Protective article and relative garment

Abstract

Protective article (1) for protecting a part of a human body (200), preferably an articulation (300) of the human body (200), comprising a slender body (2) made of an elastic material comprising a plurality of holes (3) that pass-through the body (2) from an outer surface (6) to an inner surface (5) and a plurality of hinge portions (17) arranged between adjacent holes (3), characterized in that the body (2) is configured such that: at rest, the holes (3) have a shape with a central portion (8) that is narrower than its end portions (7); and when the protective article (1) is pulled according to an in-plane direction, the central portion (8) of the holes (3) along this direction widen and the adjacent hinge portions (17) rotate.

Description

TITLEPROTECTIVE ARTICLE AND RELATIVE GARMENTDESCRIPTIONTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of human body protectors. In particular, to the articles that protect a part of a human body, specifically the articulations of the human body during an impact.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the state of the art body protectors are known, in particular for protecting articulations of the human body. For example, knee protectors for sport activities or shoulder protectors for bikers are known.

[0003] In general, these solutions comprise soft materials that are attached the human body using textile garments or elastic straps. The elastic components of these solutions attenuate the force in case of an impact, for example with the ground or with another player.

[0004] The elastic component is traditionally a pad of a soft polymeric foam which deforms under the impact load by absorbing part of the load and by spreading it on a wider surface of the human body involved, thus reducing the risk of damage to the wearer.

[0005] Particularly efficient materials in this sense are realized by the company D3O®.

[0006] Protective pads for articulations that are known follow the movement of the articulation through an elastic deformation of the material and this leads to a first drawback of the known solutions. If the elasticity of the elastic component is high, the component is able to follow the movement of the articulation but the capacity of absorbing an impact strongly decreases. Vice versa, if the elasticity is low the component becomes more rigid and it does not follow the movement of the articulation or unseats thus exposing the articulation to injuries.

[0007] In the state of the art are also known wearable articles comprising auxetic properties. A solution in this sense is described in the document US9538798B2. In this solution, in order to make a wearable article that fits better to the human body, the apparel comprises an auxetic structure. In this apparel, the auxetic layer is coupled and associated to a shock absorbing foam material which is deputed to absorb the energy of an impact load. Indeed, the main scope of this solution is notthat of providing an apparel article that efficiently absorbs energy, but an apparel that is designed to fit closely to the human body.

[0008] A further solution relating to a protective pad is disclosed in the document US 2015 / 101110. In this solution, a first layer is made of a network of holed cells connected to each other through linking members. This sort of mesh is bonded to an inner layer to form a protective pad. This pad fits to curvatures of human body due to its linking members. The pad so conceived can change its shape only due to its linking members and to the flexibility of the material used. Therefore, this pad is not able to follow movements of user's body. This solution is an armour not an adaptive protective pad able to follow user movements.

[0009] The document US 2011 / 059291 discloses a material having a body comprising a plurality of oval or rhomboid holes having auxetic properties.

[0010] None of the known protective solutions are able to follow the movement of the wearer without misalignment, without limiting the movement of the wearer / athlete, and without detriment to the energy-absorbing properties in case of an impact.SUMMARY

[0011] Said and other drawbacks of the state of the art are now solved by a first scope of the present invention that concerns a protective article for protecting a part of a human body, in particular an articulation, comprising a slender body made on an elastic material. The thin body comprises a plurality of holes that pass-through the body from an outer side to an inner side. The body also comprises a plurality of hinge portions arranged between adjacent holes. The body is configured such that, when the article is at rest, at least a part of the holes has a shape having end portions that are wider than its central portion. The body is also configured such that, when the protective article is pulled according to an in-plane direction, the central portion of the holes arranged along the in-plane pulling direction widens and the hinge portions adjacent to these holes rotate. This configuration of the body and its holes, together with the elasticity of the full body, maximize the capability of the article to in-plane stretch if the article is in-plane pulled. When the article is inplane pulled, it enlarges both in width and in length, without decreasing its thickness. If this article is pulled in an in-plane direction, the article elongates in this direction much more than an article without holes and more than a pad made of another auxetic material. The article so conceived is also able to expand in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which it's pulled. When the article is in-plane pulled in one direction, the body enlarges in all in-plane directions due to its arrangementof holes and to its hinge portions. When the article is in-plane pulled, the body further elongates in the pulling direction due to the elasticity of the material of its body. The hinge portion is a portion of the body that confines with more than two holes. Moreover, the shape of the holes makes the body very lean and light and thus more comfortable for the human body and its articulation.

[0012] At rest the hinge portions can have rotational axes that are normal or substantially normal to an inner and / or outer surface / s of the body. In particular, the rotational axes can remain normal or substantially normal to the inner and / or outer surfaces / s when the article is in-plane pulled. This perpendicularity of hinge portions makes possible to maximize the enlargement of the protective article when it's in plane pulled, even if the protective article has a curved shape.

