Leg Guard Mount Garment with Adjustable Straps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Catchers in baseball and softball face inefficiencies in putting on and removing shin/knee guards, which delays their preparation and disrupts the game pace.
Innovation Solution
A lower body garment with an attachment structure featuring a belt and buckle, along with outer and inner garment straps with adjustable holes, allows for quick and efficient attachment and removal of leg guards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional shin/knee guards are used, then protection is provided, but the time required to put on and remove the guards increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the shin/knee guards with a compression garment into a single integrated unit. The guards are permanently attached to the garment through straps and fasteners, eliminating the need to separately put on and remove the guards. This merging of previously separate items (guards and compression wear) into one unified piece allows the catcher to quickly don or doff the entire assembly as a single operation, dramatically reducing the time and effort required compared to traditional separate guard application.
2Ease of operation
If traditional shin/knee guards are used, then protection is provided, but additional people are required to secure them properly
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated design incorporates self-fastening mechanisms including Velcro straps, buckles, and snap fasteners that allow the catcher to independently secure the guards to their own body without assistance. The compression garment acts as its own attachment system, with multiple adjustment points that can be easily manipulated by hand. This self-service capability eliminates the need for coaches, teammates, or other personnel to help put on the guards, while the modular strap system maintains ease of adjustment despite the increased functionality.
3Productivity
If traditional shin/knee guards are used, then protection is provided, but game pace and pitcher warmup are delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The guards are pre-attached to the compression garment in a factory-setting or pre-preparation phase, so that when the catcher needs to gear up, the entire assembly is already prepared as a single unit. This preliminary action of combining the guards with the garment beforehand eliminates the time-consuming process of separately positioning and securing the guards during game transitions. The catcher can quickly pull on the pre-assembled unit, immediately ready for the next inning or pitch, thereby maintaining game pace and avoiding delays to pitcher warmups.
Data Source
AI summary
A wearable lower body garment for efficiently attaching and removing athletic padding, or in the alternative for enabling continuous wear of athletic padding. The lower body garment is made of durable and flexible material to allow a user freedom of movement. The lower body garment is worn as a pant-like garment that includes both flexible and adjustable straps to conform to a user's shape. The lower body garment has anchor points disposed on the outer leg portion and on the inseam that allow for attachment of athletic padding.