GB2304270A - Protective pad for absorbing impact - Google Patents

Description

1 2304270 PROTECTION PAD FOR ABSORBING IMPACT Backqround of the Invention

This invention relates to a protective shock absorbing pad, and particularly to a pad suitable for use with various kinds of clothes or headgear to protect a body from sudden impacts.

The present invention can be used not only with clothes such as leisurewear, underwear, workwear or sportswear such as for skiing, motorcycling, or motor racing, but also with safety headgear and helmets.

Typical pads of elastic materials, which are used for manufacturing garments in which some shock-absortion is required, fail to give sufficient shock- absorbt ion of large impacts. Attempts have been made to improve shockabsorbtion. For example, a known pad uses an insert formed of sponge, plastics, or rubber to absorb sudden impacts.

Although the conventional pads are effective to prevent an abrasion, they are not sufficient when used on clothes to prevent entirely the transmission of an impact to the body. Furthermore, such pads press against muscles and cause discomfort of muscular movements. In addition, conventional pads do not allow freedom of movement to the wearer so that they are uncomfortable and may damage the skin and weaken the muscles of a wearer over a long period.

According to the present invention a pretective pad for absorbing impact comprises an outer sheet and an inner sheet, and a pair of opposed air bags each extending inwardly from a respective sheet and which are connecting to an air supply and a check valve via a connecting duct.

2 Such a pad provides good impact absorbtion. By increasing the amount of air in the air bags, the impact absorbtion capability can, if necessary, be increased. When the impact absorbtion capability is not required, the air can be released from the air bags through the check valve, so that freedom of movement of a wearer is ensured.

In the accompanying drawings; FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating the application of a pad to the shoulder and an elbow of a jacket; FIG. 2(A) and 2(B) are schematic views illustrating air injection means for the protection pad; FIG. 3(C) is an enlarged section view along line I I in Fig.

FIG. 3(D) is an enlarged section view similar to Fig. 3(C) illustrating a further example of a pad; FIG. 4(E) and 4(F) are partially exploded perspective views of alternative examples of the invention which are respectively adapted to a helmet and safety headgear.

FIG. 4 (G) is a perspective view of an example of a pad which is applied to the inside of a helmet; and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an example of a pad which is applied to a knee protector.

As shown in Figs 1 to 3, a pad is in the form of an absorbing member 3 having an airtight dual air layer comprising an outer sheet 5a and an inner sheet 5b. The pad provided within an item of clothing, in this case a jacket 10, and is positioned so as to be in the best position for absorbing impact. The absorbing member 3 3 consists of a pair of air bags 4a,4b each formed of a plurality of pockets which are connected to allow the flow of air between the pockets. The innermost surfaces 5c of the air bags face and contact each other. The air bags 4a, 4b are connected via a connecting duct 9 to a pump 7 and a valve 8 which are provided at the appropriate edge 6 of the protection pad. In Fig. 3 (C) the absorbing member is fastened between the outside material 1 and the lining material 2. Alternatively, the absorbing member 3 can be fastened only the inside of outside material 1 as shown in Fig. 3(D).

The edges 6 of the absorbing member are sewn between the outside material 1 and the lining material 2, or fastened to the inside of the outside material 1 by snap fasteners, Velcro tape or adhesive. The seam portion can be made air tight by means of a thermoplastic adhesive.

As the present pad 3 can be slimmer than the prior art, the feeling of wearing is improved.

Air is pumped into the air bags 4a,4b from the air pump 7. The air pump is made of rubber so that a user can pump air into the air bags 4a,4b through the connecting duct 9 as shown in Fig. 2(A). Alternatively, the air bags can be inflated by pressurised air contained in a potable can via nozzle 11 which opens into connecting duct 9 as shown in fig 2(B). The user may thus control the amount of air contained in the air bags in accordance with the amount of impact absoption required.

When less cushioning is required, the air bags 4a,4b may be deflected by using a well known check valve 8. The check valve 8 is a conventional check valve through which air flows in only one direction. When the check valve 8 is pressed, the air contained in the air bags 4a, 4b is 4 discharged through the check valve 8 via the connecting duct. Accordingly, the amount of air, and hence the degree cushioning, of the air bags 4a, 4b is adjustable. Also, the clothes 10 of this invention, may be laundered in usual way, without any damage to the pad 3. As in described above, the pad can be applied to a various kind of clothes, such as leisurewear, underwear, workwear or sportswear, for example, for skiing, 10 motorcycling or football. Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a protective headgear or helmets. Fig. 4(E) and 4(F) show alternative examples of the invention which are provided the inside of a military 15 helmet 200, or safety headgear 300 such as a helmet for motorcycle, so to give a same effect as the forgoing examples. It is possible to change the shape of the helmet 200 and locations of the air pump 207 and the valve from those illustrated. 20 Fig 4(G) shows an absorbing member 203 having a pair of elongate air bags 4a,4b located the inside of the outer material 201 of the helmet 200, with the pair of air bags 4a,4b being adhered directily to the inside of the helmet 200 by adhesive. 25 Fig 5 shows an another example which is used as a knee protector 500. In this case, the pad 3, having a plurality pairs of air bags 4a,4b is contained between the outside material 501 and the lining material 502, and its function and operation are same as the forgoing 30 examples.

Claims (5)

1. A protective pad for absorbing impact comprising an outer sheet and inner sheet, and a pair of opposed air bags extending inwardly from a respective sheet and which are connected to an air supply and a check valve via a connecting duct.

2. A protective pad according to claim 1, further including fastening means for fastening to a garment.

3. A protective pad according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air supply is an air pump.

4. A protective pad according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the air supply is a source of pressurised air.

5. A garment according to claim 6, wherein the pad is fastened inside the outer layer of material.

5. A protective pad according to any one of preceding claims, wherein each air bag has a plurality of interconnected pockets.

6. A garment including at least one protective pad according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. A garment according to claim 6, wherein the pad is positioned between the outer layer of material of the garment and the lining of the garment.

8. A garment according to claim 6, wherein the pad is fastened inside the outer layer of material.

9. A protective pad substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows CLAIMS 1. A protective pad f or absorbing impact comprising an outer sheet and an inner sheet, a pair of opposed air bags extending inwardly from a respective sheet, each airbag comprising a plurality of interconnected pockets, the airbags being connected to an air pump and a check valve via a connecting duct, and means for fastening the pad to clothing material.

2. A protective pad substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A garment including at least one protective pad according to claim 1.

4. A garment according to claim 3, wherein the pad is positioned between the outer layer of material of the garment and the lining of the garment.