Interlocking Impact Protection System For Contact Sports
Interlocking protective devices may comprise components that are joined by interlocking edge connections formed by mating interlocking edges of individual components. Components may be made of impact resistant materials that are semi-rigid. Interlocking edge connections may provide a degree of flexibility for the protective device while mechanically and/or frictionally retaining components together.
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FIELDThe present invention relates to athletic safety and injury prevention. More particularly, the present invention relates to an impact protection device to be worn by an athlete participating in a contact sport, such as American football.
SUMMARYMany sports, such as American football, inherently involve physical contact between players, with the ground, and/or with equipment. Numerous efforts have been made to prevent or at least reduce the occurrence of injuries to players as a result of such contact. Protective equipment such as helmets, shoulder pads, and pads have been used for protecting portions of the body of athletes. Such protective equipment has often been constructed, at least in part, of a compressible material such as foam. These types of equipment have decreased, but not completely eliminated, injuries occurring due to playing and/or practicing contact sports such as American football.
The use of protective equipment has been mandated by various organizations that promulgate the rules of contact sports for participants. Often, the very athletes at risk for injury resist the use of additional protective equipment, whether mandated or voluntary. While every individual athlete may have his or her own reason for eschewing required or suggested protective gear, common explanations are complaints that the protective gear is uncomfortable, restricts motion, distracts the athlete, or otherwise negatively impacts the athlete's performance. Accordingly, athletes participating in contact sports with a risk of injury may benefit from improved protective gear that protects the athlete from injury with minimal or no negative impact on the athlete's performance. Such protective gear should be comfortable and permit a full range of movement by the wearer, while still providing sufficient protection from impacts that may typically occur during participation in the sport.
A protective device in accordance with the present invention provides improved impact protection for athletes participating in contact sports such as American football, soccer (world football), hockey, lacrosse, or any other contact sport permitting participants to wear protective gear. A protective device in accordance with the present invention may be particularly suitable for protecting large muscle areas of the wearer from impact, but may be used to protect other portions of a wearer's anatomy without the party from the scope of the present invention. One example of a large muscle area that may be protected using a device in accordance with the present invention are the thighs of an American football player.
Protective devices in accordance with the present invention may comprise at least two interlocking components that join along interlocking edge(s). Each component may be shaped in three dimensions to conform to a sub-portion of the anatomy of the wearer to be protected, such that when the components are interlocked the protective device conforms to the portion of the anatomy to be protected when worn. Components of a protective device may be fabricated from semi-rigid, impact resistant materials. Examples of suitable materials may be various nylons, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene, copolyesters, moldable carbon fibers, plastics, composites, rubbers, nylons, elastomers, and the like. Interlocking edges of components may mechanically and/or frictionally retaining the components together along the interlocking edge(s) while still permitting a degree of flex or movement along the interlocking edge(s). Interlocking edges may provide a plurality of tabs and notches that mate with corresponding notches and tabs of an interlocking edge of an adjacent component. A protective device may comprise any number of components and any number of interlocking edges.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected examples.
Referring now to
While the example shown in
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Various materials may be used to form first component 210, second component 220, and any additional components used to form an interlocking protective device in accordance with the present invention. Different sports, athletes, and/or portions of a wearer's anatomy may require different physical properties for a protective device in order to protect against the impacts likely to be encountered by the wearer. Examples of suitable materials are various nylons, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polypropylene, copolyesters, moldable carbon fibers, plastics, rubbers, composites, and the like.
Referring now to
While the examples depicted herein show interlocking edge connections that extend in a substantially vertical fashion, other types of interlocking edge connections may be utilized for protective devices in accordance with the present invention. For example, interlocking edge connections may extend substantially horizontally, diagonally, or in an irregular fashion. Further, different orientations of interlocking edge connections may be used to join different components of a single protective device in accordance with the present invention. Referring now to
Protective device 400 may have an assembled height 401 of between approximately 15-20 centimeters, an assembled width 402 of approximately 10-22 centimeters, and a thickness 403 of approximately 1-5 millimeters. Each tab 412, 422 may extend a length 404 from an adjoining notch 413, 423. Tab length 404 may be approximately 2 centimeters, or within a range of about 1-3 centimeters for the present example.
The frictional force between first interlocking edge 431 and second interlocking edge 432 may secure first component 410 to second component 420. The connection between first component 410 and second component 420 may be further enhanced by a property referred to as ‘stiction,’ whereby materials in contact resist moving laterally with one another. The materials selected to form the components of a protective device in accordance with the present invention may, in some examples, comprise materials with high stiction properties. For example, copolyesters may have particularly desirable stiction properties for use in protective devices in accordance with the present invention. One example of a suitable copolyester is available from Eastman Chemical Company under the trade name TRITAN. Further, the structural integrity of an interlocking edge connection between a first component 410, a second component 420, or any number of components utilized in a protective device in accordance with the present invention may be enhanced by the structure, such as a pocket, that retains a protective device over the portion of the wearer's anatomy to be protected. However, the presence of an interlocking edge connection, rather than a single continuous component, may provide a degree of flexibility along the interlocking edge connection, thereby enhancing the comfort and mobility of the wearer.
