Patent Publication Number: US-9884240-B2

Title: Three dimensional knee and elbow pads

Description:
This utility patent application claims the benefit of priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/798,583, filed on Mar. 15, 2013 and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/050,439, filed on Oct. 10, 2013, which claims the benefit of priority in U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/723,177, filed on Nov. 6, 2012 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/755,208, filed on Jan. 22, 2013, the entirety of the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates generally to the sports equipment field and, more particularly, to elbow and knee pads including a three dimensional image element for projecting a desired image outline. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Sports enthusiasts including, for example, volleyball players, commonly wear padding on their elbows and knees in order to protect their elbows and knees from contact with hard surfaces such as a gym floor. This document relates to sports pads for knees and elbows that incorporate a three dimensional image element which projects an image outline of a desired shape such as a player number or team logo that enhances the team uniform. 
     SUMMARY 
     A sports pad comprises an outer shell defining a pocket and a pad received and held in the pocket. The pad has a front face. A three dimensional image element is carried on the front face of the pad. That image element projects an image outline through the outer shell. 
     That image outline may take on any desired shape. In one possible embodiment the image element is in the shape of a player number. In another possible embodiment the image element is in the shape of a logo. 
     In one possible embodiment the three dimensional image element is provided on a background sheet. In one possible embodiment the three dimensional image element is tapered outwardly from a central area toward an outer edge so that the central area projects a greater distance from the front face of the pad than does the outer edge. 
     In accordance with another aspect, the pad further includes a fastener for securing the pad to a limb of an individual wearing the pad. In one possible embodiment the fastener is a partial or full elastic sleeve. In another possible embodiment the fastener includes at least one elongated strap and a cooperating hook and loop fastening device. In one possible embodiment the pad is configured to protect and be worn over a knee. In another possible embodiment the pad is configured to protect and be worn over an elbow. 
     In one possible embodiment the outer shell is a first color and the three dimensional image element is a second color. In one possible embodiment the first and second colors contrast. In another possible embodiment the three dimensional image element is provided on a background sheet and the three dimensional image element is a first color, the background sheet is a second color and the outer shell is a third color. In one possible embodiment the first, second and third colors are all different. In another possible embodiment the second and third colors are the same and the first color is different. In another possible embodiment the first and third colors are the same and the second color is different. 
     In yet another possible embodiment the three dimensional image element and the front face are different colors. In yet another possible embodiment the three dimensional image element and the front face are the same color. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect a method of promoting a sports team is provided. That method comprises equipping a player on the sports team with a sports pad including a three dimensional image element that projects an image outline of a logo. In one embodiment that method further includes wearing the pad on a knee. In another embodiment that method further includes wearing the pad on an elbow. 
     These and other embodiments will be set forth in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following description and drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings incorporated herein and forming a part of the specification, illustrate several aspects of the sports pad and together with the description serve to explain certain principles thereof. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of a sports pad including an outer shell defining a pocket, a pad received and held in the pocket and a three dimensional image element carried on the front face of the pad so that the image element projects an image outline through the outer shell. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the three dimensional image element on the pad. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the three dimensional image element connected to the pad. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating the tapering of the three dimensional element from an area of greatest height or width at a central portion thereof to an area of lowest height or width at an outer edge thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the sports pad secured to a knee of an individual. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the sports pad secured to an elbow of an individual. 
     
    
    
     Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference is now made to  FIGS. 1-4  illustrating a sports pad  10  including an outer shell  12  that defines a pocket  14  for receiving and holding a pad  16 . A three dimensional image element  18  is captured between the pad  16  and the part of the shell  12  forming the pocket  14 . In the illustrated embodiment the image element  18  is carried on the front face  20  of the pad  16 . 
