Leg protector reinforced in view of the shin by a half-bubble shock deflector.

Abstract

Foreleg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone characterized in that it is composed by the assembly of a rigid outer shell (40) covering the foreleg, an inner foam (20) for absorbing radial shock of the foreleg, and a set of shock wave deflectors (1), projecting in front of the shock absorption foam (20), in contact on the one hand with the inner face of the outer shell (40) and in contact on the other hand with the tibia, in the event of impact by compression and deformation of the deflectors (1), the shock waves are deflected ortho radially in the absorption foam (20) and in the flesh around the tibia. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title of the invention: Leg protector reinforced in view of the tibia by a half-bubble shock deflector.

[0001] The present invention relates to a leg protector reinforced with regard to the tibia by a half-bubble with shock absorption and deflection. Said half-bubbles provide energy dissipation which particularly protects the tibia against severe impacts. The present invention cleverly cooperates a set of half-bubbles, a rigid shell and a foam to provide optimized shock deflection while guaranteeing comfort of use for the player.

[0002] Existing leg guards commonly referred to as shin guards are shock absorbers more particularly used in football. They consist of one or more layers of superimposed cushioning material placed under the sock. They protect against blows to the leg and thus protect in particular the shin, the top of the ankle, and the entire front of the leg over approximately 180°. Shin guards therefore do not specifically protect the shins in an improved manner and protect the entire foreleg. They have numerous defects which the invention seeks to resolve.

[0003] There are shin guard projects whose impact protection is much less good than that of the present one, as we will discover as we read. In particular, there is CA 2 084 828 which describes a rustic deflector which does not offer a deflection game and whose deflection mode is a simple dissipating foam which does not offer specific dissipation as subsequently described with half-bubbles. There is DE 19 52 413 which describes air bubbles but which cannot deflect shock waves ortho-radially. There are WO 99 / 00161, DE 2011 00248, WO 2006 / 09255 which describe very incomplete and imperfect solutions, either which do not deflect shock waves, or which do not involve the cooperation of foam, or which do not involve the cooperation of shell.

[0004] A first defect of the prior art is that the cushioning is often insufficient. Either because, with use, the protections compress and lose elasticity and cushioning, or because the protections are too hard and transmit to the tibia a significant part of the energy provided in the impact. There are still, during football matches, many tibia injuries which cause the loss of valuable playing time with players hampered by pain, or even impacts which can lead to the infirmary.

[0005] Known shin guards consist of a superposition of one or two layers of protective material. The layers are generally uniform. And furthermore more essential 1 - the dissipation of energy is currently only proposed in the direction of the impact by cushioning effect and 2 - shin guards are protections that protect the front of the leg, but which do not specifically protect the tibial bone. There is therefore no prior art solution that offers additive specific dissipation of the impact energy, when the impact is directed precisely at the tibia. It is understood that depending on whether an impact hits the flesh or the bone, the danger and the pain caused are different. In short, the existing material does not specifically protect the tibia better than the rest of the leg.

[0006] A main objective of the invention is therefore to propose leg protection which is improved and more effective than that proposed by the prior art, and in particular when the impact on the leg is exactly at the level of the tibia or at the level of the top of the ankle on the talus bone.

[0007] An object of the invention is to provide a leg protector which is comfortable to wear.

[0008] An object of the invention is to provide a leg protector which fits securely on the leg and which does not move during the game of football.

[0009] An object of the invention is to propose a leg protector which provides comfort of contact and temperature with better circulation of air along the leg.

[0010] An object of the invention is to provide a leg protector which is robust and which ages well despite the quantity of shocks to be supported.

[0011] An object of the invention is to propose a leg protector which can be industrialized and whose cost price allows for economical exploitation.

[0012] An object of the invention is to propose a manufacturing method which makes it possible to propose the present technology in other damping functions to protect other bones. One can for example think of the integration of this technology to protect the bone, in a helmet, in a knee pad, in an elbow pad, in a forearm, and other possibilities still.

[0013] In a main aspect of the invention, deflectors run along the bone to be protected to provide particular protection to the bone to be protected. The deflector function is to dissipate the first shock wave by radial absorption and by ortho-radial dissipation.

