Hockey goalkeeper leg pads

Hockey goalkeeper leg pads wearable on legs of a hockey goalkeeper to protect the legs, in which protective parts (e.g., pad members) of the hockey goalkeeper leg pads are adjustable to adjust how the hockey goalkeeper leg pads fit on the legs, and their adjustability is provided in a way that may be relatively light, easy to use, and simple to manufacture.

FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to protective hockey equipment and, more particularly, to hockey goalkeeper leg pads for protecting legs of hockey goalkeepers.

BACKGROUND

Hockey goalkeepers (a.k.a. goalies) defend their team's goal in a hockey game, and, to that end, they wear various equipment, including leg pads to protect their legs against impacts from pucks, balls, hockey sticks or other objects and/or when moving (e.g., dropping) them onto a playing surface (e.g., ice).

A hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises protective padding for providing padded protection to a hockey goalkeeper's leg and may include one or more adjustable parts in order to adjust a fit of the leg pad on the hockey goalkeeper's leg. For example, a pad member (e.g., knee pad member) of the leg pad may be adjustable using one or more straps and hook-and-loop fasteners to adjust where it is positioned relative to the hockey goalkeeper's leg.

While existing systems to adjust parts of hockey goalkeeper leg pads are useful, they can also cause some issues, such as adding weight to the leg pads.

For these and other reasons, improvements in hockey goalkeeper leg pads would be welcomed.

SUMMARY

According to various aspects, this disclosure relates to hockey goalkeeper leg pads wearable on legs of a hockey goalkeeper to protect the legs, in which protective parts (e.g., pad members) of the hockey goalkeeper leg pads are adjustable to adjust how the hockey goalkeeper leg pads fit on the legs, and their adjustability is provided in a way that may be relatively light, easy to use, and simple to manufacture.

For example, according to one aspect, this disclosure relates to a hockey goalkeeper leg pad wearable on a leg of a hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises a first pad member; a second pad member connected to the first pad member; and an adjustment system configured to adjust the second pad member relative to the first pad member. The adjustment system comprises a connector of the first pad member and a connector of the second pad member that are connected to one another hook-and-loop fastenerlessly and allow the second pad member to be adjusted relative to the first pad member.

According to another aspect, this disclosure relates to a hockey goalkeeper leg pad wearable on a leg of a hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises a first pad member; a second pad member connected to the first pad member; and an adjustment system configured to adjust the second pad member relative to the first pad member. The adjustment system comprises a connector of the first pad member and a connector of the second pad member connected to one another and allow the second pad member to be adjusted relative to the first pad member. The connector of the second pad member is connected to the connector of the first pad member without folding back onto the second pad member.

According to another aspect, this disclosure relates to a hockey goalkeeper leg pad wearable on a leg of a hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises a first pad member; a second pad member connected to the first pad member; and an adjustment system configured to adjust the second pad member relative to the first pad member. The adjustment system comprises a connector of the first pad member and a connector of the second pad member that are connected to one another and allow the second pad member to be adjusted relative to the first pad member. The connector of the first pad member comprises an opening. The connector of the second pad member extends into the opening to connect the second pad member to the first pad member. The connector of the second pad member comprises an elongated portion and an enlarged portion that is larger than the elongated portion and configured to retain the connector of the second pad member into the opening of the first pad member.

These and other aspects of this disclosure will now become apparent upon review of a description of embodiments that follows in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

The description and drawings are only for purposes of illustrating certain embodiments and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG.1shows an embodiment of hockey goalkeeper leg pads101,102wearable on a hockey goalkeeper's legs161,162while playing hockey to protect the legs161,162against an impact from a puck, ball, hockey stick or other object and/or to protect the legs161,162when moving (e.g., dropping) them onto a playing surface12. The hockey goalkeeper may be referred to as a “goalie” and thus the hockey goalkeeper leg pads101,102may be referred to as “goalie leg pads”, “goalie pads”, or just “leg pads” of the goalie. In this embodiment, a type of hockey played is ice hockey such that the goalie pads101,102are ice hockey goalie pads, the goalie is an ice hockey goalie, and the playing surface12is ice.

