HIP PROTECTOR

Abstract: A hip protector (4) comprising a dome-shaped element having a concave side adapted to be attached to the hip region of a human body (1). The hip protector is formed in the shape of a curved shell made of foamed rigid plastic material. The protector can be attached to the inner side of an underwear (2), such as an inner pocket (3), for correct positioning.

Description: HIP PROTECTOR Field of the invention This invention relates to improvements in the dome-shaped rigid hip protector with an inwardly curved surface adapted to fit the hip of the human body. Brief descripton of the prior art The known hip protector comprises a dome-shaped rigid plate member which is made of, for example, a plastic material and is generally oblong in plane view and a lining having cushioning properties as made of a foam rubber or the like material. Research and trials using the known hip protector revealed that the protector prevents or drastically reduces the in¬ cidence of bone fracture or other injury associated with falling, especially fracture of the hip bones and neck of the femur in elderly or physically debilitated persons. This is because the external forces applied to the local bone are spread over a large area. Of course, the hip pro¬ tector can also be worn by sportsmen, typically handball or ice hockey players, to protect themselves against abrasion wounds and bone fractures. The said research and trials were performed with the hip protector attached to the user's clothes, especially the inner side of his pants or underwear. The results revealed that in order that the hip protector may function properly, it is of paramount importance to position the hip protector in exact anatomical position with fairly high precision. The known hip protector includes a dome-shaped rigid plate member and a cushioning member or lining on the concave side of said plate member. The cushioning member comprises parts which are glued together. This structure involves a fairly high cost of manufacture, as it consists of parts being assembled during the course of manufacture. Moreover, as found by use trials, the said structure does not withstand laundering at a temperature over 30°C which is the usual treatment of cottons, for example cotton under¬ wear, among other things because the cushioning member tends to come apart at the glueings. The hip protector of this invention as claimed in claim 1 provides for a series of substantial economic and practical advantages. Thus, the hip protector can be manufactured on a mass production scale by the modern production techno- logy. Moreover, this hip protector is extremely lightweight which is a great advantage to the user. Furthermore, the protector can withstand ordinary cleaning and can for example be safely laundered at a temperature over 30°C as attached to the user's specially made underwear which is used to position the protector correctly on the body. The hip protector of this invention as claimed in claim 2 has closed-cell surfaces which can be easily cleaned and do not easily pick up dirt. The hip protector of this invention as claimed in claims 3 to 8 is a solid shell fitting a large number of persons. For special uses it will naturally be convenient to provide the hip protector in different sizes, but preferably in accordance with claims 3 to 8 in respect of proportions and shape. The hip protector as claimed in claim 9 has a grained sur¬ face which is comfortable to the user and aids in keeping it in the correct position. The preferred hip protector as claimed in claim 10 is pro¬ vided as attached to a clothing, for example a knitted un¬ derwear, which is very convenient in use. The drawing This invention is now described in detail with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. In the draw¬ ings, Fig. 1 shows, in sketch, a hip protector attached to a human body; Fig. 2 shows a hip protector as viewed from the convex side; Fig. 3 is a plane section along the line III-III of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the exterior side of the hip protector; Fig. 6 is a cross-section view corresponding to Fig. 3 of a preferred embodiment; Fig. 7 is a cross-section view corresponding to Fig. 4 of the same preferred embodiment. Description of the drawings Figs. 2 through 7 are substantially life-sized views of the hip protector 4 of this invention. Fig. 1 is a partial view of a human body 1 wearing an underwear 2 provided with a pocket 3 at either side in the region corresponding to the neck of the femur. Accommodated in each pocket is the hip protector of this invention as will be described in detail with reference to Figs. 2 through 7. The hip protector 4 comprises a closed-cell solid ther¬ moplastic shell 5 which is configured as shown in Figs. 2 through 5. This thermoplastic shell 5 may for example be made of polypropylene. As illustrated, it has a rounded rim 9 and is substantially uniform in thickness. Thus, this dome-shaped shell 5 is elliptical or oval in plane view and terminating in a slightly obtuse end 11 and a fairly round end 10 (Fig. 2). The hip protector is fitted to the body with said slightly obtuse end 11 facing downward as viewed in Fig. 1. This shell 5 has a convex surface 7 and a concave surface 8 which faces inward when the protector is fitted to the body. The depth 12 of the dome is of the order of 2.5 to 4.5 cm and preferably about 3.0 cm. Furthermore, this hip protector has a major diameter of 13 to 18 cm, preferably about 16 cm and a minor diameter of 9 to 14 cm, preferably about 11.5 cm. The thickness of the shell 5 is of the order of 0.5-1.5 cm and preferably about 0.9 cm. The shell 5 can be produced by the known molding technique using a rigid thermoplastic foam material, such as poly¬ propylene foam, which withstands laundering by boiling. By such technique, it is relatively easy to obtain a shell of closed-cell structure with a grained surface which is com¬ fortable to the user and easy to clean. For improved user comfort, the hip protector can be pro¬ vided with a plurality of perforations or apertures 6 in off-center positions distributed at appropriate distances from the rim without reducing the strength of the shell as typically illustrated in Fig. 2. In the course of manufacture of the shell 5, a literal or decorative motif 14 can be formed, as indicated at 14, on the surface of the shell. The motif not only serves the purpose of ornamentation or identification but also func¬ tions as a guide to the user in wearing the hip protector. Figs. 6 and 7 show sectional views of an embodiment with markedly improved strength. This dome-shaped hip protector includes a reinforcing core 13. A plurality of core members may be employed, of course. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcing core 13 is a member generally conforming to the curvature of the shell and made of a rigid or semi- rigid thermoplastic material, such as polypropylene. The core terminates about 8-15 mm from the rim of the shell 5. The marginal area 9 of the shell, external of said core 13, is relatively flexible, the result being that the hip pro¬ tector is as comfortable to wear as the protector shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The reinforcing core 13 is completely con¬ cealed. This protector is otherwise similar to the pro¬ tector shown in Figs. 2 to 5, for example in size, config¬ uration and surface structure.

