Abstract:
Outdoors sports apparel for protecting the body while participating in winter sports. In particular, a pant including pads for protecting the buttocks and hips from falls incurred while snowboarding. To attain buttock protection, a protective pad arranged from the lower edge of the pant waist across the buttocks. To attain hip protection, said protective pad extending laterally across the hip. In an embodiment, the protective pad comprised of an elastic material. In an embodiment, the pant further comprises a pair of pads, each arranged from the upper edge of the knee to below the knee.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to outdoors sports apparel. In particular, the present invention relates to a pair of sports pants for use in connection with outdoor winter sports. The sports pants have particular utility in connection with protecting the buttocks and hips from falls incurred while snowboarding. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Outdoors sports apparel is desirable for keeping one&#39;s body protected while partaking in sports activities such as snow skiing or snowboarding. 
   The use of ski pants is known in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,297 to Mejia discloses a pair of ski pants having a pair of protective pads, where the pads extend from the upper edge of the knee on one of the legs to at least the midportion of the shin. Such protective pads protect the legs from abrasions that may be caused during downhill speed skiing. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,035,844 to Atack et al. discloses a novel trouser-like article of clothing that combines the functions of underwear, socks, garter belts and crotch protectors that may be worn under conventional sporting clothing. However, the Atack et al ‘844 patent does not pad the buttock or hip area. 
   Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,128,902 to Siebert discloses a pair of protective gymnast pants that provide pelvic, hip, and thigh area protection by inserting foam inserts into a pouch provided on the front portion of the pants. However, the Siebert ‘902 patent does not pad the buttock or hip area. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,124 to Thompson discloses knee padding for work pants that provides padding over the knees of workpants, where the pad has a self-centering effect within their respective pockets. However, the Thompson ‘124 patent does not pad the buttock or hip area. 
   U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,613 to Loverdi et al. discloses an all-in-one slider sport pants that protect from scrapes the thigh and hip area of a softball player sliding into base. However, the Loverdi et al ‘ 613  patent does not teach a pad extending from the lower edge of the waist across the buttocks as claimed in the instant application. 
   Lastly, United States Design Pat. No. 393,141 to Glycenfer appears to disclose a work pant with kneeling pad pockets, wherein the pockets are arranged entirely on the front mid portion of the pants, such that protects kneeling pads may be inserted for use. However, the Glycenfer ‘141 patent does not appear to pad the buttock or hip area. 
   While the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe, for example, a pair of sports pants that allows protective padding for the buttocks or hips by teaching a pad extending from the lower edge of the waist across the buttocks as claimed in the instant application. The Maejima ‘297 ski pant patent makes no provision for protecting the buttocks or hips. 
   Therefore, a need exists for new and improved sport pants which can be used for snowboarding and skiing. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. In this respect, the sport pants according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of protecting the hips and buttocks when falling from skis or snowboards. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of ski pants now present in the prior art, the present invention provides improved outdoors sports apparel, and overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide new and improved outdoors sports apparel which has all the advantages of the prior art mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in outdoors sports apparel which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a sport pant comprising a pair of protective pads, where each pad extends from the waist to below the buttocks. An alternate embodiment essentially comprises a trouser-like article of clothing of elastic material having an exteriorly accessible pocket in which the wearer could place a buttock-protecting pad. Still another embodiment essentially comprises a jacket-type article of clothing of elastic material having exteriorly accessible pockets in which the wearer could place elbow-protecting pads. 
   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. 
   The invention may also include reflectors. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
   Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current 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 descriptions 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. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide new and improved outdoors sports apparel that has all of the advantages of the prior art ski pants and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved outdoors sports apparel that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved outdoors sports apparel that has 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 outdoors sports apparel economically available to the buying public. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide new outdoors sports apparel that 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 yet another object of the present invention is to provide outdoors sports apparel for increasing the visibility of the wearer. 
   These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that 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 had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is 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 front and back view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of an embodiment of the present invention. The cross-section is taken on line  2  of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a front and back view of an additional embodiment of the present invention. 
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to  FIGS. 1–3 , a preferred embodiment of the outdoors sports apparel of the present invention is shown. In particular, the sports pants are generally designated by the reference numeral  10 , and the sports jacket is generally designated by the reference numeral  32 . 
   In  FIG. 1 , new and improved outdoors sports apparel of the present invention for protecting the buttocks and hips from falls incurred while snowboarding and snow skiing is illustrated and will be described. Such pants may be constructed to keep a wearer warm and dry. For example, the pants may be waterproof and insulated such that the wearer is protected from the elements. Furthermore, the pants may be constructed such that they are form-fitted to afford greater protection from the elements. The pants may be of a material that stretches in both directions. Further, the pants may afford protection from abrupt falls. More particularly, the sports pants  10  include pads  12 . Such pads may be arranged on the backside of the pants  10 , and extend from below the waistband  34  to below the buttocks. The pants is sized and cut according to patterns normally used for pants and a left and a right half are joined together at the common seam, as is know in the industry. Elastic material is sewn into the waistband  34  of the pants. 
   In an embodiment, there may exist one pad for both buttocks. Such a pad could be arranged beneath the outer layer of the pants, and may be sewn into the pants when the left and right half of the outer layer are put together. However, in the preferred embodiment, there may be one pad per buttock configured such that the pad covers entirely its respective buttock. In an embodiment, a pad covers the tailbone of the wearer, such that the tailbone is protected in the event the wearer falls directly on the tailbone. Still further, in alternate embodiments, the pad or pads extend laterally to the front of the pants such that the hip of the wearer is also covered. 
