Shock absorbing athletic equipment

Claim 2

Shock absorbing athletic equipment for protecting a wearer from externally impacting forces, comprising: a shock absorbing body portion designed to generally cover and protect at least a portion of a wearer's body, comprising, a flexible enclosure defining an internal cavity therein, said flexible enclosure being generally impermeable to air, means for placing said cavity within said enclosure in limited fluid communication with the exterior of said enclosure, and a foam core retained within said cavity, said foam core formed of an open-celled material; and a shock absorbing insert portion secured to said body portion and situated to contact a selected area of the body of said wearer, said insert having shock absorbing capability distinct from that of said shock absorbing body portion, said insert adapted to maintain said shock absorbing capability when impacted by a force of an anticipated magnitude.

Claim 3

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 1, wherein said body portion flexible enclosure comprises nylon fabric.

Claim 4

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 2, wherein said nylon fabric is rendered generally impermeable to air by a coating of polyurethane on at least a first surface of said fabric.

Claim 5

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 1, wherein said means for placing said cavity within said enclosure in limited fluid communication with the exterior of said enclosure comprises at least one aperture through said enclosure.

Claim 6

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 1, wherein said means for placing said cavity within said enclosure in limited communication with the exterior of said enclosure comprises at least one valve allowing the exit of air from said cavity and wherein said body portion further comprises at least one valve allowing the inlet of air to said cavity from said exterior of said enclosure.

Claim 7

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 1, wherein said body portion foam core comprises a multilayered laminate of open-celled foam material.

Claim 8

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 1, wherein a surface of said foam core is at least partially bonded to an adjacent internal surface of said enclosure.

Claim 9

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 1, wherein said insert comprises a flexible enclosure defining an internal cavity said flexible enclosure being at least generally impermeable to air.

Claim 10

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 8, wherein said insert further comprises a foam core contained within said insert cavity.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said insert foam core is formed of open-celled foam material.

Claim 12

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 9, further comprising means for placing said cavity in limited fluid communication with the exterior of said insert enclosure.

Claim 13

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 9, wherein said insert foam core is formed of closed-cell foam material.

Claim 14

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 8, wherein said insert further comprises means for inflating said enclosure to a pressure greater than one atmosphere.

Claim 15

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 1, further comprising a shield structure adapted to distribute said impacting force over at least a portion of said shock absorbing body portion.

Claim 16

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 14, wherein said first and second surfaces of said body portion foam core are at least partially bonded to adjacent surfaces of said fabric enclosure around said foam core.

Claim 17

Shock absorbing athletic equipment for protecting a wearer's body from an externally impacting force, comprising: a shock absorbing body portion adapted to generally conform to said wearer's body and to generally make contact therewith except at at least one selected area, said body portion comprising, a foam core having first and second major surfaces, said foam core comprising a multi-layered laminate of open-celled foam material, said foam core having an aperture therethrough between said first and second major surfaces, said aperture situated to lie proximate said selected area of said wearer's body when said protective equipment is upon said wearer's body, an enclosure around said foam core, said enclosure formed of a fabric rendered relatively impermeable to air such that a relatively air-tight enclosure is formed around said foam core, said enclosure shaped to follow the contour of said foam core on at least one side of said body portion, and means for providing fluid communication between the interior of said enclosure and the exterior of said enclosure; a shock absorbing insert adapted to fit within the area defined by said contour of said enclosure around said aperture in said foam core, said insert adapted to withstand an impacting force of a given force magnitude without said insert losing its shock absorbing capability; and a shield structure adapted to distribute said impacting force over at least a portion of said body portion.

Claim 18

Shock absorbing athletic equipment for protecting a wearer's body from an externally impacting force, comprising: a shock absorbing body portion adapted to generally conform to said wearer's body and to generally make contact therewith except at at least one selected area, said body portion comprising, a foam core having first and second major surfaces, said foam core comprising a multi-layered laminate of open-celled foam material, said foam core having an aperture therethrough between said first and second major surfaces, said aperture situated to lie proximate said selected area of said wearer's body when said protective equipment is upon said wearer's body, an enclosure around said foam core, said enclosure formed of a fabric rendered relatively impermeable to air such that a relatively air-tight enclosure is formed around said foam core, said enclosure shaped to follow the contour of said foam core on at least one side of said body portion, and means for providing fluid communication between the interior of said enclosure and the exterior of said enclosure; a shock absorbing insert adapted to fit within the area defined by said contour of said enclosure around said aperture in said foam core, said insert adapted to withstand an impacting force of a given force magnitude without said insert losing its shock absorbing capability; and a shield structure adapted to distribute said impacting force over at least a portion of said body portion.

Claim 19

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 16, wherein said fabric forming said enclosure is nylon.

Claim 20

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 17, wherein said nylon fabric is rendered relatively impermeable to air by a polyurethane coating on a surface of said fabric which is to the interior of said enclosure.

Claim 21

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 16, wherein said means for placing said interior of said enclosure in fluid communication with said exterior of said enclosure comprises at least one aperture through said fabric enclosure.

Claim 22

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 16, wherein said means for placing said interior of said enclosure in fluid communication with said exterior of said enclosure comprises at least one valve allowing the exit of air from said enclosure and wherein said body portion further comprises at least one valve allowing the passage of air to the interior of said enclosure from exterior of said enclosure.

Claim 23

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 16, wherein said insert comprises a flexible pad having a given shock absorbing capability.

Claim 24

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 16, wherein said insert comprises: a flexible enclosure defining an internal cavity, said flexible enclosure constructed of a material at least generally impermeable to air; and a foam core within said cavity in said enclosure.

Claim 25

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 22, wherein said insert further comprises means for providing limited air transfer between said cavity in said enclosure and the atmosphere exterior to said enclosure and wherein said foam core constructed at least partially of an open-celled foam material.

Claim 26

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 16, wherein said insert further comprises a foam core contained within said cavity in said enclosure and wherein said enclosure is inflatable to a pressure greater than one atmosphere.

Claim 27

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 15, wherein said insert comprises an inflatable/deflatable member.

Claim 28

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 25, wherein said means for attaching said insert to said body protion comprises a hook and loop fastening mechanism cooperatively arranged between said insert and said body protion.

Claim 29

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 26, wherein said insert is permanently attached to said body portion.

Claim 30

The shock absorbing athletic equipment of claim 16, further comprising means for attaching said insert to said body portion.