US6032300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective padding for sports gear
Assignee: Brock USA LLC
•
Filing: 1999-01-07
•
Granted: 2000-03-07
•
Expires: 2019-01-07
Abstract
Abstract Protective padding primarily intended for use in sports gear. In a first set of preferred embodiments, the pads include flexible, outer casings of porous, breathable, inelastic material overfilled with resilient, discrete beads of elastic material. The beads are initially in compressed states within the casing and place the outer, inelastic casing in tension. When a blow or force is applied, the beads are further compressed to absorb and dissipate the impact. Additionally, the applied blow or force will increase the tension in the outer casing to even further compress the elastic beads for better absorption and dissipation of the impact. In use, the porous pads are compressed and rebound to create a pumping effect that circulates air into and out of the pads drawing heat and perspiration from the athlete's body and keeping the athlete cool and dry. If desired, the pad can be secured directly to the athlete's jersey to enhance this pumping effect as well as the dissipation of the force of any impact. In an alternate embodiment, the outer casing is made of an elastic material that is overfilled to its elastic limit to act in the manner of the preferred embodiments. In a second set of preferred embodiments, the outer casings of the pads are actually filled no more than a simple gravity fill (i.e., 100%) and preferably are underfilled (e.g., 90%) to less than a gravity fill. This second set of pads is preferably used in combination with a hard, outer shell. Variations of the basic features of the first and second sets of pads are also disclosed. All of the pads of the present invention are lightweight and washable and can be adapted and integrated into a wide variety of items.
Inventors
- 👤 David W. Bainbridge
- 👤 L. Paul Nickerson
- 👤 Grant C. Denton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 01:03
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/08; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/015; A41D13/05; A41D13/06; A41D13/065; A41D31/00; A41D31/04; A41D31/28; A42; A42B; A42B3/00; A42B3/04; A42B3/10; A42B3/12; A42B3/121; A42B3/125; A41D13/055; A41D13/0556; A41D13/0568; A41D13/0581; A41D13/0593; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S5/00; Y10S5/911; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/23; Y10T428/239; Y10T428/249921; Y10T428/249953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 71
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A protective pad having a flexible, outer casing of porous, breathable material and being filled substantially with soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material, said pad being filled to no more than a gravity fill wherein said outer casing is substantially untensioned and substantially all of said beads are uncompressed within said outer casing, said pad further including means for inhibiting migration of said beads relative to each other after the casing is filled wherein adjacent beads assume first, initial positions relative to each other within said casing after the casing is filled and substantially maintain said first relative positions to each other in use.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A protective pad having a flexible, outer casing of porous, breathable material and being filled substantially with soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material, said pad being filled to no more than a gravity fill wherein said outer casing is substantially untensioned and substantially all of said beads are uncompressed within said outer casing, said pad further including means for inhibiting migration of said beads relative to each other after the casing is filled wherein adjacent beads assume first, initial positions relative to each other within said casing after the casing is filled and substantially maintain said first relative positions to each other in use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
11 words
The pad of claim 1 further including a hard, outer shell.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pad of claim 2 wherein said hard, outer shell is porous.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 2 further including means for attaching said pad to said hard, outer shell.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said beads are a mix of differently sized bead.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The pad of claim 5 wherein said mixed beads are substantially spherical and have at least first and second sets of beads with the diameter of the second set of beads being about twice the diameter of the first set of beads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pad of claim 6 wherein the second set of beads is softer than the first set of beads and compresses more easily than said first set of beads.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The pad of claim 6 further including a third set of beads wherein the diameter of said third set of beads is about three times the diameter of the first set of beads.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pad of claim 8 wherein the third set of beads is softer than the second set of beads and compresses more easily than the second set of beads.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pad of claim 9 wherein the second set of beads is softer than the first set of beads and compresses more easily than the first set of beads.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said beads are a mix of beads of different softnesses and some of the beads of said mix compress more easily than others.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 11 wherein said beads are a mix of differently sized beads.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said beads are a mix of differently sized beads of different softnesses.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said pad includes means to progressively absorb a force applied thereto.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pad of claim 14 wherein said progressively absorbing means includes said beads with said beads being of different sizes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pad of claim 14 wherein said progressively absorbing means includes said beads with said beads being of different softnesses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The pad of claim 14 wherein said progressively absorbing means includes said beads with said beads being of different sizes and softnesses.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pad of claim 14 wherein said casing is underfilled with beads to be less than a gravity fill.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The pad of claim 18 wherein said underfill is about 80% to 95% of a gravity fill.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein some of the discrete beads are resiliently compressible to less than 50% of the uncompressed volume of the bead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The pad of claim 20 wherein some of the discrete beads are resiliently compressible to about 20% of the uncompressed volume of the bead.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said outer casing is made of substantially inelastic material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said casing material and said bead material are substantially waterproof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
