SHIN PROTECTION ELEMENT AND PROTECTION ASSEMBLY FOR CYCLISTS

Abstract

Protection element (1) for the shin (2), comprising a protective body (3) having a C-shaped cross section, a lower section (31) close to the ankle being defined, a central section (33) facing the shin and an upper section (32) destined to be placed below the knee, the protective body (3) being provided with a padded interior lining (41, 42) on the interior surface of the protective body (3) formed by a first lining section (41) arranged in the lower section (31) and a second lining section (42) arranged in the upper section (32), the central section (33) being devoid of interior lining, such that the protective body (3) rests on the shin only in said lower section (31) and in said upper section (32). The invention relates to a protection set for cyclists too.

Claims

1. Protection element for shin, comprising a protective body having a c-shaped cross section destined to cover the shin or the forearm, being defined in the protective body three sections, a lower section destined to be in the vicinity of the ankle, a central section destined to face the shin and an upper section destined to be placed below the knee, being the protective body provided with a padded interior lining on the interior surface of the protective body, wherein the lining is formed by a first lining section arranged in the lower section and a second lining section (42) arranged in the upper section, being the central section devoid of interior lining, such that the protective body rests on the shin or forearm only in said lower section and in said upper section.

2. Protection element according to claim 1, comprising an upper extension articulated with the upper end of the protective body, having said extension the form of a spherical cap section destined to cover the knee.

3. Protection element according to claim 1, wherein the protective body comprises ventilation openings.

4. Protection element according to claim 1, wherein the protective body comprises at its corners openings for fixing by strips.

5. Protection element according to claim 1, wherein the protective body material is polyethylene.

6. Protection element according to claim 1, wherein the lining is a cross-linked plastic material or a foam.

7. Element according to claim 1, wherein the protective body is made of a transparent or translucent material.

8. Protection element according to claim 1, wherein the second lining section is adhered by its surface opposite to the contact surface with the user to an elastic sheet having an elastic constant lower than the lining and greater than the protective body one, being this elastic sheet joined to the protective body by anchors in the lower part and in the c-section ends, such that in distended conditions, there is a space between the sheet and the protective body.

9. Protection set for cyclists, comprising a shin guard, wherein the shin guard is a protection element according to claim 1, a knee pad and a sleeve for the leg, being the shin guard and the knee pad joined and articulated therebetween, comprising joining means between the shin guard and the sleeve and joining means between the knee pad and the sleeve, the joining means between the shin guard and the sleeve and the joining means between the knee pad and the sleeve are removable, and wherein the joining means between the knee pad and the sleeve are at least two straps joined by one of its ends to the sleeve and by the other one of its ends to the knee pad and wherein the connection between the two straps and the knee pad is arranged in the lateral topsides of the knee pad.

10. Protection set according to claim 9, wherein the straps are elastic bands.

11. Set according to claim 9, wherein the fixing between the straps and the sleeve are velcro.

12. Set according to claim 9, wherein the fixing between the straps and the knee pad pressure buttons or velcro.

13. Set according to claim 9, wherein the connections between the two straps and the sleeve are arranged in the part of the sleeve corresponding to the sides of the lower part of the thigh.

14. Set according to claim 9, wherein the articulated connection between the shin guard and the knee pad is formed by a pad made of plastic material.

15. Set according to claim 14, wherein the articulated connection between the shin guard and the knee pad has a flexible tab joined by the lower part of the knee pad, this flexible tab being provided with joining means to the pad.

16. Set according to claim 14, wherein the pad is formed by a plastic sheet provided in one side with cylindrical or frustoconical protrusions, in the opposite side with bumps, being the bumps and the protrusions arranged coincidentally, such that its two ends are communicated through ventilation channels.

17. Set according to claim 16, wherein the inlet of the channels on the side of the bumps is widened.

18. Set according to claim 16, wherein the sheet is provided with through holes in the zones without protrusions and bumps.

19. Set according to claim 9, wherein the knee pad comprises a body with a cap form provided with a peripheral support zone destined to be in contact with the zone of the leg which surrounds the knee, and a central zone arranged in front of the knee, wherein the central zone projects outwards, the transition zone between both zones being formed by a step.

20. Set according to claim 19, wherein the knee pad is provided with ventilation openings.

21.-27. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] For a better understanding of what has been outlined, some drawings are attached in which, schematically and solely by way of a nonlimiting example, a practical embodiment of the protection element of the invention is shown.

[0048] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the protection element of the invention.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from above of the protection element.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a section taken from a medium plane that allows to see the arrangement in the ends of the pads or padded linings.

[0051] FIG. 4 is a view analogous to FIG. 3, but placed on a leg.

[0052] FIGS. 5 and 6 are frontal and lateral side views respectively.

[0053] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment wherein the superior pad extends upwardly to form the link with a second protection body for the knee.

[0054] FIGS. 8 and 9 show the arrangement of the anchor straps of the protection element to the upper part of the legs.

[0055] FIG. 10 shows a way for joining the upper pad through a flexible element joined to the interior sides of the protective body, such that an impact absorption arc is formed.

