Abstract:
The present application describes a padding composite that includes at least one substrate connected to cushioning element having middle and distal part, slidably affixed to the substrate.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/975,249, filed Dec. 21, 2010 (pending), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/288,754, filed Dec. 21, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to stretchable protective padding material. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In one aspect, the invention is drawn to a padding composite comprising at least one substrate connected to cushioning element having a middle and distal part, slidably affixed to the substrate. In one aspect, the substrate may be made of flexible material. The at least one part of the cushioning element may be affixed to the substrate. The part of the cushioning element affixed to the substrate may be the distal part. The cushioning element may be made of foam, or soft plastic. The substrate may be made of flexible, stretchable, or elastic material, such as fabric, mesh, rubber, silicone, soft plastic, synthetic fabric such as spandex or LYCRA®, or composite material that is suitably elastic. The cushioning element may be mounted, glued, sewn, or fused to the substrate. A plurality of cushioning elements may be positioned adjacent to each other and contact each other when the padding composite is not stretched. The cushioning element may have a trapezoid cross-section. The cushioning elements may interlock with each other when the padding composite is not stretched. The cushioning element may be connected to two substrates, at least one on each side of the cushioning element. The cushioning element may be made of at least two different types of materials. The cushioning element may have attached to it another cushioning element of a different material. 
         [0004]    In another aspect, the invention is directed to a folding protective plate comprising at least one substrate connected to plate element having a middle and distal part, slidably affixed to the substrate. The substrate may be made of flexible material. At least one part of the plate element may be affixed to the substrate. The part of the plate element affixed to the substrate may be the distal part, which is the adhesion edge. The plate element may be made of hard or resilient material resistant to impact, puncture, or abrasion, such as plastic, ceramic, metal, hard leather, or resilient rubber. The substrate may be made of flexible, stretchable, or elastic material, such as fabric, mesh, rubber, silicone, soft plastic, synthetic fabric such as spandex or LYCRA®, or composite material that is suitably elastic. The plate element may be mounted, glued, sewn, or fused to the substrate. The plate elements may be positioned adjacent to each other and contact each other when the substrate is not stretched. The plate element may be placed over padding material. The padding material may be a padding composite comprising at least one substrate connected to cushioning element having a middle and distal part, slidably affixed to the substrate. The padding material may be comprised of foam element. The adhesion edge may comprise one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, or eight sides of a the plate element along its perimeter. The plate element may be concave shaped. A plurality of plate elements may be joined at a pivot. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below, and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein; 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  shows a sectional perspective view of the protective pads. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4A  shows a sectional perspective view of the protective pads. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4B  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4C  shows a sectional perspective view of the protective pads. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4D  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  shows a sectional side view of the protective pads. 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0027]      FIG. 19  shows an exploded side view of the protective pads. 
           [0028]      FIG. 20  shows a side view of the protective pads. 
           [0029]      FIG. 21  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0030]      FIG. 22  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0031]      FIG. 23  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0032]      FIG. 24  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0033]      FIG. 25  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0034]      FIG. 26  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0035]      FIG. 27  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0036]      FIG. 28  shows a side view of the protective pads. 
           [0037]      FIG. 29  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0038]      FIG. 30  shows a plan view of the protective pads. 
           [0039]      FIG. 31  shows an exploded perspective view of the protective pads. 
           [0040]      FIG. 32  shows shapes of cushioning elements. 
           [0041]      FIG. 33  shows a shape of a cushioning element. 
           [0042]      FIG. 34  shows a shape of a cushioning element. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0043]    In the present application, “a” and “an” are used to refer to both single and a plurality of objects. 
         [0044]    The invention includes a protective padding material that is lightweight, stretchable, and can be shaped so that the padding material follows the contour of the human body, for greater comfort and flexibility. Optionally, the protective padding material may be used to cover or protect animals or objects that move, stretch, or flex. 
         [0045]    The protective padding material includes an arrangement of cushioning elements with shock absorbing or impact resistant properties that are positioned relative to each other, and then mounted on at least one sheet of flexible or stretchable substrate defined by a width and depth, in a manner that permits the cushioning elements to move in relation to each other, and to stretch with the substrate on which the elements are mounted. 
