CA2847132C - Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper - Google Patents

Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2847132C
CA2847132C CA2847132A CA2847132A CA2847132C CA 2847132 C CA2847132 C CA 2847132C CA 2847132 A CA2847132 A CA 2847132A CA 2847132 A CA2847132 A CA 2847132A CA 2847132 C CA2847132 C CA 2847132C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
outer shell
leg pad
hockey goalkeeper
hockey
molded
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.)
Active
Application number
CA2847132A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
CA2847132A1 (en
Inventor
Lee Mackey
Guillaume Harvey
Alexandre Du Ruisseau
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bauer Hockey Corp
Original Assignee
Bauer Hockey Corp
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bauer Hockey Corp filed Critical Bauer Hockey Corp
Priority to CA2847132A priority Critical patent/CA2847132C/en
Publication of CA2847132A1 publication Critical patent/CA2847132A1/en
Priority to US16/531,438 priority patent/US11484769B2/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA2847132C publication Critical patent/CA2847132C/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Landscapes

  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
  • Orthopedics, Nursing, And Contraception (AREA)

Abstract

A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper playing hockey (e.g., ice hockey) is provided. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portionrespectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of a goalkeeper's leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad, an inner liner for facing the leg, and protective padding disposed between the molded outer shell and the inner liner. The outer shell may comprise molded foam.

Description

LEG PADS FOR A HOCKEY GOALKEEPER
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to protective hockey equipment and, more particularly, to leg pads for hockey goalkeepers.
BACKGROUND
Leg pads are worn by hockey goalkeepers to protect their legs against impacts from pucks, balls, hockey sticks or other objects and/or to protect their legs when moving (e.g., dropping) them onto a playing surface.
A hockey goalkeeper's leg pad typically comprises protective padding for providing padded protection to the goalkeeper's leg and an outer covering disposed over the protective padding. The outer covering is typically made of one or more panels of synthetic pliable material such as synthetic leather (e.g., polyurethane (PU) leather) or fabric (e.g., nylon fabric, polyester fabric, CorduraTM fabric, etc.) that are cut into a desired configuration so as to cover the protective padding.
The synthetic leather or fabric used for a leg pad's outer covering may have some drawbacks. For example, in some cases, the synthetic leather or fabric may be limited in its ability to provide protection in and of itself and/or may require additional components to be added to the leg pad, such as fabric overlays for decoration and/or separate panels for attaching straps of the leg pad.
For these and other reasons, there is a need for improvements in a hockey goalkeeper's leg pads.

, A
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises a molded outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad, an .R) inner liner for facing the leg, and protective padding disposed between the molded outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad.
The outer shell comprises molded foam. The leg pad comprises an inner liner for facing the leg and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises a molded outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad. The molded outer shell comprises an upper leg portion, a knee portion, and a lower leg portion. The molded outer shell has a molded bent configuration such that the molded outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad. The
2 leg pad comprises an inner liner for facing the leg and protective padding disposed between the molded outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises an outer surface comprised at least in part of an outer shell. The outer shell comprises: a molded material a skin affixed to the molded material and constituting at least part of the outer surface of the leg pad. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad further comprises: an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad; a molded inner liner for facing the leg;
and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the molded inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad; a molded calf wing; an inner liner for facing the leg; and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner.
3 According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad;
a molded knee wing; an inner liner for facing the legl and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad;
an inner liner for facing the leg; and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding comprises a plurality of padding materials that are different from one another. The padding materials are disposed relative to one another to control a rebound effect in different areas of the protective padding.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad;
an inner liner for facing the leg; and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding comprises a plurality of padding materials that are different from one another. A first one of the padding materials
4 is disposed in at least one limited area of the protective padding on a second one of the padding materials.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises: an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad; an inner liner for facing the leg; and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding comprises: a lower leg padding portion; and a foot padding portion separate from the lower leg padding portion and assembled with the lower leg padding portion during manufacturing of the leg pad.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of customizing a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
The outer shell comprises a first material. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad further comprises: an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The method comprises:
obtaining a second material different from the first material to create a desired design for the outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad; and bonding the second material to the first material to implement the desired design for the outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided, in combination, a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper and a plurality of separate skin pieces for affixing to a molded material of an outer shell of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises: the outer shell comprising an outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad and the molded material; an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper; and protective padding disposed between the
5 outer shell and the inner liner. The separate skin pieces are configured to be arranged relative to one another to obtain a desired visual appearance of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided, a kit for use with a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises an outer shell, an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper, and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The outer shell comprises a molded material. The kit comprises a w plurality of skin pieces for affixing to the molded material of the outer shell to impart a desired design to the outer shell.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for customizing a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises an outer shell, an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper, and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The outer shell comprises a molded material. The method comprises: receiving a request for a desired design of the outer shell of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad; and providing a plurality of separate skin pieces configured to be affixed to the molded material of the outer shell. The plurality of separate skin pieces is configured to impart the desired design to the outer shell.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises an outer shell having a first layer of material defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad wherein the first layer of material is at least partly laminated to a second layer of material of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad. The outer shell comprises an upper leg portion, a knee portion and a lower leg portion. In addition, the outer shell comprises molded material imparting a molded shape of the outer shell. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad also comprises 5a an inner liner for facing the leg and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding generally conforms to the molded shape of the outer shell.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises an outer shell having a first layer of material defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad wherein the first layer of material is at least partly laminated to a second layer of material of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad. The outer shell comprises an upper leg portion, a knee portion and a lower leg portion. In addition, the outer shell comprises molded material having a molded bent configuration such that the outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad also comprises an inner liner for facing the leg and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding generally conforms to the molded shape of the outer shell.
According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad is wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprises an outer shell having a first layer of material defining an outermost surface the hockey goalkeeper leg pad wherein the first layer of material is at least partly laminated to a second layer of material of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad. The outer shell comprises molded material having a molded bent configuration such that the outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad also comprises an inner liner for facing the leg and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner. The protective padding comprises a first padding material and a second padding material. The second padding material is stiffer than the first padding material and is bent in the longitudinal direction of the 5b hockey goalkeeper leg pad in accordance with the molded bent configuration of the molded material of the outer shell.
5c These and other aspects of the invention will now become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following description of embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A detailed description of embodiments of the invention is provided below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a front view of an example of leg pads for protecting legs of a hockey goalkeeper in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 shows a front view of the right leg pad;
Figures 3 to 6 show front, side, and back views of the right leg pad with certain details omitted;
Figure 7 shows an exploded view of certain parts of the right leg pad;
Figure 8 shows a molded outer shell of the right leg pad;
Figures 9A to 9D show renderings of at least part of the molded outer shell;
Figure 10 shows molded ornaments of the molded outer shell;
Figure 11 shows protective padding of the right leg pad;
Figure 12 shows a variant in which molded material of the molded outer shell comprises two different constituents in accordance with another embodiment of .. the invention;
6 Figures 13 and 14 show a variant in which the molded outer shell comprises a skin affixed to a molded material in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
Figures 15 and 16 show a variant in which the protective padding comprises separate pads in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
Figures 17 and 18 show a variant of an interconnection between the molded outer shell and an inner liner of the leg pad in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 19 shows a variant in which the inner liner is a molded inner liner in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;
Figure 20 shows a variant in which the leg pad comprises a molded knee wing and a molded calf wing in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

