Leg guards with hinges

An articulating protective gear assembly comprising:

• a first guard assembly including at least at least part of a first device for securing the articulating protective gear assembly on a user;
• a second guard assembly including at least part of a second device for securing the articulating protective gear assembly on a user;
• two connection elements connecting the first guard assembly to the second guard assembly, wherein a first connection element of the two connection elements is positioned at a first lateral side of the articulating protective gear assembly, and a second connection element of the two connection elements is positioned at a second lateral side of the articulating protective gear assembly opposite the first lateral side;
• and
• an intermediate portion;
• wherein:
• a first end of one of the connection elements is rotatably connected to the first guard assembly about an axis oriented along a direction extending laterally through the first lateral side and the second lateral side;
• a second end of the one of the connection elements is positioned opposite the first end and rotatably connected to the second guard assembly;
• and
• the intermediate portion is positioned to cover at least part of a gap between the first guard assembly and the second guard assembly when the first guard assembly is moved relative to the second guard assembly via the two connection elements.

A leg guard for a baseball or softball catcher, the leg guard comprising:

• a shin guard assembly positionable to protect a lower portion of a user's leg;
• a thigh guard assembly positionable to protect an upper portion of a user's leg;
• a knee guard assembly positionable to protect at least part of a user's knee;
• and
• two connection elements connecting the knee guard assembly to the thigh guard assembly, wherein at least one of the connection elements is rotatably attached to the knee guard assembly about a first rotation axis and rotatably attached to the thigh guard assembly about a second rotation axis that is spaced apart from the first rotation axis, and wherein the first rotation axis is oriented along a direction that extends transversely through opposing lateral sides of the leg guard.