Protection device

Abstract

A protection device (1) for the ischial, perineal and urogenital area (2) of a user (3), comprising: - a folding main body (4), which is shaped substantially like a parallelogram and the internal surface (8) of which is stably associated with multiple paddings (9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h, 9i, 9l) which are separated by a plurality of dividing segments (10a, 10b, 10c, 10c, 10e), - two elastically extendable straps (11a, 11b), which are stably associated at a first end thereof (12a, 12b) with the main body (4), - at least one means (14a, 14b) for temporary interconnection, which is associated detachably with a second end (15a, 15b) of one of the straps (11a, 11b).

Description

PROTECTION DEVICE The present invention relates to a protection device, particularly for the ischial, perineal and urogenital area of the human body and which has a use in particular for sports, urban and / or tourism use such as, for example, cycling, mountain biking, motorcycling or even for other activities such as gymnastics, spinning, triathlon, the protection device being adapted for any type of saddle, seat, and chair, including for example of the type used in aircraft or in cars or, in general, in vehicles. In the practice of cycling it is known to use pairs of shorts, made of partially elasticized material, constituted by a base support made of fabric to which a padding of adequate and uniform thickness is applied internally, at the ischial, perineal and urogenital area, for example by way of stitching or heat-taping or gluing, and is adapted to protect such area of the athlete: in fact during races or training this is the part of the body that remains continuously in contact with the saddle and is subjected to all the stresses due to the bumps and holes in the terrain and the vibrations transmitted by the bicycle frame as well as being subjected to continuous chafing. Such continual stresses result in the onset of localized inflammation that can deteriorate into cuts or blisters that make practicing the sport difficult, if not impossible. Such solution has drawbacks, however, since even if the thickness of the padding may initially give relief, it has been found that the padding tends both to overheat the ischial, perineal and urogenital area and also to slide, thus also creating further conditions of discomfort, partly owing to sweating. Furthermore, during use, such padding is subjected to shifts, making it necessary to correctly reposition it at the ischial, perineal and urogenital area; such repositioning is difficult however in that, such padding being sewn internally to the pair of shorts, it necessarily requires the athlete to slide a hand inside the pair of shorts in order to reposition the padding in the correct position. As a partial solution to such drawbacks, it is also known to provide pairs of shorts which are made up of a support with which a uniform layer of additional material is associated, at the ischial, perineal and urogenital area and by way of perimetric stitching, which is contoured so as to define several mutually separate areas, which protrude from the support and are arranged laterally with respect to a longitudinal axis of the saddle; such protruding areas create zones, uniform in thickness but in different positions, for resting on. While partially solving the above mentioned drawbacks, in such known art the paddings or the additional layer of material work by being deformed by the load pressing upon them, and they therefore define localized areas of pressure that generate further annoyances during the practice of sport. Also the repositioning of such padding is difficult since, by being sewn internally to the pair of shorts, it necessarily requires the athlete to slide a hand inside the pair of shorts in order to reposition the padding in the correct position. The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing a device that, during use, enables the user to achieve an optimal level of comfort at the ischial, perineal and urogenital area and makes it possible to achieve a high freedom of movement. Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a device that makes it possible to achieve optimal level of comfort for the user even following a prolonged use thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is easily and effortlessly wearable by the user, that can be easily repositioned by the user during its use, and which can be used with any kind of shorts or skirt, without therefore requiring the use of technical pairs of shorts for cycling or motorcycling with inner padding. 3 Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is structurally simple and which is not cumbersome and is easily transported. Another object of the invention is to provide a device that is low cost and which can be made with the usual conventional systems. This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a protection device for the ischial, perineal and urogenital area of a user, characterized in that it comprises: _ a folding main body, which is shaped substantially like a parallelogram and the internal surface of which is stably associated with multiple paddings which are separated by a plurality of dividing segments, - two elastically extendable straps, which are stably associated at a first end thereof with said main body, - at least one means for temporary interconnection, which is associated detachably with a second end of one of said straps. Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of a particular but not exclusive embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a view from above of the device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of the device; Figure 3 is a view from below of the device; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along the line V- V of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a front elevation view of the means for temporary interconnection; Figure 7 is a front elevation view of the device, worn by a user; Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the device, worn by the user, taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 7; Figure 9 is a rear view of the device, worn by a user; Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 show the steps of folding the device. In the exemplary embodiments that follow, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other exemplary embodiments. Moreover, it should be noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer. With reference to the figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a protection device for the ischial, perineal and urogenital area 2 of a user 3, which is