protector

Abstract

To provide a protector which can be easily adjusted by a wearer by hand and which can be provided as a mass-produced product while responding to individual differences. [Solution] The protector comprises a plate-shaped protector body (10) made of a thermoplastic material that softens when heated, and an instruction display (1a) that is displayed on the surface of the protector body and indicates the area to be heated or the amount of heat by color. The protector body has a front and back made of materials that deform by different amounts when heated, and the instruction display can be displayed according to the different amounts of deformation on the front and back of the protector body, and the instruction display visibly indicates the area to be heated on the protector body by color coding or pattern.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to protectors for players in sports such as soccer and futsal to protect their shins and other parts of the body, and in particular to protectors with a moldable function that allows the user to use a heat source to adapt them to the individual shape of their legs. [Background technology]

[0002] Traditionally, various types of protectors have been used to protect players' body parts in sports involving intense contact, such as soccer and American football. Shin guards, which protect the shins, are one such type of protector. Most consist of a hard plastic shell and a cushioning lining, and are inserted into socks.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a sports protector that uses a thermoplastic elastomer for the outer shell to cushion the impact on both the wearer and the opposing athlete. This technology is based on the premise that the protector is provided in a pre-formed shape in the factory, and is not individually adjusted to fit the leg shape of each wearer. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-194637 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, conventional protectors have the problem that they are molded to fit the body in a uniform way, which is different for each user's groin shape, and therefore do not fit tightly enough to the body, which can lead to misalignment and a feeling of pressure during competition. On the other hand, when tightening with strings or Velcro (registered trademark), there are concerns that the tightness can cause discomfort and a poor fit can reduce protective performance. On the other hand, custom-made individual molded products have problems with manufacturing costs and delivery times.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and its purpose is to provide a protector that can be easily adjusted by the wearer themselves, and that can be provided as a mass-produced product while accommodating individual differences. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the protector of the present invention is characterized by comprising a plate-shaped protector body made of a thermoplastic material that softens when heated, and an indicator displayed on the surface of the protector body that indicates the area to be heated or the amount of heat to be applied using color.

[0008] In the above device, it is preferable that the protector body has front and back surfaces made of materials that deform by different amounts when heated, and the indication display portion is displayed according to the different amounts of deformation on the front and back surfaces of the protector body.

[0009] In the above device, the indication marking preferably indicates the heated area on the protector body by color coding or a pattern so that it can be seen. Also, in the above device, the indication marking may be formed of a paint or material that discolors or disappears when heated. Furthermore, a cushion layer may be provided on the back surface of the protector body, on the surface that comes into contact with the wearer's body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] The shin guards of the present invention are made of a heat-transformable material (e.g., a low-temperature plastic polymer or sheet-like thermoplastic resin) and are softened by applying warm air from a hair dryer or similar device. By pressing the softened body against the wearer's shins, they are curved to fit the shape of the wearer's legs and can be fixed in place. The area of ​​the body that is subject to deformation is marked in red or other colors for improved visibility, allowing the user to intuitively identify the heated area and providing appropriate protection while adapting to individual differences in the user's physique and bone structure. As a result, the present invention allows for storage and transport in a flat initial state, but allows the user to customize the shape at any time, allowing the wearer to easily adjust the shape themselves. This allows for mass-produced products that accommodate individual differences. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the external appearance of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the protector according to the embodiment is used. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state before heating of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a heated state of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a top view showing a first modified example of the protector according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a top view showing a second modified example of the protector according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] (Overall configuration of the protector) An embodiment of a protector and a method of using the same according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 to 5 are diagrams showing the configuration of a protector according to this embodiment. Note that the embodiment shown below exemplifies a device or the like for embodying the technical idea of ​​this invention, and the technical idea of ​​this invention does not limit the material, shape, structure, arrangement, etc. of each component part to those described below. The technical idea of ​​this invention can be variously modified within the scope of the utility model registration claims.

[0013] The protector 1 of this embodiment comprises a plate-shaped protector body 10 made of a thermoplastic material that softens when heated, and an indication display section 1a that is displayed on the surface of the protector body 10 and indicates the area to be heated or the amount of heat by color.

[0014] 1, the protector body 10 can be formed in various shapes such as a substantially rectangular or oval shape, and has the function of fitting to any part of the human body. Suitable materials for the protector body 10 include thermoplastic resins that soften when heated and harden when cooled, such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), polycarbonate (PC), polyamide (nylon), etc.

