GB2085708A - Leg guard - Google Patents

Abstract

A bolster as primarily but not solely, for use in conjunction with a cricket or like pad. The bolster consists of a curved element 5 of thermoplastics material such as polypropylene backed with a resilient material such as polyethylene foam. The curved element includes a thigh portion 1, a knee portion 2 and a shin portion 3 limited by cut outs to give some flexibility. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bolster The invention relates to a bolster for use as a lightweight sports protection in combination with a conventional leg guard.

Leg guards of the conventional kind are known, and are used particularly in cricket and hockey.

However, the advent of fast bowling in the game of cricket has meant that conventional leg guards do not sufficiently protect the legs of the wearer.

Instead of spreading the impact of the ball, the contents of the leg guard have, in some cases, been sufficiently damaged to penetrate the outer cover of the leg guard, and in doing so, damage the shin of the wearer.

We thus prefer that the invention can be used as additional leg protection for use with conventional leg guards.

According to the invention, a bolster comprises at ieast one curved portion of a thermoplastic synthetic material having a resilient material secured thereto.

Preferably, the curved portion ofthe thermoplastic synthetic material is formed by moulding a fluid mass of the thermoplastic material in a single step, and forming flat blanks.

Preferably, the curved portion of the thermoplastic synthetic material is formed by moulding a fluid mass of the thermoplastic material in a single step, and forming flat blanks each having a plurality of grooves integrally formed therein.

Preferably, the invention further consists in a composite cricket pad, which includes a standard cricket pad and at least one curved portion of a thermoplastic synthetic material.

The blanks may be injection moulded. In the embodiment where the blanks have a plurality of grooves integrally formed therein, the grooves may be of a V-shaped section. Alternatively, the grooves may be of U-shaped section, with radiussing at the bottom.

To form a bolster, the curved portions may have synthetic foam material secured thereto after bending.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a bolster having three portions, a thigh portion 1, a knee portion 2 and a shin portion 3.

The bolster has cut-outs 4, which provide for flexibility and bending of the bolster around the wearer's knee. The drawing also shows the curved blank 5 having the foam backing 6 secured thereto.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the bolster is made by injection moulding a flat blank of low density polyethylene, or preferably polypropylene. A backing foam made of polyethylene is heat laminated to the polyethylene blank. The foam backing is preferably a cross-link polyethylene foam of the type sold by BXL Limited as "Plastazote". If the blank is made of polypropylene, the foam backing is stuck on to the blank by an adhesive, such as a synthetic rubber adhesive.

The blank plus the foam backing is then bent over a former to approximate to the curvature required for the bolster.

The bolster can also be made by injection moulding a flat blank of polyethylene, or preferably polypropylene, with divergent grooves of U or V section therein, bending the blank to approximate to the curvature required for a leg guard by hinging at the grooves. A foamed polyurethane or expanded polyethylene can be attached to the bent blank by an adhesive, such as a synthetic rubber adhesive, or the foam backing can be heat laminated to the blank.

The bolster can be inserted into a cotton drill sack, having elastic and "Velco" fastening means for securing the bolster to a person's leg.

It is also envisaged that the bolster could be inserted into a standard leg guard, for example a cricket pad.

Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. In the case of cricket pads, the multiple integral hinges should be parallel.

1. A bolster for protecting a leg of a wearer, the said bolster comprising a shin portion, a knee portion and a thigh portion integral with each other and each formed to embrace a forward part of the corresponding portion of the wearer's leg, the bolster having a degree of flexibility between the portions, the bolster being formed on a curved and formed element of thermoplastic material having a backing pad of resilient material.

2. A bolster as claimed in claim 1, in which the thermoplastic material element is formed as a flat blank with integral hinge by moulding and is subsequentlyformed to the required shape by bending at the hinges.

3. A bolster as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the thermoplastic material is polypropylene.

4. A bolster as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, enclosed in a sack provided with means for attachment within a leg guard such as a cricket or hockey pad.