[0013] At rest the sidewalls of the holes can be normal to an inner and / or outer surface / s of the protective article. In particular, the sidewalls can remain normal or substantially normal to the inner / outer surface when the article is in-plane pulled. Being the sidewalls perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the outer / inner surface / s of the article, whether it's pulled or not, the impact load is absorbed by deformation of the sidewalls, which buckle under the impact load. Preferably, the sidewalls are normal to the outer / inner surface. More preferably, the sidewalls are normal to both inner and outer surfaces. The sidewalls of the holes can be substantially normal to the inner and / or outer surface, e.g. + / - 3° to 5° from normal direction, to help release the protective article from the tool if it is realized through injection moulding.

[0014] The central portion of a hole is arranged between end portions of adjacent holes. Arranging the holes in this way, the holes are compacted and the body is more void than solid.

[0015] The width of the body between the central portion of a hole and the neighbour end portion of an adjacent hole is comprised between 1 and 6 mm, preferably between 1,5 and 2,5 mm. This portion of the body is the thinnest and makes the holes close together. This width of the sidewalls is substantially constant, except in the points of the body wherein three or four sidewalls converge. This feature makes the article very light. Optionally, a cavity or a pass-through hole can be arranged in the point where three or four sidewalls converge, for further lightening the article.

[0016] The holes can comprise a first plurality of holes and a second plurality of holes. In particular, the holes of the first plurality are oriented in a different manner with respect to the holes of the second plurality. The holes of the first plurality can be alternated by the holes of the second plurality in at least one direction. This alternance of cells having different orientations, makes the protective article able to stretch, both in width and length, more than known architectures having all the holes oriented in the same sense.

[0017] In particular, the holes of the first plurality can elongate in a first direction and the holes of the second plurality can elongate in a second direction that is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the first direction. This arrangement of holes makes the protective article able to widely expand both in width and length, without a sensible reduction of the body thickness. This arrangement of holes allows certain holes to widen, and other holes to get longer, when the article is pulled.

[0018] Advantageously, the body can have a void fraction greater than 50%, preferably greater than 55%, more preferably greater than 60%. This ratio between empty / void and full / solid portions of the body maximizes the auxetic properties to in-plane strains.

[0019] Preferably the holes can have a bilobed or a trilobed shape, thus a shape with two or three lobes departing from the central portion of the hole. The holes so shaped allow to minimize the full / solid portion where adjacent holes converge. Moreover, this shape of holes improves the appearance of the protective article.

[0020] Preferably, at least one hole can be configured to assume a substantially oval shape if the protective article is pulled along the first or second direction. In particular, this kind of deformation of holes occurs to the holes positioned along the pulling direction.

[0021] The protective article can comprise a central part and a peripheral part. In the central part the holes are entire, while in the peripheral part the holes can be cut off. The peripheral part is disposed around the central part. The peripheral holes of the peripheral part are smallerthan those of the central part. The peripheral holes of the peripheral part have the same shape of the holes of the central part but they are smaller because the rim of the article interrupts and cuts off them.

[0022] The protective article can have a rounded and elongated shape with an indented perimetral edge. These indents of the rim of the article, allows the article to fit better to the curved parts of the human body, for example to a knee.

[0023] Preferably, the protective article can comprise two eyelets arranged at opposing ends of the protective article close to its perimetral edge. These eyelets allow to easily fix the article to the garment.

[0024] Preferably, the protective article can have a tapered thickness close to its perimetral edge. In this way, the article fits better to the garment, in particular if the latter has a pocket in which the article can be inserted.

[0025] Advantageously, the inner and / or outer surface / s of the protective article is / are curved at rest, in order to follow the shape of the human body, for example in correspondence of an articulation like knee or shoulder.

[0026] The elastic material can be a thermoplastic elastomer having a glass transition temperature comprised between -10°C and +5°C, preferably comprised between -7°C and +3°C. A material with this glass transition temperature is a material that is comfortable at room temperature and becomes sufficiently rigid if it's impacted. Therefore, it efficiently absorbs the impact energy.

[0027] In particular, the inner surface of the holes has no corners. This shape of the holes reduces the risks of fractures in the body.

[0028] The holes have a ratio between maximum size and minimum size that is comprised between 3 and 10. These sizes are measured in-plane and when the article is at rest. The minimum size is the width of the hole in the central portion. With holes having these proportions, the holes are particularly slender and thus transversally deformable.

[0029] Moreover, since the holes can be long and narrow, when the article is out-of-plane bent, the holes orthogonal to the bending movement act as hinges for facilitating the article bending and the article follows the movements of the human body in a more comfortable manner.

[0030] The holes and the hinge portions can be shaped so as the protective article elongates at least 110%, preferably at least 120%, of its size at rest, when the protective article is pulled in the in-plane direction, independently from an elastic modulus of the elastic material. The shape of the holes and of the hinge portions of the body facilitates the elongation in the pulling direction even if the material in almost not elastic. Moreover, if the material is elastic, the protective article elongates even more in the pulling direction.

