Catcher's Leg Guard

According to the present disclosure, a leg guard is provided with a splint connector that connects a knee guard with a thigh guard. The splint is made of a material and shaped in a way that allows the connector to hold tension like a rope, to hold compression like a support beam, to bend in one plane like a single hinge through the full range of the knee joint, to twist slightly and to create and maintain a consistent separation distance between the knee guard and the thigh guard while the leg guard including the connector is being worn.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present invention relates to sports equipment, and in particular to a leg guard for a baseball or softball catcher.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Baseball and softball catchers are positioned behind home plate and perform many important functions during a game, from calling plays and protecting the plate to catching the ball thrown by the pitcher. Due to impacts from pitches, sometimes in excess of 90 mph, and home plate crashes with other players, the bodies of catchers are regularly exposed to physical trauma.

One particular physical injury that catchers are especially prone to is knee injuries. Due to the crouching position catchers assume behind home plate, catchers commonly injure their knees. For instance, the crouching position exposes the inner legs of a catcher to impacts from pitches. Because of this exposure, the inner side portions of a catcher's knees are often struck by the ball. Collisions at home plate from opposing team players trying to score also often result in slides that impact or injure the catcher's lower legs and knees. These types of injuries can seriously hinder the catcher's ability to perform vital functions during the game.

Current leg guards exist that provide some protection to the knee, thigh, and shin areas. Existing leg guards typically include a triple kneecap design, where three separate protective paddings come together to cover and protect the knee. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,946 to Jurga describes a triple kneecap design where a pair of flexible straps is utilized to secure the knee guard, first thigh guard, and second thigh guard to each other. The leg guards usually include additional protective padding to protect the thigh and shin portions of the leg. However, existing triple kneecap designs do not provide sufficient protection for the inner side portions of a catcher's knees.

In addition, catcher's leg guards are attached around the legs utilizing elastic connecting straps that rely on squeezing the leg guards against the wearer's leg to keep the leg guard in place. Because there is nothing outside of the friction between the straps/leg guards and the leg/uniform of the wearer to counteract the vertically downward force of gravity, it is common for leg guards to sag in use especially when the user goes from the crouched position to the standing position and back. For example, a catcher's blocking motions for stopping wild pitches requires that the catcher drop quickly onto their knees from the crouching position and just as quickly either reassume the crouching position or stand upright to throw out any potential base stealers. In doing so, the pads of the catcher's leg guard often become misaligned and mispositioned. When a catcher assumes the crouching position, the leg guard slides down the leg of the catcher about 3 inches. However, when the catcher reassumes a standing upright position from the crouching position, the leg guard does not slide back up into place to protect the thigh. Not only can this be distracting to the catcher, but it also requires the wearer to constantly pull up on the leg guards to reposition and align them on the leg of the wearer.

Further, to try and accommodate this shifting of the leg guard due to the movement of the wearer, current leg guards connect the knee plate and the thigh plate with connectors, such as flexible elastic straps or braided straps, that can only hold the knee plate and thigh plate in the proper position when under tension, i.e., the straps are pulled on from one or both ends. When compression is applied by the weight of the thigh plate on top of the knee plate, i.e., the straps are pressed on from one or both ends, the flexible nature of the straps is not able to apply any force to keep the knee plate and thigh plate separated. This results in the thigh plate and knee plate coming closer together and ultimately leads to the unwanted sagging of the leg guards and resulting in the entire leg guard not fitting properly.

To attempt to accommodate this issue, U.S. Pat. Nos. 10,293,241 and 11,058,939 to Rodrick et al,. each of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes, disclose a leg guard for a catcher in which the portion of the leg guard covering the thigh and the portion of the leg guard covering the knee are interconnected by a pair of hinge arms integrally formed with the thigh portion. The hinge arms are rotatably connected to the knee portion to rotate with regard to the knee portion when the catcher bends his or her knee. The hinge arms are formed of the same material as the cover plate of the thigh portion and thus do not stretch, bend or flex, thereby maintaining the position of the knee portion relative to the thigh portion during use of the leg guard.

