Protective kneepad and methods of using the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a protective pad for the limbs of a person that is operable to connect to the clothing of the person to prevent slippage of the knee pad as the wearer moves. In some embodiments, the pad may be operable to be used for the elbows of the body. The protective pads include connector straps integrated into the side edges of the pads that are operable to wrap around the wearer's leg and connect to connectors on the opposite side edge of the knee pad. The protective pads may additionally have at least one anti-slip retention strap for connecting directly to the pants of the wearer.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A protective kneepad for attachment to a pant leg comprising:
 a. a protective shell including a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface complementary to the anterior of a knee in a flexed condition,   b. at least one connector strap connected to a first lateral side of said kneepad operable to wrap around the back side of a leg of a wearer and reversibly connect to a connector on a second lateral side of said kneepad; and   c. an anti-slip strap anchored to an upper rim of said kneepad, and having a fabric-clasping connector at a distal end thereof operable to connect the pant leg of said wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner layer of material softer than said outer shell in contact with said inner surface of said protective shell. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said fabric-clasping connector is an alligator clip operable to pinch the fabric of the wearer's pants. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said protective shell includes an array of openings therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said protective shell includes an array of openings therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said inner layer includes an array of inner openings therethrough that are in alignment with said array of openings. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said kneepad includes a first connector strap and a second connector strap, and said first connector strap and said second connector strap are fixedly connected to said first lateral side and reversibly connected to first and second connectors on said second lateral side. 
     
     
         8 . A protective kneepad for attachment to a pant leg comprising:
 a. a protective shell including a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface and lateral edges; and   b. an anti-slip strap anchored to an upper rim of said kneepad, and having a fabric-clasping connector at a distal end thereof operable to connect the pant leg of said wearer.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising at least one connector strapped to a first lateral side of said kneepad operable to wrap around the back side of a leg of a wearer and reversibly connect to a connector on a second lateral side of said kneepad. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein said kneepad includes a first connector strap and a second connector strap, and said first connector strap and said second connector strap are fixedly connected to said first lateral side and reversibly connected to first and second connectors on said second lateral side. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising an inner layer of material softer than said outer shell in contact with said inner surface of said protective shell. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said fabric-clasping connector is an alligator clip operable to pinch the fabric of the wearer's pants. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said protective shell includes an array of openings therethrough. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 11 , wherein said protective shell includes an array of openings therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein said inner layer includes an array of inner openings therethrough that are in alignment with said array of openings. 
     
     
         16 . A method of using a protective kneepad for attachment to a pant leg comprising:
 a. positioning said kneepad over a wearer's knee, wherein said wearer is wearing pants over the knee and the rest of the leg, said kneepad having
 i. a protective shell including a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface complementary to the anterior of the knee in a flexed condition, 
 ii. at least one connector strap connected to a first lateral side of said kneepad operable to wrap around the back side of a leg of a wearer and reversibly connect to a connector on a second lateral side of said kneepad, and 
 iii. an anti-slip strap anchored to an upper rim of said kneepad, and having a fabric-clasping connector at a distal end thereof operable to connect the pant leg of said wearer; 
   b. wrapping said at least one connector strap around the posterior of the knee and connecting said at least one connector strap to said connector on said second lateral side; and   c. pulling said anti-slip strap taut and actuating said fabric-clasping connector to connector to fabric of said pants above said kneepad.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said kneepad includes an inner soft layer of material in an inner surface of said protective shell for interfacing with said knee. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said fabric-clasping connector is an alligator clip operable to pinch the fabric of the wearer's pants. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said kneepad includes a first connector strap and a second connector strap, and further comprising wrapping said second connector strap around the posterior aspect of said knee and reversibly connecting said second connector strap to a second connector on said second lateral side. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said kneepad includes a second anti-slip strap, and further comprising pulling said second anti-slip strap taut and actuating a second fabric-clasping connector on a distal end thereof to connect to said fabric of said pants above said kneepad.