As further discussed later, in this embodiment, protective parts (e.g., pad members) of the goalie pads101,102are adjustable to adjust how the goalie pads101,102fit on the goalie's legs161,162, and their adjustability is provided in a way that is relatively light, easy to use, and simple to manufacture.

The goalie pads101,102protect various regions of the goalie's legs161,162. With additional reference toFIGS.23and24, each leg16xof the goalie comprises an upper leg region18, a knee19, a lower leg region20, and a foot21. The upper leg region18is above the knee19, while the lower leg region20is below the knee19and above the foot21. The leg16xof the goalie has a front22, a back23, a medial side24(sometimes referred to as an “inner side”), and a lateral side25(sometimes referred to as an “outer side”).

Each goalie pad10xcomprises an upper leg portion30, a knee portion31, a lower leg portion32, and a foot portion33respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to the upper leg region18, the knee19, the lower leg region20, and the foot21of the goalie's leg16xwhen the goalie pad10xis worn on the leg16x. The upper leg portion30is above the knee portion31, while the lower leg portion32is below the knee portion31and above the foot portion33.

Respective ones of these portions of the goalie pad10xcomprise frontal, medial, and lateral parts such that the goalie pad10xcomprises a frontal portion26, a medial portion27, and a lateral portion28respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to the front22, the medial side24, and the lateral side25of the goalie's leg16xwhen the goalie pad10xis worn on the leg16x. The frontal portion26comprises a front34of the goalie pad10x, the medial portion27comprises a medial side35of the goalie pad10x, and the lateral portion28comprises a lateral side36of the goalie pad10x. A longitudinal direction of the goalie pad10xis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the goalie's leg16x, a lateral (i.e., widthwise) direction of the goalie pad10xis perpendicular to its longitudinal direction and substantially parallel to a dextrosinistral axis of the goalie's leg16x, and a front-back direction of the goalie pad10xis perpendicular to its longitudinal direction and substantially parallel to a dorsoventral axis of the goalie's leg16x.

In this embodiment, the knee portion31comprises a medial part41including a medial knee wing37and a lateral part47including a lateral knee wing39that project rearwardly and define a knee cradle to receive the goalie's knee19. The medial part41of the knee portion31also comprises a knee landing43projecting rearwardly and configured to engage the goalie's knee19when dropping to the ice12(e.g., in a butterfly position). Similarly, in this embodiment, the lower leg portion32comprises a medial part46including a medial calf wing49and a lateral part48including a lateral calf wing61that project rearwardly to receive the goalie's lower leg20. The medial part46of the lower leg portion32also comprises a calf landing63to engage the goalie's lower leg20when dropping to the ice12.

The goalie pad10xcan be secured to the goalie's leg16xin any suitable way. In this embodiment, the goalie pad10xcomprises straps501-50Sto secure it to the goalie's leg16x.

As shown inFIGS.2to5, in this embodiment, the goalie pad10xcomprises pad members521-527that are part of its upper leg portion30, its knee portion31, its lower leg portion32, and its foot portion33and configured to protect the goalie's leg16xagainst an impact from a puck, ball, hockey stick or other object and/or when moving (e.g., dropping) them onto the ice12. More particularly, in this embodiment, the pad member521is a main pad member of the goalie pad10xthat is largest and part of the upper leg portion30, the knee portion31, the lower leg portion32, and the foot portion33, while the medial knee wing37comprises the pad member522, the lateral knee wing39comprises the pad member523, the knee landing43comprises the pad member524, the medial calf wing49comprises the pad member525, the lateral calf wing61comprises the pad member526, and the calf landing63comprises the pad member527.

Each pad member52imay comprise an outer cover42, an inner liner44, and protective padding40disposed between the outer cover42and the inner liner44.

