Binding system for sports equipment

Abstract

A lashing system for a wearable protective sportswear of an athlete includes at least one strap for partially or fully surrounding a body part of the athlete and reversibly securing the garment. The garment may also include at least one collapsible cutout opening having a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion movable from a first position to a second position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of protective sports apparel and, more particularly, to a strapping system for protective gear for athletes having a main strap that wraps around an entire limb or body part to more securely and evenly secure the protective gear to the limb or body part. Background Art

[0002] The present invention relates to a lashing system for protective sports equipment, the main strap of the lashing system wraps around the entire limb or body part to which it secures the protective equipment, and the limb or body part can be partially wrapped within the protective equipment. The lashing system allows the protective equipment to be secured more securely, more evenly and with an improved fit.

[0003] Athletes who engage in high-intensity sports (including ice hockey, rugby, lacrosse and football) need protective equipment with pads (such as shin guards, shoulder pads and elbow pads, etc.) to reduce and prevent injuries. Standard tying systems simply close the gap between the two edges of the protective equipment. For example, the tying system for the shin guard is most commonly configured with one or more straps that are fixed to one side of the shin guard and are passed around the back of the athlete's legs with a short strap or buckle to secure the shin guard to the leg. Similarly, the tying system for the elbow pad is configured so that one or more straps are fixed to both sides of the elbow pad and partially wrapped around the athlete's upper arm and forearm.

[0004] The design of standard lashing systems for protective equipment, including shin guards and elbow pads, is often made using hook and loop closures, but the typical fastening arrangement is often not strong and secure enough to provide a good fit. In addition, such straps are prone to falling off when hit hard. Shifting or sliding of protective equipment due to inadequate fixation or poor fit limits the protection provided by such equipment. It would be beneficial if the lashing system could be designed in a more integrated manner to more evenly secure the protective equipment to the athlete's body parts and more securely.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for an improved lacing system for protective equipment for athletes (e.g., ice hockey players) that is easy to don and allows the protective equipment to be more evenly and more securely fitted to the athlete's body part. Summary of the invention

[0006] These needs are addressed by the present tying system, which provides a more uniform and more secure fit of protective equipment to an athlete's limb or body part.In one aspect, an improved fastening system for wearable protective sports apparel is provided.

[0007] Protective sportswear is arranged to at least partially cover the parts of the user's body that are susceptible to impact during the actual performance of the sport. For example, protective equipment for ice hockey can be used to protect the front of the knees and shins (shin protectors), shoulders and upper body (commonly referred to as shoulder pads), and elbows (elbow pads). Such protective equipment is usually multi-layered, containing one or more layers of pads on the inside and a rigid protective shell on the outside. As mentioned above, such equipment is usually attached to the relevant body part by short straps, which are connected around the back of the body part (opposite to the protective surface).

[0008] As described herein, the inventors have improved the primary fastening straps associated with such protective gear. The strapping of the present invention is arranged to span the front side (protective side) of the gear, pass through a passage within or between the layers, and then fasten at the connection point. Thus, the straps are connected to securely secure the protective gear and provide a circumferential connection. This structure provides a superior means of connecting and fitting the protective gear to a body part, and also better distributes pressure along the entire length of the strap, thereby allowing a secure fit.

[0009] Some embodiments of protective equipment (such as shin guards) incorporating the straps of the present invention may also include one or more protective layers having at least one cutout oriented toward the protective face of the equipment. The cutout is configured to contract along a portion of the garment when pressure is applied by a strap mounted over the cutout. This additional feature provides further opportunity for superior fit and retention of the protective equipment.

[0010] Therefore, the binding system includes at least one strap for encircling a body part of a user and reversibly attaching the garment to the body part, the at least one strap being configured to extend across at least one incision (if present) when encircling the body part, thereby facilitating reversible movement of a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion of the incision from a first position to a second position.

[0011] Preferably, at least one of the cutouts (if present) is arranged to contract such that the first edge portion and the second edge portion are brought into proximity when the at least one strap is extended across the cutout and around a body part of a user.

[0012] The garment comprises an outer surface, an inner surface and at least one peripheral edge connected to at least one fastening strip. Preferably, the garment further comprises at least one outer rigid shield for providing impact protection to a body part of a user.