[0056] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the protection set according to a second aspect of the invention when it is fitted to a leg.

[0057] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the protection set.

[0058] FIG. 13 shows the subset formed by the shin guard and the knee pad.

[0059] FIG. 14 shows the first placement step of the set, that is the placement of the sleeve on the leg.

[0060] FIG. 15 shows the knee pad isolated.

[0061] FIG. 16 shows the impact absorption and articulation pad that internally covers the knee pad and which is joined by its lower part to the shin guard.

[0062] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the shin guard isolated.

[0063] FIG. 18 shows an upper view of the pad.

[0064] FIG. 19 is a section of the pad.

[0065] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the pad from the side in contact with the knee pad, where the impact absorption cylinders are located.

[0066] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the pad from the side in contact with the knee of the cyclist, that is, from the side provided with bumps.

[0067] FIG. 22 is a perspective view with a medium cut of the pad.

[0068] FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the sleeve, in particular with the fixing wings or tabs to the shin guard in its lower part.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0069] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 10, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a protection element 1 for shin 2, comprising a protective body 3 having a C-shaped cross section destined to cover the shin 2 or the forearm, three sections in the protective body 3 being defined, a lower section 31 destined to be in the vicinity of the ankle, a central section 33 destined to face the shin and an upper section 32 destined to be placed below the knee, the protective body 3 being provided with a padded interior lining 41, 42 on the interior surface of the protective body 3.

[0070] This features being already known, according to the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 3 for example, the lining 41, 42 is formed by a first lining section 41 arranged in the lower section 31 and a second lining section 42 arranged in the upper section 32, the central section 33 being devoid of interior lining, such that the protective body 3 rests on the shin or forearm only in said lower section 31 and in said upper section 32.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 7, the protection element comprises an upper extension 5 articulated with the upper end of the protective body 3, said extension has the shape of a spherical cap section destined to cover the knee.

[0072] As shown for example in FIG. 5, the protective body 3 comprises ventilation openings 6 that allow increasing the heat dissipation speed between the protective body and the shin.

[0073] The protective body 3 comprises at its corners openings (not represented) for fixing by strips.

[0074] The protective body material 3 is polyethylene, with a high hardness. Regarding the lining 41, 42, it can be a cross-linked plastic material or foam.

[0075] Very advantageously, the protective body 3 is made of a transparent or translucent material.

[0076] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the invention includes an anchoring mode of the protection element based on three bands T1, T2, T3 that join the upper part of the protection element with a textile element, in this case like a suspender, arranged above the legs. In turn, these textile elements are joined to a garment, which can be fixed by the waist, or even in a jumpsuit style garment In such a way the traction is transmitted all along the body, thus preventing the protection element from slipping down.

[0077] Finally, and as shown in the schematic section of FIG. 10, the second lining section 42 is adhered by its surface opposite to the contact surface with the user to an elastic sheet 7 having an elastic constant lower than the lining 41, 42 and higher than the one of the protective body 3, this elastic sheet 7 being joined to the protective body 3 in the lower part and in the C-section ends, such that in distended conditions, there is a space V between the sheet and the protective body 3. This feature forms an invention by itself, such that it can be applied to other sorts of shin guards, not necessarily in those with double support as claimed in the present invention.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 11 to 23, the invention also relates to a protection set 1 for cyclists P, comprising a shin guard 2, a knee pad 3 and a sleeve 4 for the leg P.

[0079] As known in the known prior art, the shin guard 2 and the knee pad 3 are joined and articulated together, and the set comprises joining means 5a, 5b between the shin guard 2 and the sleeve 4 and joining means 6 between the knee pad 3 and the sleeve 4.

[0080] The joining means 5a, 5b between the shin guard 2 and the sleeve 4 and the joining means 6 between the knee pad 3 and the sleeve 4 are removable, and the joining means 6 between the knee pad 3 and the sleeve 4 are at least two straps 7, 8 joined by one of its ends to the sleeve 4 and by the other one of its ends to the knee pad 3.

[0081] Since the joining means 5a, 5b between the shin guard 2 and the sleeve 4 and the joining means 6 between the knee pad 3 and the sleeve 4 are removable, the placement of the protection is highly simplified. First the sleeve is placed, then the sleeve is attached to the shin guard, and finally the straps are joined, adjusting them. If, for example, in some moment of a bike ride the connection between sleeve and knee pad is not necessary, the cyclist just has to unfasten the straps 7, 8 and thus increase the perspirability.

[0082] Another advantage of the protection is that it is possible to replace some of its broken components without discarding the rest. This is the case of the sleeve, which is more susceptible to tears. It also allows to gradually replace used components by customised or latest versions of these components.

[0083] The connection between the two straps 7, 8 and the knee pad 3 is arranged in the lateral topsides of the knee pad 3. A knee pad 3, as illustrated, is constituted by a cap normally approximately having spherical shape in which a lower side faces the shin, an upper side faces the front of the thigh, and wherein two lateral sides are defined. Therefore, it should be understood by lateral topsides the area common to the upper side and the lateral sides. These lateral topsides are the ideal place for anchoring the knee pad, which is not the case in the centre of the upper side, because in the latter case, when bending the leg, the knee pad is pulled down by the shin guard, which obviously must be in place in front of the shin, and glide through the thigh. The result is uncomfortable for the cyclist. Instead, when anchoring the knee pad through the upper corners, or lateral topsides, it can slide above the lower part of the thigh.