The outer cover42of each pad member52iis configured to face away from the goalie's leg16x. A material67of the outer cover42may be of any suitable kind. For example, in some embodiments, the material67of the outer cover42may be a synthetic pliable material such as synthetic leather (e.g., polyurethane (PU) leather) or fabric (e.g., nylon fabric, polyester fabric, etc.) that is provided as a panel cut into a desired configuration so as to cover the protective padding40of the pad member52i. As another example, in some embodiments, the material67of the outer cover42be a molded material (e.g., molded foam such as ethylene vinyl acetate foam, polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, polypropylene foam, etc.; non-foam polymeric material such as thermoplastic polyurethane or any other elastomeric material, a gel, etc.) that is formed by a molding process such that the outer cover42is a molded cover, such as described, for instance, in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2015/0033433 incorporated by reference herein. In some cases, the material67of the outer cover42may form one layer of the outer cover42which may comprises one or more other layers of one or more other materials (e.g., a foam layer and a non-foam layer).

The protective padding40of the pad member52iprovides padded protection to the goalie's leg16x. A padding material70of the protective padding40may be of any suitable kind. For example, in some embodiments, the padding material70may be foam, such as polyurethane foam, ethylene vinyl acetate foam, polypropylene foam, polyethylene foam, vinyl nitrile foam, or any other suitable foam. As another example, in some embodiments, the padding material70may be other than foam, such as a gel or any other suitable shock-absorbing material.

The inner liner44of the pad member52iis configured to face the goalie's leg16x. A material76of the inner layer44may be of any suitable kind. For example, in some embodiments, the material76may be fabric such as a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, synthetic microfibers, a synthetic woven knit, a polyurethane laminate, a mesh, or any other suitable fabric. The inner liner44may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.

The outer cover42, the inner liner44, and the protective padding40of the pad member52imay be connected together in any suitable way. For example, in some embodiments, two or more of the outer cover42, the inner liner44, and the protective padding40may be fastened by one or more fasteners, such as a stitching (i.e., a series of stitches), an adhesive, a series of staples, one or more laces, etc.

In this embodiment, the goalie pad10xcomprises an adjustment system45configured to adjust one or more of the pad members521-527for adjusting how it fits on the goalie's leg16x. The adjustment system45may be relatively light, easy to use, and simple to manufacture.

More particularly, in this embodiment, the adjustment system45is configured to adjust the lateral knee wing39comprising the pad member523so that the knee portion31of the goalie pad10xbetter fits about the goalie's knee19. The adjustment system45thus allows the lateral knee wing39to be adjusted relative to a remainder of the goalie pad10xincluding the main pad member521. For instance, the adjustment system45may be used to adjust a position at which the lateral knee wing39is connected to the main pad member521such that it is relatively more outward in order to increase space for the goalie's knee19or relatively more inward in order to reduce space for the goalie's knee19.

With additional reference toFIGS.6A to6D, in this embodiment, the adjustment system comprises connectors551,552of the main pad member521and connectors561,562of the lateral knee wing39that are connected to one another and allow the lateral knee wing39to be adjusted relative to the main pad member521. The connectors551,552of the main pad member521and the connectors561,562of the lateral knee wing39are thus selectively engageable to and disengageable from one another to adjust the position of the lateral knee wing39relative to the main pad member521.

In this example, the position of the lateral knee wing39relative to the main pad member521may thus be any one of a plurality of different positions P1-P3which are spaced in the lateral direction of the goalie pad10x. Also, in this example, the connectors551,552of the main pad member521and the connectors561,562of the lateral knee wing39detachably connect the lateral knee wing39to the main pad member521such that the lateral knee wing39is detachable from the main pad member521. This may facilitate adjustment, cleaning, replacement, etc. of the lateral knee wing39.

The connector551of the main pad member521and the connector561of the lateral knee wing39will be further described with an understanding that a similar description applies to the connector552of the main pad member521and the connector562of the lateral knee wing39.

