Technical Field

This invention relates to the field of protective garments, and particularly although not exclusively, relates to an equestrian body protector.

Background

Body protectors are worn to keep a user’s body safe in a variety of

sporting activities including horse riding, mixed martial arts, ice hockey, American football, skateboarding, etc. Some equestrian disciplines, for example, require the use of protective gear, such as a body protector. Body protectors can help prevent serious injury when a rider falls from a horse or is kicked or trodden on. Correctly fitting a body protector allows for increased protection. Body protectors are often designed to be fitted to the user by a trained and qualified individual. In some disciplines it is mandatory to wear a predefined standard of body protector in order to compete.

Conventional body protectors are fastened using Velcro or buckles. Fastenings such as Velcro may be prone to loosing holding strength after many uses. Fasteners such as buckles provided with adjustment mechanisms can often be difficult to adjust. Such body protectors often require the undoing or loosening of many fasteners to allow removal of the body protector, this can be tedious.

What is required is a solution which enables a user to easily fit and remove a body protector.

Statements of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a body protector comprising: a garment portion comprising at least one panel; a cable which extends at least partially around the garment portion; a tightening mechanism comprising a hub which engages the cable; and a one-way hub lock; wherein rotation of the hub in a first direction tensions the cable. The hub lock may maintain the tension in the cable until it is actively unlocked. The body protector may further comprise at least one zip, configured to facilitate the removal of the body protector from a user. The panel may overlap itself or at least one other panel.

The tensioning of the cable may increase the overlap of the panels, and the loosening of the cable may decrease the overlap of the panels. The hub lock may be released manually.

The tightening mechanism may further comprise a pawl which engages a ratchet. The pawl may be released from the ratchet by depressing a button. A plurality of pawls may be provided which may engage a common ratchet. The ratchet may comprise a toothed wheel formed on or connected to the hub.

The cable may be wound around the hub. In one arrangement, both ends of the cable are wound onto the hub. An end of the cable may be fixed to the hub.

The cable may extend through a bore formed in the hub.

The hub may comprise an external circumferential cable receiving track. The hub may comprise a plurality of circumferential cable receiving tracks.

The body protector may comprise a plurality of cables, each cable being received by a respective cable receiving track. The tracks may comprise grooves and at least two of the grooves may have different diameters from one another.

The hub may comprise a circumferential cable receiving groove. The hub may comprise a plurality of circumferential cable receiving grooves. The circumferential cable receiving grooves may be in a tiered arrangement and may be stacked in order of decreasing diameter. The body protector may comprise a plurality of cables. Each cable may be received in a respective cable receiving groove.

At least two of the grooves may have a different diameter from one another.

To avoid unnecessary duplication of effort and repetition of text in the specification, certain features are described in relation to only one or several aspects or embodiments of the invention. However, it is to be understood that, where it is technically possible, features described in relation to any aspect or embodiment of the invention may also be used with any other aspect or embodiment of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present disclosure, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 a is a front view of a body protector;

Figure 1 b is a back view of the body protector of Figure 1 ;

Figures 2a and 2b are schematic views of panels configured to be inserted into the body protector;

Figures 3a-d are perspective views of fitted panels;

Figure 4 is a view of part of a rotational tightening mechanism; and Figure 5 is an exploded view of the rotational tightening mechanism.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the hub. Figure 7 is a front view of components of the rotational tightening mechanism in a disassembled arrangement.

Detailed Description

The body protector 2 comprises a cable 4 which runs around the body protector 2 and is configured to be tensioned, loosened and locked by a rotational tightening mechanism 6.

With reference to Figures 1 a and 1 b, the body protector 2 comprises an arrangement of panels 8 inside a cover 10, a cable 4 (not shown) disposed around the waist of the body protector 2 and the rotational tightening mechanism 6 is disposed on the front of the body protector 2. The rotational tightening mechanism 6 comprises a hub 12, a ratchet 14 (shown in Figures 4 and 5) and a one-way hub lock 16. The body protector 2 further comprises a zip 18.