[0013] Preferably, the lashing system has a first end and a second end, the first end being arranged to be integrally formed with at least one peripheral edge of the garment or permanently fixed to at least one peripheral edge of the garment, and the second end being arranged to be releasably coupled to a complementary surface on the peripheral edge or the binding to form a circumferential or near-circumferential fastening mechanism. At least one fastening strip may include a clip, a hook and loop fastener or a snap fastener. On the other hand, the garment is a shin guard or an elbow pad. The user may be any person seeking protection from physical impact, such as an ice hockey player, a floor hockey player, a hockey player, a lacrosse player, a baseball player, a cricket player, a football player or a rugby player.

[0014] In another aspect, a lashing system for a protective shoulder pad assembly is provided, the shoulder pad assembly including pads for the shoulder and front and rear panels that may include pads for providing additional impact protection to the user's upper back and chest. The lashing system includes an inverted V-shaped strap connected by its apex to a central region rear panel of the shoulder pad assembly to releasably connect to a complementary surface located on the front panel to form a circumferential connection around the torso.

[0015] Specifically, the V-shaped strap is preferably fixed to the rear of the shoulder pad assembly, oriented inverted and fixed by the apex of the V, and is made of a stretchable material, which can include spandex, nylon or a mixture of synthetic fibers and stretchable fibers. The two ends of the V are adapted to cooperate with corresponding ends of the bottom of the front portion at chest height connected to the shoulder pad assembly. When the V-shaped strap engages the front and rear portions, each of the two ends extends downward and is releasably attached to one of the two opposite side ends of the front protective element by a fastening device. When so fitted, the strap provides downward pressure on the shoulder pad to provide a good fit with the body. The fastening device is adjustable so that the user can fit the strap to make the shoulder pad assembly fit tightly as needed. The fastening device can include a clip, a hook and loop fastener, or a snap fastener.

[0016] These and other aspects of the invention will be described herein with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The invention will now be better understood with reference to the description and accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] Figure 1A is a left side view of an elbow pad including the strap of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 1B yes Figure 1ASchematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a plan view of a layer of an elbow pad, the plan view showing the strap in an unstretched state.

[0020] Figure 2A is a rear view of a shin guard incorporating the strap of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 2B yes Figure 2A A plan view of the inner layer of a mid-shin brace showing the strap of the present invention in an unstretched state.

[0022] Figure 2C yes Figure 2B Schematic diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing the strap in a stretched state.

[0023] Figure 2D Shows Figure 2A Front view of a shin guard.

[0024] Figure 3A is a perspective view of the shoulder pad assembly.

[0025] Figure 3B yes Figure 3A Rear view of the shoulder pad assembly with the lashing system in an unstretched state.

[0026] Figure 3C yes Figure 3A An embodiment of a rear panel of a shoulder pad assembly showing a V-shaped strap associated with a protective hood.

[0027] Figure 3D yes Figure 3C An isolated front view of the V-shaped strap of the present lashing system for the shoulder pad assembly.

[0028] In these figures, preferred embodiments of the present invention are shown by way of example. It should be clearly understood that the description and drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are intended to aid understanding. They are not intended to define limitations of the present invention. It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that details that are not necessary for understanding embodiments of the present invention may be omitted in some cases. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] With reference to these drawings, it will be understood that the present invention can be implemented in a variety of different sports for a variety of different athletes.These embodiments are given by way of example only.

[0030] Turning now to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1AA side view of an embodiment of the present strap system for an adjustable elbow pad 200 is shown. In this view, the adjustable elbow pad 200 includes an upper arm portion 220, an elbow portion 240, a rigid elbow guard 242 connected to the top of the elbow portion 240, and a forearm portion 260. The elbow pad 200 is configured to be nested in the athlete's elbow to provide protection thereto. The elbow pad can be constructed so that the upper arm portion 220, the elbow portion 240 and / or the forearm portion 260 are integral and connected to each other, or they can be constructed separately and then connected with a flexible joint to allow a better range of motion. The upper arm portion 220, the elbow portion 240 and the forearm portion 260 can be made of EVA foam or other types of foam, gel, thermoplastic material, etc. Optionally, the adjustable elbow pad 200 can have one or more inner surfaces, which can also be padded and include any suitable fabric, most preferably a moisture-wicking fabric, and optionally a stretchable or compressible material, such as a polyurethane foam containing spandex or lycra (LYCRA TM ) fabric.

