Shinguard .

The present invention concerns a shinguard.

It is known that when skiing or snow-boarding frequently, due to the pressure exerted on the ski boots by the legs, injuries in the form of grazes or the like are often caused to the shins, which can be very painful or cause much discomfort while skiing or snowboarding.

Shinguards are already known, for example to use in rough sports such as soccer, rugby, ice hockey and the like, whereby there is a great risk for the shins to be injured, especially caused by awkward movements of the opponents.

These known shinguards usually consist of a hard material that is worn on the shins, either on top of or under the clothes.

A disadvantage of these shinguards, however, is that they are relatively thick, as a result of which it is impossible to wear the shinguar-d in footgear that covers the shins, such as in ski boots.

Moreover, the known shinguards are made of a material whose hardness can be compared to the material that is used for ski boots, such that their use during skiing or snowboarding would not solve the problem of

injuries caused by friction on the shins.

Also, the present invention aims to remedy the above- mentioned and other disadvantages.

The present invention hereby concerns a shinguard that is formed of a soft fabric that can be provided round the shins and that can be easily worn in footgear covering the shins, such as in a ski boot or a snowboard boot or the like, and that is sufficiently thick to protect the shins against friction with the ski boot or boot or to absorb any shocks.

An advantage of such a shinguard according to the invention is that, unlike the known shinguards, it is made of a soft material that can be worn in a ski boot, such that the shins are efficiently protected while skiing.

Another advantage of such a shinguard according to the invention is that it can be easily made by means of the known weaving techniques, as a result of which its manufacturing price can be kept low.

In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred shinguard according to the invention is described as an example only, without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically represents a shinguard according

to, the invention seen in perspective; and, figure 2 illustrates the use of the shinguard according to the invention.

The embodiment of a shinguard 1 according to the invention represented in figure 1 consists of a soft fabric 2 that has been shaped into a cylindrical band 3.

The band 3 preferably has a height H of some 13 cm and its girth is preferably some 25 cm.

According to a preferred embodiment of a shinguard 1 according to the invention, the band 3 is formed of a mainly rectangular piece of fabric, whose two far ends 4 and 5 are connected to one another, for example by means of an adhesive layer 6.

The adhesive layer 6 is preferably heat-glued onto the far ends 4 and 5 of the band 3.

Such adhesive layers 5 that are heat-glued are widely known, for example adhesive layers 5 that can be provided on a fabric by ironing over the adhesive layer with an iron.

Naturally, other techniques for forming a cylindrical band 3 according to the invention are not excluded.

For example, the far ends 4 and 5 of the fabric can be sewed together.

The fabric 2 is preferably very soft and preferably also has a certain elasticity.

The use of the shinguard is illustrated by means of figure 2.

Thanks to its shape and elasticity, the shinguard 1 can be easily provided round someone's shins 7.

Moreover, the shinguard 1 is not too thick, such that it can be easily worn in footgear 8 covering the shins 7, such as in a ski boot 8 or a snowboard boot or the like, but yet it is sufficiently thick and soft to sufficiently protect the skier's shins 7 against injuries.

It is clear that the shinguard 1 can be multilayered, for example with a soft filling that is provided between two layers of fabric.

According to a preferred embodiment of a shinguard 1 according to the invention, the shinguard is made of a combination of fabrics made of 50% acryl, 25% viscose, 15% polyester and 10% elastomer, or of a combination of these fabrics in a ratio of more or less the aforesaid order of magnitude.

The fabric 2 is preferably elastic, such that it stays well in place at the shins 7 and can moreover be used for shins of varying thicknesses.

According to an alternative embodiment of a shinguard 1 according to the invention, the far ends 4 and 5 of the

band 3 can pos sibly be connected in a detachable manner , for example by means of a Velcro strip or the like, such that the user can tighten the shinguard 1 round his shins 7 as required.

The invention is by no means restricted to the shinguard described as an example ; on the contrary, such a shinguard can be made in all sorts of variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention.