US20240165487A1

US20240165487A1 - Protector

Info

Publication number: US20240165487A1
Application number: US17/992,174
Authority: US
Inventors: Neil Owen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-11-22
Filing date: 2022-11-22
Publication date: 2024-05-23

Abstract

A protector, including: a protective pad, including a first connection portion; and a protective shell, including a second connection portion, one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion being integrally embedded in and integrally interconnected with the other of the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the protective shell being harder than the protective pad.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a protector.

Description of the Prior Art

Exercise has great benefits for physical health and function of the human body and mind, so various sports such as skating and ball games are widely welcomed in life. When engaging in various sports, protectors are usually worn to protect knees, elbows, shin, shoulders and other parts of the human body to avoid injuries.
Generally, a protector includes a hard outer shell and a soft inner pad, the outer shell is impact-resistant and has high protection, and the inner pad can cushion and compliantly adapt to the wearing portion. The outer shell and the inner pad of the conventional protector are sewn together, which has disadvantages of low structural strength, difficult and time-consuming manufacturing, low yield, and insufficient protection.
The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide a protector which has good structural integrity and good structural strength and which has advantages of fast manufacturing, high yield, good protection, easy cleaning, and more wear resistance.
To achieve the above and other objects, a protector is provided, including: a protective pad, including a first connection portion; and a protective shell, including a second connection portion, one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion being integrally embedded in and integrally interconnected with the other of the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the protective shell being harder than the protective pad.
The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a stereogram of a preferable embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a breakdown drawing of a preferable embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is another breakdown drawing of a preferable embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a preferable embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a preferable embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a stereogram of another preferable embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 5 for a preferable embodiment of the present invention. A protector 1 of the present invention includes a protective pad 10 and a protective shell 20.
The protective pad 10 includes a first connection portion 11, the protective shell 20 includes a second connection portion 21, one of the first connection portion 11 and the second connection portion 21 is integrally embedded in and integrally interconnected with the other of the first connection portion 11 and the second connection portion 21, and the protective shell 20 is harder than the protective pad 10. It is noted that the first connection portion 11 and the second connection portion 21 may be connected by (but not limited to) injection molding, welding, tight-fitting insertion (removable or non-removable), bonding, or the like. As such, the protector is provided with good structural integrity, good structural strength, fast manufacturing, high yield, good protection, easy cleaning, and more wear resistance.
Preferably, each of the protective pad 10 and the protective shell 20 is integrally formed of one piece; at least one of the first connection portion 11 and the second connection portion 21 is melted to be connected to one another; and the first connection portion 11 and the second connection portion 21 are connected to each other gaplessly, so that the structure is strong and highly stable and so that the first connection portion 11 and the second connection portion 21 are wearless to each other.
The protective pad 10 may be an ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) member, rubber member, thermo-plastic rubber (TPR) member, foamed member, silicone member or any member made of proper material, wherein the relative softer material provides good cushioning, fit and comfort. The protective shell 20 may be a polypropylene (PP) member, polyethylene (PE) member, thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) member, thermo-plastic rubber member, other polymeric member, any member made of proper material, or metal sheet member, wherein the relative harder material provides good impact resistance, protection and abrasion resistance.
The protective pad 10 further includes a main body 12, and the first connection portion 11 includes at least one pad projection 111 and at least one connection column 112 which is integrally connected to and between the main body 12 and the at least one pad projection 111. The second connection portion includes at least one connecting hole 211, the at least one connection column 112 is integrally embedded within the at least one connecting hole 211, and the main body 12 and the at least one pad projection 111 are located on opposing sides of the second connection portion 21. However, the second connection portion may include at least one connection column, and the first connection portion may include at least one connecting hole. The second connection portion 21 further includes at least one pad hole 212, and the at least one pad projection 111 is embedded within the at least one pad hole 212 and integrally interconnected with the protective shell 20. Preferably, an outer surface of the at least one pad projection 111 and an outer surface of the protective shell 20 are smoothly connected, which reduces damages due to friction, prevents snagging, and is easy to clean.
Specifically, a side of the protective shell 20 facing the protective pad 10 includes at least one annular projection 22 which is embedded in the protective pad 10. In this embodiment, the first connection portion 11 includes a plurality of connection columns 112, the second connection portion 21 includes a plurality of connecting holes 211 distributed evenly in the second connection portion 21, and the plurality of connection columns 112 are embedded in the plurality of connecting holes 211, respectively. As such, it strengthens the combination of the protective pad 10 and the protective shell 20 and enhances the cushioning effect of the at least one pad projection 111. The at least one annular projection 22 is disposed around the plurality of connection columns 112, which strengthens the combination of the plurality of connection columns 112 and the plurality of connecting holes 211.
The at least one pad projection 111 can, for example, be worn on the joint(s) of a human body. In this embodiment, the protector 1 is a knee pad (guard), the at least one pad projection 111 further includes at least one middle projection and at least one peripheral projection, some of the plurality of connection columns 112 are distributed on the at least one middle projection (correspondingly, some of the plurality of connecting holes 211 are distributed within the region of the associated pad hole 212), some of the plurality of connection columns 112 are distributed along a periphery of the protective pad 10 (correspondingly, some of the plurality of connecting holes 211 are distributed along a periphery of the protective shell 20), and the at least one peripheral projection encompasses and is interconnected with at least one lateral side of the protective shell 20. Specifically, the first connection portion 11 includes two middle projections 113, 114 and a plurality of peripheral projections 115, the two middle projections 113, 114 are configured to be worn on the patella and tibial tubercle, and a portion of the protective shell 20 between the two middle projection 113, 114 is configured to correspond to the patella tendon, so that it can effectively protect important parts of a human body, while maintaining a considerable degree of mobility. An outer surface of the at least one peripheral projection 115 and an outer surface of the protective shell 20 are preferably smoothly connected, which reduces damages due to friction, prevents snagging, and is easy to clean.
Preferably, the protective pad 10 further includes a plurality of through hole 14 revealing parts of the protective shell 20, wherein the plurality of through hole 14 contribute to breathability, avoid sticking to the skin, and contribute to wear comfort; the protective shell 20 further includes (for example, is integrally formed with) at least one fastening member 23 configured for connection of at least one strip 30 for being attired to a user, and the at least one fastening member 23 includes a plurality of ring member 231 configured for connection of a plurality of strip 30 (FIG. 6 ); the protective pad 10 further includes at least one notch 13, and the at least one fastening member 23 is received within the at least one notch 13 so that it reduces damages due to friction and prevents snagging; and each of the at least one fastening member 23 includes a thinned portion 232 with which the fastening member 23 can compliantly adapt to various wearing portions.
Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A protector, including:

a protective pad, including a first connection portion; and

a protective shell, including a second connection portion, one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion being integrally embedded in and integrally interconnected with the other of the first connection portion and the second connection portion, the protective shell being harder than the protective pad.

2. The protector of claim 1, wherein the protective pad is an ethylene vinyl acetate member, rubber member or thermo-plastic rubber, and the protective shell is a polypropylene member, polyethylene member or thermoplastic polyurethanes member or thermo-plastic rubber member.

3. The protector of claim 1, wherein the protective pad further includes a main body, the first connection portion includes at least one pad projection and at least one connection column which is integrally connected to and between the main body and the at least one pad projection, the second connection portion includes at least one connecting hole, the at least one connection column is integrally embedded within the at least one connecting hole, and the main body and the at least one pad projection are located on opposing sides of the second connection portion.

4. The protector of claim 3, wherein the second connection portion includes at least one pad hole, the at least one pad projection is embedded within the at least one pad hole and integrally interconnected with the protective shell.

5. The protector of claim 4, wherein the first connection portion includes a plurality of connection column, the second connection portion includes a plurality of connecting holes, and the plurality of connection columns are integrally embedded within the plurality of connecting holes, respectively.

6. The protector of claim 3, wherein the second connection portion includes a plurality of connecting holes distributed evenly in the second connection portion.

7. The protector of claim 5, wherein the at least one pad projection includes at least one middle projection and at least one peripheral projection, some of the plurality of connection columns are distributed on the at least one middle projection, some of the plurality of connection columns are distributed along a periphery of the protective pad, the at least one peripheral projection encompasses and is interconnected with at least one lateral side of the protective shell, and an outer surface of the at least one peripheral projection and an outer surface of the protective shell are smoothly connected.

8. The protector of claim 1, wherein the protective shell further includes at least one fastening member configured for connection of at least one strip for being attired to a user, the protective pad further includes at least one notch, and the at least one fastening member is received within the at least one notch.

9. The protector of claim 1, wherein each of the protective pad and the protective shell is integrally formed of one piece; at least one of the first connection portion and the second connection portion is melted to be connected to one another; the first connection portion and the second connection portion are connected to each other gaplessly; and the protective pad further includes a plurality of through hole revealing parts of the protective shell.

10. The protector of claim 1, wherein a side of the protective shell facing the protective pad includes at least one annular projection which is embedded in the protective pad.