CA2270585A1 - Sports chest protector - Google Patents
Sports chest protector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2270585A1 CA2270585A1 CA002270585A CA2270585A CA2270585A1 CA 2270585 A1 CA2270585 A1 CA 2270585A1 CA 002270585 A CA002270585 A CA 002270585A CA 2270585 A CA2270585 A CA 2270585A CA 2270585 A1 CA2270585 A1 CA 2270585A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- foamed material
- layer
- cell foamed
- chest
- closed
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 230000001012 protector Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 19
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 229920001169 thermoplastic Polymers 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000004416 thermosoftening plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 210000000038 chest Anatomy 0.000 description 21
- 239000006261 foam material Substances 0.000 description 6
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 description 3
- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 3
- 208000014674 injury Diseases 0.000 description 3
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 description 3
- -1 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 3
- 239000004698 Polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229920003023 plastic Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 229920000573 polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 208000010496 Heart Arrest Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 239000004743 Polypropylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229920001577 copolymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002349 favourable effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920006284 nylon film Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000000704 physical effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920000098 polyolefin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001155 polypropylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
- A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
- A63B71/12—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
- A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
- A63B71/12—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders
- A63B2071/1208—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders for the breast and the abdomen, e.g. breast plates
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
- A63B2102/18—Baseball, rounders or similar games
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2102/00—Application of clubs, bats, rackets or the like to the sporting activity ; particular sports involving the use of balls and clubs, bats, rackets, or the like
- A63B2102/22—Field hockey
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
- Details Of Garments (AREA)
Abstract
A chest protector suitably shaped as to be fittable to the upper torso of a person and having a portion operably adjacent to the heart region surface of the chest, so located as to protect said heart region surface from a blow subjected to the chest, said heart portion comprising a bicomponent foamed material pad comprising a layer of an open-cell foamed material and a layer of a closed-cell foamed material adjacent thereto.
Description
SPORTS CHEST PROTECTOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
1 o This invention relates to chest protective device for sports persons, particularly hockey and baseball players.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Serious injury, including death, occasionally occurs when a very hard blow to the chest is made by a flying projectile or other object, for example a hockey puck, baseball or hockey stick.
In Canada in 1998, at least five fatalities were caused by a hockey puck striking a 2o player in the chest, directly, or under the arm pit.
Traditional shoulder pads generally formed of a rigid plastic material, are open at each side under the arms, and offer no protection from pucks shot from the side, and little protection from pucks shot directly from the front. Traditionally, there is a sheet of closed-cell foam hanging in front of each of the rib cages and at the back with the two sheets being connected at the sides by a strap and a piece of Velcro fastening material.
Studies performed in the United States at the University of Michigan on chest impacts and air bags concluded that open-cell foam material has favourable physical properties which can be used to reduce injury, and while traditional closed-cell foam material is ineffective to prevent injury from direct impact.
There thus remains an urgent need to provide a suitably, cost-effective, comfortable and practical chest device to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest when the chest is struck by a flying projectile, brandished hockey stick and the like.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
1 o This invention relates to chest protective device for sports persons, particularly hockey and baseball players.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
Serious injury, including death, occasionally occurs when a very hard blow to the chest is made by a flying projectile or other object, for example a hockey puck, baseball or hockey stick.
In Canada in 1998, at least five fatalities were caused by a hockey puck striking a 2o player in the chest, directly, or under the arm pit.
Traditional shoulder pads generally formed of a rigid plastic material, are open at each side under the arms, and offer no protection from pucks shot from the side, and little protection from pucks shot directly from the front. Traditionally, there is a sheet of closed-cell foam hanging in front of each of the rib cages and at the back with the two sheets being connected at the sides by a strap and a piece of Velcro fastening material.
Studies performed in the United States at the University of Michigan on chest impacts and air bags concluded that open-cell foam material has favourable physical properties which can be used to reduce injury, and while traditional closed-cell foam material is ineffective to prevent injury from direct impact.
There thus remains an urgent need to provide a suitably, cost-effective, comfortable and practical chest device to reduce the risk of cardiac arrest when the chest is struck by a flying projectile, brandished hockey stick and the like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved chest protector, particularly for sports persons such as hockey and baseball players open to being hit by a s fast hard object such as a puck, baseball or hockey stick.