and Figure 21 and 22 show front and side views of the goalkeeper's right leg.
The description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating certain embodiments of the invention and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Figures 1 to 6 show an example of leg pads 101, 102 wearable by a hockey goalkeeper in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The leg pads 101, 102 are worn on the hockey goalkeeper's legs 161, 162 while playing hockey to protect the legs 161, 162 against an impact from a puck, ball, hockey stick or other object and/or to protect the legs 161, 162 when moving (e.g., dropping)
7 them onto a playing surface 12. In this embodiment, a type of hockey played is ice hockey such that the leg pads 101, 102 are ice hockey goalkeeper leg pads, the hockey goalkeeper is an ice hockey goalkeeper, and the playing surface 12 is an ice playing surface.
The leg pads 101, 102 protect various regions of the goalkeeper's legs 161, 162.
With additional reference to Figures 21 and 22, each leg 16õ of the goalkeeper comprises an upper leg 18, a knee 19, a lower leg 20, and a foot 21. The upper leg 18 is above the knee 19, while the lower leg 20 is below the knee 19 and above the foot 21. The leg 16õ of the goalkeeper has a front 22, a back 23, a medial side 24 (sometimes referred to as an "inner side"), and a lateral side (sometimes referred to as an "outer side").
In this embodiment, each leg pad 10õ comprises an upper leg portion 30, a knee portion 31, a lower leg portion 32, and a foot portion 33 respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to the upper leg 18, the knee 19, the lower leg 20, and the foot 21 of the goalkeeper's leg 16õ when the leg pad 10õ is worn on the leg 16..
The upper leg portion 30 is above the knee portion 31, while the lower leg portion 32 is below the knee portion 31 and above the foot portion 33. Each of these portions of the leg pad 10õ comprises a frontal part, a medial part, and a lateral part such that the leg pad 10õ comprises a frontal portion 26, a medial portion 27, and a lateral portion 28 respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to the front 22, the medial side 24, and the lateral side 25 of the goalkeeper's leg 16õ
when the leg pad 10x is worn on the leg 16.. The frontal portion 26 comprises a front 34 of the leg pad 10õ, the medial portion 27 comprises a medial side 35 of the leg pad 10õ, and the lateral portion 28 comprises a lateral side 36 of the leg pad 10.. In this embodiment, the knee portion 31 comprises a knee wing 39 and the lower leg portion 32 comprises a calf wing 59.
8 The leg pad 10x can be secured to the goalkeeper's leg 16x in any suitable way.
For example, in this embodiment, the leg pad 10x comprises straps 501-50s to secure the leg pad 10x to the goalkeeper's leg 16,.
With additional reference to Figure 7, in this embodiment, the leg pad 10x comprises an outer shell 42, an inner liner 44, and protective padding 40 disposed between the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44.
The outer shell 42 comprises an outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x that faces away from the goalkeeper's leg 16x. With additional reference to Figures 8 and 9A to 9D, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises an upper leg portion 52, a knee portion 53, a lower leg portion 54, and a foot portion 55 which constitute respective parts of the upper leg portion 30, the knee portion 31, the lower leg portion 32, and the foot portion 33 of the leg pad 10x. Each of these portions of the outer shell 42 comprises a frontal part, a medial part, and a lateral part such that the outer shell 42 comprises a frontal portion 56, a medial portion 57, and a lateral portion 58 which constitute respective parts of the frontal portion 26, the medial portion 27, and the lateral portion 28 of the leg pad 10x.
In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 is a molded outer shell. That is, the outer shell 42 is formed by a molding process. A shape of the outer shell 42 is thus a molded shape imparted during the molding process. The outer shell 42 comprises molded material 70 that constitutes at least a majority (i.e., a majority or an entirety) of the outer shell 42 and has been formed during the molding process to impart the shape of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this embodiment, the upper leg portion 52, the knee portion 53, the lower leg portion 54, and the foot portion 55 of the outer shell 42 comprise respective parts of the molded material 70 which have been configured by the molding process. Also, in this example of implementation, the outer shell 42 includes molded features for functional and/or aesthetic purposes, as further discussed later.
9 . ' The molded shape of the outer shell 42 may have any suitable configuration. In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 has a molded bent configuration such that it bends in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x. More particularly, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 includes a bend 60 in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x between the upper leg portion 52 and the lower leg portion 54 adjacent to the knee portion 53, and a bend 61 in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x between the lower leg portion 53 and the foot portion 55. In this example, the bend 60 is a curved part which defines a curvature of the outer shell 42, while the bend 61 is an angular part which defines an oblique angle.
Also, in this embodiment, the molded bent configuration of the outer shell 42 is such that the outer shell 42 bends in a widthwise direction of the leg pad 10x.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 includes a bend 68 in the widthwise direction of the leg pad 10x between the frontal portion 56 and the medial portion 57 of the outer shell 42, and a bend 69 in the widthwise direction of the leg pad 10x between the frontal portion 56 and the lateral portion 58 of the outer shell 42. The molded bent configuration of the outer shell 42 may be arranged in any other suitable way in other embodiments (e.g., include any number of bends, curved or angular, disposed in any suitable manner).
In addition, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a cavity 62 receiving and holding the protective padding 40. The cavity 62 lies opposite the outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x such that it faces the goalkeeper's leg 16x.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the medial portion 57 and the lateral portion 58 of the outer shell 42 project rearwardly relative to the frontal portion 56 of the outer shell 42 to define the cavity 62. In this example, the outer shell 42 also comprises a top portion 63 and a bottom portion 64 which project rearwardly relative to the frontal portion 56 to define the cavity 62.
Once the protective padding 40 is placed in the cavity 62 of the outer shell 42, in this embodiment, the inner liner 44 is placed behind the protective padding 40 and secured into position. To that end, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 =
comprises a fastening zone 65 to fasten the outer shell 42 to at least one of the inner liner 44 and the protective padding 40. In this example, the fastening zone 65 is provided to fasten the outer shell 42 to both the inner liner 44 and the padding 40. More particularly, in this embodiment, the fastening zone 65 comprises a fastening lip 66 in at least one, in this case each, of the medial portion 57, the lateral portion 58, the top portion 63, and the bottom portion 64 of the outer shell 42. A fastener 67 interacts with the fastening lip 66 of the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44 to secure the inner liner 44, the protective padding 40, and the outer shell 42 together. In this example, the fastener 67 is a series of stitches that stitch together the inner liner 44, the protective padding 40, and the outer shell 42. The fastener 67 may be any other suitable fastener in other examples (e.g., an adhesive, a series of staples, etc.). The fastening zone 65 may be implemented in any other suitable way in other embodiments. In addition to being retained between the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44, in this embodiment, the protective padding 40 is also laced to the inner liner 40 via laces 151-15L.
In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 has molded functional features which provide certain functions to the leg pad 10õ.
For example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a plurality of flexion facilitators 81, 801-80F located at predetermined locations which are spaced from one another to facilitate flexing of the outer shell 42 at these predetermined positions when the goalkeeper's leg 16, moves. The flexion facilitators 81, 801-80F are formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this embodiment, the flexion facilitator 81 is located between the lower leg portion 53 and the foot portion 55 of the outer shell 42 to facilitate flexion of the foot portion 55 relative to the lower leg portion 53 when the goalkeeper's foot 21 moves relative to his/her lower leg 20. The flexion facilitator 81 thus provides a hinge between the lower leg portion 53 and the foot portion of the outer shell 42. The flexion facilitators 801-80F are located adjacent to the upper leg portion 52 and the knee portion 53 of the outer shell 42 to facilitate flexion of the upper leg portion 52 and the knee portion 53 relative to the lower leg portion 53 when the goalkeeper's knee 19 bends. In this embodiment, each of the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F comprises a reduction in thickness of the outer shell 42 at its predetermined position. More particularly, in this embodiment, each of the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F comprises a recess 82.
These localized thickness reductions tend to induce bending of the outer shell at the predetermined positions of the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F rather than at other positions. The flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
As another example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a strap attachment 71 for attaching the straps 501-50s to the leg pad 10x. The strap attachment 71 is formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this embodiment, the strap attachment 71 comprises a plurality of strap connectors 721-72c to connect respective ones of the straps 501-50s to the leg pad 10x. In this example, each strap connector 72; comprises a strap-receiving opening 73 for receiving a given one of the straps 501-50s. A first subset of the strap connectors 721-72c is disposed in the medial portion 57 of the outer shell 42, while a second subset of the strap connectors 721-72c is disposed in the lateral portion 58 of the outer shell 42, such that respective ones of the strap connectors 721-72c in the medial and lateral portions 57, 58 of the outer shell 42 are generally aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10õ to receive corresponding ones of the straps 501-50s. The strap attachment 71 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
As yet another example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises an edge projection 84 located in an edge region of the outer shell 42 adjacent to the lateral portion 58 of the outer shell 42. The edge projection 84 emulates a so-called "outer roll" of a conventional ice hockey goalkeeper leg pad and may help to prevent a puck from hitting the leg pad 10), and skipping over the leg pad 10õ