However, while able to maintain the position of the portions of the leg guard over the knee of the wearer during use, the rigid nature of the hinge arms significantly reduces the flexibility of the leg guard with regard to any non-linear movement of the leg of the catcher, e.g. and twisting or lateral movement. This can impair the movement of the wearer and thus there still remains a need for a leg guard that more adequately protects the catcher's knees and allows catchers to freely and quickly move to or through different stances without having to re-position the pads of the leg guard.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a leg guard is provided with a spined splint that connects the knee plate with the thigh plate. The splint is made of a material and shaped in a way that allows the splint to hold tension like a rope, to hold compression like a support beam, to bend in one plane like a single hinge through the full range of the knee joint, and to twist slightly and to create and maintain a consistent separation distance between the knee plate and the thigh plate while the leg guard including the splint is being worn.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the disclosure, a leg guard includes a first guard, a second guard, and a connector secured between the first guard and the second guard, wherein the connector is formed of a material that is flexible but resistant to stretching and compression forces.

Other objectives, features, benefits and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from this summary and its descriptions of certain embodiments of such formulations and compositions, and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having knowledge of the synthetic techniques described therewith. Such objectives, features, benefits and advantages will be apparent from the above as taken into conjunction with the accompanying examples, data, and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring toFIG.1, a leg guard in accordance with the present invention is shown generally at100. The leg guard100includes a toe guard2, a shin guard4, a knee guard6, an extended knee guard8, a thigh guard10, and a knee-protecting pad portion26. The leg guard100also includes a plurality of loops42to which one or more straps (not shown) may be fastened in order to secure the leg guard100around the leg of an individual, with one or more straps extending between opposed sides of the shin guard4around the lower leg (shin and calf) of the individual below the knee, and one more straps extending between opposed sides of the thigh guard10around the upper leg (thigh) of the individual above the knee to hold the leg guard100on the leg of the individual. The leg guard100of the present disclosure is suitable for both adults and youths. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the design and dimensions of a youth version of the leg guard100according to the present invention is proportional to an adult version of the leg guard according to the present disclosure.

The toe guard2includes a cushion pad12formed of a suitable cushioning material, such as a foam material, a cloth material, an inflatable or air-filled material, a rubber material, or any combination thereof. The toe guard2also includes a cover plate14that covers the cushion pad12and is affixed thereto. The cover plate14can be formed of any suitable rigid and/or impact resistant material, such as a hard plastic. WhileFIG.1shows the cushion pad12extending beyond the periphery of the cover plate14to prevent the periphery of the cover plate14from directly contacting the leg of the individual, any other configuration and/or shape of the cushion pad12and cover plate14is also considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, while the exemplary illustrated embodiment shows stitching102connecting the cover plate14to the cushion pad12, the affixation of the cover or plate14to the cushion pad12may be accomplished in any manner that results in a semi-permanent or permanent attachment between the cover plate14and the cushion pad12. For example, the cover plate14may be affixed atop the cushion pad12by a securing mechanism formed of rivets, fasteners, stitching, adhesive(s), or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the toe guard2is shaped to cover and fit around the top portion of the user's foot. The toe guard2may be shaped and/or contoured to follow the contour typical of the top portion of the foot of a user. In another embodiment, toe guard2may be flexible or articulated such that the toe guard does not remain in a fixed position. In either of these embodiments or any other embodiment, the cushion pad12can be formed to be flexible with regard to the shape of the foot of the user, and the cover shell or plate14can be formed to be either rigid or slightly flexible with regard to the shape or contour of the foot of the user.

In order to accommodate the extreme angle of the ankle joint while the user is in a crouching or upright position, the toe guard2is connected to the shin guard4via an ankle extension28. In one embodiment, the ankle extension28is a separate component with one end connected to the shin guard4and the other end to toe guard2. More specifically, the ankle extension28may be disposed between the cover plate14and the cushion pad12of the toe guard2and between the cover plate18and cushion pad16of the shin guard4. In another exemplary embodiment, the extension28can be formed at least partially integrally with and can extend between the cushion pad12and the cushion pad16. The extension28can be formed of the same material as the cushion pad12and/or can include a semi-flexible cover or insert (not shown) to provide an additional amount of impact protection for the area of the ankle covered by the extension28.