In this embodiment, the connector551of the main pad member521and the connector561of the lateral knee wing39are connected to one another hook-and-loop fastenerlessly, i.e., connected to one another without any hook-and-loop fastener. That is, the connector551of the main pad member521and the connector561of the lateral knee wing39are free of (i.e., do not have) any hook-and-loop fastener (e.g., a VELCRO®fastener) required to connect them to one another. The connector551of the main pad member521and the connector561of the lateral knee wing39are thus connected to one other than by a hook-and-loop fastener. This may help to reduce weight of the adjustment system45and thus of the goalie pad10xand facilitate manufacturing.

More particularly, in this embodiment, the connector561of the lateral knee wing39is connected to the connector551of the main pad member521without folding back onto the lateral knee wing39. This may reduce the weight of the adjustment system45and thus of the goalie pad10xby using less material.

In this example, the connector561of the lateral knee wing39comprises an elongated portion62and an enlarged portion64that is larger than the elongated portion62and configured to retain the connector561of the lateral knee wing39with the connector551of the main pad member521. The connector551of the main pad member521comprises openings821-823and the connector561extends into two consecutive ones of the openings821-823to connect the lateral knee wing39to the main pad member521.

In this embodiment, with additional reference toFIGS.7to11, the enlarged portion64of the connector561of the lateral knee wing39comprises a material68which is more rigid than a material66of the elongated portion62. In other words, the material68of the enlarged portion64of the connector561is stiffer than the material66of the elongated portion62of the connector561. For example, in some cases, the material68of the enlarged portion64of the connector561is a rigid polymeric material.

More particularly, in this embodiment, the elongated portion62of the connector561of the lateral knee wing39comprises a strap72. The strap72may be suitably strong to enable a user to properly tighten the connectors551,561. In particular, the strap72comprises a material74having a strength and a modulus of elasticity allowing the strap72to provide a stable connection. For example, in some embodiments, the material74of the strap72may be unstretchable (i.e., not stretchable) during adjustment of the lateral knee wing39. For instance, in some embodiments, the material74of the strap72may be nylon, polypropylene or any other suitably strong polymeric material.

The strap72has a length LSwhich is suitable for easily connecting two consecutive ones of the openings821-823, but not too large to prevent a spacing between the lateral knee wing39and the main pad member521. For example, in some cases, the length LSis between 5 mm and 25 mm, in some cases between 10 mm and 20 mm, and in some cases about 15 mm. The strap72also has a width WSwhich is suitable for resisting to forces applied on the strap72by the lateral knee wing39, but not too large to minimize a weight of the strap72. For example, in some cases, the width WSis between 2 mm and 20 mm, in some cases between 5 mm and 15 mm, in some cases about 10 mm.

In this embodiment, the enlarged portion64of the connector561of the lateral knee wing39comprises a button76. The button76is attached to the strap72and engages one of the openings821-823of the connector551to retain the lateral knee wing39to the main pad member521. This may be achieved in many suitable ways. In this example, the button76has an elliptical section and a thickness TB. In other cases, the button76may have a circular section, a polygonal section, or any shape of section.

The thickness TBof the button76is suitable to allow the button76to resist to compressive forces, for example while the strap72is being pulled and the button76is being compressed by an action of the goalie during play. The thickness TBof the button76is also suitable to facilitate the insertion of the button76into the openings821-823. For example, in some cases, the thickness TBis between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, in some cases between 1 mm and 3 mm, in some cases about 2 mm. The button76comprises the material68having a suitable modulus of elasticity to retain the lateral knee wing39to the main pad member521, for example while the strap72is being pulled and the button76is being compressed by an action of the goalie during play.

In this embodiment, the button76is attached to the strap72by mechanical interlock. The button76comprises elongated apertures771-77Aand the strap72comprises a closed loop section78interlocking the button76as the strap72goes through the apertures771-77A. In other embodiments, the button76may be attached to the strap72by other suitable means, for example by being molded to one another, by being glued to one another, by being stitched to one another, by being integrally formed together, etc.

With additional reference toFIGS.12to15, in this embodiment, the connectors561,562of the lateral knee wing39, are spaced from each other by a spacing Scin the longitudinal direction of the goalie pad10x, and suitable to sufficiently stabilize the lateral knee wing39to the main pad member521. For example, in some cases, the spacing Scmay be at least 50 mm, in some cases at least 75 mm, in some cases at least 100 mm, in some cases even more.

Attachment of the connector561of the lateral knee wing39to the connector551of the main pad member521is achieved by entering the connector561in a first one of the openings821-823and taking the connector551out through a second one of the openings821-823. More particularly, the enlarged portion64of the connector561is engaged to the second one of the openings821-823of the connector551, while the lateral knee wing39is adjacent to the first one of the openings821-823. In this embodiment, the button76is manually entered in the first one of the openings821-823and taken out of the second one of the openings821-823. The button76may be manipulated to get through the openings821-823by being rotated to minimize a section of the button76otherwise parallel to the openings821-823. After the button76is entered and taken out of the second one of the openings821-823, the button76engages the second one of the openings821-823when the strap72is being pulled upon, and a combination of the dimensions of the section of the button76and an attachment of the button76to the strap72refrains the button76from re-entering the second one of the openings821-823while the strap72is being pulled upon.

As the first and the second ones of the openings821-823may be any ones of the openings821-823, the lateral knee wing39may be affixed to the main pad member521in the plurality of positions P1-P3comprising as many positions Pias there are openings821-823. This allows the lateral knee wing39to be adjustable relative to the main pad member521.

In this embodiment, each of the openings821-823of the connector551of the main pad member521comprises two enlargements841,842spaced from each other facilitating the insertion of the button76and/or preventing a propagation of the openings821-823through the connector551of use.

The connector551of the main pad member521has dimensions facilitating the use of the adjustment system45, limiting the weight of the adjustment system45, and suitable to resist to forces, for example while the strap72is being pulled and the button76is being compressed onto the connector551by an action of the goalie during play. For example, the connector551has a dimension (e.g., width) WCin the longitudinal direction of the goalie pad10x. For instance, in some embodiments, the width WCmay be between 10 mm and 50 mm, in some cases between 20 mm and 40 mm, and in some cases about 30 mm. The connector551also has a dimension (e.g., length) LCin the lateral direction of the goalie pad10x. For instance, in some embodiments, the length LCmay be between 40 mm and 100 mm, in some cases between 50 mm and 90 mm, in some cases 60 mm and 80 mm, and in some cases about 70 mm.

The width Wcof the connector551of the main pad member521is smaller than a dimension (e.g., width) WKWof the lateral knee wing39in the longitudinal direction of the goalie pad10x. For example, in some cases, a ratio of the width Wcof the connector551over the width WKWof the lateral knee wing39is less than ¾, in some cases less than ⅔, in some cases less than ½, and in some cases even less.

Similarly, the openings821-823have dimensions facilitating the use of the adjustment system45, increasing an adjustability of the adjustment system45, and suitable to resist to forces, for example while the strap72is being pulled and the button76is being compressed onto the connector551by an action of the goalie during play. For example, each of the openings821-823is spaced from a next one of the openings821-823by a spacing SEsubstantially parallel to the lateral direction of the goalie pad10x, the spacing SEbeing in some cases between 5 mm and 25 mm, in some cases between 10 mm and 20 mm, and in some cases about 15 mm. Also, the enlargements841,842of the openings821-823are spaced from each other by a width WEof the openings821-823substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the goalie pad10x, the width WEbeing in some cases between 5 mm and 25 mm, in some cases between 10 mm and 20 mm, and in some cases about 15 mm.

The connector551of the main pad member521may be attached to a remainder of the main pad member521in any suitable way. In this example, a stitching90connects the connector551to the main pad member521. For example, the stitching90of the connector551to the inner liner44may occupy less than half of the length LCof the connector551, in some cases less than one third of the length LCof the connector551, in some cases less than one quarter of the length LCof the connector551, in some cases event less. Also, in this example, the connector551is stitched to the inner liner44only at longitudinal end parts921,922of the connector551to leave a spacing86between the connector551and the inner liner44of the main pad member521which can be occupied by the connector561of the lateral knee wing39. The stitching90of the connector551to the inner liner44does not overlap with the openings821-823in the lateral direction of the leg pad10to allow the connector561of the lateral knee wing39to connect with two of the openings821-823in the spacing86.

The connectors551,552, of the main pad member521are spaced from each other by a spacing Scpin the longitudinal direction of the goalie pad10x, suitable to sufficiently stabilize the lateral knee wing39to the main pad member521, and about as large as the spacing Scbetween the connectors561,562. For example, in some cases, the spacing Scpmay be at least 50 mm, in some cases at least 75 mm, in some cases at least 100 mm, in some cases even more.

The goalie pad10x, including the adjustment system45, may be constructed in various other ways in other embodiments.

For example, as shown inFIG.16, in some embodiments, the adjustment system45may comprise a sole connector551. The connector551may comprise rows1011,1012of openings821-823.

As shown inFIG.17, in some embodiments, each of the connectors551,552may comprise only one opening82.

As shown inFIGS.18and19, in some embodiments, each of the connectors551,552may comprise a plurality of openings821-82O, the plurality of openings821-82Ocomprising in some cases two openings821,822, or in some cases more than three openings821-82O.

As shown inFIGS.20and21, in some embodiments, the main pad member521may comprise more than two connectors551-55Cand the lateral knee wing39may comprise more than 2 connectors561-56C.

As shown inFIG.22, in some embodiments, each of the connectors561,562of the lateral knee wing39may have an adjustable length. For example, the elongate section62may comprise a loop112allowing the strap72to have an adjustable length, thus enhancing the adjustability of the adjustment system45.

As another example, in some embodiments, the strap72may be elastic to be stretchable during adjustment of the lateral knee wing39. In that case, the modulus of elasticity of the material74of the strap72may be lower than when the strap72is not stretchable during adjustment.

As another example, in other embodiments, the adjustment system45may be configured to adjust one or more of the pad members521-527other than or in addition to the pad member523of the lateral knee wing39, in a manner similar to that discussed above in relation to the lateral knee wing39. For example, in some embodiments, the adjustment system45may be configured to adjust one or more of the medial knee wing37comprising the pad member522, the knee landing43comprising the pad member524, the medial calf wing49comprising the pad member525, the lateral calf wing61comprising the pad member526, and/or the calf landing63comprising the pad member527relative to the main pad member521.

As another example, in other embodiments, the goalie pads101,102may have any other suitable shape and/or be made of any other suitable material.

Although in embodiments considered above the goalie pads101,102are designed for playing ice hockey, in other embodiments, hockey goalkeeper leg pads constructed using principles described herein in respect of the goalie pads101,102can be hockey goalkeeper leg pads for playing roller hockey or another type of hockey (e.g., field or street hockey) on a dry playing surface (e.g., a polymeric, concrete, wooden, or turf playing surface or any other dry playing surface on which roller hockey or field or street hockey is played).

Certain additional elements that may be needed for operation of some embodiments have not been described or illustrated as they are assumed to be within the purview of those of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, certain embodiments may be free of, may lack and/or may function without any element that is not specifically disclosed herein.

Any feature of any embodiment discussed herein may be combined with any feature of any other embodiment discussed herein in some examples of implementation.

In case of any discrepancy, inconsistency, or other difference between terms used herein and terms used in any document incorporated by reference herein, meanings of the terms used herein are to prevail and be used.

Although various embodiments and examples have been presented, this was for purposes of description, but should not be limiting. Various modifications and enhancements will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.