U.S. patent application number 10/308861 was filed with the patent office on 2003-08-28 for athletic protector cup.
Invention is credited to Lukens, Thomas McGrath.
Application Number | 20030163076 10/308861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 27760282 |
Filed Date | 2003-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030163076 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lukens, Thomas McGrath |
August 28, 2003 |
Athletic protector cup
Abstract
An athletic protector cup having a resilient member with an
inner surface faceable toward a body of a wearer, an outer surface,
a first flex panel, and a second flex panel. The athletic protector
cup also has a rigid member having an inner surface coupled to the
outer surface of the resilient member, the rigid member also having
an anchor portion along an outer edge coupled to the resilient
member. The outer edge of the rigid member is shaped
correspondingly to the first flex panel and the second flex panel
of the resilient member.
Inventors: |
Lukens, Thomas McGrath;
(Discovery Bay, HK) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHRISTIE, PARKER & HALE, LLP
P.O. BOX 7068
PASADENA
CA
91109-7068
US
|
Family ID: |
27760282 |
Appl. No.: |
10/308861 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60359774 |
Feb 26, 2002 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
602/67 ; 128/846;
128/891; 2/466; 602/72 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G09F 21/02 20130101;
A63B 71/1216 20130101; A63B 2244/102 20130101; A63B 2243/007
20130101; A63B 2102/24 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
602/67 ; 128/846;
128/891; 602/72; 2/466 |
International
Class: |
A41D 013/05 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An athletic protector cup comprising: a cup-shaped rigid member
having a periphery defined by a peripheral edge, an outer surface
to face away from the wearer and an inner surface to face toward
the wearer; a cup-shaped resilient member having an outwardly
facing surface, the inner surface of the rigid member being covered
by the outwardly facing surface of the resilient member within the
periphery of the peripheral edge of the rigid member such that the
rigid member is spaced from the body of the wearer by the resilient
member.
2. The athletic protector cup of claim 1 wherein the outwardly
facing surface of the resilient member covers substantially the
entire inner surface of the rigid member within the periphery of
the peripheral edge.
3. The athletic protector cup of claim 1 wherein the peripheral
edge of the rigid member defines a rounded bead extending further
inwardly from the inner surface of the rigid member and wherein the
outwardly facing surface of the resilient member defines a recessed
area that receives the rigid member, the recessed area defining a
rounded groove around its periphery to receive the rounded bead of
the rigid member to further secure the rigid member and the
resilient member together.
4. The athletic protector cup of claim 1, wherein the rigid member
has at least two grounding areas, one at a top portion of the rigid
member and one at a bottom portion of the rigid member, the rigid
portion having a first side and a second side both extending
between the top portion and the bottom portion of the rigid
member.
5. The athletic protector cup of claim 4, wherein the resilient
member has a top portion, a bottom portion and first and second
side portions extending from the top portion, the bottom portion
and the first and second side portions of the rigid member,
respectively, and wherein the first and second side portions of the
resilient member increase in width as they extend away from the top
and bottom portions of the rigid member to form first and second
flex panels along the first and second sides of the rigid
member.
6. The athletic protector cup of claim 5, wherein each of the first
and second side portions of the resilient member has a portion of
decreased width between portions of increased width such that the
first and second flex panels define a double wave shape at a
location where the side portions of the resilient member extend
from the side portions of the rigid member.
7. The athletic protector cup of claim 6, wherein the rigid member
has a bulge along each of the first side and the second side, the
bulge of each side located between adjacent waves of the double
wave shape of each side portion of the resilient member.
8. The athletic protector cup of claim 4, wherein the rigid member
has at least three grounding areas, two spaced apart grounding
areas at the top portion of the rigid member and one grounding area
at the bottom portion of the rigid member, the first side of the
rigid member extending between the bottom portion and one of the
grounding areas at the top portion and the second side of the rigid
member extending between the bottom portion and the other of the
grounding areas at the top portion.
9. The athletic protector cup of claim 8, wherein the resilient
member has a top portion, a bottom portion and first and second
side portions extending from the top portion, the bottom portion
and the first and second sides of the rigid member, respectively,
and wherein the top portion of the resilient member increases in
width as it extends between the two spaced apart grounding areas at
the top portion of the rigid member to form a flex panel along the
top portion of the rigid member.
10. The athletic protector cup of claim 9, wherein the first and
second side portions of the resilient member increase in width as
they extend away from the top and bottom portions of the rigid
member to form first and second flex panels along the first and
second sides of the rigid member.
11. The athletic protector cup of claim 10, wherein each of the
first and second side portions of the resilient member has a
portion of decreased width between portions of increased width such
that the first and second flex panels define a double wave shape at
a location where the side portions of the resilient member extend
from the side portions of the rigid member.
12. The athletic protector cup of claim 11, wherein the rigid
member has a bulge along each of the first side and the second
side, the bulge of each side located between adjacent waves of the
double wave shape of each side portion of the resilient member.
13. The athletic protector of claim 1 further comprising aligned
apertures extending through the resilient member and the rigid
member.
14. The athletic protector of claim 1 wherein the rigid member
further comprises an aperture through which a portion of the
resilient member extends.
