Abstract:
The invention provides an adjustable leg pad assembly comprising a knee shield, a shin shield, a liner, a shield extension, an adjustable liner, and fasteners for joining the adjustable liner and the liner. The liner is fixedly connected to both the knee shield and the shin shield while the shield extension is adjustably mounted on an interior portion of the shin shield and extends from a lower portion of the latter. The adjustable liner, which is adapted to be releasably mounted to the liner, includes connection means to enable its coupling to the shield extension. Moreover, the fasteners are capable of varying the positioning of the liner and the adjustable liner relative to one another.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to protective equipment for hockey and other such sporting activities. More specifically, the invention relates to leg pads capable of being adjusted to conform to the anatomies of differently sized players.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    In recent years, security has become an issue of ever-increasing importance in professional and amateur sports. Sports such as hockey are rapidly evolving and becoming more physically demanding since players tend to be faster and stronger than before. Consequently, protective equipment such as leg pads must also evolve to better suit the needs of today&#39;s players  
           [0003]    Conventional wisdom has to date dictated that hockey leg pads include a flexible padded liner of elongated shape that extends along a front portion of the wearer&#39;s leg. The padded liner, more precisely, extends from the ankle to above the knee (note that commonly used jargon such as “shin guards” or “shin pads” are therefore slightly misleading due to the fact that protection of the knee is also provided) and is connected by sewing, riveting, and the like to rigid or semi-rigid shield members such as a rigid plastic knee shield and a rigid plastic shin shield. Straps featuring hooks and loops type fasteners are provided to minimize motion of the leg pad while in use.  
           [0004]    A deficiency typically associated with traditional leg pads can be attributed to the growth of young players&#39; limbs. Young players frequently outgrow their equipment from one year to the next. Thus, leg pads which fit a player one year might not necessarily fit the following year. This can result in a potentially hazardous situation since the leg pads used do not offer the level of protection that is frequently required in contact sports such as hockey. The latter problematic is compounded by the fact that leg pads and hockey equipment in general can be fairly expensive. As a result, young players might attempt to keep their leg pads as long as possible.  
           [0005]    The use of traditional leg pads in situations other than that described above can also present some risks. Although players of higher caliber, for example, generally possess their own equipment, lower caliber players who play on an infrequent basis are often tempted to borrow or rent equipment rather than purchase it. This situation can become problematic because these players may therefore be using inadequately sized equipment and, as a result, the possibilities of incurring an injury increase.  
           [0006]    There is therefore a need in the sports industry for leg pads that can offer enhanced levels of protection and comfort as required by contemporary athletes and that can also be adjusted to better accommodate differently sized players.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable leg pad assembly which overcomes some of the disadvantages of the prior art.  
           [0008]    In accordance with a first broad aspect, the invention provides an adjustable leg pad assembly comprising a knee shield, a shin shield, an intermediary portion, a liner, a shield extension, an adjustable liner, and fasteners for joining the adjustable liner and the liner. The intermediary portion is positioned between the knee shield and the shin shield while the liner is fixedly connected to the knee shield, the shin shield, and the intermediary portion. The shield extension is adjustably mounted on an interior portion of the shin shield and extends from a lower portion of the latter. The adjustable liner, which is adapted to be releasably mounted to the liner, includes connection means to enable its coupling to the shield extension. Moreover, the fasteners are capable of varying the positioning of the liner and the adjustable liner relative to one another. In a specific example of implementation, the adjustable liner and the shield extension are concurrently movable relative to the liner and the shin shield.  
           [0009]    Advantageously, the shield extension is substantially rigid and includes at least one prong, while the connection means include at least one fastening flap that is capable of being folded back in order to define a recess wherein the prong is capable of being inserted, thereby effecting the coupling of the adjustable liner and the shield extension.  
           [0010]    Continuing with this example of implementation, the fasteners include hooks and loops fasteners that are respectively disposed along an outer surface of the adjustable liner and an inner surface of the liner. Preferably, the hooks and loops fasteners are of elongated shape.  
