| WO/2004/068981 | PROTECTIVE GARMENT WITH REPAIRABLE INTEGRATED VISIBILITY-ENHANCING FEATURES |
| WO/2019/046688 | SENSE-ENABLED APPAREL |
| WO/2017/036507 | SMART SAFETY GARMENT WITH SIGNAL LIGHTS |
GROSSMAN MARTIN (GB)
| US5716120A | 1998-02-10 | |||
| US5871269A | 1999-02-16 | |||
| DE20207345U1 | 2002-12-19 |
CLAIMS
1. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad comprising at least one illumination means or light.
2. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one illumination means comprises at least one or a plurality of lights, such as light emitting diodes (LEDs) .
3. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 , wherein the lights are of a same or of a mixture of colours.
4. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective pad comprises flexible means to be received around a body part .
5. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective pad comprises a rear member or padded means, which optionally are attached to or comprise part of the fabric means.
6. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein the protective pad comprises means for fixing the flexible means around a body part.
7. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective pad comprises a cover, such as a rigid plastic cover, the cover being positioned to be outward facing and adjacent an outside of a knee or elbow, in use.
8. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 7, wherein the cover is convex or domed in shape .
9. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in either of claims 7 or 8 , wherein the cover is in the shape of a knee cap or elbow joint.
10. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the cover is in the shape of a teardrop or pear.
11. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 10, wherein there is provided a single cover, the single cover being of sufficient size to act to protect at least one of a knee cap or elbow joint, in use.
12. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 11, wherein the cover comprises an impact portion.
13. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the cover comprises an embossed pattern thereon, which optionally defines a closed shape.
14. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 13, wherein the embossed pattern defines the impact portion.
15. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 14, wherein the cover is permanently fixed or attached to the rear member, such as, peripheral edges of the cover being fixed to the rear member.
16. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 15, wherein the cover is at least partly translucent and/or transparent.
17. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 16 when dependent upon claim 4, wherein the at least one illumination means is provided behind the cover, between the flexible member and the cover, and/or within a concave portion of the cover.
18. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the cover is continuous, such that a surface of the cover does not have any holes.
19. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 5 or any of claims 7 to 12, wherein the rear member or padded means is continuous - at least behind the cover, such that a surface of the rear member or padded means may not have any holes.
20. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the protective apparel comprises electronic circuitry, including switch means for controlling the at least one illumination means, the electronic circuitry being provided within the enclosed space.
21. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 20, wherein the switch means is provided on the cover, the switch means optionally comprising a push button switch means comprising a switch member, which is provided on the cover so as to be forward or proud of the cover.
22. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in either of claims 20 or 21, wherein the switch means is not provided at an apex of the cover.
23. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 20 to 22 when dependent upon claim 13, wherein the switch means is provided on or adjacent the embossed pattern.
24. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 20 to 23 when dependent upon claim 14, wherein the switch means is provided substantially outwith the impact portion or embossed pattern.
25. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the switch is provided closer to a peripheral edge of the cover than to the apex of the cover.
26. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 25, wherein the/each illumination means is/are not provided at the apex of the cover .
27. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed any of claims 12 to 26, wherein the/each illumination means is provided outwith the impact portion or embossed pattern.
28. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 12 to 27, wherein the/each illumination means is provided between the impact portion or embossed pattern and a peripheral edge of the cover.
29. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any of claims 7 to 28, wherein the/each illumination means is provided closer to the peripheral edge of the cover than to the apex of the cover .
30. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 20 or claims 21 to 29 when dependent upon claim 20, wherein, in use, the circuitry causes the at least one illumination means to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence.
31. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein a power source, such as a battery (ies) , are provided optionally within a/the concave portion of a/the cover.
32. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or. elbow pad as claimed in claim 7 or any of claims 8 to 31 when dependent upon claim 7, wherein the illumination means is provided or mounted on the inside surface of the cover .
33. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 20 or any of claims 21 to
32 when dependent upon claim 20, wherein at least part of the circuitry is provided or mounted on an inside surface of the cover.
34. A protective pad or apparel such as a knee pad or elbow pad as claimed in claim 31 or any of claims 32 to
33 when dependent upon claim 31, wherein there is provided means for removing the power source via a front surface of the cover such as for replacement of the power source, the removal means optionally comprising a cassette releasably insertable within an aperture in the cover.
35. A pair of protective pads or apparel such as a pair of knee pads or elbow pads, as claimed in any of claims 1 to 34. |
IMPROVED PROTECTIVE PADS
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to improvements in or relating to protective pads or apparel, such as, though not exclusively, knee pads and/or elbow pads.
BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
Protective pads or apparel, such as knee pads and/or elbow pads, are popular for use in a number of activities, e.g. skateboarding, when using scooters such as collapsible scooters or microscooters, cycling, as well as other activities and sports, where one would wish to seek to obviate or mitigate injury to one's person - and particularly to joints such as the knee or the elbow.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved protective pad or apparel.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate and/or mitigate one or more disadvantages in the prior art.
It is an object of at least one embodiment of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a protective pad or apparel having a novel or novelty light effect. By such provision the wearing of protective pads or apparel may be viewed as more desirable by a potential wearer, e.g. infant, child or young person, while the wearing of such promotes safety and injury prevention.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a protective pad or apparel such as a
knee pad or elbow pad comprising at least one illumination means or light.
The at least one illumination means may comprise at least one, and preferably a plurality of lights, e.g. light emitting diodes (LEDs) . The lights may be of a same or of a mixture of colours.
The protective pad or apparel may comprise flexible means to be received around a body part .
The protective pad or apparel may comprise a rear member or padded means, which may be at least partly fabric. The rear member or padded means may be attached to the flexible means, e.g. by stitching, or comprise part of the flexible means.
The protective pad or apparel may comprise means for fixing the flexible means around a body part, e.g. hook and eye (VELCRO ® ) fastening means.
The protective pad or apparel may also comprise a cover, e.g. a rigid plastic cover. Such cover may be positioned to be outward facing and adjacent an outside of a knee or elbow of the user/wearer, in use.
In a preferred embodiment the cover may be convex or domed in shape - the cover may therefore comprise an apex or central portion.
The cover may be in the shape or a knee cap or elbow joint .
The cover may be in the shape of a teardrop or pear.
There may be provided a single cover. The single cover may be of sufficient size to act to protect a knee cap or elbow joint, in use.
The cover may comprise an impact portion. The cover may comprise an embossed pattern thereon, e.g. which may define a closed shape.
The embossed pattern may define the impact portion.
The impact portion may flex, in use, e.g. should a user fall and impact upon the impact portion.
The cover may be attached or fixed to the rear member or padded means. For example, peripheral edges of the cover may be fixed to the rear member or padded means. The cover may be attached or fixed to the rear member by permanent fixing means such as stitching and/or glue and/or rivets or the like.
The cover may be at least partly translucent and/or transparent.
The at least one illumination means may be provided behind the cover. The at least one illumination means may be provided between the flexible member or padded means and the cover, for example, within a concave portion of the cover.
The cover may be continuous, e.g. a surface of the cover may not have any holes.
The rear member or padded means may be continuous - at least behind the cover, e.g. a surface of the rear member or padded means.
By this arrangement the cover and rear member or padded means may provide an enclosed space wherein the illumination means may be provided. This acts to prevent water, dirt or the like from ingressing into the enclosed space.
The protective apparel may comprise electronic circuitry, including switch means, for controlling the at least one illumination means.
The electronic circuitry may be provided within the enclosed space.