[0031] Said plurality of holes can be arranged in a central part of the body. The central area of the body is more subject to a spherical deformation, consequently the holes facilitate an in-plane stretching and deformation.

[0032] A further scope of the present invention is that of providing a garment for a human body comprising at least one protective article according to the first scope of the present invention arranged in correspondence of a part of the human body, preferably an articulation, wherein the at least one protective article is secured to the garment. Being the protective article attached to the garment, when the human body moves and the articulation bends, the protective article remains secured to the garment and continues to protect the human body, even in case of a great bending of the articulation.

[0033] These and other advantages will be better understood thanks to the following description of different embodiments of said invention given as non-limitative examples thereof, making reference to the annexed drawings.DRAWINGS DESCRIPTION

[0034] In the drawings:Fig. 1 shows a front view of the protective article according to the present invention;Fig. 2 shows a lateral view of the protective article of Fig. 1;Fig. 3 shows a bottom view of the protective article of Fig. 1;Fig. 4 shows a cross-section view of the protective article of Fig. 1 sectioned according to plane A-A; Fig. 5 shows a cross-section view of the protective article of Fig. 1 sectioned according to plane B-B; Figs. 6A and 6B show a schematic lateral view of a garment incorporating a protective article according to the present invention, in two different operating conditions;Fig. 7 shows a schematic front view of a garment incorporating a protective article according to the present invention;Fig. 8 shows a partial schematic axonometric view of a portion of a protective article at rest according to the present invention;Fig. 9 shows a partial schematic front view of a portion of a protective article at rest according to the present invention;Fig. 10 shows a partial schematic front view of a body at rest, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 11 shows a partial schematic front view of an in-plane pulled body, according to a first embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 12 shows a detailed front view of the rotation of a hinge portion of the body according to said first embodiment;Fig. 13 shows a detailed axonometric view of a hinge portion of the body according to said first embodiment;Fig. 14 shows a partial schematic front view of a body at rest, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 15 shows a partial schematic front view of an in-plane pulled body, according to a second embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 16 shows a detailed front view of the rotation of a hinge portion of the body according to said second embodiment;Fig. 17 shows a partial schematic front view of a body at rest, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 18 shows a partial schematic front view of an in-plane pulled body, according to a third embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 19 shows a detailed front view of the rotation of a hinge portion of the body according to said third embodiment;Fig. 20 shows a partial schematic front view of a body at rest, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 21 shows a partial schematic front view of an in-plane pulled body, according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;Fig. 22 shows a detailed front view of the rotation of a hinge portion of the body according to said fourth embodiment;Fig. 23 shows a front view of a further protective article according to the present invention;Fig. 24 shows a back view of the further protective article of Fig. 23;Fig. 25 shows a cross-section view of the further protective article of Fig. 24 sectioned according to plane D-D.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] The following description of one or more embodiments of the invention refers to the annexed drawings. The same reference numbers indicate equal or similar parts. The object of the protection is defined by the annexed claims. Technical details, structures or characteristics of the solutions here-below described can be combined with each other in any suitable way.

[0036] In the following term "protective article" can be abbreviated with "article". The article 1 comprises a body 2.

[0037] The body 2 is slender being wider and longer than thicker, as it can be appreciated in Figs. 1-7.

[0038] In the present description, the term "out-of-plane direction" means any direction normal to the inner / outer surface 5,6 of the body 2. Vice versa, the term "in-plane direction" means any direction that extends along the width W and / or length L of the article 1 and is orthogonal to the "out-of-plane direction". When the article 1 is planar, the in-plane direction is a direction within theplane of the article 1. When the article 1 is curved, the in-plane direction can be a direction within a plane tangent to the article curvature. In the same way, "out-of-plane" refers to something that occurs in a direction normal to the article's body 2, like an out-of-plane compression, while "inplane" refers to something that occurs in the plane of the article's body 2, like an in-plane expansion.

[0039] The term "first direction" refers to an in-plane direction oriented according to the length L of the article 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 25. The first direction is indicated in the figures with sign "DI". The term "second direction" refers to an in-plane direction oriented according to the width W of the article 1, as shown in Figs. 1 and 23. The second direction is indicated in the figures with sign "D2".

[0040] The article 1 is substantially constituted by a full / solid body 2 having a plurality of holes 3 that pass-through it along its thickness T. The holes 3 have a specific shape that is described in detail in the following.

[0041] The article 1 is structured for being included / incorporated in a garment 100 as Figs. 6A, 6B and 7 show. The article 1 is preferably conceived so as to lie in correspondence of an articulation 300 of the user's body 200. Therefore, the article 1 is subject to several in-plane extensions and compressions when the articulation 300 moves. To be comfortable and to not limit articulation 300 movements, the article 1 has to be in-plane extensible. Normal flexibility associated to protective pads made of elastic materials has been found insufficient for this kind of use, because the more a protective pad is flexible the less it protects. Vice versa, the less a protective pad is flexible the more the protective pad becomes uncomfortable and displaces when the articulation 300 moves.