         [0046]      FIGS. 1 and 2  depict one embodiment of the invention. The cushioning element  1  may be made of any material with suitable shock absorbing properties, such as foam, soft plastic, or other similar material. Alternatively, the cushioning elements may also be made of hard materials resistant to impact or shock, such as impact resistant plastic, hard leather, or other natural or synthetic materials with protective qualities, or a combination thereof. 
         [0047]    The cushioning elements may be shaped like flat sheets, or like strips as depicted in  FIG. 3 , or made in any other suitable shape, such as squares as depicted in  FIG. 4 , hexagons, and the like. 
         [0048]    The cushioning elements may also have a convex or semi-spherical shape as depicted in  FIG. 34 , a pyramidal shape as depicted in  FIG. 33 , or other complex three dimensional shape.  FIG. 32  shows the cross section  56  of a cushioning element that has a convex or semi-spherical shape.  FIG. 32  also shows the cross section  55  of a cushioning element that has a pyramidal shape. 
         [0049]    In another embodiment, the protective padding material may be made by stacking more than one cushioning element substantially diagonally, so that each cushioning element partially overlaps with at least one other cushioning element as in the manner depicted in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0050]    The cushioning elements may be laid out on a substrate in a one dimensional array as depicted in  FIG. 3  in which a cushioning element is placed along a designated width of the substrate across a defined depth of the substrate; or in a two dimensional array as depicted in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , in which several cushioning elements are placed along a designated width of the substrate across a defined depth of the substrate. 
         [0051]    Optionally, the cushioning elements may also be laid out on a substrate in a two dimensional array as depicted in  FIGS. 4C and 4D  in which several cushioning elements are placed along a designated width of the substrate across a defined depth of the substrate, and the individual cushioning elements are positioned in an overlapping pattern, so that the gap or spacing between the cushioning elements in one row in the array is followed by a resilient element in the following row in the array. 
         [0052]    The placement of the cushioning element in an overlapping pattern may have a functional advantage. If the cushioning elements are placed in alignment, so that the spacing or gap between the cushioning elements are aligned, then laterally stretching the underlying substrate will tend to create a gap between the cushioning elements. Placing the cushioning elements in an overlapping pattern prevents the gap from being created even if the substrate below is laterally stretched. 
         [0053]    The cushioning elements  1  may be mounted, glued, sewn, or fused to at least one substrate  3  made of flexible, stretchable, or elastic material, such as fabric, mesh, rubber, silicone, soft plastic, synthetic fabric such as spandex or LYCRA®, or composite material that is suitably elastic. 
         [0054]    In another embodiment, the cushioning elements  1  are mounted or glued to a second substrate  2 , also made of flexible, stretchable, or elastic material. 
         [0055]    A variety of adhesives are contemplated to bond the cushioning elements to the substrates  2  and  3 . 
         [0056]    Substrate  3  is glued to only the substrate contacting portion of the surface of each cushioning element  5 . Glue or adhesive is not applied to the substrate contact free portion of the surface of each cushioning element  6  that is adjacent to other cushioning elements, so that each cushioning element is allowed to move or slide in relation to the other cushioning elements adjacent to it. 
         [0057]    Similarly, substrate  2  is glued to only a substrate contacting portion of the surface of each cushioning element  4 . 
         [0058]    Areas of substrates  2  and  3  that do not touch the surface of the cushioning elements as depicted in  FIG. 1  are not glued to the cushioning elements. By way of example, as depicted in  FIG. 1 , area  7  of substrate  2  is not glued to the cushioning elements. 
         [0059]    Substrates  2  and  3  can be pulled or stretched by equal or different force. 
         [0060]      FIG. 1  depicts the entire assembly in resting state.  FIG. 2  depicts force being applied to the assembly. The arrows in  FIG. 2  show force being applied to the assembly, and “stretching” the portions of substrates  2  and  3  that are not bound or glued to the individual cushioning elements. 
         [0061]    When substrates  2  or  3 , or both of them, are pulled or stretched, each cushioning element  1  moves with the substrate because they are partially affixed to the substrate in certain areas  4  and  5 . Because no glue or adhesive was applied to areas  6  of each cushioning element adjacent to the other cushioning elements, each cushioning element can move, or “slide”, in relation to the other cushioning elements. 