   In addition to buttock/hip pads  12 , the pants  10  may include knee pads  16 . Such knee pads are arranged on the front of the sports pants  10 , and extend at least from the upper edge of the knee on one of the legs to at least below the knee. 
   Pads mentioned herein, that is buttock/hip pads  12  and knee pads  16 , are formed from an elastic material. For example, such elastic material may be, but is not limited to, high-density rubber or foam. Desirable is material that provides significant cushioning without extraneous bulk. Such pads may be immovably sewn or attached into the pants  10 , or they may be placeable and removable by the wearer. Still further, the pads may be placed or removed without removing or reaching within the pants. For example, the pads may be inserted into the pants via pocket openings  28 , as shown. That is, the pads may be inserted into pockets integral with the pants. For example, pocket opening  28  may include a hook and loop closure system, and a tab  30 . Pulling the tab  30  may open the pocket opening  28 . Such a removable pad configuration may be desired, for example, when the pants themselves are machine washable yet the pads are not. Such configuration may also be desirable, for example, so that the pads may be replaced. Further, removable and replaceable pads will allow the wearer to choose pads of a desired thickness. 
   Pants  10  may also include reflectors  18 . As shown, reflectors  18  may be arranged on the front of the sports pants  10  as well as on the back of sports pants  10 . In the front, reflectors  18  may be arranged above as well as below the knee pads  16 . The rear reflectors  18  may be arranged below the knees. The reflectors  18  may be immovably attached or incorporated into the sports pants  10 , or they may be sewn onto or otherwise attached to the sports pants  10 . As such, reflectors  18  may be constructed of a variety of reflective materials. Further, some of these reflective materials may be rigid, while others are flexible and/or machine washable. Consequently, such reflectors may allow the wearer to be more easily seen in low visibility conditions. Such reflectors may aid in either finding a wearer in, for example, a snowdrift, or such reflectors may aid in seeing the wearer so as to avoid collisions with, for example, other snowboarders. 
   Turning to  FIG. 2 , a cross section taken on line  2  of the embodiment illustrated by  FIG. 1  is shown. As shown, sports pants  10  may have a layered construction. For example, sports pants  10  may include inner layer  20  arranged next to the skin. Such inner layer may be a fabric adapted to wick moisture from the skin. Such fabrics may include cotton, silk, or other synthetic fabrics designed for their moisture wicking abilities. Next to this inner layer  10  may be an insulating layer  22 . Such insulating layer may be polyfill or the like, or any other natural or synthetic fabric or combinations of fabrics. Next to the insulating layer  22  may be outer layer  24 . Outer layer  24  is waterproof in a preferred embodiment. For example, outer layer  24  may be nylon. Pads  16  or  12  may be arranged between the insulating layer and the nylon layer in an embodiment where the pads are not removable. That is, the pads may be arranged beneath the outer layer  24  in an embodiment where the pads are not removable. However, in an embodiment where the pads are removable and replaceable, the pads may be arranged within a pocket formed upon the outer layer  24 . Such pocket may be fashioned from a pad-covering layer  26 . Such pad-covering layer may be the same material as the outer layer  24 , but may not necessarily be the same material. 
   Turning to  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the outdoors sports apparel of the present invention is illustrated and will be described. In particular, a sports jacket  32  is shown. Such a sports jacket may have a layered construction as described for the sports pants  10 . Further, such a sports jacket may be constructed of similar fabrics and materials. Sports jacket  32  may include elbow pads  34 . Such elbow pads  34  may be arranged on the sleeves of sports jackets  32 , configured such that the pads wrap around laterally towards the front of the sleeve. It may be desirable to have removable and replaceable elbow pads  34 ; therefore sports jacket  32  may include pocket openings  28  and closure means, or tab,  30 . Such elbow pads would be arranged such that they could protect the wearer&#39;s elbows in the event of a fall. Furthermore, sports jacket  32  may include reflectors  18  as indicated. That is, the sleeves may each include a pair of reflectors, arranged above and below each elbow pad. Further, the back of the jacket may include a pair of reflectors, one arranged on the wearer&#39;s upper back, the other arranged on the wearers lower back. Still further, the front of the jackets may include two pairs of reflectors, wherein a pair is arranged on each side of a midline of the jacket. Of each pair, one of the reflectors is arranged across the chest of the wearer, while the other is arranged at the waist of the wearer. Although not shown, the outdoors sporting apparel may also include extra pockets to accommodate articles the wearer may need to stow. Such extra pockets will be arranged on areas that have a lower probability of forceful impact in the event of a fall. Such an area may be, for example, the outside upper arm or the outside lower leg. Such pockets could be designed to accommodate, for example, phones, radios, wallets, ski-goggles or sunglasses, or car keys. 
   While a preferred embodiment of the outdoors sports apparel has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 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. For example, any suitable water-resistant fabric may be used instead of the nylon outer layer described. And although outdoors sports pants or trousers have been described, it should be appreciated that the outdoors sports apparel herein described is also suitable for use as bib overalls. Furthermore, a wide variety of natural or synthetic fabrics may be used for any of the layers instead of the particular fabrics described. 
   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.