PROTECTIVE KNEEPAD

Related Applications

The present patent document claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S. C. §119(e) of Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/527,851, filed December 8, 2003, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference; and Non- Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/972,843, filed October 25, 2004, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference; and Non-Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/972,844, filed October 25, 2004, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference; and Non-Provisional U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 10/972,606, filed October 25, 2004, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

DESCRIPTION

Background Art

Historically, to prevent knee injuries during physical activity that requires being in a kneeling position, a user would wear a protective kneepad over the front of their knee. Traditional protective kneepads normally includes some type of rigid cap secured against the front of a knee by some type of strap that surrounds the knee and leg of the user. These traditional protective kneepads, however, suffer from a number of deficiencies. For example, protective kneepads are often designed for use when a user is in a kneeling position only. This creates problems when a user wearing a protective kneepad must often move from a kneeling position to a standing position while performing an activity. The constant movement from a kneeling position to a standing position typically causes the kneepad over the front of a knee to move out of position due to the shin or thigh of the user coming into contact with the rigid cap portion of the protective kneepad. This movement of the protective kneepad causes discomfort to the user, and more seriously, increases the possibly of injury due to the fact that the protective kneepad may no longer protect the front of the knee. Furthermore, as the size of any one kneepad is typically static and not adjustable,

the same kneepad cannot be used comfortably by different users with different sized knees. Therefore, the protective portion of the kneepad often does not securely fit against the knee of a user and tends to rotate about the knee or move off of the front of the knee. This movement can cause irritation Io the leg and knee of the user due to rubbing. It can also cause problems when the protective area of the kneepad no longer protects the knee of the user, thereby defeating the purpose of the kneepad.

Furthermore, traditional kneepads are often designed to have a strap assembly that is permanently fixed to the protective kneepad. This design limits the life of the kneepad due to the fact the entire kneepad must be replaced once a portion of the strap assembly becomes worn or breaks. Additionally, this design creates problems in that a designer must design a strap assembly for the protective kneepad that can comfortably surround a number of different sized knees and legs for various users.

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore desirable to have a kneepad designed to remain stationary over the knee of a user when the user must move from a kneeling position to a standing position during a physical activity. It is therefore desirable to have a kneepad that is adjustable to fit the knee of a specific user so that the kneepad will remain stationary over the front of the knee during use. It is therefore desirable to have a strap assembly for a protective kneepad that can be easily adjusted to surround a number of different sized knees and legs for various users, and provides a way to replace a portion of the strap assembly should it become worn or break. The present invention is directed at correcting these deficiencies in the prior art.

In one aspect of the invention, a kneepad may include a base, a rigid cap attached to the base, and a notch located on the base or rigid cap. The notch is configured to conform to a leg of the user to prevent the base and the rigid cap from changing position on the knee of the user during movement. More specifically, the notch is configured to prevent the shin or the thigh of the user from coming into contact with the rigid cap and to ease pressure on the knee while the user is standing.

In another aspect of the invention, a kneepad includes a base defining an interior

side and a sizing piece attached to the interior side of the base. Moving the sizing piece relative to the base determines the size of a knee that can be accommodated by the kneepad. To accommodate a large knee, the sizing pieces may be rotated away from the center of the interior side of the base. To accommodate a small knee, the sizing pieces may be rotated towards the center of the interior side of the base. hi another aspect of the invention, a kneepad includes a base, a first and second mounting ring attached to the base, and an elongated strap removably attached to the first and second mounting rings. During use, the base is placed over a knee of user. The elongated strap is placed behind the knee of the user and a first end of the elongated strap is wrapped around the knee and inserted into the first mounting ring. A second end of the elongated strap is then wrapped around the knee and inserted into the second mounting ring. The first and second ends of the elongated strap are pulled through the first and second mounting rings to obtain a desired tension between the kneepad and the knee. Once the desired tension is obtained, the kneepad is secured to the knee.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a kneepad having a shin notch, a rigid cap notch, and a thigh notch in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 is a planar front view of the kneepad of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 A is a planar bottom view of the kneepad of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 3B is an enlarged view along line 3B of the bottom of the rigid cap of FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4 is a planar top view of the kneepad of FIG. 1 ; FIG. 5 is a planar rear view of the kneepad of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a kneepad having a rigid cap notch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a planar front view of the kneepad of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a planar bottom view of the kneepad of FIG. 6; FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a kneepad having a shin notch and a rigid cap notch in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 10 is a planar front view of the kneepad of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a planar front view of a first embodiment of a kneepad having a set of sizing pieces in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12A is a planar back view of the kneepad of FIG. 11 showing the sizing pieces rotated outward;

