Wearable protective equipment for breaking and apparel including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to wearable protection equipment (10) for performing breakdancing, which comprises: - a user-wearable article (11) which comprises a membrane and is configured for tight-fitting to a portion of the body of a user; the membrane has a gram weight of between 80 g / m2 and 250 g / m2 and is made of woven material chosen from among a polyester fiber fabric and / or a fabric comprising polyurethane elastomeric fiber and, optionally, polyamide fiber and / or polyester fiber and / or nylon 6-6 and / or cellulose fiber; - at least one shock-absorbing element (12) fixed to the wearable article (11) so as to cover a specific body portion of a user when the user is properly wearing the wearable article (11); the shock-absorbing element (12) comprising at least one spongy layer made selectively of: open-cell or closed-cell polyurethane foam and / or open-cell polyurethane foam with added aluminum trihydrate and / or elastic expanded polyurethane foam and / or open-cell ethyl vinyl acetate foam and / or closed-cell expanded polyester foam and / or sponge. The shock-absorbing element (12) has a thickness which is substantially between 1 mm and 8 mm,

Description

[0001] WEARABLE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR BREAKING AND APPAREL

[0002] INCLUDING THE SAME

[0003] *****

[0004] TECHNICAL SECTOR

[0005] The present invention relates to the sector of protective equipment for performing artistic or sporting motor activities.

[0006] It falls within the sector of accessory equipment for performing dancing.

[0007] PRIOR ART

[0008] Nowadays, the practice of Breaking, commonly known as "breakdancing," is very widespread, and the physical stress it causes for athletes who engage in it is the subject of clinical studies, particularly regarding the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries associated with or resulting from its practice.

[0009] Figure 1 shows a diagram taken from the scientific article: “Musculoskeletal injuries in break-dancers” (Chui Hyun Cho, Sung Moon Lee, Kwang Soon Song, Byung Woo Min, Hyuk Won Chang, Dae Seup Eum - Injury, Int. J. Care Injured 40 (2009) 1207-1211) and showing the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in amateur breakdancers (white), in professional breakdancers (gray) and overall (black) depending on the body part concerned.

[0010] It can therefore be understood how, in the sector of breakdancing, there exists an urgent need to reduce the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in the persons who practice breakdancing.

[0011] Nowadays some athletes equip themselves with protective devices designed for the practice of different sporting activities, such as padding used by football players, or knee pads, elbow pads and wristbands in general.

[0012] These products, however, are inefficient, incompatible or limiting when it comes to their use in breakdancing.

[0013] In fact, the protective devices which are available today are typically those designed for football or motorcycling and are configured to provide protection against serious and seldom occurring impacts.

[0014] They have an excessive thickness and hardness and tend to hinder the mobility of the athlete and / or have an insufficient and / or ineffective protective action when used in breakdancing.

[0015] Moreover, the protective devices known nowadays are unsatisfactory since breakdancing, as a means of artistic expression which uses the body, requires attention to the aesthetic appearance of the dancer’s clothing. Thus most of the currently known protective devices of a generic nature or designed for other sporting activities are not suitable for such use.

[0016] There therefore exists an urgent need, which has not been satisfied in any way, to increase the safety of breakdancers by proposing a solution which is able to reduce significantly the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries without hindering the mobility of the dancer, while ensuring a suitable aesthetic attire for the dancer when taking part in competitions.

[0017] SUMMARY

[0018] The problem underlying the present invention is therefore to propose wearable protective equipment for performing breakdancing and a garment comprising the same which is able to satisfy the aforementioned need, while overcoming the problems of the prior art.

[0019] The task of the present invention is to propose wearable protective equipment for performing breakdancing and a garment comprising the same which is able to increase the safety of breakdancers, while reducing significantly the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries and ensuring at the same time high physical mobility of the dancer and minimum effect on the aesthetic appearance of the clothing of the dancer wearing said protective equipment or garment.

[0020] A further task of the present invention is to propose protective equipment or a garment comprising the same which has minimal dimensions compared to its protective capacity, allowing fluid movements of the user wearing said equipment or garment.

[0021] A further task of the present invention is to propose protective equipment or a garment comprising the same which is able to facilitate the sliding movement of the dancer wearing it, minimizing the friction with the ground so as not to hinder the mobility of the user, while at the same time optimizing the adherence to the user’s body in order to ensure suitable positioning stability and ease of use.

