SPORTS PROTECTION DEVICE

Abstract

The present invention provides a sports protection device (e.g. a shin pad) for protecting a portion of a wearer's body (e.g. their shin). The sports protection device comprises a lining layer for facing the wearer's body (shin) and an opposing composite layer superimposed on said lining layer. The composite layer comprises wood particles within a thermoplastic polymer matrix. The lining and composite layers are shaped to substantially match the contour of the portion of the wearer's body (shin). A moldable blank for forming a sports protection device is also provided.

Claims

1. A sports protection device for protecting a portion of a wearer's body, the sports protection device comprising: a lining layer for facing the wearer's body; and an opposing composite layer superimposed on said lining layer, the composite layer comprising wood particles within a thermoplastic polymer matrix, the lining and composite layers being shaped to substantially match the contour of the portion of the wearer's body.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polycaprolactone and wherein the wood particles are plate-like and the ratio of the thickness of the plate to the smaller of the width or length of the plate is generally 1:2 to 1:500.

3. A device according to claim 1 wherein the lining layer comprises a 3D spacer fabric having a thickness of between 1-5 mm.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sports protection device comprises a primary body portion shaped to substantially match the contour of the portion of the wearer's body and wherein a major portion of the composite layer of the primary body portion is solid.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein the primary body portion has a central portion that is thicker than a peripheral portion.

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the composite layer has a thickness of between 2-6 mm.

7. A device according claim 1 comprising a hinge portion and wherein said composite layer at the hinge portion further comprises a soft or elastic polymer or wherein said composite layer at the hinge portion further comprises incisions in the region of increased flexibility.

8. A device according to claim 1 wherein the sports protection device is a shin pad for protecting a wearer's shin with the lining layer for facing the wearer's shin, and the lining and composite layers being shaped to substantially match the contour of the wearer's shin.

9. A device according to claim 4 wherein the composite layer forming the primary body portion further comprises a soft or elastic polymer.

10. A device according to claim 1 wherein the device is a wrist guard for protecting a wearer's wrist with the lining layer for facing the wearer's wrist, and the lining and composite layers being shaped to substantially match the contour of the wearer's wrist, wherein the composite layer further comprises a soft or elastic polymer.

11. A kit comprising a device according to claim 7 and a sock having a pouch for insertion of said device.

12. A moldable blank for forming a sports protection device for protecting a portion of a wearer's body, the moldable blank comprising: a lining layer for facing the wearer's body; and an opposing composite layer superimposed on said lining layer, the composite layer comprising wood particles within a thermoplastic polymer matrix, the lining and composite layers being moldable to substantially match the contour of the portion of the wearer's body.

13. A blank according to claim 12 wherein the thermoplastic polymer is polycaprolactone and wherein the wood particles are plate-like and the ratio of the thickness of the plate to the smaller of the width or length of the plate is generally 1:2 to 1:500.

14. A blank according to claim 12 wherein the lining layer comprises a 3D spacer fabric having a thickness of between 1-5 mm.

15. A blank according to claim 12 wherein the sports protection device comprises a primary body portion moldable to substantially match the contour of the portion of the wearer's body and wherein a major portion of the composite layer of the primary body portion is solid.

16. A blank according to claim 15 wherein the primary body portion has a central portion that is thicker than a peripheral portion.

17. A blank according to claim 16 wherein the composite layer has a thickness of between 2-6 mm.

18. A blank according claim 12 comprising a hinge portion and wherein said composite layer at the hinge portion further comprises a soft or elastic polymer or wherein said composite layer at the hinge portion further comprises incisions in the region of increased flexibility.

19. A blank according to claim 18 further comprising an edging layer extending at least partly around the peripheral edges of the composite layer.

