GB1560622A - Knee or elbow pad - Google Patents

Description

(54) KNEE OR ELBOW PAD (71) We, LEWES ENGINEERING COMPANY LIMITED, a British Company, of Station Works, Pinwell Road, Lewes, Sussex, do hereby declare this invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a protective pad for the knee or elbow.

Such pads are necessary in various sports and recreations, for example skateboarding.

Conventional pads restrict movement of the wearer's limbs; in particular, knee pads for use in skateboarding are set at an angle corresponding to a bent knee and thus make walking difficult.

The present invention provides a knee or elbow pad comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, for respective attachment to the upper and lower parts of a leg or arm, connected by a narrower flexible portion and by connecting means on both sides of the flexible portion, each connecting means comprising a stud slidably engaged or engageable in an arcuate slot, whereby the stud slides along the slot during flexing of the leg or arm.

This construction provides the pad with strength, while allowing freedom of movement of the knee or elbow. Preferably, the upper and lower portions overlap during bending of the limb, thus providing lateral protection of the joint. The degree to which the limb can be bent is limited by the length of the slot, preferably allowing bending through at least 90". The preferred slot corresponds to a circular arc of 100" to 1300.

It is convenient for the stud to be releasably engageable in the slot, and the slot may be enlarged at one end for this purpose.

The portions of the pad are preferably integral with one another. Similarly, the stud is preferably integral with the portion on which it is provided. A preferred pad consists of a front part of flexible plastics material and a rear part of softer resilient material, the connecting means being provided on the front part. The stud is preferably provided on a tongue which is integral with the front part. The front part is preferably moulded so that the tongue, when free, stands substantially perpendicular to the front part.

The invention will be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings accompanying the provisional specification, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a knee or elbow pad, as worn; Figure 2 is a front view of the pad, Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line III-III of Figure 2; and Figure 4 is a transverse section on line IV-IV of Figure 2.

The pad illustrated has a resiliently flexible front part 1 of plastics material, such as polypropylene, and a backing 2 of softer resilient material, such as polyethylene foam. The pad is made up of three integral portions, viz upper and lower portions 3 and 4, for attachment to the upper and lower parts of the leg or arm, and a narrower portion 6 between the portions 3 and 4. In the portions 3 and 4, the front part 1 of the pad has longitudinal grooves 7 imparting transverse flexibility. In the portion 6, the front part 1 has transverse ribs 8 in a chevron configuration to impart transverse stiffness and to enhance the protection of the knee or elbow. The upper and lower portions 3, 4 carry attachment straps 9 provided with "Velcro" (Registered Trade Mark) touch and close fastener connections.

Means for connecting the upper and lower portions 3, 4 together are provided on each side of the narrower portion 6. Each connecting means comprises a stud 11 on the lower portion 4 engageable in an arcuate slot 12 in the front part 1 of the upper portion 3. The stud 11 is integral with a resiliently flexible tongue 13 moulded integrally with the front part 1 and standing perpendicularly to it. The stud 11 is inserted in the slot 12 by flexing the pad, hingeing the tongue 13 down, and inserting the stud 11 in a transverse enlargement 14 at one end of the slot 12. The slot 12 corresponds to a circular arc of approximately 1200.

It can be seen from Figure 1 that the connecting means cause the upper and lower portions 3, 4 to overlap on each side of the knee or elbow, thus providing good lateral protection of the joint. Since the studs 11 are free to slide in the arcuate slots 12, the limb has considerable freedom of flexing.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. A knee or elbow pad comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, for respective attachment to the upper and lower parts of a leg or arm, connected by a narrower flexible portion and by connecting means on both sides of the flexible portion, each connecting means comprising a stud slidably engaged or engageable in an arcuate slot, whereby the stud slides along the slot during flexing of the leg or arm.

2. A pad as claimed in claim 1, in which the upper and lower portions overlap during bending of the limb.

3. A pad as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the slot is in the form of a circular arc of 100" to 1300.

4. A pad as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the stud is releasably engageable in the slot.

5. A pad as claimed in claim 4. in which the slot is enlarged at one end to allow engagement and release of the stud.

6. A pad as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the said portions of the pad are integral with one another.

7. A pad as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, having a front part of flexible plastics material and a rear part of softer resilient material, the connecting means being provided on the front part.

8. A pad as claimed in claim 7, in which the stud is provided on a tongue which is integral with the front part.

9. A pad as claimed in claim 8, in which the front part is moulded so that the tongue, when free, stands substantially perpendicular to the front part.

10. A knee or elbow pad substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (10)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. slot 12 in the front part 1 of the upper portion 3. The stud 11 is integral with a resiliently flexible tongue 13 moulded integrally with the front part 1 and standing perpendicularly to it. The stud 11 is inserted in the slot 12 by flexing the pad, hingeing the tongue 13 down, and inserting the stud 11 in a transverse enlargement 14 at one end of the slot 12. The slot 12 corresponds to a circular arc of approximately 1200. It can be seen from Figure 1 that the connecting means cause the upper and lower portions 3, 4 to overlap on each side of the knee or elbow, thus providing good lateral protection of the joint. Since the studs 11 are free to slide in the arcuate slots 12, the limb has considerable freedom of flexing. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A knee or elbow pad comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, for respective attachment to the upper and lower parts of a leg or arm, connected by a narrower flexible portion and by connecting means on both sides of the flexible portion, each connecting means comprising a stud slidably engaged or engageable in an arcuate slot, whereby the stud slides along the slot during flexing of the leg or arm.

2. A pad as claimed in claim 1, in which the upper and lower portions overlap during bending of the limb.

3. A pad as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the slot is in the form of a circular arc of 100" to 1300.

4. A pad as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, in which the stud is releasably engageable in the slot.

5. A pad as claimed in claim 4. in which the slot is enlarged at one end to allow engagement and release of the stud.

6. A pad as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which the said portions of the pad are integral with one another.

7. A pad as claimed in any of claims 1 to 6, having a front part of flexible plastics material and a rear part of softer resilient material, the connecting means being provided on the front part.

8. A pad as claimed in claim 7, in which the stud is provided on a tongue which is integral with the front part.

9. A pad as claimed in claim 8, in which the front part is moulded so that the tongue, when free, stands substantially perpendicular to the front part.

10. A knee or elbow pad substantially as described herein with reference to, and as shown in, the drawings accompanying the provisional specification.