Lace-up protective elbow pad

Abstract

A protective elbow pad is provided. The elbow pad comprises an outer protective portion and an inner retention portion engaged together along at least one pair of adjacent side edges. The outer protective portion is configured to cover at least the elbow joint of the wearer and circumferentially extends around an outer portion thereof. The inner retention portion circumferentially extends around an inner portion of the wearer's arm. A means for fastening the elbow pad to the wearer's arm connects the outer protective portion and the inner retention portion together and includes at least one laced attachment extending therebetween. The laced attachment has a lace that can be tightened to fasten the elbow pad to the wearer's arm, and that can be loosened to permit removal of the elbow pad.

1 . A protective elbow pad comprising: 
 an outer protective portion configured to cover at least the elbow joint of a wearer, the outer protective portion having first and second longitudinal side edges, and a top proximal edge extending between said first and second side edges;    an inner retention portion adapted to overly and cover an inner region of the wearer's arm distally of the elbow joint, the inner retention portion being engaged to said first side edge of the outer protective portion and connected with said second side edge thereof by a fastening system; and    the fastening system including at least one lace extending between the inner retention portion and the outer protective portion, wherein when tightened the lace draws the inner retention portion towards the outer protective portion thereby fastening the elbow pad in position on the elbow joint of the wearer, the elbow pad being removable from the wearer's arm upon loosening of the lace, the fastening system further including a lace fastening device including a quick-release toggle and disposable in one of a closed position and an open position, the lace fastening device being engaged with the lace when disposed in said closed position such as to retain the lace in a selected position, and the lace fastening device being disengaged from the lace when disposed in said open position such as to allow the lace to be loosened or tightened.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the lace fastening device is biased in said closed position.  
   
   
       4 . (canceled)  
   
   
       5 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the toggle is engaged to one of the outer protective portion and the inner retention portion.  
   
   
       6 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the toggle is fixed in position on said one of the outer protective portion and the inner retention portion.  
   
   
       7 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a free end of the lace has a fastener engaged thereto, the fastener being removably fastenable to a mating fastening element located on one of the outer protective portion and the inner retention portion, the fastener and the fastening element being engaged together such as to keep the free end of the lace in a fixed position when the elbow pad is installed on the arm of the wearer.  
   
   
       8 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the inner retention portion is hingedly engaged to said first side edge of the outer protective portion.  
   
   
       9 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the fastening system includes at least one elastic member extending between the inner retention portion and the outer protective portion.  
   
   
       10 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a second outer protective portion is hingedly engaged to said top proximate edge of said outer protective portion, the second outer protective portion being adapted to protect an outer region of the wearer's arm proximal of the elbow joint.  
   
   
       11 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the second outer protective portion includes a fastening strap for engaging the second outer protective portion to the arm of the wearer.  
   
   
       12 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the fastening strap is fixed at one end thereof to a first side of the second outer protective portion and is removably fastenable to a second opposed side of the second outer protective portion.  
   
   
       13 . An elbow pad adapted for covering and protecting at least an elbow joint of a wearer when installed in place on the wearer's arm, the elbow pad comprising: 
 an outer protective portion and an inner retention portion engaged together along at least one pair of adjacent side edges thereof, the outer protective portion being configured to cover at least the elbow joint of the wearer and circumferentially extending around an outer portion of the wearer's arm, and the inner retention portion circumferentially extending around an inner portion of the wearer's arm; and    a means for fastening the elbow pad to the wearer's arm, the means for fastening connecting the outer protective portion and the inner retention portion together and including at least one laced attachment extending therebetween, the laced attachment having a lace being tightenable to fasten the elbow pad to the wearer's arm, and loosenable to permit removal of the elbow pad from the wearer's arm, the laced attachment including a lace fastening device at least partially enclosing a portion of the lace, the lace fastening device being disposable in either a clamped or open position, the portion of the lace being grasped by the lace fastening device in the clamped position such as to retain a given tautness of the lace, and the lace being free to slide relative to the lace fastening device in the open position such as to allow the tautness in the lace to be changed.    
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the lace fastening device is biased in the clamped position.  
   
   
       16 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the lace fastening device is fixed in place on one of the outer protective portion and the inner retention portion.  
   
   
       17 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the free ends of the lace are fixed to a fastener, the fastener being removably fastenable to a mating fastening element located on one of the outer protective portion and the inner retention portion.  
   
   
       18 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the inner retention portion and the outer protective portion are engaged together along two substantially parallel edge joints, the laced attachment being disposed along at least one of the two edge joints.  
   
   
       19 . The elbow pad as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the means for fastening includes at least one elastic member extending between the inner retention portion and the outer protective portion.  
   
   
       20 . A protective elbow pad comprising: 
 an outer protective portion configured to cover at least the elbow joint of a wearer, the outer protective portion having first and second longitudinal side edges, and a top proximal edge extending between said first and second side edges;    an inner retention portion adapted to overly and cover an inner region of the wearer's arm distally of the elbow joint, the inner retention portion being engaged to said first side edge of the outer protective portion and connected with said second side edge thereof by a fastening system; and    the fastening system including at least one lace extending between the inner retention portion and the outer protective portion, wherein when tightened the lace draws the inner retention portion towards the outer protective portion thereby fastening the elbow pad in position on the elbow joint of the wearer, the elbow pad being removable from the wearer's arm upon loosening of the lace, wherein a second outer protective portion is hingedly engaged to said top proximate edge of said outer protective portion, the second outer protective portion being adapted to protect an outer region of the wearer's arm proximal of the elbow joint.