AU2004202183A1 - Joint protector - Google Patents

Description

21/05 '04 FRI 15:37 FAX 61 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA Z004

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Applicant KNEEON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD A.C.N. 067 574 690 Invention Title: JOINT PROTECTOR The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI,15:37_FAX 61 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK 444 IPAIJSTRALIA [Mioos -2 JOINT PROTECTOR FIELD OF THE INIVENTION The invention relates to a joint protector, and particularly knee pad joint protector.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVflT ION Knee pads pro worn during many different ativities where the tissue around the knee Joint can be damaged by impact or otherwise harmed by extended periods of pressure on the knee. Such activities include roller binding. skateboarding, gardening and carpentry.

A typical knee pad has an outer surface, or protective cover, which is made of an abrasion resistant material, and an inner surface of shock absorbing material. one or more straps are provided to secure the knee pad to the knee. A soft, flexible material is preferred for the straps, in order to minimise the straps cutting into the wearer's leg.

Many different designs of knee pads are available. it has been found that knee pads in which the protective cover has a high degree of flexibility are preferred. flee pads of this type are generally more comfortable for the wearer as the protective cover flexes to conform with the position of wearer's knee. Thus, the wearer is less conscious of the presence of the knee pad.

In order to achieve a high degree of flexion of the protective cover, the straps must be securely attached to both the wearer's leg, and the outer surface. in this way. the curvature of the knee pad changes with the angle COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:38 FAX 61 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA L1j006 -3and movement of the knee.

A number of methods of attachment of the straps to the protect ive cover have been tried, including stitching the straps to the protective cover. This has proved to be unsuccessful. as the strap material can experience high stress at the stitching, resulting in the strap material tearing along the stitching line.

The present joint protector provides for more reliable and comfortable protection of a joint.

STJID(RY OF THE IRIVNT ION According to the present invention there is provided a joint protector comprising a flexible body having a pair of openings on opposite lateral sides of the body, and a flexible strap threaded through the openings and having ends that are fastenable to each other to fasten the joint protector over and around a body joint.

Preferably, the strap is generally wider than the length of the slits, and narrows to the slit length where the strap locates in the slits, such that in use the strap resists movement of the shall along its length.

There are preferably two straps, each strap is preferably provided with cutout sections that may be a circular aperture and/or an elongate slot.

Preferably, each slit has at least one raised edge for strength and to assist in locating the strap in the slit.

Preferably, the joint protector also has a padding member located between the shell and the person's body and characteristically between the shell and COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:38 FAX 81 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACKIAUTAA00 444 IFAUSTRALIA IM 007 -4 intermediate strap portion located between the slits.

Preferably, the apparatus has two strap members.

Preferehlyj the strap member has attached at each end a portion of ccomplementary hook and loop material.

Preferably, the joint protector is a knee pad.

BRIEF DEBCRIP'TION OF TEN DRAWINGS In order that the present invention may be more easily understood, an embodiment will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1;- Figure 2:- Figure 3: Figure 4: Figure 5: Figure 61 Figure 7: Figure 8; is a front view of a joint protector according to a first embodiment of the present invention in the form of a knee pad; Is a rear view of the knee pad shown in figure 1; is a view of the protective shell used in the knee pad shown in figure 1; is a view of the upper strap used in the knee pad shown in figure 1; is a view of the lower strap used in the knee pad shown in figure 1; is a front view of the padding used in the knee pad shown in Figure 2; illustrates the knee pad of Figure 1 fitted to a person's knee; is a front view of a second embodiment of a knee pad of the joint protector according to the present invention; is a rear view of the knee pad of Figure 8; and Figure 9 COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: rime 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:38 FAX 81 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK 44IPAIJSTRALIA Z~008 Figure 10 is a front view of the padding used in the knee pad shown in Figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figu~res 1 and 2 show front and rear views of a joint protector in the form of an assembled knee pad 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 3 to 6 show further details of the individual components which assemble to form the knee pad of Figures 1 and 2. Figures 8 to 10 illustrate a second embodiment of a knee pad in which the straps are differently configured and there are minor variations to the kneec pad body.- The knee pad 1 in both embodiments has a protective, flexible body substantially in the form of a shell 5 which in made of an elastic material, such as moulded rubber, and is substantially resistant to abrasion. The shell 5 hau a series of grooves 30 which allow the shell to hinge and conform to the shape of the wearer's knee. The face of shell 5 is also resistant to acid, oil and heat.

