WO2007018346A1

WO2007018346A1 - Safeguard for sports

Info

Publication number: WO2007018346A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/001809
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chang Ju Lee
Original assignee: Chang Ju Lee
Priority date: 2005-08-05
Filing date: 2006-05-15
Publication date: 2007-02-15
Also published as: KR200400767Y1

Abstract

The present invention relates to safeguard for sports for protecting the body of a user by absorbing impact when a user plays active sports such as skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, riding bicycles, or ice skating, which can easily give slight or strong impacts to the body of the user, the safeguard for sports having advantages of easily being put on or taken off at any place, causing little discomfort to a user, and not being easily lost. The safeguard for sports (10) includes one or more shock- absorbing members (11) for protecting the body of a user from external impacts, an outer skin (12) for covering and supporting the shock- absorbing members (11), and an attachment and detachment means (13) provided to a predetermined portion of the outer skin (12).

Description

SAFEGUARD FOR SPORTS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to safeguard for sports, and more particularly to safeguard for sports for protecting the body of a user against injury by absorbing external impacts applied to the body of the user while the user enjoys sports such as skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, riding bicycles, or ice skating, that can cause impacts to the user, the safeguard for sports having an advantage of easily being put on and taken off at any place.

Background Art

[2] Generally, when people play sports, their bodies are always exposed to a great risk of being hurt. In particular, while people enjoy active sports such as skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, or ice skating, they often get bruises, scratches, or fractures.

[3] Accordingly, when playing such active sports, it is as important to put on safeguard for sports to prevent injuries as it is important to treat injuries. Therefore, people are advised to put on safeguard before playing sports.

[4] However, although people are aware that they must put on safeguard before playing active sports, sometimes it is difficult to put on safeguard. That is, putting on safeguard is difficult, in the case that the safeguard is for particular body parts of a user and there is no dressing room at the place to play sports, such as a ski resort or a mountain.

[5] For example, if the safeguard is for the pelvis, it must be put on after a user removes his or her underwear. However, it is difficult to take off underpants in a small place such as inside a car or in a concealed place. Accordingly, a designated completely enclosed space is needed to put on the safeguard for the pelvis.

[6] Further, since an outer skin and a shock-absorbing part of a general safeguard for sports are integrated, users experience a bad wearing sensation or the sensation of a foreign body.

[7] Still further, if a shock-absorbing part is provided to cover the entire area of a body part of a user to be protected, the total volume of the safeguard is greatly increased, so that it is difficult for a user to freely and easily move while wearing the safeguard. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in consideration of the aforementioned problems and situations, and it is an object of the present invention to provide safeguard for sports for protecting the body of a user from external impacts while a user plays sports such as skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, or hiking.

[9] A further object of the present invention is to provide safeguard for sports that can be easily and simply put on even in a place other than a predetermined changing room such as a dressing room.

[10] A still further object of the present invention is to provide safeguard for sports capable of minimizing discomfort experienced by a user by using an elastic material as a matrix, and capable of allowing installation places of a plurality of shock-absorbing parts to be adjusted by dispersing the shock absorbing parts in the matrix, and by contracting and expanding the matrix according to the shape and height of a user.

[11] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide safeguard for sports, in which a shock absorbing sheet and a worn part are separately realized in respective discrete forms, and the shock absorbing sheet is devised to be detachably attached to pants, so that the shock absorbing sheet is attached to a predetermined portion of the pants at a body part of the user that muse be protected or that can get easily injured when the safeguard is used, thereby effectively and intensively protecting predetermined portions of the body of the user.

[12] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide safeguard for sports that can protect body parts spaced from each other using only one piece of the shock- absorbing sheet by using an elastic member as the shock-absorbing sheet which is provided separately from a worn part, by extending the shock-absorbing sheet from one body part of a user to another distant body part to be protected both.

[13] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide safeguard for sports, which is integrated with top clothing in order to prevent loss thereof.

