Shock absorber for sports

Abstract

A shock absorber for sports (ballgames) 10, comprising a glove body 12 and hand insertion 50, having the first sheet-like member 30 covering the center region of the back of one's hand, the second sheet-like member 32 covering the back region of the fingers and the third sheet-like member 34 covering said hand insertion 50 region. Said first sheet-like member 30, the second sheet-like member 32 and the third sheet-like member 34 are made of near-polyurethane gel elastomer, which has high impact absorbency, so that the shock absorber 10 protects any regions of a human body from the impact of, for example, being hit by a pitch, without limiting the movements of a user.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a shock absorber (a protector) for sports uses.

BACKGROUND ART

People sometimes wear shock absorbers for the purpose of protecting their bodies from any impacts derived from sports. For example, by putting shock absorbers onto the regions that are easy to be impacted, the risk of getting serious injuries such as fracture is reduced.

Especially in ballgames, a batter is always in danger of getting hurt by being hit by a pitch or one's own batted ball. In this case, the back of one's hand is most likely to fracture, since, despite the thinness of its hypodermic muscles, it tends to be caught between a bat and a ball and receives impacts from both. Same as said back of one's hand, the ulnar head is also likely to fracture, since it is a protruding region with thin hypodermic muscles. Therefore, it is preferable that a glove for batting be provided with such shock absorbency as to protect the hands from the impact of being hit by a ball.

Conventional protective appliance of this kind (for example, refer to WO01/87432) not only fits to one's body so as not to be displaced, but also has effective shock resistance from the viewpoint of protecting a human body.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional protective appliance 10′.

FIG. 9 shows a protective appliance 10′ comprising a plurality of interconnected plates 15′ made of shock resistance material, aligned in overlapping relationship on a ligament 16′. The protective appliance 10′ is removably attachable to a garment by strips 18′ and 19′ of hook and loop fastener attached to both ends of the ligament 16′, and it is applied to any regions of a human body, especially to those which are likely to get injured from impacts.

According to the conventional protective appliance 10′ which is detachable to a garment, various materials having different protection characters can be applied and, moreover, a user is able to attach the appliance to diverse kinds of garments for different purposes.

In addition, while the conventional protective appliance 10′ is typically used for sports purposes, it may be applied to medical fields when it is necessary to limit the movement of limbs or to protect the body from impact.

Referring to FIG. 10, next is an explanation of a conventional baseball glove 100a′ (for example, refer to Japanese Registered Utility Model Publication No. 3086050.)

FIG. 10 is a back view of a conventional baseball glove 100a.

FIG. 10 shows the conventional baseball glove 100a′ comprising a glove body 1a′ made mainly of synthetic leather and an attaching band 8a formed integrally with said glove body 1a′. Said attaching band 8a′ can be opened and closed by means of hook and loop fasteners 80a′ and 81a′.

At the region facing the metacarpal of forefinger to little finger, a line-shaped slit 10a′ and a line-shaped slit 11a′ extending from both ends of said slit 10a′ toward the wrist, form the horseshoe-shaped cutout portion 12a′. On the inner surface of said cutout portion 12a′, an elastic sheet 2a′ is stitched. A plurality of air holes 13a′ are formed on the finger region.

The conventional baseball glove 100a′ is made mostly of natural or synthetic leather, especially slightly thin leather, and any other materials are seldom used. When a batter grips a bat, said elastic sheet 2a′ stretches and enables him/her to move his/her fingers freely.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Said conventional protective appliance 10′ having impact resistant interconnected plates 15′ aligned in overlapping relationship on the ligament 16′ is comprised of a plurality of rigid or semi-rigid plates arranged in consonance with the central common ligament. Therefore, it is difficult to get both elasticity and impact resistance which not only allow the one's delicate movement while playing sports, but also protect one's body. Using the conventional protective appliance 10′, people would only enjoy the impact resistance.

