Garment for protecting a part of an extremity

Abstract

A protective garment for protecting a part of an extremity such as a shin or knee from injury due to impact, comprising a protective body of impact-absorbing material encased in a band of fabric for holding the protective body substantially adjacent to the part of the extremity thereby protecting it from injury.

1 . A protective garment for protecting a part of an extremity from injury due to impact, comprising:
 a protective body of flexible impact-absorbing material for conforming to and protecting a part of an extremity from impact; and   a band of non-protective material enclosing the protective body for holding the protective body next to and substantially covering the part of the extremity thereby protecting it from injury.   
   
   
       2 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the band is in the shape of a tube. 
   
   
       3 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the band is substantially in the shape of an elongated rectangle and comprises at least one fastener for securing the band to the extremity. 
   
   
       4 . The protective garment of  claim 3  wherein the fastener adjustably secures the band to the extremity and comprises at least one of hook, loop, buckle, button, magnet, snap and string. 
   
   
       5 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body comprises at least one of a closed cell polymer and an open cell polymer. 
   
   
       6 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body comprises more than one layer of impact-absorbing material. 
   
   
       7 . The protective garment of  claim 6  wherein the protective body comprises at least a first layer of protective material of a first density and a second layer of protective material attached to the first layer, the second layer having a density greater than the density of the first layer. 
   
   
       8 . The protective garment of  claim 7  wherein the first layer of the protective body has a density in the range of about 3 to about 5 pounds per cubic foot (about 50 to about 80 kg/m 3 ) and the second layer has a density in the range of about 5 to about 12 pounds per cubic foot (about 80 to about 200 kg/m 3 ), arranged so that the first layer is closer to the protected part of the extremity than the second layer when the garment is worn. 
   
   
       9 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body is between about ¼ inch (about 6 mm) and about 2 inches (about 50 mm) thick. 
   
   
       10 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body is sized to protect a long bone of an extremity and has a width in the range of about three to about six inches (about 75 to about 150 mm) and a length in the range of about five to about twelve inches (about 125 to about 300 mm). 
   
   
       11 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body is sized to protect a joint of an extremity and has a width in the range of about two to about six inches (about 50 to about 150 mm) and a length in the range of about three to about seven inches (about 75 to about 175 mm). 
   
   
       12 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body is arcuate and conforms substantially to the shape of the protected part of the extremity. 
   
   
       13 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body contains slits whereby it conforms substantially to the shape of the protected part of the extremity when worn. 
   
   
       14 . The protective garment of  claim 13 , wherein the slits are nested curves. 
   
   
       15 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body has beveled sides. 
   
   
       16 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the protective body is sewn permanently into the band. 
   
   
       17 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the band comprises a pocket into which the protective body is removably inserted. 
   
   
       18 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the band is made of polyester/cotton/spandex blend fabric. 
   
   
       19 . The protective garment of  claim 1  wherein the band comprises an elastomeric or textile material. 
   
   
       20 . A protective garment for protecting a part of an extremity from injury due to impact, comprising:
 a protective body of a flexible, impact absorbing closed cell polymer for conforming to and protecting a part of an extremity from impact, including:
 a first layer having a density in the range of about 3.0 to 5.0 pounds per cubic foot; (about 48 to about 80 kg/m 3 ) and 
 a second layer attached to the first layer having a density in the range of 5.0 to 12.0 pounds per cubic foot (about 80 to about 190 kg/m 3 ), 
 wherein the first layer is between ¼ inch and 1 inch (between 6 mm and 25 mm) thick, the second layer is between ⅛ inch and 1 inch (between 3 mm and 25 mm) thick, the first and second layers are arranged so the first layer is closer to the protected part of the extremity than the second layer when the garment is worn, the protective body has beveled sides, and the protective body is two to six inches (50 to 150 mm) wide and three to twelve inches (75 to 305 mm) long; and 
   a band of non-protective polyester/cotton/spandex blend fabric enclosing the protective body for holding the protective body next to the part of the extremity and substantially covering the part of the extremity thereby protecting it from injury, including:
 at least one strip of loop-type material attached to the upper side of one end of the band and at least one strip of hook-type material attached to the lower side of the other end of the band, for wrapping the band around and adjustably securing the band to the extremity; 
 wherein the band is substantially in the shape of an elongated rectangle and the protective body is sewn permanently into the band.