[0042] Starting from these assumptions, an article 1 that is able to follow the movements of a human body 200, like shoulder, elbow and knee joints is herein described.

[0043] In Figs. 1,2,3 is shown a first embodiment of the protective article 1 according to the present invention. In Figs. 23-25 is shown a further version of the protective article 1 according to the present invention. This protective article 1 is used for protecting an articulation or joint 300 of a human body 200. According to this invention an articulation means the articulation (or joint) of knee, shoulder, elbow areas, and also the articulation of the spine, tailbone, hip, thigh, hand, foot and shin areas.

[0044] The protective article 1 is made of a body 2 that is perforated along its thickness T.

[0045] The protective article 1, at rest, has a rounded and elongated shape, that in Fig. 1 develops top-down. The overall shape of the article 1 is almost oval, as shown in Fig. 1, and it can comprise one or more indents 11 that are reentrant with respect to the perimetral edge 10 of the article 1.The article 1 shown in Figs. 1-9 is an article for knees. Other shapes of the article 1 are possible if the article 1 has to cover and protect other articulations 300, as shown in Figs. 23-25.

[0046] In particular, the article 1 shown in Figs. 23-25 is an article for protecting a part of the spine, thus a back protector. This article 1 has no indents and its overall shape looks like a rounded cross sign. This article 1 has a plurality of cavities 20 that will be described in greater detail in the following.

[0047] The article 1 has an outer surface 6 that is visible in Figs. 1-4, 24, 25 and an inner surface 5, that is not visible in Fig.l but it can be seen (in part) in Figs. 4, 5, 23 and 24.

[0048] As shown in Figs. 1 and 23, the perimetral edge 10 is continuous and can comprise eyelets 12 or other similar anchoring apertures for stitching the article 1 to a garment 100, as described in greater detail below.

[0049] The article 1 comprises a central part C, and a peripheral part P. The peripheral part P surrounds the central part C. As described in greater detail below, the central part C is the portion in which the holes 3 have the same, or substantially the same, shape and dimensions.

[0050] The article 1 is made of an elastic material, preferably a polymeric elastic material, more preferably a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), a thermal plastic styrene (TPS) or a plasticized polyvinyl chloride (PPVC).

[0051] It has been noted that an elastomeric thermoplastic material behaves like a glass-like solid if it is subject to a high frequency stress and the same behaviour takes place at low temperature. Behaviour at high frequencies and at low temperatures are thus correlated in an elastomeric thermoplastic material. For this reason, a series of tests have been conducted to select the elastomeric thermoplastic material that more efficiently absorbs the energy of an impact during an impact test. An optimal range of temperatures for the material's glass transition temperature has been investigated and calculated, because when an elastomeric material behaves like a solid, it absorbs more energy if it's impacted. Starting from the typical range of speed of hammer used in impact tests and from a dynamic mechanical analysis of the materials obtained at 10 Hz in traction, a range of glass transition temperatures has been identified. Optimal results have been achieved for an elastomeric thermoplastic material having a glass transition temperature (Tg) comprised between -10°C and +5°C, preferably between -7°C and +2,6°C. A material with this glass transition temperature is a material that is comfortable at room temperature and becomes sufficiently rigid if it's impacted, so as to efficiently absorb the impact energy. Since hardness and glass transition temperature are not related to each other, once the glass transition temperature (Tg) has been set,the hardness has been varied to select the right material to use. Optimal results have been found for hardness values comprised between 35 and 80 shore A.

[0052] An elastomeric thermoplastic material having a glass transition temperature (Tg) comprised between -10°C and +5°C, preferably between -7°C and +2,6°C, and a hardness values comprised between 35 and 80 shore A, is thus preferable for the body 2. In this way, the elastic body 2 can elongate but it remains resistant if it is compressed in an out-of-plane direction.

[0053] The article 1 comprises a plurality of holes 3. A hole 3 is an opening that passes-through the elastic body 2 from side to side along its thickness T. Except for the holes 3 and other anchoring portions to the garment 100, the body 2 is full / solid.

[0054] The full portions of the body 2 can be divided in two categories, the hinge portions 17 and the sidewalls 4. The full portion of the body 2 arranged between more than two holes 3 defines a hinge portion 17. The hinge portion 17 is where more sidewalls 4 converge. For example, in the first embodiment the hinge portion 17 is a four-points vortex spiral star, as Figs. 12 and 13 more clearly show. The parts of full body 2 separating two confining holes 3 identify the sidewalls 4.

[0055] The hinge portions 17 run from the inner surface 5 to the outer surface 6 of the body 2, as Fig. 13 shows. Each hinge portion 17 has an ideal rotational axis R that is normal to one among the inner surface 5 and outer surface 6. If the body 2 is flat, the rotational axis R is normal to both surfaces 5,6.