The shin guard4inFIG.1includes a cushion pad16and a cover plate18that covers the cushion pad16and is affixed thereto. The affixation of the cover plate18to the cushion pad16may occur in any manner that results in a semi-permanent or permanent attachment between the cover plate18and the cushion pad16, which can be the same as, or similar to the manner of securing the cover plate14to the cushion pad12. For example, the cover plate18may be affixed atop the cushion pad16with rivets, fasteners, stitching, or a combination thereof. In addition, the affixation of the cover shell18to the cushion pad16may be discontinuous or continuous. The cushion pad16and cover plate18are both contoured to follow the contour typical of the shin portion of the leg of a user. This contouring provides for a more comfortable fit. The material forming the cushion plate16can be a foam, a cloth, or an air-pocket including and/or inflatable material, or any combination thereof. The material forming the cushion pad16can also be capable of absorbing and retaining moisture, such as sweat, to provide a cooling function to the cushion pad16.

In one embodiment, cushion pad16may include flexible winged side panels16a,16bfor additional comfort and/or protection for the side of the user's leg. The side panels16a,16bextend outwardly from each side of the cushion panel16and can be formed of a material similar to that of the cushion panel16, and/or the ankle extension28. The side panels16a,16bprovide an additional amount of impact protection outside of the perimeter of the cover plate18and can additionally limit the potential for any direct contact of the perimeter of the cover plate18with the user. The side panels16a,16bcan be formed integrally with the cushion pad16, or can be formed to be removably secured to the sides of the cushion plate16.

The cover plate18is formed of a rigid and impact resistant material, such as a material similar to that used in forming the cover plate14, including a hard plastic material, and may include a plurality of air vents20that extend through the cover plate18to allow for ventilation and expelling of sweat accumulated on and/or within the cushion pad16through the direct or indirect contact of the cushion pad16with the leg of the user. The positioning and quantity of air vents20are not limited. For instance, the cover plate18may include a plurality of air vents20along the median of the plate18, the lateral sides of the plate18, or any combinations thereof, e.g., a plurality of air vents20may be positioned along the left and right sides of the cover plate18as well as along the median.

The knee guard6includes a cushion pad22and a cover plate24that covers the cushion pad22and is affixed thereto. The cushion pad22is formed similarly to cushion pad12and or16, can additionally formed of a moisture absorbing material. In one embodiment, similar to the cushion pad16, the cushion pad22may include flexible side panels22a,22bfor additional protection for the sides of the user's knee. The cushion pad22is formed similarly to the cushion pads12,16to provide the desired cushioning and moisture wicking functions, and the side panels22a,22are formed similarly to the side panels16a,16b. Cover plate24is formed similarly to the cover plate14,18in order to provide the desired impact protection function.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper edge of the shin guard4and a lower edge of the knee guard6is spanned or connected by a knee-protecting pad extension26. The knee-protecting pad extension26provides a layer of padding that covers a lower portion of the cushion pad22of the knee guard6. In one exemplary embodiment, the pad extension26is formed similarly to the extension28, such as at least partially integrally with and extending between the cushion pad16and the cushion pad22. The extension26can be formed of the same material as the cushion pads16and22and/or can include a semi-flexible cover or insert (not shown) to provide an additional amount of impact protection for the area of the knee covered by the extension26.

According to the present invention, the cover plate24of knee guard6covers not only the kneecap portion of the leg, but also extends laterally to cover a significant portion of the lateral sides of the knee. That is, the cover plate24is shaped as a round, extended bowl so that the cover plate24and cushion pad22affixed thereto wraps around the knee and protects both the kneecap and the lateral sides of the knee. Indeed, cover plate24fully covers the front and sides of a user's knee through a full range of motion. In this aspect, the cover plate24includes an extended left side portion24aand an extended right side portion24bthat wrap around the knee of the user and cover the sides of a user's knee.

