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US20140259260A1 - Protective Ankle And Calf Sleeve - Google Patents

Protective Ankle And Calf Sleeve Download PDF

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Publication number
US20140259260A1
US20140259260A1 US14/208,782 US201414208782A US2014259260A1 US 20140259260 A1 US20140259260 A1 US 20140259260A1 US 201414208782 A US201414208782 A US 201414208782A US 2014259260 A1 US2014259260 A1 US 2014259260A1
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sleeve
cushioning element
protective
cushioning
impact
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
US14/208,782
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Carl Behrend
Oliver McLachlan
Catherine F. Morrison
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Nike Inc
Original Assignee
Nike Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Nike Inc filed Critical Nike Inc
Priority to US14/208,782 priority Critical patent/US20140259260A1/en
Priority to EP14769690.0A priority patent/EP2967159B1/en
Priority to JP2016502386A priority patent/JP6382294B2/ja
Priority to CN201480013740.7A priority patent/CN105188431A/zh
Priority to PCT/US2014/027266 priority patent/WO2014152372A1/en
Publication of US20140259260A1 publication Critical patent/US20140259260A1/en
Assigned to NIKE, INC. reassignment NIKE, INC. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: MORRISON, CATHERINE F., BEHREND, CARL, MCLACHLAN, OLIVER
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
    • A63B71/12—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders
    • A63B71/1225—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61F—FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS
    • A61F13/00—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads
    • A61F13/06—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads specially adapted for feet or legs; Corn-pads; Corn-rings
    • A61F13/064—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads specially adapted for feet or legs; Corn-pads; Corn-rings for feet
    • A61F13/066—Bandages or dressings; Absorbent pads specially adapted for feet or legs; Corn-pads; Corn-rings for feet for the ankle
    • 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
    • A41D13/0587—Integral with the garment
    • 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
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
    • A63B71/12—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders
    • A63B71/1225—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
    • A63B2071/1258—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet for the shin, e.g. shin guards
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
    • A63B71/00—Games or sports accessories not covered in groups A63B1/00 - A63B69/00
    • A63B71/08—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions
    • A63B71/12—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders
    • A63B71/1225—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
    • A63B2071/1275—Body-protectors for players or sportsmen, i.e. body-protecting accessories affording protection of body parts against blows or collisions for the body or the legs, e.g. for the shoulders for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet for the ankle

Definitions

  • an ankle sleeve or ankle and calf sleeve, is disclosed for use by an athlete participating in or practicing sports, such as soccer, football, etc., to prevent injuries and to provide support to the athlete's legs around the ankles.
  • Athletes who practice impact sports like soccer are prone to injuries and, therefore, require extra protective gear, particularly for the lower extremities.
  • the protective gear used although very necessary, can be heavy and/or uncomfortable when worn for long periods of time. As such, athletes may be prone not to wear their protective gear during practice sessions. However, athletes are still prone to injuries during practice sessions, a risk that may be exacerbated if an athlete chooses not to wear protective gear during practice.
  • the protective gear comprises a sleeve that features special padded regions for optimal protection without compromising comfort.
  • the ankle sleeve may be knit from synthetic fibers, natural fibers, or a blend of synthetic and natural fibers. Alternatively, woven materials can be used along with a strategic stitch line arranged for the comfort of the athlete.
  • the disclosed protective gear is comfortable and can be worn on a regular basis for prolonged periods of time, increasing the user's safety in all instances, such as, for example, practice and actual game play.
  • the protective gear features special padding at strategic locations to offer added protection without compromising comfort.
  • the main foot and ankle regions of an athlete protected by the protective gear may be, but are not limited to, the Achilles tendon, the medial malleolus, the lateral malleolus, and the lower shin region.
  • the main body of the protective gear may be knit, and in particular may be made using a circular knit, into a sleeve so that the final product has no uncomfortable seams pressing down on the ankle or foot of a user.
  • the sleeve may be knit from a combination of different types of yarns to impart different physical properties to the sleeve.
  • elastic yarns may be employed to knit an elastic sleeve that imparts higher compression strength on the ankle and foot than a regular knitted sock.