Accordingly, in its broadest aspect, the invention provides a chest protector suitably shaped as to be fittable to the upper torso of a person and having a portion operably adjacent to the heart region surface of the chest, so located as to protect said heart region surface from a blow subjected to the chest, said heart portion comprising a bicomponent foamed material pad comprising a layer of an open-cell foamed material and a layer of a closed-cell foamed material adjacent thereto.
In a preferred embodiment, the pad comprises said open-cell layer sandwiched between a pair of said closed cell material layers.
The open-cell foamed material may be of any suitable thickness which provides 1 s an 'air-bag' type cushioning effect by dispersing the energy force of the impact radially outwards from the direct point of impact.
In a more preferred embodiment, the heart portion further comprises a film of a resiliently, flexible thermoplastics material, for example, formed of a polyolefin selected from, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers thereof; or, for example, formed of a nylon film, sheet or small mesh.
The film, sheet or mesh of the thermoplastics material enhances the disbursement of the impact force of the object throughout the area of the film across the whole torso to assist in minimizing the force at the point of impact, while the open-cell foam material absorbs some of the impact at the point of contact.
2s Preferably, the mesh is of a fine mesh size, for example, less than O.Smm square, more preferably less than 0.2mm square when formed of a nylon in a raschel knit constitution.
The pad may comprise a plurality of open and closed-cell material layers and associated films, mesh and the like. Most preferably, the protector is of such size and shape as to provide a 'round the torso' approach to chest protection.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved chest protector, particularly for sports persons such as hockey and baseball players open to being hit by a s fast hard object such as a puck, baseball or hockey stick.
Accordingly, in its broadest aspect, the invention provides a chest protector suitably shaped as to be fittable to the upper torso of a person and having a portion operably adjacent to the heart region surface of the chest, so located as to protect said heart region surface from a blow subjected to the chest, said heart portion comprising a bicomponent foamed material pad comprising a layer of an open-cell foamed material and a layer of a closed-cell foamed material adjacent thereto.
In a preferred embodiment, the pad comprises said open-cell layer sandwiched between a pair of said closed cell material layers.
The open-cell foamed material may be of any suitable thickness which provides 1 s an 'air-bag' type cushioning effect by dispersing the energy force of the impact radially outwards from the direct point of impact.
In a more preferred embodiment, the heart portion further comprises a film of a resiliently, flexible thermoplastics material, for example, formed of a polyolefin selected from, for example, polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers thereof; or, for example, formed of a nylon film, sheet or small mesh.
The film, sheet or mesh of the thermoplastics material enhances the disbursement of the impact force of the object throughout the area of the film across the whole torso to assist in minimizing the force at the point of impact, while the open-cell foam material absorbs some of the impact at the point of contact.
2s Preferably, the mesh is of a fine mesh size, for example, less than O.Smm square, more preferably less than 0.2mm square when formed of a nylon in a raschel knit constitution.
The pad may comprise a plurality of open and closed-cell material layers and associated films, mesh and the like. Most preferably, the protector is of such size and shape as to provide a 'round the torso' approach to chest protection.
A most preferred embodiment comprises a four member sandwich, layered in the order of a first or outer closed-cell foam material layer, a thermoplastic film, or mesh, the open-cell foamed material layer and a second or inner closed-cell foam material layer.
The chest protectors according to the invention may be readily made by, for example, encapsulating the film or mesh and foamed material layers together as being held loosely adjacent one to another within a suitable membrane, cloth or the like.
The pad may be incorporated as a built-in part of an original piece of shoulder pad protection device or as a retrofit pad to an existing set of shoulder pads, for example, as an after-market addition.
1 o The protector as hereinabove defined is of particular utility when the pad according to the invention is located adjacent 'under an arm' area to provide protection against a side impact.
Without being bound by theory, it is believed that use of merely closed-cell foam material alone is not satisfactory because this material does not provide for dispersal or absorption of the force of the impact radially away from the point of impact and allows the direct transfer of the force through to the chest.
In a further aspect, the invention pads as hereinberfore defined for use in a chest protector as hereinabove defined.
