초록 ▼

Protective knee pads are comprised of a first shell member which fits over the patella and knee joint and a second member which is attached to the lower thigh and pivotally engaged with the knee pad shell so that they may articulate one with respect to the other while providing additional support an

Protective knee pads are comprised of a first shell member which fits over the patella and knee joint and a second member which is attached to the lower thigh and pivotally engaged with the knee pad shell so that they may articulate one with respect to the other while providing additional support and protection for the user of the knee pad. An additional shin pad may also be attached to the lower end of the shell which covers the knee.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A protective knee pad for workmen comprising, in combination: a first generally rigid formed shell, said shell including a concave interior, a pad assembly on the concave interior, an upper section of said pad assembly and shell configured to fit above the knee joint, a middl

What is claimed is: 1. A protective knee pad for workmen comprising, in combination: a first generally rigid formed shell, said shell including a concave interior, a pad assembly on the concave interior, an upper section of said pad assembly and shell configured to fit above the knee joint, a middle section of said pad assembly and shell configured to fit over the patella, and a lower section of said shell and pad assembly projecting downwardly configured to fit over the upper shin such that when worn, the first shell and pad assembly completely covers the wearer's patella; a second generally lower thigh attachment member configured to fit around the lower thigh and above the first shell and pad assembly; a first lateral side link flexibly attached at one end to a first lateral side of the first shell and attached at its opposite end to a lateral side of said thigh attachment member; and a second lateral side link flexibly attached at one end to a second lateral side of the first shell and attached at its opposite end to a lateral side of said thigh attachment member, said first and second links being locatable on generally opposite sides of a knee; and a first pivot connection, between the first lateral side link one end and the first shell first lateral side, and a second pivot connection between the second lateral side link one end and the first shell second lateral side with the first and second pivot connections being lateral aligned across the first shell from each other so that the first shell middle section is disposed to extend laterally therebetween in covering relation to the wearer's patella. 2. The knee pad of claim 1 wherein the lower section of the first shell is formed with a generally interior cylindrical configuration and an outwardly curved outmost lower end section. 3. The knee pad of claim 1 further including a cushion rib extending around the outer periphery of the middle and upper sections of said shell, said rib formed from a frictional material for holding the shell in position on a knee with minimal slippage. 4. The knee pad of claim 1 wherein the first and second side links are each pivotably attached to said thigh attachment member. 5. The knee pad of claim 1 wherein said lower thigh attachment member comprises a flexible strap having a left hand strap section, a right hand strap section, and an intermediate strap section connecting the left hand strap section and the right hand strap section, said intermediate strap section curved upwardly over the formed shell whereby when the knee pad shell and thigh attachment member are attached to the leg of an individual, the flexible strap remains upwardly disposed over the shell and attached pad assembly. 6. The knee pad of claim 5 wherein the left hand strap section and right hand strap section are generally straight strap sections respectively joined to the intermediate strap section at a left hand juncture and a right hand juncture, respectively. 7. The knee pad of claim 6 wherein the first side link is joined to the flexible strap at said left hand juncture and said second side link is joined to said right hand juncture. 8. The knee pad of claim 5 wherein the first link is positioned on the left hand side of said shell and said second link is positioned on the right hand side of said shell. 9. The knee pad of claim 6 wherein the first link is positioned on the left hand side of said shell and the second link is positioned on the right hand side of said shell. 10. The knee pad of claim 1 wherein the pad assembly comprises a left hand margin and a right hand margin, and said first side link joins the left hand margin to the thigh assembly member and the second link member joins the right hand margin to the thigh assembly. 11. The knee pad of claim 6 wherein the pad assembly comprises a left hand margin and a right hand margin, and said first side link joins the left hand margin to the left hand juncture and the second side link joins the right hand margin to the right hand juncture. 12. The knee pad of claim 1 wherein said shell and pad assembly include a gel insert in the middle section. 13. The knee pad of claim 1 wherein said pad assembly further includes an attachment strap joining the opposite lateral sides of the middle section of the pad assembly. 14. The knee pad of claim 5 wherein said pad assembly further includes an attachment strap generally positioned for joining the opposite lateral sides of the middle section of the pad assembly. 