A limb protector comprising a knee element. In a preferred embodiment the knee element is pivotally coupled to an outer shell shin element. Padding is positioned between the leg and the outer shell(s) and may be formed of a shock absorbent foam, a plurality of interconnected fluid filled cushions, or a combination thereof. The padding may be coupled to the outer shell shin element so as to create a gap between itself and the outer shell shin element. Alternatively, the padding may positioned on the lateral and medial sides of the outer shell knee element to cradle the underlying leg. The outer shell shin element comprises a raised groove element protruding outward from the shin to form a shin-knee transition cavity located between the shin-knee transition of the leg and the outer shell shin element. The outer shell knee element comprises a centrally positioned domed element protruding outward from the knee generally overlying the patella and may also overlie the shin-knee transition area. The outer shell knee element may also have a tongue element extending downward toward the ankle so as to interlock within the raised groove element. The padding element may comprise a U-shaped opening positioned underneath the raised groove and above the shin-knee transition of the leg and an elongated flange element in overlapping configuration with a portion of the padding that is located below the U-shaped opening. The padding element and the outer shell element(s) are configured so that the shin-knee transition area and the patella do not absorb force.
The invention provides an adjustable leg pad assembly comprising a knee shield, a shin shield, a liner, a shield extension, an adjustable liner, and fasteners for joining the adjustable liner and the liner. The liner is fixedly connected to both the knee shield and the shin shield while the shield extension is adjustably mounted on an interior portion of the shin shield and extends from a lower portion of the latter. The adjustable liner, which is adapted to be releasably mounted to the liner, includes connection means to enable its coupling to the shield extension. Moreover, the fasteners are capable of varying the positioning of the liner and the adjustable liner relative to one another.
A method of making a protective pad, which comprises fastening a plurality of sections together to create an outer shell, providing an inner shell made of a more rigid material than the sections making up the outer shell, fastening the inner shell to the outer shell (thereby to form a composite shell) and fastening the composite shell to a padding liner. The use of plural sections forming the outer shell reduces manufacturing costs. An overlay may be placed over the outer shell to conceal the areas where the sections making up the outer shell are fastened together. Fastening the composite shell to the padding liner may include passing through a thinned out portion of the hard inner shell, or it may bypass the inner shell altogether, thus avoiding the use of heavy duty stitching equipment. The step of fastening the inner and outer shells may include gluing rather than stitching.
A knee pad construction includes a shaped cushion element with a concave interior with a recess having a flowable gel insert therein. The recess and insert are shaped to accommodate the left knee or the right knee of an individual.
A protective knee covering which provides motion guidance and orthotic support for a knee. The protective knee covering is made from a layer of rigid material, such as a plastic or a composite material. A central portion of the protective knee covering covers the knee cap portion of the knee. The central portion is curved in a top to bottom direction, but is flat or substantially flat in a medial side to lateral side direction to provide a stable base for kneeling. A medial side portion and a lateral side portion are attached to the central portion at angles. The lateral side portion is attached at a sharper angle than the medial side portion. Both of these portions cover the sides of the knee. The lateral side portion acts as an orthotic guide during bending of the knee to keep the thigh over the knee.