FIG. 12B is a planar back view of the kneepad of FIG. 11 showing the sizing pieces rotated inward;

FIG. 13A is a perspective back view of the kneepad of FIG. 11 showing the sizing pieces rotated outward; FIG. 13B is a perspective back view of the kneepad of FIG. 11 showing the sizing pieces rotated inward;

FIG. 14 is a planar front view of a second embodiment of a kneepad having a set of sizing pieces in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a planar back view of the kneepad of FIG. 14; FIG. 16 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a sizing piece to be used with the kneepads of FIGs. 11-15;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a kneepad having a sling strap system showing the ends of the sling strap system open in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 18A is a perspective view of the kneepad of FIG. 17 showing the ends of the sling strap system closed;

FIG. 18B is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a kneepad having a sling strap system showing the ends of the sling strap system closed;

FIG. 19 is a side view of the kneepad of FIG. 17 showing the ends of the sling strap system open;

FIG. 20A is a side view of the kneepad of FIG. 17 showing the ends of the sling strap system closed;

FIG. 2OB is a right perspective view of the kneepad of FIG. 19 showing the ends of the sling strap system closed; FIG. 21 is a back view of the kneepad of FIG. 17;

FIG. 22 A is a front view of the a first embodiment of an elongated strap to be used with the sling strap system and kneepad of FIG. 17;

FIG. 22B is a rear view of the embodiment of the elongated strap of FIG. 22 A; FIG. 22C is a front view of a second embodiment of an elongated strap to be used with the sling strap system and the kneepad of FIG. 18B; FIG. 23 is a front view of an embodiment of a D-ring to be sued with the sling strap system of FIGs. 17-22;

FIG. 24 is a front view of the D-ring shown in FIG. 23 in communication with the elongated strap of FIGS. 22A-B; and

FIG. 25 is a front view of the D-ring shown in FIG. 23 in communication with the elongated strap of FIG. 22C.

Best Modefs ^* ) for Carrying Out the Invention

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a kneepad 102 to protect a knee of a user includes a flexible base 104, a rigid cap 106, and a strap assembly 108. Preferably, the flexible base 104 is made of a padded fabric with an elastomeric or silicone interior.

The rigid cap 106 is preferably a rigid plastic such as PVC, but any rigid material could be used. In one embodiment, the rigid cap 106 may be permanently attached to the flexible base 104 by any way known in the art such as sewing the rigid cap 106 to the flexible base 104 or gluing the rigid cap 106 to the flexible base 104. In other embodiments, the rigid cap 106 may be removably attached to the flexible base 104 by any way known in the art, such that different sized rigid caps 106 or rigid caps 106 made of different materials could be used with the same kneepad 102. As shown in Fig. 2, the flexible base 104 has a lower portion 116, a left portion

117, an upper portion 118, and a right portion 119. Preferably, the rigid cap 106 is positioned in the center of the flexible base 104 such that the rigid cap 106 is positioned directly over the front of the knee of the user, but the rigid cap 106 may also be positioned offset from the center of the flexible base 104, towards the lower portion 116, left portion 117, upper portion 118, or right portion 119 of the flexible base 104.

In general, a user places the flexible base 104, including the rigid cap 106, over the knee such that the rigid cap 106 covers the front of the knee. Once the flexible base

