CA2967775A1 - Joint pad - Google Patents

Description

INVENTION TITLE: Joint Pad FIELD OF INVENTION: The present invention relates to disposable joint pads such as knee or elbow pads for outdoor and indoor use.
BACKGROUND: It is desirable to have the means of cushioning the joints by pads use such as knees, elbows etc. in children and adults such as during sport and work activities to prevent/reduce injuries, provide support the joint, reduce stress and discomfort, provide shock absorption, protect and insulate the joint from exposure of moisture and sweat, improve performance and longevity of joint as well as preventing damage to the joint from abrasive forces in case of falls etc.
The complexity and expense of the fabric of regular non-disposable joint protection pads renders them unsuitable for disposable or one time use and requires periodic cleaning when soiled by contact with ground and also need time to be dried, which adds to inconvenience of their use and the complexity and expense of their fabric renders them unsuitable for one-time, disposable use.
In such non-disposable pads, odour causing bacterial growth or fungal growth may develop due to moisture and sweat build-up especially when not cleaned properly, which can at times present as rash etc. and regular washing has seemed necessary in such pads. Also bad odour may develop by use of such joint pads. Many times the pads have to be let down such as during games and sport activities to let the skin dry to prevent problems such as chaffing etc.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The present invention seeks to provide a solution to this problem by providing protection to the joints by use of pads which are easy to use, disposable, not requiring the need to periodic cleaning when soiled by contact with ground and avoiding moisture and sweat build-up, keeping the skin dry in a more hygienically acceptable manner for the user. They offer convenience of usage, day-to-day usage, reduce the sharing of such pads with other users so as to prevent transference of bacterial or fungal growth etc. and easy access. These may be worn for sports and athletic activities, work related activities, outdoor use such as gardening or indoors such as cleaning floors etc.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: It consists of the a) outer durable, flexible layer of material 1 (Referring to Fig A)such as petroleum-based plastic or plastic-treated material or plant-based bio-plastic to provide the waterproof coating, such as use of PLA or poly lactic acid.
b) middle absorbent core layer 2 (Referring to Fig A) of padding material containing Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), to soak up and trap the water poured before the application of the pad to better the padding. SAP is a plastic, considered non-toxic and is usually derived from petroleum, to absorb water and lock it in the absorbent core. It may also contain fluff, usually made from wood pulp or wheat or corn based material, so as to distribute the water.
c) inner layer 3 (Referring to Fig A) which is of softer material and water permeable.
Water may be poured over the inner layer at room temperature before placing it around the joint, which is trapped in the middle absorbent layer to better the padding.
After the activity, the joint pad may be disposed off.
IMAGES: Figure A is a perspective view of a joint pad, in this case a knee pad embodiment of this invention.
MOST IMPORTANT PREFERRED ASPECTS: Preferably, the pads may come with Velcro straps 4 (Referring to Fig A) or elastic flaps to attach to the intended joint such as knee, elbow etc. It may be of different colors and prints over the pads. In one embodiment, it may also be made of hypoallergenic material.
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