[0022] These and other objects which will emerge more clearly below are achieved by wearable protective equipment for performing breakdancing and a garment comprising the same as defined in the respective attached independent claims. Advantageous aspects of wearable protective equipment for performing breakdancing and a garment comprising the same are indicated in the attached dependent claims.

[0023] Said claims, as filed, are incorporated herein, for the purposes of specific reference thereto.

[0024] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] - Figure 1 shows a known diagram showing the incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in breakdancers;

[0026] - Figures 2a, 2b and 3a, 3b show two possible variants of a garment comprising at least one piece of wearable protective equipment for performing breakdancing according to the present invention.

[0027] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] With reference to the attached figures, in particular Figure 1 , 10 denotes overall wearable protective equipment for performing breakdancing, which, in the attached illustrations, is shown in a possible embodiment thereof consisting of a long-sleeve tight-fitting jersey, in particular suitable for being worn underneath further garments.

[0029] In general, the protective equipment 10 according to the present invention comprises a wearable article 11 and at least one shock-absorbing element - collectively indicated by the reference number 12 - which is fixed or can be fixed to the wearable article 11 , so as to cover and protect specific portions of the body when the protective equipment 10 is properly worn.

[0030] The expression “properly worn” is understood as meaning a condition of use of the wearable equipment 10 where the latter is worn by a user and has a size corresponding to the physical dimensions of the user and in such a way that each shock-absorbing element 12 is positioned so as to cover the anatomical portions which it is intended to protect.

[0031] In detail, the wearable article 11 comprises a membrane and is configured for tight-fitting to a portion of a user’s body.

[0032] The membrane has a gram weight per unit of area substantially ranging between 80 g / m2and 250 g / m2

[0033] The membrane may be made of fabric material which, in particular, may be chosen from at least one of the following:

[0034] - a polyester fiber fabric and / or

[0035] - a fabric comprising polyurethane elastomeric fiber and, optionally, polyamide fiber and / or polyester fiber and / or nylon 6-6 and / or cellulose fiber; or a stratified arrangement or composition thereof.

[0036] Thus the wearable article 11 , which may be partially or wholly formed by the membrane, is highly adaptable to the parts of the body on which it is worn, adapting both dimensionally and dynamically to the movements of the user.

[0037] Furthermore, the protective equipment 10 is therefore highly ergonomic and adaptable to the user’s body and, at the same time, is particularly able to keep each shock-absorbing element 12 in the predetermined position so as to optimize the protection of the user.

[0038] The shock-absorbing element 12, in general, is fixed to the wearable article 11 so as to cover a specific portion of a user’s body when the user is properly wearing the wearable article 11 and comprises at least one spongy layer made selectively, depending on the particular requirements for the realization of the present invention, of the following:

[0039] - open-cell or closed-cell polyurethane foam and / or

[0040] - open-call polyurethane foam with added aluminum trihydrate;

[0041] - elastic expanded polyurethane foam;

[0042] - open-cell ethyl vinyl acetate foam;

[0043] - closed-cell expanded polyester foam;

[0044] - sponge;

[0045] - natural polyisoprene sponge (rubber); or a combination thereof.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the shock-absorbing element 12 is made by combining at least the following layers:

[0047] - a layer of open-cell polyurethane form with added aluminum trihydrate, commercially known as Poron® XRD, for example with a thickness of 2-4 mm and preferably 3 mm, which acts as a cushioning agent for dissipating by means of elastoplastic deformation the impact energy; a layer of open-cell polyurethane foam, commercially known as generic Poron®, for example with a thickness of 1-3 mm and preferably 2 mm, which acts as a buffer for generating an elastic response intended to retransmit a part of the impact energy in the form of an elastic response.

[0048] In a variation of this embodiment, the shock-absorbing element 12 may be made as a single layer, with a thickness of 2-4 mm and preferably 3 mm, of the material commercially known as Poron® Vive which in this embodiment is able to provide both a cushioning and buffering effect.

[0049] This embodiment has a particularly soft and enveloping action able to cushion effectively weak or medium-strength impacts which occur repeatedly or in close succession.

[0050] Another advantage of this embodiment lies in its simple use, since it is washable together with the jersey itself.

[0051] The shock-absorbing element 12 has a thickness which is substantially between 1 mm and 8 mm so as to obtain an optimum protective effect, while not hindering the mobility of the dancer or creating a sensation of bulkiness, but also preserving the aesthetic appearance of the garment worn during dancing. “Thickness” is understood as meaning the dimension in a direction which, when the protective equipment 10 is properly worn, extends locally substantially perpendicularly with respect to the user’s skin.