[0014] In one aspect, these deflectors are contact half-bubbles. This particular solution will be described in the attached figures. Other types of deflector solutions can be imagined which will also be under the protection conferred by the present invention.

[0015] In one aspect of the invention, the leg protector is formed by the cooperation of a rigid outer shell, an inner foam for absorbing radial energy, and a set of elastic half-bubbles for contact with the bone for radial absorption in particular. by a transfer in dissipation by the compression of the air in the elastic half-bubble in non-radial directions which makes it possible to maximize the avoidance of the tibia by the shock wave which comes to pass through the flesh or the foam of the protection and therefore avoids the bone.

[0016] In one aspect the invention consists of the assembly of the three constituents by a clever interlocking combination.

[0017] The invention will be better understood on reading the attached figures in which

[0018] [Fig-1] represents the two constituents of a half-bubble according to the invention

[0019] [Fig.2] represents a half-bubble formed according to the invention

[0020] [Fig.3] represents a top sectional view of a shin guard according to the invention

[0021] [Fig.4] represents a detail view before a shock / during the shock of a dissipation of energy by invention.

[0022] [Fig.5] represents a detailed sectional view of the invention during manufacture.

[0023] [Fig.6] represents an interior front view of a left shin guard according to the invention.

[0024] [Fig.l] represents the two constituents of a half-bubble according to the invention which consist of two rubber sheets (11, 12). The first sheet called the bottom sheet (11) is flat. The second sheet called the contact sheet (12) has been molded in the bottom of a half-sphere and on its flat periphery. The two sheets (11, 12) have the same periphery and are glued against each other. The sheets have a certain thickness so as to present a form of rigidity and to only begin to deform under the effect of pressure by impacts. In short, in the shoe, when running, the sheets must not deform. Under the effect of an impact, the second sheet called the contact sheet (12) will deform.

[0025] [Fig.2] represents a half-bubble formed according to the invention. The bonding of the two sheets (11, 12) which form what is called a contact half-bubble (1). This contact half-bubble (1) is a sealed cup (5) which surrounds a half-sphere (6). The half-sphere (6) contains the air which was present between the two rubber sheets (11, 12) before bonding. On one side, the contact half-bubble (1) has a flat side and will be pressed against the inner face of the rigid outer shell. On the other side, the contact half-bubble (1) has a spherical shape whose deformation efficiency for damping and deflecting shock waves will be described below.

[0026] [Fig.3] represents a top sectional view of a shin guard according to the invention with a traditional form of concave shin guard, which comprises a rigid outer shell (40) preferably made of polycarbonate, a cushioning foam (20), typically made of polyethylene, and consisting of sealed cells filled with neutral gas, and on the tibial line a half-contact bubble (1) which is against the inner face of the outer shell (40) and which passes through the cushioning foam (20) and slightly exceeds the surface of the foam (20) to protrude with a slight thickness at the top of the half-sphere (6) and rest in contact against the tibia bone. Locally, on the periphery of the half-bubble (1), the cushioning foam does not touch the tibia bone, it is offset at a distance of a few millimeters from the skin. This first contact offset (d) comes from the radius of the half-sphere (6) added to the bottom thickness of (11) which is greater than the thickness of the cushioning foam (20). This offset (10) in fact generates better air circulation along the leg. This figure also shows how it is possible to shape the foam by formatting and hollowing it out, to make it cooperate cleverly with the set of half-bubbles and with the rigid outer shell.The three elements can be independent, interchangeable and can be assembled to conform to adapt to particular arrangements in order to respond to more or less brutal impacts and in order to offer more or less comfort. In fact, the invention proposes a set of three adaptable, washable and interchangeable components for the player to best respond to the specific constraints of the match he plays on the day. The half-bubble is held, in a first embodiment, by means of a smaller diameter of the reservation in the foam (20) compared to the diameter of the half-bubble (1). According to another embodiment, the half-bubble is held by means of an ergo cup in a specific hollow housed in the foam. The hollow design of the foam can be changed or adapted and the half-bubbles replaced in a new foam with excellent hold during the match.

