Leg protector with adjustable foot and toe guard

Abstract

A catcher's leg protector having an adjustable foot and toe guard includes a shin guard for covering a wearer's shin, a foot and toe guard for covering a portion of a wearer's foot, and an adjustment mechanism for moving the foot and toe guard relative to the shin guard and locking the foot and toe guard in a fixed position. Various embodiments of the leg protector and associated method are provided.

1 . A catcher's leg protector, comprising: 
 a shin guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's shin;    a semi-rigid adjustment strap attached to said shin guard and extending from a lower edge of said shin guard; and    a foot guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's foot attached to said adjustment strap.    
   
   
       2 . The leg protector of  claim 1 , wherein said adjustment strap is linearly movable with respect to said shin guard such that said foot guard may be moved relative to said shin guard.  
   
   
       3 . The leg protector of  claim 2 , wherein said shin guard comprises an adjustment mechanism configured to receive and secure said adjustment strap.  
   
   
       4 . The leg protector of  claim 3 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a lever mechanism.  
   
   
       5 . The leg protector of  claim 4 , wherein said adjustment strap comprises protrusions configured to engage with said lever mechanism.  
   
   
       6 . The leg protector of  claim 2 , wherein said adjustment strap is affixed to said foot guard.  
   
   
       7 . The leg protector of  claim 1 , further comprising a knee guard flexibly coupled to said shin guard.  
   
   
       8 . The leg protector of  claim 1 , wherein said shin guard comprises a rigid shell.  
   
   
       9 . The leg protector of  claim 8 , wherein said shin guard further comprises a resilient pad affixed to said rigid shell.  
   
   
       10 . A catcher's leg protector, comprising: 
 a shin guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's shin;    an adjustment strap attached to said shin guard and extending from a lower edge of said shin guard;    a foot guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's foot attached to said adjustment strap; and    means for adjusting a position of said foot guard relative to said shin guard.    
   
   
       11 . The leg protector of  claim 10 , further comprising a thigh protector attached to an upper portion of said shin guard.  
   
   
       12 . The leg protector of  claim 10 , wherein said shin guard comprises a rigid shell attached to a resilient pad.  
   
   
       13 . The leg protector of  claim 10 , wherein said means for adjusting comprises a locking mechanism operable to secure said adjustment strap in a fixed position.  
   
   
       14 . A catcher's leg protector, comprising: 
 a shin guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's shin;    a foot guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's foot; and    an adjustment strap coupled between said shin guard and said foot guard such that said foot guard is movable with respect to said shin guard.    
   
   
       15 . The leg protector of  claim 14 , wherein said strap is a semi-rigid adjustment strap coupled between said shin guard and said foot guard.  
   
   
       16 . A catcher's leg protector, comprising: 
 a shin guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's shin;    an adjustment mechanism affixed to said shin guard, said mechanism comprising a lever;    a semi-rigid adjustment strap coupled to said adjustment mechanism, said strap having protrusions configured to engage with said lever; and    a foot guard configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's foot attached to said adjustment strap wherein said adjustment strap is movable within said adjustment mechanism such that said foot guard is movable relative to said shin guard.    
   
   
       17 . The leg protector of  claim 16 , wherein sad adjustment mechanism is operable to lock said engagement strap such that said foot guard is fixed in position relative to said shin guard.  
   
   
       18 . The leg protector of  claim 17 , wherein said adjustment mechanism comprises a biasing element operable to retain said adjustment mechanism in a locked position.  
   
   
       19 . The leg protector of  claim 18 , wherein said adjustment strap comprises protruding serrations configured to engage with said adjustment mechanism.  
   
   
       20 . A method of sizing a leg protector having a shin guard and a foot guard, the method comprising: 
 providing a leg protector having a shin guard and a foot guard attached via an adjustment strap, said shin guard comprising an adjustment mechanism adapted to receive said adjustment strap;    releasing said adjustment mechanism to allow movement of said adjustment strap along said adjustment mechanism; and    moving said adjustment strap linearly along said shin guard such that a linear distance between said foot guard and said shin guard varies.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 securing said adjustment mechanism to affix said adjustment strap within said adjustment mechanism.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said securing step comprises providing a spring bias within said adjustment mechanism.