[0052] In general, the shock-absorbing element 12 may comprise, selectively, at least one of the following: - a wrist protection element 12a which has a substantially ovoid shape and which is joined to the wearable article 11 and is configured in such a way as to cover, when the protective equipment 10 is properly worn, an area of the back of the user's hand which extends between the wrist joint and the user's knuckles so as to protect the skin from friction bums and counter the onset of wrist joint inflammations, especially bursitis, to protect the wrist from bruises and overuse syndromes, to counteract the formation and growth of bone calluses, and to protect the covered area from impacts which may cause fractures of the bone structure, especially during rotations and exercises which rely on or use the wrist as a pivot;

[0053] - an elbow protection element 12b which has a substantially bilobed shape and is joined to said wearable article 11 and which is configured in such a way as to cover an area of the elbow joint and extends therefrom along the portion of the forearm proximal to the elbow so as to protect the skin from friction burns and counter the onset of elbow joint inflammations, especially bursitis, to protect the elbow from bruises, in particular to protect the ulnar nerve from compressions and counter the onset of overuse syndromes, to counteract the formation and growth of bone calluses, and to protect the covered area from impacts which may cause fractures of the bone structure due to rotations and exercises which use the elbow as a pivot, both in the lower part of the ulna and radius and in the central part of the olecranon and in the upper part corresponding to the medial epicondyle of the humerus;

[0054] - a shoulder protection element 12c or 12d which has a substantially bilobed shape and is joined to said wearable article 11 and which is configured in such a way as to cover an area of the shoulder joint, especially the scapula, the rotator cuff, the acromion and the portion of the clavicle proximal to the shoulder, in order to protect the skin from friction burns and counter the onset of shoulder joint inflammations, especially bursitis, to protect the shoulder from bruises and in particular to counter the onset of overuse syndromes, to counteract the formation and growth of bone calluses, and to protect the covered area from impacts which may cause fractures of the bone structure due to rotations and exercises which use the shoulder and-or the fascial area as a pivot;

[0055] - a spinal protection element 12e which has an elongated shape and which is joined to the wearable article 11 and configured in such a way as to cover an area extending along the user's spine so as to protect the skin from friction bums, protect the spine from bruises and counter the onset of overuse syndromes, to counteract the formation and growth of bone calluses, and to protect the covered area from impacts which may cause damage to the bone structure due to rotations and exercises which use the medial portion of the back as a pivot.

[0056] The membrane of the wearable article 12 may have a gram weight per unit of area substantially ranging between 120 g / m2and 180 g / m2and preferably substantially equal to 150 g / m2so as to ensure a high degree of lightness and, at the same time, a high form and positional stability of the protective equipment 10, once worn.

[0057] The shock-absorbing element 12, in order to ensure a suitable capacity for limiting negative effects of impacts and / or friction bums and at the same time limit or prevent the effect of bulkiness or discomfort for the user, has a thickness substantially ranging between 5 mm and 8 mm and preferably equal to 5 mm, chosen depending on the material from which it is made and the particular use of the wearable protective equipment 10.

[0058] The shock-absorbing element 12 and the wearable article 11 are configured so that they are mutually fixable and separable to allow easy replacement of the shock-absorbing element 12.

[0059] For example, the wearable article 11 comprises at least one pocket which may be shaped in a complementary manner to the shock-absorbing element 12 so as to accommodate the latter.

[0060] The wearable article 11 may be especially configured to prevent movement of the wearable article 11 on the user’s body during suitable use of the protective equipment 10.

[0061] The protective equipment 10 may have, for example on an inner face, which may also or exclusively relate to the membrane of the wearable article 11 , a cover or treatment to counteract sliding of the protective equipment 10 on the user's body.

[0062] For example, the protective equipment 10 may have a total or partial covering treatment of the inner face, for example consisting of silicone material, in any case configured to increase the friction between the protective equipment 10 and the user’s skin, in particular in case of sweating, possibly even copious sweating of the user wearing the protective equipment 10.

[0063] In the case where the protective equipment 10 is made so as to be absorbent or permeable, in order to prevent soaking with sweat - and consequent increased heaviness and / or swelling - the said inner face may be covered and / or treated so as to be impermeable or only slightly permeable.

