Patent ID: 7082621

Claim:
A thigh pad protector worn with an article of athletic apparel that defines an anterior inside pocket at the thigh with an upwardly open entry to the pocket (such as a pair of football pants or athletic girdle), with the thigh pad protector used between the wearer's leg and the pocket defining article of apparel, said thigh protector comprising: (a) a molded plastic core thigh guard covered on each side with either closed or open cell foam appropriately sealed and defining a distinctive anterior (front) portion and a distinctive lateral (side) portion that combine to form an arcuate cross section conforming to the user's thigh, (b) a groove separating said anterior (front) portion and lateral (side) portion through the length of their common border until these two distinct portions join at the superior (upper) aspect of the device with a common core and foam coverings; (c) an anterior (front) portion contoured to the natural curvature of the thigh that fits securely within an inside thigh pad pocket in a garment normally worn outside the protector (such as a pair of football pants or athletic girdle), (d) a lateral (side) portion that extends superiorly to a position just below typically located garment hip pad pockets and inferiorly to just above the knee with a configuration and a lateral (outside) border contoured to the anatomical curvature of the thigh.