Protective padding layer
AssigneeWm. T. Burnett IP, LLC
InventorsSam Lacey, Betsy Barnhardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible padding layer for use during competitive sports is provided. The flexible padding layer is comprised of a plurality of individual padding elements each joined on multiple sides with an adjacent padding element via a thin, connecting section. Each padding element further comprises openings and a three-dimensional surface configuration to allow for consistent mechanical properties throughout the padding layer as a whole.
Claims26
A flexible padding layer, comprising a section of resilient sheet material, having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, said sheet material formed with repetitive composite pattern of surface features, said repetitive composite pattern comprising a geometric array of a plurality of structural elements, at least one structural element of each surface feature being shared with an adjoining surface feature, each surface feature further comprising:
- a polygonal perforation surrounded by a plurality of sides joined at corners;
- and
- a contoured crown surrounding said polygonal perforation, said crown including at each said corner an angular section having a first surface forming said upper surface, said angular sections being separated by a plurality of shoulders extending along said sides, said plurality of shoulders each integrally joining a pair of said plurality of angular sections to form said crown,
- wherein each shoulder tapers from said first surface between adjoining angular sections in an arc-shaped concavity;
- and
- wherein said surface patterns and perforations collectively providing consistent flexibility in multiple directions.
A flexible padding layer, comprising:
- a resilient sheet material, having an upper surface and an opposing lower surface, said sheet material defined by a composite pattern of surface features, said composite pattern comprising a repeating array of structural elements, each said structural element in said array comprising,
- a geometric perforation through said sheet material,
- a plurality of polygonal sections radially arrayed around said geometric perforation, said polygonal sections having a first surface forming said upper surface, each polygonal section having a plurality of sides connected by vertices,
- a plurality of shoulders integrally attached to each of said polygonal section sides, wherein each shoulder extends between a pair of opposing sides and are tapered at said opposing sides from said first surface such that a cross-section between opposing sides is an arc-shaped concavity,
- wherein said array of surface features collectively provides consistent flexibility in multiple directions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.