[0064] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the shock-absorbing element 12 and / or the wearable article 11 may be impermeable and breathable, for example owing to the provision of holes distributed over one or more zones of the said protective equipment 10 in order to facilitate sweating of the body.

[0065] The shock-absorbing element 12 of the protective equipment 10 may have flared edges in order to facilitate sliding of the user on a support surface when performing breakdancing, thereby preventing the protective equipment 10 from getting caught on any roughness or unevenness of the support surface.

[0066] These edges may be fixed to a zone of the wearable article 11 which is adjacent to them and which have, with respect to the adjacent zone, an inclination preferably of between 10° and 20° and more preferably between 10° and 15° so as to ensure at the same time an aesthetic attractiveness of the garment and a suitable form for preventing catching when sliding on the ground. According to the particular implementational requirements of the invention, the element for protecting the shoulder 12c may have a multi-lobed - for example trilobed - form with three portions which comprise:

[0067] - a first portion 112c, configured to cover and protect, during use, the clavicle, acromion, subdeltoid bursa, capsular ligament, supraspinatus tendon, synovial membrane;

[0068] - a second portion 212c, configured to cover and protect, during use, the deltoid muscle, the head and upper part of the humerus, the rotator cuff, the coracoacromial ligament, the acromioclavicular ligament, the clavicle, the coracoid process, the greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus;

[0069] - a third portion 312c, configured to cover and protect, during use, the scapula, clavicle, transverse scapular ligament, subscapularis tendon, trapezoid ligament, conoid ligament, capsular ligaments, clavicle, acromion, subdeltoid bursa, capsular ligament, supraspinatus tendon, synovial membrane, deltoid muscle, head and upper part of the humerus, rotator cuff, coracoacromial ligament, acromioclavicular ligament, coracoid process, greater and lesser tubercles of the humerus.

[0070] The protective equipment 10 may comprise two protection elements for the shoulder 12c, one for each shoulder.

[0071] In a variation of embodiment of the protective equipment 10, it may comprise a unitary shoulder protection element 12d which may be made in a manner similar to a pair of protection elements for the shoulder 12c joined together by a fourth portion 412d configured to cover the fascial area of the user, when the protective equipment 10 is properly worn.

[0072] The elbow protection element 12b may comprise:

[0073] - a first part 112b, configured to cover and protect, during use, the lower part of the humerus, tendon of the triceps muscle of the arm, and part of the olecranon synovial bursa;

[0074] - a first part 212b, configured to cover and protect, during use, a second part of the olecranon synovial bursa, ulna and radius (upper part), and ulnar nerve.

[0075] The wrist protection element 12b may comprise:

[0076] - a first zone 112a configured to cover and protect, during use, the ulna and radius (lower part), dorsal annular ligament of the carpus, tendon sheath of the extensor muscle of the fingers and extension of the index finger, tendon of the long extensor muscle of the carpus;

[0077] - a second zone 212a, configured to cover and protect, during use, bones of the carpus (carpal pyramid bone, hamate bone, pisiform bone, capitate bone, semilunar bone, scaphoid bone, navicular bone, trapezium bone, trapezoid bone), metacarpal bones (except thumb), tendon of the long extensor muscle of the thumb, tendon of the extensor muscle of the index finger, dorsal interosseous muscles of the hand.

[0078] The protection elements 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d may be formed integrally or be formed by a unitary body or may be formed by a plurality of interchangeable and / or modular segments so as to be able to adapt the protective equipment 10 to the specific requirements of a user and / or his / her specific anatomical characteristics.

[0079] The present invention also relates to a garment 100 which comprises at least one piece of protective equipment 10

[0080] For example, in the attached figures, the garment 100 may be a jersey which may consist of the said protective equipment 10.

[0081] In alternative embodiments of the present invention the garment 100 may consist of a plurality of such protective equipment 10, each of which may be wearable on a part of the body.

[0082] For example the protective equipment 10 may be configured to form a wristband and / or elbow pad and / or band wearable on the top part of the chest in order to cover the shoulders.

[0083] Obviously, the present invention may be implemented so as to form a garment and / or protective equipment designed to protect the hips and / or knees and / or heels of a user, with the necessary modifications.

