GB2304271A - Protective Pad Assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

A protective pad 1 comprises two layers 6,7 of material capable of absorbing and dissipating the force of a load. The pad 1 may be strapped to the required area of a person's body, such as the hand when lifting loads, by straps 2,3 which are attached together by hook and loop fastenings 4,5. The pad 1 has a loop area 8 for attachment to the hook area 10 of an additional pad 9 which comprises two layers 6,7 of protective padding. Each additional pad 9 also has a loop area 8 onto which further pads may be attached. The pad may also be attached to a mechanical lifting device, or to the load itself.

Description

Adaptable Protective Pads The present invention relates to adaptable protective pads.

The human body has many sensitive areas which are susceptible to discomfort or pain when subjected to a force such as may be experienced when lifting or supporting a load. For example, the hands and fingers are especially prone to being hurt when used to lift or support a load, particularly when the force of the load is borne by a small region of contact between the fingers or hand and the means by which the load is being lifted and supported. This small region of contact is often due to the design of the lifting and supporting means. The smallness of the area of contact effectively intensifies the force of the load so that the smaller the area of contact the greater the force. This can limit the size of the load which can be lifted and the length of time such a load can be supported before the discomfort of supporting the load becomes too great and the load has to be released.

According to the present invention there is provided an adaptable protective pad comprising one or more layers of material capable of absorbing and dissipating force from a load, the pad being capable of adaptation to the area for which protection is sought so as to facilitate effective absorption and dissipation of the force, and capable of adjustable, removable attachment to the region of that area so as to locate the layer or layers of the pad in such a way as to ensure effective absorption and dissipation of the force in that area.

Adequate or effective protection is a subjective matter but may be defined as occurring when the force of the load is sufficiently absorbed and dissipated as to allow a load to be supported comfortably for a longer period of time than for which it might be supported without the use of the present invention. The pad may be any size and shape but it is preferably of a size and shape that facilitates the absorption and dissipation of the force of a load. The pad may be of a shape that conforms approximately to the shape of that part of the body for which protection is sought For example, the pad may be of a shape that conforms approximately to the shape of the human hand thus facilitating comfortable use of the pad and consequently increasing the effectiveness of the pad.The surface of the pad making contact with the hand or fingers may be contoured to better fit the hand or fingers, thereby facilitating greater comfort and increasing the effectiveness of the pad. The pad may be of a thickness necessary to the effective absorption and dissipation of force. The thickness of different pads may vary according to the material or materials from which the pads are made. The force-absorbing and force-dissipating qualities of the materials in question will determine, to some extent, the thickness required in order for the pad to be effective.

Although the pad may comprise only one layer, more than one layer of the same material or a sandwich of layers of different materials may be preferable according to the purpose to which the pad is to be put and the ability of the material or materials used to absorb and dissipate force. The thickness of each layer in such a multi-layered pad may be different. The pad may comprise more than one layer of different materials of different thicknesses used in combination to more effectively absorb and dissipate the force of a load.

Since different people can support different loads for different periods of time, it is preferable that independent layers may be combined to form the pad, the number of such independent layers varying as required. The basic pad may comprise a layer or layers which cannot be separated, and a means by which the layers may be attached to the region of the area of the body for which protection is sought. However, the pad may comprise entirely independent layers which may be separated, and a means by which the layers may be attached to the region of the area of the body for which protection is sought. Clearly, an independent layer may itself comprise one or more layers of the same or different materials as already described. The number of such independent layers may vary according to circumstances and the requirements of the individual.In order to facilitate the combining and separating of such independent layers, it is preferable that some suitable means for adjustable attachment is provided. Such means may be part of the basic pad or of the independent layers or provided in combination with both. There is no limit to the number of independent layers that can be combined. Obviously, any independent layer that has been combined with the basic pad or other independent layers can also be separated from the basic pad or other independent layer or layers by the same means by which the layer or layers were attached to form a combination. A suitable means of attachment of such independent layers may comprise, for example, mechanical fastenings or hook-and-loop fastenings, but these do not preclude other suitable means.Alternatively, an independent layer may be combined with another independent layer or a pad by virtue of shape, in the manner of a three-dimensional jigsaw. Any number of fastenings may be used in any combination.

Each layer of the pad may comprise any flexible material capable of absorbing and dissipating a force of a load; for example open-cell or closed-cell foams or expanded plastics materials. It is preferable that such materials have some degree of rigidity so as to provide both strength and durability. If a sandwich of different materials is used for the pad, it is preferable that the more rigid material or materials of the pad provide the outer layer or layers of the pad. Materials which adopt the shape of the area for which protection is sought may also be used provided such materials maintain enough strength and rigidity to protect effectively as described above. The thickness of each layer of a pad is determined by the material from which each is made so as to provide adequate protection.

The pad may be attached to the part of the body for which protection is sought by any suitable means. Alternatively, the pad may be attached to the load, or to the means by which the load is customarily lifted and supported. The pad is preferably attached by means of adjustable straps. Such straps, for example, may be elasticated, have mechanical fastenings, or hook-and-loop fastenings, but these examples do not preclude other suitable means. The strap or straps may be attached to a surface of the pad opposite to the surface facing the area of the body for which protection is sought.

The pad may be adapted for use with mechanical devices, especially mechanical lifting devices, in order to spread the load at the point of attachment between the load and the lifting device.

Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows in perspective a pad with a two-piece strap, and an independent layer; Figure 2 shows in perspective a pad attached to a hand by means of a one-piece strap.

Referring to the drawings, a pad 1 comprises layers 6 and 7, and a two-piece strap comprising pieces 2 and 3 as shown in Fig 1. The pieces 2 and 3 are attached to the pad 1 on a surface of the pad 1 and sides of the layers 6 and 7. Piece 2 of the two-piece strap has an area 4 on which loops of a hook-and-loop fastening are located. Piece 3 of the twopiece strap has an area 5 on which hooks of a hook-and-loop fastening are located. The pieces 2 and 3 are fastened together by connecting the areas 4 and 5. An independent layer 9 comprising layers 6 and 7 may be combined with the pad 1 by means of a hook area 10 of a hook-and-loop fastening, located on one surface the independent layer 9, and loop area 8 of a hook-and-loop fastening located on a surface of pad 1. Independent layer 9 has a similar area 8 on the surface opposite to the one on which is located the hook area 10.

Further independent layers (not shown) may be combined with pad 1 and independent layer 9 by means of similar areas of hooks and loops.

As shown in Fig 2, the pad 1 is attached to a hand 15 by means of a one-piece strap 16, which passes round the back of the hand 15, thus locating the pad 1 on the inner surface of the hand 15.

Claims (4)

1. An adaptable protective pad comprising of one layer of material capable of absorbing and dissipating force delivered by a load and affixed to the body by means of one or more single or two-piece straps.

2. An adaptable protective pad as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the layer of material may be combined with other layers of material of different or similar material to facilitate the dissipation and increase protection to the area requiring it.

3. An adaptable protective pad as claimed in Claims l and 2 wherein the layers of material shall be removable according to their required use and degree of protection afforded to the area of the body being protected.

4. An adaptable protective pad as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 wherein the pad itself shall be attached to the load as opposed to the carrier.