The knee pad 1 has a pair of upper slits towards the side edges of the shell for receiving an upper strap 10. The knee pad 1 has a similar pair of lower slits 26 for receiving a lower strap 15. Each of the upper and lower straps 10, 15 is a one piece flexible strap, which is threaded through the respective slits 26.

The straps 10, 15 are threaded such that the straps 10, 15 pass first through one slit in a pair from the front (or outside) of the shell 5, through to the rear or inside, then through the other slit in the pair hack to COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:39 FAX 61 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH R1ACK IPAIJSTRALIA (Mioog -6 the front. Threading in this manner ensures that the shell conforms to the shape of the knee by holding the side edges of the shell S underneath the straps 10, 15 as illustrated in Figures 1 and 8.

To secure the ends of the upper and lower straps 15 to each other, complementary hook and loop portions 36 such as Velcro" are attached to the ends of the straps 10, Both upper and lower straps 10, 15 are made of a flexible material such as neoprene. The straps 10, are, for the most part, wider than the corresponding slits 26. At the point where the strap 10, 15 is located in a slit 25. 26, the strap 10, 15 is notched or reduced in width with respect to the rest of the strap to maintain stLrap positions in slits 25, 26. The width of the straps 15 at the notches 40, 41 is approximately the same as the length of slit 25, 26. Thus, unintended sliding of the shell S on the straps 10. 15 is prevented.

Figure 8 illustrates a second embodiment of the invention Where the two straps 10, 15 are modified to assist in avoiding migration of the knee pad about the knee. To this end the straps are provided with elongate cutout slots 50 or circular cutouts 52 which, once the straps are stretched around a person's leg, elongate to give a better grip at the sides and rear of the knee without the discomfort of tan experienced with straps bunching up behind the knee.

The elongate slot SO in particular has the effect of dividing a single strap into two smaller straps behind the knee, which better locates and maintains the correct position of the knee pads. The removal of material in the cutout section reduces the bulk of the strap behind the knee making the knee pad more comfortable to wear and more COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:39 FAX 61 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA -7securely located at the front of the knee.

when assembled with the shell S5, in the second emibodimfenlt the strap sections 57 on one side of the shell are longer than the section of straps 55 extending from the other side. The similar is true with the first embodiments the straps 10, 15 lie longer to one side of the shell 5 than the other aide of the shell. In the second embodiment, circular cutouts 52 are provided on the shortur sections 55 while the elongate alots SO are located on the longer strap section 57. The ends of the elongate slot 50 terminate in circular sections.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 8, the slits 26 on the shell 5 have raised edges 45 on the exterior surface of the shell 5. The raised edges 45 increasm the strength of the shell 5, and assist the prevention of the shell 5 sliding with respect to the straps 10, 15. Raised edges 45 also reduce the likelihood of the straps wearing against the edges of the slits.

A padding =mmbr 20 ±9 located on the inside of the knee pad 1, such that it is between the shell 5 end the wearer. The padding member 20 is made of a compressible mterial such as neoprene. Thus, the padding member 20 works to reinforce the padding of the knee pad by dispersing pressure from the shell 5, and cushioning impact of the knee pad 1 with an obstacle.

