Impact protection device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9301560-B2
Application number	US-83795310-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 16, 2010
Priority date	Jan 12, 2004
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention provides an impact protection device including a base member, a cushioning layer secured to a peripheral edge of the base member and an impact shield operatively attached to an outer surface of the base member. The impact shield may be deflectable and/or moveable relative to the base member, and may be attached to the base member at a plurality of discrete locations.

First claim

I claim:

1. An impact protection device for positioning adjacent a groin of a user comprising:
a cup-shaped base member having an outer profile defining an overall height and an overall width of the cup-shaped base member, the cup-shaped base member including an inner surface defining a cavity sized and shaped to be positioned adjacent the groin of the user, an outer surface, an aperture extending between the inner surface and the outer surface to provide venting, and a peripheral edge around the outer profile of the cup-shaped base member;
a cushioning layer over-molded to the peripheral edge of the base member, the cushioning layer including a peripheral edge disposed adjacent to and surrounding the peripheral edge of the base member; and
an impact shield having a peripheral leading edge, the peripheral leading edge defining an overall height that is less than the overall height of the cup-shaped base member, and defining an overall width that is less than the overall width of the cup-shaped base member, the impact shield being secured interior to the peripheral edge of the base member such that the impact shield exhibits a spring like response to receive an impact force directed generally toward the groin of the user, wherein a portion of the impact shield peripheral leading edge extends over a portion of the aperture while permitting venting through the aperture.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the impact shield is attached to the base member at a plurality of discrete locations.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the impact shield comprises a central portion and at least two leg portions extending from the central portion, wherein each leg portion attaches to the base member at a discrete location.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising at least one shock absorber adjacent the impact shield and the base member.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the shock absorber includes a shock cushion disposed between the impact shield and the outer surface of the base member.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein the shock absorber comprises a connector operatively attached to the impact shield and the base member to provide limited relative movement between the impact shield and the base member upon the application of a force to the impact shield.

7. The device of claim 4 further comprising a plurality of shock absorbers adjacent the impact shield and the base member at a plurality of discrete locations.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the impact shield defines a top leading edge, a first side leading edge, and a second side leading edge, each said leading edge being concave such that the impact shield forms a Y-shaped configuration extending along a vertical axis of the base member.

9. The impact protection device of claim 1 further including a shock cushion, wherein the impact shield includes a peripheral edge, and wherein portions of the impact shield peripheral edge contact the base member or the shock cushion and portions of the impact shield peripheral edge do not contact the base member or the shock cushion.

10. The impact protection device of claim 1 wherein the impact shield includes a central portion and a plurality of leg portions, and wherein the leg portions are attached to the base member.

11. The impact protection device of claim 10 further comprising a cushion member disposed between each leg portion and the base member.

12. The impact protection device of claim 11 wherein the cushioning layer extends from the peripheral edge along a portion of the outer surface to form each cushion member.

13. An impact protection device for positioning adjacent a groin of a user comprising:
a cup-shaped base member including an inner surface defining a cavity sized and shaped to be positioned adjacent the groin of the user, an outer surface, an aperture extending between the inner surface and the outer surface to provide venting, and a peripheral edge;
a cushioning layer over-molded to a portion of the inner surface, outer surface and peripheral edge of the base member, the cushioning layer including a peripheral edge disposed adjacent to the peripheral edge of the base member; and
an impact shield having an inner surface and an outer edge, the impact shield being secured to the base member to define a gap between the inner surface of the impact shield and the outer surface of the base member, the gap in communication with the aperture to facilitate venting along the outer edge, the impact shield further being disposed over and covering only a portion of the outer surface of the base member such that the impact shield exhibits a spring like response to receive an impact force directed generally toward the groin of the user.

14. The device of claim 13 comprising a shock cushion disposed on the outer surface of the base member.

15. The device of claim 13 comprising a connecting means operatively attaching the impact shield to the base member.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein the impact shield defines a top edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, each said edge being concave such that the impact shield forms a Y-shaped configuration extending along a vertical axis of the base member.

17. An impact protection device for positioning adjacent a groin of a user comprising:
a cup-shaped base member including an inner surface defining a cavity sized and shaped to be positioned adjacent the groin of the user, an outer surface, and a peripheral edge;
an impact shield having an outer surface and a peripheral edge, the impact shield being secured to the base member and disposed over at least a portion of the outer surface of the base member such that the impact shield is positioned to receive an impact force directed generally toward the groin of the user, wherein the impact shield is secured to the base member by a plurality of shock absorbers each comprising a connector attached to the impact shield and attached to the base member and a shock cushion, wherein each shock cushion is secured to the outer surface of the base member; and
an aperture extending from the base member inner surface to the base member outer surface and located between the impact shield peripheral edge and the base member peripheral edge to facilitate venting.

18. The impact protection device of claim 17 wherein the connector comprises a plurality of rivets each extending through the impact shield and base member.

19. The impact protection device of claim 17 wherein each shock cushion is disposed between the base member and a portion of the impact shield.

20. An impact protection device for positioning adjacent a groin of a user comprising:
a cup-shaped base member including an inner surface defining a cavity sized and shaped to be positioned adjacent the groin of the user, an outer surface, an aperture extending between the inner surface and the outer surface to provide venting, and a peripheral edge, wherein the aperture has an outer edge;
an elastomeric cushioning layer attached to the peripheral edge of the base member; and
an impact shield having an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer leading edge, the impact shield secured to the base member such that the impact shield is positioned to receive an impact force directed generally toward the groin of the user, wherein the outer leading edge of the impact shield extends over a portion of the aperture and the aperture is located between the impact shield outer leading edge and elastomeric cushioning layer to facilitate venting.

21. An impact protection devic

Assignees

• Wong Jon G
• Shock Doctor Inc

Inventors

• Wong Jon G

Classifications

• A63B2071/1233

  for the hip · CPC title

• A63B2102/24

  Ice hockey · CPC title

• A63B71/1216

  for the genital area · CPC title

• A63B2243/007

  American football · CPC title

• A63B2243/0025

  Football · CPC title