By the term 'open-cell' foamed material in this specification and claims is meant 2o air foamed material that allows for the dispersal of air in the cells to other open cells by the force of the impact which impacted foam disperses the force substantially, beneficially from the impact point. Closed-cell foamed material means closed-cell foamed material wherein the air trapped within each cell is not free to enter into or receive air from adjacent cells.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be better understood, preferred embodiments will 3o now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, where in Fig. 1 represents a sketch of a chest protection device with a protective pad according tot the invention;
Fig. 2 represents the embodiment if Fig 1. Encased in a mesh according to the invention;
Fig 3. is a baseball chest protector according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a diagramatic cross section of a protective pad according to the invention; and wherein the same numerals denote like parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Fig.l, this shows the upper torso 10 of a hockey player 12 wearing a chest protecting array of rigid polyethylene plastic plates shown generally as 14 seen in the prior art. Superimposed on front plate 16 at the heart region of player 12 is a protective pad 18 shown in more detail in Fig.4, held to plate 16 by retaining bands 20, each fastened at one end thereof 22 by a buckle fitting 24 and together by VelcroTM
fastening.
A cross-member band 28 completes the fastening to plate 16 of bands 20, pad 18 partially encircles the chest under left armpit 30.
2o Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of Fig.l having a raschel-type mesh of nylon envelope 32;
Fig.3 shows a baseball catcher's chest protector 34 of the prior art having a pad 18 sewn into a central portion of protector 34 according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic cross-section of part of a pad 18 as open cell foamed material layer 38 between a pair of closed-cell foamed material layers having a nylon mesh envelope 42.
Although this disclosure has been described and illustrated certain preferred emodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to those particular embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are 3o functional or mechanical equivalent of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated.
The chest protectors according to the invention may be readily made by, for example, encapsulating the film or mesh and foamed material layers together as being held loosely adjacent one to another within a suitable membrane, cloth or the like.
The pad may be incorporated as a built-in part of an original piece of shoulder pad protection device or as a retrofit pad to an existing set of shoulder pads, for example, as an after-market addition.
1 o The protector as hereinabove defined is of particular utility when the pad according to the invention is located adjacent 'under an arm' area to provide protection against a side impact.
Without being bound by theory, it is believed that use of merely closed-cell foam material alone is not satisfactory because this material does not provide for dispersal or absorption of the force of the impact radially away from the point of impact and allows the direct transfer of the force through to the chest.
In a further aspect, the invention pads as hereinberfore defined for use in a chest protector as hereinabove defined.
By the term 'open-cell' foamed material in this specification and claims is meant 2o air foamed material that allows for the dispersal of air in the cells to other open cells by the force of the impact which impacted foam disperses the force substantially, beneficially from the impact point. Closed-cell foamed material means closed-cell foamed material wherein the air trapped within each cell is not free to enter into or receive air from adjacent cells.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be better understood, preferred embodiments will 3o now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, where in Fig. 1 represents a sketch of a chest protection device with a protective pad according tot the invention;
Fig. 2 represents the embodiment if Fig 1. Encased in a mesh according to the invention;
Fig 3. is a baseball chest protector according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a diagramatic cross section of a protective pad according to the invention; and wherein the same numerals denote like parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
With reference to Fig.l, this shows the upper torso 10 of a hockey player 12 wearing a chest protecting array of rigid polyethylene plastic plates shown generally as 14 seen in the prior art. Superimposed on front plate 16 at the heart region of player 12 is a protective pad 18 shown in more detail in Fig.4, held to plate 16 by retaining bands 20, each fastened at one end thereof 22 by a buckle fitting 24 and together by VelcroTM
fastening.
A cross-member band 28 completes the fastening to plate 16 of bands 20, pad 18 partially encircles the chest under left armpit 30.
2o Fig. 2 shows the embodiment of Fig.l having a raschel-type mesh of nylon envelope 32;
Fig.3 shows a baseball catcher's chest protector 34 of the prior art having a pad 18 sewn into a central portion of protector 34 according to the invention;
Fig. 4 shows a diagrammatic cross-section of part of a pad 18 as open cell foamed material layer 38 between a pair of closed-cell foamed material layers having a nylon mesh envelope 42.
Although this disclosure has been described and illustrated certain preferred emodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not restricted to those particular embodiments. Rather, the invention includes all embodiments which are 3o functional or mechanical equivalent of the specific embodiments and features that have been described and illustrated.
