Hockey shin guard

Abstract

A protective sports pad having a substantially rigid outer shell, a padding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations, and at least one suspension member connected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell along spaced apart second locations. The padding layer has a portion which is spaced away from an inner side of the outer shell to define a first free space between the padding layer portion and the shell. The suspension member is inwardly spaced away from the padding layer to define a second free space between the suspension member and the padding layer. The first and second free spaces are at least partially superimposed. The suspension member has an inner side which is adapted to contact a body portion of a wearer.

1 . A protective sports pad comprising: 
 a substantially rigid outer shell;    a padding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations, the padding layer having a portion thereof spaced away from an inner side of the outer shell to define a first free space therebetween; and    at least one suspension member connected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell along spaced apart second locations, the suspension member being inwardly spaced away from the padding layer to define a second free space therebetween, the first and second free spaces being at least partially superimposed, the suspension member having an inner side adapted to contact a body portion of a wearer.    
   
   
       2 . The protective pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer has an outer convex side and an inner concave side.  
   
   
       3 . The protective pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner side of the outer shell is concave, the outer shell also having a convex outer side.  
   
   
       4 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension member is extendable such that a pressure applied on the inner side of the suspension member reduces the second free space.  
   
   
       5 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension member extends substantially loosely between the second locations.  
   
   
       6 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension member extends between the second locations under tension, and the shell has sufficient rigidity to resist deformation caused by the tension in the suspension member.  
   
   
       7 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the padding layer includes at least one opening defined therein, the opening providing fluid communication between the first and second free spaces.  
   
   
       8 . The protective pad as described in  claim 7 , wherein the opening is covered by a mesh material.  
   
   
       9 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the shell includes at least one opening defined therein, the opening providing fluid communication between the first free space and an environment surrounding the protective pad.  
   
   
       10 . The protective pad as described in  claim 9 , wherein the opening is covered by a mesh material.  
   
   
       11 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the first locations include two seam lines which are substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shell.  
   
   
       12 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension member includes two opposed extremities, each extremity being connected to the outer shell in a respective one of the second locations.  
   
   
       13 . The protective pad as described in  claim 12 , wherein the second locations include two elongated slots defined in the outer shell, each extremity passing through the respective elongated slot to be attached to the shell.  
   
   
       14 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the shell, padding layer and suspension member are configured such that the pad can surround and protect a shin of a wearer.  
   
   
       15 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one suspension member includes two spaced apart suspension members.  
   
   
       16 . The protective pad as described in  claim 1 , wherein the suspension member includes padding.  
   
   
       17 . A protective shin pad comprising: 
 a substantially rigid outer shell having a concave inner side, the rigid outer shell having at least a first opening defined therethrough;    a padding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations, the padding layer having a portion thereof spaced away from the inner side of the outer shell to define a first free space therebetween, the portion having at least a second opening defined therethrough, the first and second openings being in fluid communication with the first free space;    at least one suspension member connected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell along spaced apart second locations, the suspension member being inwardly spaced away from the portion of the padding layer to define a second free space therebetween, the second free space being in fluid communication with the second opening such that cooling air can flow from an environment surrounding the pad to the second free space through the first opening, first free space and second opening, the suspension member having an inner side adapted to contact a shin of a wearer.    
   
   
       18 . The protective pad as described in  claim 17 , wherein the suspension member extends substantially loosely between the second locations.  
   
   
       19 . The protective pad as described in  claim 17 , wherein the suspension member extends between the second locations under tension, and the shell has sufficient rigidity to resist deformation caused by the tension in the suspension member.  
   
   
       20 . The protective pad as described in  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the first and second openings is covered by a mesh material.