Abstract:
A goaltender&#39;s blocker has a blocking pad resiliently attached to a goaltender&#39;s stick-hand glove, such that the glove is movable from a neutral or unstressed position toward to a displaced position nearer the lower end of the blocking pad. The blocker incorporates biasing means tending to return the glove to the neutral position. This construction allows the glove to traverse downward relative to the blocking pad when the blocking pad is pressed against a playing surface such as an ice hockey rink, thus making it easier for a goaltender to perform the paddle-down manoeuvre or to pick up a dropped hockey stick in a comfortable, economically correct, and technically sound manner.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates in general to padded protective accessories for use in ice hockey, street hockey, roller hockey, and similar sports, and in particular relates to blockers for hockey goaltenders. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    A hockey goaltender typically wears what is commonly referred to as a “blocker” on his or her “stick hand”—i.e., the hand holding the goaltender&#39;s stick. A typical conventional goaltender&#39;s blocker has a rectangular planar blocking pad with an outward-facing blocking area to stop or deflect pucks, and an inward-facing back side to which a glove is attached. The blocking pad can be flat, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,700,404, for example; however, most recent blocker designs now feature an outwardly-angled upper-end area, as may be seen by way of example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,122. In most if not all known blocker designs, one or more layers of foam, plastic, and/or other materials are assembled so as to form a solid and substantially rigid blocking pad. 
         [0003]    A particular problem with these known designs is that the rigidity of such blocking pads has always created difficulties for goaltenders performing the so-called “paddle-down” manoeuvre, in which substantially the entire length of the outside of the goaltender&#39;s stick&#39;s paddle in brought into contact with the playing surface (the paddle being the lower and wider portion of the shaft of a typical goaltender&#39;s stick). The problem arises because the bottom edge of the conventional rigid blocker&#39;s pad protrudes by several inches from the glove to which it is attached, and thus comes into contact with the playing surface before the stick&#39;s paddle does, leaving a gap between the outside edge of the paddle and the playing surface where the puck can slide underneath the paddle and into the net or within reach of an opponent&#39;s stick. 
         [0004]    Past attempts at solving this long-standing problem have included goaltenders trying to hold their sticks out further in front of themselves, bending their wrists, and pressing down hard in an attempt to bend the blocking pad enough to allow better contact between the outside edge of the paddle and the playing surface. This manoeuvre is usually somewhat uncomfortable, awkward, and even painful at times. It is also quite inefficient. 
         [0005]    For some time now, goaltenders have intentionally and permanently deformed the blocking pad of their blocker, bending and twisting it into whatever shape they felt would offer the least resistance and allow easiest contact between the paddle and the playing surface. Manufacturers now produce and sell blocker models in which the usual rigid, one-piece blocking pads ate already bent, curved, and/or otherwise distorted to the same end. Such compromise solutions, however, result in a permanently distorted blocking pad in which the protective qualities and the effective height and/or width of the lower-end blocking area of the pad are reduced, as compared to those of an intact flat-padded blocker. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,352 allows for a temporary distortion of the blocking pad by making the blocking pad out of two rigid pieces joined by a fabric hinge. The lower portion of the blocking pad of U.S. Pat. No. 6,085,352 folds forward and upward to allow the goaltender relatively unobstructed contact between the paddle and the playing surface. One drawback to this design, however, is that if a puck strikes the upwardly-folded lower portion of the blocking pad, rather that the paddle, the puck can rebound at an unexpected angle, making it more difficult for the goaltender to prevent a goal being scored. A perhaps more significant drawback is that the folding of the blocking pad temporarily but significantly reduces the effective pad surface area available to stop pucks. 
         [0007]    For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an improved goaltender&#39;s blocker that will make it easier for a goaltender to execute the “paddle-down” manoeuvre and other goaltending techniques without an increased risk of allowing unpredictable puck rebounds. The present invention is directed to this need. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides an improvement, in a hockey goaltender&#39;s blocker of the type that includes a glove (to be worn by the goaltender&#39;s “stick hand”) and generally rectangular blocking pad, where the blocking pad has a bottom edge, an outward-facing, generally planar blocking surface to stop or deflect pucks, and an inward-facing back side to which said glove is attached. Instead of being directly attached to the glove as in prior art blockers, the blocking pad of the blocker of the present invention is resiliently connected to the glove such that upon an upward force being exerted against the bottom edge of the pad (for example, when a goaltender presses the bottom edge of the blocking pad against the playing surface), the glove will be displaced downward relative to the blocking pad and generally parallel thereto, and will return to its original position when the force on the bottom edge of the blocking pad is relieved (typically, by raising the blocker off the playing surface). 
         [0009]    Accordingly, the present invention provides an improvement whereby the blocking pad is able to traverse along the length of the glove and change its position relative thereto as the goaltender presses the blocker-and-glove assembly down against the playing surface. The traversing motion of the glove relative to the blocking pad facilitates complete and unobstructed contact between the outside edge of the goaltender&#39;s slick&#39;s paddle and the playing surface. 