  • the desired level of compression may be adjusted.
  • the protective gear may be more compressive than a regular sock but less compressive than a medical sleeve.
  • the sleeve may be made from woven materials with strategic stitch or sewing lines arranged for the comfort of the athlete.
  • the ankle sleeve may be designed to cover at least a portion of the foot and at least a portion around the ankle area of a user.
  • the ankle sleeve may also be designed with a system for extending the protected region from just the lower shin to the whole shin, for example, all the way up to a region just below the knee.
  • the cushioning used for padding may comprise an impact-resistant foam such as a polyurethane foam.
  • the foam density may be uniform throughout all the cushioned regions or may be varied in the different cushioned regions.
  • Some or all cushioning pads may feature an extra protective layer to provide abrasion and/or laceration protection.
  • the extra protective layer may comprise a rubbery piece and/or a hard plastic shell over the cushioning pads.
  • a protective layer may provide protection from abrasion and/or laceration without an underlying pad to provide cushioning.
  • FIG. 1A is a back view of a piece of protective gear as worn
  • FIG. 1B is a lateral view of the protective gear of FIG. 1A ;
  • FIG. 1C is a lateral and partial front view of the protective gear of FIG. 1A ;
  • FIG. 1D is a front view of the protective gear of FIG. 1A ;
  • FIG. 1E is a medial and partial front view of the protective gear of FIG. 1A ;
  • FIG. 1F is a medial view of the protective gear of FIG. 1A ;
  • FIG. 2A is a close-up view of FIG. 1F ;
  • FIG. 2B is a cross section of a region in FIG. 2A showing an exemplary cushioning structure
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of the protective gear featuring an exemplary adaptor element for removably attaching a full-length shin guard;
  • FIG. 4 is a lateral view of an alternative embodiment of a calf and ankle sleeve
  • FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 , showing a medial view
  • FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5 , showing a front view
  • FIG. 7 is a lateral view of an alternative embodiment of an ankle sleeve
  • FIG. 9 is an exploded view showing the layering of materials used in portions of the sleeves of FIGS. 4-8 .
  • the protective gear includes a plurality of cushioning pads located at strategic locations to provide optimal protection against potential injuries from impact to the ankle and foot area of an athlete of sports like, for example, soccer.
  • protective gear for an ankle and foot of an athlete that is comfortable enough to be used regularly and at the same time provides the support and protection needed for preventing injuries. More particularly, the protective gear, when used, is effective in preventing high impact injuries such as trauma.
  • the main body of the protective gear may comprise a knitted sleeve.
  • the knitted sleeve may be knitted using a circular knitting technique such that no seams will compromise the comfort of the knitted sleeve.
  • the knitted sleeve may be structured generally to fit and cover at least a portion of the foot and ankle of an athlete.
  • the sleeve may be knitted continuously like a sock, covering the whole foot, toes, and ankle of an athlete when worn.
  • the sleeve may be knit like a sock without the toe portion, and in yet another different example, the sleeve may be knit without a toe and heel portion (as generally shown in the drawings).
  • the length of the knitted sleeve may be adjusted according to the area of protection desired, particularly for the shin of a leg of an athlete.
  • the knitted sleeve can be knitted from a combination of different types of yarns, such as elastic yarns for providing elasticity, moisture management yarns for controlling moisture build up in the sleeve when worn, high resilience yarns to provide resiliency, natural fiber yarns to provide softness and comfort, etc.
  • elastic yarns are, for example, elastane or spandex yarns
  • resilient yarns may include, for example, Kevlar® yarns
  • moisture management yarns may be synthetic yarns that have wicking properties or yarns treated with moisture management coatings that have the properties of wicking moisture away from the skin.
  • a knitted sleeve in accordance with the present invention, may be formed from natural fibers such as cotton, from synthetic fibers such as polyester or nylon (or examples listed above), and/or from a mixture or blend of such fibers. Moreover, different types of fibers and/or different blends of fibers may be used at different locations on a knitted sleeve.
