FR2862229A1 - Shin guard support for sports player has upper retaining band and lower ring for shin guard and upper end of ankle protector - Google Patents

Abstract

The support (1) for a shin guard (3) consists of a retaining band (5) with fastening straps (6) that goes round the middle of the shin guard, and a lower ring (9) that goes round the bottom of the shin guard and the upper end of an ankle protector (4). The ring is made from a material with elastic properties and between 3 and 5 cm wide and has a loop that goes under the heel.

Description

2862229 1

  The present invention relates to the design and construction of a device for holding a shin guard in a position against the leg of an individual. This device is more particularly intended to prevent the shin guard from sliding inside an ankle protector worn on the same leg.

  During their sporting activity, athletes such as football or hockey players protect their shins from possible injuries by means of shin guards positioned at the front of the leg, along the shin, slipped under the socks. It is conventional to keep these shin guards in place on the leg by self-adhesive elastic bands applied over the sock all around the leg. However, this solution has many disadvantages. In particular, the application of the strips is long and difficult. The strips can be placed in such a way that the fastener is too loose, and then the shin guard is poorly held in place, or they may be too tight, which will cut off the flow of blood in the user's leg and will interfere to play. In addition, these tapes are single-use, and when misplaced, they must be peeled off and discarded, and new tapes must be used for retesting. Such strips may also be peeled off by the player's sweat or rain, they may break and tend to damage the sock when removed.

  In addition, it is very common for athletes who use protègetibias to also wear ankle protection devices, such as anklets. These pegs surround the ankle to prevent the risk of sprains. They rise slightly on the leg, and they are generally placed so that their upper edge is positioned just below the lower edge of the shin guard. However, it can happen that under the effect of the many movements of the leg of the player, and especially when it sweats, the shin guard, even if it is held well pressed against the leg, still slips slightly towards the bottom. It is then common for the lower portion of the shin guard to slide 2862229 2 inside the ankle. this results in obvious discomfort for the athlete, especially in his ankle movements.

  The invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the systems conventionally used to maintain the shin pads in place on the leg, and in particular those which have been listed above, by proposing a device for holding a shin guard on the leg of an individual that prevents the movements of the shin guard, whether longitudinal, that is to say from top to bottom along the leg, or lateral, that is to say around the latter, which ensures that whatever the movements of the individual, the shin guard does not come insert inside an ankle protector on the same leg below the shin guard. The invention also aims that the device it offers is strong, easy to set up and remove, reusable, and it does not damage the socks.

  The device of the invention is intended to maintain a shin guard on the leg of an individual over an ankle protector. It includes a tether for holding the shin guard in a position against the tibia, and a simultaneous tethering ring for a lower portion of the tibia guard and an upper portion of the ankle guard against the tibia.

  The device is thus composed of two parts that combine to ensure the maintenance of the shin guard in place on the leg.

  The support band is advantageously positioned at mid-height of the shin guard, which corresponds to about halfway between the ankle and the knee of the individual. In this way, one obtains optimal support of the shin guard.

  The snap ring simultaneously plates an upper portion of the ankle guard and a lower portion of the shin guard in a tight position against the leg. It advantageously avoids that the shin guard can, by sliding slightly downwards, insert by its lower part inside the ankle protector. The fact that it encloses both the shin guard and the ankle guard 2862229 3 guarantees a double safety against the risk of sliding of the shin guard inside the ankle guard.

  The gripping ring is in a circular form. It may consist of a single circular piece, or a band that wraps around the leg and which is fixed in this position. It has a height that is sufficient to hold both the shin guard and the ankle protector effectively against the leg, regardless of their relative position relative to each other. It is important according to the invention that a sufficient surface of the shin guard and protêgecheville are enclosed by the clamping ring, in order to prevent one or the other or both from emerge when the player moves.

  According to preferred embodiments in industrial practice, the invention furthermore meets the following characteristics, implemented separately or in each of their technically operating combinations.

  These features take into account that all the components of the holding device according to the invention must meet the usual safety standards for devices intended to be worn for the practice of a sport, and more particularly a sport of team. Such devices must not in particular present any risk of injury to the user or to his teammates or opponents. In particular, it is essential that they have no hard parts, in particular that they comprise no metal element.

  Thus, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device consists entirely of flexible textile materials. The assembly of these different materials to constitute the device is performed only by sewing and / or bonding, to meet these safety standards.

  In addition, the device according to the invention is advantageously in a flattened form, so that when applied to the leg, it does not form any prominence that could hinder or even hurt the player and his partners.