particularly adapted for sports, urban and / or tourism use such as, for example, cycling, mountain biking, motorcycling or even for other activities such as gymnastics, spinning, triathlon, the protection device being adapted for any type of saddle, seat, and chair, including for example of the type used in aircraft or in cars or, in general, in vehicles. The protection device 1 is preferably made with a material that is elastic or semi-elastic in all directions or which comprises rigid elements, or optionally made with material that is perforated internally in order to improve its breathability. The protection device 1 comprises a main body 4, perforated, heat- breathable and optionally cold-thermoperforated or hot-thermoperforated or high frequency or optionally made with 3D printing, which is substantially shaped like a parallelogram or a rhomboid, has a vertical major diagonal which intersects, approximately two-thirds along its length, a horizontal minor diagonal. The main body 4 therefore has two adjacent longer sides 5a, 5b of equal length, and two adjacent shorter sides 6a, 6b of equal length. The corners of the main body 4 are rounded. On the main body 4, at the major diagonal, first, second and third slots 7a, 7b, 7c are provided which are arranged in sequence in order to create better comfort for a male user. The first slot 7a is substantially shaped like an isosceles triangle, with rounded corners, and is provided between the two longer sides 5a, 5b and is shorter than the second and third slots 7b, 7c. The second slot 7b has a substantially rectangular shape, with rounded corners, and is provided between the two longer sides 5a, 5b and is longer than the first and third slots 7a, 7c. The third slot 7c is substantially shaped like an isosceles triangle, with rounded corners, and is provided between the two shorter sides 6a, 6b and is longer than the first slot 7a and shorter than the second slot 7b. In an embodiment not shown in the present application, the first slot 7a is not perforated and therefore on the main body 4 there are, at the major diagonal, only the second and third slots 7b, 7c, in order to create better comfort for a female user. On the internal surface 8 of the main body 4 there is a plurality of paddings 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h, 9i, 9l, perforated, and / or heat- breathable and optionally cold-thermoperforated or hot-thermoperforated or high frequency or optionally made with 3D printing, which are stably associated with the internal surface 8 and are adapted to cover it substantially over its entire surface. The paddings 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h, 9i, 9l are mutually separated by means of five dividing segments 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e which follow the human anatomy, appreciably improving the wearability of the protection device 1 proper. The first dividing segment 10a is arranged substantially proximate to the minor diagonal, the second dividing segment 10b is parallel to the previous one and adjacent to the first slot 7a, the third and the fourth dividing segments 10c, 10d are substantially vertical and connecting the two longer sides 5a, 5b with the two shorter sides 6a, 6b and the fifth dividing segment 10e encompasses the first, second and third slots 7a, 7b, 7c. The dividing segments 10a, 10b, 10c, 10d, 10e are adapted to allow the main body 4 to be folded along substantially horizontal and vertical axes in order to limit the space occupation of the protection device 1 in order for it to be transported, while it is not in use. The protection device 1 further comprises two elastically extendable straps 11a, 11b which are arranged at the same longitudinal axis and at the opposite ends of the major diagonal of the main body 4, the straps being stably associated, at a first end 12a, 12b thereof, with the main body 4, preferably at its external surface 13. The two straps 11a, 11b are substantially rectangular in cross-section. The protection device 1 further comprises two means for temporary interconnection 14a, 14b, such as two conventional clips or a magnetic front double-hook of the type used in conventional Bermuda shorts, which are associated detachably with a free second end 15a, 15b of the two straps 11a, 11b, which is opposite with respect to the first end 12a, 12b. Each clip 14a, 14b, substantially rectangular in shape, has a laminar body on which are provided horizontally a first opening 16, at which the free second end 15a, 15b of the respective strap 11a, 11b can be inserted, and an adjacent second opening, at which a horizontal partition 17a, 17b is arranged in a central region and is adapted to define a first and a second seat 18a, 18b for the removable insertion of the free second end 15a, 15b of the two straps 11a, 11b. Each strap 11a, 11b is coupled to the clip 14a, 14b as follows: the strap 11a, 11b is inserted into the first opening 16, is subsequently inserted into the second seat 18b and, passing under the partition 17a, 17b, is then inserted into the first seat 18a. Each of the two clips 14a, 14b has, at the end directed in the opposite direction with respect to the two straps 11a, 11b, two teeth 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, which protrude externally, are arranged parallel to each other, and are substantially C-shaped in cross-section, adapted to form a hook. In a particular embodiment of the protection device 1, it is possible to have adapted non-slip inserts, which are stably associated or associable at the external surface 13 of the main body 4, and are adapted to provide an optimal stability of the protection device 1. Furthermore, in a particular embodiment, the external surface 13 of the main body 4 of the protection device 1 can have reflective characteristics adapted to enable the immediate identification of the user 3 during nighttime use. In use, the protection device 1 is adapted to be positioned by placing the main body 4 in the ischial, perineal and urogenital area 2 of a user 3, outside the items of clothing or shorts 20 of the user, and is stably associated thereat by coupling the teeth 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d of the clip 14a, 14b for example to the edges of the items of clothing or shorts 19 of the user 3 at the waist of the user 3. Figures 9 to 15 show the steps that make it possible to obtain the folding of the protection device 1 and these are described below. Initially the main body 4 is folded, substantially at one hundred and eighty degrees clockwise, at the fifth dividing segment 10e, and then at the major diagonal of the main body 4, so that the longer sides 5a, 5b and the shorter