Protective Knee Device

Abstract

A knee pad assembly for protecting a knee of a construction worker. The device includes a Velcro or zipper belt that is fixedly connected with one side of the kneecap body. Thus, the pad member of the present invention can either be used with the strap members or can be attached directly to the legs of a pair of pants. This knee protecting garment has an access point for inserting or removing padding. It is extremely comfortable to wear and can be used in any environment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to knee protecting garment that is composed of a knee pad body and a Velcro or zipper belt that is fixedly connected to one side of the kneecap body. Padding is coupled to the garment and extends adjacent the knee area, which provides protection to the knee and any other parts around the knee, such as bone, cartilage, and ligaments. The knee pad is removable from the knee protecting garment. This object is useful for the workers in the field of construction.

(2) Background of Invention

Many occupations and avocations require that persons spend extended periods of time in a kneeling position, with either one on both knees in contact with the floor or ground. Craftsmen and laborers engaged in installing and/or re-finishing floors are often on their knees for hours at a time. Plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and automobile mechanics often engage in activities that call for protracted kneeling. Farmers, landscapers, and gardeners must also perform many of their activities in a kneeling or semi-kneeling posture. For some tradesmen, much of their daily work requires them to work on their knees. For example, tradesmen, such as installers of carpet or other flooring, as well as other construction workers spend all or part of their workday on their knees. Working on one's knees, of course, may be uncomfortable, painful, or even lead to serious knee injuries. For example, kneeling on the floor of a construction site may result in contact with a nail, screw, or other sharp object that could inflict injury.

Various devices and designs have been proposed in the art for kneepads and clothing with knee protection devices. Although assembly effective for their intended purposes, the existing devices do not include knee protective devices that are integral to a clothing construction or that are adjustable or removable.

The prior art discloses two major types of knee-pads. The first type of knee-pads attaches directly to the legs of a pair of pants with suitable fasteners. An example of this type of knee-pad can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,561,872 of Krinick, which describes knee protectors that include pads that are attached to the legs of a pair of overalls.

There are various devices that can be used for protecting a person's knees while kneeling for work or recreation. For example, external knee pads attached to a user's garment via straps, fasteners, Velcro, hooks and loops, magnets, or the like are disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 334,687, U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,855, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,412. One disadvantage of these devices is that a user must attach the knee pad to their garment or body in order for the device to work. The attachments can be uncomfortable; they can cut off blood circulation, chafe, or burn the user's leg. Another disadvantage of these devices is that they can be time consuming to put on or remove prior to and following each use. Another disadvantage of these devices is that the attachments can disengage, causing the knee pad to move out of place or completely fall off of the user.

Another solution for protecting the knees while working or participating in recreational activities is garments that have pockets attached to the garment and cover an area, such as the knees, and inserting knee pads into the pocket. This is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,168,746, U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,124, U.S. Pat. No. 4,488,314, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,666. One disadvantage of these garments is that the knee pads are permanently attached to the garment. When the padding becomes ineffective, the entire garment needs to be replaced. There are also garments that have pockets attached to the garment that enable the user to insert and remove the knee pads. Once they are no longer effective in protecting the knees, the knee pad can be replaced without replacing the garment. However, these garments will continue to deteriorate at the point of contact between the knee pad and the surface that the user is kneeling on, even if the knee pads are continually replaced.

Therefore, a need exists to cure the above mentioned defects in garments that have knee pads. This invention provides a garment that has a pocket attached to the garment for inserting and removing a knee pad so that the garment will not wear down at a point or over an area of contact between the user and the surface upon which they are kneeling. The user will have continuous use of the knee pad without having to take the time to attach or remove it. The knee pad will not unintentionally disengage from the user, and the user will be able to easily replace the knee pads once they are no longer effective without having to prematurely replace the entire garment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of this invention is to provide a knee protecting garment that is composed of a knee pad body and a Velcro or zipper belt that is fixedly connected to one side of the kneecap body.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a knee protecting garment that has an access point for inserting or removing padding. The pocket does not have a material at a point or over an area covering an external facing of the padding.

Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a knee-pad device that can be attached either directly to a pair of jeans, or to a pair of straps which can encircle a leg.