[0056] In an alternative version shown in Fig. 24 and 25, the hinge portions 17 does not develop completely from the inner surface 5 to the outer surface 6. In particular, in this version of the article 1, the hinge portions 17 have corresponding cavities 20 to lighten and reduce the in-plane stiffness of the hinge portions 17. These cavities 20 can start from the inner surface 5 as shown in Fig. 24 and not pass-through the thickness T of the article 1 or they can start from the outer surface 6 and pass- through the whole thickness T of the article 1.

[0057] When the article 1 is pulled in an in-plane direction, the sidewalls 4 tend to straighten and they pull the hinge portions 17, which consequently rotate about respective rotational axes R.

[0058] This phenomenon occurs in particular along the holes 3 and the hinge portions 17 arranged along the pulling direction / s, but with a lesser degree it occurs in the rest of the body 2.

[0059] This combination of hinge portions 7 rotation and sidewalls 4 straightening, leads to a sensible elongation of the article 1, even if the material of body 2 would be not elastic. This elongation takes place along the in-plane direction in which the article 1 is pulled and along its orthogonal in-plane direction. If the material of the body 2 is elastic, the elongation in the pullingdirection further increases. The elongation due to the arrangement of holes 3 and hinge portions 17 can lead to an extension of up to 120% of the size at rest of the article 1, even if the material is not elastic. With an elastic material the elongation of the article 1 in the pulling direction can reach even 200% of its size at rest. A material too elastic is anyway not suggested, otherwise the capability to absorb impact energy drastically decreases.

[0060] The sidewalls 4 of the holes 3 are perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the inner and / or outer surface 5,6, as shown in the cross-section of Figs. 4, 5 and 25 and in Fig. 8.

[0061] This arrangement of the sidewalls 4 of holes 3 allow to absorb more impact energy during an out-of-plane compression, because the sidewalls 4 buckle. Indeed, due to this arrangement of sidewalls 4, they buckle in case of out-of-plane compression. If the out-of-plane compression is local, the buckling occurs mainly in the sidewall / s 4 of the hole / s 3 involved in said compression. Even the hinge portions 17 arranged around the buckling sidewalls 4 compress and enlarge, and due to their deformation contribute to absorb the impact energy.

[0062] When the article 1 is in-plane pulled, the rotational axes R of the hinge portions 17 and the sidewalls 4 maintain their orthogonality with respect to the inner / outer surface 5,6.

[0063] The article 1 comprises a plurality of holes 3. In the central part C, the holes 3 have the same or substantially the same shape if observed from the front. That means that the profile of holes 3 is the same or substantially the same, as described in greater detail below. Only the peripheral holes 9 of the peripheral part P of the article 1 have a different shape, because the perimetral edge 10 crosses and closes the holes giving them a smaller dimension and a different shape. In a different version of the article 1 (not shown), the peripheral holes 9 can be absent.

[0064] The holes 3 have two main portions: end portion 7 and central portion 8. The end portions 7 are at least two and the central portion 8 is one and it is arranged between the end portions 7.

[0065] The end portions 7 are wider than the central portion 8, as shown in more detail in Figs. 8, 9, 10, 14. The hole 3 is thus made narrower at the central portion 8 and wider at the end portions 7.

[0066] The end portions 7 and the central portion 8 can be aligned along the longitudinal extension of the hole 3, as shown in Figs. 1-11, 14-15 and 23-24. The hole 3 has thus an elongated shape if it's observed from the front. In particular, in a first embodiment, the holes 3 can have a bilobed shape, that looks like an infinity symbol or a peanut, as shown in Figs. 1-11, 23-24. The hole 3 thus comprises two lobes (the end portions 7) connected through a narrower portion (the central portion8). The inner surface 14 of the hole 3 does not touch itself in the central portion 8 when the article 1 is at rest.

[0067] Alternatively, the end portions 7 are radially arranged around the central portion 8. Even in this case, the end portions 7 are wider than the central portion 8, as shown in more detail in Figs. 17, 18, 20 and 21. In the third and fourth embodiment, the holes 3 can have a trilobate shape, as shown in Figs. 17, 18, 20 and 21.

[0068] In all these embodiments, the holes 3 have an inner surface 14 that has no corners. The inner surface 14 curves continuously without interruptions or sharp edges. In this way, the holes 3 is less prompt to rupture when the article 1 is pulled. The risk of fracture or tearing of sidewalls 4 is thus minimized.

[0069] A different type of bilobed hole 3 is represented in Figs. 14-15. In this second embodiment, the inner surface 14 has corners. In this case, the hinge portions 17 are minimized in terms of size.

[0070] The cross-section area of the holes 3 is constant if the body 2 is sectioned with planes orthogonal to an out-of-plane direction. Vice versa, in a particular version depicted in Fig. 9, the cross-section of the holes 3 diverges along the article's thickness T, thus the outer edge 16 of the hole 3 (outermost cross-section area) is biggerthan the inner edge 15 of the same hole 3 (innermost cross-section area), but it could be the opposite. This difference in terms of size between the outer edge 16 and the inner edge 15 of the same hole 3 is accentuated when the article 1 is longitudinally and / or transversally curved as depicted in Figs. 1-5. This feature contributes to a better absorption of impact energy, in particular when the article 1 is curved at rest.

