Knee Wear and Protection

Abstract

A protective clothing equipment is provided that is comfortable, stabilizing, and compatible with varying types of surfaces. One embodiment of the protective clothing equipment includes a thigh support, a brace coupled to the thigh support, and padding disposed in front of the knee of the wearer.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A kneepad comprising:
 a brace;   an upper strap coupled to the brace, the upper strap configured to couple to a leg of a user above the knee;   a lower strap coupled to the brace, the lower strap configured to couple the brace to the leg of the user below the knee; and   internal padding coupled to the brace between the brace and the knee of the user, the internal padding defining an aperture configured to receive a patella of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , further comprising a central padding detachably coupled to the internal padding, the central padding positioned between the internal padding and the brace. 
     
     
         3 . The kneepad of  claim 2 , wherein the central padding is formed from a material configured to absorb heat from the knee of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , further comprising a shell coupled to an exterior of the brace such that the brace is positioned between shell and the internal padding. 
     
     
         5 . The kneepad of  claim 4 , wherein the shell includes a body portion and a sliding insert coupled to the body portion, the sliding insert configured to allow for sliding movement of the kneepad relative to a surface when the user is kneeling. 
     
     
         6 . The kneepad of  claim 5 , wherein the body portion of the shell has a first coefficient of friction and the sliding insert has a second coefficient of friction, and wherein the second coefficient of friction is less than the first coefficient of friction. 
     
     
         7 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , wherein the upper strap and the lower strap are formed from a slip resistant material. 
     
     
         8 . The kneepad of  claim 7 , wherein the slip resistant material is silica. 
     
     
         9 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , the brace comprising a flexible gusset, the flexible gusset moves between a stretched position when a user is kneeling and a folded position when a user is standing. 
     
     
         10 . A kneepad comprising:
 a flexible fabric body;   an upper strap coupled to the body, the upper strap configured to couple to a leg of a user above the knee;   a lower strap coupled to the body, the lower strap configured to couple the body to the leg of the user below the knee; and   internal padding coupled to the body between the body and the knee of the user, the internal padding defining an aperture configured to receive a patella of the user.   
     
     
         11 . The kneepad of  claim 10 , wherein, when a user kneels the flexible fabric allows the body to stretch and wherein, when the user stands the flexible fabric allows the body to fold into one or more bends. 
     
     
         12 . The kneepad of  claim 10 , further comprising a shell coupled to the body, wherein the shell is an external hard cap. 
     
     
         13 . The kneepad of  claim 12 , wherein the shell includes a sliding insert positioned along a portion of the external hard cap, the sliding insert configured to allow for sliding movement of the kneepad relative to a surface when the user is kneeling. 
     
     
         14 . The kneepad of  claim 12 , further comprising an adjustable strap coupled to and extending from one side of the shell, around the knee of the user to the other side of the shell. 
     
     
         15 . The kneepad of  claim 14 , wherein the adjustable strap allows the user to selectively move a position of the shell relative to the knee of the user by tightening or loosening the adjustable strap. 
     
     
         16 . A support platform for kneeling comprising:
 a first panel formed from a first material;   a second panel formed from a second material;   a third panel formed from a third material; and   a rigid bottom;   wherein the second panel is positioned between the first panel and the third panel and wherein the third panel is positioned between the second panel and the rigid bottom; and   wherein the rigid bottom includes a plurality of male couplers configured to removably couple with female couplers of a utility module.   
     
     
         17 . The support platform of  claim 16 , wherein the first material is a compressible elastic material configured to distribute a force applied to the first panel when a user kneels on the support platform. 
     
     
         18 . The support platform of  claim 16 , wherein the second material has a first stiffness and the third material has a second stiffness, and wherein first stiffness is less than the second stiffness. 
     
     
         19 . The support platform of  claim 16 , the rigid bottom further comprising one or more recessed sections along sides of the rigid bottom, the one or more recessed sections configured to be used as handles. 
     
     
         20 . The support platform of  claim 16 , the rigid bottom further comprising one or more supports extending along a side of the support platform, wherein, when the support platform is coupled to the utility module, the one or more supports engage with the utility module to resist movement of the support platform relative to the utility module.