Shin Guard

Abstract

A shin guard has a padded protective guard that includes a leg portion that fits over a lower leg of the user, and a foot portion that fits over a foot of the user. A pair of open, adjustable leg straps are provided on the leg portion for securing the leg portion onto the lower leg of the user. A mid-foot closed loop strap is provided on the foot portion for extending beneath the foot of the user's foot. An open, adjustable heel strap is also provided on the foot portion that may be adjusted between an open position and a closed position, the open, adjustable heel strap having hooks and loops fasteners for securing the open, adjustable leg strap in the closed position securely around the heel of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shin guard for covering a lower leg and a foot of a user, secured around a back of the leg, beneath the foot, and around a heel of the foot, the shin guard comprising:
 a padded protective guard that includes a leg portion that is sized and shaped to fit over the lower leg of the user, and a foot portion that is sized and shaped to fit over the foot of the user;   at least one open, adjustable leg strap of the leg portion for securing the leg portion onto the lower leg of the user;   a mid-foot closed loop strap of the foot portion extending beneath the foot of the user's foot; and   an open, adjustable heel strap of the foot portion that may be adjusted between an open position and a closed position, the open, adjustable heel strap having hooks and loops fasteners for securing the open, adjustable leg strap in the closed position securely around the heel of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The shin guard of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one open, adjustable leg strap includes an upper open, adjustable leg strap at a top portion of the leg portion of the padded protective guard, and a lower open, adjustable leg strap. 
     
     
         3 . The shin guard of  claim 1 , wherein the leg portion and the foot portion of the padded protective guard are connected together with a hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The shin guard of  claim 1 , wherein the open, adjustable heel strap includes a first strap attached to a first side of the foot portion, adjacent a rear edge of the foot portion, and a second strap attached to a second side of the foot portion, adjacent the rear edge of the foot portion; the first strap and the second strap having hooks and loops fasteners for securing the first and second straps together for fastening the shin guard around the heel of the user's foot. 
     
     
         5 . A shin guard for covering a lower leg and a foot of a user, secured around a back of the leg, beneath the foot, and around a heel of the foot, the shin guard comprising:
 a padded protective guard that includes a leg portion that is sized and shaped to fit over the lower leg of the user, and a foot portion that is sized and shaped to fit over the foot of the user;   a plurality of attachment straps for fastening the padded protective guard onto the lower leg and the foot of the user, the plurality of attachment straps comprising:   at least one open, adjustable leg strap of the leg portion that may be adjusted between an open position and a closed position, the open, adjustable leg strap having hooks and loops fasteners for securing the open, adjustable leg strap in the closed position securely around the lower leg of the user;   a mid-foot closed loop strap of the foot portion extending beneath the foot of the user's foot when the foot portion of the padded protective guard is worn by the user; and   an open, adjustable heel strap of the foot portion that may be adjusted between an open position and a closed position, the open, adjustable heel strap having hooks and loops fasteners for securing the open, adjustable leg strap in the closed position securely around the heel of the user.   
     
     
         6 . The shin guard of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one open, adjustable leg strap includes an upper open, adjustable leg strap at a top portion of the leg portion of the padded protective guard, and a lower open, adjustable leg strap. 
     
     
         7 . The shin guard of  claim 5 , wherein the leg portion and the foot portion of the padded protective guard are connected together with a hinge. 
     
     
         8 . The shin guard of  claim 5 , wherein the open, adjustable heel strap includes a first strap attached to a first side of the foot portion, adjacent a rear edge of the foot portion, and a second strap attached to a second side of the foot portion, adjacent the rear edge of the foot portion; the first strap and the second strap having hooks and loops fasteners for securing the first and second straps together for fastening the shin guard around the heel of the user's foot.