[0071] As shown in greater detail in Figs. 10, 14, 17 and 20, the central portion 8 of a hole 3 is arranged between the end portions 7 of neighbouring holes 3. In the first and second embodiments depicted in Figs. 10 and 14, the central portion 8 of a hole 3 is arranged between the end portions 7 of two other adjacent holes 3. In the third and fourth embodiments depicted in Figs. 17 and 20, the central portion 8 of a hole 3 is arranged between the end portions 7 of three other adjacent holes 3. This arrangement of holes 3 minimizes the bulk portions and makes the article 1 very light and permeable to air.

[0072] The article 1 so conceived has a void fraction greater than 50%, preferably greater than 55%, more preferably greater than 60%. Therefore, the body 2 is more empty than full. This implies that less ties limit the in-plane expansion of the article 1 if it is stretched.

[0073] Thanks to this architecture of holes 3, the degree of auxeticity is maximized and the article 1 stretches more than other similar auxetic articles when it is pulled in an in-plane direction.

[0074] As shown in Fig. 8, the holes 3 along a first direction DI have a shape and the holes 3 along a second direction D2 have a shape that is substantially the same of the others but leaner in the central portions 8. In practice, the holes 3 that are longitudinally oriented according to the length L of the article 1 are slightly wider than the holes 3 that are longitudinally oriented according to the width W of the article 1. Even the length of the holes 3 along the first direction DI can be shorter than the length of the holes along the second direction D2. In practice, the holes 3 that elongate according to the length L of the article 1 are shorter than the holes 3 that elongate according to the width W of the article 1. In an alternative solution (not shown), the holes 3 along the first direction DI can be leaner than those along the second direction D2 and / or the holes 3 along the second direction D2 can be shorter than the holes 3 along the first direction DI. Despite these slight differences, the geometry of holes 3 is the same.

[0075] In a further version of the first embodiment (not shown), the holes 3 have the same size.

[0076] In practice, in the embodiment of Figs. 1-11, 23-25, the plurality of holes 9 can be divided in two groups of holes: a first plurality of holes 9 that elongate in a first direction DI; a second plurality of holes 9 that elongate in a second direction D2. The second direction D2 is orthogonal to the first direction DI.

[0077] Along the first direction DI one hole 3 of the first plurality is followed by one hole 3 of the second plurality in an alternating manner, as shown in Figs. 1-11.

[0078] Equally, along the second direction D2 one hole 3 of the first plurality is followed by one hole 3 of the second plurality in an alternating manner, as shown in all figures.

[0079] In this manner, around the hole 3 of one type are disposed four holes 3 of the other type, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

[0080] The same arrangement of holes 3 with alternated orientations is present in the second embodiment of Figs. 14-15. Each hole 3 oriented in one direction is flanked to a hole 3 oriented in a transversal direction.

[0081] Even the holes 3 of the third embodiment of Figs. 17-18 have two different orientations. Certain holes 3 are oriented in one direction (upward looking at Fig. 17), while the other holes 3 are oriented in the opposite direction (downward looking at Fig. 17). Along a transverse direction, the holes 3 having one orientation are alternated by holes 3 having the opposite orientation.

[0082] In the fourth embodiment of Figs. 20, 21, the holes 3 are all oriented in the same direction, therefore the above described alternance is absent.

[0083] It has been observed, that said alternance of orientation of holes 3, leads to a greater transversal expansion given an in-plane pulling direction, as it clearly appears comparing Figs. 18 and 21.

[0084] In Figs. 10, 14, 17 and 20, the bodies 2 of four embodiments are shown at rest. In Figs. 11, 15, 18 and 21, the same bodies 2 are in-plane pulled. If the article 1 of all embodiments is stretched in one direction, e.g. in the first direction DI as shown in Figs. 11, 15, 18 and 21, the holes 3 arranged along direction DI widen, at their central portions 8, and the hinge portions 17 besides these holes 3 rotate, leading to an elongation of body 2 in the first direction DI. Due to the specific shape of holes 3, the body 2 also elongates, but less, in the transversal direction, thus in the second direction D2, as shown in Figs. 11, 15, 18 and 21 with arrows of different sizes. In addition, the elasticity of the body 2 further contributes to the elongation along the pulling direction (in Figs. 11, 15, 18 and 21, the first direction DI).

[0085] In the first embodiment, the holes 3 tend to assume an oval shape as shown in Fig. 11. In the second embodiment of Fig. 15, the holes 3, at their maximum deformation, tend to assume an almost square or rectangular shape. The hinge portions 17 in the body 2 rotate, some clockwise and other counterclockwise, as shown in Figs. 11, 12, 15 and 16. As already said, in the first embodiment of Figs. 1-5, 8-10, 23-24 the shape of the hole 3 is bilobed, similar to a peanut. In the second embodiment the holes 3 are H-shaped, as shown in Fig. 14.