into the net. The edge projection 84 is formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. In this example, the edge projection 84 is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x. More particularly, in this example, the edge projection 84 extends longitudinally from the upper leg portion 52 to the foot portion 55 of the outer shell 42. Also, in this example, the edge projection includes a break 85 facilitating movement of a first part 861 of the edge projection 84 in the upper and lower leg portions 52, 54 and the knee portion 53 of the outer shell 42 relative to a second part 862 of the edge projection 84 in the foot portion 55 of the outer shell 42. The edge projection 84 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
As yet another example, in this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a calf wing member 97 constituting at least part of the calf wing 59 of the leg pad 10x and a knee wing member 98 constituting at least part of the knee wing 39 of the leg pad 10x. The calf wing member 97 and the knee wing member 98 are formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. Hinges 751, 752 are respectively located between the calf wing member 97 and the lower leg portion 54 of the outer shell 42 and between the knee wing member 98 and the knee portion 53 of the outer shell 42. In this example, the hinges 751, 752 are formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this example, each of the hinges 751, 752 is a reduction in thickness of the outer shell 42 at its location.
The calf wing member 97 and the knee wing member 98 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a plurality of molded ornaments 901-900 to enhance an appearance of the leg pad 10x. The molded ornaments 901-900 are molded relief elements that define a molded relief of the outer shell 42 which is formed during the molding process of the outer shell 42. With additional reference to Figure 10, each of the molded ornaments 901-90o includes a recess or projection relative to a base area 92 of the outer shell 42.
For instance, in this example, the molded ornaments 901, 90j, 90k are projections, while the molded ornament 90m is a recess. As they are formed during the molding process, the molded ornaments 901-900 allow the leg pad 10), to have an aesthetic design without requiring fabric overlays as is conventionally done in ice hockey goalkeeper leg pads.
More particularly, in this embodiment, various ones of the molded ornaments define a molded decorative pattern 93 of the outer shell 42. In this example, some of those molded ornaments 901-900 defining the molded decorative pattern 93 are elongated projections (e.g., ribs) or recesses. In this case, some of those molded ornaments 901-900 defining the molded decorative pattern 93 are curved and intersect other ones of these molded ornaments. The molded decorative pattern 93 may have any other suitable design in other embodiments.
Also, in this embodiment, certain ones of the molded ornaments 901-900 graphically convey information to an observer of the leg pad 10x. For example, in this embodiment, each of the molded ornaments 904, 905 conveys a word (i.e., a combination of characters), in this case "BAUERTm", which is indicative of a brand of the leg pad 10),.
The molded ornaments 901-900 may graphically convey any other suitable information (e.g., a model name, a logo, indicia, a serial number, etc.) in other embodiments.
In addition, in this embodiment, a plurality of decorative layers 951-95D may be received by given ones of the molded ornaments 901-900. Each of the decorative layers may comprise a decal, a sticker, paint, or any other decorative element that can be applied to the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42. For example, in this embodiment, the molded ornaments 904, 905 include recesses which receive the decorative layers 951, 952 constituting colored words. The decorative layers may be implemented in any other suitable manner in other embodiments.

In this embodiment, the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 comprises molded foam. This provides shock absorbability to the outer shell 42 which may help in protecting the goalkeeper's leg 16),. More particularly, in this embodiment, the molded foam 70 is ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. Any other suitable foam may be used in other embodiments (e.g., polyethylene foam (e.g., low-density polyethylene foam), polyurethane foam, polypropylene foam, etc.).
In some examples of implementation, the molded foam of the molded material 70 may include a single type of foam. In other examples of implementation, the molded foam of the molded material 70 may include two or more different types of foam, such as foams having different densities and/or different material compositions (e.g., an outer layer of foam that is denser than an inner layer of foam; a layer of EVA foam and another layer of polyurethane foam; etc.).
The molded material 70 may comprise any suitable material other than foam in other embodiments (e.g., polymeric material such as thermoplastic polyurethane or any other elastomeric material, a gel, etc.). For example, in some embodiments, as shown in Figure 12, the molded foam of the molded material 70 be a foam layer 83 and the molded material 70 may comprise a non-foam layer 88 over the foam layer 83. For instance, in some examples of implementation, the non-foam layer 88 may be thinner than the foam layer 83 and/or may have a greater resistance to wear and/or a greater resistance to rupture (i.e., to cutting or tearing) than the foam layer 83. For example, in some cases, the non-foam layer 88 may be a polyurethane layer or a layer of any other non-foam polymeric material. In this example of implementation, the non-foam layer 88 forms a skin disposed on the foam layer 83 and constituting at least part of the outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x. For instance, the skin 88 may constitute at least a majority (i.e., a majority or an entirety) of the outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x.
In some cases, the skin 88 may be pre-laminated onto the foam layer 83, which may initially be provided as a foam sheet, before molding this foam sheet and this pre-laminated skin together as a unit.

. , A thickness T of the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 may have any suitable value. For example, in some embodiments, the thickness T of the molded material 70 may be at least 4 mm, in some cases at least 5 mm, in some cases at least 6 mm, in some cases at least 7 mm, in some cases at least 8 mm, and in some cases even more (e.g., 10 mm or more). The thickness T of the molded material 70 may have any other suitable value in other embodiments. In some examples, the thickness T of the molded material 70 may be substantially constant over the outer shell 42. In other examples, the thickness T of the molded material 70 may vary such that it has different values in different regions of the outer shell 42.
The molding process of the outer shell 42 may employ any suitable molding method. In this embodiment, the molding process is compression molding such that the outer shell 42 is a compression molded outer shell. An amount of material which is to become the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 is introduced into a mold that is initially open and then shaped into the outer shell 42 by heat and by pressure created as the mold is closed and the material is forced into contact with all mold areas. A deflashing (i.e., flash removal) operation may be performed to remove any excess material from the molding operation. The outer shell 42 may be molded using any other suitable molding method in other embodiments (e.g., injection molding, thermoforming, etc.).
The outer shell 42 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the outer shell 42 may not comprise any molded strap attachments such as the strap attachment 71 for attaching the straps 501-50s to the leg pad 10., but may rather be fastened (e.g., sewn) to a separate strap attachment (e.g., a fabric panel) to which the straps 501-50s are attached. As another example, in other embodiments, flexion facilitators such as the flexion facilitators 80, 801-80F may be formed after molding of the outer shell 42 (e.g., by being cut after molding). As yet another example, in some embodiments, such as in some examples mentioned above, the molded material 70 of the outer shell 42 may include two or more different constituents (e.g., two or more layers of different foams, or a foam layer and a non-foam layer).
The protective padding 40 provides padded protection to the goalkeeper's leg 16x. With additional reference to Figure 11, in this embodiment, the protective padding 40 comprises an upper leg padding portion 481, a knee padding portion 482, a lower leg padding portion 483 and a foot padding portion 484 constituting 113 respective parts of the upper leg portion 30, the knee portion 31, the lower leg portion 32, and the foot portion 33 of the leg pad 10x. In this example, respective ones of the padding portions 481-48p are part of a common continuous pad that extends from the upper leg portion 30 to the foot portion 33 of the leg pad 10x.
In this embodiment, the protective padding 40 comprises a plurality of padding materials 891-893 that are different from one another. In this example, the padding materials 891-893 are different types foam, such as polyurethane foam, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, polypropylene (PP) foam, polyethylene (PE) foam), vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, or any other suitable foam. More particularly, in this example, the padding material 891 is a type of polyethylene foam (e.g., high-density polyethylene foam), the padding material 892 is a different type of polyethylene foam (e.g., low-density polyethylene foam), and the padding material 893 is a polyurethane foam (e.g., Poron XRDTm). In other embodiments, one or more of the padding materials 891-893 may be material other than foam, such as a gel or any other suitable shock-absorbing material.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the padding material 891 forms an outer layer 38 of the protective padding 40 and is stiffer (e.g., denser) than the padding material 892 which forms an inner layer 41 of the protective padding 40. This may impart rigidity to the protective padding 40 or enhance an impact resistance and/or a shock absorbance of the protective padding 40.

. .
Also, in this embodiment, the padding material 893 is disposed in specific limited areas 371-373 of the protective padding 40 relative to the padding material 891 to control a rebound effect at these areas when a puck hits these areas. For example, the goalkeeper may prefer a long rebound or a short rebound when a puck hits in a particular area and the padding material 893 may be distributed to customize a puck rebound profile of the leg pad 10x according to the goalkeeper's preference. For a given puck impact speed, the rebound effect is thus different in the areas 371-373 of the protective padding 40 than in other areas 461-464 of the protective padding 40 outside these areas 371-373.
More particularly, in this embodiment, the padding material 891 and the padding material 893 constitute respective parts of an outer surface 45 of the protective padding 40 that faces away from the goalkeeper's leg. In this example, the areas 371-373, which are spaced from one another, are respectively located in the upper leg padding portion 481, the lower leg padding portion 483 and the foot padding portion 484 of the protective padding 40. Each of the areas 371-373 is limited in that it occupies less than a width of the protective padding 40 and/or less than a length of the protective padding 40. In this case, each of the areas 371-373 occupies less than 90%, here less than 80%, of the width of the protective padding 40 and less than half, here less than one-third, of the length of the protective padding 40. Also, in this example, each of the areas 371-373 has a tapered configuration. More particularly, in this example, each of the areas 37,-373 tapers in the widthwise direction of the leg pad 10x.
A shape of the protective padding 40 generally conforms to the outer shell 42.
In this embodiment, the protective padding 40 has a bent configuration such that it bends in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x to generally conform to the molded bent configuration of the outer shell 42. More particularly, in this embodiment, the protective padding includes a bend 29 in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x between the upper leg padding portion 48, and the , .
lower leg padding portion 483 and a bend 43 in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x between the lower leg padding portion 483 and the foot padding portion 484. In this example, the bend 29 is a curved part which defines a curvature of the protective padding 40, while the bend 43 is an angular part which defines an oblique angle. The bent configuration of the protective padding 40 may be arranged in any other suitable way in other embodiments (e.g., include any number of bends, curved or angular, disposed in any suitable manner).
The protective padding 40 may be manufactured in any suitable way. In this embodiment, the outer layer 38 of the protective padding 40, which is made of the padding material 891, is molded or machined, while the inner layer 41 of the protective padding 40, which is made of the padding material 892, is machined.