     As should be appreciated, the three dimensional image element  18  projects an image outline  22  through the outer shell  12  which is made from a fabric material commonly employed in the construction of knee and elbow pads. More specifically, the portion  15  of the outer shell  12  overlying and engaging the image element  18  conforms to the shape of the image element. That image outline  22  may take the shape and form of any desirable image including, but not limited to, a player number and a logo. For purposes of this document, the term “logo” refers to letters, words, numbers, names, trademarks, mascots, images, stripes, designs and other three dimensional shapes that may commonly identify or be used by athletic teams, athletes and individuals. 
     In one possible embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the pocket  14  may be opened or closed by means of a flap  26 . When the flap  26  is open, the pad  16  may be removed from the pocket  14  for cleaning or to change or reposition the element  18  on the front face  20  of the pad  16 . The pad  16 , with the three dimensional element  18  in its proper position, may then be replaced in the pocket  14 . The flap  26  is then folded over the top of the pad  16  and secured by hook and loop fastener  28  or other similar means to the outer shell  12  at the rear of the pad thereby closing the pocket  14  and securing the pad in position. It should be noted that the illustrated flap  26  is only one possible way of opening and closing a pocket  14  to hold the pad  16  and that the general concept of a sealable pocket is not to be considered as limited thereto. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the three dimensional image element  18  is secured to the front face  20  of the pad  16  by means of a fastener  29 , such as a layer of adhesive or a hook and loop fastener system such as sold under the trademark VELCRO. The image  18  may include a three dimensional logo  30  alone or a combination of a logo  30  and background sheet  32  (note additional fastener  31 ) as illustrated that is mounted directly to the front face  20  of the pad  16 .  FIG. 3  illustrates a combined logo  30  and background sheet  32  secured in position on the front face  20  of a pad  16 . 
     The three dimensional image element  18  may be solid, hollow, an outline or a combination. For example, to form a “shamrock” logo the shape of the shamrock may be cut out of a 3 mm thick piece of foam. The cutout shamrock could be pulled from the foam and adhered to the pad  16 . The resulting image outline  22  would appear as a solid shamrock. In addition, the outline of the shamrock that remains in the foam can then be used to show the image outline  22  of a shamrock but instead of it being full, it is an outline of a shamrock or a hollow three dimensional image. Obviously different widths and colors of foam may be utilized to create varying images, shadows and appearances including complex images such as an American flag. 
     For some images the logo  30  of the three dimensional image element  18  is the same thickness throughout. However, the depth of the logo  30  may be manipulated to give the image outline  22  more or less detail and definition when it projects through the exposed fabric area of the outer shell  12 . For example, while a three dimensional image element  18  of a “O” can be seen as a “O” if the entire “O” is 3 mm thick, forming the inside line L 1  of the “O” slightly higher than the outside line L 2  to create a sloped face F allows the inner circle of the “O” to show differently and this can give it a different detail when it is seen through the clothing or outer shell covering  12  (See  FIG. 4 ). Further there are various ways to manipulate an “O” to make it appear differently while ensuring that it is an “O”. For example it can be made a perfect circle or an oval. It can be made flat versus wavy. It can be made using only the outlines of the inside and outside circles. For some images, but not all, the inside lines must be made slightly higher than those on the outside in order for the details to show through the outer shell  12 . Also using rounded edges can help give definition. For example an American flag can be made by rounding the red strips of the flag, omitting the white stripes, making the blue a rectangle with square edges and adding slightly raised dots for the stars. This is an example of how different processes and shaping can be used to form a three dimension image element  18  that provides the desired image outline  22  projecting through the exposed fabric area of the outer shell  12 . 
     The three dimensional image element  18  may be made from a number of different materials including, but not limited to foams, high density synthetic materials, foam rubbers and plastics. Particularly useful foam materials include polyethylene foam, polypropylene foam and PVC foam. Regardless of the chemical makeup it is preferred that the foam be a “closed cell” foam. In many instances the three dimensional image element  18  is made from the same material as the pad  10  to which it is attached so that it may be used in athletic events without increasing any risk in injury. In fact, the image element  18  may even be molded into the pad  16 . 
     As should be appreciated the three dimensional image element  18  may be punched or cut from a sheet of foam as previously described. Alternatively, the three dimensional image element  18  may be molded in a mold. The production operation utilized depends on the material being formed into an image and the intended use of the image. Logos  30 , like college logos, mascots or trademarks could be punched or cutout from the foam. Logos  30  such as single or entwined letters like an “S”, “OU”, “NC”, “ND”, “UK”, “3C”, etc. show through and produce the desired image  22  whether they are solid letters, outlined letters or a combination of both. Logo images  22  such as an eagle and cat&#39;s paw may also be easily produced. 
     Images or logos  30  formed in molds may be given additional detail in certain areas that is not possible with a simple punching operation. For example, molds may help when forming rounded portions, edges and crevices. This allows the three dimensional image element  18  to produce an image outline  22  that is often times significantly more detailed in appearance from a simple punched image. Forming the image in a mold may help give varying depths within the same image so as to make it look more realistic and provide a desired hologram-like affect to the image outline  22 . 
     It should also be appreciated that the three dimensional image element  18  may be made in multiple sizes to fit different sized items. For example, a three dimensional image element  18  of an eagle could be 12.7 cm wide to fit across a knee pad or 10.0 cm wide to fit on a smaller elbow pad. Obviously, they can also be made of different colors depending on the desired effect. Only a portion of the entire three dimensional image element  18  may include one or more colors to enhance the image as it projects or appears through the exposed fabric area of the outer shell  12  overlying the image element. 
     Color may be used to enhance the three dimensional effect and the produced image outline  22 . In one possible embodiment the outer shell  12  is a first color and the three dimensional image element  18  is a second, contrasting color. In one particularly useful embodiment the outer shell is white or other relatively light color while the three dimensional image element  18  is a darker, contrasting color. Where the three dimensional image element  18  includes a logo  30  provided on a background sheet  32 , the three dimensional image element may be provided in a first color, the background sheet in a second color and the outer shell in a third color. In one possible embodiment all three colors are different in order to contrast and set forth a particular image outline  22 . In another possible embodiment the second and third colors of the background sheet  32  and outer shell  12  are one color while the first color of the image element  18  is different. Often, the image element  18  is provided in a darker color which in some embodiments has a tendency to show through the lighter, covering color of the outer shell  12  thereby enhancing the 3D or holographic effect provided to the image outline  22 . In yet another possible embodiment the first and third colors of the image element  18  and outer shell  12  are the same while the color of the front face  20  of the pad  16  is different. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 , the sports pad  10  further includes a fastener for securing the pad  10  to a limb of an individual. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , that fastener  40  comprises a partial or full elastic sleeve. Where the pad  10  is configured, sized or molded to a shape to protect and be worn over a knee, an individual inserts his foot through the fastening sleeve  40  and pulls the pad up in position so that the pad  10  with the 3D image  18  overlies the front of the knee with the elastic sleeve  40  securing the pad in position by wrapping around the back of the knee (see  FIG. 5 ). 
     In an alternative embodiment the fastener  40  comprises one or more straps  42  with cooperating hook and loop fasteners  44 . Where the pad  10  is configured to protect and be worn over an elbow, the pad  16  is positioned over the elbow and the straps  42  are secured with the hook and loop fasteners  44  over the arm on opposite sides of the elbow to hold the straps  42  and sports pad  10  in position with the image outline  22  projecting outwardly from the elbow. 
     In accordance with an additional aspect, a method of promoting a sports team is provided. That method includes equipping a player on the sports team with a sports pad  10  that includes the three dimensional image element  18  that projects an image outline  22  of a logo, such as a team logo  30 , in a desired manner. As indicated above, that logo  30  may be displayed by wearing the pad  10  over a knee and/or over an elbow as desired. 
     The foregoing has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise form disclosed. Obvious modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, forearm pads and football helmet chin straps may also be provided and are consistent with the teachings presented in this document. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally and equitably entitled.