Protective sports equipment

Abstract

A protective sports equipment for protecting a body part of a wearer includes an inner layer comprising at least one protective pad, and a suspended panel located inwardly of the inner layer and connected thereto at first and second locations, the suspended panel being tensioned and defining a space with the inner layer, the space being located between the first and second locations. A method of assembling a protective sports equipment is also provided.

1 . A protective sports equipment for protecting a body part of a wearer, comprising:
 an inner layer; and   a suspended panel located inwardly of the inner layer and connected thereto at first and second locations, the suspended panel being tensioned and defining a space with the inner layer, the space being located between the first and second locations and between the suspended panel and the inner layer.   
     
     
         2 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising a first portion adapted to cover a joint of the body part of the wearer, and a second portion extending away from the first portion, the suspended panel being located in the second portion. 
     
     
         3 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the suspended panel is further connected to the inner layer at a third location located between the first location and the second location. 
     
     
         4 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the suspended panel extends between a first end of the protective sports equipment and a second end of the protective sports equipment, the suspended panel being deformable by a first amount in a first direction defined generally between the first end and the second end of the protective sports equipment, and is further deformable by a second amount in a second direction generally transverse to the first direction, the first amount being greater than the second amount. 
     
     
         5 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 4 , wherein one of the first end and the second end of the protective sports equipment corresponds to one of the first and second locations where the suspended panel is connected to the inner layer. 
     
     
         6 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 4 , wherein the suspended panel is shorter than the inner layer in at least one of the first and second directions. 
     
     
         7 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 4 , wherein the suspended panel defines a plurality of oblong holes extending therethrough, and each oblong hole of the plurality of oblong holes has a major axis thereof extending generally along one of the first and second directions. 
     
     
         8 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the suspended panel is connected to the inner layer on a majority of a perimeter of the suspended panel. 
     
     
         9 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the suspended panel extends over a majority of the inner layer. 
     
     
         10 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , further comprising an outer shell defining at least one opening, the inner layer being connected to and disposed inwardly from the outer shell, and the at least one opening of the outer shell being in fluid communication with the space to provide airflow into the space. 
     
     
         11 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 10 , wherein the outer shell includes first and second protective pads, and wherein the at least one opening is defined between the first and second protective pads. 
     
     
         12 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sports equipment is a shoulder pad, and the suspended panel is configured to provide the space between the inner layer of the shoulder pad and an upper portion of a torso when worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 12 , wherein the protective sports equipment comprises a first suspended panel and a second suspended panel, the first suspended panel is configured to provide the space between the inner layer of the shoulder pad and the upper portion of the torso when worn by the wearer, and the second suspended panel is configured to provide the space between the inner layer of the shoulder pad and a bicep when worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sports equipment is an ice hockey glove, the ice hockey glove having a palm portion and a dorsal portion, the suspended panel located between the palm portion and the dorsal portion and configured to provide the space between the inner layer of the ice hockey glove and the palm portion of the ice hockey glove. 
     
     
         15 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 14 , wherein the ice hockey glove includes protective pads on the dorsal portion, and an opening is defined between adjacent protective pads, the opening being in fluid communication with the space. 
     
     
         16 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 14 , wherein the suspended panel is shorter than the inner layer in at least one of a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         17 . The protective sports equipment of  claim 1 , wherein the protective sports equipment is a goaltender's body pad, and the suspended panel is configured to provide the space between the inner layer of the goaltender's body pad and a back when worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         18 . A method of assembling a protective sports equipment for protecting a body part of a wearer, the method comprising:
 providing an outer shell;   connecting an inner layer to the outer shell, the inner layer being disposed inwardly of the outer shell; and   connecting a suspended panel to the inner layer inwardly of the inner layer at first and second locations such that the suspended panel is tensioned and configured to define a space with the inner layer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the outer shell defines at least one opening, and further comprising fluidly connecting the at least one opening with the space to provide airflow into the space. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the protective sports equipment comprises a first portion adapted to cover a joint of the body part of the wearer, and a second portion extending away from the first portion, and wherein the connecting the suspended panel includes connecting the suspended panel to the second portion.