[14] The safeguard for sports according to the present invention can be used for generally sports but also can be used in order to protect the body of a user from being hurt in a fall when fishing or climbing a mountain. Technical Solution

[15] In order to achieve the above objects and advantages, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided safeguard for sports, comprising a shock- absorbing member for protecting the body of a user from impact, an outer skin for covering and supporting the shock-absorbing member, and an attachment and detachment means provided to a predetermined portion of the outer skin.

[16] The shock- absorbing member may comprise a plurality of shock- absorbing means disposed in respective compartments.

[17] The safeguard for sports may comprise a matrix made of an elastic material and at least one shock-absorbing part including a plurality of the shock-absorbing members, distributed in the matrix, and isolated from each other.

[18] The attachment and detachment means may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a Velcro fastener, and a button.

[19] The safeguard for sports may be realized in a pants form or a skirt form.

[20] The safeguard for sports may have an upper end or a lower end, which is realized as at least one selected from a group consisting of an elastic member, a Velcro fastener and a button.

[21] The safeguard for sports may be configured to be put on in an independent form.

[22] The safeguard for sports may be configured to be integrated with top clothing.

[23] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided safeguard for sports, comprising a shock-absorbing sheet for protecting the body of a user from impact, a worn part, which is to be put on by the user, and to which the shock- absorbing sheet is detachably attached, and an attachment and detachment means attached to a predetermined portion of the worn part.

[24] The shock-absorbing sheet may comprise a plurality of shock-absorbing parts isolated from each other and distributed, each shock-absorbing part including a plurality of shock-absorbing members, each shock-absorbing member serving as a cell.

[25] The shock-absorbing sheet may be an elastic member.

[26] The shock-absorbing sheet and the worn part may be detachably attached to each other by a Velcro fastener.

[27] The attachment and detachment means may be at least one selected from the group consisting of a zipper, a Velcro fastener, and a button.

Advantageous Effects

[28] The safeguard for sports according to the present invention has the following advantages.

[29] First, it can effectively protect body parts of a user from external impacts when the user plays sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, hiking, or ice skating.

[30] Second, it can be easily and simply put on even in places other than predetermined enclosed rooms such as changing rooms.

[31] Third, the safeguard for sports includes a matrix made of an elastic material and a plurality of distributed shock-absorbing parts isolated from each other in the matrix, the shock-absorbing part comprising a plurality of shock-absorbing members, and positions of the shock-absorbing parts can be adjusted according to the shape and height of a user as the matrix contracts or expands at different locations according to the shape and height of the user. Accordingly, the user experiences only slight discomfort.

[32] Fourth, since the worn part and the shock-absorbing sheet serving as the shock- absorbing part are realized in respective discrete forms, and the shock-absorbing sheet can be detachably attached to the worn part, it is possible to effectively and intensively protect the body part of a user requiring protection by selectively attaching the shock- absorbing sheet to the worn part at the selected body part of the user.

[33] Fifth, since the shock-absorbing sheet is devised to be elastic, in the case that body parts of a user to be protected are spaced apart, the spaced apart body parts can be sufficiently protected with only one piece of the shock-absorbing sheet.

[34] Sixth, since the safeguard is provided in a form in which the safeguard is integrated with top clothing, the safeguard can be easily stored and is seldom lost. Brief Description of the Drawings

[35] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating safeguard for sports according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[36] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating the safeguard for sports in a state of being worn by a user; and

[37] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the safeguard for sports integrated with top clothing.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[38] Hereinafter, safeguard for sports according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[39] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating safeguard for sports according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 illustrates the safeguard for sports in a state of being worn.

[40] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the safeguard for sports 10 includes a plurality of shock-absorbing members 11 for protecting a body part of a user from external impacts, an outer skin 12 for covering and supporting the shock-absorbing members, and an attachment and detachment means 13 provided to at least a predetermined portion of the outer skin 12.

[41] The shock- absorbing members 11 are made of polyurethane or silicon, and thereby are elastic and light. Accordingly, they can absorb impacts applied to the body parts of the user.