  An object of the invention is to ensure that the device it proposes can be used indifferently regardless of the particular morphology of the individual, and that it adapts to all shapes and sizes of leg, and all the wearing habits of protègetibia and ankle protectors for athletes.

  For this purpose, according to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the gripping ring is made of a material with elastic properties. It preferably has a height of between 3 and 5 cm.

  This provides optimal clamping both the shin guard and the ankle guard against the leg regardless of the size of it.

  In addition, with such a height of the clamping ring, the shin guard and the ankle protector are advantageously tightened simultaneously against the leg that they are worn by the user in the edge-to-edge position relative to one another. the other, or spaced a distance that can be conventionally 1 or 2 centimeters.

  The upper height limit of 5 cm furthermore advantageously ensures that the clamping ring will not rise too high on the leg, or that it will not descend too low on the ankle. This is particularly advantageous because if it were the case it could cause unnecessary inconvenience to the user. In addition, in its normal position of use, the snap ring is located on a part of the leg of small diameter, just above the ankle.

  In the areas above and below this part, the leg is thicker, and the ring, if it had too high a height and overflowing on these areas, would be very stretched to this level. It would then no longer be sufficiently tight in its central part, and it therefore more properly fulfill its essential function of plating the upper edge of the ankle protector and the lower edge of the shin guard against the leg.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the gripping ring has an adjustable diameter, thus promoting its fit around legs of different shapes and sizes.

  In addition, according to an advantageous feature of the invention, the retaining band is intended to wrap around the shin guard and the leg. Its diameter when wound is advantageously adjustable, which increases its adaptability to the morphology of the user.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention, the holding strip is made of a material with elastic properties. She thus marries perfectly the whole ham-protector-shin. Advantageously, the material used is relatively rigid, so that it does not deform under the effect of multiple uses.

  The holding strip further has a trapezoidal shape, its lower edge being shorter than its upper edge, so that it follows the curved shape of the calf when it is wrapped around the leg. Advantageously, a homogeneous clamping of the holding band is obtained over the entire height of the leg which it surrounds.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the retaining band comprises self-latching tabs on cooperating parts, for its attachment in a position surrounding the shin guard and the leg.

  This fastening system by self-latching tabs on cooperating parts makes it possible to meet an objective of the invention, which is to ensure that the tightening of the holding device that it proposes is easily adjustable. The legs can indeed be hung on the cooperating parts in different positions, which make the holding band is more or less tight around the whole leg / protègetibia. The legs can be easily and quickly unhooked cooperating parts and hooked again if necessary in a different position.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention, the device is designed so that the tabs are attached to the cooperating parts on an outer side face of the leg. The outer face is defined in opposition to an inner face, which faces the other leg. There is no risk that the legs on one leg cling to the legs on the other leg of the individual during the race of the latter.

  The holding strip is preferably associated with two self-locking tabs parallel to each other, namely an upper leg located on the knee and a lower leg on the ankle side. These two tabs are fixed independently of one another on two corresponding cooperating parts. It is thus possible to tighten the retaining band differently at each of the tabs, to obtain a fixation in which the band plate the shin guard against the leg both in its thick upper part and in its thinner lower part due to the curved shape of the calf.

  Each of the tabs preferably fits through a slot disposed in the band before hooking to the corresponding cooperating piece. This feature provides greater strength and stability to the attachment.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention, the tabs are attached at one end to the retaining band, and have at an opposite end a pointed shape. This feature makes it easier to unhook cooperating parts. It also promotes the insertion of the legs through the slots.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the holding strip and the gripping ring are connected by a connecting lug.

  This leg is flexible, to avoid any risk of injury to the user. Its flexibility can be obtained by using a flexible material for its constitution. The invention furthermore advantageously provides that the connecting lug is made so as to have damping properties, to protect the user's leg from being kicked at the place where it is applied. It is for example lined with foam, or any other damping material, on its outer face and / or on its inner face applied to the leg. It is also advantageous that the clamping ring is constituted of the same.

  The connecting lug holds the retaining band and the gripping ring together, so that the device is in the form of a single piece, more convenient to use than if was in the presence of two independent rooms. A more effective overall holding effect is achieved, and the positioning of the assembly on the leg is easier to perform.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention, the connecting lug has a length of between 2 and 6 cm.

  Such a length advantageously allows that when the clamping ring is in its effective position of use, the holding strip is at the leg in an area that is high enough to hold the shin guard in its part. central, but not too high so as not to hinder muscular movements in the calf.

  The invention further advantageously provides that the coupling lug has an adjustable length, to promote the adaptability of the device to the physical characteristics of each user. Such a configuration of the connecting lug requires some adjustments to place the device in a global position of effective maintenance, at least before the first use. It nevertheless gives more flexibility in the choice of positioning of the device on the leg.