15. The athletic protector of claim 14 wherein the resilient
portion extends through the aperture in the rigid member so as to
be flush with the outer surface of the rigid member.
16. The athletic protector of claim 14 wherein the resilient
portion extends through the aperture in the rigid member and
protrudes from the outer surface of the rigid member.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] The present application claims priority of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application No. 60/359,774, filed on Feb. 26, 2002, entitled
IMPROVEMENTS ON ATHLETIC PROTECTOR CUP, the entire contents of
which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates generally to athletic
protector cups, and more particularly to an athletic protector cup
having a flexible member in addition to a hardened member.
[0003] Devices for the protection of the male groin region are
extensively utilized in athletics. In athletic competitions, such
as boxing, football, and hockey, athletic protector cups are worn
by the players to avoid injury from blows to the groin area. Common
protective devices include a cup supported by a jockstrap.
Protector cups of this character are usually formed from a plastic
material, such as polypropylene or polyethylene, which is
sufficiently rigid to retain its shape even when subjected to a
strong impact.
[0004] Often protector cups are provided with a resilient padding
about their periphery. The resilient padding increases the comfort
of the wearer and helps absorb a blow to the protector cup. The
resilient padding is usually formed from a soft, flexible foam-like
material, such as foam rubber or polyurethane foam, and is usually
provided in the form of a limited elongated strip attached to the
peripheral edge of the cup with an adhesive.
SUMMARY
[0005] The present invention, according to an exemplary embodiment,
is directed to an athletic protector cup having a resilient member
with an inner surface faceable toward a body of a wearer and an
outer surface. The athletic protector also has a rigid member
having an inner surface coupled to the outer surface of the
resilient member. The athletic protector cup of the invention can
also have one or more of the features described below.
[0006] The resilient member can be provided with flex panels along
each side, each panel having a double wave shape. The rigid member
may also be shaped to correspond to the shape of the flex panels.
For example, the rigid panel is provided with a bulge located
between adjacent waves of the double wave shape of the resilient
member. Such a design permits the cup to twist in a manner to
mirror the movement of an athlete's body. The resilient member may
also have a third flex panel opposite the tip of the cup. The third
flex panel may be wave shaped or rounded.
[0007] The rigid member can also have an anchor portion along an
outer edge that is coupled to the resilient member. The resilient
member also has an outer edge shaped as a round bead and the anchor
of the rigid member is a cylinder type flange.
[0008] An aperture can extend through both the resilient member and
the rigid member. Additionally, the rigid member can have an
aperture through which a portion of the resilient member extends.
The resilient portion extends through the aperture in the rigid
member so as to be flush with the outer surface of the rigid
member. Alternatively, the resilient portion extends through the
aperture in the rigid member and protrudes from the outer surface
of the rigid member.
[0009] The flex panels of the resilient member can also be
thickened so that the outer surface of the flex panels are flush
with the outer surface of the rigid member. In one embodiment,
resilient member is made of rubber and the rigid member is made of
polypropylene.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an athletic protector cup
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 3 is a top view of an outer side of the athletic
protector cup according to an exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a cross-section along B-B of FIG. 3;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a side view of an outer surface of an athletic
protector cup according to an alternative embodiment of the present
invention;
[0016] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the rigid member of the
embodiment of FIG. 1; and
[0017] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the resilient member of the
embodiment of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] As shown in FIG. 1, an athletic protector cup 10 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention has a
resilient member 12 and a rigid member 14. When the athletic
protector cup is fully constructed, the resilient member 12 and the
rigid member 14 are integrated to form a single cup structure.
However, for the purpose of clarity, in portions of the following
description, the resilient member and the rigid member are
described isolated from each other (See also FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0019] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the resilient member 12 has an
inner surface 16 and an outer surface 18. The inner surface 16 is
placed against the body of the wearer. The resilient member 12 is
preferably made from a flexible and resilient elastomer material
having a chemical structure compatible with the rigid member 14 to
ensure adequate adhesion thereto. In particular, adhesion at the
interfaces should be sufficient to minimize interfacial separation
over time under normal cup usage conditions. As will be apparent to
those skilled in the art of molding technology, many elastomer
materials are commercially available for use with the present
invention, such as rubber and polyurethane. Another suitable
material is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).
[0020] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, the resilient member can be
considered as a triangle, having three rounded corners 18, 20, and
22, a base 24 worn toward the wearer's head, and a tip 26 worn
toward the user's feet. The inner surface 16 and the outer surface
18 are cup shaped. An outer edge 28 (FIG. 2) of the resilient
member is formed as a rounded bead. The outer edge rests against
the wearer's body and, because of its shape, provides a
comfortable, low friction, contact region with the body of the
wearer. The outer edge forms a generally continuous flat surface.
