Protective pad assembly, and related kits, applications, and methods

Abstract

A protective pad assembly is provided for releasably attaching to a garment worn by a user of the protective pad assembly over a body part of the user. The protective pad assembly includes a pad, and a securing device including an exterior securing component configured to be disposed outside of the garment and an interior securing component configured to be disposed inside of the garment in substantial alignment with the exterior securing component. The exterior securing component or the interior securing component includes a male member, and the other of the exterior securing component or the interior securing component includes a female member configured to be releasably mechanically mated to the male member with the garment worn by the user captured therebetween.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective pad assembly for releasably attaching to a garment worn by a user of said protective pad assembly over a body part of the user, said protective pad assembly comprising:
 a pad configured to protect the body part of the user from impact; and   a securing device comprising an exterior securing component configured to be disposed outside of the garment, and a interior securing component configured to be disposed inside of the garment in substantial alignment with said exterior securing component, said exterior securing component or said interior securing component comprising a male member, and the other of said exterior securing component or said interior securing component comprising a female member configured to be releasably mechanically mated to said male member with the garment worn by the user captured therebetween, wherein the interior securing component or the exterior component is attached to the pad.   
     
     
         2 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male and female members are configured to releasably mechanically mate with one another to firmly capture the garment therebetween in a manner that prevents slippage of the garment relative to said releasably mechanically mated male and female members. 
     
     
         3 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male member comprises a strike attached to a corresponding first plate and wherein said female member comprises a catch attached to a corresponding second plate. 
     
     
         4 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said male and female members are configured to include a clearance therebetween when releasably mechanically mated with one another, the clearance being configured to receive and capture the garment. 
     
     
         5 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said securing device comprises a roller catch, a knuckle catch, an adjustable tension catch, a spring button catch, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pad comprises an exterior pad to which said exterior securing component is attached, and wherein said interior securing component is not attached to an interior pad configured to be disposed inside of the garment. 
     
     
         7 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said pad comprises an interior pad to which said interior securing component is attached, and wherein said exterior securing component is not attached to an exterior pad configured to be disposed outside of the garment. 
     
     
         8 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said exterior pad further comprises a protective cap. 
     
     
         9 . A protective pad assembly for releasably attaching to a garment worn by a user of said protective pad assembly over a body part of the user, said protective pad assembly comprising:
 an exterior pad configured to protect the body part of the user from impact and to be disposed outside of the garment;   an interior pad configured to protect the body part of the user from impact and to be disposed inside of the garment; and   a securing device comprising an exterior securing component attached to said exterior pad, and an interior securing component attached to said interior pad and configured to be disposed inside of the garment in substantial alignment with said exterior securing component, said exterior securing component or said interior securing component comprising a male member and the other of said exterior securing component or said interior securing component comprising a female member configured to be releasably mechanically mated to said male member with the garment worn by the user captured therebetween.   
     
     
         10 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said male and female members are configured to releasably mechanically mate with one another to firmly capture the garment therebetween in a manner that prevents slippage of the garment relative to said releasably mechanically mated male and female members. 
     
     
         11 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said male member comprises a strike attached to a corresponding first plate and wherein said female member comprises a catch attached to a corresponding second plate. 
     
     
         12 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said male and female members are configured to include a clearance therebetween when releasably mechanically mated with one another, the clearance being configured to receive and capture the garment. 
     
     
         13 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said securing device comprises a roller catch, a knuckle catch, an adjustable tension catch, a spring button catch, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 9 , wherein said exterior pad further comprises a protective cap. 
     
     
         15 . A protective pad assembly for releasably attaching to a garment worn by a user of said protective pad assembly over a body part of the user, said protective pad assembly comprising:
 a first pad configured to protect the body part of the user from impact and to be disposed outside of the garment;   at least one second pad configured to protect the body part of the user from impact and to be disposed adjacent to said first pad;   a securing device comprising a first securing component attached to said first pad, and a second securing component attached to said at least one second pad and configured to be disposed in substantial alignment with said first securing component, said first securing component or said second securing component comprising a first male member, and the other of said first securing component or said second securing component comprising a first female member configured to be releasably mechanically mated to said first male member; and   an additional securing, device comprising a third securing component attached to said at least one second pad, and a fourth securing component configured to be disposed inside of the garment in substantial alignment with said third securing component, said third securing component or said fourth securing component comprising a second male member, and the other of said third securing component or said fourth securing component comprising a second female member configured to be releasably mechanically mated to said second male member.   
     
     
         16 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a third pad configured to protect the body part of the user from impact and to be disposed inside of the garment, wherein the fourth securing device is attached to the third pad. 
     
     
         17 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said first male member and said first female member are configured to releasably mechanically mate with one another to firmly capture the garment therebetween in a manner that prevents slippage of the garment relative to said releasably mechanically mated first male and female members. 
     
     
         18 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said second male member and said second female member are configured to releasably mechanically mate with one another to firmly capture the garment therebetween in a manner that prevents slippage of the garment relative to said releasably mechanically mated second male and female members. 
     
     
         19 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said fast and second male members comprise strikes attached to corresponding first plates and wherein said first and second female members comprise catches attached to corresponding second plates. 
     
     
         20 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said first male member and said first female member are configured to include a clearance therebetween when releasably mechanically mated with one another, the clearance being configured to receive and capture the garment. 
     
     
         21 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 18 , wherein said second male member and said second female member are configured to include a clearance therebetween when releasably mechanically mated with one another, the clearance being configured to receive and capture the garment. 
     
     
         22 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said additional securing device comprises a roller catch, a knuckle catch, an adjustable tension catch, a spring button catch, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The protective pad assembly of  claim 15 , wherein said first pad further comprises a protective cap.