EP2399470A1 - Protection device and wearable article including said protection device - Google Patents
Protection device and wearable article including said protection device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2399470A1 EP2399470A1 EP11171492A EP11171492A EP2399470A1 EP 2399470 A1 EP2399470 A1 EP 2399470A1 EP 11171492 A EP11171492 A EP 11171492A EP 11171492 A EP11171492 A EP 11171492A EP 2399470 A1 EP2399470 A1 EP 2399470A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- protection device
- base element
- tubular bodies
- face
- wearable article
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/015—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with shock-absorbing means
- A41D13/0156—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with shock-absorbing means having projecting patterns
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
- A41D13/055—Protector fastening, e.g. on the human body
- A41D13/0581—Protector fastening, e.g. on the human body with permanent fastening means
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/015—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with shock-absorbing means
- A41D13/0158—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches with shock-absorbing means having ventilation features
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
- A41D13/06—Knee or foot
- A41D13/065—Knee protectors
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A41—WEARING APPAREL
- A41D—OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- A41D13/00—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches
- A41D13/05—Professional, industrial or sporting protective garments, e.g. surgeons' gowns or garments protecting against blows or punches protecting only a particular body part
- A41D13/08—Arm or hand
Definitions
- the present disclosure generally refers to a protection device for protecting the human body in the course of dynamic sports, i.e. a protection device of the type adapted to be used during sports activities for protecting a user in case of knocks, falls and impacts in general.
- a protection device for protecting the human body in the course of dynamic sports
- the present disclosure also refers to a wearable article for dynamic sports practice, including said protection device.
- Knees, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck and back are usually the parts more subjected to be hit by falls during such activities, both as these usually are the parts first contacting the ground, and as they have no layer of muscle or fatty tissue that may sufficiently cushion knocks.
- protection devices are made available which are arranged at body parts exposed to an impact while dynamic or extreme sports activities are in progress.
- a first category of products suitable therefor envisages the use of a rigid element that is fastened, e.g. on a garment, at the zone to be protected, so as to cover said zone and shield it from impacts.
- a rigid element that is fastened, e.g. on a garment, at the zone to be protected, so as to cover said zone and shield it from impacts.
- Different materials and geometries of the protective element are used to improve the strength thereof and increase the capacity of dissipating impact energy.
- a drawback lies, e.g., in the same rigidity of the protections and in the fact that it is not always possible to perfectly adapt such protections to the shape of the user's body, above all to the anatomy of the body joints, and therefore it is difficult to make the protection adhere perfectly to the body during a fall or accident.
- a drawback lies in the fact that, in order to guarantee sufficient protection, rubber protections of relevant thickness have been proposed which are particularly heavy. Such a weight is incompatible with the practical use in a wearable article for dynamic sports.
- the technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a protection device adapted to protect the human body in dynamic sports, and concomitantly allowing to obtain a high protection, an adaptability to the shape of the body part to be protected, a limited weight, and an adequate perspiration, and/or to provide further advantages.
- a protection device comprising, in a single body of flexible material:
- this protection device is particularly suitable to guarantee sufficient protection from impact in case of falls or accidents in general in the practice of dynamic sports, such as motorcycling or skiing.
- the protection device in accordance with the present disclosure can be capable of transmitting a force of the order of about 28-30 kN, falling within lawful limits set for the protection of joints in the dynamic sports field.
- the base element has a height comprised between 0.1 and 2.5 mm, and the tubular bodies have a height comprised between 0.1 and 25 mm.
- tubular bodies have a circular section. In this case, further improvements were found in energy absorption, therefore in protection effectiveness.
- the flexible material is a rubber, even more particularly polynorbornene-based, and has a Shore hardness (measured according to modes known to a person skilled in the art) comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return.
- protection device according to the present disclosure lies in the fact that, for its application, it suffices to cut following a pattern, along a desired contour, the base element, and arrange such device at the body part to be protected. In other words, the protection device is easily mouldable into the desired shape.
- the protection device is produced in one piece by moulding, so as to easily obtain a single body comprising the base element, the tubular bodies and the respective holes.
- the protection device in a wearable article, such as, e.g., a garment (like a motorcyclist's jacket or suit) or in an independent protection accessory like a back protector or an elbow protector, it is preferable to at least partially cover the protection device with an external barrier (e.g., a fabric or a soft layer), so that the protection device be hidden to the view, and concomitantly having the external barrier in turn protecting it from external agents.
- an external barrier e.g., a fabric or a soft layer
- the device in a pocket, in a casing or below an external layer of the garment or of the protection accessory.
- the device is placed on an external side of the garment to be visible or on sight.
- the device may act as distinctive element for the garment, as it allows to immediately recognize that it is a garment capable of offering an adequate protection.
- protection device for dynamic sports
- said device is adapted to effectively protect from knocks or impacts during the practice of dynamic sports, or of extreme sports in general.
- protection device for dynamic sports it is meant in particular that the device is adapted to be worn-on (directly or applied to a garment) by a user who is practicing a dynamic sport, in order to protect the user's body from the possible knocks or impacts that may occur in the course of such a sporting activity.