  • the amount of each type of yarn, and more particularly, the amount of the elastic yarns, may be adjusted such that the sleeve may provide compressive support to the ankle and foot of an athlete when worn.
  • the amount of elasticity may be especially controlled such that the amount of compression offered by the sleeve may be higher than a regular sock but lower than a medical compression sleeve.
  • protective gear for the ankle and foot area of an athlete further comprising cushioning pads in strategic areas of the outer surface of the knitted sleeve.
  • the cushioning pads can be made of materials that absorb impact.
  • Such impact-absorbing materials may be, for example, foam materials, such as polyurethane foams, polystyrene foams, Styrofoam, etc.
  • the foam material density and thickness may be uniform throughout the protective gear or may be varied at different regions of the protective gear.
  • different combinations of foam materials may be used at different areas of the protective gear, depending on the type and amount of protection desired.
  • a foam used for cushioning pads protecting bony areas may be denser than the foam used for cushioning pads protecting muscular areas.
  • the thickness of the foam may alternatively or additionally be varied for cushioning pads in different regions, depending on the amount of impact resistance desired.
  • thermoplastic elastomer may be used for the cushioning pads instead of foam materials.
  • the TPE material used like the foam materials, may be provided with different thickness and density according to the different cushioning pads provided to different areas of the protective gear.
  • cushioning pads may be, for example, a lofted knit structure or a spacer mesh structure. All the materials presented above and any other material suitable for the formation of pads may be used. Further, a combination of different materials may be used for forming each individual pad, or different materials may be used at different regions in the protective gear providing a more customizable protective profile to the protective gear.
  • cushioning pads may also be affixed onto the outer surface of the knitted sleeve by applying an ultrasonically activated adhesive around the edge of each pad.
  • the cushioning pads may also be inserted into pockets formed from the same material as the knitted sleeve, or the pockets may be formed from a different material having at least the same stretchability as the knitted sleeve on the surface of the knitted sleeve. After insertion of the cushioning pads into the pockets, the pockets may be subsequently sealed.
  • the pads may also be affixed onto the knitted sleeve by placing an adhesive around the perimeter of each pad, covering the pads with the same material or with a different material that is at least as stretchy as the knitted sleeve, and finally, activating the adhesive so that the pads may be fixed in place without applying any adhesive on the cushioning pads themselves.
  • the “pocket” and the “cover and adhesive” techniques will provide a layer of protection to the pads.
  • any other method suitable for affixing the cushioning pads onto the surface of the knitted sleeve may be employed.
  • Pads may be secured directly to the knit sleeve using an adhesive, if desired.
  • each cushioning pad in the protective gear may have a shape that is specifically designed for the area that it is meant to protect when worn, as well as to facilitate the donning of the knitted sleeve.
  • the cushioning pads may feature shapes optimal for protection of each of the protected areas, such as the Achilles tendon, the medial malleolus, the lateral malleolus, and the lower shin area of an athlete's foot.
  • Donning of the sleeve may be facilitated by the location and/or geometry of the cushioning pads.
  • strategic slits may be provided in the cushioning pads for easier donning.
  • the pad affixed to the area on the knitted sleeve corresponding to the Achilles tendon may be a narrow and elongated cushioning pad, thereby preventing the Achilles tendon pad from interfering with donning.
  • the cushioning pad affixed to the area of the lower shin area may be wide enough to cover most of the lower shin and may feature a slit that is at least one-third of the length of the pad to facilitate easy donning of the sleeve.
  • slit configurations such as curvilinear, intersecting slits, angled slits, and the like, may be provided to facilitate donning in accordance with the present invention.
  • a cushioning pad may have a stretch zone that provides somewhat reduced protection but permits greater stretchability for donning.
  • At least one cushioning pad of the protective gear may additionally have a rubbery and/or hard shell to protect the pad against abrasion.
  • the shell may be urethane based, silicone based, polyethylene based, etc. More specifically, the shell may be made of, for example, a thermoplastic polyurethane, a silicone plastic, etc.
  • aspects look to provide at least some of the advantages of protective gear for protection of an ankle and foot of an athlete (e.g., comfort, energy distribution, and energy absorption) while reducing some of the disadvantages associated with traditional protective gear.