         [0010]    By virtue of its unique construction, the blocker of the present invention facilitates execution of the paddle-down technique without distorting the shape of the blocking pad and without reducing its effective puck-stopping surface area, while at the same time providing optimal protection to the goaltender&#39;s stick hand during normal goaltending activities that do not involve or require displacement of the blocker pad. 
         [0011]    In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the blocking pad is resiliently mounted to the glove by means of a pair of substantially rigid plates spaced apart and having hinge means for connection along one edge to the blocking pad and along an opposite edge to the glove. The hinge means may be provided in the form of fabric or webbing. 
         [0012]    The blocker assembly also incorporates biasing means whereby the glove is biased toward a position away from the bottom edge of the blocker pad. Accordingly, when a goaltender has pressed the blocker pad against a playing surface—thus moving the glove toward the bottom edge of the blocker pad—and then raises the blocker off the playing surface, the biasing means will return the glove to its neutral position farthest away from the bottom edge of the blocker pad. 
         [0013]    In preferred embodiments, the biasing means comprises an elongate elastic element such as an elasticized fabric strap or a rubber band. The elastic element has a first end fastened to a lower region of the glove, and a second end fastened to the blocker pad at a point higher than the connection point of the first end, such that the elastic element will be placed under tension when a force is applied to the bottom edge of the blocker pad. Preferably, at least one end of the elastic element is fastened to the glove or the blocker pad (as the case may be) by easily detachable means such as hook-and-loop fasteners or mechanical snaps, to enable adjustment of the effective length of the elastic element and to facilitate pretensioning of the elastic element. 
         [0014]    Optionally, the blocker pad may have a detachable face panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, in which numerical references denote like parts, and in which: 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the glove side of a goaltender&#39;s blocker in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 2  is a further perspective view of the blocker of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the blocker of  FIG. 1  with the glove in a neutral position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the blocker of  FIG. 1  with the glove displaced toward the bottom of the blocker pad. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of a blocker pad adapted to receive removable and interchangeable face covers, in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]    As shown in the Figures, the blocker  10  of the invention comprises a substantially rigid blocking pad  20  having an upper end  20 U and a lower end  20 L, and a glove  30  having an upper (or wrist) end  30 U and a lower (or fingers) end  30 L. Blocking pad  20  has an outer face  22  for stopping and deflecting hockey pucks, and an inner face  24 . Blocking pad  20  can be of any convenient shape and configuration, but outer face  22  will preferably have a generally rectangular face as in the illustrated embodiments. Blocking pad  20  may be wrapped in a outer shell made of leather, synthetic leather, or other suitable synthetic or natural covering materials. Blocking pad  20  may be generally planar, but in preferred embodiments has a lower section  26  and a contiguous upper section  28  that is angled outward relative to lower section  26  such that a hockey puck striking upper section  28  will tend to be deflected at a downward angle. Glove  30  has an inner side  32  corresponding  16  the palm of a goaltender&#39;s stick hand* and an outer side  34  corresponding to the back of the goaltender&#39;s stick hand. Glove  30  will preferably be a padded glove of the general type commonly used by hockey goaltenders, and adapted as appropriate in accordance with the present invention. It will be appreciated, however, that the present invention does not require either blocking pad  20  or glove  30  to be of any particular style or construction. 
         [0022]    In accordance with the invention, blocking pad  20  is resiliently mounted to glove  30  with inner face  24  of blocking pad  20  disposed adjacent to outer side  34  of glove  30 , such that glove  30  can move upward or downward relative to blocking pad  20  over a travel range defined by the particular construction of the resilient mounting components. Blocker  10  assembly incorporates biasing means whereby glove  30  is biased toward a neutral or unstressed position in which lower end  30 L of glove  30  is set back from (i.e., above) lower end  20 L of blocking pad  20  by a distance equal or approximately equal to the aforementioned travel range. Accordingly, when a force is applied upward against lower end  20 L of blocking pad  20 —such as by a goaltender pressing blocking pad  20  down against the playing surface to execute the paddle-down manoeuvre—glove  30  will move downward relative to blocking pad  20 . However, when the force on lower end  20 L of blocking pad  20  is relieved, the biasing means will return glove  30  to the neutral position. 
         [0023]    The Figures illustrate a preferred method for resiliently mounting blocking pad  20  to glove  30  in accordance with the foregoing functional description. As perhaps best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , blocking pad  20  is mounted to glove  30  by using a pair of substantially rigid mounting plates  40  and  42 . Mounting plate  40  has an inner side edge  40 A and an opposing outer side edge  40 B; similarly, mounting plate  42  has an inner side edge  42 A and an opposing outer side edge  42 B. 
         [0024]    Mounting plate  40  is disposed transversely between blocking pad  20  and glove  30  with inner side edge  40 A hingeingly connected to outer side  34  of glove  30  at a point proximal to upper end  30 U of glove  30 , and with outer side edge  40 B hingeingly connected to inner face  24  of blocking pad  20 . 
         [0025]    Mounting plate  42  is disposed transversely between blocking pad  20  and glove  30  with outer side edge  42 B hingeingly connected to outer side  34  of glove  30  at a selected distance below inner edge  40 A of mounting plate  40 , and with outer side edge  42 B hingeingly connected to inner face  24  of blocking pad  20 . 