Claims (8)
1. A chest protector suitably shaped as to be fittable to the upper torso of a person and having a portion operably adjacent to the heart region surface of the chest, so located as to protect said heart region surface from a blow subjected to the chest, said heart portion comprising a bicomponent foamed material pad comprising a layer of an open-cell foamed material and a layer of a closed-cell foamed material adjacent thereto.
2. A protector as defined in claim 1 further comprising means for retaining said protector to said torso.
3. A protector as defined in any one of claims 1 or 2 wherein the pad comprises said open-cell foamed material layer sandwiched between a pair of said closed-cell foamed material layers.
4. A protector as defined in any one of claims 1 to3 further comprising a resiliently flexible film, sheet or mesh formed of a thermoplastics material adjacent a surface of the pad.
5. A protector as defined in claim 4 wherein said film, sheet or mesh is interspersed between at least one of said closed-cell layers and said open cell layer.
6. A protector as defined in claim 5 wherein said pad comprises a four membered sandwich, layered in the order of a first or outer closed-cell foamed material layer, said thermoplastic film, or mesh, said open-cell foamed material layer and a second or inner closed-cell foamed material layer.
7. A protective chest pad for use with a rigid protective chest member, said pad comprising a mufti-layer unit comprising a layer of an open-cell foamed material in combination with a first layer of a closed-cell foamed material.
8. A protective pad as defined in claim 7 comprising a four membered sandwich, layered in the order of a first or outer closed-cell foamed material layer, said thermoplastic film, or mesh, said open-cell foamed material layer and a second or inner closed-cell foamed material layer.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002270585A CA2270585A1 (en) | 1999-04-30 | 1999-04-30 | Sports chest protector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002270585A CA2270585A1 (en) | 1999-04-30 | 1999-04-30 | Sports chest protector |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2270585A1 true CA2270585A1 (en) | 2000-10-30 |
Family
ID=29588901
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002270585A Abandoned CA2270585A1 (en) | 1999-04-30 | 1999-04-30 | Sports chest protector |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2270585A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20140213946A1 (en) * | 2013-01-31 | 2014-07-31 | William Singleton | Removable medical support mechanism |
-
1999
- 1999-04-30 CA CA002270585A patent/CA2270585A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US20140213946A1 (en) * | 2013-01-31 | 2014-07-31 | William Singleton | Removable medical support mechanism |
| US9173761B2 (en) * | 2013-01-31 | 2015-11-03 | William Singleton | Removable medical support mechanism |
Similar Documents
| Publication | Publication Date | Title |
|---|---|---|
| US4422183A (en) | Protective body shield | |
| US6282724B1 (en) | Apparatus for enhancing absorption and dissipation of impact forces for all helmets and protective equipment | |
| US5946734A (en) | Head protector apparatus | |
| US7341776B1 (en) | Protective foam with skin | |
| US6314586B1 (en) | Supplemental protective pad for a sports helmet | |
| US5781935A (en) | Padded body protection pads | |
| US6161222A (en) | Athletic garment with inner thigh guards | |
| US5956777A (en) | Helmet | |
| KR100368782B1 (en) | Flexible lightweight protective pad with energy absorbing inserts | |
| CA1197055A (en) | Protective pad assembly | |
| US4642814A (en) | Athletic padding | |
| US4213202A (en) | Shock distributing panel | |
| US6961960B2 (en) | High strength impact resistant hand protector | |
| US4660230A (en) | Baseball batting helmet | |
| US5398342A (en) | Air management baseball glove | |
| CA2566133C (en) | Chest wall protector | |
| US7877820B2 (en) | Artificial disc | |
| US20100287690A1 (en) | Compression garment combined with a customer fitted protective athletic shield | |
| US20140373256A1 (en) | Helmet pads | |
| US5701611A (en) | Protective pad construction | |
| WO2004016122A1 (en) | Protective garment | |
| US10966472B2 (en) | Chest protectors for reducing risk of commotio cordis | |
| US7735161B2 (en) | Chest protector | |
| JP2000084138A (en) | Protector for horse riding | |
| US8959671B1 (en) | Apparatus and methods for preventing commotio cordis and other traumatic chest and bodily injuries |
Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |