Leg and Knee Protection Device

Abstract

Leg and knee protection system which allows for the back of the knee to remain open. Free of traditional straps and buckles which cause binding, discomfort and pain. Leg and knee protection system which can also have custom built in tool pouches on the outside of the legs. As well as replaceable knee caps that can be made in a variety of materials such as leather, hard plastic, or rubber. Leg and knee protection system has side support battens built into the sides which allow them to stay in place and upright. Leg and knee protection system which form a 36o degree cylinder around the leg and can be attached with Velcro, hooks, latches, snaps, or any similar form of attachment.

Description

SUMMARY

My knee and leg protection design makes it possible for people to wear them all day without the discomfort, constant shifting and circulation issues associated with prior art. My design has built in side supports that allow the knee and leg protection to rest comfortably on top of the user's foot. Furthermore my design is leg specific which guarantees that the knee and leg protection pad will be in the proper place when the user drops to their knees. My design allows the knee and leg protection to be fitted loose around the users legs preventing bunching of the pants. This will also allow them to breath. My design also allows easy access to small hand tools, or other items through the built in tool pouches on the sides of the outside portion of them. The tool pouches can be designed for specific items depending on the user's needs. The built in tool pouches will save the user time, increase their productivity, and could save lives due to quick access to life saving items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently there are numerous styles of knee and leg protection in the marketplace. However none of them offer a pain free design. Furthermore none of them allow the back of the knee to remain open and free from straps or elastic used to keep them in place. My design addresses the binding and circulation impairment issues, which causes considerable discomfort. Plus prior art designs often fail to keep knee and protection in place. This results in constant adjustments. My design which can be made of canvas, cotton blend, synthetic textures, leather, gortex, Kevlar or any such material wraps around the leg calf, thigh or both. They are attached together to make a 360 degree cylinder around the area in need of protection. My design is needed as it solves the discomfort issues associated with prior art. To date prior art teaches of attaching the knee pad or leg protection by means of straps, buckles or elastic. All of which are tightened around the knees causing major discomfort to the user. These methods produce binding or circulation issues which causes irritation and discomfort to the area of contact. Plus prior art does not always keep the protection pads in the desired location. Therefore they require constant readjustment. Often this results in the user simply removing them entirely. My design solves these problems. Plus my design would be used more often which would result in less injuries, time loss, and would increase production times as well as user protection. My design would benefit many different tradesmen as well as military, EMT, and at home users. My design will reduce pain, suffering, and costly medical claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Leg and knee protection without traditional straps and buckles used to keep them in place. When people are working or engaging in sports where legs and knees incur impaction or friction type engagement, there is a need for my design. As to date, we are limited to strap on traditional protection, such as, strap on knee pads, heavy clothing, or elastic type of system to hold in place. These methods produce a binding or circulation impairment, which causes irritation or considerable discomfort to the area of contact. These methods do not always keep protection in the required area and require constant re-adjustment. My leg and knee protection design is more user friendly, practical and efficient. My leg and knee protection device would be more readily used which would lessen injury, time loss and increase protection for user. Further, the need is great in the heavy construction, military, EMT, disaster response and rescue. Anywhere the possibility for serious contact with sharp or flying objects is likely to occur. This leg and knee protection design will reduce pain, suffering, and costly medical claims. My leg and knee protection device consist of Leg and knee protection without traditional straps and buckles used to keep them in place. This design is different because it uses the gator or spat design of cotton canvas, cotton blend, synthetic textures, leather, Gortex Kevlar or any such materials. The design is to use the material to wrap 360 degrees around calf, thigh or both, and attach together to make a complete cylinder around the intended area. It can be attached with snaps, zipper, Velcro, hook or latches. The cylinder is designed to fit as loose as possible without binding or pinching. They can be used over clothing without binding or bunching of the clothing. They are more breathable, and eliminate the rubbing, pinching and circulation issues created by prior art. They also allow the user to move and bend freely and remain in a more correct position. My leg and knee protection device combines the traditional knee pad, foam, gel, leather etc., and attach to the garment either by sewing into or attaching on the outside with Velcro, snaps, etc. The padding or protection panels would be attached over the knee area and wherever protection is required. The next step is to sew in or attach splints, rods or battens to the vertical sides of the cylinder on the area inside of the leg and outside from top to bottom to provide vertical support to the garment. This keeps the pad in the proper vertical position, and in place. The bottom of the garment is cut in such way to keep the garment from rotating in the intended area, keep it from spinning from side to side. There is also a panel of rubber, leather or similar material sewn along the bottom foot area to help stop the leg and knee protection device from rotating. The battens are usually made of semi-flexible materials such as, PVC or similar materials. These could be made from different materials for specific uses, such as, lightweight vinyl for light duty jobs. For heavy duty, you would use plastic or nylon for extra protection. For heavy construction, EMT, rescue or extreme sports, military or police, you might use Kevlar, ceramic or heavy leather. There is also built in tool pouches or pockets which can be custom made for the user's specific application. In extreme weather conditions, either hot or cold, the built in pockets or pouches can have thermal control rods placed in them to help the body thermally. They would provide warmth around the calf, but with the use of the cooling rods placed in pockets of specialized models would considerably lower body temperature because of the amount of blood which naturally flows through this area of the body. The garment could act as a cooler to keep the cold in to lower body temperatures in extreme conditions. This is a device that can provide many levels of protection to crucial areas, with maximum comfort and mobility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SHEET I

View I #I Shows the fixed knee pads in place.

View I #II Shows the side support battens or splints.

View I #III Shows the tool pouches or pockets.

View I #IV Shows the leather keeper reinforcement at the bottom of the cylinder.

View I #XI Shows the formation of the material cylinder around the leg.

View I #I Shows the fixed knee pads in place.

View II #II Shows the side support battens or splints.

View II #III Shows the tool pouches or pockets.

View II #IV Shows the leather keeper reinforcement at the bottom of the cylinder which can be made of rubber or other similar materials.

View II #V Shows the Velcro used to attach the material into a cylinder around the leg.

View II #VI Shows the special offset cut which helps the leg and knee protection device to stay in the proper location.

View I #I Shows the fixed knee pads in place.

View I #II Shows the side support battens or splints.

View I #III Shows the tool pouches or pockets.

View I #IV Shows the leather keeper reinforcement at the bottom of the cylinder.

View I #XI Shows the formation of the material cylinder around the leg.

View II #I Shows the fixed knee pads in place.

View II #II Shows the side support battens or splints.

View II #III Shows the tool pouches or pockets.

View II #IV Shows the leather keeper reinforcement at the bottom of the cylinder which can be made of rubber or other similar materials.

View II #V Shows the Velcro used to attach the material into a cylinder around the leg.

View II #VI Shows the special offset cut which helps the leg and knee protection device to stay in the proper location.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS SHEET II

View III #VII Shows the replaceable knee cap.

View III #VIII Shows the Velcro used to attach the replaceable knee cap,

View III #IX Shows the cap material at point of impact which can be leather, plastic, rubber or many other similar materials.

View IV #VII Shows the replaceable knee cap installed onto the leg and knee protection device.

View IV #V Shows the Velcro used to attach the material into a cylinder around the leg.

View IV #X Shows the cut out area on the leg and knee protection device cylinder in order to allow more ventilation and breathability.

View IV #III Shows the tool pouches or pockets.

View IV #IV Shows the leather keeper reinforcement at the bottom of the cylinder which can be made of rubber or other similar materials.

View IV #II Shows the side support battens or splints.

View IV #VI Shows the special offset cut which helps the leg and knee protection device to stay in the proper location.

Claims

1. Leg and knee protection device which is held upright with the use of side support battens, rods or splints. With the added use of material to wrap 360 degrees around the leg forming a cylinder. Whereby the entire back of the knees remain open and free from contact with the leg and knee protection device.

2. According to claim 1, the side support battens or splints are made of PVC or other durable material which allows them to hold their shape and remain upright. And where the side support battens are attached to the vertical sides of the cylinder on the area of the inside of the legs and the outside of the legs. They can be sewn directly into or attached to the leg and knee protection device by other means.

3. According to claim 1, the material forming the 360 degree leg cylinder wrap can be made of dense foam, neoprene, gel, rubber, leather, ballistic material, gortex, cotton, synthetic material, Kevlar, or any other similar materials. Or be made in any combination of the materials. And can be solid or have open spaces for more ventilation and breathability.

4. According to claim 1 leg and knee protection device which has built in tool pouches or pockets which can be made of leather, gortex, Kevlar, cotton, neoprene, synthetic blends, or similar materials. The tool pouches or pockets can be made custom for a specific tool, item or user application.

5. A leg and knee protection devise according to claim 1 which uses materials to wrap 360 degrees around the leg and attaches together to form a cylinder which can be affixed with snaps, zipper, Velcro, hook, latches, or anything similar.

6. According to claim 5 the 360 degree cylinder is designed to fit loose in order to prevent pinching, or binding. They can be adjusted to the user's comfort preferences accordingly too.

7. Leg and knee protection device according to claim 1 which can have either fixed padding, replaceable knee caps, or a combination of both. The replaceable knee caps can be affixed with Velcro, hooks, snaps, zipper, latches, or similar item.

8. According to claim 7 the replaceable knee caps can be made from leather, hard plastic, rubber, ballistic material, dense foam, cotton, gel, Kevlar, neoprene, gortex or any combination of the materials, or similar materials.

9. According to claim 1 the bottom of the leg and knee protection cylinder is cut in such a way to keep it from rotating away from the desired area. Preventing it from spinning from side to side. This bottom cut makes the knee and leg protection device leg specific by design and allows them to be at the proper impact point when the user drops to their knees.

10. According to claim 4 the pockets or tool pouches can be custom made for cooling rods or other thermal devices allowing the leg and knee protection device to work as a body temp regulator in extreme weather conditions.