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(11) | EP 1 286 731 B1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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| (54) |
A PROTECTIVE APPLIANCE SCHUTZVORRICHTUNG DISPOSITIF DE PROTECTION |
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| Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). |
[0001] THIS INVENTION concerns an appliance for protection against impact and strain injury and is particularly intended to prevent such injuries to sports people.
[0002] In certain sports, such as football for example, players are particularly vulnerable to injury of the lower leg including bruised lower shins, swelling of the softer muscle tissue on the inner shin, bruised ankles, abrasions to the calves and rear of the leg and swelling or bruising to the Achilles tendon. Many of these injuries occur as a result of impact but also muscle and tendon strain.
[0003] Conventional injury prevention means in general include such as elasticated sleeves adapted to be applied over joints or sensitive areas of the body, and devices known as shin pads i.e. one-piece rigid shields which are worn, for example, beneath a football sock. Existing shin-pad designs, whilst effective to a degree, offer a limited level of protection against many of the aforesaid types of injury. One weakness of the standard shin pad is that as a result of a head-on or side-on impact, the pad tends to slip around the lower leg beneath the sock and thus does not provide sufficient impact resistance.
[0004] The present invention is concerned with providing a protective appliance which conforms closely to the shape of a body part and which affords adequate impact resistance whilst maintaining its position in use. A further object of the present device is to ensure that the force of an impact is distributed throughout the appliance thus minimising localised bruising.
[0005] Commensurate with affording adequate protection, the wearer must retain complete freedom of movement so as not to impair physical performance and also to ensure that muscle injury due to unnatural movement or restraint, does not occur.
[0006] Patent specification GB 2328859 describes a protective appliance according the preamble of claim 1, including a flexible web or sleeve adapted to be worn about a part of the body and to conform closely to the shape thereof, and a plurality of interconnected plates of an impact-resistant material attached to the web or sleeve such as to permit limited relative movement between the plates. The plates are described as being attached directly to the web or sleeve or threaded onto a central elasticated strip where the strip is attached to the web or sleeve. The plates are individually and independently movable relative to each other and to the elasticated strip. In another embodiment as described in GB 2328859 the plates are interconnected by being individually and directly stitched onto the web or sleeve without being connected together upon a common strip.
[0007] Patent specification WO 94/24893 discloses a body protector comprising a garment formed of a stretch-type material to provide a close fit about the trunk of a wearer is disclosed, the garment including means for receiving and retaining an elongate segmented member in a position substantially along the median line of the dorsal panel of the garment, whereby the garment, when worn, holds the segmented member tightly against the spine of the wearer. The elongate segmented member comprises a generally linear array of segments configured so as to allow said member to flex in the manner of a human spinal column.
[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved appliance of this general kind and which permits greater flexibility of use and may be interchangeable with other such devices or movable from garment to garment.
[0009] According to the present invention, an appliance for protection against impact and strain injury including a panel comprising a plurality of interconnected plates of an impact resistant material adapted to be attached to an article to be worn about a part of the body such as to permit limited relative movement between the plates; at least some of the plates being aligned along a common backing member; characterised in that the panel comprises a backing member, the backing member formed of at least one strip of a hook and loop fastener with the interconnected plates threadedly engaged thereon in mutually overlapping relationship; and wherein the backing member forms, or includes, a fastener for by means for detachably mounting the appliance on an article to be worn.
[0010] The backing member may be one or more ligaments extending centrally or in spaced disposition along the appliance.
[0011] At least two of the interconnected plates may be mounted in fixed relative disposition along the backing member.
[0013] The backing member may form, or include a fastener for removably attaching the panel to part of an article to be worn.
[0015] The appliance maybe contained within a sleeve removably or permanently attached to a garment.
[0016] Embodiments ofthe invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig.1 illustrates a known appliance for protection against impact and strain injury, such as is described in GB 2328859; .