  • FIGS. 1A-1F illustrate different views of an exemplary protective gear 100 .
  • the protective gear 100 comprises an elastic knitted sleeve 150 and cushioning pads 110 , 120 , 130 , and 140 .
  • Cushioning pads 110 , 120 , 130 , and 140 may be placed in alignment with the lateral and medial malleolus regions, the Achilles tendon, and the lower shin area of a user's leg, and may be provided above the area where a shoe collar would be so that the cushioning pads 110 , 120 , 130 , and 140 will not interfere with the shoe collar when the protective gear 100 is worn with shoes.
  • the knitted sleeve 150 in FIGS. 1A-1F is depicted as covering at least a portion of the foot of a user, not including the toes or the heel.
  • the knitted sleeve 150 may, in other examples, be knitted as a sock covering the ankle and the heel but not the toes, covering the ankle and the toes but not the heel, covering the whole foot and ankle of a user, or yet in a different example, the knitted sleeve 150 may be knitted as a sock-glove, having individual sheaths for each toe.
  • different regions of the sleeve may be knitted with different types of yarn or combinations of yarn, having different elastic and physical properties.
  • FIG. 1A depicts a back view of the protective gear 100 in an as-worn position on a foot and ankle of a user.
  • FIG. 1A mainly shows a cushioning pad 110 provided for protection of an Achilles tendon of a user.
  • the Achilles tendon cushioning pad 110 is placed right above the Achilles tendon of the user and is organically shaped to generally conform to the leg of the user in such a way that it provides a wider protection in the lower portion 112 of the Achilles tendon cushioning pad 110 and slowly narrows towards the top portion 114 of the Achilles tendon cushioning pad 110 .
  • the Achilles tendon cushioning pad 110 may also be geometrically shaped such as an elongated straight-edged rectangle, an elongated rounded-edged rectangle, etc.
  • the Achilles tendon cushioning pad 110 may optionally have a protective shell to provide added abrasion/laceration protection, with or without a foam pad.
  • FIG. 1B is a lateral view of the protective gear 100 , showing the alignment of cushioning pads 110 , 120 , and 140 in an as-worn position on a foot and ankle of a user.
  • a front view of the cushioning pad 120 corresponding to the lateral malleolus is shown.
  • the lateral malleolus cushioning pad 120 may comprise a single pad organically shaped to cover the whole lateral malleolus (as shown), or alternatively, the lateral malleolus cushioning pad 120 may comprise more than one cushioning pad in order to aid in the donning of the protective gear 100 by not limiting the stretchability of the knitted sleeve 150 .
  • lateral malleolus cushioning pad 120 may optionally further comprise a protective shell to protect the lateral malleolus cushioning pad 120 against abrasion, either alone or in combination with a foam pad.
  • FIG. 1C is a lateral and partial front view of the protective gear 100 .
  • the alignment of the lateral malleolus cushioning pad 120 and the lower shin cushioning pad 140 can be observed.
  • FIG. 1D is a front view of the protective gear 100 .
  • the relative alignment of the lateral and medial malleolus cushioning pads 120 and 130 , respectively, with the lower shin cushioning pad 140 , as well as a detailed view of the lower shin cushioning pad 140 can be observed.
  • Lower shin cushioning pad 140 may comprise the largest protective cushioning pad of the protective gear 100 .
  • the lower shin cushioning pad 140 may cover at least the front lower area of the user's leg that aligns with the medial and lateral malleolus of the user, up to the height of the knitted sleeve 150 . Because of its large size, the elasticity of the knitted sleeve 150 may potentially be limited by the elasticity of the lower shin cushioning pad 140 .
  • lower shin cushioning pad 140 may be provided with a slit 142 to facilitate donning of the protective gear 100 .
  • Slit 142 may be linear, curvilinear, or any other shape. Further, slit 142 may comprise multiple slits. In the example shown in FIG. 1D , slit 142 has a length that is at least 30% of the total length of the lower shin cushioning pad 140 . The slit 142 allows the knitted sleeve 150 to stretch beyond the stretchability of lower shin cushioning pad 140 to an open position, thereby providing easy donning of the protective gear 100 .
