inflexible leg structure.

67. The method of claim 61 further comprising:

manufacturing a pad for absorbing an impact force;

coupling the pad to the inflexible leg structure; and

aligning the pad substantially within the knee area of the inflexible leg structure.

68. The method of claim 61 wherein coupling the inflexible leg structure to the parameter further comprises coupling the inflexible leg structure partly exterior and partly interior the parameter.