Dynamic shin guard

Abstract

A description is given of a shin guard (1) having a shin element (2) which is based on a hard plastics material or metal and has a concave inner side (16) which is curved transversally to a longitudinal axis (41) of the shin guard and encloses an interior (18) for accommodating a user's shin region. The shin guard is characterized in that at the lower end of the shin element (2), said lower end being directed towards the user's foot, it has a separate sliding element (3), which is based on a hard plastics material or metal and has a concave inner side (17), winch is adapted to the lower region of the shin element (2) and is curved transversally to the longitudinal axis (41) of the shin guard, as well as a convex outer surface (11), and in that the sliding element (3) is mounted such that it can be displaced dynamically essentially along the longitudinal axis (41), within defined limits, counter to a spring force directed towards the foot.

Claims

1. A shin guard for protection of a transition area between a foot or shoe of a user and a shin of the user, comprising: a shin element which comprises a hard plastic or metal and has a concave inner side which is curved transversely with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shin guard and encloses an interior for accommodating the shin region of a user, a sliding element, provided at a lower end of the shin element directed toward the foot of the user, having a same width as the shin element, which sliding element comprises a hard plastic or metal and has a concave inner side, is adapted to the lower region of the shin element and is curved transversely with respect to said longitudinal axis of the shin guard, also encloses an interior for accommodating the shin region of a user, and also has a convex outer surface, wherein the sliding element, in use coming into abutment with said foot or shoe of the user, is mounted on said shin element slidably along said longitudinal axis relative to the shin element, within defined limits between an extended state of maximum length of the shin guard and a compressed state of minimum length of the shin guard, against a spring force directed toward said foot of the user, wherein the sliding element is mounted so as to be movable with a convex outer surface running on or parallel to the concave inner side of said shin element, and wherein, in the extended state of maximum length of the shin guard, the sliding element on a convex outer side is covered by the concave inner side of said shin element over the full width of the shin guard in an overlap area, wherein at least three guided spring mechanisms are arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis on the inner side of the shin element and are distributed around the axis, and wherein each guided spring mechanism is mounted in a fastening section formed on the inside of the shin element, said fastening section having a blind hole open towards the sliding element, in which blind hole a spiral spring is located in a guide tube, said spiral spring being braced against the sliding element.

2. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element can be moved along the longitudinal axis in a range of 0.5-10 cm.

3. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element, on an outer side facing outward during use, has an extension part formed only in an edge area and covering the foot of the user in the direction of the outer ankle area.

4. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guide tube is secured with its upper end in the fastening section and with its lower end with a fastening element to the shin element, wherein the guide tube, on a side directed toward the shin element, has a recess for the sliding element, and wherein the sliding element has, for each fastening element, an axially extending guide slit whose upper end and lower end define the extended state of maximum length of the shin guard and a compressed state of minimum length of the shin guard.

5. The shin element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shin element and/or the sliding element are made from a stiff plastics material.

6. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shin element and/or the sliding element are made from a stiff plastics material, and a soft material is arranged on the inner side of the shin element and/or sliding element.

7. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein fastening elements for fastening the shin guard to the leg of the user are provided on the shin element.

8. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein fastening elements for fastening the shin guard to the user are provided on the shin element, wherein these fastening elements are arranged in the lower area for fastening to the shoe of the user.

9. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein fastening elements for fastening the shin guard to the shoe of the user are provided on the sliding element.

10. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on a convex outer side of the shin element, at least one stiff rib is provided which is raised above the surface.

11. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element, at its lower edge coming into contact with the foot and/or shoe of the user, has an edge protector.

12. A pair of two shin guards, of mirror symmetry, as claimed in claim 1.

13. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element, in the extended state of maximum length of the shin guard is covered at the front in the axial direction over a length in the range of 2-15 cm.

14. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element, in the extended state of maximum length of the shin guard is covered at the front in the axial direction over a length in the range of 5-10 cm.

15. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element can be moved relative to the shin element along the longitudinal axis in a range of 1-7 cm.

16. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element can be moved relative to the shin element along the longitudinal axis in a range of 2-5 cm.

17. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element, on the outer side facing outward during use, has an extension part formed only in an edge area and covering the foot of the user in the direction of an outer ankle area, wherein the sliding element and this extension part are formed in one piece.

18. The shin element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shin element and/or the sliding element are made from a stiff fiber-reinforced and/or fabric-reinforced plastics material.

19. The shin element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shin element and/or the sliding element are made from a stiff fiber-reinforced and/or fabric-reinforced plastics material, based on polyamide, polycarbonate, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture and/or or a copolymer of such systems, and/or based on glass-reinforced and/or carbon-fiber-reinforced materials and/or as laminates.

20. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shin element and/or the sliding element are made from a stiff plastics material, and a soft material is arranged on the inner side of the shin element and/or sliding element, in the form of at least an expanded foam, a foam layer, a woven layer, a nonwoven layer or a combination of such layers, wherein the soft material is arranged on the inner side of the shin element in such a way that it does not impede the axial mobility of the sliding element, since it has a slit for the wall of the sliding element, or since it is cut out in the area of mobility of the sliding element.

21. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein fastening elements for fastening the shin guard to the leg of the user are provided on the shin element, wherein these fastening elements are fastening tabs and/or recesses arranged in pairs at the same height, on which fastening straps, including woven straps, can be secured and/or guided through, wherein the fastening straps can be secured with Velcro fasteners.

22. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein fastening elements for fastening the shin guard to the user are provided on the shin element, wherein these fastening elements are arranged in the lower area for fastening to the shoe of the user, and wherein the fastening elements are in the form of openings, with additional retaining lugs, or in the form of fastening tabs for guiding through fastening laces.

23. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein, on a convex outer side of the shin element , at least one stiff rib is provided which extends over substantially the entire axial length of the shin element and is raised above the surface, in the form of a rib of substantially pyramidal cross section with a substantially axially extending tip, wherein this rib is formed in one piece with the shin element and made from the same material or is secured, as an exchangeable separate element, on the outer side of the shin element.

24. The shin guard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding element, at its lower edge coming into contact with the foot and/or shoe of the user, has an edge protector, in the form of a material strip of metal and/or plastic, including a fiber-reinforced or fabric-reinforced plastic, engaging around the edge.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings, which serve only for illustration and are not to be interpreted as limiting the invention. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a front view of a shin guard;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a side view from the inner side (relative to a user wearing the guard);

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view from the outer side (relative to a user wearing the guard);

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view from above;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a view from below;

(7) FIG. 6 shows an axial section along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a view from behind into the shin guard;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a detail, corresponding to the circle X in FIG. 6, for illustrating the spring mechanism;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective view into the interior from the outer side;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of the outer side;

(12) FIG. 11 shows a first possible fastening device;

(13) FIG. 12 shows a second possible fastening device;

(14) FIG. 13 shows a third possible fastening device;

(15) FIG. 14 shows a front view of an illustrative embodiment with an axial crest;

(16) FIG. 14a shows a horizontal section through a shin element according to FIG. 14;

(17) FIG. 15 shows a side view with the lateral fastening elements; and

(18) FIG. 16 shows a front view illustrating the edge protector for the sliding element, with a cross-sectional view in the circle.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(19) An illustrative embodiment of a shin guard according to the invention is shown in the figures. The shin guard 1 comprises a shin element 2, which forms the upper element of the shin guard directed toward the knee of the user. On the lower side, i.e. on the side directed toward the foot of the user, another similarly stiff protection element is provided, namely the sliding element 3. Both elements are designed to some extent as tunnel-shaped elements and enclose an interior 18 in which the leg of the user lies.

(20) The shin element 2 has an outer side 5, which is convex, and an inner side 16, which is concave. The overall design is ergonomic, and the element extends along a longitudinal axis 41 from the upper edge 6, which is typically rounded, to the lower edge 4, which is typically straight, at least in the central area.

(21) The figures show a shin guard for the right leg of a user; the corresponding protection element for the left shin has a mirror symmetrical design to this.

(22) The side edges are arranged on the respective sides, namely the side edge 7 on the inner side and the outer edge 8 on the outer side. The transition between the respective side edge 7/8 and the lower edge 4 is rounded; the same applies to the transitions to the upper edge 6.

(23) The sliding element 3 is provided below and adjacent to the shin element 2 and to an extent arranged behind the latter. The sliding element 3 is adapted in terms of its curvature to the lower area of the shin element 2 and has a lower edge 10 directed toward the foot and typically coming into close contact with the shoe. This lower edge 10 is slightly concave in order to match the rounded upper side of the shoe. Moreover, this lower edge 10 widens on the outer side, i.e. directed laterally toward the ankle, via an outer extension part 15 which extends still farther downward and serves for additional protection of the outer area.

(24) The sliding element 3 also has a convex outer surface 11, an upper edge 12, an inner side edge 13, and an outer side edge 14. FIGS. 1 to 10 show an illustrative embodiment, with each of these figures using corresponding reference signs for the same elements. In the position shown, the shin guard is at its maximum length, i.e. the sliding element 3 is moved down to the maximum extent and at its lower abutment.

(25) This sliding element 3 is mounted movably relative to the shin element 2, specifically with spring pretensioning, for which purpose a mechanism is provided which can best be understood from FIGS. 6 to 8.

(26) In this case, receiving formations 20 are provided on the inner side 17 of the shin element 2, specifically three such elements, distributed as it were about the circumference, each of these making available a downwardly open recess in the form of a blind hole 21. These fastenings 20 are arranged in the lower half of the shin element 2.

(27) Generally speaking, the shin element 2 has an axial length that is approximately at least twice as great, preferably at least four times as great, as the axial length of the sliding element 3.