15. A protective knee pad comprising, in combination: a first outer shell including a concave interior, first and second opposite lateral sides, a longitudinal axis, a curved top side configured to fit above the knee joint, a middle section configured to fit over the patella, and a lower end section configured to fit over the shin; a pad assembly of cushioning material affixed to the outer shell and generally conformed to the shape of the outer shell, said pad assembly including a left hand margin and a right hand margin, said margins extending outwardly beyond the lateral sides of the shell; a flexible thigh attachment strap having a curved intermediate front section spaced longitudinally from the curved top side of the shell and spaced longitudinally from the pad assembly, said thigh attachment strap further including a left hand strap section and a right hand strap section with the front strap section extending therebetween, said left hand and right hand strap sections connectable behind the thigh to effect attachment of the thigh attachment strap to extend about the thigh of an individual with the front strap section extending across the front of the thigh, a first lateral side link connecting the shell and pad assembly to the thigh attachment strap at a flexible portion thereof, and a second lateral side link connecting the shell and pad assembly to the flexible thigh attachment strap at another flexible portion thereof, said first and second side links extending generally on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis; and first and second pad attachment straps attached respectively to the right hand margin and left hand margin and connectable to attach the shell and pad assembly over a patella so that the patella is not exposed and is covered and protected by the shell and pad assembly with the cushioning material of the pad assembly tightly engaged against the patella and surrounding region of the knee. 16. The knee pad of claim 15 wherein the first and second side links are generally rigid links with first and second attachment ends for connection respectively to the pad assembly and the thigh strap, at least one connection for each side link comprising a pivotal connection. 17. The knee pad of claim 15 wherein said pad assembly includes an interior face with a lip member extending at least partially circumferentially around the margins and the interior face of the pad assembly intermediate the margin. 18. A protective knee pad for workmen comprising, in combination: a generally rigid formed knee protection shell, said shell including a generally concave interior, an interior peripheral edge, first and second lateral sides, an upper section configured to fit above the knee joint, said upper section having a generally convex exterior surface, a middle section configured to fit over the patella so that the patella is not exposed and is covered and protected by the shell, and a lower section extending downwardly configured to fit over the upper shin and having a lowermost edge portion configured in the form of a bill to extend outwardly away from the shin to avoid having the edge portion dig into the shin; and a flexible lower thigh strap configured and sized to extend entirely around a lower thigh and having opposite ends configured to be attached behind the thigh with a front flexible section of the flexible strap extending across the front of the thigh. 19. A protective knee pad for workmen comprising, in combination: a first generally rigid formed shell, said shell including a concave interior, a pad assembly on the concave interior, an upper section of said pad assembly and shell configured to fit above the knee joint, a middle section of said pad assembly and shell configured to fit over the patella, and a lower section of said shell and pad assembly projecting downwardly configured to fit over the upper shin such that when worn, the first shell and pad assembly completely covers the wearer's patella; a second generally lower thigh attachment member configured to fit around the lower thigh and above the first shell and pad assembly; a first lateral side link flexibly attached at one end to a first lateral side of the first shell and attached at its opposite end to a lateral side of said thigh attachment member; and a second lateral side link flexibly attached at one end to a second lateral side of the first shell and attached at its opposite end to a lateral side of said thigh attachment member, said first and second links being locatable on generally opposite sides of a knee; a first pivot connection, between the first lateral side link one end and the first shell first lateral side, and a second pivot connection between the second lateral side link one end and the first shell second lateral side with the first and second pivot connections being lateral aligned across the first shell from each other so that the first shell middle section is disposed to extend laterally therebetween in covering relation to the wearer's patella; a protective shin guard, said shin guard having an upper end comprising a shin guard generally cylindrical shell and a longitudinal axis, said guard configured for fitting over the upper shin; and a flexible hinge joining the lower end of the knee shell to the upper end of the shin guard shell, said hinge generally flexible about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis.