Athletic protector

May 19, 1942. w. b. Matthews 2,283,684

ATHLETIC PROTECTOR

Filed July 11, 1941

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Patented May 19, 1942

2,283,684

UNITED STATES PATENT

OFFICE

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in athletic protectors and more particularly relates to a protective device which is designed to provide a maximum of protection with a minimum of inconvenience to the wearer.

A further object of my invention is to provide an athletic protector which is light in weight and which enables the wearer to engage in athletic activities without inconvenience.

A further object of my invention is to provide an athletic protector incorporating novel means for absorbing impacts directed thereagainst.

A further object of my invention is to provide an athletic protector comprising a relatively rigid cup member provided with a resilient shock absorbing member marginally secured thereto.

These and other advantageous objects are accomplished by the simple and practical construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and exhibited in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an athletic protector embodying my invention, shown partly inserted in a carrying pouch,

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the athletic protector of my invention, with the resilient shock absorbing member thereof shown partly open to reveal details of construction,

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof,

Fig. 4 is a similar view of the device with the resilient shock absorbing member removed therefrom,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5—5 of Fig. 3, in the direction indicated by the arrows, and

Fig. 6 is a top plan, partly fragmentary view of the U-shaped shock absorbing unit which is marginally secured to the cup member of mv protector.

As shown in the drawing, the athletic protector of my invention comprises a member 10 which as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, is of generally cupshaped longitudinal and transverse configuration and is downwardly tapered. The member 10 may be made of any desired or convenient plastic or other material, and has an arcuate marginal bead 11 defining the upper end thereof and an upstanding end wall 12 defining the lower end thereof. The member 10 is further provided with a plurality of apertures 13 which lighten the device and cooperate in providing a respiratory effect when the device is worn. The member 10 is downwardly tapered from the marginal bead I i (see Fig. 4) and is provided with marginal slots 14 and 15 for a purpose presently

2,283,684

ATHLETIC PROTECTOR

William B. Matthews, Irvington, N. J.

Application July 11,1941, Serial No. 401,894 (Cl. 128—160) explained; as will be drawing, the device cross section indicated by shading.” A U-shaped shock-absorbing member 16 made of any desired or convenient resilient material is marginally secured to the member 10 as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, being shown in Fig. 6 apart from the device. The member 16 is of generally U-shaped outline and of generally U-shaped cross section, and is provided, adjacent the free ends of its legs (7, with internal transverse integral fingers 18 adapted for insertion in the slots 14 to secure the member 16 to the member 10 as indicated in Figs. 3 and 5. The member 16 is thus secured to the member 10, the intermediate portion 18 being positioned in the slots 15 and over the end wall 12 as indicated in Fig. 3 with the fingers 18 of legs 17 positioned in the slots 14 and with the legs 17 straddling the marginal edges 19 of member 10. As will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 6, the member 16 is normally of considerably less length than when applied to the member 10 so that it is necessary to stretch the leg members 17 in assembly of 25 the device, with the result that the said leg members 17 will be suspended taut between the slots 14 and 15, providing a cushioning yielding effect on application of transverse force at points A and B (Fig. 3) preventing chafing of the legs 30 of the wearer when walking with the device in position. The legs 17 are further provided with downwardly directed internal integral ribs 20 which are adapted to abut the marginal edges 1⁹ °f member 10 to absorb and cushion the shock 35 on application of force in the direction of the arrows C in Fig. 5. The intermediate portion 18 of the member 16, being positioned over the end wall 12 of the member 10 (see Figs. 3 and 5), is adapted to absorb impacts directed at the 40 point D against the wall 12 at the lower end of the device.

It will thus be seen that the device of my invention is adapted to absorb impacts effectively from any direction and to yield in normal walking movements. The protector of my invention may be secured to the wearer by any suitable carrying means, for example by providing a waist band 21 provided with depending leg members 22 and having secured thereto a pouch 23 adapted to receive the athletic protector of my invention, which is shown partly inserted in the pouch 23 in Fig. 1. The carrying means may be of any other desired or convenient form and may if desired be along the general lines of that shown in my Patent No. 2,249,966 issued July 22, 1941.

noted from Fig. 4 of the is preferably of concave

2,283,684 erally U-shaped cross section and U-shaped outline secured to and straddling the marginal edges of said body member, said shock absorbing member being provided with leg members having in5 tegral internal ribs adapted to engage the marginal edges of the body member to absorb and cushion the shock on application of force.

5. An athletic protector comprising a body member of generally cup-shaped configuration, said member being provided with marginal slots, and a shock absorbing member positioned in said slots and coacting therewith to hold the shock absorbing member on the body member.

6. An athletic protector comprising a body 15 member having two ends, said body member being provided with a pair of slots adjacent one end and with an upstanding wall at the other end, a pair of slots adjacent the end wall, and a shockabsorbing member positioned in all of the slots and over the end wall, said shock absorbing member coacting with all of said, slots and with the end wall to hold the shock absorbing member on the body member and over the end wall.

WILLIAM B. MATTHEWS.