US20070044196A1

US20070044196A1 - Joint protector

Info

Publication number: US20070044196A1
Application number: US11/211,691
Authority: US
Inventors: Chih-Chuan Wang
Original assignee: Kao Chen Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Kao Chen Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2005-08-26
Filing date: 2005-08-26
Publication date: 2007-03-01

Abstract

A joint protector includes an elastic sleeve, which has a first opening and a second opening through which the sleeve is mountable on a limb of a person, and a lighting unit fastened to an outside wall of the sleeve for giving off light to show the presence of the joint protector.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to joint protecting apparatus and more particularly, to a joint protector with light source means.
2. Description of the Related Art
When making a physical exercise in the open space, for example, running, jogging, climbing, etc., the knees receive much pressure from the body. Further, when playing a sports game, for example, a ball game, the knees may be injured accidentally. During recovery period, the injured knee may be protected with a knee protector, for example, a kneepad. A protector of this kind provides a certain protective effect, however it does not give a warning signal to other people not to touch the injured area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is one object of the present invention to provide a joint protector, which is equipped with a light source to show the presence of the joint protector.
To achieve this object of the present invention, the joint protector comprises a sleeve and a lighting unit. The sleeve is made of an elastic material, having a first opening and a second opening through which the sleeve is mountable on a limb of a person. The lighting unit is fastened to the outside wall of the sleeve, comprising a circuit board, at least one light emitting element, and a battery. The circuit board comprises a control circuit. The at least one light emitting element is respectively mounted on the circuit board and electrically connected to the control circuit. The battery is installed in the circuit board and electrically connected to the control circuit for providing electricity to the at least one light emitting element subject to the control of the control circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a joint protector according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the circuit board used in the joint protector according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the circuit board used in the joint protector according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the present invention, showing the joint protector fastened to the knee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a joint protector 1 is shown comprising a sleeve 10 and a lighting unit 20.
The sleeve 10 is made of an elastic material, having a first opening 11 at one end, a second opening 12 at the other end, and a third opening 13 in the periphery through the inside and outside of the sleeve 10.
The lighting unit 20 is fastened to the sleeve 10, comprised of a circuit board 21, a shield 22, three light emitting elements 211, a control switch 212, and a battery 213.
The shield 22 is made of a flexible light-transmittable material, having a front wall 221, a back wall 222, an accommodating chamber 223, and a flange 224. The accommodating chamber 223 is formed on the inside of the shield 22 between the front wall 221 and the back wall 222. Further, an opening 225 is formed in the back wall 222 in communication with the accommodating chamber 223. The flange 224 extends outwards around the back wall 222 and bonded to the outside wall of the elastic sleeve 10 around the third opening 13 by glue. The front wall 221 is marked with a warning sign, for example, the sign of “DANGEROUS”.
The circuit board 21 is housed in the accommodating chamber 223, comprising a control circuit 214, a rack 215 disposed at the back side, and a battery chamber 216 defined in the rack 215. The battery 213 is inserted into the battery chamber 216 and electrically connected to the control circuit 214. When installed, the battery 213 is aimed at the third opening 13 so that the user can replace the battery 213 conveniently when battery power is low.
The three light emitting elements 211 are light emitting diodes mounted in the front side of the circuit board 21 and electrically connected to the control circuit 214. The control switch 212 is installed in the front side of the circuit board 21 and electrically connected to the control circuit 214. The control switch 212 can be a manual switch or vibration switch adapted to control the supply of battery power from the battery 213 to the light emitting elements 211. The control circuit 214 controls the lighting mode of the light emitting diodes 211, for example, controlling the light emitting elements 211 to flash in a proper order, or to flash at the same time.
FIG. 4 shows an application example of the present invention. The leg is inserted through the first opening 11 and second opening 12 of the elastic sleeve 10, enabling the elastic sleeve 10 to be secured to the knee. According to this embodiment, the control switch 212 is a mercury switch that switches on the circuit upon a vibration. When the user is moving, the control switch 212 is alternatively switched on and off, thereby causing the light emitting elements 211 to flash, thereby giving a warning signal to other people not to touch the user's injured knee so as to prevent a secondary injury.

Claims

1. A joint protector comprising:

a sleeve made of an elastic material, said sleeve having a first opening and a second opening; and

a lighting unit fastened to said sleeve, said lighting unit including a circuit board, at least one light emitting element, and a battery, said circuit board having a control circuit, said at least one light emitting element being mounted on said circuit board and electrically connected to said control circuit, said battery being installed in said circuit board and electrically connected to said control circuit for providing electricity to said at least one light emitting element subject to the control of said control circuit.

2. The joint protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one light emitting element includes three light emitting diodes.

3. The joint protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said circuit board comprises a control switch for controlling the supply of electricity from said battery to said at least one light emitting element.

4. The joint protector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control switch is a vibration switch which is actuated by vibration.

5. The joint protector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control switch is a manual switch.

6. The joint protector as claimed in claim 4, wherein said vibration switch is a mercury switch.

7. The joint protector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sleeve further has a third opening through the inside and outside of said sleeve; said lighting unit further comprises a shield made of a flexible light-transmittable material, said shield having a front wall marked with a warning sign, a back wall, an accommodating chamber that accommodates said circuit board, an opening formed in said back wall in communication between said accommodating chamber and said third opening of said sleeve, and a flange extending around said back wall and bonded to said sleeve around said third opening with a glue.