Knee protective gear

Abstract

This device consist primarily of a contoured upper and lower member which are pivotably upon each other and includes padding and strap means so as to be comfortably adaptable to a person's leg so as to protect them from injury.

Description

This invention relates to protective gear for use particularly in contact sports.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide knee protective gear for leg protection in contact sports.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective gear which will serve to prevent knee injuries such as those that occur in football, baseball, basketball, soccer, lacrosse and other running sports.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective gear which will be of such structure, so as to be flexible, the upper portion being pivotable upon the lower portion.

Another object of this invention is to provide protective gear which will be padded and ventilated in such a manner so as to reduce perspiration and the device will include canvas strap means for attaching the lower and upper portion to the user's leg.

A further object of this invention is to provide knee protective gear of the type described, which will be of such size, so as to be adaptable to fit the average adult athletes.

According to this invention, other object of this invention are to provide protective gear for athletes, which is simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged inconstruction, easy to use and efficient in operation .

These and other objects will be readily evident upon a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a rear view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 shown partly broken away;

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG. 1, shown partly broken away;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and partially exploded prespective view of the hinged portion of the device;

FIG. 5 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4.

According to this invention, protective gear 10 is shown to include an arcuately curved steel upper member 11 to which is secured fixedly, an outer portion 11a and an inner plastic portion 12, by means of rivets fasteners 13,. A plurality of openings 14 through member 11, 11a, and 12, are counter-sunk from the interior so as to reduce perspiration to a minimum.

A pair of straps 15 of canvas or other suitable material with buckle 16 means, provided a means for securing device 10 above the knee and below the knee. A pair of rivet fasteners 17 provides a means for securing the strap 15 portions through a plastic rectangular plate 18 which conforms to the shape of the user's leg, the plate 18 being rubberized on the contact point or surface against the user's leg.

A similar pair of straps 15 with buckles 16, are secured to a plastic plate 18 which is carried in a lower portion 11b of device 10 by means of a contoured, canvas knee sling 20 which includes internal padding 21. Knee sling 20 includes rivet fasteners 30 and openings 14 similar to that described of the upper member 11. The cut-out 22 between member 11 and 20 provides locking means for the two members 11 and 20 when the two edges 22a abut with each other, thus preventing the user's knee from being bent the wrong way when engaging in contact sports. Looking now particularly at FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, the axle member 23 which is flanged is shown in engagement with opening 24 and shown in engagement with padding dics 25.

It shall be noted that the upper member 11 and the lower portion 11b are pivotable by means of the axle 23 on each side, the arrangement being such, that free normal movement is achieved without imparting any strain to the user's legs.

Claims

What I now claim is:

1. A knee protective gear, comprising in combination an upper member of generally semicylindrical shape so to rest against an above knee portion of a person's leg, said upper member being comprised of an outer, curved steel portion and an inner curved plastic portion that are riveted together, perforated openings through said portions in order to reduce perspiration by a wearer, a lower edge of said upper member being upwardly arched at its center so to form downwardly depending opposite side ends in said steel portion, a flanged axle through each said depending side end, said axle being axially aligned with each other, and a lower portion pivotally attached on said axles, said lower portion being of generally semicylindrical shape so to rest against and below a knee portion of a person's leg, and being comprised of a knee sling perforated with openings therethrough so to reduce perspiration, a padding on an inner side of said sling for positioning against a person's knee, and each said upper and lower member having a plurality of straps secured to each side edge thereof for securement together by buckle means, said straps extending around an outer side of plastic plates positioned against a rear side of said wearer's leg, said plates being secured by rivets to certain of said straps.