JP7269085B2 - Joint protectors, sports supporters and clothing - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a joint protector for protecting joints from external impact, a supporter using the same, and the like, and more particularly to a joint protector and the like that are suitably used when playing various sports such as volleyball and handball.

Supporters that are attached to joints of the human body such as knees and elbows are widely used.
Among supporters, those equipped with shock absorbing pads are also used.
For example, in Patent Document 1, an outer layer made of a flexible foam having a hardness of 10 to 40 Ha and a thickness of 1 to 8 mm and a body temperature having a hardness of 0 to 5 Ha and a thickness of 5 to 15 mm are adhered to the outer layer. It consists of a two-layer structure with an inner layer made of low-resilience flexible foam that can be deformed by . A supporter comprising a cylindrical support portion is disclosed. By bonding the formed cut 7, the pad portion is formed in an inwardly concave shape as a whole, that is, in a shape that follows the curved surface of the knee.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-213506

By the way, people have various body types, and joints such as knees and elbows also differ from person to person.
Since the pad portion of Patent Document 1 is pre-formed into a concave shape as a whole, there is a possibility of providing a good fit when a user having knees that match the concave shape wears the supporter of Patent Document 1. However, it cannot provide a good fit to users whose knees do not conform to the concave shape.
Furthermore, since a joint such as a knee is composed of several bones, a joint protector is desired that can effectively protect each bone of the joint from impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a joint protective device with excellent fit and shock absorbing properties, and a sports supporter and clothing using the same.

A first joint protective device of the present invention is a joint protective device having a pad body for protecting human joints, wherein the pad body has a plurality of cuts formed from its peripheral edge, and the pad body consists of a plate-like body, a first shock-absorbing body arranged on the inner side of the joint, and a second shock-absorbing body arranged outside the first shock-absorbing body and having higher hardness than the first shock-absorbing body. and a third damping body arranged outside the second damping body and having a hardness lower than that of the second damping body .
In the preferred first joint protector of the present invention, the thickness of the second damping body is equal to or less than the total thickness of the first damping body and the third damping body.

A second joint protective device of the present invention is a joint protective device having a pad body for protecting human joints, wherein the pad body has a plurality of notches formed from the peripheral edge of the pad body. consists of a plate-like body, a first shock-absorbing body arranged on the inner side of the joint, and a second shock-absorbing body arranged outside the first shock-absorbing body and having higher hardness than the first shock-absorbing body. , and a flexible cover material, wherein the cushioning bodies are accommodated in the cover material in a non-adhesive, superimposed state.
In the preferred first or second joint protector of the present invention, at least four cuts are formed, and the end region of the pad body is defined by the at least four cuts in plan view. It is partitioned into at least four regions including an upper region and a lower region including the width direction central portion of the.

The first or second joint protector of the present invention is, for example, a knee joint protector used to protect the knee joint.

According to another aspect of the invention, a sports supporter and garment are provided.
This sports supporter includes any of the joint protectors described above.
This garment includes any of the joint protectors described above.

The joint protector of the present invention can provide a user with a good feeling of fit and has excellent shock absorbing properties.
For example, by forming such a joint protector in the form of a supporter, the user's joints can be appropriately protected during sports, work, and the like.

The top view of the pad main body (joint protector) of this invention. The exploded perspective view of the same pad main body. The front view of the pad main body seen from the arrow III direction of FIG. Sectional drawing cut|disconnected by the IV-IV line of FIG. A reference plan view for explaining a notch. FIG. 2 is a reference diagram showing the correspondence relationship between each area of the pad body and the bone of the knee when the pad body is used. A reference diagram showing the correspondence relationship between each region of the pad body and the bone of the elbow when the pad body is used. 1 is a plan view of a joint protector having a pad body and cover material; FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX of FIG. 8; 1 is a plan view of a sports supporter with joint protectors; FIG. The front view of the supporter seen from the arrow XI direction of FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 10; Top view of a garment with joint protectors. The side view which shows the state which mounted|worn the knee with the supporter. The reference front view which shows the pad main body which deform|transformed when the supporter was mounted|worn on the knee. The perspective view which represented the deformed pad main body three-dimensionally. Reference cross-sectional view when the pad body is bent.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As used herein, "bonded" refers to a state in which two members or portions are chemically or physically bonded, and "non-bonded" refers to a state in which they are not bonded. "Plan view" refers to viewing from a direction perpendicular to the plan view shown in FIG. In addition, "substantially" means to include the allowable range in the technical field to which the present invention belongs. The numerical range represented by “lower limit value XXX to upper limit value YYY” means the lower limit value XXX or higher and the upper limit value YYY or lower. When a plurality of numerical ranges are described separately, an arbitrary lower limit value and an arbitrary upper limit value can be selected, and "an arbitrary lower limit value to an arbitrary upper limit value" can be set.

[Pad body (joint protector)]
The joint protector of the present invention has a pad body that is used to protect human joints from impact, and if necessary, further has a flexible covering material that accommodates the pad body.
1 to 4 show a joint protector 1 comprising a pad body 2. FIG.
In FIGS. 1 to 4, the pad body 2 has shock-absorbing properties and flexibility, and has a substantially flat plate shape as a whole.
As used herein, cushioning refers to the property of absorbing external impact. Flexibility refers to the property of easily deforming (curving, etc.) when an external force is applied, and of being able to return to substantially the original shape when the external force is released. The degree of flexibility is not particularly limited, and for example, the substantially flat pad body 2 (or each buffer described later) is bent along a cylindrical core material with a diameter of 10 cm by standard human force. It has elasticity to such an extent that it can be restored to its original substantially flat shape by releasing the force. The term “substantially flat” means that the pad body 2 (or each buffer described later) becomes substantially flat when left standing on a horizontal surface. The flexible pad body 2 (or each cushioning body described later) may bend due to its own weight when it is held in the air with its ends pinched.

A plurality of (two or more) notches 3 are formed in the pad body 2 from its peripheral edge. That is, the pad body 2 has a plurality of notches 3 extending from its periphery. The notch 3 is formed in the end region of the pad body 2 and extends inwardly of the pad body 2 from a portion of the peripheral edge of the pad body 2 . The end region of the pad body 2 is conceptually a partial region of the pad body 2, and refers to a peripheral region including the periphery of the pad body 2 in a plan view. The upper part refers to the area surrounded by the end area.
The plurality of notches 3 are arranged at intervals around the pad body 2 in plan view. The end region of the pad body 2 is partitioned into a plurality of regions by the plurality of cuts 3 . Since the end region of the pad body 2 is divided into a plurality of regions, the joint protector 1 having the pad body 2 of the present invention can provide the user with a good fit.
The bases of the plurality of areas partitioned by the cutouts 3 are connected to the middle area of the pad body 2 .