[0027] [Fig.4] represents a detailed view before an impact / during the impact of an energy dissipation by the invention. By creating this slight offset of first contact (d) of a few millimeters, what the invention seeks is that during the impact the first compression transmitted by the impact comes from the contact half-bubble (1) which undergoes the pressure forces against the tibia and that then the damping foam (20) is put to the test. The first forces which will bear on the half-sphere (6) which will enter into pressure against the tibia, will, through the play of mechanical characteristics coming from the dimensioning of the rubber sheet and the quality of the rubber, cause a crushing of the bubble by radial forces, which will flatten and transfer forces in an ortho-radial manner with the rubber which will deform against the thickness of the damping foam (20).In short, the first contact half-bubble (1) plays a dual role of shock absorption and shock wave deflection at the periphery of the tibia towards the shock absorption foam within the very thickness of the structure of the tibia protector. Unlike the prior art which is content to absorb the shock, the present invention deflects the shock wave by sending it towards softer parts, namely to a small extent on the body with the muscles around the tibia and to the other extent within the very structure of the tibia protector in . its thickness.

[0028] [Fig.5] represents a detailed sectional view of the invention during manufacture. The protection is achieved by the cooperation of a rigid outer shell (40), an inner radial energy absorbing foam (20), and a set of elastic half-bubbles (1) for contact with the bone described above.What is particularly represented therein lies in the manufacturing process of the assembly which is created in several successive stages - Stage 1 of construction: dimension and construct a rigid outer shell (40), dimension and construct a damping foam (20), dimension and construct a series of contact half-bubbles (1) - Stage 2 of assembly of the half-bubbles: assemble a series of half-bubbles (1) in the hollow reservations in the damping foam (20), the half-bubbles (1) are held ortho-radially by cooperation with the shape of the reservations, and are held radially in one direction by the cup (5) which blocks against the absorption foam (20) - Stage 3 of assembly of the leg protector: assemble the damping foam (20) containing the half-bubbles with the rigid outer shell (40).The cushioning foam (20) is held by means of a non-protruding lug (40a) around the entire perimeter of the inner face of the rigid outer shell (40) except around the tibial crest to avoid any contact of the lug (40a) during an impact. The assembly thus constitutes a solid and compact leg protector, capable of absorbing and absorbing impacts and, like a deflector, of deflecting shock waves locally. The assembly also remains removable and interchangeable by the user to adjust the comfort and protection, change worn parts, wash parts, etc.

[0029] [Fig.6] represents an interior front view of a left shin guard according to the invention where are shown in view of the right of the left leg along the tibia in the so-called tibial zone (31), four half-bubbles (1) regularly spaced from top to bottom. The bottom half-bubble (1) is intended to make contact with the bottom of the tibia in the talus bone area. A half-bubble (1) is arranged on the left side of the left leg. It is positioned in view of the talus bone in an area called the talus zone (32). The function of this left talus half-bubble (1) is twofold; 1 - of course to protect the talus bone on the left 2 - to allow lateral stability of the leg protector on the leg by having bubbles on either side (32, 31) of the tibial ridge in the middle of the leg which wedges the leg protector and prevents it from moving laterally.

[0030] The present invention therefore relates to a foreleg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone, characterized in that it is composed of the assembly of a rigid outer shell (40) covering the foreleg, an inner foam (20) for absorbing radial shock of the foreleg, and a set of shock wave deflectors (1), projecting in front of the shock absorption foam (20), in contact on the one hand with the inner face of the outer shell (40) and in contact on the other hand with the tibia, in the event of shock by compression and deformation of the deflectors (1), the shock waves are deflected ortho radially in the absorption foam (20) and in the flesh around the tibia, the deflectors (1) are contact half-bubbles (1) in the form of a sealed cup (5) which surrounds a half-sphere (6), the half-sphere (6) contains air.

[0031] The present invention therefore relates to a front leg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone, characterized in that the contact half-bubbles (1) are produced by gluing two rubber sheets (11, 12) with the same external periphery, the first sheet, called the bottom sheet (11), is flat, the second sheet, called the contact sheet (12), has been molded in the bottom of a half-sphere and on its flat periphery.