- the protection device 10 is made of a flexible material and comprises, in a single body, a base element 12 having a first face 13 and a second face 14 opposite to the first face 13.
- the base element 12 in the example is a layer or sheet of flexible material.
- the base element 12 has a plurality of through holes 15, visible in Figure 3 in a sectional view.
- these are holes 15 having a circular shape.
- the holes 15 extend through the thickness of the base element 12 between the first face 13 and the second face 14.
- the protection device 10 further comprises a plurality of tubular bodies 16 projecting from the first face 13 of said base element 12.
- Each of the tubular bodies 16 is arranged at a respective hole 15 of the base element 12 to form, with the hole 15, a cavity 18 extending through from a free end 19 of the respective tubular body 16 to the second face 14 of the base element 12. More precisely, the tubular body 16 (and its cavity 18) is aligned and coaxial with the respective hole 15, i.e. they have the same longitudinal central axis 150.
- a protection device 10 is obtained having high flexibility and reduced encumbrance, satisfactory perspiration and lightness of weight thanks to the through cavities 18, satisfactory protection capability thanks to the presence of the tubular bodies 16 fixed in a single body with the base element 12.
- the lightness of weight is obtained also thanks to the interspaces between the tubular bodies 16 and to their distribution, allowing to obtain a structure having a certain overall thickness (equal to the sum of the height H1 of the base element 12 and of the height H2 of the tubular bodies 16) with a reduced use of material.
- the empty portions are far more than the solid portions (the latter corresponding to the walls 20 of the tubular bodies 16); compared to a solid-layer protection of equal thickness, the weight is markedly reduced.
- the protection device 10 is produced by moulding, so as to easily obtain a single body comprising the base element 12, the tubular bodies 16 and the respective holes 15.
- the flexible material with which the protection device was made is a rubber, even more preferably it is polynorbornene, e.g. commercially available under the name of Norsorex®, and having a Shore hardness comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return.
- the base element 12 is a sheet of substantially plane shape, preferably having a height H1 comprised between 0.1 mm and 2.5 mm, in the example of 1 mm.
- the tubular bodies 16 have a height H2 comprised between 0.1 mm and 25 mm, in the example of 6 mm, and have walls 20 of circular cross section.
- the walls 20 have an external diameter De constant along height H2, to form substantially a cylinder, whereas they have an internal diameter progressively decreasing from the free end 19 of the tubular body 16 to the hole 15 of the base element 12.
- the internal surface 16a of the tubular body 16 is frustocone-shaped, with a taper toward the base element 12.
- the internal diameter Di of the tubular body 16 at the free end 19 is, in the example, of 6 mm, whereas the diameter Df of the hole 15 of the base element 12 is of 5 mm.
- the thickness S of the walls 20 is of about 1 mm at the free end 19 and progressively increases toward the base element 12.
- the taper of the cavity 18 is, e.g., advantageous in the production stage, to allow an easier drawing of the device 10 from the mould.
- the tubular bodies 16 are evenly distributed on the first face 13, in the example they are preferably distributed at a respective interaxis distance I (i.e., the distance between the central axes 150 of two tubular bodies 16 close to each other) which is constant, and in particular is equal to about 1 cm.
- the tubular bodies 16 are distributed on the first face 13 according to an equilateral triangular lattice having side equal to the interaxis I.
- the protection device 10 With the aforedescribed protection device 10 it was found that on occasion of some impacts (comparable to those of a fall during a dynamic sport) by impacting bodies hitting the structure with an energy, e.g., of the order of 50 Joule, the protection device 10 can be capable of transmitting a force of the order of about 28-30 kN and therefore is adapted to be used as protector in dynamic sports. These results were obtained by tests conducted in compliance with current reference technical standards EN 1621.1, arranging the protection device 10 with the base element 12 facing the impacting body (in other words, with the base element 12 having the second face 14 facing the impacting body, the base element 12 being therefore interposed between the tubular bodies 16 and the impacting body).
- a protection device 110 in accordance to a variant embodiment is illustrated.
- the protection device 110 is made of a flexible material and comprises, in a single body, a base element 12 having a first face 13 and a second face 14 opposite to the first face 13.
- the base element 12 has a plurality of through holes 115 (only partially visible in the drawing) and a plurality of tubular bodies 116 projecting from the first face 13 of said base element 12.
- Each of the tubular bodies 116 is arranged at a respective hole 115 of the base element 12 to form, with the hole, a cavity 118 extending through from a free end 119 of the respective tubular body 116 to the second face 14 of the base element 12.
- the flexible material with which the protection device 110 has been made is a rubber, even more preferably it is polynorbornene, e.g. commercially available under the name Norsorex®, and having Shore hardness comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return.
- the tubular bodies 116 have walls 120 of polygonal section, in the example hexagonal. Even more preferably, the holes 115 have the same polygonal shape (in the example hexagonal) of the tubular bodies 116, so that the cavity 118 has an internal wall continuous and free from projections or recesses.
