A PROTECTOR PAD

Abstract: A protector pad (10) for a sportsman includes and outer protector (11) adapted to at least partially assume the shape of the area to be protected and an inner shock absorbing pad (12) in the form of an air cushioned pad. The outer protector (11) is formed from moulded plastics material and has longitudinal ribs (13) which permit the protector to achieve a curvature fit around the area to be protected.

Description: A PROTECTOR PAD FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to protector pads and more particularly to protector pads that are used by sportsmen. BACKGROUND ART For the sake of convenience, the invention will be described in relation to a leg protector for footballers but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto as the protector pad may be used in other sports such as baseball and cricket and for protecting other parts of the body. Hitherto, leg protector pads have been heavy, uncomfortable due to the rigid construction and have not readily absorbed shock. It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a protector pad which is flexible and which incorporates a shock absorbing medium. SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a protector pad comprising an outer protector adapted to at least partially assume the shape of the area to be protected and an inner shock absorbing pad. Preferably the outer protector is longitudinally profiled so that it may be curved laterally around the area to be protected. In one form of the invention, the outer is formed from moulded plastics material and has longitudinal ribs which permit the protector to achieve a full curvature fit around the area to be protected. The inner shock absorbing pad may be in the form of an air cushioned pad. The air cushioned pad may consist of an inner and outer web separated by a plurality of substantially half-spherical air pockets. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a rear view of a protector pad according to one embodiment of the invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the outer of the protector pad shown in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the inner shock absorbing pad of the protector pad shown in Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the protector pad shown in Fig. 1 in its curved configuration, Fig. 5 is a cross-section view of the protector pad of Fig. 1 in its underformed configuration showing preferred dimensions, Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a protective pad according to a second embodiment of the invention positioned within the sock of a wearer, Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the protector pad shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the outer of the protector pad shown in Fig. 6, and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the protector pad shown in Fig. 6. MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The protector pad 1 0 shown in Fig. 1 includes an outer protector 1 1 and an inner shock absorbing pad 1 2. As can be seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, the outer protector 1 1 has a plurality of elongated ribs 1 3 projecting outwardly from a base 1 4. The outer protector 1 1 may be extruded from any suitable plastics material and as is indicated in Fig. 5 may be 3/1 6 inch thick. The longitudinal ribs 1 3 extend from adjacent the top 1 5 of the outer 1 1 and terminate at the boundary 1 6 as shown in Fig. 1 . The inner shock absorbing pad 1 2 consists of a plurality of substantially semi-spherical air bubbles 1 7 formed between two sheets 1 8 and 1 9. The bubbles 1 7 may have a radius of 1 /2 inch and height of 5/1 6 inch and a centre to centre spacing of 1 1 /4 inch as shown in Fig. 5. The protector pad 20 shown in Fig. 6 is somewhat similar to that shown in Fig. 1 except that the outer 21 has opposed longitudinal ribs 22, 23 extending outwardly from opposite faces of the base 24. The inner 25 is similar to that of Fig. 1 in that it consists of substantially semi-spherical air bubbles 26. The protector pad 20 is shown in Fig. 6 positioned within a sock 27 and, as can be seen in Fig. 7, the protector pad 20 assumes the curved shape of the footballer's leg. Dimensions of one form of the outer 21 are shown in Fig. 8 where the thickness of the outer is 6mm, the width of each rib 2.5mm and the spacing between each rib 1 .5mm. The invention provides an improved protector pad which may be used in various contact sports such as soccer, rugby, baseball and cricket. The longitudinally profiled outer allows a full curvature fit around the area of the body to be protected and may be constructed from high strength plastics material. The inner shock absorbing pad may be made from two webs of suitable plastics material with the inner web vacuum-formed to create the substantially half spherical pockets with the outer web being sealed to the inner web to create a number of air filled pockets. Due to the unique design and combination of selected rigid as well as flexible materials, the protector pad of the invention will not only fit the individual player better and protect the player better than prior art protectors, it will provide improved comfort level and will enable the player to feel less inhibited towards an unforseen direct strike or kick. The participant may therefore move faster and speed up the game. Various modifications may be made in details of design and construction without department from the scope and ambit of the invention.

Claims: CLAIMS 1 . A protector pad for a sportsman comprising an outer protector adapted to at least partially assume the shape of the area to be protected and an inner shock absorbing pad. 2. A protector pad according to claim 1 wherein the outer protector is longitudinally profiled so that it may be curved laterally around the area to be protected. 3. A protector pad according to claim 2 wherein the outer protector is formed for moulded plastics material and has longitudinal ribs which permit the protector to achieve a curvature fit around the area to be protected. 4. A protector pad according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the shock absorbing pad is in the form of an air cushioned pad. 5. A protector pad according to claim 4 wherein the air cushion pad consists of an inner and outer web separated by a plurality of substantially half-spherical air pockets.

Inventors: BYRNE PATRICK JOSEPH, THOMSEN PETER NEILS, BYRNE, PATRICK, JOSEPH, THOMSEN, PETER, NEILS
Applicants: BYRNE PATRICK JOSEPH, THOMSEN PETER NEILS, BYRNE, PATRICK, JOSEPH, THOMSEN, PETER, NEILS
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A63B71
IPC codes: A63B71