         [0026]    Mounting plates  40  and  42  are preferably rectangular, but in alternative embodiments could be of trapezoidal or other shapes. The widths of mounting plates  40  and  42  (i.e., the distances between their respective side edges) may be equal or unequal. 
         [0027]    In preferred embodiments, a rigid or semi-rigid glove mounting plate  44  is provided in association with outer side  34  of glove  30  to facilitate connection of mounting plates  40  and  42  to glove  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , inner side edges  40 A and  42 A of mounting plates  40  and  42  (respectively) may be hingeingly connected to the ends of glove mounting plate  44  (or to selected intermediate points between the ends of glove mounting plate  44 ). 
         [0028]    Mounting plates  40 ,  42 , and  44  may be made of a rigid or semi-rigid plastic or other suitable and sufficiently rigid material. In preferred embodiments of the invention, mounting plates  40 ,  42 , and  44  are each disposed within a fabric envelope or sleeve, such that the mounting plates&#39; various hinge connections can be sewn or stitched joints. 
         [0029]    In preferred embodiments, the biasing means is provided in the form of an elongate elastic element  50  (such as an elasticized fabric strap or a rubber band) having an upper end  50 U anchored to a selected point on inner face  24  of blocking pad  20 , and a lower end  50 L anchored to a selected point on glove  30  or, in preferred embodiments, on glove mounting plate  44 . Alternatively, lower end  50 L of elastic element  50  may be anchored to mounting plate  42  at a point near inner side edge  42 A of mounting plate  42 . As may be seen in  FIG. 3 , elastic element  50  has a nominal length L O  when in its unstressed state; i.e., when there are no forces acting on either blocking pad  20  or glove  30  tending to cause differential movement between them. However, when a goaltender presses blocking pad  20  against playing surface, at the same time causing downward displacement of glove  30  relative to blocking pad  20 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , elastic element  50  will be stretched to a stressed length L S . When the goaltender raises blocker  10  above playing surface  60 , thus relieving the tension in elastic element  50 , elastic element  50  will rebound to its unstressed state, thereby returning glove  30  to its normal position relative to blocking pad  20  (i.e., as shown in  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0030]    In one preferred embodiment, elastic element  50  is secured with easily detachable fasteners such as hook-and-loop fasteners, mechanical snap-type fasteners, or other suitable fastening means whereby the length of elastic element  50  and the tensile stress therein can be readily adjusted to suit users&#39; preferences. 
         [0031]    The specific construction described above provides only one example of biasing means suitable for use with the present invention. Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate that other suitable biasing means may be devised without departing from the principles of the invention. In other words, the invention is not dependent upon the biasing means taking any particular form, or upon the resilient connection between blocking pad  20  and glove  30  taking any particular form. What is important is that blocking pad  20  and glove  30  are connected such that glove  30  can be downwardly displaced relative to blocking pad  20 , and that glove  30  will return automatically to its original position relative to blocking pad  20  upon removal of forces causing displacement of glove  30 . 
         [0032]    In alternative embodiments, the completed blocker assembly may incorporate one or more protective plates made from rigid plastic or other rigid materials, covered in synthetic leather-like materials or other synthetic or natural materials, and positioned to provide enhanced protection for the goaltender&#39;s stick hand. As shown  FIGS. 1 and 2 , these protective plates could lake the form of thumb protector  35 , finger protector  36 , palm protector  37 , wrist protector  38 , and/or forearm protector  39 . 
         [0033]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , the construction of blocking pad  20  may optionally be adapted to receive replaceable or interchangeable face panels. It is increasingly desired by hockey goaltenders to apply graphical designs to their goaltending equipment, such as to identify their teams or even to distract or disconcert opposing players. Goaltenders may change teams from time to lime, or their preferences may change with respect to the graphical designs on their equipment. Accordingly, if a goaltender has permanent designs on his or her equipment, they may need to purchase new equipment if their teams or tastes change. 
         [0034]    This problem is solved in the case of a blocking pad  20  by providing attachment means (e.g., hook-and-loop fasteners or mechanical snaps) on the side edges  21  of blocking pad  20 , and providing a removable face panel  70  with side tabs  72  fitted with attachment means for attachment to side edges  21  of blocking pad  20 . This construction allows for quick and simple replacement of blocking pad face panels with different graphical designs, without needing to replace the basic blocking pad. The same principle can of course be applied to other types of goaltending equipment, particularly leg pads. 
         [0035]    In this patent document, the adjectives “upper”, “lower”, “inner”, and “outer” are used in reference to certain components of the present invention. These terms are used in a relative rather than any absolute sense, solely for purposes of clearly explaining and distinguishing different features of the invention. 
         [0036]    It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications of the present invention may be devised without departing from the essential concept of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to come within the scope of the present invention and the claims appended hereto. It is to be especially understood that the invention is not intended to be limited to illustrated embodiments, and that the substitution of a variant of a claimed element or feature, without any substantial resultant change in the working of the invention, will not constitute a departure from the scope of the invention. 
         [0037]    In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following that word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one such element.