COMPRESSION FABRIC WITH PADDING PROTECTION THAT PREVENTS BRUISING FROM IMPACT OF A LACROSSE STICK ON AN UPPER ARM

Abstract

A compression fabric to which is attached a pocket into which is fitted padding that has a base and a plurality of half cylindrical shape portions that are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart by respective gaps and that project outward from the base. The compression fabric may be a short or long sleeve of a sports jersey or an arm band. The padding is thin enough to be trimmed with scissors to suit the length of the upper arm of the wearer as desired.

Claims

1. A bruise prevention device, comprising: prevention means for preventing bruising of the upper arm, the prevention means including a compression fabric configured to wrap around an upper arm and including a pocket attached to the compression fabric and into which is fitted padding, wherein the padding has a base and has a plurality of portions that project outward from the base and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps, each of the portions having a half cylinder shape and extending parallel to each other, the portions being configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick striking the padding to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm.

2. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the compression fabric forms a sleeve of a sports jersey, the pocket being attached to the sleeve and configured so that as the sleeve is worn on the upper arm, the pocket extends only adjacent the upper arm between a shoulder and an elbow without extending over the elbow.

3. The bruise prevention device of claim 2, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a short sleeve that wraps, when worn, around the upper arm only so as to leave clear an elbow that is between the upper arm and a lower arm.

4. The bruise prevention device of claim 2, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a long sleeve that wraps. when worn, over the upper arm, a lower arm and an elbow between the upper arm and the lower arm.

5. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the compression fabric forms an arm band that is worn only on the upper arm.

6. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the pocket is attached to an exterior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric wraps around the upper arm.

7. The bruise prevention device of claim 1, wherein the pocket is attached to an interior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric wraps around the upper arm.

8. A method of bruise prevention, comprising the steps of: preventing bruising of an upper arm by: fitting padding within a pocket attached to a compression fabric; and wrapping the compression fabric around the upper arm, wherein the padding has a base and has a plurality of portions that project outward from the base and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps, each of the portions having a half cylinder shape and extending parallel to each other, the portions being configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick striking the padding so as to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm.

9. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the compression fabric forms a sleeve of a sports jersey, the pocket being attached to the sleeve and positioned so that as the sleeve is worn on the upper arm, the pocket extends only adjacent the upper art between a shoulder and an elbow without extending over the elbow.

10. The method of bruise prevention of claim 9, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a short sleeve that wraps, when worn, around the upper arm only so as to leave clear an elbow that is between the upper arm and a lower arm.

11. The method of bruise prevention of claim 9, wherein the sleeve of the sports jersey is a long sleeve that wraps, when worn, around the upper arm, a lower arm and an elbow between the upper arm and the lower arm.

12. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the compression fabric forms an arm band that is worn on the upper arm only.

13. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the pocket is attached to an exterior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric is worn on the upper arm.

14. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, wherein the pocket is attached to an interior facing side of the compression fabric as the compression fabric is worn on the upper arm.

15. The method of bruise prevention of claim 8, further comprising: trimming the insert to a smaller overall size.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings, while the scope of the invention is set forth in the appended claims.

[0030] FIG. 1 is a front view of a long sleeve sports jersey embodiment whose compression long sleeves have respective pockets on their exterior and into which are fitted respective padded pocket inserts.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a left side view of an arm band embodiment on an upper arm and whose compression fabric has a respective pocket on the exterior of the compression fabric and into which is fitted a padded pocket insert. The sports jersey has short sleeves that just cover the shoulders and end before where the arm band is positioned on the upper arm.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a front view of the short sleeve sports jersey whose compression fabric forms left and right short sleeves each having an exterior upon which is a respective pocket that extends along the respective upper arm region and into which is fitted a respective padded pocket insert.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a left side view of a short sleeve sports jersey embodiment of FIG. 3 that shows the left side short sleeve and that is symmetric to the right side view, albeit for the opposite right side short sleeve of FIG. 3.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a front view of two arm bands on respective upper arms and thus placed on either side of a conventional sleeveless sports jersey with each of the two arm bands having respective pockets into which is fitted respective ones of padded pocket inserts.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a front view of a further long sleeve jersey whose compression fabric long sleeves each have an interior facing side upon which is stitched a pocket that extends along the upper arm region above the elbow and into which is fitted respective padded inserts in accordance with a further long sleeve sports jersey embodiment of the invention. One of the padding inserts is shown being inserted into one of the pockets.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a cross section of the padded pocket insert across 7-7 of FIG. 6.