Referring to FIG. 1, the outer shape of the pad main body 2 in a plan view is not particularly limited, and includes substantially polygonal shapes such as a substantially rectangular shape, a substantially square shape, a substantially rhombic shape, a substantially triangular shape, a substantially pentagonal shape, and a substantially hexagonal shape. Shape; substantially circular shape including substantially elliptical shape; substantially spindle shape, and the like. "Substantially" in a substantially polygonal shape such as a substantially rectangular shape includes, for example, a shape in which the corners are chamfered, a shape in which a part of the sides are slightly bulged or depressed, a shape in which the sides are slightly curved, and the like. . In addition, "substantially" in the substantially circular shape and substantially spindle shape includes, for example, a shape in which a portion of the arc is slightly bulged or depressed, and a shape in which a portion of the arc is slightly straight or oblique.
In the illustrated example, the outer shape of the pad body 2 in a plan view is formed in a substantially pentagonal shape (substantially a home base shape).

[Concept of notch]
FIG. 5 is a plan view of the pad body 2 same as that of FIG. 1, and is a reference drawing for conceptually explaining the notch 3. As shown in FIG. Hereinafter, in the section [Concept of notch], the area partitioned by the notch will be referred to as a "partitioned area". The description of the cut portion and the description of the partitioned area in this section are common to each region such as the first to sixth cut portions and the upper region, which will be described later.
Referring to FIG. 5, each cut portion 3 cut inward from the peripheral edge of pad main body 2 in a plan view extends inward while partially opening the peripheral edge of pad main body 2 so that the opening It is in the form of a slit that is open on one side and closed on the other side and is closed on the opposite side to the portion. The slit-shaped cut portion 3 divides the end region of the pad body 2 with the cut portion 3 as a reference, and divides the end region into two divided regions X and Y. As shown in FIG.
In other words, the end region of the pad body 2 is partitioned into a plurality of partitioned regions, and the facing side edges of two adjacent partitioned regions (the side edge of one adjacent partitioned region and the side edge of the other partitioned region). ) defines a slit-like cut 3 .

Specifically, the side edge X1 of one of the adjacent partitioned regions X and the side edge Y1 of the other partitioned region Y are, respectively, open edges X11, Y11 starting to enter inward, and a main edge X12 extending inward. , Y12, and closing edges X13, Y13 that approach each other and merge inside the main edge.
Each open edge X11, Y11 of the side edge X1 of one partitioned region X and the side edge Y1 of the other partitioned region Y defines an open portion of the cut 3, and each main edge X12, Y12 of the cut 3 slits, each closing edge X13, Y13 of which defines a closing portion of the incision 3; In this column, the main edge X12 of the side edge X1 of one partitioned region X is referred to as "one main edge X12", and the main edge Y12 of the side edge Y1 of the other partitioned region Y is referred to as "other main edge Y12".
The one main edge X12 and the other main edge Y12 may each independently have a substantially linear shape in a plan view, or a shape in which a curved shape, a curved shape, or a curved shape and a curved shape are combined in a plan view (that is, a planar shape). visually non-linear). In the example shown in FIG. 5 (similar to FIG. 1), the one main edge X12 and the other main edge Y12 are substantially linear.
Also, the one main edge X12 and the other main edge Y12 may be substantially parallel or non-parallel in a plan view. In the example shown in FIG. 5 (similar to FIG. 1), the one main edge X12 and the other main edge Y12 are substantially parallel in plan view.

The opening width of the cut portion 3, the cut direction of the cut portion 3 (the direction in which the cut portion 3 extends), and the cut length of the cut portion 3 are defined as follows.
When the one main edge X12 and the other main edge Y12 are linear in plan view, the directionality is determined. difficult to identify. Therefore, when the one main edge X12 is linear in plan view, it is used as the reference line of the one main edge X12. An approximate straight line obtained by applying the method of least squares or the like to the point group of X12 is used as the reference line of one main edge X12. Similarly, when the other main edge Y12 is linear in plan view, it is used as the reference line of the other main edge Y12, and when the other main edge Y12 is nonlinear in plan view, the other main edge An approximate straight line obtained by applying the method of least squares or the like to the point group of Y12 is used as the reference line of the other main edge Y12.

The opening width W of the cut portion 3 refers to the distance between the reference line of one main edge X12 and the reference line of the other main edge Y12. When the opening width is not constant, the opening width of the notch 3 is the average value of the distances between the reference lines. A case where the opening width of the cut portion 3 is not constant corresponds to, for example, the cut portion 3 in which the two reference lines are non-parallel.
In addition, when the reference line of one main edge X12 and the reference line of the other main edge Y12 are substantially parallel, the cutting direction Z of the notch 3 (the direction in which the notch 3 extends) is the direction. When the reference line of the edge X12 and the reference line of the other main edge Y12 are non-parallel, it is the direction of the bisector of the angle formed by the reference line of the one main edge X12 and the reference line of the other main edge Y12.
The cut length of the cut portion 3 is the average length of the reference line of one main edge X12 and the reference line of the other main edge Y12.

[Details of the notch and the area demarcated by it]
The number of regions partitioned by the cuts 3 in the end region of the pad body 2 is the same as the number of the cuts 3 .
The number of cuts 3 is not particularly limited as long as it is two or more, but if there are too many cuts 3, the number of regions divided by the cuts 3 increases, and the area of one region becomes relatively too small, resulting in shock absorption. You may not be able to obtain sufficient performance. From this point of view, the number of cuts 3 is preferably eight or less, more preferably six or less.

As shown in FIG. 1, for example, four to six independent cuts 3 are formed around the pad body 2 at intervals.
Specifically, a first notch 31 and a second notch 32 are formed on the upper side of the end region of the pad body 2 and are spaced apart in the width direction. The first notch 31 and the second notch 32 are respectively arranged left and right away from the widthwise central portion of the pad body 2 and extend downward from above in a plan view.
The first cut portion 31 and the second cut portion 32 form an upper region 41 including the center portion of the pad body 2 in the width direction above the end region of the pad main body 2 and an upper region 41 on both sides of the upper region 41 in the width direction. It is divided into an upper left area 42 and an upper right area 43 . An upper region 41 including the widthwise central portion of the pad body 2 is a region sandwiched between the first cut portion 31 and the second cut portion 32 . The upper left region 42 is a region adjacent to the left side of the upper region 41 through the first cut portion 31 , and the upper right region 43 is a region adjacent to the right side of the upper region 41 through the second cut portion 32 . adjacent regions.
The cut portion 3 is not formed in the peripheral edge of the upper region 41 (outer edge of the upper region 41). The shape of the peripheral edge of the upper region 41 in plan view is not particularly limited. A shape (or an arc shape) may be used. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the peripheral edge of the upper region 41 has a substantially mountain-like shape (or an arc shape) that bulges outward in plan view.

