The present invention refers to a sports item, more specifically a sock equipped with an attachment system for shin pads using elastic straps.
Several sports, in particular football, hockey or rugby, require players to use shin pads to avoid injury owing from violent contact which may occur in the leg, more specifically in the tibia area.
The easiest way to place the shin pad is by introducing it into the sock, which remains in place because of the tension created by the mesh of the sock. However this method presents the great disadvantage of the shin pad quickly moving out of position. There are several solutions for this problem, such as the use of elastic straps with Velcro® on the shin pad and wrapped around the leg, the use of Velcro® in the sock and the shin pad, placing a pocket on the inside of the sock to encase the shin pad or placing elastic bands outside the sock.
Examples of the aforementioned solutions can be found in the following documents:
A sock according to the present invention is described in independent claim 1. Preferred embodiments are subject matter of the dependent claims.
The main advantage of the invention is to provide a system to keep the shin pad in place which is completely integrated into the sock, thus not requiring any other kind of fastening at the end.
Fitted with padded elastic straps on the outside of the sock which encircle the leg, the invention has the added benefit of holding the shin pad in place from the bottom, stopping it from slipping out of place. The straps also act as an attachment between the sock leg and the sock foot when being detachable from each other, for when the user chooses to use a sock leg which is not integrated with the sock foot.
Another advantage of the sock is that it can be used altogether; that is, with both the leg and foot, or only the leg on its own. This resolves the sportsman's problem of cutting the sock that is part of the sports kit - for comfort or aesthetic reasons -, using another sock foot, and placing the sock leg that is part of the sports kit over the top.
The current solution is time-consuming and not at all practical, considering that sportsmen use various methods in order to stop the shin pad from moving out of place and to hide the fact that the sock is made up of two separate parts (the sock leg and sock foot). Thus, the solution presented by this invention is much more practical.
These characteristics, among others, can easily be understood by referring to the figures attached, which should be considered as mere examples and in no way restrictive of the scope of the invention. The figures are not to scale, and some measurements may be exaggerated for illustrative purposes. Absolute and relative dimensions do not correspond to real proportions for the use of the invention.
In all the figures below, and where applicable, the sock foot (1), the sock leg (2), the elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) acting as an attachment system (3) to join the sock foot (1) and the sock leg (2), the shin pad (4) and the system of elastic straps on the inside of the sock leg (2) made up of horizontal elastic straps (5.1), vertical elastic straps (5.2) and diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3) are shown.
In
Another possible application method can be seen in
In
Padded elastic strap refers to a material with foam filling covered with elastic fibers, in order to make the feel softer and to cushion impacts.
Sock leg refers to a tube made of a fabric which is compatible with the manufacture of a sock, destined to be used below the knee and above the ankle.
The present invention refers to a sports item, more specifically a sock equipped with an attachment system for shin pads which uses elastic straps, the shin pad aimed at protecting the leg, and more specifically the tibia area, from the type of contact which can cause injury.
The system of elastic straps (5) constituted of horizontal elastic straps (5.1), vertical elastic straps (5.2) and diagonally crossed elastic straps (5.3), is attached to the inside of the sock and has a dimension which is appropriate for the dimension of the shin pad to be held in place. The elastic straps are made of an elastic material which have elastic characteristics compatible with their intended use. Each elastic strap has a width of between 0,01 m and 0,15 m.
The attachment of the elastic straps to the sock is preferably by vertical stitching at the ends of the elastic straps, in such a way to allow the shin pad to be introduced through the top part of the set of elastic straps.
The sock in the present invention can be used complete; that is, with the sock foot (1) and sock leg (2), or with only the sock leg (2) when they are detachable from each other. The option of being able to use only the sock leg (2) resolves the problem confronted by some players who use a sports kit, who may cut the kit sock because they do not like the fabric with which is it made or for aesthetic reasons, and use a low sock of their preference and then place the sock leg over the sock foot that they have chosen to wear.
In addition, the outside of the sock is fitted with an elastic strap acting as an attachment system (3) between the sock leg and the sock foot, positioned above the ankle, which also acts to stop the shin pad from shifting vertically, whilst the system of elastic straps (5) on the inside of the sock stop the shin pad (4) from moving horizontally. If the player decides to use a different sock and then place the sock leg (2) over the top, this elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) also acts to join the sock leg (2) and the different sock. Since the elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg (2) acting as an attachment system (3) between the sock leg and the sock foot is placed below the shin pad (4) and above the ankle, usually an unprotected area, and is made of padded fabric, it also acts as protection for this area. This elastic strap on the outside of the sock leg acting as an attachment system (3) between the sock leg and the sock foot, is attached to the sock horizontally, preferably stitched to one of the ends in order for it to encircle the whole leg.
In a first usage method, as shown in
In a second usage method, as shown in
In a third usage method, as shown in
In a fourth usage method, as shown in
In a fifth usage method, as shown in
In a sixth usage method, as shown in
This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.