         [0062]    As seen in  FIG. 2 , when substrates  2  and  3  are pulled or stretched, the portions of substrates  2  and  3  that are not bound or glued to the individual cushioning elements such as shown in the substrate contact free portion  7 , stretch to the extent that substrates  2  and  3  are made of elastic, stretchable, or otherwise deformable materials. 
         [0063]    The extent to which the cushioning element can move in relation to each other is affected by the characteristics of substrate  2  and substrate  3 , the substrate contacting portion surface areas  4  and  5  bound to the substrates, and the areas of the substrate such as the substrate contact free portion  7  not bound to the cushioning elements. 
         [0064]    Substrates  2  and  3  can be selected, so that when the entire assembly is stretched, the individual cushioning elements  1  do not move or slide so far as to create a gap between the cushioning elements. 
         [0065]    By way of example only, substrate  3  made of LYCRA® or other stretchable fabric may be cut and sewn or welded in the shape of a tube, inside substrate  2  also made of LYCRA® and cut and sewn or welded in a tubular shape of slightly larger diameter, with the cushioning elements sandwiched between substrates  2  and  3  and arranged in the manner depicted in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Without limitation, the entire assembly may be used as elbow or knee pads. 
         [0066]    Additionally, the assembly may be given a flat shape, and sewn onto compression shirts or shorts for protection, as protective padding for athletic or industrial use. 
         [0067]      FIG. 5  depicts an alternative embodiment, in which the cushioning elements  8  have a trapezoidal cross-section, so that the elements can sit packed close to each other when no force or pull is applied to the assembly, or to substrates  2  or  3 , or to both of them. 
         [0068]    Substrates  2  and  3  are glued only to the substrate contacting portions  4  and  5 , respectively, of the top and bottom surfaces of each cushioning element. Again, glue or adhesive is not applied to the surface of each cushioning element that is adjacent to other cushioning elements  6 , so that each cushioning element can move away from the other cushioning elements adjacent to it. 
         [0069]    As depicted in  FIG. 6 , as force is applied and the entire assembly, or substrate  2  or  3 , or both, are pulled as shown by the arrows, the portion of substrates  2  and  3 , such as the substrate contact free portion  7  that are not glued to the cushioning elements  8  will stretch. 
         [0070]    Again, substrates  2  and  3  can be selected of suitable materials, so that when the entire assembly is stretched, the individual cushioning elements  8  do not move or slide so far as to create a gap between the cushion elements. 
         [0071]      FIGS. 7 and 8  depict another alternative embodiment, in which the cushioning elements  9  have a flattened “s” cross-section, so that the elements can be stacked close to each other when no force or pull is applied to the assembly, or to substrates  2  or  3 , or to both of them. 
         [0072]      FIGS. 9 and 10  depict yet another alternative embodiment, in which the cushioning elements  10  have a cross-section that allow the cushioning elements to be stacked close to each other and “interlock” when no force or pull is applied to the assembly, or to substrates  2  or  3 , or to both of them. 
         [0073]      FIGS. 11 and 12  depict an alternative embodiment of the protective padding material shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , where substrate  2  may be optionally present but is omitted in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , and the cushioning elements  11  are made of two different materials  12  and  13  glued to each other. Optionally, material  12  can be made of a harder or more brittle laminate, such as plastic, metal, ceramic, or other material resistant to puncture, abrasion, or impact against sharp objects; and material  13  can be made of a softer or more elastic materials, such as foam, rubber, or other compounds with shock absorbing qualities. 
         [0074]      FIGS. 13 and 14  depict an alternative embodiment of the protective padding material shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , where the cushioning elements  15  are made of two different materials  14  and  13  glued to each other. Optionally, material  14  can be made of a harder or more brittle compound, such as plastic, ceramic, metal, or other material resistant to puncture or deformation, and covers only a portion of the surface of material  13 . 
         [0075]    In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a folding protective plate. 
         [0076]    In one embodiment, the invention includes a protective plate comprised of multiple plate or shell elements that fold or slide against each other to change the shape or conformation of the entire assembly. When attached or affixed to an outer layer of garments, the change in shape or conformation makes the protective plate partially flexible, and permits the wearer to articulate his or her limbs and flex the body parts covered by the protective plates more comfortably. 