  • Lower shin cushioning pad 140 may optionally further comprise a protective shell over all or part of protective cushioning pad 140 .
  • FIG. 1E is a medial and partial front view of the protective gear 100 .
  • the medial malleolus cushioning structure 130 is depicted as being comprised of two medial cushioning pads 131 and 132 ; however, the medial cushioning structure 130 may be comprised of only one cushioning pad or more than two cushioning pads.
  • the medial cushioning pads 131 and 132 have distinct functions.
  • the medial cushioning pad 132 is located behind the medial malleolus to protect the bone from stud trauma.
  • Medial cushioning pad 131 may optionally further comprise a protective shell, as may medial cushioning pad 132 .
  • FIG. 1F is a medial view of the protective gear 100 .
  • the alignment of the medial cushioning pads 131 and 132 , the lower shin cushioning pad 140 , and the Achilles tendon cushioning pad 110 are shown. As seen, the pads are placed in a position that will not interfere with the collar of a shoe, when shoes are worn by the user.
  • FIG. 2A is a close-up view 200 of cushioning structures on a protective gear, such as in FIG. 1F
  • FIG. 2B is a cross section 201 of a region in FIG. 2A showing an exemplary cushioning structure.
  • the cushioning pads may additionally have a rubbery or hard shell 220 on all of the different cushioning pads 210 , when affixed to the knitted sleeve 150 .
  • the cushioning pads 210 may be affixed directly onto the knitted sleeve's outer surface, or may be affixed to an intermediate surface 230 .
  • the intermediate surface 230 may be less elastic than, or as elastic as, the knitted sleeve 150 and may comprise any suitable sheet-type material for attaching the cushioning pads 210 thereto. If not on all the cushioning pads, the hard or rubbery shell 230 may be at least on the cushioning pads that are most likely to be subject to damage from abrasion or laceration, such as the medial cushioning pads 131 and 132 and the lateral malleolus cushioning pad 120 shown in FIGS. 1A-1F . In the case where there are more than one pad, such as shown for the medial malleolus cushioning structure 130 , the rubbery or hard shell 230 may surround each pad (as shown in FIG.
  • the total thickness 205 of a cushioning structure may be selected to provide a desired degree of protection while maintaining a desired level of comfort, mobility, and/or flexibility.
  • total thickness 205 may be between 2 mm and 6 mm, preferably total thickness may be approximately 4 mm.
  • FIG. 3 is a front view of the protective gear 300 , featuring an exemplary adaptor element 305 for removably attaching a full-length shin guard to the protective gear 300 .
  • the adaptor element 305 may be placed on the outer surface of the knitted sleeve 350 (as shown), or may be placed on the inner surface of the knitted sleeve 350 .
  • the adaptor element may comprise a hook and loop structure, snap-on buttons, a zipper, a cuff that is designed to go over the full-length shin guard to hold it in place, a strap system, a buckle, or any other kind of adaptor that will serve to attach or hold a full-length shin guard.
  • the different cushioning pads 320 , 330 , and 340 correspond to the cushioning pads 120 , 130 , 140 , and 110 described in FIGS. 1A-1F . Further, a slit 342 may be provided in cushioning pad 340 to facilitate donning.
  • the cushioning pad 140 / 340 , and the knitted sleeve 150 / 350 may be lengthened to cover the leg of a user up to a region just below the knee to provide a full-length shin protecting guard.
  • FIGS. 4-9 illustrate an alternative embodiment, showing sleeves made from woven components that are stitched together.
  • an ankle and calf sleeve 400 is shown that has an upper sleeve 402 and a lower sleeve 404 .
  • Sleeves 402 and 404 are coupled together by sewing along stitch lines 406 and 408 .
  • the upper sleeve 402 preferably includes lateral cushioning pads 410 .
  • upper sleeve 402 also includes medial cushioning pads 412 and transverse cushioning pad 414 .
  • Cushioning pads 410 , 412 , and 414 are preferably woven within the upper sleeve 402 such that their position is maintained relative to the upper sleeve 402 .
  • the pads could, alternatively, be attached to the interior or exterior of the upper sleeve 402 .
  • the cushioning pads 410 , 412 , and 414 are spaced and configured to define a shin guard area 416 .
  • a separate shin guard may be placed under upper sleeve 402 located in shin guard area 416 , as represented by the bulge in FIGS. 4-6 below this area.
  • the cushioning pads 410 , 412 , and 414 aid in maintaining this shin guard in place. It should also be understood that a shin guard could be placed and held within upper sleeve 402 , similarly to cushioning pads 410 , 412 , and 414 .
  • the ankle and calf sleeve 400 has a lateral malleolus cushioning pad 418 and a medial malleolus cushioning pad 420 .
  • the structure of pads 418 and 420 is further described below with respect to FIG. 9 .
  • the material used for sleeves 402 and 404 can be any of a number of woven materials typically used for compression-type sleeves, such as a woven nylon material with elastic properties.
  • the stitch lines 406 and 408 join the upper sleeve 402 and lower sleeve 404 but are positioned such that there are no seams in the area of foot striking (such as occurs during soccer) or on the underside of the foot. This construction allows woven materials to be used, along with a stitch-and-sew construction, without compromising the comfort of the athlete.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 A sleeve 500 , similar to sleeve 400 , is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 .
  • Sleeve 500 differs in that it extends only slightly above the ankle region, as opposed to the added protection of sleeve 400 .
  • sleeve 500 includes an upper sleeve 502 and a lower sleeve 504 joined together along stitch lines 506 and 508 .
  • stitch lines 506 and 508 are positioned such that the foot-striking zone, as well as the underside of the foot, remains free from seams to enhance the comfort of the athlete.
  • Sleeves 502 and 504 are made from the same or similar materials as sleeves 402 and 404 described above.
  • Upper sleeve 502 includes a medial cushioning pad 510 that is held in place in the same fashion as pads 410 - 414 described above.
  • Sleeve 500 further includes a lateral malleolus cushioning pad 512 and a medial malleolus cushioning pad 514 .
  • FIG. 9 The layered construction of the area around cushioning pads 418 , 420 , 512 , and 514 is shown in an exploded view in FIG. 9 .
  • an underlying base fabric 550 is disposed on the inner side, facing the athlete when worn.
  • Fabric 550 can be the same as that used for sleeves 402 , 404 , 502 , and 504 , or could be a no-shrink mesh material that helps maintain the desired shape even when washed or saturated.
  • the fabric 550 is covered by a foam material 552 that can be the same as that used for cushioning pads 410 - 414 and 510 .
  • an abrasion and puncture-resistant material 554 is disposed over foam material 552 .
  • One exemplary material 554 is a composition of ceramic particles anchored in a polymer matrix such as the CERASPACETM fabric available from the Schoeller Textiles of Switzerland.
  • Material 554 may be covered with an optional windowing layer 556 that allows a view of material 554 .
  • the windowing layer could be eliminated and the material 554 could be covered with the outer fabric layer such as that used for sleeves 402 , 404 , 502 , and 504 .
  • the sleeves of FIGS. 4-9 provide an ankle and calf sleeve, or an ankle sleeve, with many of the same properties of the sleeves of FIGS. 1-3 but provide a stitch-and-sew construction that allows a wider variety of materials to be used.

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  • Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
US14/208,782 2013-03-15 2014-03-13 Protective Ankle And Calf Sleeve Abandoned US20140259260A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

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US14/208,782 US20140259260A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-03-13 Protective Ankle And Calf Sleeve
EP14769690.0A EP2967159B1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 Protective ankle and calf sleeve
JP2016502386A JP6382294B2 (ja) 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 足および足首用保護用具
CN201480013740.7A CN105188431A (zh) 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 保护性足踝和小腿套
PCT/US2014/027266 WO2014152372A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-03-14 Protective ankle and calf sleeve

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US201361792278P 2013-03-15 2013-03-15
US201361914736P 2013-12-11 2013-12-11
US14/208,782 US20140259260A1 (en) 2013-03-15 2014-03-13 Protective Ankle And Calf Sleeve

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US20140359913A1 (en) * 2011-12-27 2014-12-11 Robert Magri Protective Ice Hockey Sock
US20150034511A1 (en) * 2012-02-22 2015-02-05 Sports Design Concepts Limited Leg Protector
CN104687268A (zh) * 2015-03-25 2015-06-10 海宁梦丽针织有限公司 强力运动袜
USD737328S1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2015-08-25 Covidien Lp Display screen with graphical user interface for venous refill detection
USD737327S1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2015-08-25 Covidien Lp Display screen with a transitional leak detection icon
USD737855S1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2015-09-01 Covidien Lp Display screen with a transitional venous refill detection icon
US20150264995A1 (en) * 2014-03-24 2015-09-24 Henry Lucius Hilderbrand, IV Grip-Enhancing Sportswear and Methods of Manufacturing the Same
US20150296899A1 (en) * 2011-08-11 2015-10-22 G-Form, LLC Limb protectors, methods of making and methods of using
USD758599S1 (en) * 2015-02-27 2016-06-07 Nike, Inc. Calf sleeve
USD771264S1 (en) 2015-02-27 2016-11-08 Nike, Inc. Ankle sleeve
US20160340813A1 (en) * 2015-05-18 2016-11-24 Nike, Inc. Sock with heel locating features
US20170056233A1 (en) * 2015-08-31 2017-03-02 Sanford Health Contact Point Reduction Garment
BE1023627B1 (nl) * 2015-11-18 2017-05-19 Dries Decoene Beenbeschermer
US20190380396A1 (en) * 2018-06-15 2019-12-19 Joanie LaHara Foot Cushioning Device
US20210045930A1 (en) * 2019-08-14 2021-02-18 Go Fitness, Inc. Compression garment
US20220088463A1 (en) * 2020-09-23 2022-03-24 Jonathan Bryan Kelly Infield leg guard
US20220325448A1 (en) * 2018-12-28 2022-10-13 Nike, Inc. Open toe sock with toe anchor
KR102580959B1 (ko) * 2022-09-30 2023-09-19 강선엽 파크골프용 복사뼈 보호대
US11779059B2 (en) 2018-12-28 2023-10-10 Nike, Inc. Sock with toe anchor
EP4275768A1 (de) 2022-05-09 2023-11-15 David Enea Boccino Esposito Sportgerät mit positionierhilfe für ein schutzelement
US11839570B1 (en) * 2019-09-12 2023-12-12 Preferred Prescription, Inc. Compression garments
US20240090593A1 (en) * 2022-09-20 2024-03-21 Tiffany Gil Sock with padding
US20240157223A1 (en) * 2022-10-17 2024-05-16 Robert Ray Blocker Apparatus for medially thickened shin pad to reduce lower leg discomfort when snow skiing
US12005339B2 (en) * 2015-11-30 2024-06-11 Nike, Inc. Shin guard with remote haptic feedback
DE102016105754B4 (de) * 2015-04-14 2025-07-03 Wolfgang Eckl Knöchelschutzelement und Knöchelschutz

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US5581817A (en) * 1996-01-04 1996-12-10 Hicks; G. Timothy Sports sock
US5634211A (en) * 1996-02-28 1997-06-03 Chen; Mike C. F. Leg protector
