Kneepad having an ergonomic notch

Abstract

A kneepad comprises a base, a rigid cap attached to the base, and a notch located on the base or rigid cap. The notch is configured to conform to a leg of the user to prevent the base and the rigid cap from changing position on the knee of the user during movement.

1 . A kneepad for protecting a knee of a user comprising: 
 a base;    a rigid cap attached to said base; and    a notch, located on said base or said rigid cap, configured to conform to a leg of said user to prevent said base and said rigid cap from changing position on said knee of said user during movement.    
   
   
       2 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap assembly connected to said base to secure said base to said leg of said user in position over said knee.  
   
   
       3 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , wherein said notch is defined on a lower portion of said base.  
   
   
       4 . The kneepad of  claim 3 , wherein said notch is contoured to at least partially surround a shin of said leg of said user.  
   
   
       5 . The kneepad of  claim 4 , wherein said notch has a substantially trapezoidal shape.  
   
   
       6 . The kneepad of  claim 4 , wherein said notch comprises three sides.  
   
   
       7 . The kneepad of  claim 6 , wherein at least two of said three sides of said notch have equal lengths.  
   
   
       8 . The kneepad of  claim 7 , wherein said length of said at least two of said at least three sides are less than or equal to a length of another of said three sides.  
   
   
       9 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , wherein said notch comprises a thigh notch defined on an upper portion of said base.  
   
   
       10 . The kneepad of  claim 9 , wherein said notch is contoured to at least partially surround a front thigh of said user.  
   
   
       11 . The kneepad of  claim 10 , wherein said notch has an arcuate shape.  
   
   
       12 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , wherein said notch is defined on said rigid cap.  
   
   
       13 . The kneepad of  claim 12 , wherein said notch is defined on a lower portion of said rigid cap.  
   
   
       14 . The kneepad of  claim 13 , further comprising a second notch defined on a lower portion of said base.  
   
   
       15 . The kneepad of  claim 14 , wherein said notch has a shape substantially matching said second notch.  
   
   
       16 . The kneepad of  claim 15 , wherein said notch is contoured such that as said user moves, a shin of said user will not disturb positioning of said kneepad over said knee.  
   
   
       17 . The kneepad of  claim 12 , wherein said notch is defined on an upper portion of said rigid cap.  
   
   
       18 . The kneepad of  claim 17 , wherein said notch is contoured such that as said user moves, a thigh of said user will not disturb said positioning of said kneepad over said knee.  
   
   
       19 . The kneepad of  claim 3 , further comprising a second notch located on a lower portion of said rigid cap.  
   
   
       20 . The kneepad of  claim 19 , wherein a shape of said notch substantially matches a shape of said second notch.  
   
   
       21 . The kneepad of  claim 19 , further comprising a third notch located on an upper portion of said base.  
   
   
       22 . The kneepad of  claim 21 , further comprising a fourth notch located on an upper portion of said rigid cap.  
   
   
       23 . The kneepad of  claim 22 , wherein a shape of said fourth notch substantially matches a shape of said third notch.  
   
   
       24 . The kneepad of  claim 1 , wherein said rigid cap is removably attached to said base.  
   
   
       25 . A kneepad comprising: 
 a base;    a rigid cap attached to said base; and    a notch configured to conform to a leg of a user and formed in portions of said kneepad selected from the group consisting of a lower portion of said base, an upper portion of said base, a lower portion of said rigid cap, and an upper portion of said rigid cap.    
   
   
       26 . The kneepad of  claim 25 , wherein said notch prevents said flexible base and said rigid cap from changing position on said knee of said user during movement.  
   
   
       27 . The kneepad of  claim 26 , further comprising a strap assembly, said strap assembly being connected to said base to secure said flexible base and said rigid cap to said leg of said user in position over said knee.  
   
   
       28 . The kneepad of  claim 25 , wherein said rigid cap is removably attached to said flexible base.  
   
   
       29 . A method for putting on a kneepad comprising: 
 providing a kneepad comprising: 
 a base;  
 a rigid cap attached to said base; and  
 a notch, located on said base or said rigid cap, configured to conform to a leg of said user to prevent said base and said rigid cap from changing position on said knee of said user during movement.  
   placing said kneepad over a leg of a user such that said notch partially surrounds a shin or a thigh of said user; and    securing said kneepad to said leg of said user.