Hybrid motorsport garment

• US 7,992,219 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2005
• Issued: 08/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sullivans Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sullivans Incorporated
• Inventors: Bay, Marc A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TAJASH D
• Application Number:
  US11/079,914
• Publication Number:
  US 20060200887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,339 Days
• Field of Search: 2 1/6, 2 2/2, 2 2/4, 2 6/2, 245/5, 2 7/9, 222/7, 291/1
• 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 motorsport garment, comprising:

a leg covering portion configured to substantially cover a femoral area of a leg;

a knee frame portion coupled to the leg covering portion and configured to extend from substantially a femoral area to substantially a shin area of the leg;

a replaceable shaped object coupled to an exterior area of the knee frame portion, the replaceable shaped object operative for sliding on a ground surface while cornering on a motor vehicle; and

a set of pivotal units that couple an upper portion of the knee frame portion and a lower portion of the knee frame portion, the set of pivotal units configured to provide an acute angular movement range of the upper portion of the knee frame portion with respect to the lower portion of the knee frame portion wherein the acute angular movement range is between approximately eighty and approximately one-hundred and seventy degrees, thereby preventing hyper-extension of a knee.

2. The motorsport garment of claim 1 wherein the upper portion of the knee frame portion comprises an upper hard outer shell and an upper cushion section, the upper portion of the knee frame portion being placed over the femoral area and a knee area of the leg, the upper hard outer shell being placed over the upper cushion section, and wherein a lower portion of the knee frame portion comprises a lower hard outer shell and a lower cushion section, the lower portion of the knee frame portion being placed over the knee area and the shin area of the leg, the lower hard outer shell being placed over the upper cushion section.

3. The motorsport garment of claim 1 wherein the set of pivotal units comprises one or more hinge devices that provide the acute angular movement of the upper portion of the knee frame portion relative to the lower portion of the knee frame portion.

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

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

6. The motorsport garment of claim 1, further comprising a crash absorbing pad coupled to the knee frame portion and configured 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 substantially aligns with and substantially extends over the knee area of the leg.

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

8. The motorsport garment of claim 1 wherein the replaceable object comprises a material selected from a group consisting of ceramic, polymer, leather, wood and mixtures thereof.

9. The motorsport garment of claim 1 wherein the replaceable object is coupled to the exterior area of the knee frame portion by a hook and loop fastener.

10. The motorsport garment of claim 1 wherein the leg covering portion 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 portion such that the knee frame portion and the leg covering portion provide a snug fit around the leg.

11. The motorsport garment of claim 1, further comprising a bridge device configured to couple the motorsport garment to a boot of a rider.

12. The motorsport garment of claim 1 wherein the bridge device comprises a telescopic device adjustable to accommodated different leg lengths and positions while fastened to the boot.

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

14. The motorsport garment of claim 1, further comprising at least one band coupled to an upper portion of the motorsport garment, wherein the at least one band substantially extends circumferentially around a femoral area of the leg.

15. A motorsport garment, comprising:

a leg covering portion configured to substantially cover a femoral area of a leg;

a knee frame portion coupled to the leg covering portion and configured to extend from substantially a femoral area to substantially a shin area of the leg;

a replaceable shaped object coupled to an exterior area of the knee frame portion, the replaceable shaped object operative for sliding on a ground surface while cornering on a motor vehicle;

a set of pivotal units that couple an upper portion of the knee frame portion and a lower portion of the knee frame portion, the set of pivotal units configured to provide an acute angular movement range of the upper portion of the knee frame portion with respect to the lower portion of the knee frame portion wherein the acute angular movement range is between approximately eighty and approximately one-hundred and seventy degrees, thereby preventing hyper-extension of a knee; and

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

16. A motorsport garment, comprising:

a leg covering portion configured to substantially cover a femoral area of a leg;

a knee frame portion coupled to the leg covering portion and configured to extend from substantially a femoral area to substantially a shin area of the leg;

a replaceable shaped object coupled to an exterior area of the knee frame portion, the replaceable shaped object operative for sliding on a ground surface while cornering on a motor vehicle;

a set of pivotal units that couple an upper portion of the knee frame portion and a lower portion of the knee frame portion, the set of pivotal units configured to provide an acute angular movement range of the upper portion of the knee frame portion with respect to the lower portion of the knee frame portion wherein the acute angular movement range is between approximately eighty and approximately one-hundred and seventy degrees, thereby preventing hyper-extension of a knee; and

a bridge device comprising an upper unit coupled to the knee frame portion and a lower unit coupled to a boot of a rider, the lower unit configured to slide within the upper unit adjusting for different leg lengths and leg positions when attached to the boot and the knee frame portion.

17. The motorsport garment of claim 16, further comprising at least one fastening device coupled to the upper unit and configured to securely affix the upper unit to the knee frame portion.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the at least one fastening device comprises at least one bolt and screw unit.

19. The device of claim 17 further comprising at least one fastening device coupled to the lower unit and configured to securely adhere the lower unit to the boot.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the at least one fastening device comprises at least one bolt and screw unit.

21. A motorsport garment, comprising:

a leg covering portion configured to substantially cover a femoral area of a leg;

a knee frame portion coupled to the leg covering portion and configured to extend from substantially a femoral area to substantially a shin area of the leg;

a replaceable shaped object coupled to an exterior area of the knee frame portion, the replaceable shaped object operative for sliding on a ground surface while cornering on a motor vehicle;

a set of pivotal units that couple an upper portion of the knee frame portion and a lower portion of the knee frame portion, the set of pivotal units configured to provide an acute angular movement range of the upper portion of the knee frame portion with respect to the lower portion of the knee frame portion wherein the acute angular movement range is between approximately eighty and approximately one-hundred and seventy degrees, thereby preventing hyper-extension of a knee;

an impact absorbing pad coupled to the motorsport garment, the impact absorbing pad comprising 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 substantially extends over the knee area; and

a bridge device comprising an upper unit coupled to the knee frame portion and a lower unit coupled to a boot of a rider, the lower unit configured to slide within the upper unit adjusting for different leg lengths and leg positions when attached to the boot and the knee frame portion.