Briefly, the invention includes a substantially rectangular, flexible, arcuate pad that has an upper end attached above the knee and has a lower end attached below the knee. As the knee is bent the pad flexes to conform to the shape of the knee, and, as the knee is straightened, the pad member bows outwardly from the knee to permit free air flow to the knee.

The pad can be attached directly to a leg of a pair of pants with suitable fasteners, such as Velcro. The Velcro can engage the pad to form the knee into a loop. Thus, the pad member of the present invention can either be used with the strap members, or can be attached directly to the legs of a pair of pants.

An advantage of this invention is that it is extremely comfortable to wear, and can be used in any environment.

These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will no doubt become apparent upon a reading of the following descriptions and a study of the several figures of the drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

To further clarify various aspects of some example embodiments of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawing. it is appreciated that the drawing depicts only illustrated embodiments of the invention, and is, therefore, not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of knee protective garments with knee pockets for pads, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts the pads and a sample of a knee protective garment shown on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a front view of knee protective garments with partially inserted knee pad in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description that follows includes exemplary devices, methods, systems, techniques, and instruction sequences products that embody techniques of the present inventive subject matter. However, it should be understood that the described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. Well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, and techniques have not been shown in detail in order to not obfuscate the description.

The use of kneepads typically requires placement of the pad in the vicinity of the knee over the clothing, and then attaching the kneepad unit with attachment devices, such as Velcro. Since kneepads are typically configured to be removable, as they are advantageously attached in a non-invasive manner over a garment. In other words, the attachment devices generally do not penetrate the underlying fabric with devices such as pins, buttons, or the like, since the underlying fabric may be associated with a garment, such as a uniform garment, where marring with pins and the like would be undesirable and where rapid removal may be necessary or desirable. Velcro is a fabric hook and loop fastener that is used as a fastening tape consisting of a strip of nylon with a surface of minute hooks that fasten to a corresponding strip with a surface of uncut pile.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the knee protecting garment has an access point for inserting or removing padding. The pocket does not have a material at a point or over an area covering an external facing of the padding.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the knee protecting garment is made of cotton material. The knee pad is attached to the garment by Velcro or zipper.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the knee pad can be removed from the garment when needed.

FIG. 1 illustrates that the knee-pad device includes a pair of attachment members 1, which attach the pad member to a user's knee. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the attachment members are strips of VELCRO attached to the legs 2 of jeans. A preferred construction for pad members includes a padding encased within a cover. The padding and cover preferably made from a flexible, durable material, such as cotton. It should be noted that while the pad member of the preferred embodiment is substantially rectangular in shape, different sizes and length can be used. It is necessary, however, that the distance between the Velcro be greater than the distance between attachment members, so that the pad member will bow outwardly from the knee when the leg is straightened. FIG. 2 is an outside view of knee protective garments, in accordance with the present invention, and FIG. 3 is front view of knee protective garments with knee pad in accordance with the present invention.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the knee protecting garment can be used in any environment, as per the requirement in construction field.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-discussed embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. it is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-discussed embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.

Plural instances may be provided for components, operations, or structures described herein as a single instance. Finally, boundaries between various components are somewhat arbitrary, and particular operations are illustrated in the context of specific illustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality are envisioned and may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter. In general, structures and functionality presented as separate components in the exemplary configurations may be implemented as a combined structure or component. Similarly, structures and functionality presented as a single component may be implemented as separate components. These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fall within the scope of the inventive subject matter.

Claims

1. A knee protecting garment comprising:

garment having attachment means about the area around the knees of a wearer, wherein the attachment means are a first length;

a plurality of covers with an access point and are a length greater than the first length of the attachment means of the garment, wherein the plurality of covers are removably attached to the garment about the attachment means of the garment; and

a plurality of padding, wherein at least one of the plurality of padding is inserted into one plurality of covers through the access point.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The garment of claim 1, the garments is jeans, pants, trousers, short pants, a dress, an overall, or a combination thereof.

5. The garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment members of the garment in the area around a knee of a wearer.

6. The garment of claim 1, wherein the attachment member is a hook and loop mechanism, a zipper, or a combination of the two.

7. (canceled)

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of padding is cotton.

9. (canceled)

10. The garment of claim 1, wherein the plurality of padding is rectangular in shape.