Each cutting direction of the first cut portion 31 and the second cut portion 32 may be substantially parallel to the vertical direction, but preferably, at least one of the first cut portion 31 and the second cut portion 32 The cutting direction is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the vertical direction, and more preferably, the first cutting portion 31 and the second cutting portion 32 are arranged downward so that the first cutting portion 31 and the second cutting portion 32 approach each other. Each cutting direction of the cutting portion 32 is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the vertical direction.
When at least one of the cut portions 3 is formed to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction, the interior angle α1 formed by the cut direction Z1 of the first cut portion 31 and the cut direction Z2 of the second cut portion 32 is is, for example, 20 degrees to 150 degrees, preferably 30 degrees to 120 degrees, more preferably 30 degrees to 90 degrees. Since the first and second cuts 31 and 32 are formed so as to fall within the range of the interior angle α1, the lateral width increases outward and deforms so as to be in close contact with the bones of the joint during use. An upper region 41 can be defined that can be used.
The opening width of each of the first cut portion 31 and the second cut portion 32 can be appropriately set. are difficult to deform along the joint, and if they are too large, the areas of the upper region 41 and the like become relatively small. From this point of view, the opening width of each of the first cut portion 31 and the second cut portion 32 is preferably 3 mm to 10 mm, more preferably 4 mm to 8 mm.
The cut length of each of the first cut portion 31 and the second cut portion 32 can be set as appropriate, but from the viewpoint of making the upper region 41 an appropriate size (area), it is independently 10 mm to 25 mm. Preferably, 12 mm to 20 mm is more preferable.

Although the width of the upper region 41 may be substantially uniform in the vertical direction, the width of the upper region 41 differs in the vertical direction because it can be deformed so as to be in close contact with the bone of the joint during use. It is preferable to have the maximum lateral width in the middle part in the vertical direction. The lateral width of the upper region 41 refers to the interval in the width direction between both side edges of the upper region 41 (the side line defining the first cut portion 31 and the side edge defining the second cut portion 32). Also, the upper region 41 whose width is different in the vertical direction has a minimum width. Hereinafter, in this specification, the portion having the maximum width will be referred to as the "maximum width portion", and the portion having the minimum width will be referred to as the "minimum width portion".
For example, the maximum lateral width of the upper region 41 is located corresponding to the open edge of the side edge defining the first cut 31 and the open edge of the side edge defining the second cut 32 . . In this position, the maximum lateral width of the upper region 41 is the widthwise distance between the open edge of the side edge defining the first cut 31 and the open edge of the side edge defining the second cut 32 . be.
A specific maximum width of the upper region 41 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 30 mm to 80 mm, preferably 40 mm to 70 mm.
The minimum width portion of the upper region 41 is preferably arranged below the maximum width portion. It is more preferable to have the minimum width portion in the vicinity of the boundary on the upper region 41 side).
The minimum lateral width of the upper region 41 is, for example, 20 mm to 60 mm, preferably 30 mm to 50 mm.
The difference between the maximum width and the minimum width of the upper region 41 having the maximum width portion and the minimum width portion is, for example, 1 mm to 40 mm.

Further, a third notch 33 and a fourth notch 34 are formed on the lower side of the end region of the pad main body 2 at intervals in the width direction. The third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 are respectively arranged left and right away from the center portion in the width direction of the pad body 2 and extend upward from below in a plan view.
With the third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 , the lower side of the end region of the pad body 2 is divided into a lower region 44 including the widthwise central portion of the pad body 2 and widthwise both sides of the lower region 44 . is divided into a lower left region 45 and a lower right region 46 of the . A lower region 44 including the widthwise central portion of the pad body 2 is a region sandwiched between the third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 . The lower left region 45 is a region adjacent to the left side of the lower region 44 via the third cut 33 , and the lower right region 46 is adjacent to the right side of the lower region 44 via the fourth cut 34 . adjacent regions.
The cut portion 3 is not formed in the peripheral edge of the lower region 44 (outer edge of the lower region 44). The planar view shape of the periphery of the lower region 44 is not particularly limited, and may be an outwardly bulging substantially mountain shape (or an arc shape) in a planar view, or may be a linear shape, or an inwardly bulging substantially mountain shape. A shape (or an arc shape) may be used. Preferably, the peripheral edge of the lower region 44 has a substantially arcuate shape (or mountain shape) that bulges outward in plan view, as shown in FIG. 1 .

Each cutting direction of the third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 may be substantially parallel to the vertical direction, but preferably, at least one of the third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 The cutting direction is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the vertical direction. Each cutting direction of the cutting portion 34 is inclined at an acute angle with respect to the vertical direction.
When at least one of the cut portions 3 is formed to be inclined with respect to the vertical direction, the interior angle α2 formed by the cut direction Z3 of the third cut portion 33 and the cut direction Z4 of the fourth cut portion 34 is 20 degrees to 150 degrees, preferably 30 degrees to 120 degrees, more preferably 30 degrees to 90 degrees. The third and fourth notches 33 and 34 are formed so as to fall within the range of the interior angle α2, so that the lateral width increases outward and deforms so as to be in close contact with the bone of the joint during use. A lower region 44 can be defined.

The opening width of each of the third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 can be appropriately set. area becomes difficult to deform along the joint, and if it is too large, the area of the lower area 44 and the like becomes relatively small. From this point of view, the opening width of each of the third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 is preferably 3 mm to 10 mm, more preferably 4 mm to 8 mm.
The cut length of each of the third cut portion 33 and the fourth cut portion 34 can be set as appropriate, but from the viewpoint of making the lower region 44 an appropriate size (area), 15 mm to 50 mm are independently set. Preferably, 20 mm to 40 mm is more preferable.

