Athletic protective device

Abstract

An athletic protective device includes a rigid cup member and a resilient padding member. The cup member has a convex outer surface to bear an external impact force, a concave inner surface to confront the groin area of a user, and a peripheral abutment edge joining the outer and inner peripheral regions and having two edge segments. The padding member includes a cup-shaped lining body which has a convex abutment surface mating with the concave inner surface entirely, left and right dampening walls which extend from the lining body to flank the edge segments, respectively, and two flanges which extend respectively from the dampening walls to contact the groin area. The flanges are configured such that they do not stand in the way of bending of the dampening walls towards the groin area when the external impact force is being transmitted through the edge segments.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an athletic protective device, more particularly to an athletic protective device for protecting the groin area of a user's body.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an athletic protective cup of U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,219 B1 is adapted to be contained in a pouch of pants for protecting the groin area of a male user during athletic competition, and is shown to include a rigid cup-shaped base member 1 and a resilient padding member 2 which is fixedly attached to a convex exterior surface 102 and around a stepped-shaped peripheral edge 103 of the base member 1. The base member 1 has a concave inner surface 101 confronting the groin area of a user's body. The resilient padding member 2 includes a thin cup-shaped portion 201, two thickened flange portions 202, and two connecting portions 203. Thus, the resilient padding member 2 extends over the entire exterior surface 102 of the base member 1 for dampening the impact of a blow to the exterior surface 102. However, when the cup is struck by a relatively severe blow, the impact force is borne by the resilient padding member 2, and is transmitted immediately to the base member 1 so as to cause fracture of the base member 1. The broken pieces of the rigid base member 1 may prick the user. Besides, the thickened connecting portions 203 may cause discomfort to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an athletic protective device which can provide excellent protection and enhanced comfort to the user.

According to this invention, the athletic protective device includes a rigid cup member and a resilient padding member. The cup member includes upper and lower ends opposite to each other along a longitudinal line, a convex outer surface which has an outer crest area defining a centerline, and an outer peripheral region extending to the upper and lower ends, a concave inner surface which has an inner vaulted area to correspond to the outer crest area, and an inner peripheral region to correspond to the outer peripheral region, and a peripheral abutment edge which joins the outer and inner peripheral regions. The peripheral abutment edge includes left and right edge segments opposite to each other relative to the longitudinal line. The padding member includes a cup-shaped lining body with a periphery. The lining body has a convex abutment surface that is configured to mate with, and to intimately contact, the concave inner surface entirely, and a concave confronting surface that is opposite to the convex abutment surface, left and right dampening walls which extend from the periphery of the cup-shaped lining body to flank the left and right edge segments, respectively, and which respectively terminate at left and right joining regions that are flush with the outer peripheral region, and left and right flanges which are disposed to extend respectively from the left and right joining regions away from the outer peripheral region. The left and right flanges are adapted to be brought into contact with corresponding parts of the groin area of a user's body, and have a thickness such that the left and right flanges do not stand in the way of bending of the left and right dampening walls towards the corresponding parts of the groin area.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional athletic protective cup;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the conventional athletic protective cup;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of an athletic protective device according to this invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of the first preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the second preferred embodiment of an athletic protective device according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 6, the first preferred embodiment of an athletic protective device according to the present invention is shown to comprise a rigid cup member 10 and a resilient padding member 20.

The rigid cup member 10 is formed from a rigid plastic material, such as PP, PC, nylon, ABS, etc., to have a cup shape. The cup member 10 includes upper and lower ends 13,14 opposite to each other along a longitudinal line (L), a convex outer surface 11 which is adapted to bear an external impact force, a concave inner surface 12 which is opposite to the convex outer surface 11 and which is adapted to confront the groin area of a user's body, and a peripheral abutment edge 15 which surrounds a centerline (C). The convex outer surface 11 has an outer crest area 111 which defines the centerline (C), and an outer peripheral region 112 which extends to the upper and lower ends 13,14 and which surrounds the outer crest area 111 to radially transmit the external impact force away from the outer crest area 111. The concave inner surface 12 has an inner vaulted area 121 to correspond to the outer crest area 111, and an inner peripheral region 122 which surrounds the centerline (C), and which corresponds to the outer peripheral region 112. The peripheral abutment edge 15 joins the outer and inner peripheral regions 112,122, and includes left and right edge segments 151 which are opposite to each other relative to the longitudinal line (L). The cup member 10 has a larger thickness at the upper and lower ends 13,14, and a smaller thickness at the peripheral abutment edge 15. Moreover, the cup member 10 has a plurality of vent holes 16.

The resilient padding member 20 is formed from a soft plastic material more flexible than that of the cup member 10, and includes a cup-shaped lining body 21 with a periphery, left and right dampening walls 26 which extend from the periphery of the lining body 21 to flank the left and right edge segments 151 and which terminate at left and right joining regions 261, and left and right flanges 24 which are disposed to extend respectively from the left and right joining regions 261 away from the outer peripheral region 112. The lining body 21 has a convex abutment surface 211 which is configured to mate with, and to intimately contact, the concave inner surface 12 entirely, and a concave confronting surface 212 which is opposite to the convex abutment surface 211 and which is adapted to be spaced apart from the groin area of the user's body. Preferably, the left and right joining regions 261 are formed to be flush with the outer peripheral region 112 of the cup member 10.