104 and the rigid cap 106 are in a desired position, the user secures the kneepad 102 to the knee using the strap assembly 108 around the leg.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, the strap assembly 108 generally includes an elongated strap 124 having a first end 126 attached to the flexible base 104. A second end 128 of the elongated strap 124 includes a surface of minute hooks 130 that contacts one or more surfaces of uncut pile 132 to secure the kneepad 102 when the elongated strap 124 is wrapped around a leg of a user, hi other embodiments, any type of strap assembly 108 known in the art could be used to secure the kneepad 102. As shown in Figs. 1 - 5, in a first embodiment of the current invention, the kneepad 102 includes at least one notch defined in the flexible base 104 or the rigid cap 106 to prevent the kneepad 102 from changing position on a leg of a user during movement. The notch may be a shin notch 110, a thigh notch 112, a lower rigid cap notch 113, or an upper rigid cap notch 115. The shin notch 110 is preferably located on the lower portion 116 of the flexible base 104. The shin notch 110 has a generally trapezoidal shape having a first side 134, a second side 136, and a third side 138. The shin notch 110 is contoured such that the flexible base 104 may conform to the lower leg of a user below the knee. Preferably, as the kneepad 102 surrounds the front of the knee of the user, the shin notch 110 partially surrounds and embraces the shin of the user in such a manner that the kneepad 102 is securely positioned on the knee of the user, hi particular, the first and third sides 134, 138 of the shin notch 110 embrace the sides of the shin of the user while the second side 136 of the shin notch 110 partially surrounds the front of the shin of the user. This positioning and design increases comfort to the user during use. Preferably, the first and third sides 134, 138 of the shin notch 110 are equal in length, but the first and third sides 134, 138 of the shin notch 110 may also have different lengths. Further, the first and third sides 134, 138 of the shin notch 110 may have the same or different lengths than the second side 136 of the shin notch 110.

During use, the shin notch 110 serves to ease pressure above the knee created by the upper portion 118 of the kneepad 102 when a user is standing, hi other embodiments, the shin notch 110 may be arcuate or any other shape that allows the flexible base 104 to embrace the sides of the user's shin such that the kneepad 102 is securely positioned on

the user's knee.

The thigh notch 112 is preferably located on the upper portion 118 of the flexible base 104. The thigh notch 112 is typically an arcuate shape, but the thigh notch 112 can also be other shapes such as trapezoidal. Preferably, the thigh notch 112 is contoured such that the flexible base 104 may partially surround and embrace the user's front thigh above their knee to prevent the kneepad 102 from shifting position or causing the user discomfort when a user is in a standing position or changing positions between a kneeling position and a standing position.

In particular, a first and third portion of the curve 140, 144 of the thigh notch 112 embrace the sides of the thigh of the user while a second portion of the curve 142 of the thigh notch 112 partially surrounds the front of the thigh of the user. This positioning allows the kneepad 102 to surround the front of the knee of the user without causing the user discomfort when the user is in a standing position or is changing positions between a kneeling position and a standing position. In each of the embodiments shown in Figs. 1-8, two rigid cap notches 113, 115 are utilized. The lower rigid cap notch 113 is located on a lower portion 120 of the rigid cap 106, and the upper rigid cap notch 115 is located on an upper portion 122 of the rigid cap 106. Some embodiments may only contain one of the lower and upper rigid cap notches 113, 115. Preferably, the lower rigid cap notch 113 is contoured such that as a user moves, the shin of the user will not disturb the positioning of the kneepad 102 over the knee. As shown in Fig. 3B, the lower rigid cap notch 113 is preferably angled so that as the kneepad 102 moves forward when a user is in a standing position, the rigid cap 106 will not come in contact with the knee or shin of the user. Typically, the shape of the lower rigid cap notch 113 generally matches the shape of the corresponding shin notch 110 located on the lower portion 116 of the flexible base 104. Therefore, as seen in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1 - 5, both the lower rigid cap notch 113 and the shin notch 110 are generally trapezoidal in shape.

Preferably, the upper rigid cap notch 115 is contoured such that as a user moves, the knee or thigh of the user will not disturb the positioning of the kneepad 102 over the knee. Typically, the shape of the upper rigid cap notch 115 generally matches the shape of the corresponding thigh notch 112 located on the upper portion 118 of the flexible

base 104. Therefore, as seen in the first embodiment shown in Figs. 1-5, both the upper rigid cap notch 115 and the thigh notch 112 are generally arcuate in shape.

As shown in Figs. 6 - 10, other embodiments may include different combinations of the shin notch 110, thigh notch 112, lower rigid cap notch 113, and upper rigid cap notch 115. For example, as shown in Figs. 6 - 8, the embodiment of Figs. 1-5 may be altered so as to only contain the upper and lower rigid cap notches 113, 115. Additionally, as shown in Figs. 9 - 10, the embodiments of Figs. 1-5 maybe altered so as to only contain the shin notch 110 and the lower rigid cap notch 113. Furthermore, in each of the embodiments of Figs. 1-10, extra padding could be added to the shin notch 110 and the thigh notch 112 in order to further improve the comfort level.

As shown in Fig. 11, a kneepad 202 to protect a knee of a user generally includes a flexible base 204, a rigid cap 206, and a strap assembly 208. Preferably, the flexible base 104 is made of a padded fabric with an elastomeric or silicone interior. The rigid cap 206 is preferably a rigid plastic such as PVC, but any rigid material can be used. In one embodiment, the rigid cap 206 may be attached to the flexible base 204 by any way known in the art such as sewing the rigid cap 206 to the flexible base 204 or gluing the rigid cap 206 to the flexible base 204. In other embodiments, the rigid cap 206 may be removably attached to the flexible base 204 by any way known in the art, such that different sized rigid caps 206 or rigid caps 206 made of different materials could be used with the same kneepad 202.

The flexible base 204 has a lower portion 203, a left portion 205, an upper portion 207, and a right portion 209. Preferably, the rigid cap 206 is positioned in the center of the flexible base 204 such that the rigid cap 206 is positioned directly over the front of the user's knee, but the rigid cap 206 may also be positioned offset from the center of the flexible base 204, towards the lower portion 203, left portion 205, upper portion 207, or right portion 209 of the flexible base 204.

In general, a user places the flexible base 204 containing the rigid cap 206 over the knee such that the rigid cap 206 covers the front of the knee. Once the flexible base 104 and the rigid cap 206 are in a desired position, the user secures the kneepad 202 to the knee using the strap assembly 208 around the leg.

Preferably, the strap assembly 208 generally includes an elongated strap 213

having a first portion 215 permanently attached to the flexible base 204. A second portion 217 of the elongated strap 213 preferably includes a surface of minute hooks 211 that contacts a surface of uncut pile 219 to secure the kneepad 202 when the elongated strap 213 is wrapped around a leg of a user. In other embodiments, any type of strap assembly 208 known in the art could be used to secure the kneepad 202.

As seen in Figs. 12A and 12B, in one embodiment, the kneepad 202 includes at least one sizing piece 210 to adjust the fit of the kneepad 202 to comfortably accommodate different sized knees. Preferably, an interior side 212 of the kneepad 202, which faces the front of the knee of the user during use, defines a concave region 214. The sizing pieces 210 are preferably located on one or both of side walls 216 of the concave region 214, but the sizing pieces 210 may be placed on a bottom wall 221, top wall 223, or anywhere on the interior side 212 of the kneepad 202. In one preferred embodiment, the kneepad 202 includes two sizing pieces 210, but any number of sizing pieces 210 could be used. Preferably, a first sizing piece 218 is located on a first interior wall 220 of the concave region 214 and a second sizing piece 222 is located on a second interior wall 224 opposite the first sizing piece 218. Other embodiments may include a third or fourth sizing piece 210 located on the bottom wall 221 or the top wall 223 of the concave region 214.

Preferably, the first and second sizing pieces 218, 222 are attached to the kneepad 202 such that the first and second sizing pieces 218, 222 may rotate about the first and second interior walls 220, 220 of the concave region 214. Typically each sizing piece 218, 222 may rotate about the interior walls 220, 22 away from the center of the concave region 214 to a first position as seen in Figs. 12A and 13A, or rotate towards the center of the concave region 214 to a second position as seen in Figs. 12B and 13B. hi a first embodiment shown in Figs. 11-13, each of the sizing pieces 218, 222 is rotatably attached to the kneepad 202 to rotate about the first or second interior walls 220, 224 by slidably attaching each sizing piece 218, 222 to a separate strap 226, each of which partially surrounds one of the side walls 216 of the concave region 214. Typically, a first end 229 of the strap 226 is attached to the flexible base 204 on a first side 233 of the side wall 216 of the concave region 213 and a second end 216 of

the strap 226 is attached to the flexible base 204 on a second side of the side wall 216 of the concave region 214.

Each sizing piece 218, 222 typically includes a loop 227 on an interior side 238 of the sizing piece 218, 222. The strap 226 passes through the loop 227 to allow the strap 226 to guide the movement of the sizing piece 218, 222 such that the sizing piece 218, 222 may be slidably attached to the strap 226 and rotate towards the center of the concave region 214 or away from the center of the concave region 214.

A kneepad could utilize friction, a hoop and look fastener, or any other type of system known in the art to hold the sizing piece 218, 222 in a desired position along the side wall 216 of the concave region 214.

In some embodiments, the loop 227 may detach from the interior side 238 of the sizing piece 218, 222 so that the sizing piece 218, 222 can be removed from the strap 226 and replaced. Therefore, different sized and shaped sizing pieces 218, 222 may be available with various degrees of padding to accommodate user preference.

In a second embodiment shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the sizing pieces 418, 422 are rotatably attached to the first and second interior walls 420, 424 by attaching each sizing piece 418, 422 to a circular piece of elastomeric material 430. The circular piece of elastomeric material 430 surrounds one of the side walls 416 and passes through an opening 437 below the side wall 416 on the flexible base 404 such that the elastomeric material may rotate around the side wall 416 of the concave region 414.

During use, rotating a sizing piece 410 away from or towards the center of the concave region 414 is achieved by rotating the piece of elastomeric material 430 around the side wall 416, thereby rotating the sizing piece 410. To hold the sizing piece 410 in a desired position along the side wall 416 of the concave region 414, a kneepad could utilize friction, a hoop and look fastener, or any other type of system known in the art.

Li some embodiments, the piece of elastomeric material 430 may be detachable from the kneepad 402 for convenient replacement. In this embodiment, the piece of elastomeric material typically comprises a detachment section comprising a hook and loop fastener, a snap, a buckle, or any other way known in the art that allows the loop to be broken into a strap. To detach the piece of elastomeric material 430 from the kneepad 402, the detachment section is broken resulting in an open strap that is removable from

the kneepad 402. Therefore, through the use of the removable piece of elastomeric material 430, different sized and shaped sizing pieces 418, 422 may be available with various degrees of padding to accommodate user preference. In additional embodiments, the sizing pieces 218, 222 could alternatively be loosely held by a hook and loop fastener to the side walls 216 of the concave region 214. In this embodiment, each sizing piece 218, 222 includes a surface of minute hooks on the interior side 238 of the sizing piece 218, 222 while each side wall 216 includes a surface of uncut pile that engages the hooks as is well known. Alternatively, any other type of fastening system known in the art could be used that is capable of holding the sizing piece 218, 222 stationary against either side wall 216, the bottom wall 221, or the top wall 223.

The sizing pieces 218, 222 generally serve to brace the kneepad 202 against the front of the knee of the user, especially at the kneecap. One embodiment of a sizing piece 610 is shown in Fig. 16. The sizing piece of Fig. 16 is generally used with the kneepad embodiment of Figs. 11-13.

The sizing piece 610 is preferably in the shape of a block, but the sizing piece 610 could be any shape. Additionally, the sizing piece 610 is preferably made of an elastomeric material, but the sizing piece 610 could be made of any material known in the art that does not cause discomfort to a user during use of the kneepad 202 (FIG. 12).

The sizing piece 610 preferably includes at least one padded section 612 located on an outer portion 615 of the sizing piece 610. The at least one padded section 612 is the portion of the sizing piece 610 that contacts the knee of the user. In some embodiments, the sizing piece 610 may include a loop 627 that surrounds one of the straps 626 surrounding one of the side walls 616 of the concave region 614 of the kneepad 602. Additionally, the sizing piece 610 may also include a portion of a hook and loop fastener 636 on the interior portion 618 of the sizing piece 610 to secure the sizing piece 610 to one of the straps 626.

Operation of the invention can be understood with respect to Figs. 11-13, wherein rotating the first sizing piece 218 or the second sizing piece 222 towards or away from the center of the concave region 214 changes a distance 232 between the sizing pieces 218, 222. Rotating the sizing pieces 218, 222 away from the center of the concave region

214, and even out of the concave region 214, as shown in Figs. 12A and 13 A, creates the largest distance 232 between the sizing pieces 218, 222. Rotating the sizing pieces 218, 222 towards the center of the concave region 214, as shown in Figs. 12B and 13B, creates the smallest distance 232 between the sizing pieces 218, 222.

Due to the fact that the concave region surrounds the front of the knee including the kneecap, changing the distance 232 between the first and second sizing pieces 218, 222 allows the kneepad 202 to comfortably accommodate different sized knees for different users and prevent the kneepad 202 from slipping or rotating about the knee during use.

