U.S. patent application number 13/042939 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-13 for knee pad.
Invention is credited to Murray Brown.
Application Number | 20120227150 13/042939 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46794154 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120227150 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Murray |
September 13, 2012 |
KNEE PAD
Abstract
A knee pad includes a sleeve. A pad is disclosed on an outer
surface of the sleeve having a length and a width. A channel is
formed across substantially, the length of at least one of the
length and width. In one embodiment, an insert is provided, the
insert being sized to be received within the at least one channel.
A fastener selectively fastens the insert within the channel.
Inventors: |
Brown; Murray; (Bal Harbour,
FL) |
Family ID: |
46794154 |
Appl. No.: |
13/042939 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/065 20130101;
A41D 13/0153 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/24 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/06 20060101
A41D013/06 |
Claims
1. A knee pad comprising: a sleeve, the sleeve adapted to receive a
leg of a user in a tension fit; a knee cap disposed on the sleeve;
and a pad, the pad being disposed between the knee cap and the
sleeve, the knee cap having a length and a width, the knee cap
being formed with at least one channel therein, the at least one
channel extending along at least one of the width and length of the
knee cap.
2. The knee pad of claim 1, wherein the at least one channel is
sized and dimensioned to receive a portion of a structure therein
sufficient to stabilize the user when the structure is received
within the at least one channel.
3. The knee pad of claim 1, further comprising an insert, the
insert being received within the at least one channel.
4. The knee pad of claim 3, wherein the insert is sized and
dimensioned to fill the at least one channel.
5. The knee pad of claim 1, comprising at least a second channel
extending along at least one of a width or length of the knee cap
and intersecting the at least first channel.
6. The knee pad of claim 5, further comprising an insert, the
insert being received within the at least second channel.
7. The knee pad of claim 5, wherein the insert is sized and
dimensioned to fill the at least second channel.
8. The knee pad of claim 3, further comprising a third channel
formed along the insert.
9. The knee pad of claim 3, further comprising a fastener disposed
within the at least one channel for fastening the insert to the
knee cap.
10. The knee pad of claim 1, wherein the knee cap and the pad are
formed as a unitary construction.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention is directed to a knee pad, and in particular,
a knee pad for stabilizing a worker in position for safe and
comfortable performance of a task.
[0002] Knee pads are well known in the art to provide protection,
stability, and comfort. The prior art knee pad includes a sleeve
adapted to receive the leg of the user at the knee. In the most
common knee pad, a pad is disposed on the outer surface of the
sleeve, and when worn, positioned adjacent the knee cap. Such a
knee pad is well known in sports for providing protection to the
knee, such as in soccer or football, comfort to the knee as when
kneeling as in wrestling, cushioning the knee when the knee hits
the ground as in football, soccer or wrestling, and lastly,
internal stability at the knee as a function of the tightness of
the sleeve.
[0003] More specialized knee pads have been developed, which
include pads on a rear surface of the sleeve, across a gap of the
sleeve from the knee pad to provide support when the user is in a
crouched position; such as a baseball catcher's knee pad.
[0004] Specialized knee pads have also been developed for industry.
Rubber knee pads have been developed for masons who spend a
significant amount of time on their knees laying stone.
[0005] Other professionals who must spend time on their knees
utilized knee pads, such as inspectors, roofers, carpenters,
flooring installers, and inspection engineers. The issue becomes
particularly acute for occupations like roofers, who often must
kneel on a truss in an unfinished roof for stability while handling
tools and roof components. This is also true of attic insulators or
air conditioning repairmen who must work in low cramped spaces,
forcing crouching or kneeling, on a surface without a floor in
unfinished attics.
[0006] Often, these repairmen, roofers and inspectors, use knee
pads to kneel on the joist or truss, but either must hook the edge
of the knee pad to the truss avoiding the cushioning effect of the
knee pad, or the cloth surface of the knee pad slides across the
joist or truss causing the wearer to fall. They must support
themselves on the joist where slipping could lead to falling
through the ceiling or roof of the house in which they are working.
The conventional knee pad does not allow for safe or comfortable
travel along the support surface while kneeling. Accordingly, a
knee pad which overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art is
desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A knee pad includes a sleeve. A pad is disposed on an outer
surface of the sleeve. The pad has a length and a width. A channel
is formed across substantially the length of at least one of the
length and width.
