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  Performance apparelUSPTO Application #: 20060277647Title: Performance apparel Abstract: A jacket comprises an exterior layer. The jacket further comprises an inner liner layer that is substantially coextensive with the exterior layer. The inner liner layer has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The inner liner layer exterior surface is secured to the exterior layer along a seam. The jacket further comprises a plurality of flexible covers secured to the inner liner layer. The plurality of flexible covers forming a corresponding plurality of pockets. Each of the plurality of pockets includes a corresponding padding member positioned therein. (end of abstract) Agent: Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP - Irvine, CA, US Inventor: David Dobkin USPTO Applicaton #: 20060277647 - Class: 002069000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Body Garments The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060277647. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/690,105 (filed 13 Jun. 2005), the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to equipment and apparel used during sporting activities, and more particularly to sporting equipment and apparel having beneficial protection and support characteristics. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Participants in many sporting activities are often subject to jarring impacts resulting form falls, collisions with objects, or even collisions with other participants. Sporting activities that involve participants moving at high speeds, such as skiing, snowboarding and ice skating, have the potential to be particularly dangerous in this respect. To mitigate the adverse effects of such impacts, a wide variety of protective equipment has been developed. Such protective equipment includes both rigid structural devices such as helmets and shin guards, as well as soft form-fitting padded garments, such as padded pants and jackets. Often, protective equipment is specifically designed for use in a particular sporting activity, such as a baseball catcher's chest protector or a hockey goalie's protective padding. [0004] Furthermore, sports injuries are often sustained not only from jarring impacts, but also from overextending the natural capabilities of a participant's joints, muscles, or other anatomy. For example, significant injury often results when joints such as the knee joint are overextended or over-flexed. To reduce the likelihood of such injuries, braces and other orthopaedic devices have been developed that are intended to restrict the motion of a joint. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] Conventional protective equipment designed to insulate an athlete from impact injuries often comprises bulky padding elements that are attached either directly to the athlete's body, or to a garment worn by the athlete. While such equipment is usable to protect against impact injuries, significant disadvantages exist. For example, many athletes find that such equipment is uncomfortable to wear, is bulky and unsightly, and is unduly restrictive of the athlete's movement. This is especially so for many orthopaedic devices designed to protect against joint injuries, such as knee injuries, since conventional devices often include hardware that is heavy, unsightly, expensive and uncomfortable to wear. Thus, in accordance with the foregoing, improved protective equipment and apparel has been developed to help mitigate and/or prevent injuries sustained by participants in sporting activities. [0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a jacket comprises an exterior layer. The jacket further comprises an inner liner layer that is substantially coextensive with the exterior layer. The inner liner layer has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The inner liner layer exterior surface is secured to the exterior layer along a seam. The jacket further comprises a plurality of flexible covers secured to the inner liner layer. The plurality of flexible covers forming a corresponding plurality of pockets. Each of the plurality of pockets includes a corresponding padding member positioned therein. [0007] In another embodiment of the present invention, a trousers comprises an exterior layer having a trunk portion that is connected to an elongate leg portion. The trousers further comprises an interior layer that is attached to the exterior layer along a seam that is at least disposed around a waist opening of the trunk portion. The trousers further comprises a pocket mounted on the interior layer. The pocket does not contact the exterior layer. The trousers further comprises a padding member positioned within-the pocket. [0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, a garment comprises an outer layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The garment further comprises an inner layer having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The inner layer exterior surface is attached to the outer layer interior surface along a seam. The garment further comprises a pocket formed on the inner layer interior surface. The garment further comprises a padding member positioned within the pocket. The pocket includes an opening through which the padding member is removable. [0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, a knee support device comprises an expandable sleeve configured to be positioned over a knee. The expandable sleeve has an exterior surface with a forward portion, a rearward portion opposite the forward portion, and side portions extending between the forward and rearward portions. The knee support device further comprises a central padding element that is attached to the expandable sleeve exterior surface, and that has a narrow region and a wide region opposite the narrow region. The central padding element narrow region is attached to the exterior surface rearward portion. The central padding element wide region is attached to one of the exterior surface side portions. The knee support device further comprises an upper peripheral padding element, at least a portion of which is attached to the rearward portion of the expandable sleeve exterior surface. The upper peripheral padding element is positioned in contact with an upper edge of the central padding element. The knee support further comprises a lower peripheral padding element, at least a portion of which is attached to the rearward portion of the expandable sleeve exterior surface. The lower peripheral padding element is positioned in contact with a lower edge of the central padding element. [0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, a knee support device comprises a hollow sleeve configured to be positioned over a knee. The hollow sleeve includes a forward portion, a rearward portion opposite the forward portion, and left and right side portions extending between the forward and rearward portions. The left and right side portions are substantially equidistant from a sleeve central axis. The knee support device comprises a left primary padding element at least partially disposed over the left side portion of the hollow sleeve. The left primary padding element has a narrow region and a wide region opposite the narrow region. The knee support device further comprises a right primary padding element at least partially disposed over the right side portion of the hollow sleeve. The right primary padding element has a narrow region and a wide region opposite the narrow region. The knee support device further comprises a plurality of secondary padding elements that contact at least one of the left or right primary padding elements. The secondary padding elements are disposed in pairs that are symmetrically positioned about the sleeve central axis. [0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus comprises a tubular sleeve configured to be positioned around a knee. The tubular sleeve has an exterior surface with a forward portion, a rearward portion opposite the forward portion, and left and right side portions extending between the forward and rearward portions. The apparatus further comprises a first layer of left side padding elements positioned on the left side portion of the tubular sleeve. The apparatus further comprises a first layer of right side padding elements positioned on the right side portion of the tubular sleeve. The apparatus further comprises a kneecap protection element positioned on the forward portion of the exterior surface. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of radial padding elements that are radially positioned around the kneecap protection element. A first portion of the radial padding elements are positioned over the first layer of left side padding elements. A second portion of the radial padding elements are positioned over the first layer of right side padding elements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] Example embodiments of the performance equipment and apparel disclosed herein are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only. The drawings comprise the following figures, in which like numerals indicate like parts. [0013] FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a portion of a garment including protective padding. [0014] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of an example embodiment of a portion of a garment including protective padding and a protective shell. [0015] FIG. 2A is a schematic front view of an example embodiment of a jacket that includes protective padding elements. [0016] FIG. 2B is a schematic rear view of the jacket of FIG. 2A. [0017] FIG. 3A is a schematic front view of an example embodiment of a trousers that includes protective padding elements. [0018] FIG. 3B is a schematic rear view of the trousers of FIG. 3A. [0019] FIG. 4A is a front view of an example embodiment of a knee support device including a first layer of peripheral padding elements. Continue reading... Full patent description for Performance apparel Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Performance apparel patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Performance apparel or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Garment with retractable fringes Next Patent Application: Unisex active wear garment with modified fly-flap Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Performance apparel patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 2.02619 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers |
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