Referring now to
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Protective devices in accordance with the present invention may be formed in a variety of fashions. For example, an entire protective device may be formed via molding, machining, additive manufacturing processes, or any other technique and then cut (for example, with a saw, knife, or die) to form components with interconnecting edges. Alternatively, individual components with desired interconnecting edges may be formed via molding, machining, additive manufacturing processes, etc.
Interlocking edges for components of protective devices may have a variety of configurations beyond those described in the examples herein. Interlocking edges may comprise triangular tabs, posts and grooves, more complicated three dimensional structures than the examples provided, etc. Different degrees of protection desired, different anatomical portions to be protected, different types of sports, and/or different ability levels of athletes may benefit from different configurations of interlocking edges, different materials, and/or different configurations of protective devices in accordance with the present invention.
Claims
1. An interlocking protective device to protect a portion of a wearer's anatomy, the interlocking protective structure comprising:
- a first component that extends in three dimensions to conform to a first sub-portion of the portion of the wearer's anatomy, the first component having at least a first interlocking edge having a first configuration; and
- a second component that extends in three dimensions to conform to a second sub-portion of the portion of the wearer's anatomy, the second component having at least a second interlocking edge having a second configuration, the second configuration interlocking with the first configuration to form an interlocking edge connection to retain the second component to the first component, such that the first component and the second component conform to the first sub-portion and the second sub-portion of the portion of the wearer's anatomy when the interlocking protective device is worn.
2. The interlocking protective device of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking edge comprises a first plurality of tabs and notches and the second interlocking edge comprises a second plurality of tabs and notches that mate with the first plurality of tabs and notches.
3. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, further comprising a third component that extends in three diminesions to conform to a third sub-portion of the wearer's anatomy, and wherein:
- the second component further comprises a third interlocking edge having a third plurality of tabs and notches, and
- the third component has a fourth interlocking edge having a fourth plurality of tabs and notches that mate with the third plurality of tabs and notches of the third interlocking edge to form a second interlocking edge connection.
4. The interlocking protective device of claim 3, wherein the first interlocking edge, second interlocking edge, third interlocking edge, and fourth interlocking edge extend in a substantially vertical direction in an as worn position.
5. The interlocking protective device of claim 3, wherein the first interlocking edge, second interlocking edge, third interlocking edge, and fourth interlocking edge extend in a substantially horizontal direction.
6. The interlocking protective device of claim 1, further comprising a third component with a third interlocking edge having a third configuration having a third configuration, and wherein the second component has at least a fourth interlocking edge having a fourth configuration, the third configuration interlocking with the fourth configuration to form an interlocking edge connection to retain the third component to the second component, such that the third component is retained in a position forming a gap between the third component and the first component.
7. The interlocking protective device of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking edge comprises a first hinge component and the second interlocking edge comprises a second hinge component adapted to mate with the first hinge component, the protective device further comprising a pin that flexibly joins the first hinge component to the second hinge component.
8. The interlocking protective device of claim 1, wherein the first interlocking edge comprises at least a first a ball and the second interlocking edge comprises at least a first socket that mates with the at least a first ball.
9. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, wherein the first component and the second component are made of a copolyester.
10. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, wherein the first component and the second component are made of a nylon.
11. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, wherein the first component and the second component are made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
12. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, wherein the first component and the second component are made of polypropylene.
13. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, wherein the first component and the second component are made of moldable carbon fibers.
14. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, wherein the first interlocking edge and the second interlocking edge are formed by cutting the first component and the second component from an integrally formed piece having the size, shape, and configuration of the intended assembled interlocking protective device.
15. The interlocking protective device of claim 14, wherein the integrally formed piece is formed by molding.
16. The interlocking protective device of claim 14, wherein the integrally formed piece is formed by an additive manufacturing process.
17. The interlocking protective device of claim 2, wherein the first component and the second component are formed separately.
18. A protective device comprising:
- at least two components, each of the components configured in three dimensions to conform to a sub-portion of a wearer's anatomy, each of the components having at least one interlocking edge;
- at least one interlocking edge connection formed by mating two interlocking edges from two different components of the at least two components, such that the at least two components joined by the at least one interlocking edge form the protective device such that the protective device conforms to a portion of the wearer's anatomy when worn.
19. The protective device of claim 18, wherein the two interlocking edges forming each of the interlocking edge connections mate in two dimensions.
20. The protective device of claim 18, wherein the two interlocking edges forming each of the interlocking edge connections mate in three dimensions.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 18, 2014
Applicant: Nike, Inc. (Beaverton, OR)
Inventor: Nathan Demarest (Portland, OR)
Application Number: 13/834,299