[42] The shock-absorbing member 11 has the streamlined shape at a side that is in contact with the body part of the user, thereby distributing impact in many directions.

[43] The shock-absorbing members 11 are realized in respective discrete forms and serve as respective cells in order to effectively distribute impact.

[44] Two or more shock-absorbing members 11 are grouped to constitute a shock- absorbing part 14, and the shock- absorbing parts 14 are separately arranged in respective compartments of a matrix 15, which is an elastic member. Accordingly, the arrangement of the shock- absorbing parts 14 can be adjusted according to the shape and height of the user, so as to be disposed over body parts of a user to be protected.

[45] Thanks to the above described structure, since the matrix 15 of the shock-absorbing part 14 contracts and expands in response to motion of a user, such as sitting and standing, the user experiences little discomfort and does not feel the sensation of a foreign body while the user wears the safeguard for sports.

[46] The attachment and detachment means 13 is provided to allow the safeguard for sports to be easily and simply put on without limitations with respect to location or a user's clothing. The attachment and detachment means 13 is generally a zipper. Alternatively, a button or a Velcro fastener (not shown) can also be used as the attachment and detachment means 13.

[47] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the attachment and detachment means 13 is installed to respective sides or one side of the outer skin 12 of the safeguard, but its installation position is not limited thereto.

[48] For example, if the safeguard is for protection of the pelvis, the safeguard can be realized in a pants form or a skirt form, and has a cut part extending from an upper end to a lower end thereof in order to allow the safeguard to be easily and simply put on. The cut part of the safeguard is provided with an attachment means such as a zipper, a plurality of buttons arranged at regular intervals, or a Velcro fastener.

[49] Accordingly, a user can easily and simply put on the safeguard by opening and closing the attachment means at the cut part, in the manner of putting on pants or a skirt.

[50] The safeguard having a pants form or a skirt form has an attachment means at an upper end portion, which surrounds the waist of a user, and the attachment means is realized as at least one selected from the group comprising a button, a Velcro fastener and an elastic member 16, so that a user can feel a sense of security when the user wears the safeguard.

[51] FIG. 3 illustrates the safeguard according to the present invention, the safeguard being integrated with separately. Referring to FIG. 3, the safeguard according to the present invention can be manufactured in a separate form in which the safeguard is not combined with any clothing, or in an integrated form, in which the safeguard is combined with clothing. In the case in which the safeguard is integrated with top clothing, the safeguard is stored together with the top clothing, so that the safeguard is not easily lost.

[52] Alternatively, even though not shown, the safeguard according to the present invention can comprise a shock-absorbing sheet for protecting a body part of a user from impacts, a worn part to be worn by a user and to which the shock-absorbing sheet can be attached, and an attachment and detachment means disposed at one side of the worn part.

[53] The shock-absorbing sheet can be realized in a portable form. In this case, a user wears only the shock-absorbing sheet at normal times in order to freely move, but attaches the shock-absorbing part to the worn part over a place to be protected when participating in active sports.

[54] After finishing the active sports, the shock- absorbing sheet can be carried or stored after it is detached from the worn part.

[55] That is, in the case of using the safeguard in which the worn part and the shock- absorbing part are separated, a user can move relatively more easily and freely move in comparison with the case of using the safeguard in which the worn part and the shock- absorbing part are integrated into a single body.

[56] Here, the shock-absorbing sheet according to the embodiment has a similar shape and form to the shock-absorbing part in the safeguard in which the shock-absorbing part is integrated with the worn part. Accordingly, a description of the operation of the shock-absorbing sheet will be omitted. That is, the shock-absorbing sheet includes a plurality of shock-absorbing parts dispersed in a matrix, which is elastic, and physically isolated from each other, each shock-absorbing part being comprised of a plurality of shock- absorbing members.

