Abstract:
Adjustable padding systems for garments, incorporating a pocket and a pad. The pocket is coupled to the garment and has a wide, proximal portion and a narrow, distal portion. The pad has corresponding wide and narrow portions. The narrow portion of the pad is longer than the length of the narrow portion of the pocket, but is adjustable in length. Accordingly, the location of the wide portion of the pad along the length of the garment can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the narrow portion of the pad.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to devices and systems for providing padding over an individual&#39;s knee or elbow, and more particularly, to adjustable devices and systems that allow a pad to align with the individual&#39;s knee or elbow regardless of the length of the individual&#39;s leg or arm. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Conventional knee pads, knee/shin pads, and elbow pads typically are conformed to fit over a partially-bent knee or elbow, and are held to the leg or arm using one or more straps. Each strap wraps around the leg or arm, can attach to the pad or itself, such as with a clip or a hook/loop fastener, and can be adjustable to allow the pad to fit legs or arms having different circumferences. Because the pad is mounted to surround the knee or elbow, the pad is automatically aligned with the knee and need not be adjusted. 
   Pants have been designed with built in pads or with pockets for receiving pads. Because a particular garment will fit different individuals differently and, thus, a particular pocket won&#39;t align with every individual&#39;s knee, the pocket must be oversized to compensate for the range of fits. Oversized pads waste material. 
   In one particular design, a pad is positioned in a pocket in the pants, and is suspended in the pants by a strap attached to the pants at a location above the pocket. The strap has a buckle in it, allowing each wearer to individually adjust the length of the strap, in a manner similar to a belt. By adjusting the length of the strap, the wearer can position of the pad over the knee. Belts and buckles increase the cost and complexity of manufacturing and assembling the garment. 
   There is a need in the industry for an improved adjustable pad for protecting an individual&#39;s knees and elbows. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed toward a padding system for a garment having a body and at least one extremity projecting longitudinally therefrom, such as a pair of pants having two legs. The system generally incorporates a pocket and a pad. 
   In one particular embodiment, the pocket is located in the extremity, and has proximal and distal portions. The proximal portion of the pocket corresponds in orientation to the proximal portion of the extremity, and has a first lateral width. The distal portion of the pocket has a second lateral width less than the first lateral width, and has a longitudinal length. The pocket has an opening accessible from the proximal end of the extremity. The pad is sized and shaped for insertion into the opening in the pocket, has a wide portion with a width less than the first lateral width but greater than the second lateral width, and has a narrow portion with a width less than the second lateral width, such that the pad is insertable into both the distal and proximal portions of the pocket. The second portion of the pad has a length greater than the longitudinal length of the distal portion of the pocket such that the wide portion of the pad is spaced a distance apart from the distal portion of the pocket when the pad is fully inserted into the pocket. The narrow portion of the pad is adapted to facilitate its shortening to reduce the distance between the wide portion of the pad and the distal portion of the pocket and, as a result, to change the longitudinal location of the wide portion of the pad with respect to the extremity of the garment. 
   In another particular embodiment, the pocket has a proximal portion, a distal portion and opposing lateral sides, the proximal portion of the pocket corresponding in orientation to the proximal portion of the extremity. At least one of the sides of the distal portion of the pocket is laterally offset inward toward a longitudinal center of the pocket with respect to the corresponding side of the proximal portion of the pocket. The distal portion of the pocket has a longitudinal length. The pocket has an opening accessible from the proximal end of the extremity. The pad is sized and shaped for insertion into the opening in the pocket, and has a width selected such that the pad is insertable into the proximal portion of the pocket but not into the distal portion of the pocket due to the lateral offset of the at least one side of the distal portion of the pocket. The pad has a distal extension positioned to align with the distal portion of the pocket when the pad is inserted in the proximal portion of the pocket, and having a length greater than the longitudinal length of the of the distal portion of the pocket such that the pad is spaced a distance apart from the distal portion of the pocket when the pad is fully inserted into the pocket. The distal extension is adapted to facilitate its shortening to reduce the distance between the pad and the distal portion of the pocket and, as a result, to change the longitudinal location of the pad with respect to the extremity of the garment. 
