Protective apparel for martial arts training

Abstract

Protective apparel for use in martial arts or fitness training exercises involving contact between two participants, such as pad work or spar training, comprises a strike surface ( 11 ) carried on an inflatable bladder ( 12 ), and securing means ( 21 - 23 ) to enable the apparel ( 10, 40 ) to be worn by a user ( 30 ) during spar training. During use, the inflatable bladder ( 12 ) is inflated to a sufficient pressure to withstand strikes from a sparring partner. The protective apparel may take the form of a torso protector ( 10 ) or thigh protector ( 40 ), or other variants. These may be worn by the user ( 30 ) either alone or in combination to increase the area of the strike surface ( 11 ), and thus also increase the area of the user's body ( 30 ) which is protected.

1 . Protective apparel for use in martial arts training, comprising:
 a strike surface carried on an inflatable bladder; and   securing means to enable the apparel to be worn by a user during said training;   wherein, during use, the inflatable bladder is inflated to a sufficient pressure to withstand strikes from a training partner.   
     
     
         2 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the strike surface is three-dimensional. 
     
     
         3 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the strike surface has a generally cylindrical profile. 
     
     
         4 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable bladder is shaped so as on inflation to adopt a generally cylindrical profile. 
     
     
         5 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable bladder comprises at least one strengthening rib, located internally of the bladder. 
     
     
         6 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said at least one strengthening rib divides the inflatable bladder into a plurality of chambers, thereby imparting a segmented structure to the apparel. 
     
     
         7 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein each said chamber is in fluid communication with its adjacent chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the inflatable bladder is provided with an inflation valve. 
     
     
         9 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the inflation valve is located on a surface other than the strike surface. 
     
     
         10 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 8   9 , wherein the inflation valve is a quick release valve. 
     
     
         11 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the securing means to enable said protective apparel to be worn by a user comprises at least one strap. 
     
     
         12 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one strap is provided with complementary quick release buckle fasteners. 
     
     
         13 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the apparel is adapted to be worn on a user's torso, and comprises: a generally cylindrical central portion adapted to wrap around said user's torso such that the strike surface extends over the front thereof; an upper portion adapted to protect said user's chest region; and a lower portion adapted to protect said user's groin region; and wherein each of said upper and lower portions extends from the generally cylindrical central portion. 
     
     
         14 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the strike surface extends over said generally cylindrical central portion and said upper and lower portions. 
     
     
         15 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the inflatable bladder extends throughout said generally cylindrical central portion and said upper and lower portions. 
     
     
         16 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claims 13 , wherein the securing means comprises a pair of parallel straps adapted to be secured across a user's back region. 
     
     
         17 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claims 13 , wherein the securing means comprises a pair of parallel straps adapted to be secured over a user's shoulder region. 
     
     
         18 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the apparel is adapted to be worn on a user's limb, and is adapted to wrap around said user's limb such that the strike surface extends outwardly thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The protective apparel as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the securing means comprises at least one strap adapted to be secured over an inner face of said limb. 
     
     
         20 . A protective apparel kit comprising the protective apparel as claimed in  claim 13 , and at least one article of protective apparel adapted to be worn on a user's limb, and adapted to wrap around said user's limb such that the strike surface extends outwardly thereof.