[57] The shock-absorbing sheet is an elastic member. Accordingly, in the case that body parts of a user to be protected are the left side of the pelvis and the waist, that is, the body parts of a user to be protected are spaced apart, the body parts can be protected with a single piece of the shock-absorbing sheet by extending the elastic shock- absorbing sheet from the left side of the pelvis to the waist.

[58] The shock-absorbing sheet and the worn part are preferably detachably attached to each other using a Velcro fastener. Alternatively, they also can be detachably attached to each other using a button or a zipper. As a further alternative, they can be combined in a manner such that a pocket is provided to the worn part and the shock-absorbing sheet is put into the pocket. Industrial Applicability

[59] The safeguard for sports according to the present invention has the following advantages.

[60] First, it can effectively protect the body of a user from external impacts when the user plays sports, such as skiing, snowboarding, inline skating, hiking, or ice skating.

[61] Second, it can be easily and simply put on even in places other than enclosed rooms such as changing rooms.

[62] Third, the safeguard for sports includes a matrix made of an elastic material, and a plurality of shock-absorbing parts dispersed in the matrix and isolated from each other, the shock-absorbing part comprising a plurality of shock-absorbing members, and positions of the shock-absorbing parts can be adjusted according to the shape and height of a user as the matrix contracts or expands at different locations according to the shape and height of the user. Accordingly, the user feels relatively little discomfort.

[63] Fourth, since the worn part and the shock-absorbing sheet serving as the shock- absorbing part are realized in respective discrete forms, and the shock-absorbing sheet can be detachably attached to the worn part, it is possible to effectively and intensively protect a body part of a user requiring protection by selectively attaching the shock- absorbing sheet to the worn part at the selected body part.

[64] Fifth, since the shock-absorbing sheet is devised to be elastic, in the case that body parts of a user to be protected spaced apart distance, the spaced apart body parts can be sufficiently protected with only one piece of the shock-absorbing sheet.

[65] Sixth, since the safeguard is provided in a form in which the safeguard is integrated with top clothing, the safeguard can be easily stored and is seldom lost.

Claims

[I] safeguard for sports, comprising: a shock-absorbing member for protecting a body of a user from impact; an outer skin for covering and supporting the shock-absorbing member; and attachment and detachment means provided to a predetermined portion of the outer skin. [2] The safeguard for sports according to claim 1, wherein the shock- absorbing member comprises a plurality of shock-absorbing members disposed in respective compartments inside the outer skin. [3] The safeguard for sports according to claim 1, comprising a matrix made of an elastic material and at least one shock-absorbing part distributed in the matrix, and isolated from each other, each shock-absorbing part including a plurality of the shock- absorbing members. [4] The safeguard for sports according to claim 1, wherein the attachment and detachment means is at least one selected from the group comprising a zipper, a

Velcro fastener, and a button. [5] The safeguard for sports according to claim 1, being realized in a pants form or a skirt form. [6] The safeguard for sports according to claim 5, having an upper end or a lower end, which is realized as at least one selected from a group comprising an elastic member, a Velcro fastener and a button. [7] The safeguard for sports according to claim 5, being configured to be put on in an independent form. [8] The safeguard for sports according to claim 5, being configured to be integrated with top clothing. [9] safeguard for sports, comprising: a shock- absorbing sheet for protecting a body of a user from impacts; a worn part, which is to be put on by a user, and to which the shock-absorbing sheet is detachably attached; and attachment and detachment means attached to a predetermined portion of the worn part. [10] The safeguard for sports according to claim 9, wherein the shock-absorbing sheet comprises a plurality of shock-absorbing parts isolated from each other and dispersed, each shock-absorbing part including a plurality of shock-absorbing members, each serving as a cell.

[I I] The safeguard for sports according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the shock- absorbing sheet is an elastic member. [12] The safeguard for sports according to claim 9, wherein the shock-absorbing sheet and the worn part are detachably locked to each other using a Velcro fastener.

[13] The safeguard for sports according to claim 9, wherein the attachment and detachment means is realized as at least one selected from the group comprising a zipper, a Velcro fastener, and a button.