Although the width of the lower region 44 may be substantially uniform in the vertical direction, the width of the lower region 44 differs in the vertical direction because it can be deformed so as to be in close contact with the bone of the joint during use. It is preferable to have the maximum lateral width in the middle part in the vertical direction. The width of the lower region 44 is the width direction of both side edges of the lower region 44 (the main edge of the side line defining the third cut portion 33 and the main edge of the side edge defining the fourth cut portion 34). The interval in Also, the lower region 44 whose width is different in the vertical direction has a minimum width.
For example, the maximum lateral width of the lower region 44 is located corresponding to the open edge of the side edge defining the third cut 33 and the open edge of the side edge defining the fourth cut 34 . . In this position, the maximum lateral width of the lower region 44 is the widthwise distance between the open edge of the side edge defining the third cut 33 and the open edge of the side edge defining the fourth cut 34. be.
A specific maximum width of the lower region 44 is not particularly limited, but is, for example, 30 mm to 80 mm, preferably 40 mm to 70 mm.
The minimum width portion of the lower region 44 is preferably arranged above the maximum width portion. It is more preferable to have the minimum width portion in the vicinity of the lower region 44 side of the boundary).
The minimum lateral width of the lower region 44 is, for example, 20 mm to 60 mm, preferably 30 mm to 50 mm.
The difference between the maximum width and the minimum width of the lower region 44 having the maximum width portion and the minimum width portion is, for example, 1 mm to 40 mm.
The maximum width of the upper region 41 and the maximum width of the lower region 44 may be substantially the same, or the lower region 44 may be larger as shown in the drawing. The pad body 2 having the lower region 44 with a large maximum lateral width can appropriately protect the tibial tuberosity, which tends to come into contact with the ground when the knee is bent.

At least one cut portion 3 may be further formed between the first cut portion 31 and the third cut portion 33 in the end region of the pad body 2, or the cut portion 3 may be It does not have to be formed. If another cut 3 is not formed between the first cut 31 and the third cut 33 (not shown), the upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45 are: One region (the left region defined by the first notch 31 and the third notch 33) is formed continuously.

Preferably, one or two independent cuts 3 are spaced between the first cut 31 and the third cut 33, and more preferably one cut as shown. Independent cuts 3 (fifth cuts 35) are formed at intervals.
The fifth notch 35 is formed on the left side of the end region of the pad body 2 . The fifth cut portion 35 is arranged between the first cut portion 31 and the third cut portion 33 and extends from the left side to the right side in the width direction in plan view.
The fifth notch 35 divides the left side of the end region of the pad body 2 into an upper left region 42 and a lower left region 45 . That is, the upper left region 42 is a region sandwiched between the first cut 31 and the fifth cut 35 , and the lower left region 45 is a region between the third cut 33 and the fifth cut 35 . It is an area sandwiched between The upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45 are regions adjacent to each other with the fifth notch 35 interposed therebetween.

The cut portion 3 is not formed in each peripheral edge of the upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45 (outer edge of each of the upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45). The planar view shape of each peripheral edge of the upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45 is not particularly limited, and each independently may be substantially mountain-shaped (or arc-shaped) that bulges outward in plan view. Alternatively, it may be linear, or may be substantially mountain-shaped (or arc-shaped) bulging inward. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 1, the planar view shape of each peripheral edge of the upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45 is formed in a substantially arc shape (or mountain shape) that bulges outward in plan view. .

The cut direction of the fifth cut portion 35 may be substantially parallel to the width direction, but preferably the cut direction of the fifth cut portion 35 extends rightward as it goes upward from the open portion and sloped at an acute angle.
When the fifth cut portion 35 is formed so as to be inclined at an acute angle with respect to the vertical direction, the internal angle β1 formed by the cutting direction Z5 of the fifth cut portion 35 and the vertical direction is, for example, 20 degrees to 150 degrees. , preferably 30 degrees to 120 degrees, and more preferably the above range excluding 90 degrees. Since the fifth notch 35 is formed within the range of the interior angle, the upper left region 42 has an increased lateral width toward the outside and can be deformed so as to be in close contact with the bone of the joint during use. can be defined.
Although the width of the upper left region 42 may be substantially uniform, it is preferable that the upper left region 42 have different widths so that the upper left region 42 can be deformed to closely fit the bone of the joint during use. The width of the upper left region 42 is the interval between both side edges of the upper left region 42 (the side line defining the first cut portion 31 and the side edge defining the fifth cut portion 35). , the distance in the direction parallel to the line connecting the two side edges at the base of the upper left region 42 .

The opening width of the fifth notch 35 can be set as appropriate, but if it is too small, the upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45 interfere with each other, making it difficult for these regions to deform along the joint. , if it is too large, the area of the upper left region 42 and the like becomes relatively small. From this point of view, the opening width of each of the fifth cuts 35 is preferably 3 mm to 10 mm, more preferably 4 mm to 8 mm.
The cut length of the fifth cut portion 35 can be set as appropriate, but from the viewpoint of making the upper left region 42 and the lower left region 45 appropriate sizes (areas), 10 mm to 25 mm is preferable, and 12 mm is preferable. ~20 mm is more preferred.

At least one cut portion 3 may be further formed between the second cut portion 32 and the fourth cut portion 34 in the end region of the pad body 2, or the cut portion 3 may be It does not have to be formed. If no further cut 3 is formed between the second cut 32 and the fourth cut 34 (not shown), the upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46 are: One continuous region (the right region defined by the second cut 32 and the fourth cut 34) is formed.
Preferably, one or two independent cuts 3 are spaced between the second cut 32 and the fourth cut 34, and more preferably one cut as shown. Independent cuts 3 (sixth cuts 36) are formed at intervals.
This sixth notch 36 is formed on the right side of the end region of the pad body 2 . The sixth cut portion 36 is arranged between the second cut portion 32 and the fourth cut portion 34 and extends from right to left in plan view.
The sixth notch 36 divides the right side of the end region of the pad body 2 into an upper right region 43 and a lower right region 46 . That is, the upper right region 43 is a region sandwiched between the second cut portion 32 and the sixth cut portion 36, and the lower right region 46 is a region between the fourth cut portion 34 and the sixth cut portion 36. It is an area sandwiched between The upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46 are regions adjacent to each other with the sixth notch 36 interposed therebetween.

The notch 3 is not formed in each peripheral edge of the upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46 (outer edge of each of the upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46). The plan view shape of each peripheral edge of the upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46 is not particularly limited, and each independently may have a substantially mountain shape (or an arc shape) that bulges outward in plan view. Alternatively, it may be linear, or may be substantially mountain-shaped (or arc-shaped) bulging inward. Preferably, the planar view shape of each peripheral edge of the upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46 is formed in a substantially circular arc shape (or mountain shape) that bulges outward in plan view.