[0084] The straps 7, 8 are elastic bands provided in its end near the leg P with pullers that allow comfortable fitting and fixing to the sleeve. In the embodiment shown, the fixing between the straps 7, 8 and the sleeve is made of Velcro 4b, 7.sup.a

[0085] For the fixing between the straps 7, 8 and the knee pad, sets of pressure buttons are preferred, made of a male part 3a and a female part 7a, coupling to each other. Using buttons for this connection takes advantage of the fact that the knee pad is rigid and thus is comfortable to press to make the connection. The combination of a button for the lower end with a Velcro at the upper end is ideal to allow the user a comfortable and optimal fit.

[0086] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, the connections between the two straps 7, 8 and the sleeve 4 are arranged in the part of the sleeve 4 corresponding to the sides of the lower part of the thigh.

[0087] The articulated connection between the shin guard 2 and the knee pad 3 is formed by a pad 9 made of plastic material, depicted isolated in FIGS. 8 to 12.

[0088] The articulated connection between the shin guard 2 and the knee pad 3 has a flexible tab joined 3b by its lower part of the knee pad 3, being this flexible tab 3b provided with joining means 3c to the pad 9.

[0089] Next, with reference to FIGS. 18 to 22, the pad, which is considered an invention in itself, independently of the assembly described, will be described.

[0090] As shown in FIGS. 19 a 22, this pad is formed by a plastic sheet 9d provided in one side with protrusions 9a cylindrical or frusto-conical, in the opposite side with bumps 9b, the bumps 9b and the protrusions 9a are arranged coincidentally, such that its two ends are communicated through ventilation channels 9c.

[0091] As shown for example in the section of FIG. 19, the inlet of the channels 9c on the side of the bumps 9b is widened. Thus, the support area on the skin is minimal, which allows optimum ventilation.

[0092] The sheet 9d is provided with through holes 9e in the zones devoid of protrusions 9a and bumps 9b, so that the heat dissipation capacity of the protection is increased.

[0093] As it is known per se, and as shown in FIG. 15, the knee pad 3 comprises a body with a cap form provided with a peripheral support zone 3d destined to be in contact with the zone of the leg which surrounds the knee, and a central zone 3e arranged in front of the knee, wherein the central zone projects outwards, the transition zone being between both zones formed by a step 3f.

[0094] However, the knee pad 3 is provided with ventilation openings, also thereby contributing to the dissipation of perspiration, and therefore to the cooling. Reducing resistance due to the presence of holes it is compensated by providing resistant ribs on the inner surface of the sleeve.

[0095] As shown in FIG. 15, the knee pad comprises in its lateral topsides ends tabs 3g for connection to the straps 7, 8.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 23, the sleeve 4 is formed by a tubular part 41 and a lower extension 42 shaped as an inverted T, such that two fixing wings 5a are configured on the shin guard 2. In such a way, the upper part 41 is the one that fits the entire periphery of the leg while the bottom 42 exposes the popliteal fossa, which is an area of heavy sweating, and therefore must be left exposed to the air.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 14, the sleeve 4 comprises in the upper mouth and in the interior part thereof a non-slip strip 41 and adjusting means 42 of the strip 41 to the leg P.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 17, the shin guard 2 is provided in its upper external part with two recesses 21, 22, wherein there are two Velcro surfaces for fixing the wings 5a of the sleeve. The placement process is simple: the sleeve is placed, then the shin guard is placed against the shin, such that the lower end of the section 42 of the sleeve is trapped between the upper part of the shin and the knee pad. Then the wings 5a are folded to take them to the recesses 21, 22. Both parts are provided with Velcro, so that the shin guard is positioned. Obviously, the union could also be performed with a snap button.

[0099] Then the belts 11 and 12 are fitted, which also include Velcro, for optimal fixation of the shin guard. These bands are preferably made of a breathable stretch fabric. It is anticipated that the straps are permanently attached to the shin guard by one side, and on the other side a pressure adjustment and fixation is performed. Another possibility, more modular and that allows its easy replacement, is that the bands are removably connected at both ends.

[0100] With regard to materials, below there is a non limiting selection offered merely by way of example:

[0101] Knee pad: Silicone with hardness comprised between 75 and 80 Shore A

[0102] Shin guard: transparent Polycarbonate

[0103] Velcro of polyethylene silicone.

[0104] Sleeve for the leg: 80% polyester with spandex.

[0105] Although reference has been made to particular embodiments of the invention, it is apparent to one skilled in the art that the protective element or set described are susceptible of numerous variations and modifications, and that all the details mentioned can be replaced by other technically equivalent, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

[0106] In particular, it is noted that the term for as used in the first claim highlights a preferred application of the invention to the shin, but not limited exclusively to this member, but through appropriate modifications, can also be used for the forearm.