Patent Publication Number: US-6338164-B1

Title: Protective chaps

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to chaps and more particularly pertains to new protective chaps for protecting the shins, knees, feet and chest of a wearer. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     The use of chaps is known in the prior art. More specifically, chaps heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
     Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,095,544; 2,355,193; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 373,892; U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,611,081; 4,984,303; 4,280,342. 
     While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose new protective chaps. The inventive device includes first and second leg portions adapted to fit over trousers of a user. Each of the leg portions has a knee portion, and a shin portion. Each of the leg portions is integrally coupled to and extends away from a waist portion. Each of a plurality of pockets is securely coupled to one of the first and second leg portions. A first and second of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the knee portions. A third and fourth of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the shin portions. Each of a plurality of padding members is removably positionable in one of the pockets such that each of the pockets has one of the padding members therein. A primary strap member removably secures the waist portion to the body of a user. A back side of the primary strap member is securely attached to and extends along a top edge of the waist portion. Each of a plurality of secondary strap members removably secures each of the leg portions to one of the legs of a user. Each of the secondary strap members is securely coupled to one of the first and second leg portions. 
     In these respects, the protective chaps according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting the shins, knees, feet and chest of a wearer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of chaps now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new protective chaps construction wherein the same can be utilized for protecting the shins, knees, feet and chest of a wearer. 
     The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new protective chaps apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the chaps mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new protective chaps which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art chaps, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     To attain this, the present invention generally comprises first and second leg portions adapted to fit over trousers of a user. Each of the leg portions has a knee portion, and a shin portion. Each of the leg portions is integrally coupled to and extends away from a waist portion. Each of a plurality of pockets is securely coupled to one of the first and second leg portions. A first and second of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the knee portions. A third and fourth of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the shin portions. Each of a plurality of padding members is removably positionable in one of the pockets such that each of the pockets has one of the padding members therein. A primary strap member removably secures the waist portion to the body of a user. A back side of the primary strap member is securely attached to and extends along a top edge of the waist portion. Each of a plurality of secondary strap members removably secures each of the leg portions to one of the legs of a user. Each of the secondary strap members is securely coupled to one of the first and second leg portions. 
     There has thus 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 additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     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 construction and to the arrangements 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 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 structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting, as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new protective chaps apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the chaps mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new protective chaps which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art chaps, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a new protective chaps which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new protective chaps which is of a durable and reliable construction. 
     An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new protective chaps which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such protective chaps economically available to the buying public. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new protective chaps which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new protective chaps for protecting the shins, knees, feet and chest of a wearer. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new protective chaps which includes first and second leg portions adapted to fit over trousers of a user. Each of the leg portions has a knee portion, and a shin portion. Each of the leg portions is integrally coupled to and extends away from a waist portion. Each of a plurality of pockets is securely coupled to one of the first and second leg portions. A first and second of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the knee portions. A third and fourth of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the shin portions. Each of a plurality of padding members is removably positionable in one of the pockets such that each of the pockets has one of the padding members therein. A primary strap member removably secures the waist portion to the body of a user. A back side of the primary strap member is securely attached to and extends along a top edge of the waist portion. Each of a plurality of secondary strap members removably secures each of the leg portions to one of the legs of a user. Each of the secondary strap members is securely coupled to one of the first and second leg portions. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new protective chaps that has chest, groin and foot protectors that may be added to the chaps for protecting a larger portion of the body. 
     Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new protective chaps that has a belt for hanging tool and container on. 
     These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a new protective chaps according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view along  3 — 3  of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the groin panel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a belt of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a belt of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a foot panel of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic front view of a chest panel of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 8 thereof, a new protective chaps embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 8, the protective chaps  10  generally comprises first  12  and second  14  leg portions adapted to fit over trousers of a user. Each of the leg portions  12 ,  14  has a knee portion  16 , and a shin portion  18 . Each of the leg portions  12 ,  14  is integrally coupled to and extends away from a waist portion  20 . 
