Kneepad system

Abstract

An improved kneepad system for removably attaching a pair of kneepads to pair of pants. The improved kneepad system includes one or more external kneepad assemblies to be disposed along an outer surface of the pants. A fastening assembly is designed for removably attaching the one or more external kneepad assemblies to the pants. Each of the kneepad assemblies includes a pocket which houses a corresponding kneepad insert. Finally, the kneepad assemblies include a protective layer which is attached to the pocket.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 21 , wherein the one or more external kneepad assemblies includes a first kneepad assembly on a first leg member of the pants, and a second kneepad assembly on a second leg member of the pants. 
     
     
         3 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 21 , wherein the fastening assembly is selected from a group consisting of a zipper system, buttons and snaps, and hook and loop fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 21 , wherein the pocket is formed of connected first and second panels. 
     
     
         5 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 4 , wherein the connected first and second panels forming the pocket are stitched or sewn on three sides, leaving an opening on a top edge whereby the flexible kneepad insert is slidably received in the pocket for providing a snug fit for the flexible kneepad insert. 
     
     
         6 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 5 , wherein the pocket is constructed of an expandable spandex or durable cloth material to accept the kneepad insert and maintain it securely. 
     
     
         7 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 6 , wherein the opening on the top edge of the connected first and second panels is sufficiently small to prevent the kneepad insert from being pushed out during use. 
     
     
         8 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible kneepad insert is generally soft and flexible, and can be collapsed to be slidably received through the opening of the pocket. 
     
     
         9 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 8 , wherein disposed on the first panel of the pocket is a first strip of hook elements. 
     
     
         10 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 9 , wherein the first strip of hook elements corresponds to an accompanying second strip of loop elements on an inner facing surface of the protective layer, to thereby adjoin the pocket containing the kneepad insert with the protective layer. 
     
     
         11 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 10 , wherein the pocket is integrally connected to the inner facing surface of the protective layer. 
     
     
         12 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 21 , wherein the protective layer has the fastening assembly attached thereto and includes a hard but flexible shell portion. 
     
     
         13 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible shell portion is designed to correspond in shape and position to the flexible kneepad insert. 
     
     
         14 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 3 , wherein the fastening assembly includes first and second zipper portions on first and second edges of the protective layer of the kneepad assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The improved kneepad system of  claim 14 , wherein the first and second zipper portions attach to first and second leg member zipper portions disposed on the leg member. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An improved kneepad system being removably attached to a pair of pants, comprising;
 one or more external kneepad assemblies disposed upon an outer surface of the pants;   a fastening assembly including a protective layer disposed against the outer surface of at least one of the leg members of the pants for removably attaching the one or more external kneepad assemblies to the outer surface of the at least one of the leg members of the pants;   the fastening assembly including first and second zipper portions disposed on first and second edges of the protective layer which are attached to first and second leg member zipper portions which are disposed on an outer facing surface of at least one of the leg members;   a hard but flexible shell portion disposed on an outer facing surface of the protective layer of the one or more external kneepad assemblies having the fastening assembly attached thereto wherein the protective layer attached by the first and second zipper portions disposed on first and second edges of the protective layer to the first and second leg member zipper portions on an outer facing surface of the at least one of the leg members;   each of the one or more external kneepad assemblies including a pocket which is disposed on the outer facing surface of the at least one of the leg members wherein the pocket is between the first and second leg member zipper portions and removably attached between the inner facing surface of the protective layer and the outer facing surface of the at least one of the leg members;   the pocket of the one or more external kneepad assemblies which houses a corresponding soft and flexible kneepad insert that corresponds in shape and position to the hard but flexible shell portion; and   the one or more external kneepad assemblies including the protective layer and wherein the pocket of each of the one or more external kneepad assemblies is attached to the outer facing surface of the at least one of the leg members wherein the pocket is slightly larger than the flexible kneepad insert whereby the flexible kneepad insert is slidably received in the pocket for providing a snug fit for the flexible kneepad insert.