[0031] The upper arm portion 220 is engaged with the athlete's upper arm and includes: an upper arm pad 222, which is configured to wrap around the triceps region of the upper arm; and a first strap 230 for fixing the upper arm portion 220. The first strap 230 is a VELCRO strap that can be fixed by any known means (e.g., a VELCRO strap located at the end of the first strap 230). TM , which is used to secure to a complementary surface on the opposite edge of the upper arm portion 220 (not visible in this view).

[0032] The elbow portion 240 may include the aforementioned rigid elbow guard 242 and a second strap 246 extending from one edge of the elbow guard 242 and connectable to an opposite edge of the elbow guard 242 by a reversible fastening arrangement, similar to that described with respect to the first strap 230 .

[0033] The present invention is embodied in the provision of a forearm strap 268 associated with the forearm portion 260. The forearm strap 268 has a forearm strap first end 270 that is permanently secured to the edge of the elbow portion ( Figure 1A Not visible in Figure 1B The forearm strap 268 also includes a forearm strap second end 272, and in this embodiment the forearm strap 268 is made of an elastic material. The forearm strap 268 is mounted within the channel 267, such as Figure 1A As seen in the partial view of Figure 1BThe channel 267 allows the non-attached portion of the forearm strap 268 to slide in the channel 267 when pulled and secured by the user. The forearm strap 268 emerges from the channel 267 at the forearm first lateral end portion 264. The forearm second lateral end portion 266 is at Figure 1A Not visible in the Figure 1B Seen in.

[0034] Figure 1B An inner cushioning layer 290 is shown, which forms an inner cushioning layer 290 Figure 1A A portion of the elbow pad 200 is shown in FIG. Figure 1B rather, the figure is limited to the elbow portion 240 and the forearm portion 260. Also featured is a cutout 244 which, when assembled as part of the elbow pad 200, provides a cavity for the athlete's elbow that is located deeper than the pad surface of the inner pad layer 290.

[0035] Channel 267 is still there Figure 1B As can be better seen in the figure, in the channel 267, the third strap 268 is permanently fastened internally at the edge 270. In this embodiment, the channel 267 extends internally within the inner padding layer 290. The upper surface 295 of the forearm portion 260 includes a fastenable surface (e.g., a surface composed of Velcro) that can cooperate with the end 272 located on the forearm strap 268. Other embodiments are also possible. For example, instead of the internal channel 267, the forearm strap 268 can extend between the inner padding layer 290 and the outer shell or outer protective surface. Similarly, although the present invention is only embodied in the forearm strap 268 in this version of the elbow pad, the present invention can also be applied to the first strap 230 or the second strap 246. Many such variations are possible and are within the capabilities of those skilled in the art.

[0036] When the forearm strap 268 is in an unstretched or static state, the second end 272 is free. Figure 1A and Figure 1B When the forearm strap 268 is in a stretched state, the second end 272 can be reversibly attached by pressure to the opposing "loop" surface of the fastening strap on the outer surface of the second side end 266 of the forearm portion 260, thereby allowing it to be adjustably mounted and securely fit to the athlete's forearm.

[0037] The straps associated with the forearm portion of the elbow pad are more exposed to impact during actual movement than straps associated with the elbow portion or upper arm and are therefore more likely to fall off or loosen after receiving a hard blow. Therefore, it is particularly beneficial to install the forearm strap 268 in this location. The forearm strap 268 provides additional advantages relative to the first strap 230 and the second strap 246 because the forearm strap 268 provides a circumferential connection around the forearm, distributing pressure more evenly around the limb and allowing for a tighter, more secure and customized fit.

[0038] Each of straps 230, 246, 268 may be made of a stretchable material (eg, spandex, nylon, or a blend of synthetic and stretchable fibers).