The cut direction of the sixth cut portion 36 may be substantially parallel to the width direction, but preferably the cut direction of the sixth cut portion 36 extends leftward as it goes upward from the open portion and sloped at an acute angle.
When the sixth cut portion 36 is formed to be inclined at an acute angle with respect to the vertical direction, the internal angle β2 formed by the cutting direction Z6 of the sixth cut portion 36 and the vertical direction is, for example, 20 degrees to 150 degrees. , preferably 30 degrees to 120 degrees, and more preferably the above range excluding 90 degrees. Since the sixth notch 36 is formed within the range of the interior angle β2, the upper right region increases in lateral width toward the outside and can be deformed so as to be in close contact with the bone of the joint during use. 43 can be defined.
The interior angle formed by the cut direction of the fifth cut portion 35 and the cut direction of the sixth cut portion 36 is the interior angle β1+the interior angle β2.

Although the lateral width of the upper right region 43 may be substantially uniform, it is preferable that the lateral width of the upper right region 43 is different because it can be deformed so as to be in close contact with the bone of the joint during use. The width of the upper right region 43 is the interval between both side edges of the upper right region 43 (the side line defining the second cut portion 32 and the side edge defining the sixth cut portion 36). , the distance in the direction parallel to the line connecting the two side edges at the base of the upper right region 43 .

The opening width of the sixth notch 36 can be set as appropriate, but if it is too small, the upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46 interfere with each other, making it difficult for these regions to deform along the joint. If it is too large, the area of the upper right region 43 and the like becomes relatively small. From this point of view, the opening width of each of the sixth cuts 36 is preferably 3 mm to 10 mm, more preferably 4 mm to 8 mm.
The cut length of the sixth cut portion 36 can be set as appropriate, but from the viewpoint of making the upper right region 43 and the lower right region 46 appropriate sizes (areas), it is preferably 10 mm to 25 mm, and more preferably 12 mm. ~20 mm is more preferred.

When the pad body 2 whose end region is divided into six regions is used for the knee, as shown in FIG. 6, the upper region 41 corresponds to the patella and the lower region 44 corresponds to the tibial tuberosity. , the upper left region 42 corresponds to the lateral epicondyle, the lower left region 45 corresponds to the lateral tibial condyle, the upper right region 43 corresponds to the medial epicondyle, and the lower right region 46 corresponds to the medial tibial condyle. Correspondingly, a middle region 47 will correspond between the patella and the tibial tuberosity. When the pad body 2 is used for the elbow, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper region 41 corresponds to the humerus, the lower region 44 corresponds to the ulna, and the upper left region 42 corresponds to the lateral epicondyle. The lower left region 45 corresponds to the brachioradia joint, the upper right region 43 corresponds to the medial epicondyle, the lower right region 46 corresponds to the brachiulnar joint, and the middle region 47 corresponds to the trochlear. become. However, it should be noted that the correspondence between each region and the knee bone or the elbow bone is a general correspondence.
According to the pad body 2, each region corresponds to each bone of the knee or elbow, so joints such as the knee can be protected from impact.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the shape of the pad main body 2 in plan view is line-symmetrical with the vertical line passing through the center in the width direction as the axis of symmetry. Although a human has a pair of left and right joints, the axisymmetric pad body 2 eliminates the need to prepare two types, one for the right joint and the other for the left joint, which is excellent in productivity and ease of use.
However, the pad main body 2 is not limited to the linearly symmetrical shape as described above, and may be asymmetrical. When the pad body 2 is made asymmetrical with respect to the vertical direction line, the size and shape of each region can be set according to the respective bone shapes of the right and left joints of a person. A pad body 2 dedicated to the left joint can be formed. For example, FIG. 6 represents the bony part of the right knee, but when making an asymmetrical pad body 2, for example, the lower left region 45 corresponding to the lateral tibia condyle is represented in FIG. By making the area larger than that of the pad body 2, it is possible to construct a pad body dedicated to the right joint having the lower left region 45 that wraps the lateral tibial condyles of the right knee joint (the same applies to the left joint).

[Structure of pad body in thickness direction]
A through hole portion 51 is formed in the surface of the pad body 2 as necessary.
The through hole portion 51 is a hole penetrating through the pad body 2 in the thickness direction, and is formed in at least one location in the plane of the pad body 2 . By forming the through hole portion 51, the pad body 2 can be easily deformed along the joint, and air permeability can be improved and the weight of the pad body 2 can be reduced.
The shape of the through hole portion 51 in plan view is not particularly limited, and may be substantially polygonal such as substantially rectangular, substantially square, substantially rhombic, substantially triangular, substantially pentagonal, or substantially hexagonal; A circular shape; a substantially spindle shape; a substantially arc shape; a substantially bent shape such as a substantially dogleg shape;

The places where the through holes 51 are formed are not particularly limited, but since each region is easily deformed, the upper region 41, the lower region 44, the upper left region 42, the lower left region 45, and the upper right region 43. and the lower right region 46. Preferably, the through hole 51 is formed in the plane of at least one region selected from the upper region 41 and the lower right region 46. Further, the through hole 51 is formed in the plane of at least the upper region 41 and the lower region 44. More preferably, as shown in the figure, all regions of the upper region 41, the lower region 44, the upper left region 42, the lower left region 45, the upper right region 43, and the lower right region 46 It is more preferable that the through hole portion 51 is formed in the plane. Although the plan view shape of the punched hole portion 51 formed in these regions is not particularly limited, a substantially circular shape is preferable because distorted deformation of each region can be prevented.
In the illustrated example, the intermediate region 47 of the pad body 2 is also formed with the through hole portion 51 . Although the plan view shape of the through hole portion 51 of the intermediate region 47 is not particularly limited, in the illustrated example, the through hole portion 51 is formed in a substantially circular shape and a substantially arc shape in a plan view. In the example of FIG. 1, the substantially arc-shaped through-hole portion 51 is formed such that its major axis extends in the vertical direction, but instead of this, it may be substantially arc-shaped (or substantially curved, substantially straight, etc.). You may form the through-hole part 51 so that the long axis of may extend in the width direction (not shown). By forming the through hole portion 51 having a long axis such as a substantially arc shape extending in the width direction in this manner, the pad body 2 can easily bend following bending of the joint.