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part of the appliance of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 illustrates an appliance made in accordance with the invention and shows a means of attachment of the appliance to a garment;
Fig. 4 illustrates another means of attachment;
Fig. 5 shows an example of the appliance in use on a glove;
Fig. 6 shows an example of the appliance in use as a lower leg protector;
Fig. 7 shows a further example of the appliance in use as a lower leg protector;
Fig. 8 is a front view showing an example of the appliance in use on a unitard;
Fig. 9 is a rear view of the example shown in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 shows an example of the appliance in use as a shoulder protector;
Fig. 11 shows an example of the appliance in use as a elbow protector;
Fig. 12 shows an example of the appliance in use as a hip protector;
Fig.13 illustrates how a part of the appliance is removed from another part thereof;
Fig. 14 is a rear view of a lower leg protector incorporating several appliances made in accordance with the invention, with one appliance shown removed;
Fig. 15 is a rear view of an appliance made in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and
Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 15 of an appliance made in accordance with a still further embodiment; and
Fig. 17 is a view similar to Fig. 15 made in accordance with a still further embodiment.
[0017] The known appliance shown in Fig. 1, for wearing upon the lower leg comprises an inner elasticated sock 10 made from stretch neoprene rather like an elasticated joint protector but which covers the entire lower leg from just below the knee down to around the ankle. The sock 10 is shaped to the natural contour of the leg, hugging the structure of the muscles and the tendons and providing a non-slip base around which the rest of the appliance is created. The material of the sock 10 affords an excellent grip which helps it stay in position whilst at the same time enabling completely free movement ofthe lower leg, and a stirrup 11 may be provided to pass under the foot.
[0018] An outer protective layer is provided in the form of "stretch armour" and consists of a number of panels 12 each comprising a vertical column of overlapping plates 13 of an impact-resistant material such as a high density polyethylene, connected together on, and movable with respect to, an inner central strip of elastic. The degree of rigidity and yet potential overall flexibility is selected to provide the desired properties of impact resistance and distribution while retaining complete freedom of movement for the wearer.
[0019] Each such panel 12 of stretch armour and elastic strip is stitched at its opposed ends, as shown at 14, to the inner sock 10.
[0020] The plates 13 of each panel, although overlapping and to some extent nesting together, are of progressively varying shape and dimensions throughout the length of the panel thus to conform to the shape of the limb. Thus, for example, the front panel 12 has plates which are wider at the top and gradually reduce in width down towards the ankle. The panels 12 may overlap where appropriate to provide a complete shield around the lower leg leaving a space only where necessary to ensure complete freedom of movement.
[0021] Owing to the overlapping configuration of the plates 13, the force of any impact is distributed throughout the associated panel 12 and thus dispersed over a large surface area with the effect of minimising localised bruising.
[0022] The entire appliance, because of its close conformity with the shape of the leg may be worn conveniently beneath, for example, a football sock and thus can be concealed thereby.
[0023] A similar appliance may be adapted for use on any part ofthe body but particularly those parts most prone to impact injury.
[0024] Referring now to Fig. 2, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, the panels 12 are constructed such as to be removably attachable to the sock 10 or to any article to be worn about a part of the body to be protected. Thus, the plates 15 are arranged in overlapping relationship and each attached, for example by stitching, to an elastic backing member or ligament 16. In this embodiment the stitching can be seen at 17 whereby relative movement of the plates 15 is afforded only by the resilient nature of the ligament 16.
[0025] Accordingly, the appliance is constructed independently of the article to which it is to be attached and may thus be applied to the article at any selected location. Tapes 18 from, the garment. The plates 15 are aligned and movable along the ligament 16 as will be described, so that the stitching 17 is omitted.
[0026] Figure 2 illustrates, for example, a shoulder protection appliance such that the plates 15 follow the line of the shoulder and the upper arm to protect that region of the body from impact injury.
[0027] Alternatively, an appliance such as shown in Fig. 2 can be located directly over the leg in the area of the shin thus to act as a shin protector, or to any other area of the body to be protected.
[0028] The ligament 16 may be elasticated so as to maintain the plates 15 in the correct relative orientation but allowing for relative movement between them as the appliance bends, due to the flexible and resilient nature of the ligament.