     Each of a plurality of pockets is securely coupled to one of the first  12  and second leg  14  portions. A first  22  and second  23  of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the knee  16  portions. A third  24  and fourth  25  of the pockets is securely coupled to one of the shin portions  18 . 
     Each of a plurality of padding members  26  is removably positionable in one of the pockets. Each of the padding members  26  comprises a foamed elastomeric material. Each of the pockets  22 - 25  has one of the padding members  26  therein. 
     A primary strap member  28  removably secures the waist portion  20  to the body of a user. The primary strap member  28  is elongate and has a first end  29 , a second end  30 , a front side  31  and a back side  32 . The back side  32  of the primary strap member is securely attached to and extends along a top edge of the waist portion  20 . The front side  31  of the primary strap member  28  has a loop portion  33  of a hook and loop securing means securely coupled thereto. A hook portion  34  is securely attached to the back side  32  and positioned generally adjacent to the first end  29  for coupling opposite ends of the primary strap member  28  together. 
     A plurality of secondary strap members  36  removably secures each of the leg portions  12 ,  14  to a leg of a user. Each of the secondary strap members  36  has a pair of ends  37  securely coupled to an opposite edge  38  of one of the first  12  and second  14  leg portions. Each of the secondary strap members  36  has a break  39  in therein such that a first member  40  and second member  41  of each of the secondary strap members  36  is defined. Each of the secondary strap members  36  has a hook and loop securing means  43  attached thereto for removably securing together each of the first members  40  to a respective second member  41 . 
     A chest panel  46  has a front side  47  having a plurality of pockets  48  attached thereto. Each one of a pair of straps  49  is securely coupled to a top edge of the chest panel  46 . Each of the straps  49  coupled to the chest panel  46  has a hook portion  34  securely attached thereto for removably coupling with the loop portion  33  on the primary strap member  28 . Adjacent to the bottom edge of an inner side of the chest panel  46  and extending along the bottom edge is a hook portion for coupling to the primary strap member. 
     Each of a pair of foot panels  50  is positionable over one of the feet of a user and removably coupled to a respective leg portion  12 ,  14  with a hook and loop securing means  43 . 
     A groin protection pouch  52  has a generally triangular shape. Each one of three straps  53  is securely coupled to one of the edges  54  of the groin protection pouch  52 . Each of the straps  53  coupled to the groin protection pouch  52  has a hook portion  34  securely attached thereto for removably coupling with the loop portion  33  on the primary strap member  28 . The groin protection pouch  52  preferably has a slit  55  therein for removably positioning a rigid cup  56  in an interior of the groin protection pouch. The cup  56  having a generally triangular shape and having and outer edge comprising a resiliently flexible material. Each of the leg, waist, chest, foot and groin panels ideally comprises a denim material. 
     Each of plurality of containers  64  has an outer surface having a hook portion  34  thereon for removably attaching the containers to the loop portion  33  on the front side  31  of the primary strap member  28 . 
     A belt  60  has an outer surface having a loop portion  33  thereon such that the containers  64  may be removably coupled to the belt. The belt  60  has a pair of ends. A fastening member removably fastens ends of the belt  60  together to define a loop. The fastening member preferably includes a plurality of apertures  70  in the belt  60  and a hook  71  coupled to an end of the belt  60  which is removably insertable into the apertures  70 , though any conventional clasp may be used. The belt  60  has a plurality of annular members  62  securely coupled thereto. 
     An elongate flexible member  65  has an inner surface having a hook portion  34  securely attached thereto for removably coupling with the loop portion  33  on the primary strap member  28 . An outer surface of the elongated member  65  has a plurality of annular members  62  securely coupled thereto. The containers  64  may hold screws and nails while the annular members may hold tools. 
     In use, the chaps are worn like conventional chaps. The padding members help protect a user for kneeling and for being struck in the shins. The foot and chest panels may be added for protecting, those areas. The bottom edge of the chest panel is coupled to the primary strap member  28  adjacent to the waist portion  20 . The straps  49  are attached to the primary strap member adjacent behind the user when the primary strap member is extended around a user and coupled to itself for holding the chaps on the person. 
     As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.