The extended knee guard8is located over a gap between the knee guard6and the thigh guard10and includes a cushion pad30and a cover plate32that covers the cushion pad30and is affixed thereto. The thigh guard10also includes a cushion pad34and a cover plate36that covers the cushion pad34and is affixed thereto. The cushion pads30,34are formed similarly to the cushion pads12,16,22to provide the cushion/comfort and moisture wicking functions, and the cover plates32,36are formed similarly to cover pates14,18,24to provide the impact protection functions. Further, similarly to cover plate18of the shin guard4, and cover plate24of the knee guard6, cover plates32,36may include a plurality of air vents20that extend through the cover shells/plates32,36to allow for ventilation and expelling of sweat. The positioning and quantity of the air vents20are not limited to any particular configuration.

FIG.1shows the one exemplary embodiment for the configuration of the coupling of the knee guard6, extended knee guard8, and thigh guard10. As shown inFIG.1, the extended knee guard8overlays an upper portion of the knee guard6and a lower portion of the thigh guard10such that the extended knee guard8partially overlaps both the knee guard6and the thigh guard10and completely covers the space or gap defined between the knee guard6and the thigh guard10. To hold the extended knee guard8in this position, the extended knee guard8may be attached to the knee guard6, the thigh guard10, or both the knee guard6and the thigh guard10. In one embodiment, to ensure that the extended knee guard8remains in place, the extended knee guard8is attached to both the knee guard6and the thigh guard10. The extended knee guard8may be attached to guards6and10using any suitable means known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as a number of straps (not shown) extending through aligned openings (not shown) disposed in one or both of each of the knee guard6and the thigh guard10, e.g., through the cover plate24and/or cushion pad22of the knee guard6and/or the cover plate36and/or cushion pad34of the thigh guard10. In this configuration the extended knee guard8is held over the space between the knee guard6and the thigh guard10, but in a manner that allows for some movement of the extend4d knee guard8to accommodate the movement of the user when wearing the leg guard100.

Looking now atFIGS.1and2, an exemplary embodiment of the configuration of the coupling104of the knee guard6, extended knee guard8, and thigh guard10according to the present disclosure is illustrated with the coupling104in a standing position. As can best be seen inFIG.2, with the extended knee guard8removed for clarity, the knee guard6is connected to the thigh guard10by the coupling104. In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling104includes a splint connector50that connects the cover plate24of knee guard6to the cover plate36of thigh guard10. The splint connector50can be secured to the knee guard6between the cover plate24and the cushion pad22, such as by employing the manner of connection between the cover plate24and the cushion pad22to additionally secure the connector50between the cover plate24and the cushion pad22(FIG.4). The connector50can also be secured to the thigh guard10in a similar manner between the cover plate36and the cushion pad34(FIG.4). In this aspect, the splint50operatively attaches the thigh guard10to the knee guard6. The splint connector50allows the knee guard6/extended knee guard8/thigh guard10configuration to bend or pivot such that each of the guards6,8, and10remains in place when the user assumes any one of a plurality of positions from squatting or crouching to/through an intermediate position to/through an upright position. The splint connector50also prevents the thigh guard10from sliding up and down the thigh when the user changes position.

As best shown inFIG.2, in an exemplary embodiment for the construction of the connector50, the splint connector50includes a body51having a first or upper portion52disposed in alignment with and connected to the thigh guard10, e.g., between the cushion pad34and the cover plate36, and a second or lower portion54disposed in alignment with and connected to the knee guard6, e.g., between the cushion pad22and the cover plate24. A central connecting portion56is positioned and extends between the upper portion52and the lower portion54to hold the upper portion52and lower portion54in position with regard to one another via narrowed strips58,60extending from each side of the central portion56to the adjacent upper portion52or lower portion54. While the upper portion52, lower portion54, central portion56, and strips58,60can be formed separately from one another, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment the portions52-60are each integrally with one another to form a single, monolithic splint connector50.