[0008] In one embodiment, an insert is provided, the insert being
sized to be received within at least one channel. A fastener
selectively fastens the insert within the channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention will now be described by a way of example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals
are used to note like elements and in which;
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a knee pad constructed in
accordance with the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a front plan view of a knee pad constructed in
accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a rear plan view of the knee pad constructed in
accordance with the invention in a wrapped orientation;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a knee pad taken along line
4-4;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of an insert constructed in accordance
with the invention; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of an insert constructed in accordance
with a second embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Reference is made to FIGS. 1-4 in which a knee pad,
generally indicated as 10, constructed in accordance with the
invention is provided. A sleeve includes a base substrate 14.
Extending from opposed edges of substrate 14 are respective pairs
of legs 19a, 19b. Respective leg pair 19a includes first leg 20a
and second leg 20b separated across a gap. Similarly, leg pair 19b
includes a first leg 18a separated across a gap from a second leg
18b. Each of legs 18a, 18b supports a respective fastener 16a, 16b
adapted to come in contact with and selectively engage a respective
leg 20a, 20b.
[0017] Sleeve 12 may be made from any flexible material capable of
withstanding repeated bending such as cotton or neoprene by way of
non limiting example. In a preferred embodiment sleeve 12 is made
from an elastic material. Fastener 16a, 16b may be, by way of
example, snaps, hooks, buttons, and in a most preferred embodiment,
one mating surface of a hook and fiber fastener such as a
Velcro.RTM. fastener. It follows that each of legs 20a, 20b has a
complimentary fastening structure 17a, 17b to cooperate with a
respective fastener 16a, 16b in order to secure the sleeve 12 about
a leg of a user.
[0018] As seen in FIG. 3, a sleeve is formed by the overlap and
engagement of a first arm 18a over second arm 20a and a third arm
18b over a fourth arm 20b. It should be understood, that this
structure provides the ability to adjust to a variety of
circumferences of users. However, it is also contemplated as is
known in the art to make a sleeve from a unitary material capable
of stretching to accommodate the various sizes of knees and legs
and provide a tension/friction fit between sleeve 12 and the leg of
the user.
[0019] A pad 24 is disposed on substrate 14 of sleeve 12 and has an
area substantially greater than or equal to the area of a knee cap
of the user. Pad 24 is made from a flexible compressible material
having restorative properties. In other words, it forms a cushion
which may be compressed when a force is applied to the padding but
substantially returns to its original shape when the force is
released. The cushion may be made out of a foam, a soft rubber, a
gel pad, or even air filled bladder, i.e., that is capable of some
flexibility and compression when the user flexes their knee or
kneels, while still providing some protection to the underlying
knee cap of the user.
[0020] Padding 24 is preferably fixably attached to sleeve 12 at
substrate 14. It maybe attached by glue, stitching 22, Velcro.RTM.
or may be sealed within a compartment formed on substrate 12 by
affixing a material to substrate 14 by stitching 22 with pad 24
disposed there between. In a preferred embodiment, material
stitching 22 does not extend all of the way about the material to
form a pocket. In this way, pad 24 may be removed or changed to
meet the needs of the user.
[0021] A knee cap 30 is disposed on sleeve 12 so that padding 24 is
disposed between substrate 14 and knee cap 30. Knee cap 30 includes
a first channel 34 extending along an upper surface (a surface
facing away from substrate 14) of knee cap 30. In a preferred
embodiment, substrate channel 34 extends substantially the entire
length of knee cap 30. Additionally, the width of channel 34 is
sufficient to receive at least an edge of a joist or a truss. For
reasons that would become apparent below, channel 34 is sized and
dimensioned, such that when a user is in at least a kneeling
position, channel 34 is adapted to receive a sufficient portion of
a truss or joist to stabilize a user utilizing the truss or
joist.
[0022] A second channel 32 is formed substantially along the width
of knee cap 30. In a preferred, but non-limiting embodiment,
channels 32 and 34 intersect each other, substantially at a center
knee cap 30. Like channel 34, channel 32 is sized and dimensioned
so as to be adapted to receive at least a portion of a joist or
truss sufficient to stabilize the user when the user is kneeling
upon the joist or truss. It should be noted that because cap 30
becomes bent during use, the edges of the cap will not always come
in contact with the joist or truss so the channels need not extend
the entire length of the cap in order for cap 30 to function.
[0023] It should be noted, that it is well within the scope of the
invention for either channels 32 or 34 to be shifted relative to
knee cap 30 so that an intersection of the channels does not occur
substantially at the center without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention. Furthermore, it is well within the scope of
the invention to provide knee cap 30 with only one of channels 32
or 34.
[0024] During use, a user would apply knee pad 10 by positioning
substrate 12 to align padding 24 above the knee cap of a user. Leg
pairs, 19a, 19b, forming straps, would be pulled along the rear of
the leg of the user. Legs 20a, 20b would overlap legs 18a, 18b, so
that fasteners 16a, 16b engage fasteners 20a, 20b, securing knee
pad 10 above the leg in a tension fit.