[0037] FIG. 8 is a cross section as in FIG. 7 but further shows the effect of a lacrosse stick impacting the half cylindrically shaped portions of the padding protection that causes them to resiliently spread out laterally into the gaps between neighboring ones of the half cylindrically shaped portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0038] FIGS. 1-6 show a padding protection 10 in accordance with the invention that is fitted within a pocket 20. In the case of FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 6, the pocket 20 is attached to compression fabric that forms a sleeved sports jersey 30. In the case of FIGS. 2 and 5, the pocket is attached to compression fabric that forms an arm band 40.

[0039] The sleeved sports jersey 30 may have long sleeves 36 such as that of FIG. 1 or FIG. 6 or have short sleeves 38 such as that of FIGS. 3-4. The long sleeves extend over the upper arm, the lower arm and the elbow between the upper and lower arms when worn. The short sleeves 38 extend the length of the upper arm and perhaps over the elbow when worn. The pocket 20 may be arranged on the exterior facing side of the sleeved jersey 30 as in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 or on the interior facing side of the sleeved jersey such as that of FIG. 6.

[0040] As an alternative, the padding insert 10 may be fitted within a pocket 20 of an arm band 40 such as that of FIGS. 2 and 5. In the case of FIG. 2, a sports jersey 32 is shown whose shoulder sleeves 39 cover the shoulders but are too short to cover enough of the upper arm to prevent bruising of the upper arm if the padding is only located along the length of its shoulder sleeves 39, In the case of FIG. 5, a sleeveless sports jersey 34 is shown so attaching the pocket to sleeves is not an option.

[0041] The compression fabric is preferably a conventional blend of nylon and spandex (roughly 90% nylon and 10% spandex) to provide a force of compression when worn.

[0042] The padding protection 10 will stay in place in the pocket because of the compression force exerted from the sleeve and so that closure flaps for the pocket opening 20 are not required. The sleeves of the sports jersey 30 are compression sleeves that typically do not move during competitive activity. The padding protection 10 is designed to form or flex in concert with the shape of the athlete's arm.

[0043] The padding protection 10 is characterized, as best seen in FIG. 7, by a base portion 14 of padding and a plurality of half cylindrically-shaped portions 12 of the padding that are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps and that project outward from the base portion 14. While the drawings show five half cylinder-shaped portions 12, more or less provided instead. The gaps between the half cylindrically shaped portions 12 will allow flexibility as well as the gaps provide space for when contact is made upon impact from a lacrosse stick to enable room for the half cylindrically shaped portions 12 to spread laterally into the gaps to some extent (FIG. 8).

[0044] The user may decide to trim the padding insert 10 to better suit the length of their upper arm. The padding thickness of the ridges (where the half cylindrically shaped portions are located) would be ?- 5/16 and the valleys (where portions of the base between the half cylindrically-shaped portions 12 are located) would be ?. Since it is all one piece of padding, trimming would not be problematic using any conventional scissors.

[0045] As should be appreciated, the present invention resides in prevention means for preventing bruising of the upper arm. The prevention means includes a compression fabric 30 configured to wrap around an upper arm and includes a pocket 20 attached to the compression fabric 30 and into which is fitted padding 10. The padding 10 has a base 14 and has a plurality of portions 12 that project outward from the base and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps. Each of the portions 12 has a half cylinder shape and extends parallel to each other. The portions 12 are configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick striking the padding 10 (FIG. 8) to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm.

[0046] In addition, the present invention resides in a method of bruise prevention, comprising the steps of preventing bruising of an upper arm by fitting padding 10 within a pocket 20 attached to a compression fabric 30 and wrapping the compression fabric 30 around the upper arm. The padding 10 has a base 14 and has a plurality of portions 12 that project outward from the base 14 and are spaced apart from each other by respective gaps. Each of the portions 12 has a half cylinder shape and extends parallel to each other. The portions 12 are configured to laterally spread into neighboring ones of the respective gaps as the padding absorbs an impact of a lacrosse stick 50 striking the padding 10 (FIG. 8) so as to thereby prevent bruising of the upper arm. While FIG. 8 shows the head of the lacrosse stick striking the padding, the shaft of the lacrosse stick would cause more bruising damage upon impact against the upper arm today because the head of the lacrosse stick is typically made of a polymer that can bend upon impact while the shaft of the lacrosse stick is made of metal or wood that would not. Before the head was made of polymer as is common today, the head was made of wood. Thus, today, the padding of the upper arm is more protective against bruising from impact of the shaft of the lacrosse stick against it than from impact of the head against it.

[0047] While the foregoing description and drawings represent the preferred embodiments of the present invention, various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.