[0086] In the third and fourth embodiments, when the central portion 8 of the holes 3 widen and the hinge portions 17 rotate, the holes 3 tend to assume a shape similar to a triangle with rounded vertexes, as shown in Figs. 18, 21. The hinge portions 17 in the body 2 rotate, some clockwise and other counterclockwise, as shown in Figs. 18 and 21. In the third and fourth embodiments, the shape of the hole3 is trilobed, similar to a clover.

[0087] In all embodiments, the hinge portions 17 around each hole 3 are at least four.

[0088] The elongation of the article 1 is mainly provided by the shape deformation of holes 3, while the elasticity of body 3 facilitates this kind of shape deformation and contribute to an additional elongation but only along the pulling direction. The elasticity of the material of the body 2 also contributes to the comfort and to the energy absorption.

[0089] Between two adjacent holes 3 the sidewall 4 has a width X that is comprised between 1 and 2 mm, as shown in Figs. 10, 14, 17 and 20. In a bigger version of the article, the width X of the sidewall 4 can arrive to 6 mm.

[0090] Where more than two sidewalls 4 cross, a sort of star is realized. This sort of star is the hinge portion 17 which has a width that is greater with respect to that of sidewalls 4, as depicted in Figs. 10, 14, 17 and 20. The front surface area of the hinge portion 17 is preferably less or equal to 60 mm2, therefore the overall stiffness and weight of the article 1 does not increase due to hinge portions 17.

[0091] The ratio between maximum size 18 and minimum size 19 of the holes, when the body 2 is at rest, is comprised between 3 and 10, in the holes 3 of first embodiment, as depicted in Fig. 10. The minimum size 19 is considered as the width of the hole 3 in correspondence of central portion 8, while the maximum size 18 is the length between end portions 7.

[0092] The article 1 can be curved. That means that outer surface 6 and inner surface 5 of the article 1 are curved. In particular, the outer surface 6 is convex, while the inner surface 5 is concave, as shown in Fig. 5. The outer surface 6 is convex according to longitudinal and transverse directions of the article 1, while the inner surface 5 is concave according to longitudinal and transverse directions of the article 1, as shown in Figs. 1-5. In this manner, the article 1 can easily adapt to the articulation 300, even at rest.

[0093] Anyone of the above-mentioned embodiments of Figs.8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 17, 18, 20, 21 can be used for realizing the protective article 1.

[0094] Moreover, the thickness T of the article 1 is tapered towards the perimetral edge 10. The thickness T of the article 1 in the thickest point is comprised between 6 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 8 mm and 12 mm, more preferably 10 mm.

[0095] The article 1 so conceived can be secured to a garment 100.

[0096] A garment 100 can be a tubular wearable apparel like that depicted in Figs. 6A, 6B and 7. Alternatively, the garment 100 can comprise straps or belts to be fixed to the human body 200. In a further alternative (not shown), the garment 100 can be an article of clothing like a jacket or a pant.

[0097] The article 1 can be secured to the garment 100 along the perimetral edge 10, for example through a seam that fixes the article 1 to the garment 100.

[0098] Alternatively, the article 1 can be secured to the garment 100 through attachment means which pass into the eyelets 12, as shown in Figs. 6A and 6B. In this case the attachment means 102 of the garment 100 can be a band that loops the perimetral edge 10 of the article 1 and passes through the eyelet 12. The band can comprise fasteners like Velcro or a snap fastener.

[0099] Alternatively, the article 1 can be attached to the garment 100 through an adhesive.

[0100] In a further alternative shown in Fig. 7, the garment 100 comprises a pocket 101 wherein the article 1 can be accommodated or embedded. If the pocket has a size and shape that is complementary to that of the article 1, no specific attachment means 102 are required. The pocket 101 comprises an aperture through which the article 1 can be inserted / removed in / from the garment 100.

[0101] The combination of the shape of holes 3, the mutual agreement of holes 3 and the material of the body 2, allow to maintain the perpendicularity of the sidewalls 4 with respect to the inner / outer surface 5,6, in particular in the central part C of the article 1, during stretching or bending of the article 1, as shown in Figs. 6A and 6B. In this way, the shock-absorbing performances of article 1 are preserved in case of impact even during articulation 300 movements. Fig. 6A shows the article 1 in a first operating condition, while Fig. 6B shows the article 1 bent and stretched, due to the movement of articulation 300. Being the body 2 more empty than full, the bending of the article 1 in an out-of-plane direction is facilitated and the full portions of the body 2, that arranged transversally with respect to the bending plane, by touching the human body 300, can act as fulcrums for facilitating this bending.

[0102] In a further embodiment (not shown), the article 1 can be arranged inside the shell of a helmet and behaves as an energy-absorber for impacts on the shell. In this embodiment, the article 1 is curved and configured to accommodate the head of the wearer inside the article 1.