Claims: P A T E N T C L A I M S What is claimed is: 1. Hip protector (4) comprising a dome-shaped element hav¬ ing an inwardly concave side adapted to fit the hip of a human body, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said hip protector is formed as a domed tough and solid shell (5), the entire surface of which is made of a foamed rigid ther- moplastic material. 2. The hip protector according to claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that said shell (5) is made of a closed- cell thermoplastic material such as polypropylene foam. 3. The hip protector according to claim 1 or 2, c h a r ¬ a c t e r i z e d in that it is substantially uniform in thickness and has an annular, rounded rim (9). 4. The hip protector according to any of claims 1 through 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said shell (5) has an internal reinforcing member or core (13) . 5. The hip protector according to claim 4, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d in that said core (13) is a curved member made of a rigid thermoplastic material such as polypropy¬ lene and completely concealed in said shell (5). 6. The hip protector according to any of claims 1 through 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said shell (5) is a substantially elliptical or oval element with its major diameter terminating in a generally round end (10) and a slightly obtuse end (11). 7. The hip protector according to claim 6, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that it has a major diameter of 13 to 18 cm, preferably about 16 cm, a minor diameter of 9 to 14 cm, preferably 11.5 cm, and a thickness of 0.5 to 1.5 cm, pre¬ ferably about 0.9 cm. 8. The hip protector according any of claims 1 through 7, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said protector is formed to fit the neck of the femur with its slightly obtuse end (11) facing downward as attached and is curved to provide a depth (12) of 2.5-4.5 cm, preferably about 3.0 cm. 9. The hip protector according to any of claims 1 through 8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that said protector has a grained surface and is provided with a plurality of aper¬ tures (6) extending from said concave side to said convex side and at a distance from the rim of the shell. 10. The hip protector according to any of claims 1 through 9 as attached to the inner side of a clothing (2) equipped with pockets (3), preferably inner pockets, for correct positioning of the hip protector.

Inventors: ANDRESEN SUSANNE HAMANN, ANDRESEN, SUSANNE, HAMANN
Applicants: ANDRESEN SUSANNE HAMANN, SAHVA AS, ANDRESEN, SUSANNE, HAMANN, SAHVA A/S
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A61F5
IPC codes: A41D13, A61F5, A63B71