The pad main body 2 may be a one-layer structure made of a material having a cushioning property, or may be a multi-layer structure in which two or more layers made of a material having a cushioning property are laminated in the thickness direction.
The pad main body 2 preferably has a multi-layer structure, since the pad main body 2 can be configured to have an excellent fit feeling and a good shock absorbing property.
2 to 4, preferably, the pad body 2 has a first damping body 21 arranged inside and a second damping body 22 arranged outside the first damping body 21. It is a two-layer structure. The first damping body 21 arranged inside is a damping body arranged on the side (innermost) facing the joint when in use. The second damping body 22 is a damping body arranged on the opposite side (outside) of the side facing the joint of the first damping body 21 .
The second buffer 22 preferably has higher hardness than the first buffer 21 . In other words, the first damping body 21 preferably has a hardness lower than that of the second damping body 22 . Since the relatively soft first damping body 21 is arranged inside, the first damping body 21 hits against the user's joints, which makes it difficult for the user to feel uncomfortable and can provide an excellent fitting feeling. On the other hand, since the relatively hard second damping body 22 is arranged outside the first damping body 21, the second damping body 22 absorbs the impact from the outside, synergizing with the relatively soft first damping body 21. By doing so, it is possible to prevent impact from being applied to the joints.

More preferably, the pad body 2 includes a first damping body 21 arranged inside, a second damping body 22 arranged outside the first damping body 21, and an outside of the second damping body 22. It is a three-layer structure having a third buffer body 23 that is formed. When the pad body 2 of the present invention has a three-layer structure, the third cushioning body 23 is the cushioning body arranged on the outermost side (the side farthest from the joint). The third damping body 23 preferably has a hardness lower than that of the second damping body 22 . Since the relatively soft third damping body 23 is arranged outside the second damping body 22, the third damping body 23 once absorbs and disperses the impact from the outside, and the stress due to the impact is transferred to the second damping body. 22 can be suppressed. Therefore, the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, 23 work together to effectively prevent impacts from being applied to the joints.

The first damping body 21 and the third damping body 23 may have substantially the same hardness, or one of them may have a lower hardness than the other. The first damping body 21 and the third damping body 23 preferably have substantially the same hardness, and more preferably are made of the same material.
Therefore, the hardness of each damping body satisfies the following relationships: hardness of second damping body 22 > hardness of first damping body 21 and hardness of second damping body 22 > hardness of third damping body 23 , preferably , the hardness of the second damping body 22 >the hardness of the first damping body 21 =the hardness of the third damping body 23 .

When the hardness of each buffer is represented by Asker C hardness, the Asker C hardness of the first buffer 21 is, for example, 10-40, preferably 15-30. The Asker C hardness of the second cushioning body 22 is, for example, 30-70, preferably 40-60. The Asker C hardness of the third cushioning body 23 is, for example, 10-40, preferably 15-30. The difference in hardness between the first damping body 21 and the second damping body 22 (Asker C hardness of the second damping body 22 - Asker C hardness of the first damping body 21) is not particularly limited. , 10 to 55 are preferred, and 20 to 45 are more preferred. Further, the difference in hardness between the second damping body 22 and the third damping body 23 (Asker C hardness of the second damping body 22 - Asker C hardness of the third damping body 23) is not particularly limited, but the above effects can be sufficiently obtained. Therefore, 10 to 55 are preferred, and 20 to 45 are more preferred.
However, the Asker C hardness is measured at 23° C. in accordance with JIS K 7312:1996 Type C test method.

Each of the first damping body 21, the second damping body 22 and the third damping body 23 is composed of a substantially flat plate-shaped body, and preferably each is composed of a single substantially flat plate-shaped body. there is The first damping body 21, the second damping body 22, and the third damping body 23, which are plate-like bodies, are stacked in this order from the inside in the thickness direction. The first buffer 21, the second buffer 22, and the third buffer 23 may be stacked with their layers adhered to each other, or may be stacked without their layers adhered to each other. Alternatively, the first damping body 21 and the second damping body 22 may be adhered and the second damping body 22 and the third damping body 23 may be overlapped in a non-bonded state, or the first damping body 21 and the second buffer 22 may be non-adhered, and the second buffer 22 and the third buffer 23 may be superimposed in a state of being adhered.
Preferably, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the pad body 2 is configured by stacking the first damping body 21, the second damping body 22 and the third damping body 23 in a non-bonded state. .

Each thickness of the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, and 23 may be independently uniform in the surface direction, or may be non-uniform (for example, where the thickness is partially increased). have, etc.). When the thicknesses of the first to third cushioning bodies 21 , 22 , 23 are uneven, for example, the thickness corresponding to the end regions such as the upper region 41 described above is the thickness of the portion corresponding to the middle region 47 . For example, the thickness is larger than the thickness.
In the illustrated example, the thicknesses of the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, 23 are uniform in the plane direction.
The first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, 23 may have substantially the same thickness, or may have different thicknesses. Since the second damping body 22 is relatively hard, if the thickness of the second damping body 22 is relatively too large, the pad body 2 may become difficult to bend, and the thickness of the second damping body 22 is relatively too small. As a result, there is a risk that the shock absorbing property of the pad main body 2 will be degraded. From this point of view, the upper limit of the thickness of the second damping body 22 is preferably equal to or less than the total thickness of the first damping body 21 and the third damping body 23. More preferably, the total thickness is equal to or less than 0.5. In addition, the lower limit of the thickness of the second damping body 22 is preferably equal to or greater than the total thickness of the first damping body 21 and the third damping body 23×0.2. It is more preferable that the total thickness of 23 × 0.3 or more.

Also, the thickness of the first damping body 21 and the thickness of the third damping body 23 may be substantially the same thickness, or may be different. It is preferable that the first damping body 21 and the third damping body 23 have substantially the same thickness from the viewpoint that they can be formed from the same material and that they are easy to manufacture. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of use, it is preferable that the overall thickness of the pad body 2 is small to some extent. If desired, the thicknesses of the first damping body 21 and the third damping body 23 may be different. For example, if it is desired to obtain a pad body 2 having a better fitting feeling and a predetermined thickness as a whole, the thickness of the first damping body 21 is increased (the thickness of the third damping body 23 is relatively decreased). Further, when it is desired to obtain a pad body 2 which is intended to be used in an environment such as rough ground and has a predetermined thickness as a whole, the thickness of the third cushioning body 23 is increased. (the thickness of the first buffer 21 is relatively reduced).

In terms of specific dimensions, the thickness of the first damping body 21 is, for example, 2 mm to 7 mm, the thickness of the second damping body 22 is, for example, 2 mm to 6 mm, and the thickness of the third damping body 23 is, for example, , 2 mm to 7 mm.