[0039] The present invention may also be employed in other types of protective equipment. Figure 2A A rear view of protective equipment incorporating the ligating system of the present invention is shown in the form of an adjustable shin guard 100. The shin guard 100 includes a knee portion 199 connected to a shin portion 198 (at Figure 2D 191 to accommodate the athlete's kneecap. Optionally, the inner layer 131 may also include a slot 192 that is cut and can be connected to the cut 191. The inner layer 131 has a surface for facing the athlete's leg, which includes any suitable fabric, most preferably a moisture-wicking fabric, and optionally a stretchable or compressible material, for example, a spandex fiber or Lycra (LYCRA TM ) fabric.

[0040] The inner layer 131 can be detachably or permanently connected to an additional cushioning intermediate layer 121, which includes wings 140 and 160 at its side edges for partially wrapping the legs (at the Figure 2B and Figure 2C The middle layer 121 may also include a padded top cover 193 for protecting the thigh area just above the knee.

[0041] The outer layer 194 is located on the front side of the shin guard 100 and may be permanently attached to the middle layer 121. The outer layer 194 provides a further layer of protection and is typically made of a durable, impact-resistant polymer or other similar material to provide good protection against impacts during actual sports.

[0042] A first strap 190 connected to the intermediate layer 121 in this embodiment is provided to connect the upper portion of the shin guard 100 to the leg. The first strap 190 is fitted with a standard closure, such as a hook and loop closure, buckle or snaps, preferably a hook and loop closure.

[0043] The shin strap 180 utilizes elements of the present invention. The shin strap 180 has a shin strap first end 182 (not visible in this view, but visible in the illustrations). Figure 2B and Figure 2C 140 ). The shin strap 180 is otherwise unattached and is arranged to extend in a direction parallel to the front protective surface of the shin guard 100. The shin strap 180 may also be provided with a channel located in the middle layer 121, the channel having an exit point 193 through which the shin strap second end 184 emerges. The shin strap 180 may be constructed of a stretchable elastic material and may be provided with a fastening surface at the end 184 that mates with a complementary fastening surface on the middle layer 121 or the wing 140 (at Figure 2B In this way, the user can pull the shin strap 180 tightly around the calf to connect it to the intermediate layer 121 or surface 142, thereby providing a secure circumferential fit around the leg.

[0044] Figure 2B An isolated view of the middle layer 121 is shown, in which the middle layer 121 is oriented so that it faces the outer layer 194. The middle layer 121 has side wings 140 and 160, and also features a cutout opening 120, which has a generally elongated linear shape. The cutout opening 120 includes a first side portion 122 and a second side portion 124, which are opposite to each other and can be contracted to tighten the inner layer 121 across the athlete's shin. The aforementioned shin strap 180 is shown permanently connected to the middle layer 121 near its lateral edge (near the wings 140) by its shin strap first end 182. The shin strap 180 then extends across the elongated portion of the cutout opening 120 and includes a fastening mechanism or surface at its shin strap second end 184. When the intermediate layer 121 is incorporated into the shin guard 100 , the user may pull the shin strap second end 182 around the calf to connect it with the complementary fastening surface 142 .

[0045] like Figure 2B As shown, in some embodiments, the first side portion 122 and the second side portion 124 of the cutout opening 120 have a first position relative to each other (eg, Figure 2B depicted) and a second position relative to each other (as Figure 2C ). In the first position, the side portions (122 and 124) are separated and the cutout opening 120 is in an "open" state. Figure 2CIt is shown that when the shin strap 180 is pulled, the side portions 122 and 124 become squeezed together to come into the second position. In other words, the side portions (122 and 124) are contracted and close together, and the cutout opening 120 is in a "closed" state. The first side portion 122 and the second side portion 124 can reversibly move back and forth from the first position to the second position depending on the state of the shin strap 180.

[0046] Therefore, when the shin guard 100 is mounted on the athlete's leg, Figure 2C As can be seen in the figure, the shin strap 180 extends across the cutout opening 120 to encircle the athlete's leg and is in a stretched state, with the first side portion 122 and the second side portion 124 moved into the second position. The athlete can tighten the shin strap 180 as desired by pulling the strap through the cutout 120 and the first side flap 140 and applying pressure so that the opposing "hook" and "loop" surfaces can engage to form a reversible bond.