With reference to Figures 2a and 2b, the arrangement of panels 8 comprises a front panel 20, a back panel 22, a right shoulder panel 24a, and a left shoulder panel 24b. The arrangement of panels 8 further comprises an upper right panel 26a and an upper left panel 26b disposed about the upper region of the torso and a lower right panel 28a and a lower left panel 28b disposed about the lower region of the torso.

With further reference to Figure 1 , the zip 18 is disposed on one side of the front plate 20. The zip 18 extends from a top stop disposed at or near the neck to a bottom stop at a portion of the body protector 2 near the cable 4.

With reference to Figures 3a-d, the panels 20, 22, 24a, 24b, 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b are shaped to compliment the contours of the body. The shoulder panels are configured to protect the shoulders and the collar bones, however, alternative arrangements may not include the right and left shoulder panels 24a, b.

With further reference to Figure 1 , the zip 18 may be unzipped by the user in order to enlarge the opening at the neck, thereby enabling the body protector 2 to be easily removed over a helmet. In alternative embodiments, other fasteners may be used to facilitate the removal of the body protector 2.

In alternative embodiments, the zip 18 may extend from the neck of the body protector 2 to the free edge of the waist. The cable 4 may be disposed around the body but its start and end points may be either side of the zip 18 so as to enable the neck and waist openings to form a single opening upon unzipping. This arrangement enables the user to remove the body protector 2 in the same manner as a jacket, as oppose to requiring removal over the head. In this example, the rotational tightening mechanism(s) may be disposed at the side or back of the body protector 2.

The panels 8 may be made of one or more layers. The layer(s) may be made from a protective material such as PVC Nitrile foam. An example of an appropriate foam is PVC Nitrile or ethylene vinyl acetate foam. The layer(s) may be made from a material(s) that is sufficiently flexible to enable the wearer to move. Such a material may be heat sensitive in order to soften and mould to the body when worn, making the body protector 2 more comfortable. The material is capable of absorbing impact. The material may be configured to allow airflow through the panels. The material may be perforated which enables airflow and reduces weight. The panels 8 may be removable from the body protector 2 for ease of cleaning and replacement. The panels 8 may be easily accessible for replacement after a fall or a knock. This may avoid the need to replace the body protector 2 in its entirety after the absorption of a shock that reduces its ability to absorb impact. The composition of each of the panels 8 may vary according to the particular location on the body and the region of the body that they are positioned to protect. For example the back panel 22 may be thicker and comprise less flexible material than the upper and lower, right and left panels 26a, 26b, 28a, 28b. The panels 8 may be mouldable around the body to provide a close fit.

The back panel 22 may extend to cover and protect at least a portion of the base of the neck of the user. There may be a clearance between the bottom of the back panel 22 and the saddle. This clearance may be sufficient to prevent the body protector 2 being pushed upwards. This can improve user comfort since the back panel 22 may otherwise be pushed up into the neck, which can cause discomfort.

The panels 8 may be individually insertable into the cover 10. The cover 10 may be divided into subsections to secure the panels 8. The cover 10 may be made from one or more material(s). The material(s) may be comfortable to wear, lightweight, waterproof, machine washable, breathable and/or hard wearing. A material such as lycra may be suitable for the cover 10. Alternatively the panels 8 may be freely disposed inside the cover to enable the panels 8 to slide over one another. The body protector may also comprise a base layer (not shown) to keep the user warm and comfortable.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the one-way hub lock 16 is connected to a base 30, fitted to the front panel 20. The base 30 comprises a circular plate 32 and a wall 34. Two openings 36a, b are disposed on opposing sides of the circumference of the wall 34. The openings 36a, b may be gaps in the wall 34.

The one-way hub lock 16 comprises two pawl 38a, b and two buttons 40a, b. A spring 42, such as a torsion spring, is provided between pawl 38a and the wall 34. The pawl 38a comprises a proximal end 44a and a distal end 44b. The spring 42 is connected to pawl 38a by a screw 46 located between the proximal and distal ends 44a, b. The screw 46 also connects the pawl 38a to the base 30. The proximal end 44a of the pawl 38a is screwed to the button 40a. The hub 12 further comprises a gripping element 48 to which the ratchet 14 is rigidly fixed, and a cap 50. The gripping element 48 is bolted to the hub 12 by three bolts 51. The gripping element 48 is provided with a gripping portion disposed around the circumference of the gripping element 48. The hub 12 further comprises a channel 52 arranged to receive the cable 4.