[0029] In place of the VELCRO fastener tapes 18, the ends of the ligament may be removably attached to a garment, and replaceable thereon, by means of adhesive tapes, press studs or the like. By making the appliance detachable it can be replaced by one having different properties of rigidity or flexibility, or when worn or damaged,
[0030] Referring now to Fig. 3, there is illustrated a part of a garment with which the appliance is to be used, for example, an elasticated knee support sleeve 19. A strip 20 of VELCRO may be permanently attached to the sleeve 19 and the ligament 16 may have spaced apart VELCRO tabs 21 as shown.
[0031] Referring now to Fig. 4, in this example the appliance is wholly enclosed within a mesh pouch 22 closed by VELCRO strips 23 attachable to VELCRO strips 24 permanently affixed to the sleeve 19. In this case, there is no need for the user to wear additional clothing outside the pouch 22 unlike the embodiment in Fig. 3 where it maybe considered necessary or desirable to wear another sock outside the appliance.
[0032] Referring now to Fig. 5, there is shown an example where several strips of the appliance are attached to the back of a glove 25 thus to protect the wearer's hand against crush injury.
[0033] Referring now to Fig. 6, in this example an elastic sock 26 has attached thereto several lengths of the appliance for example for a shin guard 27, ankle guards 28 and a further guard 29 at the rear to protect the Achilles tendon region.
[0034] Referring now to Fig. 7, there is shown an alternative arrangement in which a number of the appliances are attached to the sock 26 by insertion into mesh pockets 27 similar to that described in relation to Fig. 4, such that the appliances may be introduced selectively according to user requirements.
[0035] Fig. 8 illustrates a front view of a unitard being a flexible body garment 28, and in this case further mesh pockets 29 are provided to receive, selectively, one or more appliances in the shoulder, breast, ribs and hips regions.
[0037] Referring now to Fig. 10, it can be seen that the appliance may be formed such that each plate 15 may consist of an outer shell 31 and a core 32 of a more highly impact resistant material thus to improve impact absorption and distribution through the structure of the appliance. This construction may apply to any of the appliances described and illustrated in this application and is an alternative to a construction in which some or all of the plates are made from a single material.
[0038] Referring now to Fig. 11 the appliances 30 of Fig. 9 are illustrated once again as being removable from a mesh pocket 34.
[0039] Fig.12 similarly illustrates a hip protection appliance 3 5 and its containment within a mesh pouch 36.
[0040] Referring now to Fig. 13, it will be seen that the appliance 37 is readily removable from its mesh pouch 38 using the strips 23 and 24 of VELCRO fastener as referred to in relation to Fig. 4.
[0041] Referring now to Fig. 14, there is shown a complete lower leg protector comprising a flexible sock 45 upon which are mounted several appliances 46 two in the calf region, one in the frontal shin region and one in the upper heel region.
[0042] The appliances 46 are removably attached to the sock45 as will be described, and a further pair of appliances 47 may be non-removably mounted on both sides of the ankle region..
[0043] Referring now to Fig. 15, the plates shown here at 48 are individually threaded as at 49 onto a single flexible tape or ligament 50. The two end plates are preferably stitched or otherwise permanently attached to the ligament 50 as shown at 51. A strip 52 of VELCRO is applied over the ligament 50 and may have a self-adhesive backing surface 53 thus to become bonded to the ligament 50 and each of the plates 48. If required, the strip 52 may also be stitched as at 54 to the outermost end plates 48. Thus, the appliance is self-contained and attachable to the sock 45 bearing the corresponding strip 55 of VELCRO, preferably stitched to the sock 45, or to any other sleeve or garment bearing such a strip as illustrated at 55 in Fig. 14.
[0044] Thus, the appliances 46 are removable from the sock 45 for washing and for replacement if they become damaged Removability of the appliances 46 enable the wearer to select the required impact resistant characteristics. For this purpose, appliances having a variety of levels of rigidity may be made available.