sides 6a, 6b are brought into mutual contact. Subsequently the main body 4 is folded, at the second dividing segment 10b, substantially at one hundred and eighty degrees clockwise and is then folded, at the first dividing segment 10a, substantially at one hundred and eighty degrees anticlockwise, in such a way that the main body 4, thus folded, assumes a sandwich shape structure with three superimposed layers. Finally the clips 14a, 14b are coupled to each other, by coupling the teeth 18a, 18b of the clip 14a with the teeth 18c, 18d of the clip 14b in order to maintain the superimposed layers of the main body 4 in position. Thus it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, a protection device 1 having been obtained that enables the user 3 to achieve both a passive protection from pain in the event of a fall, and also an active protection by providing a benefit or relief therefore entailing an optimal comfort at the ischial, perineal and urogenital area 2 even for prolonged periods of use by virtue of the presence of the plurality of paddings 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9g, 9h, 9i, 9l, which are adapted to substantially cover the entire internal surface 8 of the main body 4. It has further been found that the protection device 1 can be easily and effortlessly donned by the user 3 in just a few seconds over the items of clothing or shorts 19 by means of the clips 14a, 14b which are adapted to be selectively associable with the items of clothing or shorts 19 of the user 3. It has therefore been found that the protection device can be used with any kind of shorts or skirt, without therefore requiring the use of technical pairs of shorts for cycling or motorcycling with inner padding but performing the same function as those garments. Furthermore it has been found that the protection device 1 makes it possible to be easily repositioned by the user 3 during its use, it being located outside items of clothing or pairs of shorts 19. Finally it has been found that the protection device 1 is structurally simple and not cumbersome and is easily transported, by virtue of the fact that the main body 4 can be folded. The invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Naturally the materials used as well as the dimensions of the individual components of the invention may be more relevant according to specific requirements. The characteristics indicated above as advantageous, convenient or the like, may also be missing or be substituted by equivalent characteristics. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs. In some aspects, embodiments of the present invention as described herein include the following items: 1. A protection device for ischial, perineal and urogenital area of a user, wherein the device comprises: - a folding main body, which is shaped like a parallelogram and an internal surface of which is stably associated with a plurality of paddings which are separated by a plurality of dividing segments, - two elastically extendable straps, which are stably associated at a first end thereof with said folding main body, - at least one means for temporary interconnection, which is associated detachably with a second end of one of said two elastically extendable straps. 2. The protection device according to item 1, wherein said folding main body, which is shaped like a parallelogram or a rhomboid, has a vertical major diagonal which intersects, approximately two-thirds along its length, a horizontal minor diagonal, said folding main body having therefore two adjacent longer sides of equal length and two adjacent shorter sides of equal length, said folding main body having rounded corners. 3. The protection device according to item 1 or 2, wherein a first slot and second and third slots, arranged in sequence, are provided at the major diagonal on said folding main body, said first slot being shaped like an isosceles triangle, with rounded corners, and being provided between said two longer sides, and being shorter than said second and third slots. 4. The protection device according to any one of items 1 to 3, wherein said second slot has a rectangular shape, with rounded corners, and is provided between said two longer sides and is longer than said first slot and said third slot. 5. The protection device according to any one of items 1 to 4, wherein said third slot is shaped like an isosceles triangle, with rounded corners, and is provided between said two shorter sides and is longer than said first slot and shorter than said second slot. 6. The protection device according to any one of items 1 to 5, wherein said plurality of paddings are at said internal surface of said folding main body and are stably associated with said internal surface and are adapted to cover it over its entire surface, said paddings being mutually separated by means of five dividing segments, the first dividing segment being arranged proximate to said minor diagonal, the second dividing segment being arranged parallel to said first dividing segment and adjacent to said first slot, the third dividing segment and the fourth dividing segment being vertical and connecting said two longer sides to said two shorter sides and the fifth dividing segment encompassing said first slot and said second and third slots, said dividing segments being adapted to allow said folding main body to be folded along horizontal and vertical axes. 7. The protection device according to any one of items 1 to 6, wherein said two elastically extendable straps are arranged at the same longitudinal axis and at the opposite ends of the major diagonal of said folding main body, said two elastically extendable straps being stably associated, at a said first end thereof, with said folding main body, at its external surface, said two elastically extendable straps being rectangular in cross-section. 8. The protection device according to item 1, wherein said two means for temporary interconnection are associated detachably with a free second end of said two elastically extendable straps, which is opposite with respect to said first end. 9. The protection device according to item 1, wherein each one of said means for temporary interconnection has, at the end directed in the opposite direction with respect to said two elastically extendable straps, two teeth which protrude externally, are arranged parallel to each other, and are C- shaped in cross-section, adapted to form a hook. 10. The protection device according to item 1, wherein each one of said means for temporary interconnection has, at the end directed in the opposite direction with respect to said two elastically extendable straps, magnetic means for temporary coupling.

Claims

<pat:ClaimStatement>CLAIMS< / pat:ClaimStatement> <pat:Claims com:id="claims"> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00001"> <pat:ClaimNumber>1< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>1. A protection device for ischial, perineal and urogenital area of a user, wherein the device comprises: - a folding main body, which is shaped like a parallelogram and an internal surface of which is stably associated with a plurality of paddings which are separated by a plurality of dividing segments, - two elastically extendable straps, which are stably associated at a first end thereof with said folding main body, - at least one means for temporary interconnection, which is associated detachably with a second end of one of said two elastically extendable straps. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00002"> <pat:ClaimNumber>2< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>2. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein said folding main body, which is shaped like a parallelogram or a rhomboid, has a vertical major diagonal which intersects, approximately two-thirds along its length, a horizontal minor diagonal, said folding main body having therefore two adjacent longer sides of equal length and two adjacent shorter sides of equal length, said folding main body having rounded corners. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00003"> <pat:ClaimNumber>3< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>3. The protection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a first slot and second and third slots, arranged in sequence, are provided at the major diagonal on said folding main body, said first slot being shaped like an isosceles triangle, with rounded corners, and being provided between said two longer sides, and being shorter than said second and third slots. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00004"> <pat:ClaimNumber>4< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>4. The protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said second slot has a rectangular shape, with rounded corners, and is provided between said two longer sides and is longer than said first slot and said third slot. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00005"> <pat:ClaimNumber>5< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>5. The protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said third slot is shaped like an isosceles triangle, with rounded corners, and is provided between said two shorter sides and is longer than said first slot and shorter than said second slot. 13 < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00006"> <pat:ClaimNumber>6< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>6. The protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said plurality of paddings are at said internal surface of said folding main body and are stably associated with said internal surface and are adapted to cover it over its entire surface, said paddings being mutually separated by means of five dividing segments, the first dividing segment being arranged proximate to said minor diagonal, the second dividing segment being arranged parallel to said first dividing segment and adjacent to said first slot, the third dividing segment and the fourth dividing segment being vertical and connecting said two longer sides to said two shorter sides and the fifth dividing segment encompassing said first slot and said second and third slots, said dividing segments being adapted to allow said folding main body to be folded along horizontal and vertical axes. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00007"> <pat:ClaimNumber>7< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>7. The protection device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said two elastically extendable straps are arranged at the same longitudinal axis and at the opposite ends of the major diagonal of said folding main body, said two elastically extendable straps being stably associated, at a said first end thereof, with said folding main body, at its external surface, said two elastically extendable straps being rectangular in cross-section. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00008"> <pat:ClaimNumber>8< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>8. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein said two means for temporary interconnection are associated detachably with a free second end of said two elastically extendable straps, which is opposite with respect to said first end. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00009"> <pat:ClaimNumber>9< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>9. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein each one of said means for temporary interconnection has, at the end directed in the opposite direction with respect to said two elastically extendable straps, two teeth which protrude externally, are arranged parallel to each other, and are C-shaped in cross-section, adapted to form a hook. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> <pat:Claim com:id="CLM-00010"> <pat:ClaimNumber>10< / pat:ClaimNumber> <pat:ClaimText>10. The protection device according to claim 1, wherein each one of said means for temporary interconnection has, at the end directed in the opposite direction with respect to said two elastically extendable straps, magnetic means for temporary coupling. < / pat:ClaimText> < / pat:Claim> < / pat:Claims>