Ball-deflecting leg guard

Abstract

A leg guard includes a base and a pad assembly. The base is made of a rigid material, and includes a shin portion having a convex outer surface. The pad assembly includes a pad having a first concave surface adapted to engage the convex outer surface of the shin guard, and a second non-concave surface opposite the first surface.

1 . A leg guard comprising:
 a) a base comprised of a rigid material, the base comprising a shin portion having a convex outer surface, and   b) a pad assembly, the pad assembly comprising a pad having (i) a first concave surface adapted to engage the convex outer surface of the shin guard and (ii) a second non-concave surface opposite the first surface.   
     
     
         2 . The leg guard of  claim 1  wherein the pad is releasably secured to the base. 
     
     
         3 . The leg guard of  claim 1  wherein the pad is non-releasably secured to the base. 
     
     
         4 . The leg guard of  claim 1  wherein the pad is unitary with the base. 
     
     
         5 . The leg guard of  claim 1  wherein the base further comprises a knee portion, the knee portion having a convex outer surface, and wherein the pad assembly further comprises a pad having a first concave surface adapted to engage the convex outer surface of the knee portion. 
     
     
         6 . The leg guard of  claim 1  wherein the non-convex surface has a substantially flat cross-section. 
     
     
         7 . The leg guard of  claim 1  wherein the non-convex surface has a concave cross-section. 
     
     
         8 . The leg guard of  claim 7  wherein the concave cross-section is asymmetric. 
     
     
         9 . The leg guard of  claim 1  wherein the pad is bounded by first and second side surfaces, and wherein the pad comprises a stiffener adjacent at least a portion of at least one of the first and second side surfaces. 
     
     
         10 . The leg guard of  claim 1  further comprising at least one cap. 
     
     
         11 . A pad assembly adapted to engage a leg guard, the leg guard comprising a shin portion, the pad assembly comprising a pad having (i) a first concave surface adapted to engage the convex outer surface of the shin guard and (ii) a second non-concave surface opposite the first surface.