The splint connector50is formed to be able to maintain its shape when placed under compression or tension forces, such that the splint connector50will not appreciably stretch or contract/compress when these forces are exerted on the splint connector50, but that allows the splint connector50to hold tension like a rope, to hold compression like a support beam, to bend in one plane like a single hinge through the full range of the knee joint, and to twist slightly and to create and maintain a consistent separation distance between the knee plate and the thigh plate while the leg guard including the splint is being worn such that the splint50can bend and/or flex and/or twist, thereby accommodating the natural movements of the leg of the user wearing the leg guard100without restricting movement, including twisting or lateral movement of the thigh relative to the lower leg and/or knee, unlike the restrictive hinges utilized in prior art leg guards such that those in the '241 and '939 patents. This attribute of the splint connector50can be provided directly by the material selected to form the splint connector50, and/or by a separate component of the construction for the splint connector50that is added to the connector50. Suitable materials that the splint connector50can be formed of include various polymers including one or more thermoplastic polymers, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), a flexible ABS, a high density polyethylene (HDPE) or a low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and combinations thereof, among others. This material enables the upper portion52and the lower portion54to be affixed to the adjacent thigh guard10and knee guard6, respectively, using any suitable means through the flexibility of the material, while maintaining the structural integrity or compressibility of the material. The inclusion of the strips58,60between each of the upper portion52and lower portion54and the central portion56lessens the rigidity of the connector50at the locations of the strips58,60, providing enhanced flexibility and twisting of the connector50at those points. As the locations of the strips58,60are generally aligned with the upper end of the knee guard8and the lower end of the thigh guard10, the strips58,60allow for flexing and limited twisting of the knee guard6relative to the thigh guard10

In another exemplary embodiment the splint connector50can include one or more spines62, as shown inFIG.2. The spine62is disposed on or within the material forming the splint connector50and operates to provide an increased resistance to stretching and contraction of the splint connector50. The spine62can be formed of any suitable material, such as materials similar to those used to form the splint connector50, and can be secured to the body51in any suitable manner, such as be adhering, stitching, or rivets, among others, and in any suitable location, such as along a centerline of the body51extending between the upper portion52and the lower portion54on either of a front or rear surface of the body51, or in one or more locations within the body51.

In any embodiment, the placement of the splint connector50extending between the knee guard6and the thigh guard10, and beneath the extended knee guard8, enables the splint connector50to flex and/or twist, to allow the knee guard6and thigh guard10to move with regard to one another when the wearer move between a standing position and a crouching position. However, the material forming the connector50also prevents compression of the connector50, preventing the length of the splint connector50between the knee guard6and the thigh guard10to be altered as a result of the forces exerted on the splint connector50. This function of the splint connector50maintains a consistent separation between the knee guard6and the thigh guard10throughout the movement of the leg guard100while enabling the wearer to freely move the knee joint through its full range of motion as well as to accommodate for limited twisting motion of the upper and/or lower portions of the leg relative to the knee joint. This is more clearly illustrated inFIG.3illustrating the position of the connector50in a 90 degree angle flexed position.

In alternative embodiments, the splint connector50can be positioned between other adjacent individual or multiple pairs of guards2,4,6,8,10forming the leg guard100, and can be employed as the sole connector between one or more adjacent pairs of guards2,4,6,8,10forming the leg guard100, or can extend the length of the leg guard100as a single connection between each adjacent pair of guards2,4,6,8,10. Further, the splint connector50can be formed with a sufficient thickness and/or a cushion or padding layer (not shown) thereon to enable the splint connector50to function as or replace one or more cushion pads12,16,22,26,30,34of the leg guard100.

The disclosures of all articles and references, including patents, are incorporated herein by reference. The invention and the manner and process of making and using it are now described in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, to make and use the same. All references cited in this specification are incorporated herein by reference. It is to be understood that the foregoing describes preferred embodiments of the present invention and that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.