Flexible Multi-Layer Athletic Protector for Impact Absorption

The patent replaces the traditional rigid plastic cup with a flexible pad constructed from multiple layers including foam materials and elastomeric substances. This flexible construction allows the pad to conform to the athlete's anatomy and move with the body during exercise, eliminating chafing and pinching while maintaining protective capabilities through the layered structure's ability to absorb and dissipate impact forces.

The pad employs a composite multi-layer construction combining different materials with complementary properties: foam layers for cushioning and energy absorption, elastomeric layers for flexibility and shock dissipation, and potentially gel or viscous layers for additional impact mitigation. This composite approach achieves both comfort through material flexibility and protection through the combined energy-absorbing characteristics of the various layers.

The protective device is divided into multiple discrete layers, each serving a specific function in the impact mitigation process. The segmentation into foam layers, elastomeric layers, and potentially gel layers allows each component to be optimized for its particular role while simplifying the overall construction approach compared to molding a single rigid plastic cup with integrated features.

The patent changes the fundamental physical parameters of the protective material from rigid plastic with high structural integrity to soft, compliant materials with high energy absorption capacity. This parameter change allows the use of simpler manufacturing processes such as layering and bonding rather than complex rigid plastic molding, while achieving protection through different physical mechanisms.

The multi-layer pad construction provides beforehand cushioning by positioning compliant foam and elastomeric layers between the external environment and the genitalia. These layers are designed to compress and absorb impact energy before it can reach the sensitive areas, preventing both external impacts and internal pinching/squeezing forces that occur with rigid cup construction.

The flexible nature of the pad materials allows the protective device to adapt to body movements and anatomical contours without creating pinching or squeezing forces. The elastomeric and foam layers deform elastically during impact and movement, distributing forces evenly and preventing the concentrated pressures that cause discomfort and potential injury with rigid cups.