Patent Publication Number: US-7707649-B2

Title: Knee pad

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present invention is related to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/765,282, filed on Feb. 3, 2006 and entitled “Knee Pad”, the entire disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to knee pads and more particularly to a knee pad having a secure fastening system. 
   Knee pads are well known for protecting the knees while working or while playing sports. One common type of knee pad for construction work includes a cushion section which fits over the knee. The knee pad allows the user to move around easily on his/her knees by swiveling and sliding on the knees while providing protection against injury. The buckles on the straps and other fastening devices are used to fasten the knee pad around the knee. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 1,792,048 to Swenson discloses a knee protector having two bands of elastic material stitched to a rubber cushioning pad. The length of each band is adjustable by a three-bar fitting. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,448 to Johnston, Jr. discloses a knee brace that functions to support and stabilize the patella of the knee. An inflatable U-shaped air cell extends to either side of the patella. The air cell may be inflated by mouth pressure through a tube and valve. The straps are secured around the leg and the air cell by hook and loop fasteners. A backing member of open cell polyurethane foam is located between the knee and the air cell, and has a perforation to permit the crown of the patella to extend through. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,383,843 to Watson et al. discloses an air pressure knee brace apparatus having valve means to allow the user to adjust the desired amount of support pressure. The pneumatic chamber has an aperture located directly over the kneecap. The adjustment straps include buckles to control the tension around the knee. The front of the apparatus is composed of neoprene, while the pneumatic chamber is made of latex rubber. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,500,955 to Gongea discloses a knee pad for athletes which includes a stretchable elastic region connecting the various cushion regions. The fastening strips also attach to the elastic region. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 5,524,292 to Hargens discloses a knee pad unit having a hard outer plastic shell. Inflatable pneumatic tubes are attached to the shell by VELCRO® fasteners. The tubes are inflated by a hand held air pump. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,070,267 to McKewin discloses a knee pad holder including simple loops or keepers secured to the trousers leg. The loops are provided for use only with an upper strap to hold the knee pad against downward movement. 
   There exists a continuing need in the art for a knee pad that provides protection to the knee while allowing for mobility and flexibility. There is also a need for a knee pad having a double closing system that remains secure during repeated kneeling and standing motions and while walking on the knees. There is a further need for a knee pad provides a tighter fit around the knee. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a knee pad for cushioning a human knee. The knee pad includes a cushion section having varied consistencies. The knee pad is held on the knee by two fastening straps. Each fastening strap is attached to the cushion section with buckles or similar fastening devices. A lower fastening strap has at least two closure devices, a first being a hook and eye fastening system and a second being a buckle fastening system. 
   In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a knee pad includes a cushion section; an upper fastening strap including a first buckle fastening system; and a lower fastening strap including a hook and eye fastening system and a second buckle fastening system. 
   In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a knee pad includes a cushion section; an upper fastening strap including a first buckle fastening system, the first buckle fastening system having a first female buckle component attached to a cushion section upper portion first border and a first strap attached to a cushion section upper portion second border, the first strap adjustably receivable in a first male buckle component; and a lower fastening strap including a hook and eye fastening system and a second buckle fastening system, the hook and eye fastening system having a first component formed on an outside surface and proximate an end of a lower fastening strap second segment and a second component formed on an inside surface and proximate an end of a lower fastening strap first segment, the second buckle fastening system having a second female buckle component attached on the outside surface of the lower fastening strap second segment in spaced relationship to the hook and eye fastening system first component, a second strap attached to a cushion section lower portion first border and receivable through a plurality of loops formed on an outside surface of the lower fastening strap first segment, and a second male buckle component, the strap adjustably receivable in the male buckle component. 
   There has been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended herein. 
   In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of design and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other methods and compositions for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent methods and systems insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present disclosure may be better understood and its numerous features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a rear elevation view of the knee pad showing the upper fastening strap in an attached position in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a rear elevation view of the knee pad showing the upper fastening strap and the first closure device of the lower fastening strap in attached positions in accordance with the invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a rear elevation view of the knee pad showing the upper fastening strap and the second closure device of the lower fastening strap in attached positions in accordance with the invention; and 
       FIG. 4  is a side elevation view of the knee pad of  FIG. 3  in accordance with the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With reference to  FIG. 1  through  FIG. 4 , a knee pad generally designated  100  includes a cushion or pad section  105 , an upper fastening strap  150  and a lower fastening strap  170 . The cushion or pad section  105  may be formed of various materials to provide padding to the knee as is well known in the art. Upper fastening strap  150  may be formed of any flexible and sturdy material including cotton, nylon and soft leather. Lower fastening strap  170  is generally thicker than the upper fastening strap  150  and may be formed of any flexible and sturdy material including cotton, nylon and soft leather. 
   Cushion or pad section  105  includes an upper portion  110  having sewn proximate a border  113  thereof a female component  115  of a first buckle fastening system  117 . First buckle fastening system  117  further includes a male component  119  through which a first end  151  of the upper fastening strap  150  is adjustably received. A second end  153  of the upper fastening strap  150  is sewn proximate a border  155  of the upper portion  110 . 
   Cushion or pad section  105  further includes a lower portion  111  having sewn proximate a border  175  thereof a first segment  171  of the lower fastening strap  170 . A second segment  173  of the lower fastening strap  170  is sewn proximate a border  176  of the lower portion  111 . 
   Second segment  173  of the lower fastening strap  170  includes a first component  180  of a hook and eye fastening system formed on an outside surface  185  and at an end  181  thereof as best seen in  FIG. 1 . A second component (not shown) of the hook and eye fastening system is formed on an inside surface of the first segment  171  of the lower fastening strap  170  at an end  183  thereof. First component  180  and the second component of the hook and eye fastening system provide a first closure device to the lower fastening strap  170 . 
   A second closure device is provided to the lower fastening strap  170  by means of a second buckle fastening system  200 . A flexible and sturdy strap  190  is sewn proximate the border  175  and received through a plurality of loops  191  sewn onto an outside surface  174  of the first segment  171  of the lower fastening strap  170 . An end  193  of the strap  190  is adjustably receivable through a male component  205  of the second buckle fastening system  200 . Male component  205  is engageable with a female component  210  sewn in spaced relationship to the first component  180  of the hook and eye fastening system on the outside surface  185  of the second segment  173 . 
   In use, the knee pad  100  of the invention may be worn over the knee of a wearer to provide protection to the knee while allowing for mobility and flexibility. The upper fastening strap  150  may be adjustably secured above the knee bend. The lower fastening strap  170  may be adjustably secured below the knee bend by first securing the hook and eye fastening system and then securing the buckle fastening system. The hook and eye fastening system ensures that the lower fastening strap  170  does not release when repeated kneeling and standing occurs or when walking on the knees. The hook and eye fastening system further provides for a tighter fit. 
   The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.