In the first and second embodiments, the padding member 20, 62 respectively is placed behind the shell and is shaped such that jt is bounded by the edges of the shell 5, and the slits 10, 15 to provide added comfort to the user. Thus, the padding member can be inserted between the shell 5 and the portion of the straps 10, passing over the inner side of the shell 5. The padding member 20 is thereby retained in position by the shell [a 010 COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by II' Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI.15:39 FAX 81 3 0243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK 444- IPAUSTRALIA zIo11 and the straps 1-0, The shell surface Of the knee Pad 8 is Provided with nodules 61 which make the surface more resistant to s slipping as well as provides extra padding and protection for the knee. An oval imprint 60 at the centre of the shell 5 illustrated in Figure 8 has raised sections to provide additional padding for a kneecap, which will be located behind the oval imprint.

Figure 7 shows how the knee pad 1 is fitted to a person's leg L. To fit the knee pad 1, it is positioned on the person's leg L and upper and lower straps 10, are in turn paused behind the peruon's leg L to fasten together the hook and ioop portions 35, 36. The knee pad can then be adjusted to fit comfortably over the knee.

The shape of the shell somewhat resembles a figure where the upper part is smaller than the lower part. The upper part of the shell is designed to cover the area of the leg directly above the knee whereas the lower part covers the area directly below the knee. The two parts are joined by a narrow portion that is flexible and acts as a hinge between the upper and lower parts.

Hence, the shell is capable of deforming to follow a user's leg when the leg is straight or'bent.

Although described in its preferred embodiment as a knee pad, the Joint protector may be adapted to protect other body joints such as elbows and wriats. The joint protector provides good padding for Joints against impact or prolonged pressure. It is simple to use end comfortable to wear and is designed to retain its position over th. joint.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time (I-tm) 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:39 FAX 61 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA 9 It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the invention that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21

Claims (19)

1. A joint protector comprising a flexible body having a pair of openings on opposite lateral sides of the body, and a flexible strap threaded through the openings, the strap having ends that are fantenable to each other to fasten the joint protector around a body joint.

2. The joint protector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the strap is threaded from a rear of the body through the openings to cause the ends of the straps to extend from a front surface of the body such that an intermediate portion of the strap is captured between the openings on the rear of the body.

3. The joint protector as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein the openings are slits.

4. The joint protector claimed in claim 3 wherein each slit has a raised edge on the front surface of the body.

The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body comprises two pairs of slits on opposite lateral sides thereof and wherein there are two straps, each strap received in a pair Of slits.

6. The joint protector as claimed in any one preceding claims wherein the width of the strap strap is located in an opening is narrower than of the rest of the strap. o f the where the the width

7. The Joint protector as preceding claims wherein the elongate or circular holes.

8. The Joint protector as preceding claims wherein the claimed in any strap contains one one of the or more claimed in any strap ends are one of the provided with COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:40 FAX 81 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK IPAUSTRALIA Q~014 hook and loop fasteners.

9. The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the strap is made of neoprene material.

The joint protector claimed in claim 2 further including a reinforcing pad captured between the rear of the body and the intermediate portion of the strap.

11. The joint protector as claimed in claim 10 wherein the reinforcing pad is made is neoprene material.

12. The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body han nodes on its front surface.-

13. The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the front surface of the body has grooves for increasing the flexibility of the body.

14. The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body is made of an elastic material.

The joint protector as claimed in claim 14 wherein the body is made of moulded rubber.

16. The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the front surface of the body is mnade of a material that is substantially resistant to wear, acid and/or heat.

17. The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the body is roughly shaped as a figure where a top portion of the body is smaller than a bottom portion. COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21 21/05 '04 FRI 15:40 FAX 61 3 9243 8333 GRIFFITH HACK +4 IPAUSTRALIA [2015 12

18. The joint protector as claimed in claim 17 wherein the top and bottom portions of the body are connected to allow relative movement therebetween.

19. The joint protector as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the joint protector is a kneepad. A joint protector substantially as described herein with reference to and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 21st day of May 2004 KNEEON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys GRIFFITH HACK Fellows Institute of Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys of Australia COMS ID No: SMBI-00760795 Received by IP Australia: Time 15:48 Date 2004-05-21