12 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said bead material is closed-cell foam.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said porous, breathable casing material is a mesh.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein said porous, breathable casing material is heat sealable.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
156 words
A padding combination of a relatively hard, outer shell and an inner, relatively soft pad positionable adjacent the body of a user of the padding combination, said hard, outer shell having an arched, inner surface and a piece of flexible material with spaced-apart portions and a central portion extending between said spaced-apart portions, said spaced-apart portions being attached to sections of said shell spaced apart from each other about said arched, inner surface wherein the distance along the arched, inner surface between the spaced-apart sections of said shell is greater than a first distance between the spaced-apart portions of said material wherein the central portion of said material extends substantially in the manner of a chord of the arched, inner surface and wherein any force applied to said hard, outer shell tending to flatten the arched, inner surface and increase said first distance is resisted by said material extending between the spaced-apart sections of said shell.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
156 words
A padding combination of a relatively hard, outer shell and an inner, relatively soft pad positionable adjacent the body of a user of the padding combination, said hard, outer shell having an arched, inner surface and a piece of flexible material with spaced-apart portions and a central portion extending between said spaced-apart portions, said spaced-apart portions being attached to sections of said shell spaced apart from each other about said arched, inner surface wherein the distance along the arched, inner surface between the spaced-apart sections of said shell is greater than a first distance between the spaced-apart portions of said material wherein the central portion of said material extends substantially in the manner of a chord of the arched, inner surface and wherein any force applied to said hard, outer shell tending to flatten the arched, inner surface and increase said first distance is resisted by said material extending between the spaced-apart sections of said shell.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The padding combination of claim 27 wherein said material extending between said spaced-apart sections of said shell is substantially taut.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
The padding combination of claim 27 wherein said material extending between said spaced-apart sections of said shell is prestressed.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The padding combination of claim 27 wherein said material extending between said spaced-apart sections of said shell is substantially inelastic.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
84 words
A padding having a plurality of pouches of resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material enclosed within porous, breathable material wherein at least one of said pouches is overfilled with said beads to compress substantially all of said elastic beads therein and to place the enclosing material in tension and at least another of said pouches is filled to no more than a gravity fill wherein said enclosing material is substantially untensioned and substantially all of said beads are uncompressed within said enclosing material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
84 words
A padding having a plurality of pouches of resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material enclosed within porous, breathable material wherein at least one of said pouches is overfilled with said beads to compress substantially all of said elastic beads therein and to place the enclosing material in tension and at least another of said pouches is filled to no more than a gravity fill wherein said enclosing material is substantially untensioned and substantially all of said beads are uncompressed within said enclosing material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
11 words
The padding of claim 31 wherein said pouches are joined together.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
12 words
The padding of claim 31 wherein said enclosing material is substantially inelastic.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
11 words
The padding of claim 31 further including a hard, outer shell.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The padding of claim 34 wherein said hard, outer shell is porous.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The padding of claim 31 wherein said another pouch is underfilled less than a gravity fill.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The padding of claim 36 wherein said underfill is about 80% to 95% of a gravity fill.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
116 words
A padding combination including a first pair of flexible, outer casings filled substantially with soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material, said pair of casings being spaced from each other and interconnected by a piece of material extending therebetween to form a pontoon shape, said padding further including at least a third, flexible, outer casing substantially filled with soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material, said third casing being positioned substantially against said piece of material between and above said pair of casings wherein the three casings essentially form a triangle and wherein a force applied to said third casing will be transferred to said pair of casings to thereby dissipate the applied force.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
116 words
A padding combination including a first pair of flexible, outer casings filled substantially with soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material, said pair of casings being spaced from each other and interconnected by a piece of material extending therebetween to form a pontoon shape, said padding further including at least a third, flexible, outer casing substantially filled with soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic material, said third casing being positioned substantially against said piece of material between and above said pair of casings wherein the three casings essentially form a triangle and wherein a force applied to said third casing will be transferred to said pair of casings to thereby dissipate the applied force.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
12 words
The padding of claim 38 wherein said piece of material is elastic.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
11 words
The padding of claim 38 further including a hard, outer shell.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
18 words
The padding of claim 40 further including means for attaching said three casings to said hard, outer shell.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
18 words
The padding claim 38 wherein each of the casings of said pair is smaller than the third casing.