[0103] Concluding, the invention so conceived is susceptible to many modifications and variations all of which fall within the scope of the inventive concept, furthermore all features can be substituted to technically equivalent alternatives. Practically, the quantities can be varied depending on the specific technical requirements. Finally, all features of previously described embodiments can be combined in any way, so as to obtain other embodiments that are not herein described for reasons of practicality and clarity.

[0104] Legend of reference signs:1 protective article2 body3 hole4 sidewall (of hole)5 inner surface (of the protective article)6 outer surface (of the protective article)7 end portion (of the hole)8 central portion (of the hole)9 peripheral hole10 perimetral edge (of the protective article)11 indent (of the perimetral edge of the protective article)12 eyelet13 end (of the protective article)14 inner surface (of the hole)15 inner edge (of the hole)16 outer edge (of the hole)17 hinge portion18 maximum size19 minimum size20 cavity (of the hinge portion)100 garment101 pocket (of the garment)102 attachment mean (of the garment)200 human body300 articulationDI first directionD2 second directionC central area (of the body)P peripheral area (of the body)L length (of the protective article)W width (of the protective article)T thickness (of the protective article)X width (of the sidewall)R rotational axis (of the hinge portion)

Claims

SET OF CLAIMS1. Protective article (1) for protecting a part of a human body (200), preferably an articulation (300) of the human body (200), comprising a slender body (2) made of an elastic material comprising a plurality of holes (3) that pass-through the body (2) from an outer surface (6) to an inner surface (5) and a plurality of hinge portions (17) arranged between adjacent holes (3), characterized in that the body (2) is configured such that:- at rest, the holes (3) have a shape with a central portion (8) that is narrower than its end portions (7); and- when the protective article (1) is pulled according to an in-plane direction, the central portion (8) of the holes (3) along this direction widen and the adjacent hinge portions (17) rotate.

2. Protective article (1) according to claim 1, wherein at rest the hinge portions (17) have rotational axes (R) that are normal, or substantially normal, to inner and / or outer surface (5,6), preferably said rotational axes (R) remain normal to inner and / or outer surface (5,6) when the article (1) is in-plane pulled.

3. Protective article (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at rest sidewalls (4) of the holes (3) are normal, or substantially normal, to an inner and / or outer surface (5,6) of the protective article (1), preferably said sidewalls (4) remain substantially normal to the inner and / or outer surface (5,6) when the article (1) is in-plane pulled.

4. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the central portion (8) of a hole (3) is arranged between the end portions (7) of the adjacent holes (3).

5. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the width (X) of the body (2) between the central portion (8) of a hole (3) and the neighbour end portion (7) of an adjacent hole (3) is comprised between 1 and 6 mm, preferably between 1,5 and 2,5 mm.

6. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the holes (3) comprise a first plurality of holes and a second plurality of holes oriented differently from each other, andwherein the holes (3) of the first plurality are alternated by the holes (3) of the second plurality at least in one direction.

7. Protective article (1) according to claim 6, wherein the holes (3) of the first plurality elongate in a first direction (DI) and the holes (3) of the second plurality elongate in a second direction (D2) that is perpendicular, or substantially perpendicular, to the first direction (DI).

8. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claim, wherein the body (2) has a void fraction greater than 50%, preferably greater than 60%.

9. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claim, wherein the holes (3) have a bilobed or a trilobed shape.

10. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein protective article (1) has a rounded and elongated shape with an indented perimetral edge (10).

11. Protective article (1) according to claim 10, wherein the protective article (1) comprises two eyelets (12) arranged at opposing ends (13) of the protective article (1) close to its perimetral edge (10).

12. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the protective article (1) has a tapered thickness (T) close to its perimetral edge (10).

13. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the inner and / or outer surface (5,6) of the protective article (1) is / are curved at rest.

14. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the elastic material is a thermoplastic elastomer having a glass transition temperature comprised between -10°C and +5°C, preferably comprised between -7°C and +3°C.

15. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein an inner surface (14) of the holes (3) has no corners.

16. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the ratio between maximum size and minimum size, measured in-plane, of the hole (3), when the article (1) is at rest, is comprised between 3 and 10.

1. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein an outer edge (16) of the hole (3) is bigger than an inner edge (15) of the same hole (3) or vice versa.

18. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein the holes (3) and the hinge portions (17) are shaped so as the protective article (1) elongates at least 110%, preferably at least 120%, of its size at rest, when the protective article (1) is pulled in the in-plane direction, independently from an elastic modulus of the elastic material.

19. Protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims, wherein said plurality of holes (3) is arranged in a central part (C) of the body (2).

20. Garment (100) for a human body (200) comprising at least one protective article (1) according to any one of preceding claims arranged in correspondence of a part of said human body (200), preferably in correspondence of an articulation (300) of the human body (200), wherein the at least one protective article (1) is secured to the garment (100).

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