The invention is a bicycling device and method of use thereof, whereby muscle power can be more efficiently transferred from the cyclist's upper-extremities (arms) to the conventional footpedals via the cyclist's lower-extremities (legs) without need of mechanical contrivance and associated drain on fractional human-power capability. The device is attached proximally to the knee region as a method by which a cyclist may obtain a firm manual handhold, whereby the cyclist can grasp the device with his hand and proceed to exert appropriate downward-thrust or upward-thrust (during up-stroke using shoe/pedal-cleats) supplied from upper-extremities according to the regular cyclic rotation of the associated footpedal. Since upper extremity thrusting is applied directly through mechanism of the cyclist's own lower extremities, the need for manufactured mechanical contrivance and its associated weight penalty has been averted. Hence, the cyclist can combine additional power from the upper extremities instantly as needed, while realizing the benefit of exercising muscles in all four extremities as well as in torso. The device may be made integral with the cyclist's apparel or otherwise secured via leg-associated locative constrainments, whereby the device is basically a component of the cyclist's personal gear, not of the bicycle.

A knee or elbow pad comprising an inverted U-shaped stable member and two trapezoidal curved movable members symmetrically combined with the stable member by means of rivets to function as pivots to permit the movable members to move to spread or contract in relation to the stable member so that the pad can bend or straighten to conform to the position of a knee or an elbow of a wearer when the knee or the elbow is bent or straightened.

This knee protector pad is particularly adapted for use by volleyball players and the like and includes an elastic sleeve enclosing the knee and adjacent portions of the leg of the wearer. A flat elastomeric foam pad is completely enclosed in a knit sleeve and bar tack stitching attaches spaced-apart portions of the upper and lower edges of the knit sleeve to the elastic sleeve to maintain the pad in position across the knee of the wearer and to maintain full stretchability of the elastic sleeve to facilitate doffing and donning of the knee protector pad. The foam pad has an elliptical configuration with a major axis extending transversely of the knee of the wearer and being of sufficient width to cover opposite sides of the knee, and a minor axis extending longitudinally of the knee and being substantially shorter than the major axis.

The present invention provides a protector pad particularly adapted for use by volleyball players and the like comprising an outer section, a substantially flat inner section comprising a synthetic polymer, and a unitary attachment strap which, in one embodiment of the present invention, is integrally incorporated with the outer section. The attachment strap extends over the lower 2/3 of the pad such that the strap is positioned below the knee or elbow joint of the wearer, thus permitting the wearer's knee or elbow to be unrestrictedly flexed when the pad is attached. A pad according to the present invention protects the wearer's knee or elbow joint from contact with a hard surface, while simultaneously reducing friction between the pad and a contacting surface, permitting the wearer's elbow or knee to easily slide when the padded joint contacts the ground or other hard surface.

A protective body pad (10) for lessening injury to knees, elbows and other body parts as a result of exposure to either repetitive or sudden impact forces. The protective body pad of this invention includes a shell (14) with straps (16, 18) that is secured to the body part to be protected. A cushion sub-assembly (12) is disposed inside the shell. The cushion-sub assembly includes a first, outer cushion (22) formed of relatively incompressible material and a second, inner cushion (24) formed of more compressible material that is attached to the outer cushion and positioned to be located adjacent the body surface. Metal caps (20) are attached to the outer surface of the shell to absorb and deflect impact forces.