Leg/shin guard knee pad

Abstract

Protective padding may be used during physical activities such as sporting activities to protect the body of a wearer. For example, a knee pad may be worn by a baseball catcher under the catcher's shin guard to protect a knee of the catcher. In some examples, the knee pad includes a foam pad defining a front surface configured to be positioned against the rigid shin guard and a back surface configured to be positioned against the knee. The foam pad may include a continuous sheet of memory foam adapted to conform to contours of the knee of the wearer during use. The knee pad may reduce or eliminate bruising and discomfort during sporting activity as compared to when the knee pad is not used.

1 . A shin guard knee pad comprising:
 a foam pad defining a front surface configured to be positioned against a rigid shin guard and a back surface configured to be positioned against a knee of a wearer, the foam pad comprising a continuous sheet of memory foam adapted to conform to contours of the knee of the wearer during use.   
     
     
         2 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 1 , wherein the foam pad extends from a top edge to a bottom edge and includes a wide region and a comparatively narrower region, the wide region including wings configured to be positioned about opposing sides of the knee of the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 2 , wherein the narrow region includes a top narrower region adjacent the top edge and a bottom narrower region adjacent the bottom edge and the wide region is positioned between the top narrower region and the bottom narrower region. 
     
     
         4 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 1 , wherein the foam pad comprises a high-density polyurethane. 
     
     
         5 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a moisture-wicking material covering at least a surface of the foam pad, the moisture-wicking material being configured to wick moisture away from the wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 5 , where the foam pad is wrapped in the moisture-wicking material. 
     
     
         7 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener positioned on the front surface of the foam pad, the fastener being configured to attach to a corresponding fastener positioned on an inside surface of the rigid shin guard. 
     
     
         8 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 7 , wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous sheet of memory foam did not include any holes extending through the memory foam. 
     
     
         10 . The shin guard knee pad of  claim 1 , wherein the memory foam is configured to conform to contours of the knee of wearer by at least wrapping around a portion of a medial condoyle, a lateral condoyle, and a tibial plateau notch of the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . A shin guard system comprising:
 a rigid shin guard; and   a foam pad positioned against the rigid shin guard, the foam pad defining a surface configured to be positioned against a knee of a wearer, and the foam pad comprising a continuous sheet of memory foam adapted to conform to contours of the knee of the wearer during use.   
     
     
         12 . The shin guard system of  claim 11 , wherein the foam pad extends from a top edge to a bottom edge and includes a wide region and a comparatively narrower region, the wide region including wings configured to be positioned about opposing sides of the knee of the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The shin guard system of  claim 12 , wherein the narrow region includes a top narrower region adjacent the top edge and a bottom narrower region adjacent the bottom edge and the wide region is positioned between the top narrower region and the bottom narrower region. 
     
     
         14 . The shin guard system of  claim 11 , wherein the foam pad comprises a high-density polyurethane. 
     
     
         15 . The shin guard system of  claim 11 , wherein the foam pad further comprises a moisture-wicking material covering at least a surface of the foam pad, the moisture-wicking material being configured to wick moisture away from the wearer. 
     
     
         16 . The shin guard system of  claim 11 , wherein the memory foam is configured to conform to contours of the knee of wearer by at least wrapping around a portion of a medial condoyle, a lateral condoyle, and a tibial plateau notch of the wearer. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 positioning a back surface of a foam pad against a knee of a wearer, the foam pad comprising a continuous sheet of memory foam;   conforming the continuous sheet of memory foam to contours of the knee of the wearer, and   attaching a front surface of the foam pad to a rigid shin guard.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the foam pad extends from a top edge to a bottom edge and includes a wide region that defines wings and a comparatively narrower region, and wherein positioning the back surface of the foam pad against the knee comprises positioning the wings of the foam pad about opposing sides of the knee. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising wrapping the foam pad in the moisture-wicking material. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein conforming the continuous sheet of memory foam comprises wrapping the memory foam around a portion of a medial condoyle, a lateral condoyle, and a tibial plateau notch of the wearer.