[0084] The invention thus devised may be subject to numerous modifications and variations, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the attached claims. Moreover, all the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. In practice the materials used as well as the associated forms and dimensions may be varied depending on the particular requirements and the state of the art. Where the constructional characteristics and the techniques mentioned in the following claims are followed by reference numbers or symbols, these reference numbers or symbols have been assigned with the sole purpose of facilitating understanding of the said claims and consequently they do not limit in any way the interpretation of each element which is identified, purely by way of example, by said reference numbers or symbols.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Wearable protective equipment (10) suitable for being worn while performing breakdancing, said equipment comprising:- a user-wearable article (11 ) which comprises a membrane and is configured for tight-fitting to a portion of a user’s body; said membrane having a gram weight per unit of area substantially ranging between 80 g / m2and 250 g / m2and being made of a woven material selected from a polyester fiber fabric and / or a fabric comprising polyurethane elastomeric fiber and, optionally, polyamide fiber and / or polyester fiber and / or nylon 6-6 and / or cellulose fiber;- at least one shock-absorbing element (12) fixed or fixable to said wearable article (11 ) so as to cover a specific body portion of a user when the user is properly wearing said wearable article (11 ), said shockabsorbing element (12) comprising at least one spongy layer selectively made of o open-cell or closed-cell polyurethane foam and / or o open-cell polyurethane foam with added aluminum trihydrate and / or o elastic expanded polyurethane foam and / or o open-cell ethyl vinyl acetate foam and / or o closed-cell expanded polyester foam and / or o natural polyisoprene sponge; o sponge; wherein said shock-absorbing element (12) has a thickness substantially ranging between 1 mm and 8 mm;wherein said at least one shock-absorbing element (12) selectively comprises at least one of the following:- a wrist protection element (12a) which has a substantially ovoid shape and which is joined to said wearable article (11 ) and is configured in such a way as to cover, when said protective equipment (10) is properly worn, an area of the back of the user's hand which extends between the wrist joint and the user's knuckles in order to protect the skin and the wrist especially during rotations and exercises where the wrist is supported or used as a pivot;- an elbow protection element (12b) which has a substantially bilobed shape and is joined to said wearable article (11 ) and which is configured in such a way as to cover an area of the elbow joint and extends therefrom along the portion of the forearm proximal to the elbow in order to protect the skin and in particular to protect the ulnar nerve from compression and protect the covered area from impacts in exercises that use the elbow as a pivot, both in the lower part of the ulna and radius and in the central part of the olecranon and in the upper part corresponding to the medial epicondyle of the humerus;- a shoulder protection element (12c, 12d) which has a substantially lobed shape and which is joined to said wearable article (11 ) and is configured in such a way as to cover an area of the shoulder joint, especially the scapula, the rotator cuff, the acromion and the portion of the clavicle proximal to the shoulder, so as to protect the skin and protect the covered area from impacts which may cause fractures of the bone structure due to rotations and exercises which use the shoulder and / or fascial area as a pivot;- a spinal protection element (12e) which has an elongated shape and which is joined to said wearable article (11 ) and configured in such a way as to cover anarea extending along the user's spine so as to protect the skin and protect the spine from bruises due to impacts caused by rotations and exercises which use the medial portion of the back as a pivot.

2. Wearable protective equipment (10) according to claim 1 , wherein said membrane has a gram weight per unit of area substantially ranging between 120 g / m2and 180 g / m2and preferably substantially equal to 150 g / m23. Wearable protective equipment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said shock-absorbing element (12) has a thickness, chosen depending on the material from which it is made and the particular use of the wearable protective equipment (10), substantially ranging between 5 mm and 8 mm and preferably equal to 5 mm.

4. Wearable protective equipment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said shock-absorbing element (12) and said wearable article (11 ) are configured to be mutually fixable and separable in order to allow easy replacement of said shock-absorbing element (12).

5. Wearable protective equipment (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein said wearable article (11 ) comprises at least one pocket shaped in a complementary manner to said shock-absorbing element (12) so as to accommodate the latter in such a way as to prevent a movement of the latter with respect to said wearable article (11 ) during an appropriate use of said protective equipment (10).

6. Wearable protective equipment (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said shock-absorbing element (12) has flared edges so as to facilitate sliding of the user on a supporting surface when performing breakdancing; wherein said wearable article (11 ) is configured to prevent saidprotective equipment (10) from getting caught on any roughness or unevenness of the supporting surface; said edges being fixed to an area of said wearable article (11 ) which is adjacent to them and having, with respect to said adjacent area, an inclination preferably of between 10° and 20° and more preferably between 10° and 15°.

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