Pads 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. A sports pad is provided including an outer shell defining a pocket and a pad received and held in the pocket. A three dimensional image element is captured between said outer shell and the front face of the pad. That image element projects an image outline through the outer shell to enhance the uniform of the player wearing the sports pad.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method for ornamenting clothing, the method comprising:
 attaching a three-dimensional image element to a protective pad, wherein:
 the protective pad comprises an inner surface configured to face toward a body part of a user and an outer surface configured to face away from the body part, 
 the three-dimensional image element comprises an inner surface, an outer surface, and a fastener positioned on the inner surface, and 
 attaching the three-dimensional image element to the protective pad comprises attaching the fastener of the inner surface of the three-dimensional image element to the outer surface of the protective pad such that the three-dimensional image element is carried on the protective pad and projects outwardly from the outer surface of the protective pad; and 
   positioning the protective pad below at least one layer of fabric of an article of clothing worn by the user such that the three-dimensional image element causes a deformation of the at least one layer of fabric of the article of clothing in a shape corresponding to the three-dimensional image element.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener comprises an adhesive, and attaching the three-dimensional image element to the protective pad comprises attaching the adhesive to the outer surface of the protective pad. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the fastener comprises a hook and loop fastener, and attaching the three-dimensional image element to the protective pad comprises attaching the hook and loop fastener a corresponding hook and loop fastener on the outer surface of the protective pad. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional image element comprises foam. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the foam comprises a closed cell foam. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional image element comprises a three-dimensional shape and a background sheet, the background sheet comprising the inner surface of the three-dimensional element. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the three-dimensional shape is positioned on the background sheet such than an outer perimeter of the background sheet is not covered by the three-dimensional shape. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the outer surface of the protective pad is larger than the inner surface of the three-dimensional image element. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 attaching a background sheet to the outer surface of the protective pad, and   wherein attaching the three-dimensional image element to the protective pad comprises attaching the fastener of the inner surface of the three-dimensional image element to the background sheet that is attached to the outer surface of the protective pad such that the three-dimensional image element is carried on the protective pad, projects outwardly from the outer surface of the protective pad, and the background sheet is positioned between the protective pad and the three-dimensional image element.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective pad is configured to protect the body part of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional image element is configured as a shape of a letter or number. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional image element is configured as a shape of entwined letters. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional image element is configured as a shape of a word. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the three-dimensional image element is configured as a shape of a mascot. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the article of clothing comprises sports pants. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the article of clothing comprises socks. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective pad comprises a shin guard. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective pad comprises a thigh pad. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the protective pad comprises an elbow pad. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein positioning the protective pad below the at least one layer of fabric of an article of clothing worn by the user comprises positioning the protective pad within a pocket of the article of clothing.