Abstract:
An adjustable elbow pad for playing hockey and other similar sporting activities adapted to cover the gap between a protective glove and a shoulder pad and more particularly adapted for use by children in their years of growth. The elbow pad is adjustable in length and diameter to accommodate the increase in size and length of a growing child and also to accommodate varying gaps between protective glove and shoulder pad when one of these two protective equipments is replaced. The adjustable elbow pad comprises an elbow protector and a forearm protector telescopingly joined together, and locking means for locking the forearm protector to the elbow protector at least when worn.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to an adjustable elbow pad for playing hockey and other similar sporting activities where protection of the elbow joints is essential to prevent painful blows to this sensitive area of the arm where the cubitus bone is vulnerable at the elbow point, and to protect the areas directly below and above the elbow joint, namely the upper forearm and the lower biceps region. The invention is also concerned with elbow pads used by children in their years of growth. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Typical hockey elbow pads are usually a one piece padding element which is made of a combination of foamy absorbing material surrounding and cupping the exterior area of the elbow joints and the adjacent areas above and below the elbow joints, sometimes complemented with a rigid shell cap positioned over the foamy absorbing material directly above the elbow point. The elbow pad is held in place by a pair of elastic bands above and below the elbow joint sewn or otherwise connected to the padding element which closes the elbow pad over the upper arm and the forearm leaving the inside of the elbow joint free to flex as well as marginally exposed to blows. 
     Elbow pads come in a variety of sizes to accommodate players of different sizes and shapes. Elbow pads are designed to protect the gap between the protective glove, which covers the hand, the wrist and the lower forearm of the player, and the shoulder pad, which covers the chest, the shoulder and upper part of the biceps region of the arm. This gap varies with the sizes and shapes of the neighboring protective equipment and with the sizes and shapes of players. 
     Young players in their years of growth go through many sizes of protective equipment as they grow in sizes and as their protective equipment wears out. As the young player grows the gap between the protective glove and the upper arm protector of the shoulder pad increases rapidly, leaving portions of the arm unprotected. The elbow pad that was adequately covering the elbow area a year earlier, now leaves a portion of the arm unprotected and must be replaced. The elbow pad may still be in good condition but must be replaced as it no longer adequately protects the elbow area of the growing player. 
     The shoulder pad and the protective gloves may also be in good condition but often, young players or their parents will renew the entire protective equipment at the same time, thinking their child has outgrown it, adding substantial cost to the replacement of protective equipment of a growing player over the years. 
     Furthermore, players are likely to develop preferences in the design and shape of their protective gloves. Protective gloves are especially susceptible to changes in design preferences by players. Some players will prefer a protective glove that covers only a small portion of the lower forearm because it affords more freedom to the wrist. Others will feel more comfortable with a higher protective glove that covers a substantial part of the lower forearm. Most often, when a player wishes to change size and/or design characteristics of the protective gloves, he or she must consider the protection of the general elbow area as well, and often may have to replace the elbow pads to properly cover the new gap defined between the new protective gloves. For example, when new protective gloves are purchased that present a shorter wrist cuff and lower forearm protector, the elbow pads may no longer properly protect the forearms and should be replaced to accommodate the new gap defined by the new protective gloves. This also adds to the replacement cost of the protective gloves. 
     Thus, there is a need in the sports industry for an elbow pad capable of being used in conjunction with a variety of protective gloves of different sizes and various design characteristics while adequately protecting the elbow and forearm of the player. 
     OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is thus an object of the invention to provide an elbow pad, which is adapted to cover varying gaps between the protective glove and the shoulder pad. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide an elbow pad, which can accompany a young player through an increased number of years while he or she is growing. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide an elbow pad, which reduces the replacement cost of protective equipment in general and specifically through the development stages of a player. 
     As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides an adjustable elbow pad for playing hockey and similar sporting activities comprising the combination of an elbow protector and a forearm protector. The elbow protector has a first limb encircling element comprising a padding component and defining an upper arm protector, a second limb encircling element comprising a padding component and defining a lower arm protector, and a rigid shell bridging the first and second limb encircling elements. The forearm protector has a third limb encircling element comprising a padding component and a protective plate secured to the third limb encircling element. The elbow pad also comprises a rigid tongue extending between the elbow protector and the forearm protector for telescopingly joining same together, and locking means cooperating with the rigid tongue for locking the forearm protector to the elbow protector at least when worn. 
     Advantageously, the distance between the forearm protector and the elbow protector is adjustable. Furthermore, the diameter of the first and second limb encircling elements is also adjustable. In a variant of the invention, the elbow pad further comprises an inner arm protector covering a widening gap between the forearm protector and the elbow protector. The inner arm protector is preferably connected to the lower arm protector of the elbow protector. 
     Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A detailed description of embodiments of the present invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an outer side elevational view of an adjustable elbow pad shown fully contracted; 
     FIG. 2 is an inner side elevational view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 1 also shown fully contracted; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 1 also shown fully contracted; 
     FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 1 also shown fully contracted; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 1 shown fully extended; 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 1 also shown fully extended; 
     FIG. 7 is an inside view of the elbow pad of FIG. 1 when laid open, unfastened, and fully extended; 
     FIG. 8 is an outside view of the elbow pad of FIG. 1 in the same condition as in FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 1 shown fully extended; 
     FIG. 10 a  is a side elevational view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 1 shown fully contracted; 
     FIG. 10 b  is a side elevational view of the first step necessary to adjust the length of the elbow pad of FIG. 10 a;    
     FIG. 10 c  is a side elevational view of the second step necessary to adjust the length of the elbow pad of FIG. 10 a;    
     FIG. 10 d  is a side elevational view of the third step necessary to adjust the length of the elbow pad of FIG. 10 a;    
     FIG. 11 a  is an outer side elevational view of an adjustable elbow pad constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention; 
     FIG. 11 b  is an inner side elevational view of the elbow pad illustrated in FIG. 11 a;    
     FIG. 12 is an outer side elevational view of an adjustable elbow pad constructed in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; and 
     FIG. 13 is an inside view of the elbow pad of FIG. 12 when laid open, unfastened, and fully extended. 
     In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1 to  4  illustrate an adjustable elbow pad constructed in accordance with the invention, which is generally designated by the reference numeral  20 . The elbow pad  20  includes an elbow protector  22  and a forearm protector  24 . Elbow protector  22  comprises an upper arm protector  26  and a lower arm protector  28  strapped to portions of the upper arm and lower arm respectively for protecting the surrounding areas of the elbow joint. Upper arm protector  26  and lower arm protector  28  are made of a padding material which is shaped and formed to cover portions of the arm immediately above and below the elbow. An elbow shell  30  is sewn or otherwise connected to the middle portion of the padding material between upper arm protector  26  and lower arm protector  28 , directly at the elbow point, bridging upper arm protector  26  and lower arm protector  28 . Elbow shell  30  is made of a rigid material and is shaped in such a manner as to partially enclose, and thus protect, the fragile area defined by the elbow point. As will be described in greater detail below, an inner padding element underlies elbow shell  30  and thereby cushions this region. An inner arm protector  32 , also made of a suitable padding material, is connected to lower arm protector  28 . It covers and protects the inside portion of the lower arm. A hooks and loops strap fastener  27  is provided for retaining upper arm protector  26  to the upper arm. A suitable hooks and loops fastener is sold under the trade-mark VELCRO. 
     Inner arm protector  32  is sewn or otherwise connected to one side of lower arm protector  28 . A strap  29  comprising a hooks section  68  is sewn to the same side of lower arm protector  28 . Strap  29  is passed through a ring  42  provided on the other side of lower arm protector  28 . Inner arm protector  32  is positioned over lower arm protector  28 . Strap  29  is then folded over inner arm protector  32  and hooks section  68  is fastened onto loops section  69  provided on the outer surface of inner arm protector  32 . This combination allows tightening of lower arm protector  28  around the lower arm and maintains inner arm protector  32  in its proper location as shown. 
     Forearm protector  24  comprises a padded bracelet  45  sewn or otherwise connected to a forearm guard  34  which is made of a rigid material. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, forearm guard  34  comprises a protective plate  36  directly connected to padded bracelet  45  and covering the width of the forearm, and a tongue  38  extending from protective plate  36  to elbow shell  30  and inserted into an aperture  40 . Forearm guard  34  is adapted to telescopingly connect forearm protector  24  to elbow protector  22 . Aperture  40  may be defined by any convenient passage means such as an interruption of the stitching  74  holding elbow shell  30  to lower arm protector  28 . Aperture  40  leads into a space between elbow shell  30  and lower arm protector  28  which is host to tongue  38 . The end portion of tongue  38 , shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 3 and 5, comprises two lateral extensions  70  and  71  which prevent accidental withdrawal of forearm guard  34  from elbow shell  30  via aperture  40 . A cut  72  is provided below one of the two lateral extensions  70  or  71 . In the example shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the cut  72  is under lateral extension  71 . Cut  72  enables the removal or insertion of forearm guard  34  into or out of aperture  40 . Tongue  38  is inserted into aperture  40  by first inserting lateral extension  71  and then sliding it sideways using cut  72 , which thereby enables lateral extension  70  to clear the opposite side of aperture  40 . The removal of tongue  38  is done in similar fashion. A flexible strap  43  made of an elastic material is provided for retaining padded bracelet  45  to the forearm of the player. 
