EP3073848B1

EP3073848B1 - Sock with attachment system for shin pads

Info

Publication number: EP3073848B1
Application number: EP14833189.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: António Maria SIMÕES ALMEIDA PATRÍCIO
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-11-29
Filing date: 2014-11-27
Publication date: 2018-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-27
Also published as: EP3073848A1; WO2015079410A1; PL3073848T3; ES2686078T3; PT107326A; PT107326B; WO2015079410A4

Description

Scope of the Invention

The present invention refers to a sports item, more specifically a sock equipped with an attachment system for shin pads using elastic straps.

Background of the Invention

Several sports, in particular football, hockey or rugby, require players to use shin pads to avoid injury owing from violent contact which may occur in the leg, more specifically in the tibia area.
The easiest way to place the shin pad is by introducing it into the sock, which remains in place because of the tension created by the mesh of the sock. However this method presents the great disadvantage of the shin pad quickly moving out of position. There are several solutions for this problem, such as the use of elastic straps with Velcro® on the shin pad and wrapped around the leg, the use of Velcro® in the sock and the shin pad, placing a pocket on the inside of the sock to encase the shin pad or placing elastic bands outside the sock.
Examples of the aforementioned solutions can be found in the following documents:

WO2008124200 which refers to a sport sock with an integral shin guard having a series of inflatable bladder elements;
US3465364 presents the solution of attaching the shin pad using Velcro® inside the sock and on the shin pad;
GB2442190 refers to a pocket placed outside the sock to encase the shin pad;
US5926844 refers to the use of elastic bands on the outside of the sock to lock the shin pad in its position.
WO03063622 discloses the preamble of claim 1.

Advantages of the Invention

A sock according to the present invention is described in independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims.
The main advantage of the invention is to provide a system to keep the shin pad in place which is completely integrated into the sock, thus not requiring any other kind of fastening at the end.
Fitted with padded elastic straps on the outside of the sock which encircle the leg, the invention has the added benefit of holding the shin pad in place from the bottom, stopping it from slipping out of place. The straps also act as an attachment between the sock leg and the sock foot when being detachable from each other, for when the user chooses to use a sock leg which is not integrated with the sock foot.
Another advantage of the sock is that it can be used altogether; that is, with both the leg and foot, or only the leg on its own. This resolves the sportsman's problem of cutting the sock that is part of the sports kit - for comfort or aesthetic reasons -, using another sock foot, and placing the sock leg that is part of the sports kit over the top.
The current solution is time-consuming and not at all practical, considering that sportsmen use various methods in order to stop the shin pad from moving out of place and to hide the fact that the sock is made up of two separate parts (the sock leg and sock foot). Thus, the solution presented by this invention is much more practical.

Brief Description of the Drawings

These characteristics, among others, can easily be understood by referring to the figures attached, which should be considered as mere examples and in no way restrictive of the scope of the invention. The figures are not to scale, and some measurements may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes. Absolute and relative dimensions do not correspond to real proportions for the use of the invention.
In all the figures below, and where applicable, the sock foot (1), the sock leg (2), the elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) acting as an attachment system (3) to join the sock foot (1) and the sock leg (2), the shin pad (4) and the system of elastic straps on the inside of the sock leg (2) made up of horizontal elastic straps (5.1), vertical elastic straps (5.2) and diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) are shown.
In figures 1, 2 and 3 one of the possible usage methods of the invention can be seen: the system of elastic straps (5.F1) made up of a pair of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) .
Another possible application method can be seen in figures 4, 5 and 6: the system of elastic straps (5.F2) made up of a pair of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) and of at least one horizontal elastic strap (5.1).
Figures 7, 8 and 9 show another possible application method of the invention: the system of elastic straps (5.F3) made up of at least two pairs of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) .
Figures 10, 11 and 12 show another application method of the invention: the system of elastic straps (5.F4) made up of two pairs of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) and several horizontal elastic straps (5.1) placed between each one of the pairs, over the pair placed at the top, and under the pair placed at the bottom of the diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3).
In figures 13, 14 and 15, another possible application method of the invention is shown: the system of elastic straps (5.F5) made up of at least two horizontal elastic straps (5.1).
Figures 16, 17 and 18 show another of the possible applications of the invention: the system of elastic straps (5.F6) made up of at least two horizontal elastic straps (5.1) and at least two vertical elastic straps (5.2).