Especially in ballgames, batting needs delicate bat control. Therefore, it is preferable that a glove, or a protective appliance, for a hitter not only protect the hands of the hitter from the impact of being hit by a pitch, but also have less resistance against the movements of the hitter's hand. However, said conventional baseball glove 100′ does not have enough shock absorbency and therefore not suitable for protecting a user from the impact of being hit by a ball.

The present invention solved above problems by

a shock absorber for sports, which is put on to a region of a human body, characterized in that a sheet-like member made of polyurethane near-gel elastomer is attached to a specific region to be protected (claim 1); and

a shock absorber for sports, which is put on to a region of a human body, comprising a polyurethane near-gel elastomersheet-like member and forming a sheet-like shape as a whole (claim 9).

The shock absorber for sports of claim 1 can take any forms of gloves, shoes or boots for sports, leg guards for sports, stockings for sports, gloves and mitts for baligames; or underpants for sports; and the shock absorber for sports of claim 9 can be put on to any regions of a human body since the absorber itself has a sheet-like shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a back view (seen from the back side of a hand) of the shock absorber for sports of the first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of a human left hand skeleton.

FIG. 3 relates to the shock absorbency of “NonBuren” (Name of a polyurethane near-gel elastomer product of Kabushiki Kaisha Hirakata Giken of Japan.), which is preferred as an elastic material applied for the present invention; FIG. 3 (a) is a table showing the relationship between the thickness of NonBuren (mm) and the shock absorption rate (%); FIG. 3 (b) is a table showing the comparison between the shock absorbency of NonBuren and that of other materials.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe that applies a shock absorber for sports of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a leg guard for baseball and softball that applies plural shock absorbers for sports of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a stocking that applies a shock absorber for sports of the forth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a glove that applies a shock absorber for sports of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of underpants that applies a shock absorber for sports of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. In order to show the sheet-like member, a portion of the cover cloth is omitted.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a conventional protective appliance.

FIG. 10 shows a conventional baseball glove seen from the back side of one's hand.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to the FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the first embodiment of the present invention is explained below.

FIG. 1 shows the shock absorber for sports 10 of the first embodiment seen from the back side of a hand.

FIG. 2 shows a human left hand skeleton.

FIG. 3 relates to the shock absorbency of “NonBuren” (Name of a polyurethane near-gel elastomer product of Kabushiki Kaisha Hirakata Giken of Japan), which is preferred as an elastic material applied for the present invention. FIG. 3 (a) shows the relationship between the thickness of NonBuren (mm) and the shock absorption rate (%). FIG. 3 (b) shows the comparison between the shock absorbency of NonBuren and that of other materials.

The shock absorber for sports 10 of the first embodiment comprises a glove body 12 that covers the back and the hollow of one's hand and a hand insertion part 50. Said glove body 12 contains a thumb part 20 corresponding to a thumb, a forefinger part 22 corresponding to a forefinger, a middle finger part 24 corresponding to a middle finger, a ring finger part 26 corresponding to a ring finger, and a little finger part 28 corresponding to a little finger. In addition, said glove body 12 and said hand insertion part 50 can either be separately formed or integrally formed by draping.

Said glove body 12 comprises the first portion 38 covering the back of all the fingers and the hand, and the second portion 39 surrounding said first portion 38 covering whole area of the hand.

Preferably, the first portion 38 is made of woven or non-woven fabric using natural or chemical fiber having elasticity and permeability, but materials such as natural or synthetic leather can be an alternative.

By using an elastic material, said first portion 38 will stretch according to the movements and the size of a wearer, and thus does not limit the movements of his/her hands.

It is preferable that said second portion 39 is made of natural or synthetic leather in order to prevent the wearer's hands from slipping on a bat, but woven or non-woven fabric using natural or chemical fiber, or materials such as rubber, elastomer, or urethane can also be used.

The hand insertion part 50 is repeatedly open-and-close-able and adjustable by means of removable tools such as hook and loop fasteners, snap fasteners or press studs. Preferably, said hand insertion part 50 longitudinally extends from the wrist toward the elbow covering not only the carpal region (wrist) 54 but also the ulnar region 56 including the ulnar head 52 and the radial region 58 as shown in FIG. 2. As a result, the danger that the wrist and the arm get injured is lessened.