5. The combination of a cricket or hockey pad and a bolster as claimed in any of the preceding claims secured therein.

6. A bolster substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bolster The invention relates to a bolster for use as a lightweight sports protection in combination with a conventional leg guard. Leg guards of the conventional kind are known, and are used particularly in cricket and hockey. However, the advent of fast bowling in the game of cricket has meant that conventional leg guards do not sufficiently protect the legs of the wearer. Instead of spreading the impact of the ball, the contents of the leg guard have, in some cases, been sufficiently damaged to penetrate the outer cover of the leg guard, and in doing so, damage the shin of the wearer. We thus prefer that the invention can be used as additional leg protection for use with conventional leg guards. According to the invention, a bolster comprises at ieast one curved portion of a thermoplastic synthetic material having a resilient material secured thereto. Preferably, the curved portion ofthe thermoplastic synthetic material is formed by moulding a fluid mass of the thermoplastic material in a single step, and forming flat blanks. Preferably, the curved portion of the thermoplastic synthetic material is formed by moulding a fluid mass of the thermoplastic material in a single step, and forming flat blanks each having a plurality of grooves integrally formed therein. Preferably, the invention further consists in a composite cricket pad, which includes a standard cricket pad and at least one curved portion of a thermoplastic synthetic material. The blanks may be injection moulded. In the embodiment where the blanks have a plurality of grooves integrally formed therein, the grooves may be of a V-shaped section. Alternatively, the grooves may be of U-shaped section, with radiussing at the bottom. To form a bolster, the curved portions may have synthetic foam material secured thereto after bending. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows a bolster having three portions, a thigh portion 1, a knee portion 2 and a shin portion 3. The bolster has cut-outs 4, which provide for flexibility and bending of the bolster around the wearer's knee. The drawing also shows the curved blank 5 having the foam backing 6 secured thereto. In a preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the bolster is made by injection moulding a flat blank of low density polyethylene, or preferably polypropylene. A backing foam made of polyethylene is heat laminated to the polyethylene blank. The foam backing is preferably a cross-link polyethylene foam of the type sold by BXL Limited as "Plastazote". If the blank is made of polypropylene, the foam backing is stuck on to the blank by an adhesive, such as a synthetic rubber adhesive. The blank plus the foam backing is then bent over a former to approximate to the curvature required for the bolster. The bolster can also be made by injection moulding a flat blank of polyethylene, or preferably polypropylene, with divergent grooves of U or V section therein, bending the blank to approximate to the curvature required for a leg guard by hinging at the grooves. A foamed polyurethane or expanded polyethylene can be attached to the bent blank by an adhesive, such as a synthetic rubber adhesive, or the foam backing can be heat laminated to the blank. The bolster can be inserted into a cotton drill sack, having elastic and "Velco" fastening means for securing the bolster to a person's leg. It is also envisaged that the bolster could be inserted into a standard leg guard, for example a cricket pad. Various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention. In the case of cricket pads, the multiple integral hinges should be parallel. CLAIMS

1. A bolster for protecting a leg of a wearer, the said bolster comprising a shin portion, a knee portion and a thigh portion integral with each other and each formed to embrace a forward part of the corresponding portion of the wearer's leg, the bolster having a degree of flexibility between the portions, the bolster being formed on a curved and formed element of thermoplastic material having a backing pad of resilient material.

2. A bolster as claimed in claim 1, in which the thermoplastic material element is formed as a flat blank with integral hinge by moulding and is subsequentlyformed to the required shape by bending at the hinges.

3. A bolster as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which the thermoplastic material is polypropylene.

4. A bolster as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, enclosed in a sack provided with means for attachment within a leg guard such as a cricket or hockey pad.

5. The combination of a cricket or hockey pad and a bolster as claimed in any of the preceding claims secured therein.

6. A bolster substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.