Fluid-filled pad with voids

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a fluid-filled pad for a protective garment. The fluid-filled pad includes two or more elongate voids that extend entirely through the fluid-filled pad. The elongate voids are positioned inward from an exterior edge of a first surface of the fluid-filled pad, and one elongate void extends from another elongate at an angle that is less than 180 degrees. Other aspects are directed to a protective garment system in which the fluid-filled pad is positioned between a first textile layer and a second textile layer of a garment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid-filled pad for a protective garment, the fluid-filled pad comprising:
 a first surface having an exterior edge;   a second surface positioned opposite the first surface, the second surface affixed to the first surface along the exterior edge;   a fluid-filled portion positioned between the first surface and the second surface;   a first elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the first elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface; and   a second elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the second elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface, wherein the second elongate void extends from the first elongate void at an angle that is less than 180 degrees.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid-filled pad of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first elongate void and the second elongate void extend linearly. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid-filled pad of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface is affixed to the second surface along a periphery of the first elongate void and the second elongate void. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid-filled pad of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first textile layer positioned adjacent to the first surface of the fluid-filled pad; and 
 a second textile layer positioned adjacent to the second surface of the fluid-filled pad, 
 wherein the first textile layer is affixed to the second textile layer at one or more of the first elongate void and the second elongate void. 
 
     
     
         5 . The fluid-filled pad of  claim 1  further comprising a third elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the third elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface, wherein the third elongate void is spaced apart from the first elongate void and the second elongate void. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid-filled pad of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a third elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the third elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface; and 
 a fourth elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the fourth elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface, wherein the fourth elongate void extends from the third elongate void at an angle that is less than 180 degrees. 
 
     
     
         7 . The fluid-filled pad of  claim 6  further comprising a fifth elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the fifth elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface, wherein the fifth elongate void is spaced apart from the first elongate void, the second elongate void, the third elongate void, and the fourth elongate void. 
     
     
         8 . A protective garment system comprising:
 a garment having a first textile layer and a second textile layer; and   a fluid-filled pad positioned between the first textile layer and the second textile layer, the fluid-filled pad comprising:
 a first surface having an exterior edge, 
 a second surface positioned opposite the first surface, the second surface affixed to the first surface along the exterior edge,
 a fluid-filled portion positioned between the first surface and the second surface, 
 
 a first elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the first elongate void extending through the first surface, the second surface, and the fluid-filled portion, and 
 a second elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the second elongate void extending through the first surface, the second surface, and the fluid-filled portion, wherein the second elongate void extends from the first elongate void at an angle that is less than 180 degrees. 
   
     
     
         9 . The protective garment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first textile layer is affixed to the second textile layer around the exterior edge. 
     
     
         10 . The protective garment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first textile layer is affixed to the second textile layer at the first elongate void and at the second elongate void. 
     
     
         11 . The protective garment system of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a third elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the third elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface; and 
 a fourth elongate void positioned inwardly from the exterior edge of the first surface, the fourth elongate void extending through the first surface, the fluid-filled portion, and the second surface, wherein the fourth elongate void extends from the third elongate void at an angle that is less than 180 degrees. 
 
     
     
         12 . The protective garment system of  claim 11 , wherein the first textile layer is affixed to the second textile layer around the exterior edge, at the first elongate void, at the second elongate void, at the third elongate void, and at the fourth elongate void. 
     
     
         13 . The protective garment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first textile layer forms the garment. 
     
     
         14 . The protective garment system of  claim 8 , wherein the second textile layer forms a patch on an interior of the garment that extends overtop the fluid-filled pad. 
     
     
         15 . The protective garment system of  claim 8 , wherein the first textile layer is a first material, wherein the second textile layer is a second material, and wherein the first material is different than the second material. 
     
     
         16 . The protective garment system of  claim 8 , wherein the garment is pants. 
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing a fluid-filled pad for a protective garment, the method comprising:
 positioning a first film layer overtop a second film layer such that a first exterior edge of the first film layer is aligned with a second exterior edge of the second film layer;   forming a first incision through the first film layer and the second film layer, wherein the first incision is spaced inwardly from the first exterior edge and the second exterior edge;   forming a second incision through the first film layer and the second film layer, the second incision extending from the first incision at an angle that is less than 180 degrees, wherein the second incision is spaced inwardly from the first exterior edge and the second exterior edge; and   affixing the first film layer to the second film layer along the first exterior edge and the second exterior edge, and a periphery of the first incision and the second incision such that a fluid-filled portion is formed between the first film layer and the second film layer, the fluid-filled portion positioned inwardly from the first exterior edge and the second exterior edge and around the first incision and the second incision.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 forming a third incision through the first film layer and the second film layer, wherein the third incision is spaced inwardly from the first exterior edge and the second exterior edge, and 
 forming a fourth incision through the first film layer and the second film layer, the fourth incision extending from the third incision at an angle that is less than 180 degrees, wherein the fourth incision is spaced inwardly from the first exterior edge and the second exterior edge. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 positioning a first textile layer adjacent to the first film layer; 
 positioning a second textile layer adjacent to the second film layer; and 
 affixing the first textile layer to the second textile layer at one or more of the first incision and the second incision. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first incision and the second incision are linear.