Claim 47
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for creating an overfilled pad comprising the steps of: (a) providing a flexible, outer casing of porous, breathable material filled no more than a gravity fill with resilient, discrete, beads of substantially elastic material, said outer casing being substantially untensioned and substantially all of said beads being uncompressed within said outer casing, said casing assuming a first shape and volume and (b) distorting the first shape of said outer casing to reduce the volume thereof below said first volume until substantially all of said resilient, elastic beads within said outer casing are compressed and said outer casing is tensioned to thereby create an overfilled condition within said casing.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
110 words
A method for creating an overfilled pad comprising the steps of: (a) providing a flexible, outer casing of porous, breathable material filled no more than a gravity fill with resilient, discrete, beads of substantially elastic material, said outer casing being substantially untensioned and substantially all of said beads being uncompressed within said outer casing, said casing assuming a first shape and volume and (b) distorting the first shape of said outer casing to reduce the volume thereof below said first volume until substantially all of said resilient, elastic beads within said outer casing are compressed and said outer casing is tensioned to thereby create an overfilled condition within said casing.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 43 wherein step (b) is accomplished by pressing said outer casing of step (a) against a user's body.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 44 wherein said pressing is accomplished by stretching a band about a portion of the user's body.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said casing is made of substantially inelastic material.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said casing is made of elastic material.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 47 wherein step (b) distorts said casing substantially to the elastic limit thereof.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said casing material and said bead material are substantially waterproof.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said beads are made of closed-cell foam.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 43 wherein said beads are a mix of differently sized beads.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
59 words
A porous, breathable pad having a plurality of soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic and waterproof material wherein portions of adjacent beads abut one another and other portions of said adjacent beads are spaced from each other to create interstitial spaces and wherein at least some of said adjacent beads are fused together at the abutting portions thereof.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
59 words
A porous, breathable pad having a plurality of soft, resilient, discrete beads of substantially elastic and waterproof material wherein portions of adjacent beads abut one another and other portions of said adjacent beads are spaced from each other to create interstitial spaces and wherein at least some of said adjacent beads are fused together at the abutting portions thereof.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pad of claim 52 wherein said beads are made of closed-cell foam.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
20 words
The pad of claim 52 wherein substantially all of said adjacent beads are fused together at the abutting portions thereof.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pad of claim 52 wherein said fused beads form a predetermined shape.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
19 words
The pad of claim 52 further including an outer casing of porous, breathable material enclosing said plurality of beads.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 56 wherein said outer casing is made of substantially waterproof material.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pad of claim 56 wherein said outer casing is in tension about the enclosed beads.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
11 words
The pad of claim 52 further including a hard, outer shell.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
141 words
A pad having a flexible, outer casing, said casing having upper and lower portions and an intermediate portion extending across said casing separating the casing into upper and lower compartments, said upper compartment being bounded by said upper portion of the casing and the intermediate portion of the casing, and said lower compartment being bounded by the lower portion of the casing and the intermediate portion of the casing, said upper portion of the casing and said intermediate portion of the casing being made of substantially waterproof and airtight material and said lower portion of the casing being made of porous, breathable material, said upper compartment being filled substantially with open-cell foam and said lower compartment being filled substantially with beads of closed-cell foam, said pad further including means for allowing air to pass into and out of the upper compartment.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
141 words
A pad having a flexible, outer casing, said casing having upper and lower portions and an intermediate portion extending across said casing separating the casing into upper and lower compartments, said upper compartment being bounded by said upper portion of the casing and the intermediate portion of the casing, and said lower compartment being bounded by the lower portion of the casing and the intermediate portion of the casing, said upper portion of the casing and said intermediate portion of the casing being made of substantially waterproof and airtight material and said lower portion of the casing being made of porous, breathable material, said upper compartment being filled substantially with open-cell foam and said lower compartment being filled substantially with beads of closed-cell foam, said pad further including means for allowing air to pass into and out of the upper compartment.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
44 words
The pad of claim 60 wherein said upper and lower portions of said casing and said intermediate portion of the casing have boundaries and said boundaries of said upper, lower, and intermediate portions are stitched together, said air passing means including said stitched boundaries.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
16 words
The pad of claim 60 wherein said upper and lower compartments have substantially semi-circular cross sections.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
14 words
The pad of claim 60 wherein said lower compartment is overfilled with said beads.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
21 words
The pad of claim 60 wherein said lower compartment is filled with said beads to no more than a gravity fill.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-03-07 | 2003-09-06 | 2004-03-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-03-07 | 2007-09-06 | 2008-03-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-03-07 | 2011-09-06 | 2012-03-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |