Patent Publication Number: US-7900270-B2

Title: Shin guard

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a shin guard, in particular for soccer players, having a rigid shield element arranged in front of the shin, and having means of fastening the shield element on the lower leg. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The fastening means on conventional shin guards for soccer players comprise flaps whose ends can be joined together at the back of the lower leg, and whose other ends are attached to the shield element at the latter&#39;s edge. Forces acting on the shield are transmitted in their entirety to the flaps via the joints, which causes not only the flaps, but also the shield element to slip slightly during play and is extremely unpleasant for the player. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is based on the problem of creating a new shin guard of the kind mentioned above, which ensures a more stable positioning of the shield element on the shin. 
     According to the present invention, this problem is solved by a shin guard that is characterized in that the fastening attachments include a bandage adapted at least partially to surround a user&#39;s lower leg, and in that the shield element forms a connection with the bandage over a substantial part of the shield element&#39;s inner surface that faces the shin. 
     As a result of the connection which, in accordance with the present invention, may cover a large area of. e.g., more than 50% of the inner surface between the bandage and the shield element, the forces acting on the shield element are distributed over the shield element such that the static frictional force between the bandage and the lower leg is not exceeded. Therefore, under normal circumstances, it is hardly possible for the bandage and consequently the shield element to slip. 
     Preferably, the shield element is detachable from the bandage. A Velcro® hook and eye fabric fastener in particular is considered suitable for the detachable connection. 
     Advantageously, the bandage comprises an elastic material, in particular a textile material, which feels pleasant on the skin when worn. The elasticity of the material advantageously enables a desired gripping force to be adjusted in a stable and reproducible manner. 
     In a preferred embodiments the bandage can only be wrapped around the lower leg once, and overlapping ends can be joined together, preferably by way of a Velcro® hook and eye fabric fastener. By choosing the appropriate extent of overlap of the flap ends, the Velcro® fastener advantageously offers sufficient variability for adjustment of the desired gripping force of the bandage. 
     The bandage preferably extends upwards to near the hollow of the knee, and downwards to near the ankle. In this way, the entire length of the lower leg is used to achieve a stable seat for the bandage and, consequently, the shield element. 
     The shield element preferably ends above the lower end of the bandage. The part of the bandage that protrudes downwards beyond the end of the shield element provides additional stability to the seating of the bandage on the lower leg. 
     In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bandage has an opening that leaves the calf free. 
     Advantageously, the lengths of the connection areas remaining above and below the opening, and which surround the lower leg, are measured and positioned in such a way that they lie above and below the area in which the cross-section of the lower leg varies as a result of calf muscle activity. Consequently, the shin guard in no way impedes leg movement. 
     In a further elaboration of the invention, the bandage could possess a flap that extends downwards and can preferably be wrapped around the sole of the foot to form a padded ankle protector. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is explained in more detail below by means of examples and the enclosed drawings relating to these examples. The drawings show that: 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an inventive shin guard connected with a lower leg, 
         FIG. 2  is the shin guard of  FIG. 1  on a lower leg, with the shield element removed, 
         FIG. 3  is the shin guard of  FIG. 1  disassembled into its individual parts and detached from the lower leg, and 
         FIG. 4  is a partial illustration of a shin guard according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A shin guard for a soccer player, which is to be worn under the player&#39;s socks, has a bandage ( 2 ) that can be attached to the lower leg ( 1 ) and combined by way of a Velcro® hook and eye fabric fastener with a rigid shield element ( 3 ) that is intended to be positioned in front of the shin. 
     The bandage ( 2 ), manufactured from an elastic textile material, possesses an opening ( 5 ) that leaves the calf ( 4 ) largely uncovered. The connecting sections ( 6 ) and ( 7 ) remaining above and below the opening each extend across an area of the lower leg in which changes to the cross-section of the lower leg as a result of calf-muscle activity are minimal. 
     As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the bandage ( 2 ) extends upwards to near the hollow of the knee ( 8 ), and downwards to near the ankle ( 9 ). 
     In accordance with  FIG. 3   a , which shows the bandage ( 2 ) detached from the lower leg and spread out in one plane, the connecting section ( 6 ) comprises the flaps ( 11 ) and ( 12 ), and the connecting section ( 7 ), the flaps ( 13 ) and ( 14 ). At each of the flap ends a fastening area ( 10 ) is provided to form a Velcro® hook and eye fabric fastener ( 15 ) and ( 16 ). 
     A fastening surface ( 17 ) on the bandage ( 2 ) and a fastening surface ( 18 ) that extends over the entire inner surface ( 23 ) of the shield element ( 3 ) in the embodiment shown, together form the abovementioned Velcro® fastener. 
     The shin guard shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  can be comfortably applied without having to take off the player&#39;s shoes or knee-length socks. The bandage ( 2 ) can be applied to the lower leg with knee-length socks merely rolled down, and the Velcro® fasteners ( 15 ) and ( 16 ) then being closed. Finally the shield element ( 3 ) can be attached, the fastening surface ( 18 ) extending over the entire inner surface ( 23 ) and engaging the fastening surface ( 17 ) on the bandage ( 2 ). 
     The shin guard is comfortable to wear. Thanks to the opening ( 5 ), the activity of the calf muscle, and thus leg movement as a whole, is not impeded. 
     The connection extending over the entire inner surface ( 23 ) of the shield element ( 3 ) between the shield element ( 3 ) and the bandage ( 2 ) on the one hand, and the bandage ( 2 ) with a correspondingly large surface lying adjacent to the lower leg on the other, ensures that the shield element ( 3 ) remains in the desired position in front of the shin, and does not slip laterally or vertically. Advantageously, when detached from the shield element ( 3 ), the bandage ( 2 ) can be washed like an item of clothing. Each shield element ( 3 ) can be used together with different bandages. 
     Should the shield element ( 3 ) still slip, it can be easily returned to the desired place by rolling down the sock covering it, opening the Velcro® fasteners ( 15 ) and ( 16 ) and closing them again when the position of the shield element ( 3 ) has been corrected. Where necessary, the bandage ( 2 ) can also be twisted without opening the Velcro® fasteners. 
     The embodiment of a shin guard shown in  FIG. 4  differs from the previous design example in that a flap ( 19 ) is attached to a lower fastening section ( 7   a ), The flap ( 19 ) is padded in the area of the ankle at ( 20 ), thus forming an ankle protector. The end of the flap wrapped around the sole of the foot ( 21 ) can be attached to the bandage ( 2   a ) at ( 22 ) using a Velcro® fastener.