(28) A guide tube 20, for example made of aluminum or a plastic, is secured in these receiving formations 20; this can be done with an interference fit, adhesive bonding or else also by screwing. These guide tubes 22 extending as far as the sliding element 3 serve as a seat for a spiral spring 23, which at the top is in abutment with the base of the fastening 20, unless the guide tube 22 has a bottom surface.

(29) In the lower area, i.e. in that area of the guide tube 22 not engaged in the blind hole 21, the guide tube 22 is cut out on the side directed toward the shin element 2, i.e. there is a recess 24 here which as it were makes available a slit between the wall of the shin element 2 and the tube 22. The corresponding wall portion of the sliding element 3 migrates in this slit. The lower part of the guide tube 22 is connected by a screw 19 to the corresponding wall portion of the shin element 2. On the other side, this screw 19 passes through an elongate guide slit 25 in the sliding element 3. This guide slit 25 is arranged substantially axially and has an upper end in the form of an upper abutment 26 and a lower end in the form of a lower abutment 27. The guide slits 25 of the various spring mechanisms are arranged in parallel.

(30) As has already been mentioned above, the shin guard 1 in the form shown in the figures is at the outermost abutment, i.e. the sliding element 3 is arranged as far down as possible, the spring 23 is relaxed to the maximum extent, and, accordingly, the screw 19 is in abutment with the upper abutment 26 of the slit 25. The underside of the spring 23 is in fact in abutment with the upper edge 12 of the sliding element 3 and presses the latter into the maximum abutment position at the edge 26, unless a counterforce is applied to the sliding element 3 from below.

(31) If the sliding element 3 is now pushed upward from below, for example because the user reduces the angle of incidence between the shin and the foot, the sliding element 3 moves behind the shin element 2 counter to the spring force of the spring 23. It is optimally guided by the guide slits 25, which in this case are three in number, and, accordingly, as a result of this spring-cushioned mobility, a slit can never form between shin and foot, and no disturbance can be caused through a counterpressure resulting from there being too small an angle between lower leg and foot.

(32) A shin guard structure of this kind has to be fastened to the user. This is done, on the one hand, by woven straps which are fastened to fastening tabs 37 shown in FIG. 15 or are guided through guide slits 39 provided in these and, for example, are secured with Velcro fasteners, optionally in combination with elastic areas.

(33) In addition to the fastening tabs 37 arranged in the upper area as shown in FIG. 15, it is also possible to provide fastenings in the lower area for fastening to the shoe, as are shown in FIGS. 11 to 13. A simple fastening possibility can be realized by providing an opening 28 (cf. FIG. 11) which has a lug-shaped widening 29. A fastening lace, for example of Dyneema, can in this case easily be pushed from one side into this hole as an eyelet and engaged over the lug, i.e. the fastening lace does not then have to be threaded through the hole.

(34) An alternative construction is the fastening of a tab 30, which is specially provided for this purpose, with a fastening opening 31, as is shown in FIG. 12.

(35) A further fastening possibility is a tab 30 (cf. FIG. 13) which is made of metal, for example, and is rolled once at its outer end such that a terminal fastening sleeve 32 forms, through which a lace 33 can be pulled, and the structure can be secured on the shoe with this cord.

(36) A further improvement, particularly for slalom skiing, can be achieved if a solid central rib 34 is arranged on the outer surface 5 of the shin element, as is shown in FIGS. 14 and 14a. This rib can optimally take up the impact forces of the pole, since it has a crest 35 and two lateral flanks 36, and the rib can either be completely stiff or also slightly elastic, depending on the type of use.

(37) The considerable loads during use mean that particular attention has to be paid to the lower edge 10 of the sliding element. If the material from which the sliding element 3 is made does not easily withstand these mechanical loads, it may prove advantageous to provide an edge protector 40 serving specially to protect this edge. For example, this edge protector 40 can be in the form of a layer of material, for example a fiber-reinforced plastic, engaging around the edge.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(38) 1 shin guard 2 shin element, upper element of 1 3 sliding element, lower element of 1 4 lower edge of 2 5 convex outer surface of 2 6 upper edge of 2 7 inner side edge of 2 8 outer side edge of 2 9 rounded transition area 10 lower edge of 3 11 convex outer surface of 3 12 upper edge of 3 13 inner side edge of 3 14 outer side edge of 3 15 outer extension part downward from 10 16 concave inner side of 2 17 concave inner side of 3 18 interior of 1 19 fastening screw 20 receiving formation 21 receiving opening of 20, downwardly open blind hole 22 guide tube 23 spring element, spiral spring 24 recess in 22 25 guide slit in 3 26 upper abutment of 25 27 lower abutment of 25 28 fastening opening 29 lug in 28 30 lower fastening tab 31 fastening opening in 30 32 fastening sleeve in 30 33 lace 34 axial crest 35 tip of 34 36 flanks of 34 37 upper fastening tab 38 fastening screw/fastening rivet 39 guide slit in 37 40 edge protector on 10 41 longitudinal axis of 1