Athletic protective shield

Abstract

A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater is provided. The protective shield comprises a protective segment and a support segment to which the protective segment is secured. The protective segment comprises a web of interlocking metal loops. The protective segment is shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf. The support segment is shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, and is resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising:
 a protective segment comprising a web of interlocking metal loops, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf; and   a support segment to which the protective segment is secured, the support segment shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, the support segment being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.   
     
     
         2 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking metal loops are made of steel. 
     
     
         3 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the interlocking metal loops are made of titanium. 
     
     
         4 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the interlocking metal loops is welded to form an unbroken loop. 
     
     
         5 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the protective segment further comprises a fabric layer disposed on at least one side of the web of interlocking metal loops, the fabric layer for being interposed between the rear portion of the lower leg and the web of interlocking metal loops. 
     
     
         6 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the protective segment further comprises one or more plates interlocked with the web of interlocking metal loops. 
     
     
         7 . The protective shield of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the one or more plates is made of metal. 
     
     
         8 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the protective segment further comprises a fabric having fibers of a material selected from the group consisting of aramids, polyesters, polyethelene, polypropylene, and high-density microfiber. 
     
     
         9 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the support segment comprises a fabric having elastane. 
     
     
         10 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the protective segment and the support segment are permanently secured together to form a unitary piece. 
     
     
         11 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the protective shield is shaped as a hockey sock. 
     
     
         12 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein each interlocking metal loop is interlocked with at least two adjacent loops. 
     
     
         13 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the support segment comprises
 a first portion secured to a first edge of the protective segment; and   a second portion secured to a second edge of the protective segment, the second edge opposite the first edge;   the first portion being releasably securable to the second portion.   
     
     
         14 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein the support segment comprises one or more straps shaped and sized to wrap around the lower leg, the straps being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg. 
     
     
         15 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein when the protective shield is worn by the ice skater, the interlocking loops being able to move relative to each other when the interlocking loops are struck by a skate blade of another ice skater. 
     
     
         16 . The protective shield of  claim 1 , wherein when the protective shield is worn by the ice skater, the protective segment being able to move relative to the support segment when the protective segment is struck by a skate blade of another ice skater, and the protective shield being able to move relative to the ice skater when the protective shield is struck by the skate blade of the other ice skater. 
     
     
         17 . A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising:
 a protective segment comprising a metal mesh, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of an Achilles tendon and at least a portion of a calf; and   a support segment to which the protective segment is secured, the support segment shaped and sized fit around the lower leg, the support segment being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.   
     
     
         18 . An athletic protective shield, comprising:
 a protective segment comprising a web of interlocking metal loops, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over a body part of a user; and   a support segment to which the protective segment is secured, the support segment shaped and sized to fit around the body part, the support segment being resilient to hold the athletic protective shield in place around the body part during athletic movement and to tension the protective segment against the body part.   
     
     
         19 . A protective shield for a lower leg of an ice skater, the protective shield comprising:
 a protective segment comprising a web of interlocking metal loops made of steel or titanium, the protective segment shaped and sized to fit over at least a rear portion of the lower leg including at least a portion of a calf and at least a portion of an Achilles tendon; and   a support segment comprising elastane to which the protective segment is permanently secured to form a unitary hockey sock shaped and sized to fit around the lower leg, the support segment being resilient to hold the protective shield in place around the lower leg during skating and to tension the protective segment against the rear portion of the lower leg.