US 12,584,732 B2 · System and method for creating protective football equipment

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a system and method for creating a customized protective sports equipment, such as a football helmet or shoulder pad assembly, having improved fit for the player wearing the equipment. An electronic measuring device takes a 3D scan to obtain anatomical data and measurements of a person or player's head or torso region. The anatomical data and measurements are sent to a computer, which has software for processing the anatomical data and then evaluating that data against a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions of at least two of the same components. The component that has distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit the anatomical data is selected for installation in the protective equipment. In this manner, a customized, player-specific selection of pre-manufactured components are used to assemble the protective equipment to be worn by the player. A multi-step process is employed to design and assemble the protective sports equipment which features stock components that have a set of predetermined dimensions, and are identified through a player-specific selection of the components.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A system for creating a protective football shoulder pad to be worn by a football player, said system comprising:

a plurality of distinct types of fitting components, each provided in a plurality of distinct, predetermined dimensions, wherein the fitting components include:
at least two arch members, each having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions and at least two shoulder cap members, each having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions;
an electronic scanning device to obtain a 3D scan of the player's torso, the 3D scan including anatomical data of the player's torso;
and
at least one computer in electronic communication with said scanning device, said at least one computer comprising at least one electronic storage device comprising software instructions, which when executed, configure at least one processor to:
receive and process the anatomical data of the player's torso;
evaluate said anatomical data against the distinct, predetermined dimensions of said arch members to identify which arch member from amongst said at least two arch members has distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit the anatomical data, whereby the identified arch member can be subsequently used to form the protective football shoulder pad.

4 more elements

A method for creating a protective football shoulder pad to be worn by a football player, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of distinct types of pre-manufactured fitting components that include:
a first arch member having a first set of distinct, predetermined dimensions, and a second arch member having a second set of distinct, predetermined dimensions;
using an electronic scanning device to obtain a 3D scan of the player's torso, the 3D scan including anatomical data of the player's torso;
providing at least one computer in electronic communication with said scanning device, said at least one computer comprising at least one electronic storage device comprising software instructions;
and,
executing the software instructions to configure at least one processor to:
receive and process the anatomical data from the 3D scan of the player's torso;
comparing said anatomical data against the first set of distinct, predetermined dimensions of the first arch member;
comparing said anatomical data against the second set of distinct, predetermined dimensions of the second arch member;
and,
identifying one of the first or second arch members for installation in the protective football shoulder pad based upon said comparison involves a best fit analysis between the anatomical data and the first and second set of distinct, predetermined dimensions.

8 more elements

A method for creating an American football helmet to be worn by a football player, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of pre-manufactured pad members to be installed within a helmet shell, the pre-manufactured pad members including:
(i) at least two rear pad members, each having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions and (ii) at least two front pad members, each having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions;
using an electronic scanning device to obtain a 3D scan of the player's head, the 3D scan including anatomical data of the player's head;
providing at least one computer in electronic communication with said scanning device, said at least one computer comprising at least one electronic storage device comprising software instructions;
and,
executing the software instructions to configure at least one processor to:
receive and process the 3D scan of the player's head;
evaluate, using a best fit analysis, said anatomical data in the 3D scan against the distinct, predetermined dimensions of said rear pad members to identify which rear pad member from amongst the at least two rear pad members has distinct, predetermined dimensions that satisfy the best fit analysis, whereby the identified rear pad member can be subsequently installed within the helmet shell;
evaluate, using a best fit analysis, said anatomical data in the 3D scan against the distinct, predetermined dimensions of the front pad members to identify which front pad member from amongst the at least two front pad members has distinct, predetermined dimensions that satisfy the best fit analysis, whereby the identified front pad member can be subsequently installed within the helmet shell.

6 more elements

An American football shoulder pad assembly to be worn by a player engaged in football activities, the shoulder pad assembly comprising:

a left arch member having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit anatomical data in a 3D scan of the player's torso obtained from an electronic scanning device,
wherein the left arch member was selected from amongst other left arch members, and wherein the selected left arch member has a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit said anatomical data;
a right arch member operatively connected to the left arch member, the right arch member having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that correspond to said anatomical data,
wherein the right arch member was selected from amongst other right arch members, and wherein the selected right arch member has a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit said anatomical data;
a left shoulder cap member operatively connected to the left arch member, the left shoulder cap member having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit said anatomical data,
wherein the left shoulder cap member was selected from amongst other left shoulder cap members, and wherein the selected left shoulder cap member has a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit said anatomical data;
and,
a right shoulder cap member operatively connected to the right arch member, the right shoulder cap member having a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit said anatomical data,
wherein the right shoulder cap member was selected from amongst other right shoulder cap members, and wherein the selected right shoulder cap member has a set of distinct, predetermined dimensions that best fit said anatomical data.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for creating protective football equipment

Life of this patent

System and method for creating protective football equipment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31