Thigh and knee protective device

Claim 1

In combination with an article of athletic apparel of the type having at least one portion that encircles the wearer's thigh and that defines an inside pocket with an upwardly open entry to the pocket, a thigh and knee guard for use between the wearer's leg and the pocket defining article of apparel, said thigh and knee guard comprising: (a) a molded plastic thigh guard having an upper portion of arcuate cross section conforming to the user's thigh and a lower portion of inverted U-shaped with inside and outside extensions adapted for placement alongside the inside and outside of the wearer's knee, (b) a lower leg guard having an upper portion of U-shape with inside and outside projections adapted for placement alongside said inside and outside extensions respectively, (c) means pivotably connecting said thigh guard extensions and said lower leg guard projections to provide limited pivotal movement of said lower leg guard relative to said thigh guard, (d) pad means removably secured to said thigh and lower leg guards and including a medial portion for covering the wearer's kenn, said thigh and lower leg guards defining a knee opening for said medial portion, (e) a plate secured to said upper portion of said thigh guard and extending downwardly in spaced relationship to said thigh guard upper portion, said plate shaped to fit into said apparel article pocket for supporting and locating said thigh guard and lower leg guard on the wearer's leg and inside said apparel article.