The first sheet-like member 30 covers the back of the hand (region including the ulna and the carpal).

The second sheet-like member 32 covers the back (the proximal and the middle phalanx regions) of at least one finger among all five fingers. Preferably, said second sheet-like member 32 may be thinner than said first sheet-like member 30, since a finger-tip (distal phalanx region) is less likely to be hit by a pitch than the back of the hand is.

In addition, though it is not illustrated, said second sheet-like member 32 can cover the region from the distal phalanx to the ulna of the side surface of the little finger, other than above-mentioned regions.

Said first sheet-like member 30 and said second sheet-like member 32 are each superimposed over said first portion 38 and said second portion 39. However, said first portion 38 and said second portion 39 may surround and be stitched or bonded to said sheet-like members 30 and 32. In addition, said first sheet-like member 30 and said second sheet-like member 32 can be removably attached to the glove body 12 by fixing means such as hook and loop fasteners or snap fasteners.

As explained below, the third sheet-like member 34 covers said hand insertion part 50. Generally, said third sheet-like member 34 is formed integrally with said hand insertion part 50 by means of stitching or bonding. However, said third sheet-like member 34 can be removably attached to said hand insertion part 50 by fixing means such as hook and loop fasteners and snap fasteners.

Said “NonBuren” is preferable as a material for said first sheet-like member 30, said second sheet-like member 32, and said third sheet-like member 34, but, of course, equivalent materials can be applied.

It is clear from FIG. 3(a) that, when the thickness of “NonBuren” is between 1 mm and 2 mm, the shock absorption rate exceeds 80%; and when the thickness exceeds 3 mm, the shock absorption rate rises near to 100%.

FIG. 3 (b) shows a comparison of the shock absorption rate between “NonBuren” and the various materials. The figures were obtained by way of making a steel ball (64 g, φ 25 mm) naturally fall onto a 10 mm test piece (NonBuren) from 150 mm height, and evaluating by using a load cell (load converter). It is obvious from the figure that “NonBuren” is much superior to other elastic materials in their shock absorption properties.

“NonBuren” performs well even after it goes through repeated inflections. Moreover, since “NonBuren” also has high tear strength in cross direction and it is a super soft elastomer, it accords well with the expansion and contraction of a human body.

In addition, it is preferable that a plurality of air holes 36 be formed on the first sheet-like member 30, the second sheet-like member 32, and the third sheet-like member 34 in order for good ventilation.

Referring to FIG. 4, the second embodiment of the present invention is explained next.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe that applies a shock absorber 10b of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows the shock absorber for sports 10b comprising a sheet-like member 30b with a plurality of air holes 36b formed thereon. Said shock absorber 10b is attached to the shoes by means of attaching bands 46b locating at the heel (calcaneal region) of the shoes.

Said shock absorber 10b covers at least the insteps (a region including metatarsals, cuneiform, cuboid, navicular, and talus), so that it protects the insteps from the impact of being hit by a pitch in ballgames.

In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be applied to boots-like sports shoes, which performs good protectiveness, though we are not so much familiar with.

Referring to FIG. 5, the third embodiment of the present invention is explained next.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a leg guard for baseball and softball that applies shock absorbers for sports 10c and 10d of the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows the shock absorbers for sports 10c and 10d comprising sheet-like members 30c and 30d, and attaching bands 46c and 46d each connecting to and extending from said sheet-like members 30c and 30d for attaching the shock absorbers for sport 10c and 10d to a predetermined position.

The shock absorbers for sports 10c and 10d covers the shin (region from tibia to fibula), so that they provide good protective performance against the impact that rise when a wearer is hit by a ball or crashes with other player. Other attaching means such as stitching or bonding can be an alternative for said attaching bands 46c and 46d to attach the shock absorbers for sports 10 c and 10d to a leg guard.