- the walls 120 have an internal surface flared or tapered toward the respective holes 115 of the base element 12, analogously to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 , such that the cavity 118 is progressively reduced from the free end 119 to the respective hole 115 of the base element 12.
- the cavity 118 is shaped like a frustum of pyramid, with a taper toward the base element 12.
- FIGS. 5, 5a , 6, 6a and 7 there are illustrated some applications of a protection device according to the present disclosure in an article wearable by a user or utilizer for protection from impacts in dynamic sports.
- the protection device is arranged so that the tubular bodies 16 be facing the user and the base element 12 be facing outwards, therefore on the opposite side of the user.
- the tubular bodies 16 are interposed between the base body 12 and the user's body.
- the protection device 10 is cut following a pattern with a contour adapted to the position for which it is intended, e.g. with a near-oval shape like that illustrated in Figure 1 .
- a garment 200 more precisely a motorcyclist's suit is illustrated.
- the garment 200 of Figure 5 includes a plurality of protection devices 10, each intended to be arranged at a respective joint of the body of the user wearing on the garment 200, like the joints of shoulders, hips, elbows and knees.
- the protection device 10 is perimetrically fixed to the garment 200 by glue or seam and is covered, e.g., by an external barrier, like an external layer generally denoted by reference number 201, e.g. a soft comfort layer or a leather portion. Therefore, the protection device 10 is interposed between the user and the external barrier 201. Essentially, the protection device 10 is held in the garment 200 by the external barrier 201.
- an external barrier like an external layer generally denoted by reference number 201, e.g. a soft comfort layer or a leather portion. Therefore, the protection device 10 is interposed between the user and the external barrier 201. Essentially, the protection device 10 is held in the garment 200 by the external barrier 201.
- the protection device 10 might also be inserted in a pocket of the garment 200.
- a back protector 300 adapted to be inserted in a motorcyclist's jacket or alike garment for protecting a user's back is illustrated. It is therefore an independent protection accessory, which, like an insert, is adapted to be inserted in a dynamic sports garment, preferably in association to other energy-absorbing structures, for a more effective back protection.
- the protection device 10 in this instance has a shape corresponding to a back to be protected and is included in a case 301.
- the protection device 10 is sandwiched between an external layer 302 serving as a cover barrier, and an internal layer 303, both said layers 302, 303 being adapted to give satisfactory comfort to a user.
- the layers 302, 303 are made of a suitably foraminated soft fabric, preferably a so-called double-knit fabric, allowing to maintain a desired perspiration of the back protector 300.
- a layer of fixing glue is interposed between the external layer 302 and the protection device 10 (base element 12 side) and between the internal layer 303 and the protection device 10 (tubular bodies 16 side).
- the fixing glue is distributed at intervals (i.e., it does not form a layer having a continuous surface) in order to maintain the desired perspiration.
- the protection device 10 has a surface extension smaller than the surface extension of the external layer 302 and of the internal layer 303.
- the external layer 302 and the internal layer 303 have perimetral edges 304, 305 projecting with respect to the protection device 10, which perimetral edges 304, 305 are sewn to each other and joined by a tape 306.
- the back protector 300 is sealed by a tape 306 having a hemming function.
- the back protector 300 is associated to other energy-absorbing layers, not visible in the drawings, to guarantee an energy absorption adequate and compliant with the existing rules.
- the back protector 300 including the protection device 10 according to the present disclosure, or any other article thus made, is very light-weight and adapted for insertion in an article of clothing without excessively affecting the overall weight of the article of clothing itself.
- Alike articles can be made for protecting other body parts of a user practicing dynamic sports, like e.g. an elbow protector, a knee protector, a neck protector, or a shoulder blade protector.
- a protection device according to the present disclosure is illustrated; in particular, it is a protection device 410 adapted to be placed at a shoulder and a protection device 510 adapted to be placed at a knee or elbow.
- the protection device 410, 510 is made of a flexible material and comprises, in a single body, a base element 12 having a first face 13 and a second face 14 opposite to the first face 13.
- the base element 12 has a plurality of holes not visible in the drawings, and a plurality of tubular bodies 116 projecting from the first face 13 of said base element 12.
- Each of the tubular bodies 116 is arranged at a respective hole of the base element 12 to form, with the hole, a cavity 118 extending through from a free end 119 of the respective tubular body 116 to the second face 14 of the base element 12.
- the flexible material with which the protection device 410, 510 has been made is a rubber, even more preferably it is polynorbornene, e.g. commercially available under the name Norsorex®, and having a Shore hardness comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return.
- the tubular bodies 116 have walls 120 of polygonal section, in the example hexagonal.
- the tubular bodies have a cylindrical shape or other section.
- the walls 120 preferably have an internal surface flared or tapered towards the holes of the base element 12, analogously to the embodiments of Figures 1 to 3 and of Figure 4 , such that the cavity 118 is progressively reduced from the free end 119 to the respective hole of the base element 12.
- the protection device 410 and the protection device 510 have each one or more side notches 420, 421, 520, 521, in the example two notches from opposite sides, made in the base element 12.
