Protective athletic pads for joint surfaces

Abstract

Abstract A protective pad for a joint surface of a wearer's limb during athletic activity such as skating and skateboarding has a cushioning element and a shielding element mounted thereto. The cushioning element has a body with a first surface to overlie the joint surface and an opposite second surface. The shielding element has a primary wall forming a domed central region surrounded by a peripheral flange engaged upon the second surface of the cushioning body. In the central region, the primary wall defines an outer, obstruction-engaging surface and an inner wall surface. The shielding element also has a plurality of interengaged support wall segments extending from the inner wall surface toward, but spaced from engagement with, the second surface of the cushioning body. The shielding and cushioning elements, in a central region of the cushioning body bounded by the peripheral flange and overlying the joint surface, together define, at rest, a cavity between the support wall segments and the second surface of the cushioning body. The shielding element is relatively more resistant to flexing than the cushioning element, and upon application of a force to the obstruction-engaging surface of the protective pad overlying the joint surface to be protected, the shielding element resists flexing as the cushioning element flexes to permit penetration of the joint surface into the cavity, thus to absorb force and protect the joint surface.

Inventors

• 👤 Michael K. Pratt

Bibliographic Details