Protective hip pad

A protective hip pad includes a shield, a shock absorbing assembly and a cushioned connector. The shield is substantially elliptical and has an outer shield surface having an inner surface and a central through hole. The shock absorbing assembly abuts the inner surface of the shield and has a curved plate, a mounting hole and a sealed air cushion. The mounting hole is formed through the curved plate and corresponds to and aligns with the central through hole in the shield. The sealed air cushion is hollow and is formed around the mounting hole in the curved plate. The cushioned connector is mounted in the central through hole in the shield and the mounting hole in the curved palate and has an outer end protruding from the outer-shield surface of the shield.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a protective pad, and more particularly to a protective hip pad that protects a person's hipbone area.

2. Description of the Related Art

Because a person's hipbones protrude bilaterally, a person's hipbones are particularly susceptible to being bumped. A first generation hipbone protective hip pad was developed for people who need hipbone protection, such as pregnant women. The first generation protective hip pad has a curved polyethylene (PE) plate and a bag. The bag holds the PE plate. However, the PE plate is too hard to provide enough protection.

Hence, a second-generation protective hip pad has been developed and has a curved PE plate and a foam member. The foam member is mounted inside the PE plate and presses against the person's body. However, the foam member compresses against the person's body and will not absorb shock well.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a hipbone protective hip pad to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a protective hip pad that resists compression against a person's body and provides an additional shock-absorbing effect.

A protective hip pad in accordance with the present invention comprises a shield, a shock absorbing assembly and a cushioned connector. The shield is curved, substantially elliptical and has an outer shield surface, an inner surface and a central through hole. The shock absorbing assembly abuts the inner surface of the shield and has a curved plate, a mounting hole and a sealed air cushion. The mounting hole is formed through the curved plate and corresponds to and aligns with the central through hole in the shield. The sealed air cushion is hollow and is formed around the mounting hole in the curved plate. The cushioned connector is mounted in the central through hole in the shield and the mounting hole in the curved plate and has an outer end protruding from the outer shield surface of the shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference toFIGS. 1,3and4, a protective hip pad (1) in accordance with the present invention comprises a shield (10), a shock absorbing assembly (20) and a cushioned connector (30) and may be used with a specially fitted pair of pants (40) or a bag (50) and support belt (60).

The shield (10) may be made of polyethylene (PE), is curved and substantially elliptical and has an outer shield surface, an inner surface and a central through hole (11).

The shock absorbing assembly (20) is resilient material such as rubber, abuts the inner surface of the shield (10) and has a curved plate (21), a mounting hole (22) and a sealed air cushion (23). The mounting hole (22) is formed through the curved plate (21) and corresponds to and aligns with the central through hole (11) in the shield (10). With further reference toFIG. 2, the sealed air cushion (23) is hollow, is formed around the mounting hole (22) in the curved plate (21) and has a air channel (230) defined in the sealed air cushion (23) and holding a gas such as air. So the sealed air cushion (23) can compress to absorb shock. In addition, the sealed air cushion (23) of the protective hip pad (1) comfortably presses against a person's hipbone area without being completely compressed.

The cushioned connector (30) is resilient, may be a cylinder, connects the shield (10) to the shock absorbing assembly (20), is mounted in the central through hole (11) in the shield (10) and the mounting hole (22) in the curved plate (21) and has an outer cushioned connector surface, an optional annular groove (31), an outer end and an inner end. The annular groove (31) is formed in the outer cushioned connector surface of the cushioned connector (30) near the outer end and engages the central through hole (11) in the shield (10) and the mounting hole (22) in the curved plate (21). The outer end of the cushioned connector (30) may be curved and protrudes from the outer shield surface of the shield (10).

With reference toFIG. 3, when the protective hip pad (1) is in use, a specially fitted pair of pants (40) is prepared for the user and has two sides, two pockets (41) and two covers (42). The pockets (41) are mounted respectively on the sides of the pair of pants (40) and each pocket (41) has an upward opening. The covers (42) are formed respectively upon the openings of the pockets (41) to cover the openings. Two protective hip pads (1) are placed respectively in the pockets (41). When the user wears the pant (40), the cushion members (30) of the protective hip pads (1) are aligned with the hipbone area of the user. Therefore, if external objects bump the hipbone area of the user and one of the protective hip pad (1), the cushioned connector (30) can absorb shock and protect the user's hipbone. In addition, if a large region of the hipbone area is bumped and the shield (10) is pressed, the shield (10) can deform and press the sealed air cushion (23). So the force applied on the hipbone area of the user can be absorbed by the sealed air cushion (23).

With reference toFIG. 4, the protective hip pad (1) can be used with a bag (50) and a support belt (60). The bag (50) accommodates the protective hip pad (1) and is connected to the support belt (60) with a hook and loop closure (70,71), a button fastener or a hook fastener. When the user wear the support belt (60), the protective hip pad (1) is aligned with the hipbone area of the user and provide the capacity of the integrated hipbone protection.