In addition, it is preferable in the second and third embodiments that configuration keeping members 42b, 42c and 42d that have resistance against the metal fatigue by deformation, such as aluminum alloy wires, be formed on the peripheries of the sheet-like members. These wires (configuration keeping members 42b, 42c and 42d) can fix the form of the sheet-like members as they fit the shape of the sports shoes or sports leg guards, so that the sheet-like members would not make moves on the shoes or on the leg guards. This effect of wire is well known as a mask fixing method; the wire fixes the form of the mask so that it fits the shape of a user's nose.

Referring to FIG. 6, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is explained next.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a stocking that applies a shock absorber for sports 10e of the forth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the shock absorber for sports 10e comprising a sheet-like member 30e having a plurality of air holes 36e thereon. Said sheet-like member 30e is attached to a stocking sewed in the pipe-like shape, covering the shin of the leg (region from tibia to fibula), so that it provides good protective performance against the impact that rise when a player is hit by a ball or crashes with other player. Said shock absorber for sports 10e can be attached to a stocking by means of stitching or boning.

Referring to FIG. 7, the fifth embodiment of the present invention is explained next.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a glove for ballgames such as baseball or softball that applies a shock absorber for sports 10f of the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows the shock absorber for sports 10f comprising a plurality of sheet-like members 30f attached to a glove (including a mitt) for baseball or softball.

A glove for baseball or softball comprises mutually sewed catching (front) side and back side made of natural and artificial leather, and finger part protecting all the five fingers. Said plural sheet-like members 30f are attached to said front side and front finger part of a glove, covering and protecting the palm and the fingers. Said sheet-like member 30f can be attached to the entire surface of the front catching side. It does not matter whether or not said sheet-like member 30f is exposed.

In addition to the already known effect that said sheet-like member 30f protects the palm and the fingers of a user, the friction of the material will make it easier for the user to catch and keep a ball, if said sheet-like member 30f is attached to the front side surface.

Referring to FIG. 8, the sixth embodiment of the present invention is explained next.

FIG. 8 is a front view of underpants that applies a shock absorber for sports 10g of the sixth embodiment of the present invention. For the purpose of showing the sheet-like member 30g clearly, a portion of the cover cloth is cut off.

Usually, underpants for sports are put inside the uniform pants and they mainly protect buttocks from the friction impacts rising when a user takes slides in ballgames.

Said sheet-like member 36g either cover the entire surface of the buttock (a region including tenser fasciae latae and glutaeus maximus), or only cover some portions of the glutaeus maximus, depending on the purpose of the user.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the shock absorber for sports of the present invention, it becomes less likely in ballgames that a hitter gets injuries such as fracture when he/she is hit by a pitch. In addition, a wearer can put the shock absorber to any regions of his/her body where he/she wants to protect.

Claims

1. A shock absorber for sports, which is put on to a region of a human body, characterized in that a sheet-like member made of polyurethane near-gel elastomer is attached to a specific region to be protected.

2. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 1, having glove-like shape, wherein said sheet-like member is attached at least to the region covering the back of one's hand and the ulnar head.

3. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 1, applied to sports shoes or boots, wherein said sheet-like member is attached at least to the region covering the instep.

4. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 1, applied to leg guards for sports, wherein said sheet-like member is attached at least to the region covering the shin.

5. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 1, applied to sports stockings, wherein said sheet-like member is attached at least to the region covering the shin.

6. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 1, applied to a glove or a mitt for ballgames, wherein said sheet-like member is attached at least to the catching side.

7. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 1, applied to underpants for sports, wherein said sheet-like member is attached at least to the region covering the buttock.

8. (canceled)

9. A shock absorber for sports, which is put on to a region of a human body, comprising a polyurethane near-gel elastomer sheet-like member and forming a sheet-like shape as a whole.

10. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 1, wherein said sheet-like member is removably attached.

11. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 2, wherein said sheet-like member is removably attached.

12. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 3, wherein said sheet-like member is removably attached.

13. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 4, wherein said sheet-like member is removably attached.

14. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 5, wherein said sheet-like member is removably attached.

15. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 6, wherein said sheet-like member is removably attached.

16. A shock absorber for sports according to claim 7, wherein said sheet-like member is removably attached.