- Such side notches 420, 421, 520, 521 foster the folding of the respective protection device 410, 510 and the keeping of the respective protection device 410, 510 in a folded condition, in conformity with the anatomy of the shoulder and of the knee or elbow, respectively.
- the pair of notches 420, 421 or 520, 521 fosters a folding of the device 410, 510 with respect to a folding line 425, 525 substantially joining the two notches of the pair; this can be fostered also by providing a reduced number of tubular bodies 116 along said folding line 425, 525.
- protection devices 10, 110, 410, 510 have been illustrated with a lanceolate and elongate shape, with a curved and rounded profile. It is understood that protection devices having different shapes and profiles, equally adapted to be associated to a user's or utilizer's body to guarantee an adequate protection, fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
- the subject of the present disclosure has been described hitherto with reference to preferred embodiments thereof. It is understood that other embodiments relating to the same inventive idea may exist, all of these falling within the scope of protection of the claims which are provided hereinbelow.
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) for dynamic sports. The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) comprises, in a single body of flexible material, a base element (12) having a first face (13) and a second face (14) opposite to the first face (13), and a plurality of tubular bodies (16, 116) projecting from the first face (13) of the base element (12). The base element (12) has a plurality of through holes (15, 115) and each of the tubular bodies (16) is arranged at a respective hole (15, 115), to form with the hole (15, 115) a cavity (18, 118) extending from a free end (19) of the tubular body (16, 116) to the second face (14) of the base element (12).
Description
- The present disclosure generally refers to a protection device for protecting the human body in the course of dynamic sports, i.e. a protection device of the type adapted to be used during sports activities for protecting a user in case of knocks, falls and impacts in general. The present disclosure also refers to a wearable article for dynamic sports practice, including said protection device.
- It is widely known that sporting activities such as motorcycling, but also skiing, skating, cycling, and anyhow when high-speed motions are envisaged, can easily lead to falls of persons practicing the activity; in these falls, a number of the person's body zones are particularly at risk of injury.
- Knees, wrists, elbows, shoulders, neck and back are usually the parts more subjected to be hit by falls during such activities, both as these usually are the parts first contacting the ground, and as they have no layer of muscle or fatty tissue that may sufficiently cushion knocks.
- To mitigate consequences of falls and impacts in general, protection devices are made available which are arranged at body parts exposed to an impact while dynamic or extreme sports activities are in progress.
- A first category of products suitable therefor envisages the use of a rigid element that is fastened, e.g. on a garment, at the zone to be protected, so as to cover said zone and shield it from impacts. Different materials and geometries of the protective element are used to improve the strength thereof and increase the capacity of dissipating impact energy.
- These rigid protection devices, though advantageous under several standpoints, entail some drawbacks.
- A drawback lies, e.g., in the same rigidity of the protections and in the fact that it is not always possible to perfectly adapt such protections to the shape of the user's body, above all to the anatomy of the body joints, and therefore it is difficult to make the protection adhere perfectly to the body during a fall or accident.
- To solve said drawback it has been proposed to use protections of flexible material, like e.g. of rubber.
- Currently available protections of flexible material, though entailing the advantage of clinging better to the shape of the human body, entail anyhow some drawbacks still unsolved.
- In particular, e.g., a drawback lies in the fact that, in order to guarantee sufficient protection, rubber protections of relevant thickness have been proposed which are particularly heavy. Such a weight is incompatible with the practical use in a wearable article for dynamic sports.
- Moreover, known rubber protections do not allow an adequate perspiration when worn-on.
- The technical problem underlying the present invention is to provide a protection device adapted to protect the human body in dynamic sports, and concomitantly allowing to obtain a high protection, an adaptability to the shape of the body part to be protected, a limited weight, and an adequate perspiration, and/or to provide further advantages.
- Such a problem is solved by a protection device according to claim 1, and by a wearable article according to
claim 13. - In particular, it has been found that a protection device comprising, in a single body of flexible material:
- a base element having a first face and a second face opposite to the first face and having a plurality of through holes; and
- a plurality of tubular bodies projecting from the first face of said base element, wherein each of said tubular bodies is arranged at a respective hole of the base
element to form, with said hole, a cavity extending from a free end of the tubular body to the second face of the base element,
concomitantly has features of satisfactory lightness of weight, flexibility, perspiration and encumbrance, making it particularly suitable for use in articles wearable for dynamic sports. - Moreover, it was found that this protection device is particularly suitable to guarantee sufficient protection from impact in case of falls or accidents in general in the practice of dynamic sports, such as motorcycling or skiing.
- For instance, it was found that on the occasion of some impacts by items or bodies hitting the protection device with an energy, e.g., of the order of 50 Joules, the protection device in accordance with the present disclosure can be capable of transmitting a force of the order of about 28-30 kN, falling within lawful limits set for the protection of joints in the dynamic sports field. These results were achieved by tests conducted in compliance with current technical reference standards, e.g. EN 1621.1.
- Preferably, in order to limit weight to the utmost, the base element has a height comprised between 0.1 and 2.5 mm, and the tubular bodies have a height comprised between 0.1 and 25 mm.