In an alternative embodiment, shown in FIG. 4, the resilient member
is formed with a radial curve 29 between the base 24 and the point
26.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 7, on each side of the resilient
member, between the base 24 and the point 26 are flex panels 30,
32. According to an exemplary embodiment, the flex panels 30, 32
are wave shaped. With reference to FIG. 5, the flex panel 30
extends in a curve from the tip 26 toward the center of the cup to
form a first peak p.sub.1, then curves back toward the outer edge
to form a valley v, then curves toward the center to form a second
peak p.sub.2, and then curves back again toward the base 24. As
seen from FIGS. 2 and 7, the resilient member also has a mounting
portion 34 for the rigid member. In this embodiment, the material
of the mounting portion 34 is thinner than the material in the flex
panels 30, 32.
[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, a top flex panel
36 is located between the corners 18, 20 of the base 24. The top
flex panel 36 may have a wave shape similar to the flex panels 30,
32. Alternatively, the top flex panel 36 may be formed with a
single wave.
[0023] The rigid member 14 is positioned against the rigid member
mounting portion 34 of the resilient member 12. With reference to
FIGS. 3 and 6, the rigid member 14 may also be considered as a
triangle with three rounded corners 38, 40, 42, a base 44 worn
toward the head of the wearer and a tip 46 worn toward the user's
feet. The rigid member may be formed from numerous rigid plastic
materials, such as polypropylene or high-density polyethylene. The
rigid member 14 has cup shaped inner and outer surfaces 48, 50.
[0024] The rigid member has a cylinder type flange 52 formed along
an outer edge. The cylinder-type flange extends along each side of
the rigid member and around the tip 46 and is held securely in the
resilient member. The flange can extend continuously around the
periphery of the rigid member or intermittently.
[0025] As seen from FIGS. 1 and 4, the rounded corners of the rigid
member are positioned in the rounded corners of the resilient
member. Thus, the rigid member is grounded at each corner against
the body of the wearer. When a wearer moves at one corner, the
remaining two corners can remain unaffected. As will be
appreciated, the softer material of the resilient member extends
along the entire interior adjacent to the body of the wearer. The
hard material of the rigid member is positioned on the exterior,
away from the body of the wearer.
[0026] Portions of the rigid member 14 are cut out along the sides
between the base and point in a shape corresponding to the flex
panels of the resilient member. Therefore, the rigid member has a
bulge 60 along each side between grounding regions (See FIG. 6).
The presence of the flex panels of the resilient member and the
shape of the rigid member allows the cup to twist with the wearer's
movements while still protecting a wide area with the rigid member.
Likewise, the top flex panel aids the ability of the athletic
protector cup to contort with the body movements of the wearer
while maintaining high impact protection. Additionally, the
presence of the flex panels and of the top flex panel allows the
athletic protector cup to absorb a portion of an impact on the
rigid member.
[0027] In an additional embodiment of the present invention, the
rigid member has a plurality of ventilation apertures 54. The
ventilation apertures of the rigid member correspond to ventilation
apertures in the resilient member. The ventilation apertures
increase comfort for the wearer.
[0028] In another embodiment, the rigid member has a plurality of
holes 56 to receive material from the resilient member. The holes
allow a portion of the resilient member 12 to be molded up through
the rigid member 14. In an embodiment, the resilient material
passes up through the holes so that the resilient material is flush
with the outer surface of the rigid member. In an alternative
embodiment, the resilient material passes up through the holes and
is drawn so as to form a raised surface in the shape of the holes.
The holes may be shaped in the name or logo of a company. The
resilient material passing through the holes can grip the fabric of
a supporter holding the cup of the present invention, to help keep
the cup anchored in place inside a pocket of the supporter.
[0029] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art of athletic
protector cups that many conventional means of permanent connection
between the resilient member and the rigid member may be utilized.
Molding, e.g., insert molding, is one known method to connect the
resilient member to the rigid member. It will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art of molding that various molding methods
incorporating a variety of molding parameters may be employed to
achieve the athletic protector cup structure of the present
invention. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
resilient member and the rigid member are chemically mated to each
other using an injection molding process. Injection molding of
thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) compounds onto engineering
thermoplastic resins is well known and is not further
described.
[0030] Insert molding is also well known wherein two molds are
made. The first mold is for making just the rigid part of the
product, including the flange details designed to aid in the
attachment of the resilient part. The second mold has a certain
capacity allowing it to receive inside of it the completed rigid
piece made in the first mold. After the top and bottom of the
second mold are closed around the rigid piece from the first mold,
rubber material is injected into the second mold creating a bond to
the rigid piece at its interior and the rubber part's desired shape
at its exterior. The completed, dual-material piece emerges from
the second mold.
[0031] The inner surface 48 of rigid member 14 can be chemically
bonded over substantially its entire surface area to the outer
surface 18 of resilient member 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the
resilient member 12 is preferably molded around the cylinder type
flange 52 of the rigid member, thereby forming an interlocking
structure for enhancing the stability of rigid member 14 within the
molded resilient member 12.
[0032] Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have
been described, they should not be construed to limit the scope of
the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand
that various modifications may be made to the described embodiment.
Further, the invention described herein will itself suggest to
those skilled in the various arts, alternate embodiments and
solutions to other tasks and adaptations for other applications. It
is the applicant's intention to cover by claims all such uses of
the invention and those changes and modifications that could be
made to the embodiments of the invention herein chosen for the
purpose of disclosure without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention.
* * * * *