           [0011]    Advantageously, the adjustable leg pad assembly comprises guiding means to direct the relative positioning of the shield extension and the shin shield. More specifically, the guiding means include a slot which is located on the shield extension and which is adapted to sliding receive therein a projection extending from the shin shield. Motion of the projection within the slot results in the variation of the positioning of the adjustable liner and the shield extension relative to that of the shin shield.  
           [0012]    Under a second broad aspect, the invention provides an adjustable leg pad assembly comprising a leg pad, a liner, a shield extension, an adjustable liner, and fasteners for joining the adjustable liner and the liner. The liner is fixedly connected to the leg pad while the shield extension is capable of being movably mounted on an interior portion of the leg pad. The adjustable liner, which is adapted to be releasably mounted to the liner, includes connection means that are adapted to enable its coupling to the shield extension. Moreover, the fasteners are capable of varying the positioning of the liner and the adjustable liner relative to one another.  
           [0013]    In a specific example of implementation, the adjustable liner and the shield extension are concurrently movable relative to the liner and the shin shield. Advantageously, the shield extension is substantially rigid and includes at least one prong, while the connection means include at least one fastening flap that is capable of being folded back in order to define a recess wherein the prong is capable of being inserted, thereby effecting the coupling of the adjustable liner and the shield extension.  
           [0014]    The fasteners include hooks and loops fasteners that are respectively disposed along an outer surface of the adjustable liner and an inner surface of the liner. Preferably, the hooks and loops fasteners are of elongated shape.  
           [0015]    Advantageously, the adjustable leg pad assembly comprises guiding means to direct the relative positioning of the shield extension and the leg pad. More specifically, the guiding means include a slot which is located on the shield extension and which is adapted to slidingly receive therein a projection extending from the leg pad. Motion of the projection within the slot results in the variation of the positioning of the adjustable liner and the shield extension relative to that of the leg pad.  
           [0016]    Under a third broad aspect, the invention provides an adjustable leg pad assembly comprising a knee shield, a shin shield, an intermediary portion, a liner, a shield extension, and an adjustable liner. The intermediary portion is connected to the knee shield and the shin shield while the liner is fixedly connected to the knee shield, the shin shield, and the intermediary portion. The shield extension is adjustably mounted on an interior portion of the shin shield and extends from a lower portion of the latter. The adjustable liner, which is adapted to be releasably mounted to the liner, includes connection means that enable its coupling to the shield extension.  
           [0017]    Under yet another broad aspect, the invention provides an adjustable leg pad assembly comprising a leg pad, a liner, a shield extension, and an adjustable liner. The liner is fixedly connected to the leg pad while the shield extension is adjustably mounted on an interior portion of the leg pad and extends from a lower portion of the latter. The shield extension is also integrally mounted onto the adjustable liner while the adjustable liner is adapted to be releasably mounted to the liner, and includes connection means that enable its coupling to the shield extension.  
           [0018]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]    A detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 is an exploded right side view of an exemplary adjustable leg pad assembly constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the adjustable leg pad assembly being disassembled to show the interrelation of its components;  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of an adjustable liner as depicted in FIG. 1;  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a shield extension as depicted in FIG. 1;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable liner of FIG. 2 and the shield extension of FIG. 3 when coupled;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 5 is a right side elevational view of the adjustable leg pad assembly of FIG. 1 with a portion thereof broken away and a partial cross-sectional view of the lower portion; the adjustable leg pad assembly being shown in a contracted state;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 6 is a right side elevational view of the adjustable leg pad assembly of FIG. 1 with a portion thereof broken away and a partial cross-sectional view of the lower portion; the adjustable leg pad assembly being shown in an extended state;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 7 is a right side elevational view of the adjustable leg pad assembly of FIG. 1; the adjustable leg pad assembly being shown assembled in a contracted state;  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the adjustable leg pad assembly of FIG. 7, in the same contracted state;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 9 is a right side elevational view of the adjustable leg pad assembly of FIG. 1; the adjustable leg pad assembly being shown assembled in an extended state; and  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the adjustable leg pad assembly of FIG. 9, in the same extended state.  