   In still another embodiment, the invention is directed toward a pad comprising a body sized and shaped for insertion into a pocket in a garment. The body is selected to function as a pad. An extension projects from the body to space the body a distance apart from a terminal end of the pocket when the body and extension are fully inserted into the pocket. The distal extension is adapted to facilitate its shortening to reduce the distance between the body and the terminal end of the pocket and, as a result, to change the location of the body with respect to the garment. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
     In order to assist understanding of the present invention, embodiments will now be described, purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a pair of pants incorporating a padding system according to one particular embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is an elevation view of a portion of the pair of pants of  FIG. 1 , viewed from inside the pants, illustrating a pocket from the padding system of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is an isometric view of a pad from the padding system of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4A  is an elevation view of the pad of  FIG. 3 . 
       FIGS. 4B and 4C  are elevation views schematically illustrating the pad of  FIG. 3  being cut to different lengths. 
       FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C are elevation views schematically illustrating the pads of  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C, respectively, positioned within the pocket of  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 6  is an isometric view of a pad according to an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The following detailed description is directed toward devices and systems for use in padding an individual&#39;s knee or elbow. More particularly, it is directed toward adjustable devices and systems designed to allow the pad to be positioned properly over the individual&#39;s knee or elbow, regardless of the length of the individual&#39;s arm or leg. 
     FIG. 1  shows a pair of pants  10  that incorporate a padding system  12  according to one possible embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated padding system  12  generally incorporates a pocket  14  and a pad  16 . The pocket  14  can be located on an inside surface of a leg  18  of the pants  10 ; the pad  16  can be removably positioned within the pocket. 
     FIG. 2  better illustrates the pocket  14  of this particular embodiment of the invention. The illustrated pocket  14  has a wide portion  20  and a narrow portion  22 . The narrow portion  22  of the pocket  14  is created due to the lateral offset of one, or in this instance both, of the sides of the narrow portion of the pocket with respect to the wide portion  20 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wide portion  20  of the pocket  14  is located along the leg  18  at the proximal end of the pocket, closest a body  24  ( FIG. 1 ) of the pants  10 , and the narrow portion  22  of the pocket is located at the distal end, closest a terminal end  26  ( FIG. 1 ) of the leg  18 . A shoulder  28  is positioned between the wide portion  20  and the narrow portion  22  of the pocket  14 . 
   In the illustrated embodiment, a flap  30  overlaps a proximal end  32  of the pocket  14 . Stitching  34  can couple the perimeter of the pocket  14  and the flap  30  to the pants  10 . The flap  30  and the proximal end  32  of the pocket  14  overlap each other, but the overlapping portions are not stitched together or to the pants. As a result, an opening  36  is formed, providing access to an interior of the pocket. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the pad  16  can be inserted into the pocket  14 . The opening  36  allows the pad  16  to be removed from the pocket  14  and reinserted or replaced. The flap  30  can also retain the pad  16  in the pocket  14 . 
   The narrow portion  22  of the pocket  14  terminates at a distal end  38 . The distal end  38  of the pocket  14  is located a fixed depth D from the shoulder  28 . 
     FIG. 3  better illustrates the pad  16  of this particular invention. The illustrated pad  16  is shaped for use as a combination knee/shin pad. The pad  16  has a wide, knee portion  40  and a narrow, shin portion  42 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the knee portion  40  of the pad  16  corresponds to the wide portion  20  of the pocket  14  and the shin portion  42  of the pad corresponds to the narrow portion  22  of the pocket. Accordingly, the illustrated pad is sized and shaped to complement the pocket illustrated in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the knee portion  40  of the pad  16  is slightly narrower than the wide portion  20  of the pocket  14  and the shin portion  42  of the pad is slightly narrower than the narrow portion  22  of the pocket. The shin portion  42  of the pad  16  terminates at a distal end  44 . The shin portion  42  of the pad  16  extends from the distal end  44  to a lower edge  46  of the knee portion  40 . 