Also, in this embodiment, the padding materials 891-893 are adhesively bonded.
Any suitable adhesive may be used (e.g., Contact CementTM, Spray Glue, etc.).
The padding materials 891-893 may be retained together in any other suitable way in other embodiments (e.g., by being overnnolded). The protective padding 40 may be made using any other suitable manufacturing methods in other embodiments.
The protective padding 40 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the padding 40 may be made of a single shock-absorbing material (e.g., a single foam). As another example, in other embodiments, different ones of the padding portions 481-484 may be part of distinct pads separate from one another. For instance, in some embodiments, with additional reference to Figure 15, the foot padding portion 484 may be separate from the lower leg padding portion 483. That is, the foot padding portion 484 and the lower leg padding portion 483 may be distinct pads that are separate from one another and assembled during manufacturing of the leg pad 10x. For example, each of the foot padding portion 484 and the lower leg padding portion 483 may be a pad molded, machined, or otherwise formed individually as a distinct piece. In some cases, a link 87 may be affixed to the foot padding portion 484 and the lower leg padding portion 483 to interconnect the foot padding portion 484 and the lower leg padding portion 483. For example, the link 84 may comprise a band stitched, adhesively bonded, or otherwise affixed to the foot padding portion 484 and the lower leg padding portion 483. In other cases, there may be no link between the foot padding portion 484 and the lower leg padding portion 483, which may be retained purely by their placement between the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44.
The inner liner 44 faces the goalkeeper's leg 16x and may comprise any suitable material. For example, in this embodiment, the inner liner 44 comprises fabric 76.
For instance, in some examples of implementation, the fabric of the inner liner 44 may comprise a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, synthetic microfibers, a synthetic woven knit, a polyurethane laminate, a mesh, or any other suitable fabric. The inner liner 44 may be implemented in various other ways in other embodiments.
The leg pads 101, 102 may be constructed in various other ways in other embodiments.
For example, in other embodiments, the leg pads 101, 102 may have any other suitable shape and/or be made of any other suitable material.
As another example, in some embodiments, with additional reference to Figures 13 and 14, the outer shell 42 may comprise a skin 91 bonded to the molded material 70 and constituting at least part of the outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x. For instance, the skin 91 may constitute at least a majority (i.e., a majority or an entirety) of the outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x. The skin 91 is applied on the molded material 70 after molding of the molded material 70 into the shape of the outer shell 42 and is significantly thinner than the molded material 70.

=
The skin 91 may be implemented in any suitable way. In this embodiment, the skin 91 comprises a layer of polymeric material 94 bonded to the molded material 70. In this example of implementation, the polymeric material 94 is polyurethane and is adhesively bonded to the molded material 70. The polymeric material 94 may be any other suitable material in other examples of implementation (e.g., polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride, etc.). In other embodiments, the skin 91 may comprise any other suitable material (e.g., a composite material such as a fiber-reinforced composite material (e.g., CURVTM

composite)) More particularly, in this embodiment, the skin 91 comprises a plurality of separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 that are separately bonded to the molded material 70 using adhesive. For instance, in some cases, each of the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 may be a sheet of the polymeric material 94. Each of the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 may include an adhesive backing that can be adhesively bonded to the molded material 70. Alternatively, an adhesive may be applied between the molded material 70 and a backside of each of the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 when the skin 91 is being provided on the molded material 70. In other examples of implementation, the skin 91 may be chemically bonded to the molded material 70, instead of being adhesively bonded.
In some embodiments, respective ones of the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 of the skin 91 may be visually different from one another.
This may facilitate provision of different designs for the outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10),. For example, a separate piece 96; of the polymeric material 94 may have a different shape and/or a different coloring (i.e., a different color or set of colors) than another separate piece 96j of the polymeric material 94.
Different designs for the outer surface 51 of the leg pad 10x may thus be achieved by placing different ones of the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 at various locations on the molded material 70.

For instance, in some embodiments, this may facilitate personalization or customization of the outer shell 42. For example, a desired design for the outer surface of the leg pad 10x may be determined by the goalkeeper or another person (e.g., an equipment manager, a parent, etc.), and the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 of the skin 91 may be obtained and bonded to the molded material 70 to implement the desired design. For instance, in some cases, the goalkeeper or another person may convey a request for the outer shell 42 to have the desired design to a provider of the outer shell 42 (e.g., a manufacturer of the leg pad 10x, a distributor of the leg pad 10x, a retailer where the leg pad 10x is purchasable, etc.). This request may be conveyed in any suitable manner, including in person, via telephone, or using a computer system (e.g., an online process implemented over the Internet). Upon receiving this request, the provider of the outer shell 42 provides (e.g., makes or orders) the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 and places and affixes (e.g., adhesively bonds) them on the molded material 70 to create the skin 91 such as to implement the desired design. As another example, the goalkeeper or another person may purchase or otherwise obtain a kit including pieces of the polymeric material 94 (e.g., of various shapes and/or coloring) and may proceed to create the separate pieces 961-96s of the polymeric material 94 and place and affix (e.g., adhesively bond) them on the molded material 70 to create to implement a desired design.
The skin 91 may be implemented in any other suitable way in other embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, the skin 91 may include a layer of paint or another coating applied to at least part of the molded material 70 for decoration or other purposes.
As another example, in other embodiments, the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44 may be secured in various other ways. For instance, in some embodiments, with additional reference to Figures 17 and 18, the outer shell 42 may be secured to the inner liner 44 through a binding 47 that extends along at least part of a periphery of the outer shell 42 and at least part of a periphery of the inner liner 44. In this example, the binding 47 extends along a majority, in this case substantially all, of the periphery of the outer shell 42 and the periphery of the inner liner 44. The binding 47 thus extends along the fastening lip 66 of the outer shell 42 in the medial portion 57, the lateral portion 58, the top portion 63, and the bottom portion 64 of the outer shell 42. The fastener 67, in this case stitches, extends through the binding 47 and fastens the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44 together.
The binding 47 may be implemented in any suitable way. In this embodiment, the binding 47 comprises at least one band of fabric, in this case two bands of fabric, between which are sandwiched the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44. In this example, each band of fabric of the binding 47 is a braiding. For instance, in some examples of implementation, each band of fabric of the binding 47 may comprise a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or any other suitable textile that can include fibers of any suitable material (e.g., polyester, nylon, of any other suitable material). The binding 47 may be configured in various other manners and/or made of any other suitable material in other embodiments (e.g., a band of polyurethane, rubber or another elastomer, spandex, etc.).
In this embodiment, the outer shell 42 comprises a reinforcement 49 to reinforce its fastening zone 65 where is it is fastened to the inner liner 44. More particularly, in this embodiment, the reinforcement 49 is disposed on the outer shell 42 at its fastening zone 65 beneath the binding 47. The reinforcement 49 is affixed to the molded material 70 and/or the skin 91 disposed on the molded material 70, if present, along the fastening zone 65 of the outer shell 42.
The fastener 67, in this case stitches, extends through the binding 47 and the reinforcement 49 and fastens the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44 together.