         [0077]    In a preferred embodiment, the protective plate is placed on top of a protective padding material with shock absorbing qualities. The protective padding material is intended to be placed between at least one of the protective plate and the body, or between the protective plate and the outer layer of garment or fabric that envelops the body, such as a knee or elbow guard. 
         [0078]    Optionally, the protective padding material may be of the type depicted in  FIGS. 1-14 . 
         [0079]    Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 31 , the protective padding material may be made of multiple foam elements  25  sandwiched between two substrates  50  and  51  made of flexible, stretchable, or elastic material, such as fabric, mesh, rubber, silicone, soft plastic, synthetic fabric such as LYCRA®, or composite material that is suitably elastic. The foam elements  25  are preferably made of shock absorbing foam; however, the term “foam elements” is not intended to serve as a limitation on the type of materials that can be used to make foam elements  25 . Thus the foam elements can optionally be made of any other shock absorbing material, such as rubber, elastomer, plastic, and so forth, including any combination of such materials. In this embodiment, one surface  52  of each foam element is bound or glued to a substrate  50 , and the other surface is bound or glued to another substrate  51 . 
         [0080]    Although in  FIG. 31  the foam elements  25  are depicted as having a circular cross-section, the foam elements may have a variety of shapes, including, without limitations, square, oval, or ovoidal cross-sections. 
         [0081]      FIGS. 15 and 17  depict one embodiment of the protective plate. Plate elements  21  and  22  may be made of hard or resilient materials resistant to impact, puncture, or abrasion, such as plastic, ceramic, metal, hard leather, or resilient rubber. Although in  FIG. 15  plate elements  21  and  22  are shown as rectangular in shape, they may be made of a variety of shapes. 
         [0082]    Plate element  21  may be positioned above flexible substrate  20  made of a material such as fabric, mesh, rubber, silicone, soft plastic, synthetic fabric such as LYCRA®, or elastic composite material. Optionally, flexible substrate  20  may be the same substrate as the substrate  51  shown in  FIG. 31 . Also optionally, flexible substrate  20  may be the outer layer of a garment, clothing, protective wear, or flexible protective gear. 
         [0083]    Plate element  22  may also be positioned above substrate  20 , but between plate element  21  and the substrate  20 . 
         [0084]    Plate element  22  may be glued or affixed to substrate  20  along an adhesion edge  24  of plate element  22 . Preferably, adhesion edge  24  encompasses one edge of one side of the plate element  22 . However, the adhesion edge  24  may encompass up to three edges of three sides of plate element  22 , if plate element  22  is rectangular, square or otherwise has four sides in shape. Alternatively, adhesion edge  24  may not run along the entire perimeter of plate element  22 . 
         [0085]    Plate element  21  may be glued or affixed to substrate  20  along adhesion edge  23  of plate element  21 . Preferably, adhesion edge  23  encompasses one edge of one side of plate element  21 . However, the adhesion edge  23  may encompass up to three edges of three sides of plate element  21 , if plate element is rectangular, square or otherwise has four sides in shape. The adhesion edge  23  does not run along the entire perimeter of plate element  21 . Regardless of the shape of the plates  21  and  22 , a portion of the plate along an edge of the plate is bound or affixed to the substrate so as to allow another plate to either slide over or under it. 
         [0086]    While the drawings in  FIGS. 15-30  exemplify substantially four-sided plate elements  21  and  22  which are glued to the flexible substrate  20  along three of its side edges and the fourth side edge is not glued to the substrate, and the bottom plate element  22  slides in and out through an opening created on the fourth side of plate element  21 , according to the present invention, the plate elements  21  and  22  may be made of any shape, including but not limited to two sides, three sides, four, five, six, seven, eight sides and so forth, and including even round/circular/oblong shape plate with only one “contiguous edge”. In the instance of the shape of the upper plate element  21  having one contiguous edge, its adhesion edge may not encompass the entire perimeter of the plate element because an opening is created bordered by the flexible substrate  20  and a side of the plate element  21  to allow the bottom plate element  22  to slide in or out. In the instance of the shape of the bottom plate element  22  having one contiguous edge, its adhesion edge may not encompass the entire perimeter of the plate element  22  because an opening is created bordered by the flexible substrate  20  and a side of the plate element  22  to allow the padding substrate  28  to be positioned underneath the plate element  22 , or for the padding substrate to slide in or out through the opening created between the flexible substrate  20  and the bottom plate element  22 . The plate elements  21  and  22  may also include a combination of round edges and linear edges. The plate elements  21  and  22  may be shaped in a variety of ways so long as the plate elements  21  and  22  are fixed on the flexible substrate  20  with an opening that allows its partner plate element or padding substrate  28  to be positioned or slide inside through the opening. With regards to the bottom plate element  22 , if no plate element or any padding substrate is to be positioned underneath the bottom plate element  22 , then optionally, the entire perimeter of its edge may be glued to the substrate  20 . 