The material for forming the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, 23 is not particularly limited as long as it has cushioning properties and flexibility. The first to third damping bodies 21, 22, 23 are each independently formed of synthetic resin, elastomer, rubber, or the like.
Synthetic resins include olefin resins such as polyethylene (PE) and ethylene/vinyl acetate copolymer resin (EVA resin); urethane resins such as polyurethane; polystyrene (PS), acrylonitrile styrene copolymer resin (AS resin), and acrylonitrile. Styrene-based resins such as butadiene-styrene copolymer resins (ABS resins); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); As the elastomer, a relatively soft thermoplastic elastomer can be used. For example, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer system elastomer; styrene system elastomer such as styrene ethylene butylene styrene block copolymer (SEBS); olefin system elastomer; urethane ester-based elastomers; fluorine-based elastomers; silicone-based elastomers; Rubbers include, for example, diene rubbers such as natural rubber (NR), isoprene rubber (IR) and butadiene rubber (BR); polymer rubber; non-diene rubber such as ethylene propylene diene rubber (EPDM), butyl rubber (IIR), urethane rubber; and the like. These materials can be used singly or in combination of two or more.

Also, the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, 23 may be independently formed from a foam or may be formed from a non-foam. From the viewpoint of providing a good fit, it is preferable that at least the first damping body 21 is made of foam. It is preferable that each of them is formed of a foam. The expansion ratio of such a foam is not particularly limited, and is, for example, about 1.05 to 3 times.
The first to third damping bodies 21, 22, 23 may be made of the same material, or may be made of different materials, as long as the hardness of the second damping body 22 can be increased.
To give a specific example, the first damping body 21 and the third damping body 23 are formed from a resin foam such as EVA having an expansion ratio of 2 times, and the second damping body 22 has an expansion ratio of 1.5 times. It is formed from a resin foam such as EVA.

When the pad body 2 is a three-layer structure having first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, and 23 in the thickness direction, the above-described pad body is formed with the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, and 23 overlapping each other. 2, the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, and 23 are also formed with cut portions 3 and cutout portions 51 similar to the cutout portions 3 and cutout portions 51 of the pad body 2. there is
The planar shapes of the first to third cushioning bodies 21, 22, and 23 may be substantially the same shape, or may be different shapes, provided that the notch 3 of the pad body 2 can be formed in a state in which they are superimposed. may be The manufacturing equipment (molds, cutting jigs, etc.) for each shock absorber can be shared, and manufacturing is facilitated. is preferably formed in the shape of

In addition, although the multilayer structure of two layers or three layers was illustrated, the pad main body 2 may be comprised from the multilayer structure of four or more layers.
In this case, it is preferable to arrange the first damping body 21 as the innermost layer, arrange the third damping body 23 as the outermost layer, and arrange the second damping body 22 and other damping bodies therebetween. . The hardness of the other cushioning body is not particularly limited, but is preferably similar to or lower than the hardness of the first cushioning body 21 .

[Joint protector with cover material]
The joint protector 1 comprising the pad main body 2 is incorporated into an appropriate member for use.
8 and 9, the joint protector 1 of the present invention has the pad main body 2 and a flexible cover material 6 capable of accommodating the pad main body 2, and the pad main body 2 is provided with the cover material 6. housed inside.
For example, the pad body 2 in which the cushioning bodies are stacked in a non-bonded state is housed in a flexible cover material 6 .
Also, the entire pad body 2 may be housed in the cover material 6, or a part of the pad body 2 may be housed in the cover material 6 while preventing each cushioning body from separating.
As the flexible cover material 6, a sheet (fiber sheet) containing fibers such as woven fabric, knitted fabric, and non-woven fabric, a fiber composite sheet obtained by adding a non-fiber material such as resin to a part or the entire surface of the fiber sheet, and a synthetic resin. Various sheet bodies such as sheets can be used. The cover material 6 may or may not have stretchability provided that it has flexibility to the extent that it does not interfere with the movement of the joints.
In the example shown in FIG. 9, the cover material 6 consists of two flexible sheet bodies 61, 61 (for example, woven fabric or the like). By interposing the pad main body 2 between the two sheet bodies and forming a joint portion 62 in which the peripheral edge portions of the two sheet bodies are joined to the outside of the pad main body 2, the joint protector 1 is formed. It is configured. The method of joining the sheet bodies 61, 61 can be appropriately set according to the material thereof, and examples thereof include sewing, adhesion using an adhesive, and welding.

[Usage examples of joint protectors]
The joint protector 1 of the present invention is used by applying it to human joints such as knees, elbows and shoulders.
In use, the joint protector 1 is processed into a form that can be worn on a joint such as a knee.
10 to 12 show a sports supporter A equipped with the joint protector 1 of the present invention.
It should be noted that the use of the sports supporter A of the present invention is not limited to narrowly defined sports applications, and that it can be used for other applications such as work as long as the purpose is to protect the joints of the body. sea bream.
This sports supporter A has a stretchable supporter body 7 and a joint protector 1 incorporated in the supporter body 7 .

The supporter main body 7 is composed of a stretchable and flexible sheet body 71 as in the conventional art, and is formed in a tubular shape, for example.
The stretchable sheet body 71 constituting the supporter main body 7 is not particularly limited, and may be a woven or knitted fabric using stretchable threads, a knitted fabric made of stretchable knitted structure, or an elastic sheet such as rubber or elastomer. etc. Examples of the elastic knitting structure include rubber knitting, double-sided knitting, and half knitting. As the elastic sheet such as rubber or elastomer, there may be mentioned a sheet formed of rubber or elastomer as exemplified above. It is preferable to use a woven or knitted fabric using stretchable yarns, or a knitted fabric made of stretchable knitted structure, because it has air permeability.
The tubular supporter main body 7 may be formed by rolling the sheet body 71 into a tubular shape and joining both side ends thereof, or may be formed from the seamless sheet body 71 . The tubular supporter main body 7 may be composed only of the stretchable sheet body 71, or may be composed of the stretchable sheet body 71 over a relatively wide range and partially non-stretchable sheet. It may consist of a body 71 .
The inner peripheral length of the cylindrical supporter main body 7 may be set appropriately as long as the supporter main body 7 does not come off from the knee or the elbow when the supporter main body 7 is worn on a person's knee or elbow.