The rotational tightening mechanism 6 comprises an axle 54 disposed at the centre of the base 30. The rotational axis of the axle 54 extends through the centre of the plate 32 and extends at right angles to the plane of the plate 32, which is aligned with the plane of the front panel 20. The hub 12 is fitted onto the axle 54 between the base 30 and a nut 56.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the pawl 38a is biased into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 14 by spring 42. Screw 46 enables the pawl 38a to be pivotable about the base 30. The pawl 38a is coupled to the button 40a. The pawl 38a is rotatable about the button 40a as a result of the screwed connection between the proximal end 44a of the pawl 38a and the button 40a. When the button 40a is pushed, the proximal end 44a of the pawl 38a is translated in the direction of movement of the button 40a whilst the pawl 38a is pivoted about screw 46. This movement unlocks the hub lock 16 by causing the distal end 44b of the pawl 38a to disengage with the teeth of the ratchet 14. The pressing and simultaneous holding down of buttons 40a, b, and the resulting disengagement of pawls 38a, b allows the hub 12 to be freely rotated clockwise in order to unwind the cable 4. This enables the releasing of tension in the cable 4.

Winding the cable 4 reduces the length of cable 4 disposed around the body of the wearer. Since the ends of the cable 4 are connected to the lower right and left panels 28a, b, these panels 28a, b are pulled together by the tightening of the cable 4. The rotational tightening mechanism 6 is configured to enable tightening of the cable 4 by anti-clockwise rotation of the hub 12 without requiring pressing the buttons 40a, b. The hub lock 16 is configured to prevent unwinding of the cable 4 upon release of the hub 12, thereby securing the body protector 2 in a fitted state.

The three bolts 51 ensure that the hub 12 rotates about the base 30 when the gripping element 48 is turned. The gripping portion of the gripping element 48 facilitates the rotation of the hub 12 by the user. The hub 12 is prevented from moving axially along the axle 54 by the base 30 and the nut 56 but is free to rotate about the axis of the axle 54.

Upon anti-clockwise rotation of the hub 12, an inner portion of the cable 4 is engaged by the walls of the channel 52 which transmit an anti-clockwise couple to the cable 4. This anti-clockwise couple causes a rotation of the engaged inner portion of the cable 4. Since the cable 4 extends through the channel and runs through the openings 36a, b of the base 30, as the hub 12 is rotated anti-clockwise, the cable 4 is wound onto the hub 12, and the garment is tightened on the wearer. In alternative arrangements, the ratchet 14 may be fixed and the pawls 38a, b may be configured to rotate around the ratchet 14.The hub 12 may be configured to receive more than one cable 4. The cable or cables 4 may be connected to the upper panels 26a, 26b and/or the lower panels 28a, 28b. The cable 4 may not be fixed to a panel 8 but may run along or through the panel(s) 8. Tightening of the cable 4 may cause panels 8 to move closer together and may cause the overlapping of panels 8. The body protector 2 may be configured such that there are no gaps between panels when the cable 4 is tightened.

In alternative arrangements, the rotational tightening mechanism 6 may be disposed on any other part of the body protector 2 such as the back or a side. The body protector 2 may alternatively comprise a plurality of rotational tightening mechanisms 6. Each rotational tightening mechanism 6 may be provided with a corresponding cable or cables 4 which may be connected to or disposed about any combination of panels 6. The plurality of rotational tightening mechanisms 6 may provide the user with more control over the fitting of the body protector 2 than an arrangement comprising a single rotational tightening mechanism 6. The rotational tightening mechanism(s) 6 may provide the user with greater flexibility in choosing different garments to be worn under the body protector 2. The rotational tightening mechanism 6 can be adjusted to enable both thick and thin jackets to be worn under the body protector 2 whilst providing the same tightness for both. Thereby making the body protector 2 suitable for multi- seasonal use. The body protector 2 can be used by multiple users of different sizes by simply adjusting the rotational tightening mechanism 6.