         [0030]    In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and the drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid to understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0031]    With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a non-limiting example of implementation of the present inventive concept. FIG. 1 shows, in exploded fashion, an adjustable leg pad assembly  20  that comprises a leg pad  17 , a shield extension  40 , a liner  26 , and an adjustable liner  34 .  
         [0032]    Leg pad  17 , more specifically, includes an upper portion  22 , a lower portion  24 , and an intermediary portion  30 . FIG. 1 illustrates that upper portion  22  includes a rigid knee shield  23  that is shaped to overlie and protect the fragile area defined by the knee joint. The lower portion  24  includes a rigid shin shield  25  that is generally made of the same material (i.e., polystylene and the like) as is rigid knee shield  23 , and which overlies the user&#39;s shin. More specifically, rigid shin shield  25  extends from the lower front portion of the user&#39;s ankle to the lower portion of the knee joint. In order to ensure that a more complete level of protection is offered to the user, rigid knee shield  23  and rigid shin shield  25  slightly overlap one another and are connected to one another via intermediary portion  30 . Intermediary portion  30 , more precisely, is made of supple material such as to enable for a broader range of relative motion between upper portion  22  and lower portion  24 .  
         [0033]    As depicted in FIG. 1, adjustable leg pad assembly  20  also comprises a liner  26  which is shaped in such a manner as to underlie leg pad  17 . Liner  26  is typically made of a supple material such as a polyethylene foam which conforms itself to the anatomy of the wearer and acts to dampen any blows that might occur in the knee joint and shin regions of the wearer. Moreover, the supple nature of liner  26  and the presence of intermediary portion  30  both act to enhance the mobility of adjustable leg pad assembly  20  when the latter is in use. As corroborated by the drawings, liner  26  is also slightly oversized with respect to leg pad  17  in order to further envelop and protect the knee and shin areas of the user without unnecessarily hindering the latter&#39;s mobility. On its inner surface, liner  26  also includes an elongated loops type fastener  37  whose purpose will be described in greater detail with reference to a later figure.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 further shows that adjustable leg pad assembly  20  comprises an adjustable liner  34  and a shield extension  40 . Adjustable liner  34  is typically slightly shorter than or of approximately the same length as is rigid shin shield  25 . Moreover, as shown in FIG. 2, adjustable liner  34  is of a generally truncated V-shape whose width progressively decreases from one end to another (i.e., from its top end to its bottom end), thereby allowing for better conformity with the anatomy (i.e., with the calf) of the user. On its outer surface, adjustable liner  34  features an elongated hooks type fastener  36  which enables it to be coupled with the correspondingly shaped loops type fastener  37  located on the inner surface of liner  26 . Although the figures show a specifically shaped adjustable liner  34  and specifically shaped and disposed hooks and loops fasteners  36  and  37 , it should be expressly understood that adjustable liners of any shape such as for example of rectangular shape, do not detract from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, hooks and loops type fasteners of different numbers and shapes also remain within the scope of the invention, as do their respective dispositions on the various components of adjustable leg pad assembly  20 . The use of fasteners other than of the hooks and loops type (e.g., rivets, buttons, etc.) also remains within the spirit of the invention.  
         [0035]    As shown in FIG. 2, adjustable liner  34 , at its lower right and left extremities, includes a pair of fastening flaps  38  on its outer surface. One of the fastening flaps  38  shown in the figure is shown partially peeled away in order to better show its features. Fastening flaps  38 , more precisely, are composed of a specifically shaped flap of material that includes hooks and loops type fasteners that are adapted to register with one another such that they are in an overlying relationship when coupled. The purpose of fastening flaps  38  is to enable the mounting of shield extension  40  onto adjustable liner  34 . Shield extension  40 , which is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 3, is generally made of a rigid material such as polystylene and the like and is transversely curved such to better follow the contour of adjustable liner  34 , and hence that of the wearer&#39;s leg, when adjustable leg pad assembly  20  is in use. At its lower extremity, shield extension  40  features an inwardly projecting flange from which depend a pair of prongs  42 . Prongs  42 , which are located at the lowermost right and left extremities of shield extension  40 , are shaped in such a manner as to enable their insertion into recesses created when fastening flaps  38  are peeled away. More specifically, the user need only fold back fastening flaps  38 , insert prongs  42  into their corresponding recesses, and then replace fastening flaps  38  back into their original arrangement. As a result, shield extension  40 , as shown in FIG. 4, is secured to adjustable liner  34 . It should be noted that flaps  38  allow the insertion of shield extension  40  into the recesses without having to bend the body of the latter. In an alternative embodiment which isn&#39;t shown in the figures, shield extension  40  is permanently mounted onto adjustable liner  34 . In such an embodiment, prongs  42  can, for example, be sewn or adhered within the corresponding recesses of adjustable liner  34 .  
