System for facilitating protection of an athlete's hip and pelvic area

Claim 1

A hip pad assembly for use in protecting the hip an pelvic area of an athlete, comprising: A pair of thin, lightweight resilient protective pad assemblies and a configuration facilitating positioning over the hip and iliac crest area of the pelvis of the user, the pad assemblies being separate and adapted to be simultaneously positioned on the hips on both sides of the user respectively, each pad assembly being substantially T-shaped in configuration and including a horizontally extending iliac pad in a substantially vertically extending trochanter pad depending intermediate the ends of the iliac pad, an elongated, thin lightweight belt having an elastic portion and Velcro type fastener means having mating fastener elements at the free ends of the belt to form attachment means for coupling the belt and pad assembly in a manner that facilitates relative sliding movement therebetween, the Velcro fastener means being dimensioned to permit attachment between the mating fastener elements thereof over a range of points thereby making the assembly adjustable to fit a variety of different size athletes and to be quickly and efficiently put on or removed by the athlete before, during and subsequent to the athletic event, the elasticity of the belt and the capability of the pad assemblies to move relative to the attached belt and each other facilitating comfortable use by the athlete while accommodating a variety of different athletic movements, attachment means including each pad having a series of receiver elements affixed thereto through which the belt extends and the belt being sufficiently smaller in cross section than the receiver elements so as to permit relative or sliding movement therebetween, and the iliac pad having as predetermined configuration and size to be positioned to cover and protect the iliac crest of the pelvis while the trochanter pad is positioned to cover and protect the head of the femur.

Claim 15

A method for facilitating protection of the hip and and pelvic area of an athlete, comprising; forming a pair of thin lightweight pad assemblies having a resilient outer surface and a configuration facilitating positioning over the hip and iliac crest area of the pelvis on the respective sides of a user, providing an elongated thin lightweight belt having an elastic portion and velcro type fastener elements at its free ends, removably coupling the belt and pad assemblies in a manner that facilitates relative sliding therebetween and the pad assemblies being separate and movable with respect to one another, dimensioning the Velcro type fastener elements to facilitate attachment therebetween over a range of points thereby making the assembly adjustable to fit a variety of different size atheletes and to be quickly and efficiently put on and removed by the athlete before, during and subsequent to an athletic event, and selective shifting of the belt and pad assemblies relative to one another to facilitate comfortable use by the athlete while accommodating a variety of different athletic movements, forming each pad assembly in a substantially T-shaped configuration and including a horizontally extending iliac pad and a substantially vertically extending trochanter pad depending intermediate the ends of the iliac pad, and affixing a series of receiver elements to each pad through which the belt extends and the belt being formed sufficiently smaller in cross section than receiver elements so as to permit relative sliding movement therebetween, and configurating the iliac pad so that it can be adjustably positioned to cover and protect the iliac crest of the pelvis while the trochanter pad is positioned to cover and protect the greater trochanter of the femur.

Claim 16

A method for facilitating protection of the hip and and pelvic area of an athlete, comprising; forming a pair of thin lightweight pad assemblies having a resilient outer surface and a configuration facilitating positioning over the hip and iliac crest area of the pelvis on the respective sides of a user, providing an elongated thin lightweight belt having an elastic portion and velcro type fastener elements at its free ends, removably coupling the belt and pad assemblies in a manner that facilitates relative sliding therebetween and the pad assemblies being separate and movable with respect to one another, dimensioning the Velcro type fastener elements to facilitate attachment therebetween over a range of points thereby making the assembly adjustable to fit a variety of different size atheletes and to be quickly and efficiently put on and removed by the athlete before, during and subsequent to an athletic event, and selective shifting of the belt and pad assemblies relative to one another to facilitate comfortable use by the athlete while accommodating a variety of different athletic movements, forming each pad assembly in a substantially T-shaped configuration and including a horizontally extending iliac pad and a substantially vertically extending trochanter pad depending intermediate the ends of the iliac pad, and affixing a series of receiver elements to each pad through which the belt extends and the belt being formed sufficiently smaller in cross section than receiver elements so as to permit relative sliding movement therebetween, and configurating the iliac pad so that it can be adjustably positioned to cover and protect the iliac crest of the pelvis while the trochanter pad is positioned to cover and protect the greater trochanter of the femur.