   The pad  16  can be made from any material or combination of materials having sufficient cushion for use as a knee pad, such as foam. In addition, the pad  16  of this particular embodiment should be made from a material sufficiently resilient to return to its general shape after being bent. As a result, the pad  16 , or at least the shin portion  42  of the pad should resist folding or buckling, folding or collapsing, allowing the pad  16  to be adjustable, as discussed below. 
     FIGS. 4A-4C  show the pad  16  in three different adaptations.  FIG. 4A  shows the pad  16  unaltered, where the lower edge  46  of the knee portion  40  is a maximum, uncut length L A  as measured from the distal end  44  of the shin portion  42 .  FIG. 4B  shows the pad  16  shortened from its original length by a first, small amount, where the lower edge  46  of the knee portion  40  is a shortened, second length L B  as measured from a first cut edge  48  of the shin portion  42 .  FIG. 4C  shows the pad  16  shortened from its original length by a second, larger amount, where the lower edge  46  of the knee portion  40  is a further shortened, third length L C  as measured from a second cut edge  50  of the shin portion  42 . Because the amount shortened increases from one figure to the next, the uncut length L A  is longer than the second length L B  and the second length is longer than the third length L C . The pad  16  can be shortened by using scissors  52  or other suitable means. In certain embodiments, the pad  16  can be treated to facilitate easy and/or manual shortening, such as with perforations or other features. 
     FIGS. 5A-5C  show the padding system assembled using the three pads illustrated in  FIGS. 4A-4C , respectively. In  FIG. 5A  the pad  16  is inserted in the pocket  14  until the distal end  44  of the shin portion  42  of the pad contacts the distal end  38  of the narrow portion  22  of the pocket. The uncut length L A  of the shin portion  42  of the pad  16  is greater than the depth D of the narrow portion  22  of the pocket  14  by a maximum, first offset O A , positioning the knee portion  40  of the pad a maximum distance from the terminal end  26  of the leg  12  of the pants  10 . In  FIG. 5B , the pad is inserted in the pocket  14  until the first cut edge  48  contacts the distal end  38  of the narrow portion  22  of the pocket. The second length L B  is greater than the depth D of the narrow portion  22  of the pocket  14  by a second offset O B , which is smaller than the first offset O A , positioning the knee portion  40  of the pad  16  an intermediate distance from the terminal end  26  of the leg  12  of the pants  10 . In  FIG. 5C , the pad is inserted in the pocket  14  until the second cut edge  50  contacts the distal end  38  of the narrow portion  22  of the pocket. The second length L C  is equal to the depth D of the narrow portion  22  of the pocket  14 , positioning the knee portion  40  of the pad  16  a minimum distance from the terminal end  26  of the leg  12  of the pants  10 . By adjusting the location of the first cut edge  48 , the intermediate distance can be located anywhere between the maximum distance and the minimum distance. Thus, the knee portion  40  of the pad  16  can be positioned in any desired location along the leg  18  of the pants  10 . 
     FIG. 6  illustrates a knee pad  116  according to one particular alternative embodiment of the present invention. The pad  116  incorporates a knee portion  140  and an extension portion  142 . The knee portion  140  can be made from material similar to that described above in connection with the previous embodiment. The extension portion  142  in this particular embodiment is not a shin pad, but can be any resilient or rigid material suitable for spacing the knee portion  140  of the pad  116  along the leg  18  of the pants  10 , as discussed above. 
   The illustrated extension portion  142  has features  154  along its length to facilitate bending or breaking the extension portion to a desired length. As a result, the extension portion can be made from a durable material that may otherwise be difficult to cut or break, providing for both durability and adjustability. 
   From the foregoing it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.