         [0036]    Shield extension  40  also includes a longitudinally extending slot  43  in the proximity of its center. As shown in FIG. 1, slot  43  is adapted to slidingly receive therein a conventional fastener  44  such as a rivet, a screw, and so on, whose function will be described hereinafter. FIGS. 5 and 6, more precisely, depict adjustable leg pad assembly  20  in its assembled state. The figures also show the interrelation of adjustable liner  34 , liner  26 , shield extension  40 , and leg pad  17 . When assembled, shield extension  40 , which is secured to adjustable liner  34 , is in turn secured to rigid shin shield  24  via fastener  44 . Moreover, the upper portion of adjustable liner  34  is also secured to an inner surface of liner  26  by means of their respective hooks and loops type fasteners  36 ,  37 . FIGS. 5 and 6 further depict the adjustable nature of adjustable leg pad assembly  20 . FIG. 5, more specifically, shows adjustable leg pad assembly  20  in its most contracted state while FIG. 6 shows it in its most extended state. In order to change the length of adjustable leg pad assembly  20 , the user need only grasp adjustable liner  34  and pull it away from liner  26  such as to disengage the hooks and loops fasteners  36 ,  37  and then slide shield extension  40 , and hence adjustable liner  34 , in the direction of the arrows such that the desired length is attained, and then reengage the hooks and loops fasteners  36 ,  37 . Fastener  44  therefore also acts to guide the relative positioning of shield extension  40  and shin shield  25  with respect to one another. In addition, the elongated shape of hooks and loops fasteners  36 ,  37  allow for a certain leeway during the engagement process. Because of this leeway, the lower portion of adjustable leg pad assembly  20  is flexible and may slightly move upward when shield extension  40  abuts against the user&#39;s ankle. This flexibility prevents shield extension  40  from digging into the user&#39;s ankle and provides for a more comfortable leg pad. It also allows the user to adjust leg pad assembly  20  to a length slightly longer than a normal rigid leg pad.  
         [0037]    Moreover, as stated previously, fastener  44  is capable of reciprocal motion within slot  43  and the total adjustment in length therefore permissible by adjustable leg pad assembly  20  is a function of the length of slot  43 . Although slots  43  of any length remain within the scope of the invention, slots  43  having a length of approximately 1.5 inches are generally preferred. It should also be noted that although the figures depict a single fastener  44  which is adapted to reciprocate within slot  43 , any number of a specific type of fastener (i.e., rivet, screw, etc.) as well as combinations of different types of fasteners that are adapted to act in conjunction with one another remain within the scope of the invention.  
         [0038]    FIGS.  7  to  10  depict the adjustable leg pad assembly when ready for use by a wearer. As corroborated by FIGS. 7 and 8, shield extension  40  is virtually entirely concealed when adjustable leg pad assembly  20  is in its most contracted state. In contrast, extending the adjustable leg pad assembly  20  has the effect of progressively revealing shield extension  40 . Although the foregoing figures generally depict adjustable leg pad assembly  20  in its two extreme states (i.e., a fully contracted state and a fully extended state), it should be clearly understood that the above-described arrangement permits the user to select from numerous intermediary conditions between both extremes. In fact, the user is able to precisely adjust the length of adjustable leg pad assembly  20  to the exact length he or she wishes and this for each leg. The combination of adjustable liner  34  and shield extension  40  allows an infinite number of length of leg pad assembly within the range of maximum and minimum length.  
         [0039]    The above description of preferred embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.