GB2385256A

GB2385256A - Body protector with two foam layers

Info

Publication number: GB2385256A
Application number: GB0203593A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Alan Richardson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-02-15
Filing date: 2002-02-15
Publication date: 2003-08-20
Also published as: GB0203593D0

Abstract

A body protector 1 for protecting part of the body comprises two foam panels 8, 9 to absorb impacts which have a plurality of cuts 11 formed in them to improve flexibility. The panels are enclosed between layers of textile material 12, and are positioned so that the cuts in each panel are aligned. The cuts may form a U shaped profile 11 and be deeper than 50% of the material thickness, and may form a lattice pattern. The foam panels may be punctured to form an array of breathing holes 18.

Description

Improvements relating to Body Protectors A standard form of body protector has an array of blocks of a high density foam material (which will help to absorb impacts) held in place between two layers of textile material. There are necessarily gaps between the blocks to allow movement therebetween as the protector is flexed as it is applied to the wearer and whilst it is in use. These blocks can move out of the optimum position and in particular cause large gaps to form so that the protection afforded by the blocks in that region is lost.

According to the present invention there is provided a body protector comprising an enclosing covering of a natural or synthetic textile material and a pair of enclosed panels of a foam material designed to absorb impact and shaped to cover the body part to be protected, the panels each having a multiple of cuts formed part of the way through the thickness thereof and wherein the panels are set back to back and the cuts in the two panels correspond and are aligned with one another to create common flexible hinge lines extending generally in orthogonal directions to allow for the panels to flex to mould to the shape of the body part to be protected and for movement of that body part.

With the arrangement of the invention each of the areas of the foam panels which are separated by the cuts will nevertheless be held in the desired spatial relationship relative to the other parts of the sheet by the material which remains to create the flexible hinge lines. Maximal

achievement of the impact absorption character of the protective sheet is thereby obtained. By providing the pair of panels back to back, and with the cuts aligned, the panels can readily flex in either direction to enable the protector to mould around the shape of the person wearing the protector.

The cuts in the enclosed sheet will ideally extend to a depth in excess of 50% of the thickness of the material, and preferably will form a latticework pattern of lines.

It is desirable to provide that the enclosed panels are punctured with arrays of breathing holes, generally aligned between the two panels. This allows air flow circulation to the body of the person wearing the protector. The cuts in the panels also create air flow channels.

Ideally the cuts will define channels having a U-shaped configuration at the base thereof. This shape allows the materials to flex with little risk that cracking will occur in the region of the cuts which could lead to fracture of the panels into individual parts.

It is envisaged that parts of a body will be covered by interlinked individual body protectors. In this case it is preferred that portions of just one of the pairs of panels of foam material extend from edges of the back to back portions of the pair of panels. These half-thickness portions can then be overlapped with similar portions on another body protector, where they are connected together.

The invention may be performed in various ways and a

preferred example thereof will now be described, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate first and second parts of a torso protector of this invention; Figure 3 is a cross-section through part of a pair of panels forming one of the protector parts of Figures 1 and

2 ; Figure 4 illustrates a shoulder connector of the protector; and Figure 5 illustrates lacing connecting the edges of the two parts of the connector.

Referring now to the drawings, the body protector comprises separate front and rear parts 1 and 2. These can be interlinked (adjustably) at the top end by releasable straps 3 and 4 which hook into pads 5 and 6 provided with looped gripping threads (the type of connector as sold under the Trade Mark "Velcro"). The overlap of the strap portions can be seen readily from Figure 4. A cover flap 7 is also provided. When the parts 1 and 2 are fitted to the front and rear of the torso of a person, all round protection will be provided.

Internally each part 1 and 2 incorporates a pair of panels 8 and 9 of a high density, high impact absorption, foam material. In order to provide the necessary degree of flexibility of the panels 8 and 9 they are divided into segments 10 by cutting through the foam material (such as by

using a hot knife) to a depth greater than 50% of the overall depth of each panel. This creates interlinking hinge lines 11. The shape and depth of the cuts creating the hinge lines 11 is illustrated in Figure 3. As can be seen from Figure 3 the cuts have a U-shaped configuration at the base which significantly reduces any tendency to crack when flexed repeatedly. Preferred dimensions would be 10 mm for the thickness of the material forming the panels 8 and 9, with cuts of a width of 9 mm and a depth of 6 mm forming the hinge lines 11.

The parts 1 and 2 have shapes generally designed to provide overall protection for the front and rear respectively of the torso of a user. In each case the pair of panels 8 and 9 is enclosed by a natural synthetic textile material 12 (on both sides and stitched into place). For the front protector part 1 the panel 8 (only) extends beyond each side to form flaps 13. Similar flaps 14 are formed on the rear protector part 2 by a extension of the rear panel 9 only. These flaps 13 and 14 can then be overlapped at the sides of the body of the wearer and the two parts 1 and 2 will be interconnected in this region by lacing 15 (see Figure 5) passing through eyelets 16. It will be seen from Figure 4 that a similar overlap between the panels 8 and 9 is created where the shoulder straps interlink. At the front of the protector part 1 there is provided a zip 17.

This is positioned in such a way that when the zip is done up the underlying edges of the pairs of panels 8 and 9 will

abut.

As can be seen from Figures 1 and 2 the panels 8 and 9 are provided with ventilation holes 18 which, together with grooves 11, provide for good circulation of air from one surface of the protector to the other.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A body protector comprising an enclosing covering of a natural or synthetic textile material and a pair of enclosed panels of a foam material designed to absorb impact and shaped to cover the body part to be protected, the panels each having a multiple of cuts formed part of the way through the thickness thereof and wherein the panels are set back to back and the cuts in the two panels correspond and are aligned with one another to create common flexible hinge lines extending generally in orthogonal directions to allow for the panels to flex to mould to the shape of the body part to be protected and for movement of that body part.
2. A body protector according to claim 1, wherein the cuts form a latticework pattern of lines.
3. A body protector according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the enclosed panels are punctured with arrays of breathing holes, generally aligned between the two panels.
4. A body protector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cuts in the enclosed panels extend to a depth in excess of 50% of the thickness of the material.
5. A body protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cuts define channels having aU-shaped configuration at the base thereof.
6. A body protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein portions of just one of the panels of foam material extend from edges of the back to back portions of the pair of panels.

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7. A body protector substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.