Thigh protective device for construction workers and method of using same

Abstract

A thigh protector for rodman comprised of a shield member which extends over the thigh from the groin to approximately the knee and a reinforcing member positioned underneath the shield member at a location where the rodman will position one or more rods. The reinforcing member is preferably comprised of a narrow piece of curved material that serves the function of keeping the shield member centered on the front of the rodman's thigh and also distributes the weight of the one or more rebars that are positioned on the rodman's thigh so as to reduce the likelihood of the one or more rebars injuring the rodman's thigh. In use, the rodman carries the bundle of rebar on their shoulders and then positions a front leg forward with the knees slightly bent so that the thigh, which is wearing the thigh protector, is at least partially horizontal. The bundle of rods are then dropped onto the thigh and the rodman holds them in place with at least one of their hands. A single rod is then selected out of the bundle of rods and is dropped so as to slide down the shield member towards the rodman's knee from where it falls to the ground. The shield member protects the thigh and the rodman's clothing from damage that results from the rebar sliding along the shield member and the reinforcing member further protects the thigh from injury as a result of the thigh having to bear the weight of the bundle of rods.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A thigh protection device for use by rodmen when transporting reinforcing rods on a job site, the apparatus comprising: 
 a first shield member sized so as to cover a first thigh of the user;    a second shield member sized so as to cover a second thigh of the user, wherein the second shield member is attached to the first shield member;    a first reinforcing member formed of a rigid material that is attached to the side of the first shield member so as to be positioned adjacent the first thigh of the user, wherein the second reinforcing material is adapted to distribute the weight of the bundle of reinforcing rods so as to reduce the likelihood of injury occurring as a result of balancing the bundle of reinforcing rods on the user's first thigh;    a second reinforcing member formed of a rigid material that is attached to the side of the second shield member so as to be positioned adjacent the second thigh of the user, wherein the second reinforcing material is adapted to distribute the weight of the bundle of reinforcing rods so as to reduce the likelihood of injury occurring as a result of balancing the bundle of reinforcing rods on the user's second thigh;    an attachment mechanism attached to the first and the second shield members so as to retain first and second shield members in the desired locations on the user's first and second thigh.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second reinforcing members are formed of a material that is more rigid than the material forming the first and second shield members.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second shield members are formed of a piece of leather.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second reinforcing members are comprised of a curved pieces of plastic.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the first and the second reinforcing members are curved so as to match the contour of an average user's thigh so that the reinforcing member urges the first and second shield members to stay in a first orientation with respect to the user's first and second thigh.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first and second reinforcing members have an inner and an outer edge, the inner edge being located adjacent the inner edge of the user's thigh and the outer edge being located adjacent the outer edge of the user's thigh, wherein the outer edges of the first and second reinforcing members are mounted at a higher vertical position than the inner edges when the user is wearing the device.  
     
     
         7 . The thigh protector of  claim 6 , wherein the first and the second reinforcing members include a protruding section that protrudes in the direction of the user's knee when the user is wearing the thigh protection device and is positioned on the upper most section of the user's thigh so as to provide greater protection to the user's thigh as a rod is sliding down the shield member.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a first buckle assembly attached to the upper portion of the first and the second shield members that is adapted to attach around the waist of the user so as to encircle the waist of the user.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the attachment mechanism further comprises a first and a second thigh buckle assembly that is attached of the first and second shield members respectively and are adapted to extend around the first and second thighs of the user respectively so as to encircle the user's first and second thighs and retain the thigh protection device on the thighs of the user.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first and a second hip protection member attached to the first and second shield members so as to extend over the user's hips when the user is wearing the thigh protection device so as to protect the user's hips when balancing items on their hips.