To accommodate a small knee, both sizing pieces 218, 222 should be rotated towards the center of the concave region 214 to decrease the distance 232 between the sizing pieces 218, 222 until the first sizing piece 218 comfortably contacts a first side of the kneecap while the second sizing piece 222 comfortably contacts a second side of the kneecap. Alternatively, to accommodate a large knee, both sizing pieces 218, 222 should be rotated away from the center of the concave region 214, or even out of the concave region 214, to increase the distance 232 between the sizing pieces 218, 222 until the first sizing piece 218 comfortably contacts the first side of the kneecap while the second sizing piece 228 comfortably contacts the second side of the kneecap. The same procedure described above is used to adjust the sizing pieces in the embodiment of Figs. 14-15. Rotating the first and second sizing pieces 418, 422 towards or away from the center of the concave region 41'4 allows the kneepad 402 to comfortably accommodate different sized knees. To accommodate a small knee, the first and second sizing pieces 418, 422 are rotated towards the center of the concave region 414. To accommodate a large knee, the first and second sizing pieces 418, 422 are rotated away from the center of the concave region 414.

As shown in Fig. 17, a kneepad 702 to protect a knee of a user generally includes a flexible base 704, a rigid cap 706, and a strap assembly 708. Preferably, the flexible base 704 is made of a padded fabric with an elastomeric or silicone interior. The rigid cap 706 is preferably a rigid plastic such as PVC, but any rigid material could be used. In one embodiment, the rigid cap 706 may be permanently attached to the flexible base 704 by ways known in the art such as sewing the rigid cap 706 to the

flexible base 704 or gluing the rigid cap 706 to the flexible base 704. hi other embodiments, the rigid cap 706 may be removably attached to the flexible base 704 by ways known in the art such that different sized rigid caps 706 or rigid caps 706 made of different materials could be used with the same kneepad 702. hi general, a user places the flexible base 704 containing the rigid cap 706 over the knee such that the rigid cap 706 covers the front of the knee. Once the flexible base 704 and the rigid cap 706 are in a desired position, the user secures the kneepad 702 to the knee by wrapping the strap assembly 708 around the leg. As shown in Figs. 17-21, the kneepad 702 may contain at least one, but preferably two, sling strap systems 710 to secure the kneepad 702 to a leg of a user in position over the knee. The sling strap system 710 generally includes an elongated strap 728, 728', a first mounting ring 714 attached to the flexible base 704, and a second mounting ring 716 attached to the flexible base 704. The mounting rings 714, 716 may be any type of ring such as a D-ring or square-ring that is capable of mounting the ends of the elongated strap 728, 728'. A D-ring is a mounting ring that is flat on one side and curved on the opposite side. Preferably, the first and second mounting rings 714, 716 are located on an upper portion 715 of the flexible base 704 or a lower portion 717 of the flexible base 704, but the mounting rings 714, 716 may be located on any portion of the flexible base 704.

As shown in Figs. 22A-C, the elongated strap 728, 728' of the sling strap system 710 generally includes two straps 712, 712' attached or sewn to a padded area 720 so as to define a first end 718 and a second end 722. The padded area 720 is preferably made of a soft elastomeric material, but any material could be used that does not cause discomfort to a user during use of the kneepad 702. Further, the padded area 720 is preferably ergonomically shaped to increase comfort to the user of the kneepad 702. hi a first embodiment of the elongated strap 728 shown in Figs. 22 A-B, the free ends 718, 722 of the straps 712 includes a surface of minute hooks 733 while the padded area 720 of the elongated strap 728 and a portion of the first and second straps 712 includes a first and second attachment area 736, 738 having surfaces of uncut pile. The elongated strap 728 is designed such that when the free ends 718, 722 of the straps 712 are folded back against the padded area 720, the surface of minute hooks 733 will engage

the surfaces of uncut pile 736, 738, thereby securing the free end of one of the straps 712 against the padded area 720 and securing the free end of the other strap 712 against the padded area 720. In a second embodiment of the elongated strap 728' shown in Fig. 22C, a free end 718' of one strap 712'A and a free end 722' of the other strap 712'B make up a hook and loop fastening system, but any fastening system could be used, hi the second embodiment, the free end 718' of one of the straps 712'A includes a surface of minute hooks on an outer side while the second end 722' of the other strap 712'B includes a surface of uncut pile on an inner side. The elongated strap 728' is designed such that when the free end 718' of one strap 712'A is folded towards the free end 722' of the other strap 712'B, the surface of minute hooks will engage the surface of uncut pile and securely hold the free ends 718', 722' together.