20. A moldable blank according to claim 19 wherein the moldable blank is for forming a shin pad for protecting a wearer's shin, the lining layer for facing the wearer's shin, and the lining and composite layers being moldable to substantially match the contour of the wearer's shin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0229] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a moldable blank wrist guard according to an aspect of the present invention;

[0230] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a wrist guard formed of the moldable blank shown in FIG. 1;

[0231] FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a moldable blank according to an aspect of the present invention;

[0232] FIG. 4 shows a wrist guard formed of the moldable blank shown in FIG. 3:

[0233] FIG. 5 shows the wrist guard of FIG. 4 in position on a wearer's wrist;

[0234] FIG. 6 shows the wrist guard of FIG. 4 with a fastening strap; and

[0235] FIG. 7 shows the wrist guard of FIG. 6 in position on a wearer's wrist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND FURTHER OPTIONAL FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

[0236] FIG. 1 shows a moldable blank 1 comprising a primary body portion 2, a secondary body portion 3 and two hinge portions 4a, 4b.

[0237] The primary body portion 2 and secondary body portion 3 are each formed of a lining layer 5 comprising a 3D spacer fabric having a thickness of between 1 to 5 mm and a composite layer 6 comprising a polycaprolactone matrix (with a mw of 80,000 g/mol) with plate-like wood particles having an average size of 2×2×1 mm, the ratio of the polymer matrix to the wood particles being 3:2. As FIG. 1 shows a top view of the blank, the composite layer 6 can be clearly seen but the lining layer 5 is only visible at the very edges as it is overlaid by the composite layer 6.

[0238] The composite layer 6 of the primary body portion 2 (and the secondary body portion 3) is solid i.e. the composite layer 6 of the primary body portion 2 which, in use, overlays the portion of the wearer's wrist requiring protection contains no apertures/perforations.

[0239] The hinge portions 4a, 4b connect the primary body portion 2 and the secondary body portion 3 and are also formed of a composite layer 6 and lining layer 5. The thermoplastic polymer matrix in the composite layer 6 of the hinge portion 4a, 4b additionally comprises a soft/elastic polymer to provide flexibility in the hinge portions.

[0240] The primary body portion 2 and secondary body portion 3 each include two large hook and loop connection elements 8a, 8b and two smaller hook and loop connection elements 8d, 8c.

[0241] The primary and secondary body portions of the moldable blank 1 are heated and moulded to form a wrist guard 9 to fit a wearer's wrist as shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b.

[0242] The primary body portion 2 and secondary body portion 3 are affixed either side of the wearer's wrist using a first strap 7a which is affixed between the large hook and loop connection elements 8a and 8b (passing around the inside of the wearer's wrist), and a second strap 7b which is affixed between the smaller hook and loop connection elements 8c and 8d (passing between the wearer's thumb and fingers).

[0243] The wrist guard 9 has a substantially planar elongated primary body portion 2 for contacting the upper surface of the wearer's wrist. The secondary body portion 3 has curled edges 11 for partially encircling the underside of the wearer's wrist. Together, the primary body portion 2 and secondary body portion 3 provide protection against wrist injury.

[0244] FIG. 3 shows another moldable blank 1′ for forming a wrist guard. The blank is formed of a composite layer 6′ comprising a polycaprolactone matrix (with a mw of 80,000 g/mol). The polymer matrix additionally comprises a soft/elastic polymer. The polymer matrix contains plate-like wood particles having an average size of 2×2×1 mm, the ratio of the polymer matrix to the wood particles being 3:2. The thickness of the composite layer 6′ is 2 mm. The composite layer 6′ is solid i.e. contains no perforations or incisions.

[0245] The blank has a substantially square profile with rounded apices 10 and edges 11′ of approximately 15 cm length. A cut-out 12 is provided at one corner (which provides space for the wear's thumb).

[0246] The composite layer 6′ is secured to a lining layer (not shown in FIGS. 3-5) formed of 3D spacer fabric having a thickness of 1-5 mm.

[0247] The moldable blank 1′ may be heated and moulded to match the contour of the wearer's wrist to form a wrist guard 9′ as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This wrist guard 9′ has a substantially planar elongated primary body portion 2′ for contacting the upper surface of the wearer's wrist with curled central edges 11′ for partially encircling the wearer's wrist, the curled central edges 11′ tapering to the primary body portion 2′ at the opposing lateral ends of the planar primary body portion 2′. The length of the planar elongated primary body portion 2′ may be around 150 mm with a width of around 10 mm. The height of the curled edges 11′ may be around 125-160 mm.

[0248] Such a wrist guard 9′ can be worn under a boxing glove and secured in place using bandages (which are currently often used under boxing gloves). The wrist guard 9′ contours against the wrist to provide support. The soft/elastic polymer in the composite layer allows the wrist guard to flex and allow comfortable movement of the wearer's wrist e.g. upon impact of the boxing glove.

[0249] FIGS. 6 and 7 show another embodiment of the wrist guard 9″ similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 but where a fastening strap 7′ is provided to secure the wrist guard in place. The fastening strap 7′ comprises a hook and loop fastening element such as Velcro™ which secures the strap 7′ to itself to hold the wrist guard 9″ in place. The lining layer 5′ is visible in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Example—Comparative Shock Absorption Test

[0250] Test specimens with dimensions of 50 mm×50 mm were cut from the plastic shell of three commercially available shin guards (after separation of the shell from the associated foam/textile layers). Additionally three sets of 50 mm×50 mm test samples were cut from a composite layer having a thickness of 4 mm and a composite layer having a thickness of 2 mm. The composite layer was formed from a 3:2 ratio of PCL and wood particles. The wood particles were aspen wood particles having an average size of 2×2×1 mm. The PCL had a Mn of 80,000 g/mol.

[0251] The composite layers were heated and formed to have identical shape as the comparative shin guard specimens to exclude the effect of shape in results. The thickness of each test specimen was measured with caliper at both ends of the specimen, to calculate average thickness.

[0252] A blunt impact test set up was used to assess the impact absorbing properties of the test specimens and composite layer samples by dropping a 2.5 kg mass from 47 mm distance, positioned vertically over the top of the test specimen/samples. The amount of force that was transmitted through the guard onto the flat anvil was measured (via instrument Kistler9065 for measuring impact force) and recorded. The lower the transmitted force the better the shock absorption property of the sample.

[0253] Three measurements were performed for each test specimen/sample.

[0254] Transmitted force averages and standard deviations were calculated for each test specimen/sample. An independent paired two-tailed t-test was used to test the hypothesis that there is a difference between two materials. A value of P<0.05 indicates a statistically significant difference between the two materials.

[0255] The transmitted force values (averages from three measurements) are shown in Table 1.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Transmitted Force k (N) Material Thickness (mm) (average-stdev) Test specimen 1 3.2 4.57 +/− 0.13 Composite layer 4 mm 4.2 2.90 +/− 0.09 Composite layer 2 mm 2.2 3.98 +/− 0.16 Test specimen 2 2.9 5.97 +/− 0.27 Composite layer 4 mm 4.3 2.97 +/− 0.19 Composite layer mm 2.2 4.24 +/− 0.11 Test specimen 3 3.0 5.02 +/− 0.51 Composite layer 4 mm 4.2 3.73 +/− 0.19 Composite layer 2 mm 2.1 4.26 +/− 0.05

[0256] The 4 mm composite layer clearly provides the best shock absorption amongst the specimens/samples tested. The 2 mm composite later has only approximately ⅔ of the thickness of the test specimens, however the shock absorption property was either higher (Test specimen 1; P=0.009 and Test specimen 2; P=0.048) or around the same level (Test specimen 3; P=0.171), in this test.

[0257] The composite layer can be used to provide a sports protection device having high shock absorbance but with a narrow profile, reduced bulkiness and lower weight compared to known products. The lining layer provides comfort for the wearer.

[0258] The 3D moldability of the composite layer in the blanks according to the second and sixth aspects further improves comfort and shock absorbency.

[0259] While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0260] All references referred to above are hereby incorporated by reference.