Shock absorbing athletic equipment
OwnerByron A. Donzisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A structure is provided which absorbs shock by the controlled transfer of air from within an enclosure to outside the enclosure. A core of open-celled foam material is provided to act as an exhaustable reservoir of air within the enclosure. This structure is adapted to provide comfort and freedom of movement to the wearer. Cooperatively arranged with this structure are one or more inserts positioned to provide exceptional protection to one or more selected areas of the wearer's body. These inserts are designed to not loose shock absorbing capability when subjected to forces of anticipated magnitudes. Thus, protective equipment is provided which yields general protection to at least a portion of the wearer's body while providing exceptional protection at selected areas of such individual's body.
Claims28
Shock absorbing athletic equipment for protecting a wearer from externally impacting forces, comprising:
- a shock absorbing body portion designed to generally cover and protect at least a portion of a wearer's body, comprising,
- a flexible enclosure defining an internal cavity therein, said flexible enclosure being generally impermeable to air,
- means for placing said cavity within said enclosure in limited fluid communication with the exterior of said enclosure, and
- a foam core retained within said cavity, said foam core formed of an open-celled material;
- and
- a shock absorbing insert portion secured to said body portion and situated to contact a selected area of the body of said wearer, said insert having shock absorbing capability distinct from that of said shock absorbing body portion, said insert adapted to maintain said shock absorbing capability when impacted by a force of an anticipated magnitude.
Shock absorbing athletic equipment for protecting a wearer's body from an externally impacting force, comprising:
- a shock absorbing body portion adapted to generally conform to said wearer's body and to generally make contact therewith except at at least one selected area, said body portion comprising,
- a foam core having first and second major surfaces, said foam core comprising a multi-layered laminate of open-celled foam material, said foam core having an aperture therethrough between said first and second major surfaces, said aperture situated to lie proximate said selected area of said wearer's body when said protective equipment is upon said wearer's body,
- an enclosure around said foam core, said enclosure formed of a fabric rendered relatively impermeable to air such that a relatively air-tight enclosure is formed around said foam core, said enclosure shaped to follow the contour of said foam core on at least one side of said body portion, and
- means for providing fluid communication between the interior of said enclosure and the exterior of said enclosure;
- a shock absorbing insert adapted to fit within the area defined by said contour of said enclosure around said aperture in said foam core, said insert adapted to withstand an impacting force of a given force magnitude without said insert losing its shock absorbing capability;
- and
- a shield structure adapted to distribute said impacting force over at least a portion of said body portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.