Shin guard with three dimensional image element

Abstract

A shin guard includes a protective plate having a front face and a rear face. The rear face is contoured to fit around a shin of a wearer of the shin guard. Further, the shin guard includes a three dimensional image element carried on the front face. This image element projects an image outline through a sock worn over the shin guard.

1 . A shin guard system, comprising:
 a protective plate having a front face and an opposite rear face,
 the rear face configured to face a shin of a lower leg of a wearer of the shin guard system, and 
 the front face including a first attachment mechanism thereon; 
   a fastener attached to the protective plate and configured to extend around the lower leg of the wearer to secure the protective plate such that the rear face of the protective plate is positioned over the shin of the wearer; and   a three dimensional image element having a front side and an opposite back side,
 the back side including a second attachment mechanism releasably attached to the first attachment mechanism on the front face of the protective plate, and 
 the front side of the three dimensional image element projecting outwardly from the front face of the protective plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional image element is in the shape of a player number. 
     
     
         3 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional image element is in the shape of a logo. 
     
     
         4 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the front side of three dimensional image element is tapered from a central area toward an outer edge so that the central area projects outwardly a greater distance from the front face of the protective plate than does the outer edge. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a strap. 
     
     
         7 . The shin guard system of  claim 6 , wherein the strap includes a hook and loop fastener. 
     
     
         8 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a sleeve of elastic material. 
     
     
         9 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , further including an ankle pad depending from the protective plate. 
     
     
         10 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , further including a foot loop for securing the shin guard around a foot below the protective plate. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment mechanism of the protective plate is one of a hook or loop fastener, and wherein the second attachment mechanism of the three dimensional image element is the other of a hook or loop fastener. 
     
     
         13 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms comprise an adhesive. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the front face of the protective plate is larger than the rear face of the three dimensional image element. 
     
     
         16 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the three dimensional image element comprises foam. 
     
     
         17 . The shin guard system of  claim 16 , wherein the foam comprises a closed cell foam. 
     
     
         18 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , further comprising an athletic sock having an inside surface and an outside surface, a first portion of the inside surface extending over and contacting a portion of the front face of the protective plate, a second portion of the inside surface extending over and contacting the front side of the three dimensional image element, wherein the three dimensional image element causes the second portion to be deflected outwardly relative to the first portion. 
     
     
         19 . The shin guard system of  claim 1 , wherein the front face of the protective plate is a first color, and wherein the front side of the three dimensional image element is a second color.