The reinforcement 49 may be implemented in any suitable way. In this embodiment, the reinforcement 49 is a reinforcing fabric layer. For example, the reinforcing fabric layer 49 may comprise a woven fabric, a nonwoven fabric, or any other suitable textile that can include fibers of any suitable material (e.g., polyester, nylon, of any other suitable material). For instance, in some cases, the reinforcing fabric layer 49 may comprise a polyester stretch mesh. The reinforcement 49 may be configured in various other manners and/or made of any other suitable material in other embodiments (e.g., polyurethane synthetic microfiber, nylon, etc.).
The reinforcement 49 may be affixed to the molded material 70 and/or the skin 91 disposed on the molded material 70, if present, in any suitable way. For example, in some embodiments, the reinforcement 49 may be adhesively bonded to the molded material 70. In other embodiments, the reinforcement 49 may be pre-laminated onto the foam layer 83 of the material 70, which may initially be provided as a foam sheet, before molding this foam sheet and this pre-laminated reinforcement together as a unit.
As another example, in other embodiments, other components of the leg pad 10x may be constructed using principles described above in respect of the outer shell 42.
For instance, in some embodiments, as shown in Figure 19, the inner liner 44 may be a molded inner liner, i.e., may be formed by a molding process, as described above in respect of the outer shell 42. In this embodiment, a shape of the inner liner 44 is a molded shape imparted during the molding process. The inner liner 44 comprises molded material 170 that constitutes at least a majority (i.e., a majority or an entirety) of the inner liner 44 and has been formed during the molding process to impart the shape of the inner liner 44. In this example of .. implementation, the inner liner 44 has a molded bent configuration such that it bends in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x. For instance, in this =
example, the inner liner 44 includes a bend 161 in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad 10x between its lower leg portion and its foot portion. The molded bent configuration of the inner liner 44 may also be such that the inner liner 44 bends in the widthwise direction of the leg pad 10x.
In embodiments where they are both molded, the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44 may be joined together at a fastener-less joint, i.e., a joint that is stitchless (i.e., free of stitches) or otherwise free of any fastener. For example, in some embodiments, the outer shell 42 and the inner liner 44 may be joined at their joint by fusing their molded materials 70, 170 (e.g., using a "heat sealing" or other heat-based fusing process), after the protective padding 40 has been placed between them.
In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 20, the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 of the leg pad 10x may be a molded knee wing and a molded calf wing, i.e., may be formed by a molding process, as described above in respect of the outer shell 42, separately from a remainder of the outer shell 42 or even without the outer shell 42 being molded at all. In this embodiment, a shape of each of the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 is a molded shape imparted during the molding process. The knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 respectively comprise molded material 270, 370 that constitutes at least a majority (i.e., a majority or an entirety) of the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 and has been formed during the molding process to impart the respective shape of the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59. Notably, the molded material 270, 370 of the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 constitutes at least a majority (i.e., a majority or an entirety) of a respective outer surface 13, 17 of each of the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59.
The knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 may be secured to a remainder of the leg pad 10õ via fasteners 741-744. For example, in some embodiments, the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 may be secured to the inner liner 44 via the fasteners 741-744 which may comprise stitches or any other suitable fastener.
In other embodiments, the knee wing 39 and the calf wing 59 may be secured to the outer shell 42 via the fasteners 741-744.
Although in embodiments considered above the leg pads 101, 102 are designed for playing ice hockey, in other embodiments, leg pads constructed using principles described herein in respect of the leg pads 101, 102 can be hockey goalkeeper leg pads for playing roller hockey or another type of hockey (e.g., field or street hockey) on a dry playing surface (e.g., a polymeric, concrete, wooden, or turf playing surface or any other dry playing surface on which roller hockey or field or street hockey is played).
Any feature of any embodiment discussed herein may be combined with any feature of any other embodiment discussed herein in some examples of implementation.
To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in one figure has been used to designate the same element if used in any other figures. In describing the embodiments, specific terminology has been resorted to for the sake of clarity but the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and it is understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with the specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written description of this invention. Unless otherwise indicated, the terms "horizontal", "vertical", "left", "right", "up", "down" and the like, as well as adjectival and adverbial derivatives thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly", "radially", etc.), simply refer to the orientation of the illustrated structure.
Although various embodiments and examples have been presented, this was for the purpose of describing, but not limiting, the invention. Various modifications , .
and enhancements will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art and are within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims.

Claims (92)