  The device according to the invention can advantageously be declined in several formats, intended for different categories of individuals of very different morphology, such as for example children or adults. Different parameters, such as the height and length of the retaining band, the height of your connecting lug and the diameter of the clipping ring are then different from one format to another.

  According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the device comprises an attachment loop under the heel fixed to the gripping ring. This loop is intended to be threaded around the foot, in order to increase the stability of the clamping ring in its optimal position of use. It is in particular made of a material with elastic properties. It is advantageously sufficiently stretched around the foot to hold the clamping ring in place and loosely enough not to exert too much downward pull on the entire device according to the invention.

  According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, the retaining strip carries an anti-slip piece for its attachment to a sock slipped on the leg and in direct contact with the device. This piece holds the sock in place, preventing it from sliding along the shin guard.

  The invention also advantageously provides that, even if the device according to the invention has sufficient flexibility to allow its adaptability to the individual who uses it, it also has a significant strength. Thus, certain parts of the device, in particular the fastening portions of the connecting lug and the self-locking lugs on the holding strip and on the gripping ring, as well as the parts on which the tractions are exerted, in particular the latches and their insertion slots are reinforced. The strength thus conferred allows the device to be used repeatedly without deforming or degrading.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention, the holding device is made of materials that are compatible for permanent coloring, so that it can be made in several colors. This is particularly advantageous from the point of view of the aesthetic aspect. It is therefore possible in particular to make a device in a color matching that of the jersey of a particular team. In addition, it is conceivable in the context of the invention to print a logo on the holding tape, including that of a sponsor.

  The invention will now be more fully described in the context of preferred features and advantages, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 in which: Fig. 1 shows a general view of the leg of an individual wearing a shin guard, an ankle guard and a holding device according to the invention; and FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a device according to the invention presented flat.

  The holding device 1 according to the invention is intended to be placed on the leg 2 of an individual equipped with a shin guard 3 and possibly an ankle 4. The shin guard 3 and the ankle 4 are shown in Figure 1 placed in their normal position of use on the leg, that is to say respectively along the tibia and around the ankle. In this position, the lower edge of the shin guard 3 is just above the upper edge of the ankle, as shown in FIG.

  The holding device according to the invention is intended to be placed around the whole leg 2 / shin guard 3 / ankle protector 4. It is preferably placed over a sock itself threaded above this together. This sock is not shown in the figure for the sake of clarity. It may also be envisaged in the context of the invention to position the holding device between the whole leg / shin guard / ankle guard and the sock.

  The holding device 1 is made entirely of textile materials, to meet conventional safety standards for this type of equipment. It can take both a conformation flat or folded on itself, so that it has a small footprint, which facilitates its transport for example in the sports bag of the user. This characteristic advantageously facilitates its packaging for sale.

  The holding device 1 comprises a holding strip 5 for wrapping around the leg and the shin pad so as to surround the leg in its entirety, approximately mid-height between the ankle and the knee, at the knee. 3. The band 5 is fixed in its wound position so as to be sufficiently tight to press the shin guard 3 against the shin and hold it there.

  The band 5 is made of a material which is both elastic, to fit the shape of the leg and the shin guard and to lay it effectively against the shin, and rigid enough not to deform during multiple uses . It is especially made of a mixture of cotton, polyester and elastic fibers. Such a composition is however not limiting of the invention.

  The band 5 has a height of between 8 and 15 cm, and a length of between 20 and 40 cm. These dimensions advantageously allow him to surround the leg in its entirety and on a height large enough so that the shin guard is pressed firmly and all the way up against the leg.

  The diameter of the holding band 5 when it is wrapped around the leg is advantageously adjustable.

  This is achieved for example by using for fixing the band 5 around the leg a system of tabs 6 attached to one end of the band 5 and which can catch, in different positions, on cooperating parts 7 carried by the bandaged.

  The holding band 5 is connected, via a connecting lug 8, to a gripping ring 9 which is intended to be positioned on the leg just above the ankle, so as to surround the the lower part of the shin guard 3 and the upper part of the ankle 4 and press them against the leg.

  The connecting lug 8 is made of a flexible material, to avoid any risk of injury to the user or his partners. It is intended to be positioned, in the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, at the front of the leg 2862229 11 along the tibia. This position is advantageous in that it gives the user a benchmark to ensure proper placement of the device. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the connecting lug 8 is formed on its inner face in contact with the leg, and preferably also on its outer face, with a material with damping properties. It thus protects the user from being hit on the bottom of the shin.

