WO2002078799A1 - Protector - Google Patents

Abstract

Protector for the genital area, injection moulded in a synthetic plastics material. The protector (10) comprises a back plate (12) which, in use, is generally vertical and against the abdominal area of the wearer immediately above the pubic bone. There is two slots (14) through the upper part of the back plate. The slots (14) serves to receive a belt (not shown) which passes around the wearer's waist. The belt holds the protector (10) in place. The protector is worn inside the batsman's clothing. The protector further includes a front plate (16). Front plate (16) comprises an upper portion generally designated (18) which extends forwardly from, and also downwardly with respect to, the back plate (12). Below the portion (18) there is a further portion (20) which extends downwardly with respect to the back plate (12) and then curves rearwardly.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

THIS INVENTION relates to protectors for the wearer's genital area.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Batsmen in cricket always wear a protector, colloquially referred to as a "box, to minimise injury

in the event that they are struck in the genital area by a cricket ball. Apart from the fact that this results

in the batsman suffering considerable agony, there is also the risk of permanent damage.

Commercially available protectors are in the form of a dome which is slightly elongate in one

direction so that it is longer than it is wide. It has a rim around its open side, this rim being against the

batsman's body. If the cricket ball hits the protector it is pressed hard into the batsman's body. Because

of the relatively small contact area high pressures are developed on impact, and such a blow is still

extremely painful.

The present invention seeks to provide a protector which offers better protection to the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a protector for the wearer's genital area which

comprises a substantially vertical back plate, means at the upper end of the back plate for attaching said

back plate to a waste belt, and a cantilevered front plate which has a first portion which extends

forwardly from the back plate and a second portion which extends downwardly from the part of the

first portion which is remote from the back plate. Preferably said front plate is of continuously curving dome-like configuration, said portions merging

smoothly with one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into

effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a protector; and

Figure 2 is a section, to a larger scale, through the protector of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The protector illustrated is generally designated 10 and is preferably injection moulded in a synthetic

plastics material. The protector 10 comprises a back plate 12 which, in use, is generalK' vertical and

against the abdominal area of the wearer immediately above the pubic bone. There is two slots 14 through

the upper part of the back plate. The slots 14 serves to receive a belt (not shown) which passes around the

wearer's waist. The belt holds the protector 10 in place. The protector is worn inside the batsman's

clothing.

The protector further includes a front plate 16. Front plate 16 comprises an upper portion generally

designated 18 which extends forwardly from, and also downwardly with respect to, the back plate 12.

Below the portion 18 there is a further portion 20 which extends downwardly with respect to the back

plate 12 and then curves rearwardly (see figure 2) towards an imaginary downward extension of the back

plate. Because the front plate 16 curves smoothly throughout its length the portions 18 and 20 merge

smoothly with one another without a sharply defined boundary. From Figure 1 it will also be seen that the front plate narrows from its upper end and where it joins

the back plate 12 to its free lower end

In use a belt is passed through the slots 14 and is fastened from the batsman's waist. The protector is

tucked into the batsman's trousers. The belt holds the back plate 16 of the protector against the wearer's

abdomen. The front plate 20 extends over the genital area.

Should a ball travelling in the direction shown by arrow A in Figure 2 hit the front plate 20 low

down that is, below the back plate 12, there will be a tendency for the upper end of the back plate 12 to

move forwardly as shown by arrow B and for the lower end to move rearwardly as shown by arrow C.

The belt limits the possible forward movement of the back plate's upper end and the blow is absorbed by

the batsman's body, being transmitted to it over the entire area of the plate 12. The front plate 16 will also

flex as shown by arrow C to absorb a portion of the energy of the blow.

A blow on the back plate above the junction between the front and the rear plates is sufficiently

remote from the genital area not to be dangerous. Such a blow pushes the back plate 12 into the abdomen,

spreading the load over a larger area than it is if the ball strikes the batsman without the intervention of

the back plate.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method of reducing injury to wearer's abdominal area and genitals which includes the steps of (a) transferin the energy caused by a ball striking the wearer at the genital area to a less sensitive part of the body, and (b) preventing the protector from pressing onto the genitals.

2. A method of increasing the impact area and by so doing decreasing the energy absorbed by the genital and abdominal are.

3. A method of keeping the protector in it's affective position by means of a non elastic belt causing the protector react as a cantilever, preventing over turning of the said protector.

4. A method preventing the protector from touching the genital area according to claim 3.