Rolling knee support with detachable knee pad
A rolling knee support comprises a base with a detachable knee pad. The base includes a knee pad receiving portion and roller attachment portions. Each of the roller attachment portions has a caster mounted thereto. The knee pad is detachably mounted to the knee pad receiving portion. A strap extends from the rolling knee support for attachment of the rolling knee support to a wearer's knee area.
The invention generally relates to a rolling knee support and, more particularly, relates to a rolling knee support having a detachable knee pad.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONKnee pads are designed to cushion and protect a wearer's knee area when the wearer is kneeling on a support surface. Some types of knee pads comprise only a cushion to protect the wearer's knee area while other types of knee pads comprise a cushion that directly or indirectly contacts the wearer's knee area and a shell that contacts the support surface. Still other types of knee pads have a base to facilitate rolling the knee pad along the support surface. These rolling knee supports are designed to protect the wearer's knee area while also providing the wearer with a degree of mobility while the wearer is kneeling. The rolling knee support is attached to the wearer's knee area so that wearer is able to rise and kneel back upon the rolling knee support without having to re-adjust its orientation.
In conventional rolling knee supports, the knee pad is permanently attached to the base. Because the knee pad is permanently attached to the base, the entire rolling knee support must be replaced if the base and/or the knee pad becomes worn or damaged. It would therefore be desirable to develop a rolling knee support where the knee pad is quickly and easily detachable from the base so that either the base or the knee pad may be replaced without having to dispose of the remainder of the rolling knee support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe invention provides for a rolling knee support comprising a base including a knee pad receiving portion and roller attachment portions. Each of the roller attachment portions has a caster mounted thereto. A knee pad is detachably mounted to the knee pad receiving portion. A strap extends from the rolling knee support for attachment of the rolling knee support to a wearer's knee area.
The invention further provides for a knee pad comprising a shell having a top surface and a bottom surface. A cushion is attached to a top surface of the shell. A strap extends from the shell for attaching the knee pad to a wearer's knee.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Each of the individual elements of the rolling knee pad 1 will now be described in greater detail. As shown in
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The base 2 may be formed, for example, by molding a plastic material, such as polycarbonate. Alternatively, the base 2 may be made, for example, from metal or wood. Although in the illustrated embodiment the knee pad receiving portion 8 and the roller attachment members 9 are integrally formed from a single piece of material, it will be appreciated by those in the art that the knee pad receiving portion 8 and the roller attachment members 9 may be formed separately.
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To assemble the rolling knee support 1, the bottom surface 24 of the shell 5 is positioned adjacent to the inner surface 14 of the base 2 such that the shell 5 aligns with the knee pad receiving portion 8. The shell 5 is pressed into contact with the base 2 so that the release member 26 is received in the release aperture 11, the second latching projections 13 are received in the latching projection receiving apertures 25, and the top surface 23 of the shell 5 is received under the first latching projections 12. The knee pad 4 is thereby secured to the base 2 by the first and second latching projections 12, 13.
To detach the knee pad 4 from the base 2, the release member 26 extending through the outer surface 16 of the base 2 is pressed back through the release aperture 11 such that the shell 5 disengages from the first and second latching projections 12, 13. Because the knee pad 4 is detachable from the base 2, the knee pad 4 may easily be replaced if the knee pad 4 becomes damaged or worn. Likewise, the base 2 may be replaced if the base 2 becomes damaged or worn without having to dispose of the knee pad 4.
In use, a wearer places the cushion 6 of the knee pad 4 adjacent to or against their knee area. The wearer secures the strap 7 to their knee area by inserting the second end 30 of the strap 7 through the fastening member 31 and adjusting the second end 30 of the strap 7 until the cushion 6 securely rests against their knee area. The wearer is then capable of standing or kneeling with the rolling knee pad 1 securely attached to their knee area. When the wearer is kneeling on a support surface, the rolling knee support 1 protects the wearer's knee area and enables the wearer to easily move about the support surface in any desired direction. The rolling knee support 1 may be used, for example, to protect the wearer's knee area when performing such functions as laying flooring, playing sports, etc. Additionally, the cavities 30 in the cushion 6 provide additional comfort and support for the wearer's knee area.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the knee pad 4 may also be used without the base 2. When the knee pad 4 is used without the base 2, the knee pad 4 is attached to the wearer's knee area in substantially the same manner as when the rolling knee support 1 is attached thereto. The wearer is then capable of standing or kneeling with the knee pad 4 securely attached to their knee area. When the wearer is kneeling on the support surface, the knee pad 4 protects the wearer's knee area.
The foregoing illustrates some of the possibilities for practicing the invention. Many other embodiments are possible within the scope and spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that the scope of the invention is given by the appended claims together with their full range of equivalents.
Claims
1. A rolling knee support, comprising:
- a base including a knee pad receiving portion and roller attachment portions, each of the roller attachment portions having a caster mounted thereto;
- a knee pad detachably mounted to the knee pad receiving portion; and
- a strap extending from the rolling knee support for attachment of the rolling knee support to a wearer's knee area.
2. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the knee pad includes a shell and a cushion.
3. The rolling knee support of claim 2, wherein the strap extends around a bottom surface of the shell and is attached thereto.
4. The rolling knee support of claim 2, wherein the cushion includes a knee receiving area and a shin receiving area.
5. The rolling knee support of claim 2, wherein the cushion includes a plurality of cavities.
6. The rolling knee support of claim 2, wherein the cushion substantially covers the shell.
7. The rolling knee support of claim 2, wherein the shell includes shell support ribs.
8. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the knee pad receiving portion is substantially concave in shape.
9. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the base is molded from a plastic material.
10. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the knee pad receiving portion includes first and second latching projections for securing the knee pad to the base.
11. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the knee pad includes a release member for detaching the knee pad from the knee pad receiving portion.
12. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the knee pad receiving portion includes a knee support area and a shin support area.
13. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the base includes a base support ribs.
14. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the knee pad receiving portion and the roller attachment portions are formed from a single piece of material.
15. The rolling knee support of claim 1, wherein the castors are arranged in a substantially triangular shape.
16. A knee pad, comprising:
- a shell having a top surface and a bottom surface;
- a cushion attached to a top surface of the shell; and
- a strap extending from the shell for attaching the knee pad to a wearer's knee.
17. The knee pad of claim 16, wherein the strap extends around the bottom surface of the shell.
18. The knee pad of claim 16, wherein the shell includes shell support ribs formed on the bottom surface thereof.
19. The knee pad of claim 16, wherein the cushion includes a knee receiving area and a shin receiving area.
20. The knee pad of claim 19, wherein the cushion substantially covers the shell.
21. The knee pad of claim 16, wherein the cushion includes a plurality of cavities.
22. The knee pad of claim 16, wherein the shell is formed from a substantially rigid material.
Type: Application
Filed: May 26, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 14, 2006
Inventor: Mark Legenstein (Lancaster, PA)
Application Number: 11/138,610
International Classification: A41D 13/06 (20060101);