1. A hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, comprising:
a) an outer surface comprised at least in part of an outer shell, the outer shell comprising:
- a molded material; and - a skin affixed to the molded material and constituting at least part of the outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad;
b) an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper; and c) protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner.
2. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 1, wherein the skin is thinner than the molded material of the outer shell.
3. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 1 or 2, wherein the skin comprises a layer of polymeric material.
4. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 3, wherein the polymeric material is polyurethane.
5. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the skin is adhesively bonded to the molded material of the outer shell.
6. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 5, wherein the skin comprises an adhesive backing.
7. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the skin is chemically bonded to the molded material of the outer shell.
8. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the skin comprises a plurality of separate pieces that are separately bonded to the molded material of the outer shell.
9. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 8, wherein respective ones of the plurality of separate pieces are visually different from one another.
10. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 9, wherein a given one of the plurality of separate pieces is configured differently than an other one of the plurality of separate pieces.
11. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 10, wherein the given one of the plurality of separate pieces has a different shape than the other one of the plurality of separate pieces.
12. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 10, wherein the given one of the plurality of separate pieces has a different color than the other one of the plurality of separate pieces.
13. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claims 1 or 2, wherein the skin includes a layer of paint applied to at least part of the molded material of the outer shell.
14. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the molded material of the outer shell is a molded elastomeric material.
15. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the molded material of the outer shell is a molded foam.
16. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the molded material of the outer shell includes a plurality of different constituents.
17. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 16, wherein the different constituents include a first foam and a second foam that is different from the first foam.
18. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the molded material of the outer shell comprises a foam layer.
19. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the outer shell is a compression molded outer shell.
20. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the protective padding comprises a plurality of padding materials that are different from one another.
21. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 20, wherein a first one of the padding materials is a first foam and a second one of the padding materials is a second foam different from the first foam.
22. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 21, wherein the first foam is denser than the second foam.
23. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 22, wherein the second foam is disposed between the first foam and the inner liner.
24. The leg pad of claim 20, wherein a first one of the padding materials that forms an outer layer of the protective padding is stiffer than a second one of the padding materials that forms an inner layer of the protective padding.
25. The leg pad of claim 20, wherein the padding materials are disposed relative to one another to control a rebound effect in different areas of the protective padding.
26. The leg pad of claim 25, wherein a first one of the padding materials is disposed in at least one limited area of the protective padding on a second one of the padding materials to control the rebound effect in the at least one limited area of the protective padding.
27. The leg pad of claim 26, wherein the at least one limited area of the protective padding is a plurality of limited areas of the protective padding that are spaced apart from one another.
28. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the outer shell comprises a cavity receiving and holding the protective padding.
29. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the outer shell comprises a fastening zone to fasten the outer shell to at least one of the inner liner and the protective padding.
30. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 29, wherein the fastening zone is provided to fasten the outer shell to both the inner liner and the protective padding.
31. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 29, wherein the fastening zone comprises a fastening lip.
32. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 31, wherein the outer shell comprises a plurality of flexion facilitators spaced from one another to facilitate flexing of the outer shell when the goalkeeper's leg moves.
33. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 32, wherein a given one of the flexion facilitators is located between a lower leg portion of the outer shell and a foot portion of the outer shell to facilitate flexion of the foot portion of the outer shell relative to the lower leg portion of the outer shell when a foot of the goalkeeper moves relative to a lower leg of the goalkeeper.
34. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 32, wherein a given one of the flexion facilitators is located adjacent to an upper leg portion of the outer shell and a knee portion of the outer shell to facilitate flexion of the upper leg portion of the outer shell and the knee portion of the outer shell relative to a lower leg portion of the outer shell when a knee of the goalkeeper bends.
35. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 32, wherein each of the flexion facilitators comprises a recess.
36. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 32 to 35, wherein the flexion facilitators are molded flexion facilitators.
37. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 36, wherein the outer shell comprises a strap attachment for attaching a strap to the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
38. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 37, wherein the strap attachment comprises a strap-receiving opening for receiving the strap.
39. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 38, wherein the outer shell comprises an edge projection located in an edge region of the outer shell adjacent to a lateral portion of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
40. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 39, wherein the outer shell comprises a calf wing member.
41. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 1 to 40, wherein the outer shell comprises a knee wing member.
42. In combination:
- a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, comprising:

i. an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, the outer shell comprising a molded material;
ii. an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper; and iii. protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner;
and - a plurality of separate skin pieces for affixing to the molded material of the outer shell, wherein the separate skin pieces are configured to be arranged relative to one another to obtain a desired visual appearance of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
43. The combination of claim 42, wherein the molded material of the outer shell is a molded foam.
44. A kit for use with a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprising an outer shell, an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper, and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the outer shell comprising a molded material, the kit comprising a plurality of skin pieces for affixing to the molded material of the outer shell to impart a desired design to the outer shell.
45. A method for customizing a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprising an outer shell, an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper, and protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the outer shell comprising a molded material, the method comprising:
- receiving a request for a desired design of the outer shell of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad; and - providing a plurality of separate skin pieces configured to be affixed to the molded material of the outer shell, the plurality of separate skin pieces being configured to impart the desired design to the outer shell.
46. The method of claim 45, further comprising affixing the plurality of separate skin pieces to the molded material of the outer shell of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad to impart the desired design to the outer shell of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
47. A method of customizing a hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprising:
a) an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, the outer shell comprising a first material;
b) an inner liner for facing a leg of the hockey goalkeeper; and c) protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner;

