Articulated Tripartite Elbow-and-Knee-Area Protection

Abstract

An articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector and method for protecting a person's elbow-and-knee areas from injury during contact and collision sporting activities, without restricting movement and without limiting the offensive and defensive uses of the elbows and knees.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector, comprising:
 a flexible sleeve adapted to fit securely around the arm or leg at the elbow or knee joint and the adjacent areas, having proximal and distal ends and proximal and distal sides in relation to the person;
 a proximal pad unit attached to said flexible sleeve at an attachment area on the distal side, near the joint, and running toward the proximal end; 
 a distal pad unit attached to said flexible sleeve at an attachment area on the distal side, near the joint, and running toward the distal end; 
 a joint pad unit having a convex top, extended portions and retracted portions on two opposite sides, and a concave bottom, attached to said flexible sleeve at an attachment area on the distal side, at the joint, between said proximal pad unit and distal pad unit; 
   where said extended portions are arranged above said retracted portions and said retracted portions are adapted to define a void space to accommodate portions of said proximal pad unit and distal pad unit;
 durable outer surfaces on said joint pad unit, proximal pad unit, and distal pad unit; 
   unattached articulation areas between said attachment areas for said joint pad unit, proximal pad unit, and distal pad unit;
 where said concave bottom is adapted to fit over the protruding joint when bent, said unattached articulation areas are adapted to provide the only points of bending along the line of said attachment areas; 
   where the outward thrust of a bending joint lifts said joint pad unit and rotates said proximal pad unit and distal pad unit, all away from each other, where said extended portions protect said unattached articulation areas; and   where said joint pad unit, proximal pad unit and distal pad unit resume an interleaved position upon the straightening of the joint.   
     
     
         2 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said durable outer surfaces further comprise a separate cover material. 
     
     
         3 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said durable outer surfaces further comprise a separate cover made of leather. 
     
     
         4 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said flexible sleeve is made of an elastic-bandage type of material. 
     
     
         5 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said flexible sleeve is made of a SPANDEX type of material 
     
     
         6 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said pad units further comprise open-cell foam padding material. 
     
     
         7 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said pad units further comprise closed-cell foam padding material. 
     
     
         8 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said pad units further comprise neoprene material. 
     
     
         9 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , where said durable outer surface further comprises a surface of composition and character adapted for contact and collision sporting activities. 
     
     
         10 . The articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector of  claim 1 , further comprising composition and character adapted for contact and collision sporting activities. 
     
     
         11 . A method for protecting a person's elbow-and-knee areas from injury during contact and collision sporting activities, comprising:
 providing an articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector, comprising:
 a flexible sleeve adapted to fit securely around the arm or leg at the elbow or knee joint and the adjacent areas, having proximal and distal ends and proximal and distal sides in relation to the person; 
 a proximal pad unit attached to said flexible sleeve at an attachment area on the distal side, near the joint, and running toward the proximal end; 
 a distal pad unit attached to said flexible sleeve at an attachment area on the distal side, near the joint, and running toward the distal end; 
 a joint pad unit having a convex top, extended portions and retracted portions on two opposite sides, and a concave bottom, attached to said flexible sleeve at an attachment area on the distal side, at the joint, between said proximal pad unit and distal pad unit; 
 where said extended portions are arranged above said retracted portions and said retracted portions are adapted to define a void space to accommodate portions of said proximal pad unit and distal pad unit; 
 durable outer surfaces on said joint pad unit, proximal pad unit, and distal pad unit; 
   unattached articulation areas between said attachment areas for said joint pad unit, proximal pad unit, and distal pad unit;   where said concave bottom is adapted to fit over the protruding joint when bent, said unattached articulation areas are adapted to provide the only points of bending along the line of said attachment areas;
 where the outward thrust of a bending joint lifts said joint pad unit and rotates said proximal pad unit and distal pad unit, all away from each other, where said extended portions protect said unattached articulation areas; and 
 where said joint pad unit, proximal pad unit and distal pad unit resume an interleaved position upon the straightening of the joint; and 
 using said articulated tripartite elbow-and-knee-area protector to protect the elbow-and-knee areas.