[0015] The protector body 10 may be formed from a single material or may be formed by laminating multiple materials. For example, materials with different deformation amounts when heated may be laminated on the front and back sides, with one layer emphasizing flexibility and the other emphasizing rigidity, thereby enabling control of the direction of curvature during molding. Furthermore, by arranging an abrasion-resistant material in the front layer and a cushioning foamed polyethylene or the like in the back layer, durability and wearing comfort can be improved, and a cushioning layer may be provided on the back surface of the protector body, which comes into contact with the wearer's body.

[0016] The instruction display unit 1a visually indicates the heating area on the protector body by color coding or a pattern. Specifically, it is configured by printing on the surface of a thermoplastic material or by attaching a colored film, and the area to be heated can be visually clarified with a color such as red or orange. The range, shape, size, etc. of this instruction display unit 1a are set so that it forms a curve that easily fits the shape of the area to be abutted, such as the shin, knee, elbow, or other area. In this embodiment, the protector body 10 has front and back surfaces made of materials that deform by different amounts when heated, and the instruction display unit is displayed according to the different deformation amounts on the front and back of the protector body.

[0017] (How to use) Next, we will explain how to use the protector according to this embodiment. Figures 2 to 4 show how to use the protector. With the ball protector according to this embodiment, first, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, the instruction display unit is heated with a commercially available household hair dryer or the like according to the part of the human body to which it is to be applied, and when it is sufficiently softened, it is pressed against the part to be worn (for example, the shin) as shown in Figure 2. At this time, the protector body 10 is softened and curved by hand pressure along the curves of the human body, forming a shape that follows the individual shape of the user. It is then cooled at room temperature or by cooling air or the like, and the curved state is fixed and maintained.

[0018] (Example of change) The above-described embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and therefore the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made depending on the design, etc., as long as they do not deviate from the technical concept of the present invention.

[0019] For example, in the above-described embodiment, the shape of the indication display section is linear, but the present invention is not limited to this. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the indication may be expressed by a curve according to the degree or shape of curvature, and as shown in FIG. 5(b), the heating temperature or heat quantity may be expressed by the density of the lines, such as by showing the heated area with a dotted or dashed line.

[0020] In the above-described embodiment, the indication display unit can be formed of a paint or material that changes color or disappears when heated, as shown in FIG. 6 as 1d. For example, the paint for forming the indication display unit 1d is preferably a thermochromic pigment (thermochromic ink) that changes color or disappears reversibly or irreversibly when heated, or color-changing particles dispersed in a thermoplastic resin. For example, leuco dye-based materials can transition from a colored state to a colorless state when a certain temperature (e.g., 60°C) is exceeded, and it is also possible to select a reversible type that returns to its original state after cooling, or an irreversible type that remains colorless.

[0021] These coatings can be applied precisely and durablely to the surface of the protector using techniques such as printing, screen printing, pad printing, transfer film, and in-mold labeling. Furthermore, by co-extruding or coating the resin itself, it is possible to integrate the display unit into the protector, simplifying the molding process and reducing costs. This allows the degree of heating to be visually confirmed, optimizing the molding process.

[0022] (Actions and Effects) As described above, in the protector according to this embodiment, the main body 10 is made of a heat-deformable material (e.g., a low-temperature plastic polymer or a sheet-like thermoplastic resin) and is softened by applying warm air from a hair dryer or the like during use. By pressing the softened main body 10 against the wearer's groin, it forms a curved shape that conforms to the shape of the wearer's leg and maintains that shape. The portion of the main body that is to be deformed is marked in red or other colors for improved visibility, allowing the user to intuitively identify the heated area and providing appropriate protection while adapting to individual differences in the user's physique, bone structure, etc. As a result, according to this invention, the protector can be stored and transported in its initial flat state, but can be customized by the user at any time. This allows the wearer to easily adjust the shape at hand, making it possible to provide a mass-produced product that adapts to individual differences.

[0023] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications of the components can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, various inventions can be created by appropriately combining the components disclosed in the above-described embodiments. For example, some components may be omitted from the entire components shown in the embodiments. [Explanation of symbols]

[0024] 1...Protector 1a~1d...Instruction display section 10...Protector body

Claims

1. a plate-shaped protector body made of a thermoplastic material that softens when heated; an indication display portion that is displayed on the surface of the protector body and indicates the portion to be heated or the amount of heat by color; A protector comprising:

2. The protector body has a front and back made of materials that deform differently when heated, The instruction display portion is displayed according to the amount of deformation that differs between the front and back of the protector body.

2. The protector according to claim 1 .

3. 2. The protector according to claim 1, wherein the indication display portion visually indicates the heated portion on the protector body by color coding or pattern.

4. 2. The protector according to claim 1, wherein the indication display portion is formed of a paint or material that discolors or disappears when heated.

5. 2. The protector according to claim 1, wherein a cushion layer is provided on the rear surface of the protector body, the surface coming into contact with the wearer's body.

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