- Even more preferably, in an embodiment the tubular bodies have a circular section. In this case, further improvements were found in energy absorption, therefore in protection effectiveness.
- Preferably, for the specific application in the dynamic sports field the flexible material is a rubber, even more particularly polynorbornene-based, and has a Shore hardness (measured according to modes known to a person skilled in the art) comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return.
- Another advantage of the protection device according to the present disclosure lies in the fact that, for its application, it suffices to cut following a pattern, along a desired contour, the base element, and arrange such device at the body part to be protected. In other words, the protection device is easily mouldable into the desired shape.
- Preferably, the protection device is produced in one piece by moulding, so as to easily obtain a single body comprising the base element, the tubular bodies and the respective holes.
- To include the protection device in a wearable article, such as, e.g., a garment (like a motorcyclist's jacket or suit) or in an independent protection accessory like a back protector or an elbow protector, it is preferable to at least partially cover the protection device with an external barrier (e.g., a fabric or a soft layer), so that the protection device be hidden to the view, and concomitantly having the external barrier in turn protecting it from external agents.
- To this end, it is possible e.g. to arrange the device in a pocket, in a casing or below an external layer of the garment or of the protection accessory.
- In an alternative embodiment, the device is placed on an external side of the garment to be visible or on sight. In this embodiment, the device may act as distinctive element for the garment, as it allows to immediately recognize that it is a garment capable of offering an adequate protection.
- Other advantages, features and operation steps of the subject of the present disclosure will be made evident in the following detailed description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example and not for limitative purposes. However, it is evident how each embodiment could have one or more of the advantages listed above; anyhow, it is not required for each embodiment to concurrently have all of the advantages listed.
- It is also to be understood that all possible combinations of the aforeindicated embodiments, and of those described with reference to the following detailed description, fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
- Reference will be made to the figures of the annexed drawings, wherein:
-
Figure 1 illustrates a top perspective view of a protection device according to the present disclosure; -
Figure 2 shows a plan view of the protection device ofFigure 1 ; -
Figure 3 shows a sectional view along section line III-III ofFigure 2 ; -
Figure 4 shows a top perspective view of a protection device according to the present disclosure in accordance with a variant embodiment; -
Figure 5 illustrates a front view of a motorcyclist's suit including a plurality of protection devices according to the present disclosure; -
Figure 5a illustrates a sectional view along section line V-V ofFigure 5 ; -
Figure 6 illustrates a front view of a back protector including a protection device according to the present disclosure; -
Figure 6a illustrates a sectional view along section line VI-VI ofFigure 6 ; -
Figure 7 illustrates a view with detached parts of a back protector including a protection device according to the present disclosure; -
Figure 8 illustrates a top perspective view of a protection device according to the present disclosure, for the protection of a shoulder; -
Figure 9 illustrates a top perspective view of a protection device according
to the present disclosure, for the protection of a knee or of an elbow. - Referring to the annexed drawings, by
reference numbers Figures 1 to 3 , theprotection device 10 is made of a flexible material and comprises, in a single body, abase element 12 having afirst face 13 and asecond face 14 opposite to thefirst face 13. Thebase element 12 in the example is a layer or sheet of flexible material. - The
base element 12 has a plurality of throughholes 15, visible inFigure 3 in a sectional view. In the example, these areholes 15 having a circular shape. Essentially, theholes 15 extend through the thickness of thebase element 12 between thefirst face 13 and thesecond face 14. - The
protection device 10 further comprises a plurality oftubular bodies 16 projecting from thefirst face 13 of saidbase element 12. Each of thetubular bodies 16 is arranged at arespective hole 15 of thebase element 12 to form, with thehole 15, acavity 18 extending through from afree end 19 of the respectivetubular body 16 to thesecond face 14 of thebase element 12. More precisely, the tubular body 16 (and its cavity 18) is aligned and coaxial with therespective hole 15, i.e. they have the same longitudinalcentral axis 150. - With this arrangement of parts, a
protection device 10 is obtained having high flexibility and reduced encumbrance, satisfactory perspiration and lightness of weight thanks to the throughcavities 18, satisfactory protection capability thanks to the presence of thetubular bodies 16 fixed in a single body with thebase element 12. - The lightness of weight is obtained also thanks to the interspaces between the
tubular bodies 16 and to their distribution, allowing to obtain a structure having a certain overall thickness (equal to the sum of the height H1 of thebase element 12 and of the height H2 of the tubular bodies 16) with a reduced use of material. Essentially, in the region between thefirst face 13 and thefree ends 19, the empty portions are far more than the solid portions (the latter corresponding to thewalls 20 of the tubular bodies 16); compared to a solid-layer protection of equal thickness, the weight is markedly reduced. - For instance, the
protection device 10 is produced by moulding, so as to easily obtain a single body comprising thebase element 12, thetubular bodies 16 and therespective holes 15. - More precisely, in the example the flexible material with which the protection device was made is a rubber, even more preferably it is polynorbornene, e.g. commercially available under the name of Norsorex®, and having a Shore hardness comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return.