US5742945A (en) * 1997-02-21 1998-04-28 Lindaman; Glenn Sock with shin guard fastener
US20020188997A1 (en) * 2000-03-13 2002-12-19 Lyden Robert M. Shin-guard, helmet, and articles of protective equipment including light cure material
US20030167548A1 (en) * 2002-03-11 2003-09-11 Lashoto Henry G. Body protective device
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US7891116B1 (en) * 2006-09-21 2011-02-22 Nikolay Iglikov Footwear and its manufacture
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US20150296899A1 (en) * 2011-08-11 2015-10-22 G-Form, LLC Limb protectors, methods of making and methods of using
US20140359913A1 (en) * 2011-12-27 2014-12-11 Robert Magri Protective Ice Hockey Sock
US9656149B2 (en) * 2012-02-22 2017-05-23 Sports Design Concepts Limited Leg protector
US20150034511A1 (en) * 2012-02-22 2015-02-05 Sports Design Concepts Limited Leg Protector
USD737328S1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2015-08-25 Covidien Lp Display screen with graphical user interface for venous refill detection
USD737327S1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2015-08-25 Covidien Lp Display screen with a transitional leak detection icon
USD737855S1 (en) * 2013-06-17 2015-09-01 Covidien Lp Display screen with a transitional venous refill detection icon
US20150264995A1 (en) * 2014-03-24 2015-09-24 Henry Lucius Hilderbrand, IV Grip-Enhancing Sportswear and Methods of Manufacturing the Same
USD758599S1 (en) * 2015-02-27 2016-06-07 Nike, Inc. Calf sleeve
USD771264S1 (en) 2015-02-27 2016-11-08 Nike, Inc. Ankle sleeve
CN104687268A (zh) * 2015-03-25 2015-06-10 海宁梦丽针织有限公司 强力运动袜
DE102016105754B4 (de) * 2015-04-14 2025-07-03 Wolfgang Eckl Knöchelschutzelement und Knöchelschutz
US20160340813A1 (en) * 2015-05-18 2016-11-24 Nike, Inc. Sock with heel locating features
US9976237B2 (en) * 2015-05-18 2018-05-22 Nike, Inc. Sock with heel locating features
US20170056233A1 (en) * 2015-08-31 2017-03-02 Sanford Health Contact Point Reduction Garment
US11464665B2 (en) * 2015-08-31 2022-10-11 Sanford Health Contact point reduction garment
US11896511B2 (en) 2015-08-31 2024-02-13 Sanford Health Contact point reduction garment
BE1026174B1 (nl) * 2015-11-18 2019-10-30 Dries Decoene Schokdempend element voor het lichaam
NL1042145A (nl) * 2015-11-18 2017-06-07 Decoene Dries Schokdempend element voor het lichaam
BE1023627B1 (nl) * 2015-11-18 2017-05-19 Dries Decoene Beenbeschermer
US12005339B2 (en) * 2015-11-30 2024-06-11 Nike, Inc. Shin guard with remote haptic feedback
US20190380396A1 (en) * 2018-06-15 2019-12-19 Joanie LaHara Foot Cushioning Device
US20220325448A1 (en) * 2018-12-28 2022-10-13 Nike, Inc. Open toe sock with toe anchor
US11779059B2 (en) 2018-12-28 2023-10-10 Nike, Inc. Sock with toe anchor
US11613832B2 (en) * 2018-12-28 2023-03-28 Nike, Inc. Open toe sock with toe anchor
US20210045930A1 (en) * 2019-08-14 2021-02-18 Go Fitness, Inc. Compression garment
US11839570B1 (en) * 2019-09-12 2023-12-12 Preferred Prescription, Inc. Compression garments
US20220088463A1 (en) * 2020-09-23 2022-03-24 Jonathan Bryan Kelly Infield leg guard
EP4275768A1 (de) 2022-05-09 2023-11-15 David Enea Boccino Esposito Sportgerät mit positionierhilfe für ein schutzelement
US20240090593A1 (en) * 2022-09-20 2024-03-21 Tiffany Gil Sock with padding
KR102580959B1 (ko) * 2022-09-30 2023-09-19 강선엽 파크골프용 복사뼈 보호대
US20240157223A1 (en) * 2022-10-17 2024-05-16 Robert Ray Blocker Apparatus for medially thickened shin pad to reduce lower leg discomfort when snow skiing

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EP2967159A4 (en) 2016-10-19
JP6382294B2 (ja) 2018-08-29
CN105188431A (zh) 2015-12-23
EP2967159B1 (en) 2019-05-01
WO2014152372A1 (en) 2014-09-25
JP2016519721A (ja) 2016-07-07
EP2967159A1 (en) 2016-01-20

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