[0047] The shin strap 180 may be a single strap as shown, or may take other forms, such as a fork at the shin strap first end 182 or the shin strap second end 184, or the shin strap 180 may include two or more thinner straps that work together to perform the functions described.

[0048] The described use of the shin strap 180 contributes two beneficial aspects to the secure fit of the protective gear. First, it provides a circumferential securing device that is more durable and better customized to fit around the user's leg than prior art straps that simply secure the shin guard in place by connecting across a gap at the back of the shin guard. By having a flexible shin strap 180 that wraps 360° or nearly 360° around the leg, pressure is distributed throughout the shin strap 180 and around the leg, providing better force distribution and more comfortable and even securing of the shin guard 100 to the leg.

[0049] Secondly, in the embodiment of the shin guard 100 shown herein that incorporates a cutout opening 120 having an elongated portion, tightening the shin strap 180 across the elongated portion tightens the intermediate layer 121 around the leg and closes the gap in the elongated portion. This facilitates a greater ability to tighten the shin guard 100 around the leg and increases the security of attachment and customization of the fit to the athlete's leg.

[0050] Another application of the concept of the present invention is in the fixing of shoulder pads. Figure 3A1 shows a perspective view of a set of shoulder pads 300. The shoulder pads 300 include a pair of shoulder shields 302a and 302b for protecting the shoulders of a player, a chest protector 320 for protecting the chest of a player, and a back protector 340 (in the middle) for protecting the upper back of a player. Figure 3B ). Each of the shoulder shields 302a and 302b can be integrally formed with a portion of the shoulder pad 300, or can be constructed as a reversibly attachable pad that connects to the outer top of the chest guard 320 and / or back guard 340 by, for example, opposing "hook" and "loop" surfaces. The chest guard 320 and back guard 340 can be at least partially made of EVA foam or other types of foams, gels, thermoplastic materials, etc., and can also include a rigid protective surface made of a suitable polymer. The chest guard 320 and back guard 340 can also optionally include an inner portion that includes additional pads (if desired), and can also optionally have an inner surface that includes any suitable fabric, which is most preferably a moisture-wicking fabric and optionally a stretchable or compressible material, such fabrics typically include spandex fibers or LYCRA (LYCRA TM ).

[0051] The chest protector 320 includes a chest shield 322 and two opposing bottom side edges 324a and 324b, each of which has a fastening strip on an outer surface, the fastening strip including a surface that can be reversibly attached to an opposing complementary surface, such as a hook surface or a loop surface. The back protector 340 includes a back shield 342 (at Figure 3B 324a and 324b for receiving and retaining a V-shaped strap 400 for wrapping around the back protector 340 and reversibly securing the back protector 340 to the chest protector 320 by connecting with the bottom side edges 324a and 324b. The V-shaped strap has arms 420a and 420b terminating in ends 440a and 440b. The ends 440a and 440b are provided with hook or loop surfaces that are complementary to the surfaces located at the bottom side edges 324a and 324b of the chest protector.

[0052] The V-shaped strap 400 includes a central area 402 for securing the V-shaped strap to the center of the back shield 342, in this embodiment, to the inner surface of the back shield 342. The V-shaped strap 400 is made of a stretchable material, which can be spandex, nylon or a mixture of synthetic fibers and stretchable fibers. The V-shaped strap allows the shoulder pad 300 to be adjustably mounted and securely fit to the athlete's upper body. In this embodiment, when the V-shaped strap 400 is secured to the back shield 342, the two arms 420a and 420b extend through the narrow slots 344a and 344b of the back shield 342. As described above, each end 440a and 440b has a fastening strip (not shown) on the inner face, which includes a hook surface or a loop surface that can be reversibly attached to an opposing surface. When the V-shaped strap 400 is extended over its length to join the back guard 340 to the chest guard 320, each end 440a and 440b reversibly engages a fastening strip on two opposing bottom side edges 324a and 324b of the chest guard 320 via corresponding "hook" and "loop" surfaces.

