Protective guard

Abstract

A protective guard protects a surface and includes a guard body with a base portion having with a pad cavity on a first side. A pad is disposed in the pad cavity and is secured to the guard body. A first portion of the pad fills the pad cavity, and a second portion protrudes out of the cavity. Optionally, the guard body has a shank portion that extends from a second side opposite the pad cavity. A margin surrounds the shank to form a shoulder such that the shank may be inserted into a tubular member. The base portion may have a margin surrounding the pad cavity with a base outer surface. This surface may be arcuate, and the pad may have a surface of similar curvature. The pad may be bonded to the pad body, such as by a plug and hole arrangement, or by other techniques.

1 . A protective guard adapted to be protect a surface from an object, comprising: 
 (A) a guard body including a base portion having a pad cavity on a first side thereof; and    (B) a pad disposed in the pad cavity and secured to said guard body such that a first portion of said pad fills the pad cavity and a second portion of said pad protrudes out of the pad cavity.    
   
   
       2 . A protective guard according to  claim 1  where said base portion includes a margin surrounding the pad cavity, said margin having a base outer surface.  
   
   
       3 . A protective guard according to  claim 2  wherein the base outer surface is formed along a first radius of curvature so that the base outer surface is arcuate in shape.  
   
   
       4 . A protective guard according to  claim 3  wherein said pad has a pad outer surface formed along a second radius of curvature that is generally the same as the first radius of curvature so that said pad outer surface is generally continuous with the base outer surface.  
   
   
       5 . A protective guard according to  claim 1  wherein said base portion includes a shank portion extending on a second side thereof oppositely of the pad cavity.  
   
   
       6 . A protective guard according to  claim 5  wherein said shank portion terminates at a chamfered upper edge.  
   
   
       7 . A protective guard according to  claim 5  wherein said shank portion is formed as a wall surrounding a shank cavity.  
   
   
       8 . A protective guard according to  claim 1  wherein said pad is secured to said guard body by at lease one of thermal/chemical bonding, mechanical bonding and adhesive bonding.  
   
   
       9 . A protective guard according to  claim 8  wherein said pad is secured to said guard body by mechanical bonding wherein said base portion has at least one hole therein, said pad including a securing structure that includes a plug extending through the hole and an enlarged securing portion that has a dimension larger than the hole.  
   
   
       10 . A protective guard according to  claim 9  wherein said base portion has a plurality of holes therein, said securing structure including a plug extending through each of the holes and wherein said enlarged securing portion is a pad backing that joins said plugs to one another.  
   
   
       11 . A protective guard according to  claim 9  wherein said enlarged securing portion is a disc-shaped button.  
   
   
       12 . A protective guard according to  claim 1  wherein said pad is constructed of a non-slip material selected from a group consisting of: polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomer, thermoplastic olefin elastomer and polyvinyl chloride.  
   
   
       13 . A protective guard according to  claim 1  wherein said pad is constructed of a deformable, resilient material.  
   
   
       14 . A protective guard according to  claim 1  including a mounting element disposed on a second side of said base portion opposite the first side thereof, said mounting element adapted to secure said guard body to the surface.  
   
   
       15 . A protective guard according to  claim 14  wherein said mounting element is selected from a group consisting of: double sided adhesive tape, and one member of a hook-and-loop fastener.  
   
   
       16 . A protective guard according to  claim 14  wherein the second side of said base portion has a mounting cavity formed therein, said mounting element received in the mounting cavity.  
   
   
       17 . A protective guard adapted to be protect a surface from a tubular member that has a tubular side wall, comprising: 
 (A) a guard body including a base portion having a pad cavity on a first side thereof and a shank portion extending on a second side thereof oppositely of the pad cavity, said base portion including a margin surrounding the pad cavity with said margin having a base outer surface and a lip surrounding said shank to form a shoulder, said shank adapted for a forced fit insertion into the tubular member such that an edge portion of the tubular side wall abuts said shoulder; and    (B) a pad disposed in the pad cavity and secured to said guard body such that a first portion of said pad is located in the pad cavity and a second portion of said pad protrudes out of the pad cavity.    
   
   
       18 . A protective guard according to  claim 17  wherein the base outer surface is formed along a first radius of curvature so that the base outer surface is arcuate in shape.  
   
   
       19 . A protective guard according to  claim 17  wherein said shank portion is formed as a wall surrounding a shank cavity.  
   
   
       20 . A protective guard according to  claim 19  wherein said wall terminates in a chamfered upper edge.