the method comprising:
i) obtaining a second material different from the first material to create a desired design for the outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad; and ii) bonding the second material to the first material to implement the desired design for the outer surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
48. A hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprising a) an outer shell having a first layer of material defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, the outer shell comprising an upper leg portion, a knee portion and a lower leg portion, the outer shell comprising molded material imparting a molded shape of the outer shell;
b) an inner liner for facing the leg; and c) protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the protective padding generally conforming to the molded shape of the outer shell;
wherein the first layer of material is at least partly laminated to a second layer of material of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
49. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 48, wherein: the outer shell has a molded bent configuration such that the outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad; and the protective padding has a bent configuration such that the protective padding is bent in the longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad to generally conform to the molded bent configuration of the outer shell.
50. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 49, wherein: the outer shell comprises a bend in the longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad between an upper leg portion of the outer shell and a lower leg portion of the outer shell over a knee portion of the outer shell; and the protective padding comprises a bend in the longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad between an upper leg portion of the protective padding and a lower leg portion of the protective padding over a knee portion of the protective padding.
51. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 50, wherein: the bend of the outer shell is a curved part which defines a curvature of the outer shell; and the bend of the protective padding is a curved part which defines a curvature of the protective padding.
52. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 51, wherein the molded material of the outer shell comprises molded foam.
53. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 51, wherein the molded material of the outer shell comprises a plurality of different constituents.
54. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 53, wherein the different constituents include a first foam and a second foam that is different from the first foam.
55. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 53, wherein the molded material of the outer shell comprises a foam layer and a non-foam layer.
56. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 55, wherein the molded material of the outer shell is compression molded material.
57. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 56, wherein the protective padding comprises a plurality of padding materials that are different from one another.
58. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 57, wherein a first one of the padding materials is a first foam and a second one of the padding materials is a second foam different from the first foam.
59. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 58, wherein the first foam is denser than the second foam.
60. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 58 or 59, wherein the second foam is disposed between the first foam and the inner liner.
61. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 59 or 60, wherein the protective padding comprises: a first layer including a first padding material; and a second layer including a second padding material that is stiffer than the first padding material.
62. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 61, wherein the second padding material is disposed between the outer shell and the first padding material.
63. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 57 to 62, wherein the padding materials are disposed relative to one another and configured to provide a customized_rebound effect in different areas of the protective padding.
64. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 63, wherein a first one of the padding materials is disposed in at least one limited area of the protective padding on a second one of the padding materials and is configured to provide the customized rebound effect in the at least one limited area of the protective padding.
65. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 64, wherein the at least one limited area of the protective padding is a plurality of limited areas of the protective padding that are spaced apart from one another.
66. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 65, wherein the first layer of material of the outer shell comprises a skin.
67. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 66, wherein the second layer of material comprises the molded material of the outer shell.
68. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 67, wherein the molded material of the outer shell comprises molded foam.
69. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 68, wherein the skin comprises non-foam polymeric material laminated to the molded foam of the outer shell.
70. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 69, wherein the non-foam polymeric material is polyurethane.
71. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 69 or 70, wherein the skin constitutes at least a majority of the outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
72. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 69 to 71, wherein the skin constitutes an entirety of the outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
73. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 69 to 72, wherein the skin comprises a plurality of separate pieces that are separately laminated to the molded material of the outer shell and constitute respective parts of the outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
74. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 73, wherein given ones of the separate pieces of the skin have at least one of (i) different colors and (ii) different shapes.
75. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 74, wherein the outer shell comprises a frontal portion making up the frontal portion of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad and at least one of a medial portion and a lateral portion that projects rearwardly from the frontal portion of the outer shell, the at least one of the medial portion and the lateral portion being configured to at least partially cover one of a lateral side and a medial side of the protective padding.
76. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 75, wherein the at least one of the medial portion and the lateral portion of the outer shell extends in the longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad along the lower leg portion of the outer shell.
77. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 75 or 76, the at least one of the medial portion and the lateral portion of the outer shell being molded with the lower leg portion of the outer shell.
78. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 76 or 77, wherein the outer shell comprises a frontal portion making up the frontal portion of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, a medial portion and a lateral portion, the medial portion and the lateral portion of the outer shell projecting rearwardly from the frontal portion of the outer shell to define a cavity.
79. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 75 to 78, wherein the outer shell comprises a top portion and a bottom portion projecting rearwardly from the frontal portion, the frontal portion, the medial portion, the lateral portion, the top portion and the bottom portion circumscribing a perimeter of the protective padding.
80. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 78 or 79, wherein the frontal portion of the outer shell, the medial portion of the outer shell and the lateral portion of the outer shell are molded to one another.
81. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 79 or 80, wherein the top portion of the outer shell is molded with the frontal portion of the outer shell, the medial portion of the outer shell and the lateral portion of the outer shell.
82. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 79 to 81, wherein the bottom portion of the outer shell is molded with the frontal portion of the outer shell, the medial portion of the outer shell, the lateral portion of the outer shell and the top portion of the outer shell.
83. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 82, wherein the molded material of the outer shell occupies at least a majority of a thickness of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad between the protective padding and the outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, inclusively.
84. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 48 to 83, wherein the outer shell comprises the second layer of material.
85. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of any one of claims 69 to 84, wherein the skin is affixed to the molded material of the outer shell before molding of the molded material of the outer shell.
86. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 84, wherein the skin is affixed to the molded material of the outer shell after molding of the molded material of the outer shell.
87. A hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprising:
a) an outer shell having a first layer of material defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, the outer shell comprising an upper leg portion, a knee portion and a lower leg portion, the outer shell comprising molded material having a molded bent configuration such that the outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad;
b) an inner liner for facing the leg; and c) protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the protective padding having a bent configuration such that the protective padding is bent in the longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad in accordance with the molded bent configuration of the outer shell;
wherein the first layer of material is at least partly laminated to a second layer of material of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
88. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 87, wherein the outer shell comprises the second layer of material.
89. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 87 or 88, wherein the molded material of the outer shell occupies at least a majority of a thickness of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad between the protective padding and the outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, inclusively.
90. A hockey goalkeeper leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the hockey goalkeeper leg pad comprising:
a) an outer shell having a first layer of material defining an outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, the outer shell comprising molded material having a molded bent configuration such that the outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad;
b) an inner liner for facing the leg; and c) protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the protective padding comprising:
- a first padding material; and - a second padding material that is stiffer than the first padding material and that is bent in the longitudinal direction of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad in accordance with the molded bent configuration of the molded material of the outer shell;
wherein the first layer of material is at least partly laminated to a second layer of material of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad.
91. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 90, wherein the outer shell comprises the second layer of material.
92. The hockey goalkeeper leg pad of claim 90 or 91, wherein the molded material of the outer shell occupies at least a majority of a thickness of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad between the protective padding and the outermost surface of the hockey goalkeeper leg pad, inclusively.
CA2847132A 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper Active CA2847132C (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2847132A CA2847132C (en) 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper
US16/531,438 US11484769B2 (en) 2013-03-15 2019-08-05 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201361794504P 2013-03-15 2013-03-15
US61/794,504 2013-03-15
CA2839893A CA2839893C (en) 2013-03-15 2014-01-15 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper
CA2,839,893 2014-01-15
CA2847132A CA2847132C (en) 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2847132A1 CA2847132A1 (en) 2014-09-15
CA2847132C true CA2847132C (en) 2019-08-20

Family

ID=51565132

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2839893A Active CA2839893C (en) 2013-03-15 2014-01-15 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper
CA2847132A Active CA2847132C (en) 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA2839893A Active CA2839893C (en) 2013-03-15 2014-01-15 Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (2) CA2839893C (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20150033433A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2015-02-05 Bauer Hockey Corp. Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2839893A1 (en) 2014-09-15
CA2847132A1 (en) 2014-09-15
CA2839893C (en) 2019-05-14

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US11484769B2 (en) Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper
EP2777779B1 (en) Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper
US8950015B2 (en) Glove with laminated padding regions
US9609910B2 (en) Footwear impact distribution
CN203828165U (en) Polyurethane injected boot assembly
US20230285837A1 (en) Athletic gear with a printed cover
US9919199B2 (en) Lightweight and breathable glove structures
US10543417B2 (en) Molded components for protective equipment
US11969056B2 (en) Skate or other footwear
JP6606546B2 (en) Modular shoes
CA2899056C (en) Goaltender leg pad
US20130214499A1 (en) Skate
CN106068085A (en) Multiagent helmet structure and band attachment method
EP1765107A1 (en) Article of footwear with exterior ribs
CN104717898A (en) System including footwear and sock having aligning indicia
US20150033585A1 (en) Soccer cleat with leg protective structure
US9539780B2 (en) Bicycle glove with direct-molded padding
CA2847132C (en) Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper
US11930869B2 (en) Protective gear
CA3101479A1 (en) Skate or other footwear
US20210206130A1 (en) Skate or other footwear
WO2020044101A1 (en) Sport glove
US20220184482A1 (en) Hockey-goalkeeper pads
US20040159016A1 (en) Method for manufacturing a part of a sports boot
US20200146373A1 (en) Performance Gloves

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request

Effective date: 20141001