Pad and article resistant to impact forces

Abstract

An impact resistant article includes a base portion with an impact pad attached to the base portion. The impact pad includes a padding material and a fabric laminated to the padding material. The padding material features fold lines generally corresponding to a wearer's natural bending locations when the impact pad is secured to the base portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An impact pad for securing to a glove comprising:
 a. a padding material featuring a back of hand shape;   b. a fabric laminated to the padding material;   c. said padding material featuring fold lines generally corresponding to natural bending locations in a wearer's hand when the impact pad is secured to the glove.   
     
     
         2 . The pad of  claim 1  wherein the padding material is cross-linked polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         3 . The pad of  claim 2  wherein the padding material is molded and is approximately 6 mm to 12 mm thick prior to molding. 
     
     
         4 . The pad of  claim 2  wherein the padding material has a weight of approximately 2 pcf to 4 pcf. 
     
     
         5 . The pad of  claim 2  wherein the cross-lined polyethylene foam is flame resistant. 
     
     
         6 . The pad of  claim 1  wherein the fabric is laminated to the padding material by heat. 
     
     
         7 . The pad of  claim 1  wherein the fabric is laminated to the padding material by adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . An impact resistant article comprising:
 a. a base portion;   b. a back of hand impact pad attached to the base portion;   c. a back of thumb impact pad attached to the base portion;   d. each of said impact pads including:
 i) a padding material; 
 ii) a fabric laminated to the padding material; 
 iii) said padding material featuring fold lines generally corresponding to natural bending locations in a wearer's hand when the impact pad is secured to the base portion. 
   
     
     
         9 . The pad of  claim 8  wherein the padding material is cross-linked polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         10 . The pad of  claim 9  wherein the padding material is molded and is approximately 6 mm to 12 mm thick prior to molding. 
     
     
         11 . The pad of  claim 9  wherein the padding material has a weight of approximately 2 pcf to 4 pcf. 
     
     
         12 . The pad of  claim 9  wherein the cross-lined polyethylene foam is flame resistant. 
     
     
         13 . The pad of  claim 8  wherein the fabric is laminated to the padding material by heat. 
     
     
         14 . The pad of  claim 8  wherein the fabric is laminated to the padding material by adhesive. 
     
     
         15 . The pad of  claim 8  wherein the article is a glove or sleeve. 
     
     
         16 . An impact pad for securing to a glove comprising:
 a. a padding material featuring a back of thumb shape;   b. a fabric laminated to the padding material;   c. said padding material featuring fold lines generally corresponding to natural bending locations in a wearer's hand when the impact pad is secured to the glove.   
     
     
         17 . The pad of  claim 16  wherein the padding material is cross-linked polyethylene foam. 
     
     
         18 . The pad of  claim 17  wherein the padding material is molded and is approximately 6 mm to 12 mm thick prior to molding. 
     
     
         19 . The pad of  claim 17  wherein the padding material has a weight of approximately 2 pcf to 4 pcf. 
     
     
         20 . The pad of  claim 17  wherein the cross-lined polyethylene foam is flame resistant.