  This position of the connecting lug 8 is however not limiting of the invention, and it is equally possible to envisage making the device so that in its normal position of use, the connecting lug 8 is positioned. at the back of the leg, or on one of its lateral faces.

  The connecting lug has a length of between 2 and 6 cm. This length allows a correct positioning on the leg of the two elements which are the holding band 5 and the clamping ring 9.

  The gripping ring 9 is preferably made of a material with elastic properties. This ensures that it well plates on the one hand the shin guard 3 and on the other hand the ankle 4 against the leg, and that it therefore prevents any sliding movement of the shin guard 3 inside. In addition, if the user's leg inflates under the effect of fatigue, the ring 9 then stretches at the same time, and it does not interfere with the movements of the user. It is furthermore advantageous that the ring 9 also has damping properties, to protect the user from knocks.

  In preferred embodiments of the invention, the gripping ring 9 has a height of between 3 and 5 cm, and a diameter of about 6 cm. This ensures that it can be threaded on the leg above the ankle 4 and the shin guard 3, so as to cover an upper portion of the first and a lower portion. the second, and keep them both pressed against the leg.

  An attachment loop under the heel 10 is attached to the snap ring 9. It is intended to be slipped under the foot, to participate in maintaining the device in place on the leg. It is shown in Figure 1 positioned directly over the ankle 4. However, when the holding device 1 is used over a sock, the user can arrange the loop 10 around the shoe.

  The loop 10 is preferably made of an elastic material. It has a length of about 45 cm, which allows it to be tight enough around the foot to hold the ring 9 in place on the ankle, but not too tight not to exert on the ring 9 a pull towards the low that would tend to move it from its effective position of use. It is attached to the ring 9 in the parts thereof which are located in its position of use on the leg, about the middle of the side faces of the leg.

  The holding device 1 is shown flat, in projection in a plane, in Figure 2. It is the outer face of the device which is shown in the figure, defined in opposition to an inner face to be applied on the hamstringguard set.

  The holding band 5 has a trapezoidal shape.

  Its upper edge, which is the edge intended to be positioned towards the top of the leg, is longer than its lower edge, which is intended to be positioned towards the bottom of the latter. This advantageously allows it to be clamped over the entire surface of the leg despite the curved shape of the calf. The lateral edges of the band 5 preferably form an angle of between 5 and 25 degrees, especially about 15 degrees, with the normal at its lower and upper edges.

  The band 5 is fixed at one end with two tabs 6 which bear on their inner face a self-hanging material, and it bears on its outer face, at the same end, cooperating parts 7 which are made of a material complementary to the material self-hanging. It can be for example a couple hooks-loops.

  The tabs 6 are fixed on the band 5 so as to be arranged obliquely with respect thereto, also in order to better fit the curved shape of the calf.

  At an end opposite to that connected to the tabs 6, the band 5 carries a reinforced portion 11, which has a greater strength than the rest of the band. On this reinforced portion 11 are formed two slots 12 through which can be inserted the tabs 6 when the strip 5 is wound on itself. The tabs can then be hooked each on a corresponding cooperating part 7, in different positions. The slots 12 are inclined on the strip 5 so as to be parallel to the side edges thereof.

  The tabs 6 are preferably at their end 16 opposite the end by which they are fixed to the holding band 5, cut at an angle. This feature facilitates the detachment of the tabs 6 of the cooperating parts 7, as well as their insertion through the slots 12.

  The legs 6 are two in number, arranged parallel to each other. Their fixing positions on the cooperating parts 7 are adjustable independently of one another. This feature promotes the adaptability of the device to the curved shape of the calf, since it ensures that the plating of the shin guard against the leg can be achieved as effectively in the upper part as in the lower part of the holding device. However, this number is not limiting of the invention and it is also possible to consider using a single wider self-locking tab, or on the contrary a number of tabs greater than two.

  On the holding strip 5, approximately at its center, is fixed an anti-slip piece 13, which is in particular made of a self-clinging material. Fixing the part 13 on the strip 5 is in particular made by gluing.

  This anti-slip piece 13 has the function of hooking on the sock to hold it in place. Depending on whether the device is intended to be worn over or under the sock, the piece 13 is fixed on the inner face or on the outer face, respectively, of the band 5.

  The connecting lug 8 is attached at one end to the band 5 via a reinforcing piece 14 which gives strength to the assembly. It is fixed at an end opposite the gripping ring 9 by a second reinforcing part 15.

  It is advantageous in the context of the invention that all parts constituting the holding device 1 on which traction can be exerted during use, are reinforced. This is particularly the case of self-latching lugs 6. This gives the device a solidity that ensures that it can be used repeatedly without being damaged.