Detailed Description of the Invention

Padded elastic strap refers to a material with foam filling covered with elastic fibers, in order to make the feel softer and to cushion impacts.
Sock leg refers to a tube made of a fabric which is compatible with the manufacture of a sock, destined to be used below the knee and above the ankle.
The present invention refers to a sports item, more specifically a sock equipped with an attachment system for shin pads which uses elastic straps, the shin pad aimed at protecting the leg, and more specifically the tibia area, from the type of contact which can cause injury.
The system of elastic straps (5) constituted of horizontal elastic straps (5.1), vertical elastic straps (5.2) and diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3), is attached to the inside of the sock and has a dimension which is appropriate for the dimension of the shin pad to be held in place. The elastic straps are made of an elastic material which have elastic characteristics compatible with their intended use. Each elastic strap has a width of between 0,01 m and 0,15 m.
The attachment of the elastic straps to the sock is preferably by vertical stitching at the ends of the elastic straps, in such a way to allow the shin pad to be introduced through the top part of the set of elastic straps.
The sock in the present invention can be used complete; that is, with the sock foot (1) and sock leg (2), or with only the sock leg (2) when they are detachable from each other. The option of being able to use only the sock leg (2) resolves the problem confronted by some players who use a sports kit, who may cut the kit sock because they do not like the fabric with which is it made or for aesthetic reasons, and use a low sock of their preference and then place the sock leg over the sock foot that they have chosen to wear.
In addition, the outside of the sock is fitted with an elastic strap acting as an attachment system (3) between the sock leg and the sock foot, positioned above the ankle, which also acts to stop the shin pad from shifting vertically, whilst the system of elastic straps (5) on the inside of the sock stop the shin pad (4) from moving horizontally. If the player decides to use a different sock and then place the sock leg (2) over the top, this elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) also acts to join the sock leg (2) and the different sock. Since the elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) acting as an attachment system (3) between the sock leg and the sock foot is placed below the shin pad (4) and above the ankle, usually an unprotected area, and is made of padded fabric, it also acts as protection for this area. This elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg acting as an attachment system (3) between the sock leg and the sock foot, is attached to the sock horizontally, preferably stitched to one of the ends in order for it to encircle the whole leg.
In a first usage method, as shown in figures 1 to 3, the system of elastic straps (5.F1) to keep the shin pad (4) in place is made up of a pair of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3), the ends of which are attached to the inside of the sock leg (2).
In a second usage method, as shown in figures 4 to 6, the system of elastic straps (5.F2) to keep the shin pad (4) in place is made up of a pair of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) and at least one horizontal elastic strap (5.1), the ends of which are attached to the inside of the sock leg (2) .
In a third usage method, as shown in figures 7 to 9, the system of elastic straps (5.F3) to keep the shin pad (4) in place is made up of at least two pairs of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3), the ends of which are attached to the inside of the sock leg (2).
In a fourth usage method, as shown in figures 10 to 12, the system of elastic straps (5.F4) to keep the shin pad (4) in place is made up of at least two pairs of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) and several horizontal elastic straps (5.1) placed between each one of the diagonally crossed pairs, above and below the pairs of diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) which are placed at the top and at the bottom, with the ends of the elastic straps being attached to the inside of the sock leg (2).
In a fifth usage method, as shown in figures 13 to 15, the system of elastic straps (5.F5) to keep the shin pad (4) in place is made up of at least one horizontal elastic strap (5.1), the ends of which are attached to the inside of the sock leg (2).
In a sixth usage method, as shown in figures 16 to 18, the system of elastic straps (5.F6) to keep the shin pad (4) in place is made up of at least two horizontal elastic straps (5.1) and at least two vertical elastic straps (5.2), the ends of the horizontal elastic straps (5.1) being attached to the inside of the sock leg (2) and the ends of the vertical elastic straps (5.2) being attached - preferably sewn - to the horizontal elastic straps (5.1) positioned at the top and at the bottom.

Claims

Sock with attachment system for shin pads made up of a sock foot (1) and a sock leg (2) incorporating a system of elastic straps (5) to keep a shin pad (4) in place characterised by the system of elastic straps (5) being on the inside of the sock leg (2).
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to claim 1 wherein the sock foot (1) and the sock leg (2) being detachable from each other, with an elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) acting as an attachment system (3) to join the sock foot (1) and the sock leg (2) and also keeping the shin pad (4) in place.
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to the preceding claims wherein the system of elastic straps (5) to keep the shin pad (4) in place is made up of at least one elastic strap.
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to the preceding claims wherein the elastic straps used for keeping the shin pad (4) in place are positioned horizontally (5.1), vertically (5.2) and diagonally crossed (5.3).
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to claim 4 wherein the horizontal (5.1), vertical (5.2) and diagonally crossed (5.3) elastic straps to keep the shin pad (4) in place are located on the inside of the sock leg (2).
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the ends of the horizontal (5.1) and diagonally crossed (5.3) elastic straps to keep the shin pad (4) in place are fixed to the inside of the sock leg (2).
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the ends of the vertical elastic straps (5.2) to keep the shin pad (4) in place are fixed to the elastic horizontal straps (5.1) positioned at the top and the bottom.
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to the preceding claims wherein the elastic straps to keep the shin pad (4) in place have a width of between 0,01 m and 0,15 m.
Sock with attachment system for shin pads according to claim 2 wherein the elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) is manufactured in a padded elastic material.