- The
base element 12 is a sheet of substantially plane shape, preferably having a height H1 comprised between 0.1 mm and 2.5 mm, in the example of 1 mm. Preferably, in the example illustrated inFigures 1 to 3 , thetubular bodies 16 have a height H2 comprised between 0.1 mm and 25 mm, in the example of 6 mm, and havewalls 20 of circular cross section. - Even more specifically, in the example the
walls 20 have an external diameter De constant along height H2, to form substantially a cylinder, whereas they have an internal diameter progressively decreasing from thefree end 19 of thetubular body 16 to thehole 15 of thebase element 12. - Essentially, the internal surface 16a of the
tubular body 16 is frustocone-shaped, with a taper toward thebase element 12. - In the example, the internal diameter Di of the
tubular body 16 at thefree end 19 is, in the example, of 6 mm, whereas the diameter Df of thehole 15 of thebase element 12 is of 5 mm. The thickness S of thewalls 20 is of about 1 mm at thefree end 19 and progressively increases toward thebase element 12. - The taper of the
cavity 18 is, e.g., advantageous in the production stage, to allow an easier drawing of thedevice 10 from the mould. - Preferably, the
tubular bodies 16 are evenly distributed on thefirst face 13, in the example they are preferably distributed at a respective interaxis distance I (i.e., the distance between thecentral axes 150 of twotubular bodies 16 close to each other) which is constant, and in particular is equal to about 1 cm. In the example, thetubular bodies 16 are distributed on thefirst face 13 according to an equilateral triangular lattice having side equal to the interaxis I. - With the
aforedescribed protection device 10 it was found that on occasion of some impacts (comparable to those of a fall during a dynamic sport) by impacting bodies hitting the structure with an energy, e.g., of the order of 50 Joule, theprotection device 10 can be capable of transmitting a force of the order of about 28-30 kN and therefore is adapted to be used as protector in dynamic sports. These results were obtained by tests conducted in compliance with current reference technical standards EN 1621.1, arranging theprotection device 10 with thebase element 12 facing the impacting body (in other words, with thebase element 12 having thesecond face 14 facing the impacting body, thebase element 12 being therefore interposed between thetubular bodies 16 and the impacting body). - Referring to
Figure 4 , aprotection device 110 in accordance to a variant embodiment is illustrated. - In this variant embodiment, elements having the same structure and function keep the same reference number of the
aforedescribed embodiment 10, and are not described again. - In particular, in this case, the
protection device 110 is made of a flexible material and comprises, in a single body, abase element 12 having afirst face 13 and asecond face 14 opposite to thefirst face 13. - The
base element 12 has a plurality of through holes 115 (only partially visible in the drawing) and a plurality oftubular bodies 116 projecting from thefirst face 13 of saidbase element 12. Each of thetubular bodies 116 is arranged at arespective hole 115 of thebase element 12 to form, with the hole, acavity 118 extending through from afree end 119 of the respectivetubular body 116 to thesecond face 14 of thebase element 12. - In this example as well, the flexible material with which the
protection device 110 has been made is a rubber, even more preferably it is polynorbornene, e.g. commercially available under the name Norsorex®, and having Shore hardness comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return. - Preferably, in the example illustrated in
Figure 4 , thetubular bodies 116 havewalls 120 of polygonal section, in the example hexagonal. Even more preferably, theholes 115 have the same polygonal shape (in the example hexagonal) of thetubular bodies 116, so that thecavity 118 has an internal wall continuous and free from projections or recesses. - In this embodiment as well, the
walls 120 have an internal surface flared or tapered toward therespective holes 115 of thebase element 12, analogously to the embodiment ofFigures 1 to 3 , such that thecavity 118 is progressively reduced from thefree end 119 to therespective hole 115 of thebase element 12. In other words, thecavity 118 is shaped like a frustum of pyramid, with a taper toward thebase element 12. - Referring to
Figures 5, 5a ,6, 6a and 7 , there are illustrated some applications of a protection device according to the present disclosure in an article wearable by a user or utilizer for protection from impacts in dynamic sports. - In the examples illustrated, it is used the
protection device 10 according to the first example reported above. However, nothing prevents that other protection devices according to the present disclosure may be used. - In all said applications, the protection device is arranged so that the
tubular bodies 16 be facing the user and thebase element 12 be facing outwards, therefore on the opposite side of the user. In other words, thetubular bodies 16 are interposed between thebase body 12 and the user's body. - Moreover, to the ends of the application, the
protection device 10 is cut following a pattern with a contour adapted to the position for which it is intended, e.g. with a near-oval shape like that illustrated inFigure 1 . - Referring to
Figure 5 and to the respective section ofFigure 5a , agarment 200, more precisely a motorcyclist's suit is illustrated. - The
garment 200 ofFigure 5 includes a plurality ofprotection devices 10, each intended to be arranged at a respective joint of the body of the user wearing on thegarment 200, like the joints of shoulders, hips, elbows and knees. - In the example illustrated, the
protection device 10 is perimetrically fixed to thegarment 200 by glue or seam and is covered, e.g., by an external barrier, like an external layer generally denoted byreference number 201, e.g. a soft comfort layer or a leather portion. Therefore, theprotection device 10 is interposed between the user and theexternal barrier 201. Essentially, theprotection device 10 is held in thegarment 200 by theexternal barrier 201. - The