[0053] When the V-shaped binding 400 is in an unstretched or static state, the two ends 440a and 440b are free, such as Figure 3B and Figure 3C Alternatively, when the back guard 340 and the chest guard 320 are joined by the V-shaped strap 400, the strap is extended and in tension, allowing the two ends 440a and 440b to be reversibly attached to the fastening strips on the two bottom side edges 324a and 324b of the chest guard.

[0054] Although the V-shaped strap 400 has been shown mounted on the back protector 340 and joined to the chest protector 320 via the two bottom side edges 324a and 324b, the V-shaped strap can also be mounted on the chest protector and arranged to be attached to the fastening strips located on the two bottom side edges of the back protector. Either arrangement can achieve the benefits of the present invention. However, the advantage of connecting the V-shaped strap 400 to the back protector 340 is that the back is less impacted than the front of the athlete, so there is less chance that the ends 440a and 440b will accidentally fall off during actual exercise.

[0055] This particular arrangement of the grouped shoulder pads 300 secured to the body using the V-shaped straps 400 results in a circumferential connection of the protective equipment to the body. This is a beneficial advance as prior art shoulder pads typically only utilize short tabs at the bottom edge to connect the front and rear sections. The present invention allows for a more distributed force on the straps and front portion. A further benefit in the context of the shoulder pads 300 is that the securing of the V-shaped straps 400 also creates a downward pull on the shoulder shields 302a and 302b, thereby more securely connecting them to the shoulders. In this way, a more secure and more secure connection can be provided than is found with prior art shoulder pads.

[0056] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it is to be understood that many changes, modifications and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A tying system for a protective sports garment having an outer layer and an inner layer, the tying system comprising at least one strap for encircling a body part of a user and securing the garment to the body part, the strap being at least partially located beneath the outer layer, the strap further comprising a first end permanently secured to the garment and a second end configured to be releasably coupled to the garment or to the strap itself.

2. The lashing system according to claim 1, wherein: The strap portion is positioned within the channel beneath the outer layer.

3. The lashing system according to claim 1, wherein: The strap is at least partially made of a flexible material.

4. A protective sports garment comprising a lashing system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cutout, the at least one cutout being configured to be retractable and having a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion, the first side edge portion and the second side edge portion having a first position and a second position relative to each other, and wherein, The at least one strap is configured to extend across the at least one cutout when encircling a body part of the user to allow the first side edge portion and the second side edge portion to reversibly move from the first position to the second position.

5. The protective sportswear of claim 4, wherein: The first edge portion and the second edge portion are brought into proximity when the at least one strap extends across the at least one incision and around the user's body part.

6. The protective sportswear according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein: The garment also includes at least one shield for providing impact protection to a body part of the user.

7. The protective sportswear according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: The garment is a shin guard, a shoulder pad or an elbow pad.

8. The shin guard according to claim 7, wherein: The strap is configured to at least partially surround the user's shin to secure the shin guard.

9. The shin guard according to claim 8, wherein: The straps are arranged to form a circumferential connection.

10. The elbow pad according to claim 7, wherein: The strap is configured to at least partially surround the user's forearm to secure the elbow pad.

11. The elbow pad according to claim 10, wherein: The straps are arranged to form a circumferential connection.

12. A lashing system or protective sportswear according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein: The user is an ice hockey player, floorball player, field hockey player, lacrosse player, baseball player, cricket player, soccer player or rugby player.

13. A lashing system for a protective shoulder pad assembly, The protective shoulder pad assembly includes at least a front protective element and a rear protective element for providing impact protection for the user's upper body; The lashing system comprises a V-shaped strap for reversibly engaging the front protective element and the rear protective element, in, One of the rear and front protection elements includes a central region, and the other of the rear and front protection elements includes two opposite side ends for reversibly fixing the V-shaped strap.

14. The lashing system according to claim 13, wherein: The V-shaped strap comprises: Stretchable materials; a central portion fixed to a central region of the front protective element or the rear protective element; and Two end portions, wherein each of the two end portions extends away from the central portion and is releasably attached to one of two opposing side ends of the opposing front or rear guard element when engaging the front or rear guard element.

15. The lashing system according to claim 14, wherein: The V-shaped strap is connected to the rear protection element, and the two side ends are connected to the front protection element.

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