The hub 12 comprises an external circumferential cable receiving track 58 which may be defined by the base 30. The track 58 may comprise a groove or channel. The track 58 may be defined by at least one of the wall 34, the plate 34 and the gripping element 48. The track 58 may be configured to retain a portion of the cable 4 during use of the body protector 2. The track 58 may be configured to retain a wound portion of the cable during use. The track 58 may be sufficiently sized to accommodate an appropriate number of windings of the cable 4. For example, the track 58 may be deep and/or wide enough to accommodate one winding of the cable 4 and prevent the winding axially escaping from the track 58. For example, the track 58 may have a depth greater than or equal to a diameter of the cable 4. The track 58 may comprise an outer

circumferential portion (not shown) which is configured to prevent radial escape of a winding. The outer circumferential portion may partially or fully enclose a winding in the track.

In some arrangements, the hub 12 comprises a plurality of circumferential cable receiving tracks 58. The hub 12 may comprise a plurality of cables (not shown), each cable may be received by a respective cable receiving track 58. The tracks 58 may comprise grooves and at least two of the grooves may have different diameters from one another.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate another embodiment of one-way hub lock 16. Other than the modifications described below, the hub lock may be configured in a similar manner to the one-way hub lock 16 shown in Figures 4 and 5. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, the rotational tightening mechanism 6 comprises a base 30, a gripping element 48, a cap 50, a hub 12, a ratchet 14 and only a single pawl 38a. The cap 50 is disposed between the gripping element 48 and the hub 12, and covers at least a portion of the hub 12. The gripping element 48 is coupled to the hub 12 by inserting a square cross section projection (not shown) formed on the gripping element 48 into a corresponding square cross section blind bore 57 formed in the hub 12. The components may be joined by any suitable means, such as a snap fit connection. It will be appreciated that rotation of the gripping element 48 causes the hub 12 to rotate. The gripping element 48 may be configured to retain the cap 50 between the hub 12 and the gripping portion 48.

Alternatively, the cap 50 may be fitted to the hub 12, for example by a snap fit connection.

In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the hub 12 comprises three circumferential cable receiving tracks 58, arranged in tiers of descending diameter. The tracks 58 are spaced apart from one another along a rotational axis A of the hub 12. Each track 58 is disposed at a different radius r, measured from the axis A of the hub 12. The tracks 58 are configured to have sufficient width and depth to accommodate one or more cables 4 and may be configured to receive multiple windings of the cables 4. The hub 12 comprises holes 60 disposed inside the tracks 58. The holes 60 run through the diameter of the hub 12 creating pathways configured to receive the cables 4. In alternative arrangements, the cables 4 may be fixed to the hub 12.

Rotating the hub 12 causes the cables 4 to wind around the hub 12, the cables being guided into respective tracks 58. When the user rotates the hub 12 by a full rotation anti-clockwise, the length of each cable 4 disposed about the user will be reduced by approximately pi times twice the radius r of the respective circumferential cable receiving track 58.

This arrangement may be advantageous in enhancing the configurability of the body protector 2 by providing multiple modifiable features which can be tailored to fit the individual. The cables 4 may therefore be tightened to different extents by rotation of a single cable receiving hub 12. It may be desirable to tighten a cable disposed about the waist to a greater extent than a cable disposed around the chest, for example. The circumference of each track 58 may be chosen to achieve the desired ratio of tightening between a chest cable and a waist cable, for example. This ratio may be determined to suit a typical individual, or may be customisable. Inserts or expanders (not shown) may be provided to increase the radius r of one or more track58 to achieve optimal fitting of the body protector 2. The tracks 58 may comprise grooves which are equally sized in width and depth. In other arrangements, the groove of each track 58 may be sized according to the relative number of windings each track is configured to receive. For example, where two tracks 58 are provided and a first track has a circumference that is twice the circumference of the second track, the groove of the first track may be sized to accommodate half of the number of windings that the second track is configured to accommodate.

The body protector 2 may be configured to adhere to the regulations of any class in the class system defined by the British Equestrian Trade Association or any other professionally recognised association.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that although the invention has been described by way of example, with reference to one or more exemplary examples, it is not limited to the disclosed examples and that alternative examples could be constructed without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.