         [0087]    Plate element  22  may be located, or “sandwiched,” between plate element  21  and substrate  20 . Optionally, plate element  21  may be concave in shape, curved, or shaped so as to sit above plate element  22  while maintaining adhesion to substrate  20 . 
         [0088]    Optionally, protective padding material may be placed between plate element  22  and substrate  20 , either before or after plate elements  21  or  22  are affixed to substrate  20 . 
         [0089]    The protective padding material may be of the type depicted in  FIGS. 1-14 . Alternatively, the protective padding material may include the padding assembly shown in  FIG. 31 . 
         [0090]      FIG. 17  depicts the protective plate assembly with the padding material incorporating foam elements  25 , placed between the plate element  22  and the flexible substrate  20 , in resting state. Although in  FIG. 17  the foam elements  25  are depicted as having an oval or ovoidal cross-section, the foam elements may have a variety of shapes. 
         [0091]      FIGS. 16 and 18  depict flexible substrate  20  being stretched along its plane. When force is applied to flexible substrate  20  so as to stretch or deform it, the surface of the flexible substrate moves in relation to plate elements  21  and  22 , with the exception of adhesion edge  23  of plate element  21 , and adhesion edge  24  of plate element  22 , which remain affixed to the flexible substrate. However, because plate elements  21  and  22  are not glued or bonded to each other, they move, or slide, in relation to each other.  FIG. 16  shows plate element  22  “sliding out” in relation to plate element  21 . 
         [0092]      FIG. 18  depicts the protective plate assembly with the padding material incorporating foam elements  25 , placed between the plate element  22  and the flexible substrate  20 , being stretched. 
         [0093]    To the extent that flexible substrate  20  is optionally the same as substrate  51  shown in  FIG. 31 , and the foam elements are also affixed to flexible substrate  20 , the foam elements also move (or “stretch”) in relation to each other when flexible substrate  20  is stretched or deformed. 
         [0094]      FIGS. 19 and 20  depict a cross-sectional view of the protective plate assembly shown in  FIGS. 15-18 . As explained hereinabove, plate element  21  is bonded or affixed to area  27  of flexible substrate  20  along the adhesion edge  23 . Plate element  22  is bonded or affixed to area  26  of flexible substrate  20  along the adhesion edge  24 . Optionally, surfaces  33  of foam elements  25  are bonded to padding substrate  28 , which may optionally be the same as substrate  50  depicted in  FIG. 31 , and surfaces  34  of the foam elements are bonded to flexible substrate  20 , which may optionally be the same as substrate  51  depicted in  FIG. 31 . A the padding substrate  28  is bonded or affixed to the flexible substrate  20  along its edges  29  and  30 , making contact with areas  31  and  32 , respectively, of flexible substrate  20 . 
         [0095]      FIGS. 21 and 22  depict an alternative embodiment of the protective plate assembly and the plate elements, in which the plate elements are concave (or “shell-like”) in shape. The plate elements  38 ,  39  and  40  may be foldable relative to each other. For example, if the plate elements  38 ,  39  and  40  are folded together, plate element  40  may be positioned underneath plate element  39 , and plate element  39  may be positioned underneath plate element  38 , and so forth. Plate elements  38  and  39  may be joined by pivot  41 . Plate elements  38  and  40  may be joined by pivot  42 .  FIGS. 21 and 22  provide examples of how such folded and flexible pivoted protective plate assembly may be made. 
         [0096]    The protective plate assembly may be preferably attached to a flexible substrate  20  (not depicted in  FIGS. 21 and 22 ) by pivot points  41  and  42 . 