[0025] Sleeve 12 is made from a sufficiently flexible material, so
that when a user bends their leg, sleeve 12, padding 24, and knee
cap 30, all flex in unison with bending of the knee. When kneeling,
upon a joist or a truss, or other type of support the user
positions knee cap 30 to either receive the entire joist or truss
within the respective channel 32, 34 or to catch an edge of a joist
or truss therein. In this way, when kneeling, the user is now
stabilized by the structure to prevent inadvertent falling or
slipping while performing a task.
[0026] Reference is now made to FIG. 5, in which another feature of
the invention is described. In some instances, it is preferable to
provide both the secure and stabilizing features of knee pad 10 as
discussed above, as well as a complete knee pad which aesthetically
and functionally resembles those found in the prior art, either for
aesthetic reasons or to provide additional cushioning when
stabilizing is no longer needed. As a result, in accordance with a
second embodiment of the invention, fastening structure 40 may be
disposed within at least one of channel 32 or 34.
[0027] An insert 50 is dimensioned, shaped and sized to be received
within channels 32, 34 so as to fill channels 30 and 34. By way of
example, insert 50 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 has a substantially cross
shape to meet with and fill the spaces formed by channels 32 and
34. However, insert 50 may be formed as segments which fill parts
of channel 30 and/or 34. For the purpose of this application, fill
shall mean to be received within the open space of the respective
channel and to occupy the space formed by the channel sufficiently
to be substantially coplanar with the remaining structures of knee
cap 30 and with substantially no gap between insert 50 and the
remaining structures of knee cap 30, other than to provide
clearance for fastener 40. In a preferred embodiment, fastener 40
includes four sections, 42, 44, 46, and 48 which are disposed in
and affixed to corners of the upstanding remaining structures 36 on
knee cap 30. However, fastener 40 may be disposed along the floor
and/or side walls of any one of respective channels 32, 34.
[0028] In a preferred embodiment, fastener 40 may be a hook and
fabric type fastener, such as Velcro.RTM. fastener so that the
insert is easily selectively attached and removed. It follows, that
in a preferred embodiment, insert 50 is made of a flexible yet
sufficiently rigid material to flex with the knee and as knee cap
30 is flexed and bends, but provide protection and cushioning for
the knee cap of the user. In a preferred embodiment, insert 50 and
knee cap 30 are formed of the same material.
[0029] Cap 30 is the element of knee pad 10 which engages the
surface upon which a user kneels and therefore the upper surfaces
36 of cap 34 must be sufficiently rigid to catch and hold an object
within channels 32, 34 and sufficiently durable to prevent wear and
tear. In a preferred non limiting example, a rubber having
properties such as that used in a sneaker or deck shoe sole is
used. It is also well understood in the art, that the padding 24
and the knee cap 30 may be constructed with a unitary structure. In
such an embodiment, in effect channels 32, 34 are formed within an
overly thick pad 24. It is also contemplated that the material may
have a varying degree of rigidity along its height so that it may
be formed as a rubber which is different (more rigid) at its top
(the surface facing away from the sleeve) than at its bottom (the
surface adjacent the sleeve).
[0030] It is also contemplated, that the structures to which the
knee cap is to stabilize the user do not come in a one size fits
all environment. Accordingly, channels 32, 34 may not accommodate
all trusses, joists or other structures such as stairs or a ladder
to which a kneeling worker may wish to be anchored during
performing a process. Furthermore, a user may consider it an
inconvenience to switch out insert 50 during the day as a task
being performed; switch between a knee brace to be stabilized and a
knee brace for more protection of the user's knee cap. Therefore,
in accordance with yet another embodiment, an insert 150 is
provided having a channel formed therein and adapted to cooperate
with a structure having an edge to anchor a kneeling user to the
structure. In a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the channel has
a substantially V shape.
[0031] Specifically, an insert 150 is sized, shaped and dimensioned
to fill the channels 32 and/or 34 as discussed above in connection
with insert 50. However, an upper surface 154 is formed with a
groove 152 having an angle therein so as to be adapted to catching
an edge of a surface when a user is in the kneeling position.
[0032] As can be seen from the above, a knee pad having a sleeve, a
pad, and a knee cap, the knee cap having at least one groove formed
therein can provide both comfort and protection as well as the
additional safety of anchoring the user or move over and across
while acting as a guide to a structure, such as a truss and joist,
ladder, stair edge or the like being worked upon. It is understood,
that modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made
to the described preferred embodiments of the invention by those
skilled in the art. Therefore, it is intended that all matters in
the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the
scope of the invention is determined by the appended claims.
* * * * *