The switch means may be provided on the cover. In this way a user may switch the illumination means on or off, in use, even while wearing the protective pad or apparel . Advantageously the switch means comprises a
push button switch. Alternatively the switch means comprises a rocker type switch. The switch means may comprise a switch member, which may be provided on the cover so as to be forward or proud of the cover. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in allowing a user easy access to the switch means thereby facilitating adoption of use of the illumination means by a user.
Preferably the switch means is not provided at a/the apex of the cover. This arrangement makes the protective pads or apparel more effective by acting to ensure that the switch does not injure a user should a user fall.
The switch means may be provided substantially outwith the impact portion or embossed pattern.
Preferably the switch means is provided closer to a peripheral edge of the cover than to the apex of the cover.
Preferably the/each illumination means is/are not provided at the apex of the cover. This arrangement makes the protective apparel more effective by acting to ensure that the illumination means does not injure a user should a user fall .
The/each illumination means may be provided outwith the impact portion or embossed pattern.
The/each illumination means may be provided between the impact portion or embossed pattern and a peripheral edge of the cover.
Preferably the/each illumination means is provided closer to the peripheral edge of the cover than to the apex of the cover. The circuitry may cause the at least one illumination means to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence, e.g. flash or illuminate intermittently either sequentially as simultaneously.
A power source such as a battery (ies) may be provided, e.g. within the concave portion of the cover, e.g. within the enclosed space.
The illumination means may be provided or mounted on an inside surface of the cover.
At least part of the circuitry may be provided or mounted on an inside surface of the cover.
There may be provided means for removing the power source via a front surface of the cover - e.g. for replacement of the power source.
The removal means may comprise a cassette releasably insertable within an aperture in the cover.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a pair of protective pads or apparel such as a pair of knee pads or elbow pads, each pad or item of apparel comprising a protective apparel according to the first aspect of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are:
Figure 1 a front view of a pair of knee pads or elbow pads according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 a rear view of one of the pads of Figure 1 in a loosened state; Figure 3 a rear view of one of the pads of Figure 1 in a tightened state;
Figure 4 a front view of one of the pads of Figure 1 in a first illuminated state,-
Figure 5 a front view of one of the pads of Figure 1 in a second illuminated state;
Figure 6 a front view of one of the pads of Figure 1 in a third illuminated state;
Figure 7 a circuit diagram of electronic circuitry of each of the knee pads or elbow pads of Figure 1 ;
Figures 8 (a) and (b) front views of knee pads comprising a pair of knee pads or elbow pads according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a loosened state;
Figure 9 a perspective view of knee pads comprising a pair of knee pads or elbow pads according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a loosened state;
Figure 9 a perspective view from the front, above and to one side of a cover comprising part of the knee pads of Figures 8 (a) or 8 (b) ;
Figure 10 a perspective view from the front, below and to one side of an alternative cover comprising part of the knee pads of Figures 8 (a) or 8 (b) ; and
Figure 11 a rear view of the alternative cover of Figure 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Referring initially to Figures 1 to 7, there is shown a pair of protective pads or apparel, generally designated 5, according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
Each pad or item of protective apparel 5 comprises a knee pad or elbow pad comprising at least one illumination means 10 or light. The at least one illumination means 10 comprises at least one, and preferably a plurality of lights, e.g. light emitting diodes (LEDs) . The lights can be of a same colour or of a mixture of colours.
Each protective pad 5 comprises flexible means 15 to be received around a body part (e.g. leg or arm), and a rear member in the form of padded means 20, which are at least partly fabric. Each protective pad 15 comprises means 25 for fixing the flexible means 15 around a body part, e.g. hook and eye (VELCRO ® ) fastening means, and an eye/buckle 26.
The protective apparel 5 also comprises a cover 30, e.g. a rigid plastic cover. In use, the cover 30 is positioned to be outward facing and adjacent an outside of a knee or elbow of a user/wearer, in use. The rear member or padded means 20 is, in use, in contact with the wearer/user. In this embodiment the cover 30 is convex or domed in shape - the cover therefore comprises an apex or central portion 31.