[0045] Referring now to Fig.16, in an alternative arrangement the ligament 50 is replaced directly by a strip 56 of VELCRO upon which the plates 48 are threadedly engaged. In some cases the surface characteristics of the VELCRO strip are sufficient to retain the plates 48 in fixed relative disposition along the strip but for additional security the two end plates may be stitched to the strip.
[0046] Optionally, press studs or further VELCRO fixings 57 may be located in the side regions of the end plate 48 to become engaged with the sock or garment thus to provide additional security preventing the side edges of the plates from lifting in use. Such additional fixings may be provided on some or all of the plates 48.
[0047] Referring now to Fig. 17, it will be seen that the plates 15 may be threadedly mounted on a pair of ligaments 60 (which may be elasticated or strips of velcro) arranged in spaced parallel disposition along the appliance, thus to assist in the prevention of the individual plates from twisting or rotating, but still affording adequate relative movement between them. Two ligaments also serve to prevent the side regions of the plates from lifting and maintain the assembly of plates in correct alignment and degree of overlap. Alternatively, a single broad ligament can be provided.
[0048] The appliances may be made available in a number of different thicknesses or grades of rigidity and strength. For example, a user having a recent injury may apply a thicker or heavier grade of appliance initially and then reduce its thickness and weight during the recovery period.
[0049] Thus, it will be seen that the ability to remove the appliance from a particular garment and to replace it when required enables different protective properties to be employed and the appliance is removable from the garment for washing both the garment and the appliance.
[0050] While the appliance is ideal for use by people engaged in sports activities it may be used also by law enforcement personnel or for medical and surgical applications where, for example, a limb is required to be immobilised or merely protected from touch or impact.
[0051] Having a central common ligament (or a pair of spaced parallel ligaments) which is preferably, though-not essentially, elasticated, the appliance is self contained, simple to manufacture and can be made available in different widths and lengths. Furthermore, the length of a particular appliance may be reduced by removal of several of the plates 13, for example, by cutting the ligament to the required length.
[0052] The ability of the appliance to distribute or dissipate impact energy throughout the plate assembly, affords the wearer a degree of control over the effect of the impact. For example, in a sports environment, the speed and direction of rebound of a ball impacting upon the appliance may be better controlled by a player as a result of the force dissipation.
1. An appliance for protection against impact and strain injury including a panel comprising
a plurality of interconnected plates (15, 48) of an impact-resistant material adapted
to be attached to an article (19, 26, 45) to be worn about a part of the body such
as to permit limited relative movement between the plates; at least some of the plates
being aligned along a common backing member (16, 50, 60); characterised in that the panel comprises a backing member, the backing member formed of at least one strip
(56) of a hook and loop fastener with the interconnected plates (48) threadedly engaged
thereon in mutually overlapping relationship; and wherein the backing member forms,
or includes, a fastener (20, 21, 52, 55, 56) for detachably mounting the panel on
an article to be worn.
2. An appliance according to Claim 1, wherein the backing member is a ligament (16, 50,
60) extending centrally along the appliance.
3. An appliance according to Claim 1, wherein the backing member is comprised by two
or more ligaments (60) extending along the appliance in spaced disposition.
4. An appliance according to any preceding claims, wherein at least two of the interconnected
plates (48) are mounted in fixed relative disposition along the backing member.
5. An appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the backing member is elasticated.
6. An appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the fastener is a hook and
loop fastener.
7. An appliance according to any preceding claim, contained within a sleeve (22, 27,
29, 30, 34, 38) removably or permanently attached to a garment.
8. An appliance according to Claim 5, wherein said at least two of the interconnected
plates are attached by stitching (51) to the backing member.
9. An appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the plates
have loops and are threadedly mounted on the backing member (50, 60).
10. An appliance according to Claim 6, wherein a strip (52) of the hook and loop fastener
extends along and is attached to the backing member.
11. An appliance according to Claim 10, wherein the strip of hook and loop fastener has
a self-adhesive backing for attachment to the backing member.
12. An appliance according to Claim 7, wherein the sleeve is open-ended to receive the
appliance, the open end or ends being closable by a strip (23, 24) of hook and loop
fastener.
13. An appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein several panels of such appliance
are removably attached to the back of a glove (25).
14. An appliance according to any one of Claims 1 to 13, wherein several panels of such
appliance are attached to a sock (26) thus selectively to provide a shin guard, ankle
guard or a guard at the rear to protect the Achilles tendon region.
15. An appliance according to any preceding claim, wherein the or at least some of the
interconnected plates are formed such as to consist individually of an outer shell
(31) and an inner core (32) having, relative to the outer shell, more highly impact-resistant
properties.
16. An appliance according to Claim 1, wherein the backing member extends centrally along
the row of interconnected plates, and further fastening means (57) are provided removably
to fasten outer side regions of at least some of said plates to a garment thus to
prevent said side regions from lifting in use.
1. Schutzvorrichtung gegen Aufschlag- und Überlastungsverletzungen, die eine Bahn, die
eine Vielzahl von untereinander verbundenen Platten (15, 48) aus einem stoßfesten
Material umfasst, enthält, die angepasst ist, um an einem Artikel (19, 26, 45) befestigt
zu werden, der über einem Teil des Körpers derartig zu tragen ist, dass begrenzte
Relativbewegung zwischen den Platten möglich ist, wobei wenigstens einige der Platten
entlang einem gemeinsamen Trägerelement (16, 50, 60) ausgerichtet sind, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Bahn ein Trägerelement umfasst, das Trägerelement aus wenigstens einem Streifen
(56) eines Klettverschlusses, der mit den untereinander verbundenen Platten (48) darauf
durch Einfädelung in wechselseitig überlappender Beziehung in Eingriff ist, gebildet
ist, wobei das Trägerelement eine Befestigung (20, 21, 52, 55, 56) zum lösbaren Befestigen
der Bahn auf einem zu tragenden Artikel bildet oder enthält.
2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Trägerelement ein Band ist (16, 50, 60), das
sich mittig entlang der Vorrichtung erstreckt.
3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei das Trägerelement aus zwei oder mehr Bändern (60)
besteht, die sich in beabstandeter Anordnung entlang der Vorrichtung erstrecken.
4. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei wenigstens zwei der untereinander
verbundenen Platten (48) in einer feststehenden Relativanordnung entlang dem Trägerelement
befestigt sind.
5. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei das Trägerelement elastisch
ist.
6. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Befestigung ein Klettverschluss
ist.
7. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, enthalten in einer Manschette
(22, 27, 29, 30, 34, 38), ablösbar oder permanent an einem Kleidungsstück befestigt.
8. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 5, wobei wenigstens zwei der untereinander verbundenen Platten
durch Heftung (51) an dem Trägerelement befestigt sind.
9. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei wenigstens einige der Platten
Schlaufen haben und durch Einfädelung auf dem Trägerelement (50, 60) befestigt sind.
10. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 6, wobei sich ein Streifen (52) des Klettverschlusses entlang
dem Trägerelement erstreckt und an diesem befestigt ist.
11. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 10, wobei der Klettverschlussstreifen einen selbstklebenden
Träger zum Befestigen an dem Trägerelement hat.
12. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Manschette offen ist, um die Vorrichtung aufzunehmen
und das offene Ende oder die offenen Enden durch einen Streifen (23, 24) Klettverschluss
verschließbar ist bzw. sind.
13. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei mehrere Bahnen einer derartigen
Vorrichtung auf der Rückseite eine Handschuhs (25) befestigt sind.
14. Vorrichtung nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 13, wobei mehrere Bahnen einer derartigen
Vorrichtung an einem Stutzen (26) befestigt sind, um infolgedessen selektiv einen
Schienbeinschutz, einen Fußgelenkschutz oder einen Schutz an dem hinteren Teil, um
den Achillessehnenbereich zu schützen, bereitzustellen.
15. Vorrichtung nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die oder wenigstens einige
der untereinander verbundenen Platten so geformt sind, um individuell aus einer Außenschale
(31) und einem Innenkern (32), der gegenüber der Außenschale höhere Stoßfestigkeitseigenschaften
aufweist, zu bestehen.
16. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, wobei sich das Trägerelement entlang der Reihe der untereinander
verbundenen Platten erstreckt und weitere Befestigungseinrichtungen (57) ablösbar
bereitgestellt werden, um die äußeren Seitenbereiche wenigstens einiger der Platten
an einem Kleidungsstück zu befestigen und die Seitenbereiche so bei Verwendung am
Abheben zu hindern.
1. Appareil de protection contre les blessures par chocs et les contraintes, comprenant
un panneau constitué d'une pluralité de plaques interconnectées (15, 48) en matériau
résistant aux chocs, adapté pour être attaché à un article (19, 26, 45) à porter autour
d'une partie du corps de manière à permettre un mouvement relatif limité entre les
plaques; au moins certaines des plaques étant alignées le long d'un élément de support
d'envers commun (16, 50, 60); caractérisé en ce que le panneau comprend un élément de support d'envers, l'élément de support d'envers
étant formé d'au moins une bande (56) de fermeture du type boucles et crochets sur
lequel les plaques interconnectées (48) sont enfilées en se chevauchant mutuellement;
et dans lequel l'élément de support d'envers forme, ou comprend, un élément de fixation
(20, 21, 52, 55, 56) servant à fixer de manière détachable le panneau sur un article
à porter.
2. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de support d'envers est un
ligament (16, 50, 60) s'étendant de manière centrale le long de l'appareil.
3. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de support d'envers est constitué
de deux ligaments (60) ou plus, s'étendant le long de l'appareil en étant espacés
l'un de l'autre.
4. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins
deux des plaques interconnectées (48) sont montées en position relative fixe le long
de l'élément de support d'envers.
5. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément
de support d'envers est élastique.
6. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'élément
de fixation est une fermeture du type boucles et crochets.
7. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, contenu à l'intérieur
d'une gaine (22, 27, 29, 30, 34, 38) attachée de manière amovible ou permanente à
un vêtement.
8. Appareil selon la revendication 4, dans lequel lesdites au moins deux des plaques
interconnectées sont attachées par couture (51) à l'élément de support d'envers.
9. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins
certaines des plaques portent des boucles et sont enfilées sur l'élément de support
d'envers (50, 60).
10. Appareil selon la revendication 6, dans lequel une bande (52) de la fermeture du type
boucles et crochets s'étend le long de, et est attachée à, l'élément de support d'envers.
11. Appareil selon la revendication 10, dans lequel la bande de fermeture du type boucles
et crochets porte un revers autocollant pour sa fixation à l'élément de support d'envers.
12. Appareil selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la gaine est à extrémité(s) ouverte(s)
pour recevoir l'appareil, la ou les extrémités ouvertes étant refermables par une
bande (23, 24) de fermeture du type boucles et crochets.
13. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel plusieurs
panneaux d'un tel appareil sont attachés de manière amovible au dos d'un gant (25).
14. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 13, dans lequel plusieurs panneaux
d'un tel appareil sont attachés à une chaussette (26) pour ainsi former sélectivement
un protège-tibia, une chevillière ou une protection à l'arrière pour protéger la zone
du tendon d'Achille.
15. Appareil selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les ou
au moins certaines des plaques interconnectées sont formées de manière à être individuellement
composées d'une coque extérieure (31) et d'une âme intérieure (32) qui possède, par
rapport à la coque extérieure, une plus grande résistance aux chocs.
16. Appareil selon la revendication 1, dans lequel l'élément de support d'envers s'étend
de manière centrale le long de la rangée de plaques interconnectées, et des moyens
de fixation supplémentaires (57) sont prévus pour fixer de manière amovible des régions
latérales extérieures d'au moins certaines desdites plaques à un vêtement pour ainsi
empêcher lesdites régions latérales de se soulever lors de leur utilisation.