protection device 10 might also be inserted in a pocket of thegarment 200. - Referring to
Figures 6, 6a and 7 , aback protector 300 adapted to be inserted in a motorcyclist's jacket or alike garment for protecting a user's back is illustrated. It is therefore an independent protection accessory, which, like an insert, is adapted to be inserted in a dynamic sports garment, preferably in association to other energy-absorbing structures, for a more effective back protection. - The
protection device 10 in this instance has a shape corresponding to a back to be protected and is included in acase 301. - More specifically, the
protection device 10 is sandwiched between anexternal layer 302 serving as a cover barrier, and aninternal layer 303, both saidlayers layers back protector 300. - A layer of fixing glue, not illustrated in the figures, is interposed between the
external layer 302 and the protection device 10 (base element 12 side) and between theinternal layer 303 and the protection device 10 (tubular bodies 16 side). The fixing glue is distributed at intervals (i.e., it does not form a layer having a continuous surface) in order to maintain the desired perspiration. - Moreover, it is highlighted that the
protection device 10 has a surface extension smaller than the surface extension of theexternal layer 302 and of theinternal layer 303. In particular, theexternal layer 302 and theinternal layer 303 have perimetraledges protection device 10, which perimetral edges 304, 305 are sewn to each other and joined by atape 306. Essentially, at a perimetral zone, theback protector 300 is sealed by atape 306 having a hemming function. - Preferably, as mentioned, the
back protector 300 is associated to other energy-absorbing layers, not visible in the drawings, to guarantee an energy absorption adequate and compliant with the existing rules. - The
back protector 300 including theprotection device 10 according to the present disclosure, or any other article thus made, is very light-weight and adapted for insertion in an article of clothing without excessively affecting the overall weight of the article of clothing itself. - Alike articles can be made for protecting other body parts of a user practicing dynamic sports, like e.g. an elbow protector, a knee protector, a neck protector, or a shoulder blade protector.
- Referring to
Figures 8 and9 , further embodiments of a protection device according to the present disclosure are illustrated; in particular, it is aprotection device 410 adapted to be placed at a shoulder and aprotection device 510 adapted to be placed at a knee or elbow. - In these further embodiments, elements having the same function and structure keep the same reference number of the
aforedescribed embodiments - In particular, in this case, the
protection device base element 12 having afirst face 13 and asecond face 14 opposite to thefirst face 13. - The
base element 12 has a plurality of holes not visible in the drawings, and a plurality oftubular bodies 116 projecting from thefirst face 13 of saidbase element 12. Each of thetubular bodies 116 is arranged at a respective hole of thebase element 12 to form, with the hole, acavity 118 extending through from afree end 119 of the respectivetubular body 116 to thesecond face 14 of thebase element 12. - In this example as well, the flexible material with which the
protection device - Preferably, in the example illustrated in
Figures 8 and9 , thetubular bodies 116 havewalls 120 of polygonal section, in the example hexagonal. In a variant embodiment, not illustrated, the tubular bodies have a cylindrical shape or other section. - In these embodiments as well, the
walls 120 preferably have an internal surface flared or tapered towards the holes of thebase element 12, analogously to the embodiments ofFigures 1 to 3 and ofFigure 4 , such that thecavity 118 is progressively reduced from thefree end 119 to the respective hole of thebase element 12. - The
protection device 410 and theprotection device 510 have each one ormore side notches base element 12. -
Such side notches respective protection device respective protection device notches device folding line tubular bodies 116 along saidfolding line protection devices
Claims (18)
- A protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) for dynamic sports, said protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) comprising, in a single body of flexible material,- a base element (12) having a first face (13) and a second face (14) opposite to the first face (13), said base element (12) having a plurality of through holes (15, 115);- a plurality of tubular bodies (16, 116) projecting from the first face (13) of said
base element (12),
wherein each of said tubular bodies (16, 116) is arranged at a respective hole (15, 115) of the base element (12) to form with said hole (15, 115) a cavity (18, 118) extending from a free end (19) of the tubular body (16, 116) to said second face (14) of the base element (12). - The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to claim 1, wherein the flexible material is polynorbornene.
- The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flexible material has a Shore hardness comprised between 30 and 40 Shore A and an elasticity comprised between 0 and 10% of elastic return.
- The protection device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular bodies (16) have a circular section.
- The protection device (10) according to claim 4, wherein the tubular bodies (16) have an internal diameter (Di) progressively decreasing from the free end (19) of the tubular body (16) to the hole (15) of the base element (12).
- The protection device (10) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the tubular bodies (16) have a substantially constant external diameter (De).
- The protection device (110, 410, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular bodies (116) have a polygonal section.
- The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular bodies (16, 116) are evenly distributed on the first face (13), said distribution being with a constant interaxis (I).
- The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base element (12) has a height (H1) comprised between 0.1 and 2.5 mm.
- The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular bodies (16, 116) have a height (H2) comprised between 0.1 and 25 mm.
- The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) is adapted to be placed at a joint of a user's body.
- The protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more side notches (420, 421, 520, 521) made in the base element (12).
- A wearable article (200, 300) adapted for dynamic sports practice, including a protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) according to any one of the preceding claims.
- The wearable article (200, 300) according to claim 13, wherein said protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) is arranged so that, when the article (200, 300) is worn on by a user, said tubular bodies (16, 116) be facing the user and said base element (12) be facing outwards, to an impact-causing event.
- The wearable article (200, 300) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein said protection device (10, 110, 410, 510) is arranged at a respective joint area, such as shoulder, elbow, hip or knee.
- The wearable article (200, 300) according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein said wearable article (200, 300) is a motorcyclist's jacket or suit.
- The wearable article (200, 300) according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein said article is a protection accessory, such as a back protector, a shoulder blade protector, an elbow protector, a knee protector or a neck protector.
- The wearable article (200, 300) according to any one of the preceding claims 13 to 17, including an external barrier (201, 302) adapted to cover at least partially said protection device (10, 110, 410, 510).
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000130A ITVR20100130A1 (en) | 2010-06-28 | 2010-06-28 | PROTECTION DEVICE AND WEARABLE ITEM INCLUDING THE SAFETY DEVICE |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2399470A1 true EP2399470A1 (en) | 2011-12-28 |
Family
ID=43502957
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP11171492A Withdrawn EP2399470A1 (en) | 2010-06-28 | 2011-06-27 | Protection device and wearable article including said protection device |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2399470A1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITVR20100130A1 (en) |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2017177251A1 (en) * | 2016-04-11 | 2017-10-19 | Gerhard Karall | Body protection element |
WO2020069546A1 (en) * | 2018-10-01 | 2020-04-09 | Gerhard Karall | Functional wear |
IT201900016361A1 (en) * | 2019-09-16 | 2021-03-16 | Giorgia Daniel | "Improved Protective Accessory" |
CN113163882A (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2021-07-23 | 埃津多尔斯有限公司 | Material for vibration damping and wearable garment comprising such material |
WO2021165492A1 (en) * | 2020-02-21 | 2021-08-26 | Cenesy Ab | Shock-absorbing material |
EP4018861A1 (en) * | 2020-12-23 | 2022-06-29 | Dainese S.p.A. | Sliding member |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2022150866A1 (en) * | 2021-01-18 | 2022-07-21 | Gerhard Karall | Protector element |
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DE61906C (en) * | CH. J. BAILEY in Newton, Mass., V. St. A | Elastic heel pad for footwear | ||
DE474016C (en) * | 1928-02-12 | 1929-03-25 | Julius Blumenfeld | Insole pad for footwear |
US5233767A (en) * | 1990-02-09 | 1993-08-10 | Hy Kramer | Article of footwear having improved midsole |
US5680657A (en) * | 1993-10-19 | 1997-10-28 | L-Fashion Group Oy | Protective pad |
US20020142129A1 (en) * | 2001-02-21 | 2002-10-03 | Hutsman Corporation | Automotive head impact protection |
-
2010
- 2010-06-28 IT IT000130A patent/ITVR20100130A1/en unknown
-
2011
- 2011-06-27 EP EP11171492A patent/EP2399470A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE61906C (en) * | CH. J. BAILEY in Newton, Mass., V. St. A | Elastic heel pad for footwear | ||
DE474016C (en) * | 1928-02-12 | 1929-03-25 | Julius Blumenfeld | Insole pad for footwear |
US5233767A (en) * | 1990-02-09 | 1993-08-10 | Hy Kramer | Article of footwear having improved midsole |
US5680657A (en) * | 1993-10-19 | 1997-10-28 | L-Fashion Group Oy | Protective pad |
US20020142129A1 (en) * | 2001-02-21 | 2002-10-03 | Hutsman Corporation | Automotive head impact protection |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2017177251A1 (en) * | 2016-04-11 | 2017-10-19 | Gerhard Karall | Body protection element |
WO2020069546A1 (en) * | 2018-10-01 | 2020-04-09 | Gerhard Karall | Functional wear |
CN113163882A (en) * | 2018-12-10 | 2021-07-23 | 埃津多尔斯有限公司 | Material for vibration damping and wearable garment comprising such material |
IT201900016361A1 (en) * | 2019-09-16 | 2021-03-16 | Giorgia Daniel | "Improved Protective Accessory" |
EP3791744A1 (en) * | 2019-09-16 | 2021-03-17 | Daniel Giorgia | Protection accessory |
WO2021165492A1 (en) * | 2020-02-21 | 2021-08-26 | Cenesy Ab | Shock-absorbing material |
EP4018861A1 (en) * | 2020-12-23 | 2022-06-29 | Dainese S.p.A. | Sliding member |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ITVR20100130A1 (en) | 2011-12-29 |
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