A method for incorporating the joint protector 1 into the supporter main body 7 is not particularly limited, and an appropriate method can be adopted.
In the illustrated example, the supporter main body 7 is composed of two stretchable sheet bodies 71, 71, and the pad main body 2 is interposed between the two sheet bodies 71, 71. As shown in FIG. In order to prevent the pad main body 2 from being displaced, the two sheet bodies 71 are partially joined at a plurality of partial joint portions 72 on the outer side of the pad main body 2 . In the illustrated example, the partial joint portion 72 is the outermost part of the periphery of each of the regions 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, and 46 of the pad body 2 or the vicinity thereof, It is arranged with a small gap from said portion or its vicinity. By arranging the partial joint portion 72 at such a position, it is possible to prevent the pad main body 2 from being greatly misaligned within the two sheet bodies 71, 71, while preventing the pad main body 2 from being excessively restrained. Deformation of the pad body 2 is allowed. In addition, tape-like end processing materials 73 are attached to join the upper and lower ends of the two sheet bodies 71 .
In the illustrated example, the pad main body 2 is provided in the supporter main body 7 , but the pad main body 2 housed in the cover material 6 may be provided in the supporter main body 7 . Moreover, the supporter main body 7 is not limited to a cylindrical shape. For example, the supporter main body 7 is composed of an elastic leaf-shaped sheet body and a tightening member such as a belt-shaped band provided at the end of the sheet body. It may be attached to the joint with a tightening member (not shown).

Figure 13 shows a garment B comprising the joint protector 1 of the invention.
FIG. 13(a) shows a shirt provided with the joint protector 1 of the invention, and FIG. 13(b) shows pants provided with the joint protector 1 of the invention.
In the shirt, for example, a joint protector 1 having a pad body 2 is incorporated in the shirt's elbows. For pants, for example, a joint protector 1 having a pad body 2 is incorporated in the knee portion of the pants.
Such clothing can be used, for example, as sportswear and work clothes for performing various tasks such as construction sites.

The sports supporter A is worn on the knee, for example, as shown in FIG.
Since the joint protector 1 of the present invention has a pad body 2 in which a plurality of cuts 3 are formed and end regions are divided into a plurality of regions including an upper region 41 and a lower region 44, as shown in FIG. Then, each region is independently deformed along the contour of the joint such as the knee, and the pad body 2 as a whole is deformed into a substantially bowl shape. FIG. 16 is a three-dimensional perspective view of the pad body 2 deformed into a substantially bowl shape.
In particular, the upper side of the end region of the pad body 2 is partitioned into an upper region 41, an upper left region 42 and an upper right region 43 by the first and second cuts 31 and 32, thereby Or the upper side of the elbow is protected from impact by upper region 41 , upper left region 42 and upper right region 43 . The lower side of the end region of the pad body 2 is divided into a lower region 44 and a lower left region 45 and a lower right region 46 by the third and fourth cuts 33 and 34, thereby The underside of the is protected from impact by lower region 44 , lower left region 45 and lower right region 46 . Therefore, the joint protector 1 having the pad body 2 of the present invention can appropriately protect joints such as knees and elbows from external impact.

Also, the upper region 41 partitioned by the first and second cuts 31 and 32 and the upper left region 42 and upper right region 43 adjacent thereto are formed by the first and second cuts 31 and 32 . The open portion of 32 can be narrowed so that, as shown in FIG. A region 41, an upper left region 42 and an upper right region 43 are deformed to fit closely along the contour of a joint such as a knee. Similarly, the lower region 44 partitioned by the third and fourth cuts 33 and 34 and the lower left region 45 and lower right region 46 adjacent thereto are also arranged so that their side edges are in contact with each other on the outside. , the lower region 44, the lower left region 45, and the lower right region 46 are deformed to fit closely along the contour of the joint such as the knee.
Although the size and shape of joints differ from person to person, according to the joint protector 1 having the pad main body 2 of the present invention, each region defined by the incisions 3 can be deformed independently, so that the size and shape of the joints can be changed. The pad main body 2 can be deformed according to various users with different values. The joint protector 1 having such a pad main body 2 can provide a good fit to the user and protect the joints from external impact.
In addition, since the joint protector 1 has the relatively soft first cushioning body 21 arranged on the innermost side in the thickness direction of the pad main body 2, it is difficult for the user to feel uncomfortable, and an excellent fitting feeling can be provided. On the other hand, since the relatively hard second cushioning body 22 is arranged on the outside, the second cushioning body 22 absorbs the impact from the outside, and in synergy with the relatively soft first cushioning body 21, the impact is applied to the joint. can be prevented from being added. Furthermore, by arranging the third damping body 23 outside the second damping body 22, stress concentration on the second damping body 22 can be suppressed, and impact applied to the joints can be prevented.

In addition, in the pad body 2 having a multilayer structure, each cushioning body may be adhered as described above. occur. In this respect, as described above, according to a preferred embodiment in which the respective buffers are stacked without adhesion, the positions of the respective buffers can be displaced in the plane direction. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 17, for example, when a joint such as a knee is bent, the outer shock absorbers extend and the inner shock absorbers contract, thereby preventing mutual restraint of the shock absorbers. will follow the bending of the joint well and bend. For this reason, the joint protector 1 having the pad body 2 in which the respective cushioning bodies are stacked in a non-adhesive manner has an excellent fitting feeling even when the joint is bent, and is also excellent in shock absorption.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The joint protector and its application article of the present invention are used to protect joints from external impact. For example, the joint protector of the present invention and articles to which it is applied are used by people who play various sports such as volleyball and handball, people who work in construction and the like, people who lead daily lives, and the like.

1 joint protector 2 pad body 21 first buffer 22 second buffer 23 third buffer 3 notches 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36 first to sixth notches 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 Regions partitioned by cuts 6 Cover material 7 Supporter main body A Sports supporter B Clothes

Claims (7)

A joint protector having a pad body that protects human joints,
A plurality of notches are formed from the peripheral edge of the pad body,
The pad body is made of a plate-like body , and includes a first damping body arranged on the inner side of the joint, and a second damping body arranged on the outside of the first damping body and having higher hardness than the first damping body. A joint protector, comprising: a damping body; and a third damping body arranged outside the second damping body and having a hardness lower than that of the second damping body . 2. The joint protector according to claim 1, wherein the thickness of said second damping body is less than or equal to the total thickness of said first damping body and said third damping body. A joint protector having a pad body that protects human joints,
A plurality of notches are formed from the peripheral edge of the pad body,
The pad body is made of a plate-like body, and includes a first damping body arranged on the inner side of the joint, and a second damping body arranged on the outside of the first damping body and having higher hardness than the first damping body. a buffer, and
Furthermore, it has a flexible covering material,
The joint protector, wherein the cushioning bodies are housed in the cover material in a non-adhesive overlapping state. The notch is formed in at least four locations,
2. The end region of the pad body is divided into at least four regions including an upper region including a widthwise central portion of the pad body and a lower region in a plan view by the at least four cuts. 4. The joint protector according to any one of 3. The joint protector according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is a knee joint protector for protecting a knee joint. A sports supporter comprising the joint protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5. A garment comprising the joint protector according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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