The left and right flanges 24 are adapted to be brought into contact with respective parts of the groin area of the user's body. Each of the left and right flanges 24 includes a transitional portion 241 which extends from a respective one of the left and right joining regions 261 to terminate at an end portion 242 that has a curved cross-section. The thickness of the transitional portion 241 is smaller than that of the lining body 21. The transitional portion 241 of each of the left and right flanges 24 has an outer surface 243 which is flush with the convex outer surface 11, and an inner surface 244 which is offset from the concave confronting surface 212 relative to left and right reference lines (R) respectively, that extend along the contour of the inner peripheral region 122 away from the inner vaulted area 121.

The resilient padding member 20 further includes upper and lower flanges 22,23 which interconnect respective end portions of the left and right flanges 24 and which are molded with and disposed to be outboard to the upper and lower ends 13,14, respectively. The resilient padding member 20 has a plurality of apertures 213 corresponding to and communicated with the vent holes 16.

The athletic protective device of this invention is adapted to be contained in a pouch of pants for shielding and protecting the groin area of a male user during athletic competition. When an external impact force is applied to the outer surface 11 of the rigid cup member 10, since the left and right flanges 24 are configured such that they do not stand in the way of bending of the left and right dampening walls 26 towards the corresponding parts of the groin area when the external impact force is being transmitted through the left and right edge segments 151, the external impact force can be reduced by virtue of the bending of the dampening walls 26 and by virtue of the provision of the left and right flanges 24, thereby providing a superior impact resistance. Moreover, in case of fracture of the cup member 10, broken pieces of the cup member 10 will not prick the user due to the provision of the padding member 20. Furthermore, the left and right flanges 24 which contact the groin area of the user's body have a thickness thinner than that of the lining body 21, thereby providing enhanced comfort to the user.

Referring to FIG. 7, the second preferred embodiment of an athletic protective device according to this invention is shown to be similar to the previous embodiment in construction, except that the transitional portion 241 of each of the left and right flanges 24 has one or more cutout area(s) 25 such that the flexibility of the left and right flanges 24 is increased, and the end portion 242 of each of the left and right flanges 24 has a semi-circular cross-section.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. An athletic protective device comprising:

a rigid cup member including upper and lower ends opposite to each other along a longitudinal line, a convex outer surface adapted to bear an external impact force, and having an outer crest area which defines a centerline, and an outer peripheral region which extends to said upper and lower ends, and which surrounds said outer crest area to radially transmit the external impact force away from said outer crest area, a concave inner surface which is opposite to said convex outer surface, and which is adapted to confront the groin area of a user's body, said concave inner surface having an inner vaulted area to correspond to said outer crest area, and an inner peripheral region that surrounds the centerline, and that corresponds to said outer peripheral region, and a peripheral abutment edge which surrounds the centerline, and which joins said outer and inner peripheral regions, said peripheral abutment edge including left and right edge segments which are opposite to each other relative to the longitudinal line; and

a resilient padding member formed from a material more flexible than that of said rigid cup member, and including a cup-shaped lining body with a periphery, said cup-shaped lining body having a convex abutment surface that is configured to mate with, and to intimately contact, said concave inner surface entirely, and a concave confronting surface that is opposite to said convex abutment surface, and that is adapted to be spaced apart from the groin area of the user's body, left and right dampening walls which extend from said periphery of said cup-shaped lining body to flank said left and right edge segments, respectively, and which respectively terminate at left and right joining regions that are flush with said outer peripheral region, and left and right flanges which are disposed to extend respectively from said left and right joining regions away from said outer peripheral region, and which are adapted to be brought into contact with corresponding parts of the groin area of the user's body, said left and right flanges being configured to have a thickness such that said left and right flanges does not stand in the way of bending of said left and right dampening walls towards the corresponding parts of the groin area when the external impact force is being transmitted through said left and right edge segments.

2. The athletic protective device of claim 1, wherein each of said left and right flanges includes a transitional portion which extends from a respective one of said left and right joining regions to terminate at an end portion that has a curved cross-section, the thickness of said transitional portion being smaller than that of said cup-shaped lining body.

3. The athletic protective device of claim 2, wherein said transitional portion of each of said left and right flanges has an outer surface which is flush with said convex outer surface, and an inner surface which is offset from said concave confronting surface relative to left and right reference lines, respectively, the left and right reference lines extending along a contour of said inner peripheral region away from said inner vaulted area.

4. The athletic protective device of claim 1, wherein said rigid cup member has a larger thickness at said upper and lower ends and a smaller thickness at said peripheral abutment edge, said resilient padding member further including upper and lower flanges which interconnect respective end portions of said left and right flanges and which are molded with and disposed to be outboard to said upper and lower ends, respectively.

5. The athletic protective device of claim 1, wherein said rigid cup member has a plurality of vent holes, said resilient padding member having a plurality of apertures corresponding to and communicated with said vent holes.

6. The athletic protective device of claim 3, wherein said transitional portion of each of said left and right flanges has a cutout area such that flexibility of said left and right flanges is increased, and said end portion of each of said left and right flanges has a semi-circular cross-section.