     FIGS. 7 and 8 respectively illustrate the inside and outside of elbow protector  22  when the latter has been laid flat and unfastened. Upper and lower arm protectors  26  and  28  are sewn or otherwise connected together at their adjacent edges. An inner padding element  21  is also sewn to the inside surface of upper and lower arm protectors  26  and  28 . In order to accommodate the elbow point when elbow pad  20  is worn, a circular recess  63  is shaped in padding element  21 ; circular recess  63  being situated approximately in the central region of elbow pad  20 . Upper and lower arm protectors  26  and  28  are shaped and connected together to form zones of flexure  60  and  61  which enable easy flexing of elbow protector  22  when in use. Strap  27  is sewn or otherwise connected to one side of upper arm protector  26  and provided with a section of hooks  65  while a loops section  66  is provided on the outer surface of upper arm protector  26  to enable fastening of the latter. Strap  29  is also sewn or otherwise connected to one side of lower arm protector  28 . A hooks section  68  is provided on strap  29  while a loops section  69  is provided on the outer surface of inner arm protector  32 . To fasten lower arm protector  28 , strap  29  is inserted into ring  42  and folded onto the loops section  69  of inner arm protector  32 . 
     The padding material used can be any suitable material or composition capable of absorbing energy to provide the degree of cushioning and protection desired, such as a relatively thick foam material covered by layers of woven synthetic yarn. More particularly, the padding material may comprise a closed cell foam of ethylene vinyl acetate of a thickness of 4 to 8 mm covered by mesh outer layers of woven synthetic material such as polyester. The padding material may also comprise a polystyrene, a polyurethane foam, or a rubber foam. The inner layer of the padding material, which is in contact with the skin, is usually a cotton or a synthetic flannel fabric which is non-abrasive so that it is comfortable to the user. 
     Forearm protector  24  is adapted to assume a plurality of positions in relation to elbow protector  22 . FIGS. 1 through 4, for example, illustrate elbow pad  20  in its fully contracted position while FIGS. 5,  6  and  9  illustrate elbow pad  20  in its fully extended position. In order to assume these differing positions, tongue  38  is adapted to move back and forth inside aperture  40  and thereby vary the position of forearm protector  24  relative that of elbow protector  22 . A hooks and loops fastener is used between tongue  38  and lower arm protector  28  to effectively lock forearm protector  24  at a desired position in relation to elbow protector  22 . A hooks section  75 , as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 9, is glued to the inner side of forearm guard  34  and extends from the end of tongue  38  to padded bracelet  45 . The corresponding loops section  76  shown in FIG. 8 is positioned on lower arm protector  28  and extends from aperture  40  to the edge of lower arm protector  28 . Adjustment ribs  47  are also provided on the surface of tongue  38  to help the user in choosing the desired adjustment of elbow pad  20 . Inner arm protector  32  is adapted to cover a portion of the gap left between padded bracelet  45  and lower arm protector  28  when elbow pad  20  is in its fully extended state. 
     Elbow pad  20  may thus be adjusted in length to properly protect the elbow area of the arm. More specifically, elbow pad  20  can be adjusted to protect a widening gap between a protective glove and a shoulder pad as a young player grows. The adjustment capabilities of elbow pad  20  add years of use to the elbow pad. Furthermore, the use of hooks and loops fasteners to retain upper arm protector  26  and lower arm protector  28  provides an adjustment means for accommodating the growing diameter of the arm of the young player. Elbow pad  20  is therefore adapted to be used by a young player for many years as he or she is growing. Elbow pad  20  may also be used by different players of various sizes since it can be adjusted in length and diameter. 
     FIGS. 10 a  through  10   d  illustrate the steps required to adjust the length of elbow pad  20 . FIG. 10 a  depicts elbow pad  20  in the fully contracted position. The padded bracelet  45  is nearly touching lower arm protector  28 , tongue  38  is completely inside aperture  40  and inner arm protector  32  overlays a large portion of padded bracelet  45 . To adjust the position of forearm protector  24 , as shown in FIG. 10 b , forearm guard  34  must first be disengaged from lower arm protector  28  by moving forearm protector  24  downwardly in the direction of arrow  50  to pull apart the hooks and loops fastener which keep forearm guard  34  locked to lower arm protector  28 . Once disengaged, forearm protector  24  may be moved away from elbow protector  22  by sliding tongue  38  outwardly as indicated by arrow  51  in FIG. 10 c . At the desired position, forearm guard  34  is moved upwardly as indicated by arrow  52 ; the hooks and loops fastener are re-engaged locking forearm guard  34  to lower arm protector  28  in the new position as shown in FIG.  10 d. In this new position, it can be seen that inner arm protector  32  partially covers the space between padded bracelet  45  and lower arm protector  28 . 
     FIGS. 11 a  and  11   b  illustrate an alternative embodiment  100  of an elbow pad in accordance with the present inventive concept and in which inner arm protector  32  has been removed. Elbow pad  100  is constructed and adjusted in the same manner as it was in the previous embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to  10   d . However, strap  88  comprises a hooks section and a loops section  89 . Strap  88  is sewn or otherwise attached to one side of lower arm protector  28 , inserted through ring  42 , folded over and fastened together using a hoops and loops fastener  89 . Elbow pad  100  without inner arm protector  32  is somewhat lighter and less restrictive. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 depict another embodiment of the present invention. As depicted in the figures, elbow pad  120  includes an elbow protector  122  and a forearm protector  124 . Elbow protector  122  comprises an upper arm protector  126  and a lower arm protector  128  that are adapted to encircle portions of the upper and lower arms respectively. Elbow protector  122  further comprises a rigid elbow shell  130  that is adapted to partially enclose the outer area of the elbow point. Upper and lower arm protectors  126  and  128  are sewn or otherwise attached to elbow shell  130  in such a manner as to provide flexibility to the elbow protector  122 . As shown in FIG. 13, upper arm protector  126  is first sewn to lower arm protector  128  and the assembly ( 126 ,  128 ) is subsequently sewn to elbow shell  130  via stitching lines  195  to complete the elbow protector  122 . With respect to forearm protector  124 , the latter includes a limb encircling padded bracelet  145  sewn or otherwise connected to a rigid forearm guard  134 . 
     As depicted in FIG. 13, the lower portion of upper arm protector  126  that is attached to elbow shell  130  is considerably narrow when compared to the width of lower arm protector  128 . As a result, flexure zones  160 ,  161  are created between lower arm protector  128  and upper arm protector  126 . These flexure zones  160 ,  161  in conjunction with the above-mentioned narrow portion yield a wide range of motion between upper arm protector  126  and elbow shell  130 . Such a feature is desirable in order to not compromise the dexterity of the wearer when the elbow pad is in use. 
     FIGS. 12 and 13 also show that lower arm protector  128  is extended in this embodiment. It therefore underlies the entire elbow shell  130  and fully encloses the elbow of the wearer. As illustrated more specifically in FIG. 12, the contours of the lower and upper arm protectors  126 ,  128  are complementary such that in a normal elbow position, the sides of the arm are not unduly exposed to blows. Moreover, lower arm protector  128  is fully padded and is characterized by an oval recess  163 . Oval recess  163 , defined by sewing lines  195  which secure lower arm protector  128  to elbow shell  130 , is shaped so as to accommodate the elbow point when the elbow pad  120  is worn. Lower arm protector  128  further comprises an inner arm protector  132  that is an integral part of lower arm protector  128  as well as a strap  129  having a hooks section  168 . When the user puts the adjustable elbow pad  120  on, he or she simply pulls the strap  129  and couples its hooks section  168  to the loops section  169  of inner arm protector  132 . The arm of the wearer is thereby encircled and secured in a snug fashion. 
     Elbow pad  120  also comprises a forearm protector  124  that is telescopingly coupled to elbow shell  130  via a rigid forearm guard  134 ; the latter also being characterized by a tongue (not shown) that is adapted to move back and forth within an aperture  197 . The aperture  197  is located between the elbow shell  130  and the lower arm protector  128  and is defined by an interruption in the sewing lines  195 . Thus, it is possible to modify the position of the forearm protector  124  relative to that of the elbow shell  130  by simply modifying the length of the rigid tongue that is dissimulated within the aperture  197 . In order to lock the forearm protector  124  in place when the latter is at its desired location, a hooks and loops fastener, similar to that described in relation to the previous embodiments, is used between the tongue and the lower arm protector  128 . More specifically, a hooks section (not shown) is adhered onto the inner side of forearm guard  134  and extends from the end of the tongue to the padded bracelet  145 . Moreover, the corresponding loops section (not shown) is positioned on lower arm protector  128  and extends from the aperture to the edge of the lower arm protector  128 . It should also be noted that the rigid tongue also features adjustment ribs to assist the user in choosing the specific length of the elbow pad  120  that most accurately meets his or her needs. 
     The above description of preferred embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.