The cover 30 is typically of a shape suitable to protect a knee cap or elbow joint. The cover 30 is in this embodiment the shape of a teardrop or pear or oval . There is provided a single cover 30. The single cover 30 is of sufficient size to act to protect a knee cap or elbow joint, in use.
The cover 30 comprises an impact portion 32. The cover 30 comprises an embossed pattern 31 thereon, e.g. which may define a closed shape, as shown in dashed outline in Figure 4. The embossed pattern 34 defines the impact portion 32.
The cover 30 is attached or fixed to an outer surface of the flexible means 15. Peripheral edges 33 of the cover 30 are be fixed to the flexible means 15. The cover 30 is attached or fixed to the flexible means 15 by permanent fixing means (not shown) such as mechanical and/or chemical fixing means.
The cover 30 is at least partly translucent and/or transparent .
The at least one illumination means 10 is provided behind the cover 30, i.e. between the flexible means 15 and the cover 30, i.e. within a concave portion of the cover 30.
The cover 30 is continuous, i.e. a surface of the cover 30 does not have any holes. The rear member 15 is continuous - at least behind the cover 30, e.g. a surface of the rear member 15 does not have any holes. By this arrangement the cover 30 and rear member 15 provides an enclosed space wherein the illumination means 10 are provided. The protective apparel 5 comprises electronic circuitry (see Figure 7) , including switch means 35, for controlling the at least one illumination means.
The switch means 35 are provided on the cover 30. In this way a user can easily switch the illumination means 10 on or off, in use, even while wearing the protective pad 5, and without the need for any external device. Advantageously the switch means 35 comprises a push button switch. The switch means 35 comprises a rocker type switch. The switch means 35 comprises a
switch member 36, which is provided on the cover 30 so as to be forward or proud of the cover 30. This arrangement is particularly advantageous in allowing a user easy- access to the switch means 35 thereby facilitating adoption of use of the illumination means 35 by a user.
The switch means 35 is not provided at an apex 31 of the cover 30. This arrangement makes the protective pad
5 more effective by acting to ensure that the switch means 35 does not act to injure a user should a user fall.
The switch means 35 is provided on or adjacent the embossed pattern 32. The switch means 35 is provided substantially outwith the impact portion 31 or embossed pattern 32. The switch means 35 is provided closer to the peripheral edge 33 of the cover 30 than to the apex 31 of the cover 30.
The illumination means 10 are not provided at the apex 31 of the cover 30. This arrangement makes the protective pad 5 more effective by acting to ensure that the illumination means 10 does not act to injure a user, should a user fall.
The illumination means 10 are provided outwith the impact portion 32 or embossed pattern 34. The illumination means 10 are provided between the impact portion 32 or embossed pattern 34 and peripheral edge 33 of the cover 30.
The circuitry causes the at least one illuminatable means 10 to illuminate continuously or to operate in a predetermined sequence.
A power source such as a battery (ies) 36 are provided, e.g. along with the circuitry within the concave portion of the cover 30.
There are provided means 40 for removing the power source (battery 36a) via a front surface 45 of the cover 30 - e.g. for replacement of the power source. The removal means 40 comprise a cassette 46 releasably insertable within an aperture 50 in the cover 30. The cassette 46 is insertable into the aperture 50 via a motion from a top of the cover to a bottom of the cover. Thus, in use, gravity assists in maintaining the cassette 46 in place as well as interlocking means 47a, 48a. Referring now to Figures 8 (a) to 9 there is shown a pair of protective pads or apparel, generally designated 5a, according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The pad 5a is similar to the pad 5 of the first embodiment, like parts being denoted by like numerals but suffixed "a" .
The illumination means 10a are provided or mounted on an inside surface of the cover 30a. At least part 34a of the circuitry is provided or mounted on an inside surface of the cover 30. It will be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described are given by way of example only, and are not meant to limit the scope thereof in any way.