  The device according to the invention is used as follows: the gripping ring 9 is threaded around the leg which carries a shin guard 3 and an ankle 4, for example above the sock. II positioned so as to grip both the upper part of the ankle 4 and the lower part of the shin guard 3. By an elastic effect, it then plates these two parts against the leg, which immobilizes them in their respective positions.

  The device is then pivoted around the leg if necessary, in order to place the connecting lug 8 in its reference position, for example along the tibia.

  The holding band 5 is then wrapped around the leg. In doing so, the tabs 6 are each inserted inside the corresponding slot 12. Due to the length of the connecting lug 8, the band 9 is wound about halfway up the shin guard. It is thus in an optimal position to hold the shin guard in place without hindering the movements of contraction of the calf.

  The diameter of the band 5 wrapped around the leg is decreased by pulling the tabs 6 until the optimal clamping degree of the band, which will ensure both the shin guard 3 2862229 15 will be sufficiently plated against the leg not to move, and that the user will still not be embarrassed in his movements, and he may especially contract the calf. Once the desired clamping position is reached, each tab 6 is applied against the corresponding cooperating part 7, to which it attaches. If the degree of tightening obtained is not satisfactory, it is sufficient to detach one or both of the lugs 6 of the cooperating parts 7, and to hang it again in a different position.

  A slight pressure is then exerted on the band 5, at the anti-slip part 13, to ensure the attachment of the latter to the sock.

  Finally, the fastening loop under the heel 10 is threaded around the foot, preferably around the shoe, in order to finalize a stable placement of the holding device.

  The player is then free to move. His shin guard does not move on the leg, and he can not especially slip inside the ankle. The device remains in place despite the sweat and even if it rains, and it is not likely to tear during a shock suffered during the game. If during the sporting activity the calf of the user inflates under the effect of fatigue, it is very easy for him to loosen the tightening of the holding band around the calf, by hooking the tabs 6 in a different position on the cooperating pieces 7.

  At the end of the sports activity, the holding device according to the invention is removed easily, and it can be stored until the next use. It is also advantageously made of washable materials, so that it can be washed if necessary.

  The device can also be used even if no ankle is worn. It then always makes it possible to effectively maintain the protègetibia in place on the leg, by a plating in two different zones, a central zone and a lower zone.

  The device according to the invention is particularly suitable for industrial manufacture. All the materials he uses are commonly available. It is advantageous to use several types of materials of different strength and elasticity depending on the part of the device concerned. Thus, the tabs 6 and the reinforced portion 11 will be rather rigid, while the clamping ring 9 and the loop 10 will have significant elasticity properties. These different materials are assembled in a conventional manner to constitute the device, in particular by sewing and / or gluing.

  The foregoing description clearly explains how the invention achieves the goals it has set for itself. In particular, it offers a device for maintaining a shin guard on a leg that is easy to use, which is adjustable and ensures that the protègetibia will remain firmly in place on the leg, and that it will slip in particular not in an ankle also worn by the user.

  It nevertheless follows from the foregoing that the invention is not limited to the embodiments that have been specifically described and shown in the figures and that it extends on the contrary to any variant passing through means equivalents.

Claims (1)

17 CLAIMS   1. Device for holding a shin guard (3) on the leg (2) of an individual above an ankle guard (4), characterized in that it comprises a holding band (5). ) of said shin guard (3) in a position supported against the tibia, and a ring (9) for simultaneously gripping a lower portion of said shin guard (3) and an upper portion of said ankle protector (4). ) against the shin.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said clamping ring (9) is made of a material with elastic properties and in that it has a height of between 3 and 5 cm.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said holding strip (5) is intended to wrap around said protègetibia (3) and said leg (2) and in that its diameter when is rolled up is adjustable.   4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said retaining band (5) has tabs (6) self-latching on cooperating parts (7) for fixing in a surrounding position. said shin guard (3) and said leg (2), each of said tabs (6) preferably inserting through a slot (12) disposed in said band (5) before engaging said cooperating piece (7); ) corresponding.   5. Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that said holding strip is made of a material with elastic properties and in that it has a trapezoidal shape, its lower edge being shorter than its upper edge, so that it marries the curved shape of the calf when it is wrapped around said leg (2).   6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said holding strip (5) and said clamping ring (9) are connected by a flexible connector lug (8).   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting lug (8) has a length of between 2 and 6 cm.   8. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that said connecting lug (8) has an adjustable length.   9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a fastening loop under the heel (10) attached to said clamping ring (9).   10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said holding strip (5) carries a non-slip piece (13) for hanging on a sock threaded on said leg (2).