Preferably, the elongated strap 728, 728' is not permanently attached to the kneepad 702 so that the elongated strap 728, 728' may be removed from the kneepad 702 and replaced if a elongated strap breaks or wears out so that the entire kneepad 702 does not have to be replaced. Additionally, the elongated strap 728, 728' is preferably available in various lengths to accommodate the different leg sizes of different users. During operation, as shown in Figs. 19-21, a user places the flexible base 704 containing the rigid cap 706 over the front of his or her knee. The padded area 720 of the elongated strap 728, 728' is placed behind the knee of the user while a free end 722, 722' of one strap 712, 712' is wrapped around the leg of the user and inserted through the first mounting ring 714 on the flexible base 704. As shown in Fig. 17, the same end 722, 722' is pulled through the first mounting ring 714 such that the end 722, 722' moves from an outside portion 724 of the kneepad 702 towards an inner portion 726 of the kneepad 702.

Fig. 23 illustrates an enlarged view of the first mounting ring 714 located on the flexible base 704 without any elongated straps from a sling strap assembly 710. Fig. 24 illustrates how, in the first embodiment of the sling strap system 710, the free end 722 of one 712 strap of Figs. 22 A-B is inserted through the first mounting ring 714 and folded back on the attachment area 738 to secure the same end to the first mounting ring 714. Fig. 25 illustrates how, in the second embodiment of the sling strap system 710, the free end 722' of one strap 712'B of Fig. 22C is inserted through the first mounting ring 714

and the other free end 718' of the strap 712'A is inserted through the second mounting ring 716. The free ends 718', 722' of the straps 712'A, 712'B are then secured to each other to secure the elongated strap 728' to the first and second mounting rings 714, 716. Referring again to Figs. 19-21, as with the free end 722, 722' of one strap 712,

712'S, the free ends 718, 718' of the other straps 712, 712'A are wrapped around the leg of the user and inserted through the second mounting ring 716 on the flexible base 704 such that the other ends 718, 718' move from the outside portion 724 of the kneepad 702 towards the inner portion 726 of the kneepad 702. The free ends 718, 718' of the straps 712, 712'A and the free ends 722, 722' of the other straps 712, 712'B are pulled through the first and second mounting rings 714, 716 to force the kneepad against the leg of the user in position over the front of the knee of the user and to force the padded areas 720 of the elongated strap 728, 728' against the back of the knee. In a first embodiment of the sling strap system shown in Figs. 18 A, 19, and 2OA, once a desired tension is achieved between the kneepad 702 and the knee of the user, the first end 718 of one strap 712 is folded back and secured against the first attachment area 736 while the end 722 of the other strap 712 is folded back and secured against the second attachment area 738, thereby securing one end of the kneepad 702 to the knee of the user. For kneepads containing more than one sling strap system 710, this process is repeated for each elongated strap 728. hi a second embodiment shown in Figs. 18B and 2OB, once the desired tension is achieved between the kneepad 702 and the knee of the user, the free ends 718', 722' of the straps 712'A, 712'B are secured to each other in front of the kneepad 702, thereby securing one end of the kneepad 702 to the knee of the user. In other embodiments, in alternative to the mounting rings 714, 716, other mounting device/systems may be provided on the flexible base 704 and/or the elongated strap 728, 728' such as hook and loop fastening systems, snaps, fabric loops, buckles, or other means. For example, in embodiments using a snap, the free ends of the elongated strap could make up a snap fastener; a free end of the strap and a mounting area of the flexible base could make up a snap fastener; or a free end of a strap and a first attachment area of an elongated strap could make up a snap fastener. Similarly, in embodiments using a buckle, the free ends of the strap could make up a buckle; a free end of the strap

and a mounting area of the flexible base could make up a buckle; or a free end of the strap and a first attachment area of the strap could make up a buckle.

It is therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that it is the following claims, including all equivalents, that are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.