Protective pad

Claim 1

A protective pad for an elbow, heel, knee or like body portion characterized by a relatively smooth, non-irritating portion in the area where pressure is normally applied, said pad comprising a generally convexo-concave member of cushioning material having a pair of spaced apart seams extending inwardly from the outer periphery of said member and terminating in spaced apart inner ends, said seams joining together cut edges of said material formed by removal of two sectors and serving to impart to the member its generally convexo-concave shape, said seams being spaced apart at any point along their length a sufficient distance so that a relatively smooth, non-irritating portion of the cushioning material is defined therebetween which may be positioned against the portions of the body portion to which pressure is normally applied to protect these body portions without irritation, said cushioning material being air permeable and comprising a hydrophobic foam layer and a hydrophilic foam layer, said layers being secured together with said hydrophobic layer forming the concave side of said member whereby perspiration and the like will pass through said hydrophobic layer into said hydrophilic layer away from the skin of a wearer, said hydrophobic layer and hydrophilic layer comprising reticulated polyurethane foam and the foam of said hydrophobic layer having a higher density than the foam of said hydrophilic layer, and fastener means carried by said member for securing the pad on the body of a wearer in covering relation to the body joint to be protected and being arranged relative to said seams so that when the pad is secured in covering relation to a body portion the seams will straddle the portions of the body portion to whicH pressure is normally applied and the relatively smooth, non-irritating portion of the member will be in contact therewith.