         [0097]    As shown in  FIG. 22 , pivot  41  permits plate element  39  to “pivot out” from below plate element  38 . Likewise, pivot  42  permits plate element  40  to “pivot out” from below plate element  38 . 
         [0098]    Optionally, the protective padding material may be placed underneath the protective plate assembly incorporating plate elements  38 ,  39 , and  40 . Again, the protective padding material may be of the type depicted in  FIGS. 1-14 . Alternatively, the protective padding material may include the padding assembly shown in  FIG. 31 . 
         [0099]      FIG. 23  shows the protective plate assembly depicted in  FIGS. 21 and 22  positioned against a person&#39;s arm  41 , to operate like a protective elbow guard or elbow pad. Preferably, protective padding material is placed underneath the protective plate assembly, to provide cushioning and additional shock protection. Accordingly,  FIG. 23  depicts the protective plate assembly with the padding material incorporating foam elements  25 , placed underneath plate elements  38 ,  39 , and  40 . In this embodiment, the protective plate assembly and the padding material are optionally bonded or affixed to a flexible or stretchable substrate, such as flexible substrate  20  (not depicted in  FIG. 23 ), that “wraps” around the wearer&#39;s elbow or arm, with the protective plate assembly and the padding material positioned over the person&#39;s elbow. 
         [0100]      FIGS. 24 and 25  show the protective plate assembly depicted in  FIGS. 21-23 , positioned on a person&#39;s arm  41  and used like a protective elbow guard or elbow pad. As depicted in  FIG. 25 , in one example of it use, as the wearer flexes or bends his or her arm, plate elements  38  and  40  pivot or “slide out” from under plate element  38 , to cover and protect the elbow area. 
         [0101]      FIGS. 26-30  depict an alternative embodiment of the protective plate assembly and the plate elements, in which the plate elements  43 - 45  are relatively flat and not concave and are joined together by pivots  46 - 47 . If the plates are folded for example, the plate element  45  may be positioned underneath plate element  44 , and plate element  44  may be positioned underneath plate element  43 . Plate elements  44  and  45  may be joined by pivot  46 . Plate elements  43  and  44  may be joined by pivot  47 . 
         [0102]    The protective plate assembly may be preferably attached to a flexible substrate  20  (not depicted in  FIGS. 26 and 30 ) by pivot points  46  and  47 . 
         [0103]      FIG. 27  depicts the relative positions of plate elements  43 - 45 , by showing in dotted lines  48  the perimeter of plate element  44  located behind, or underneath, plate element  43 . 
         [0104]      FIG. 28  depicts a side-view of the protective plate assembly, including the relative positions of plate elements  43 - 45 . 
         [0105]    As depicted in  FIG. 29 , pivot  46  permits plate element  45  to rotate and “pivot out” or “slide out” from beneath plate element  44 . Likewise, pivot  47  permits plate element  44  to rotate and “pivot out” or “slide out” from beneath plate element  43 . 
         [0106]      FIG. 30  depicts the relative positions of plate elements  43 - 45 , by showing in dotted lines  48  and  49  the perimeters of plate elements  44  and  45 , respectively, located behind, or beneath, plate element  43 . 
         [0107]    Optionally, protective padding material may be placed underneath the protective plate assembly incorporating plate elements  43 - 45 , in order to provide cushioning and additional protection against shock and impact. Again, the protective padding material may be of the type depicted in  FIGS. 1-14 . Alternatively, the protective padding material may include the padding assembly shown in  FIG. 31 . In this embodiment, the protective plate assembly and the padding material are optionally bonded or affixed to a flexible or stretchable substrate, such as flexible substrate  20  (not depicted in  FIGS. 26-30 ). 
         [0108]    Optionally, protective padding material placed underneath the protective plate assembly incorporating plate elements  43 - 45  may be bonded to plate element  43  along points on the edge  54 , and to plate element  45  along points on the edge  55 , so that the protective padding material flexes and stretches as plate element  45  rotates and “pivots out” or “slides out” from beneath plate element  44 , and plate element  44  rotates and “pivots out” or “slides out” from beneath plate element  43 , as depicted in  FIG. 29 . 
         [0109]    The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, various modifications of the invention in addition to those described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying figures. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. The following examples are offered by way of illustration of the present invention, and not by way of limitation.