[0032] The present invention therefore relates to a front leg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone, characterized in that the half-bubbles (1) are held ortho-radially by their outer periphery of half-sphere (6) in the hollow reservations with an internal diameter slightly less than the external diameter of the half-bubbles (1), the half-bubbles (1) and are held radially in one direction by the cup (5) which blocks wedged between the absorption foam (20) and the rigid outer shell (40).

[0033] The present invention therefore relates to a front leg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone, characterized in that two half-bubbles (1) are arranged in view of the talus bone on either side of the tibial ridge to allow stable lateral support of the leg protector against the leg.

[0034] The present invention therefore relates to a method of manufacturing front leg protectors characterized in that it comprises the successive manufacturing steps:

[0035] Construction step 1: size and construct a rigid outer shell (40), size and construct a cushioning foam (20), size and construct a series of contact half-bubbles (1).

[0036] Step 2 of assembling the half-bubbles: assemble a series of half-bubbles (1) in the hollow reservations in the damping foam (20), the half-bubbles are held ortho-radially by the cooperation of the shapes and are held radially in one direction by the cup (5) which blocks against the absorption foam (20).

[0037] Step 3 of assembling the leg protector: assemble the cushioning foam (20) containing the half-bubbles with the rigid outer shell (40). The cushioning foam (20) is held by means of a non-protruding lug (40a) around the entire perimeter of the inner face of the rigid outer shell (40) except at the edges of the tibial crest to avoid any contact of the lug (40a) during an impact.

[0038] Several variants of the invention are possible without departing from the scope of the protection conferred hereby.

Claims

Claims

1. Foreleg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone characterized in that it is composed by the assembly of a rigid outer shell (40) covering the foreleg, an inner foam (20) for absorbing radial shock of the foreleg, and a set of shock wave deflectors (1), projecting in front of the shock absorption foam (20), in contact on the one hand with the inner face of the outer shell (40) and in contact on the other hand with the tibia, in the event of an impact by compression and deformation of the deflectors (1), the shock waves are deflected ortho-radially in the absorption foam (20) and in the flesh around the tibia, the deflectors (1) are contact half-bubbles (1) in the form of a sealed cup (5) which surrounds a half-sphere (6), the half-sphere (6) contains air.

2. Front leg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone according to claim 1 characterized in that the contact half-bubbles (1) are produced by gluing two rubber sheets (11, 12) with the same external periphery, the first sheet called the bottom sheet (11) is flat, the second sheet called the contact sheet (12) has been molded in the bottom of a half-sphere and on its flat periphery.

3. Front leg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone according to claims 1 and 2 characterized in that the half-bubbles (1) are held ortho-radially by their outer periphery of half-sphere (6) in the hollow reservations with an internal diameter equal to the external diameter of the half-bubbles (1), the half-bubbles (1) and are held radially in one direction by the cup (5) which blocks wedged between the absorption foam (20) and the rigid outer shell (40).

4. Front leg protector with reinforced protection of the tibial bone according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that two half-bubbles (1) are arranged in view of the talus bone on either side of the tibial edge to allow stable lateral support of the leg protector against the leg.

5. Method of manufacturing a front leg protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that it comprises the successive manufacturing steps - Construction step 1: dimensioning and constructing a rigid outer shell (40), dimensioning and constructing a cushioning foam (20), dimensioning and constructing a series of half contact bubbles (1) Step 2 of assembling the half-bubbles: assemble a series of half-bubbles (1) in the hollow reservations in the damping foam (20), the half-bubbles are held ortho-radially by the cooperation of the shapes and are held radially in one direction by the cup (5) which blocks against the absorption foam (20) Step 3 of assembling the leg protector: assemble the cushioning foam (20) containing the half-bubbles with the rigid outer shell (40), the cushioning foam (20) being held by means of a non-protruding lug (40a) around the entire perimeter of the inner face of the rigid outer shell (40) except around the tibial crest to avoid any contact of the lug (40a) during an impact, the assembly thus remaining removable and interchangeable

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