Leg pads for a hockey goalkeeper

Abstract

A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper playing hockey (e.g., ice hockey) is provided. The leg pad comprises a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of a goalkeeper's leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg. The leg pad comprises an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad, an inner liner for facing the leg, and protective padding disposed between the molded outer shell and the inner liner. The outer shell may comprise molded foam.

1 . A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising:
 a) a molded outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad;   b) an inner liner for facing the leg; and   c) protective padding disposed between the molded outer shell and the inner liner.   
     
     
         2 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell has a molded bent configuration such that the molded outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad. 
     
     
         3 . The leg pad of  claim 2 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a bend in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad between an upper leg portion of the molded outer shell and a lower leg portion of the molded outer shell over a knee portion of the molded outer shell. 
     
     
         4 . The leg pad of  claim 3 , wherein the bend is a curved part which defines a curvature of the molded outer shell. 
     
     
         5 . The leg pad of  claim 3 , wherein the bend is a first bend and the molded outer shell comprises a second bend in the longitudinal direction of the leg pad between the lower leg portion of the molded outer shell and a foot portion of the molded outer shell. 
     
     
         6 . The leg pad of  claim 5 , wherein the second bend is an angular part which defines an oblique angle. 
     
     
         7 . The leg pad of  claim 2 , wherein the molded bent configuration is such that the molded outer shell is bent in a widthwise direction of the leg pad. 
     
     
         8 . The leg pad of  claim 7 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a bend in a widthwise direction of the leg pad between the frontal portion of the leg pad and the medial portion of the leg pad. 
     
     
         9 . The leg pad of  claim 8 , wherein the bend is a first bend and the molded outer shell comprises a second bend in the widthwise direction of the leg pad between the frontal portion of the leg pad and the lateral portion of the leg pad. 
     
     
         10 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a cavity receiving and holding the protective padding. 
     
     
         11 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a fastening zone to fasten the molded outer shell to at least one of the inner liner and the protective padding. 
     
     
         12 . The leg pad of  claim 11 , wherein the fastening zone is provided to fasten the molded outer shell to both the inner liner and the protective padding. 
     
     
         13 . The leg pad of  claim 11 , wherein the fastening zone comprises a fastening lip. 
     
     
         14 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a plurality of molded flexion facilitators spaced from one another to facilitate flexing of the outer shell when the goalkeeper's leg moves. 
     
     
         15 . The leg pad of  claim 14 , wherein a given one of the molded flexion facilitators is located between a lower leg portion of the molded outer shell and a foot portion of the molded outer shell to facilitate flexion of the foot portion of the molded outer shell relative to the lower leg portion of the molded outer shell when a foot of the goalkeeper moves relative to a lower leg of the goalkeeper. 
     
     
         16 . The leg pad of  claim 14 , wherein a given one of the molded flexion facilitators is located adjacent to an upper leg portion of the molded outer shell and a knee portion of the molded outer shell to facilitate flexion of the upper leg portion of the molded outer shell and the knee portion of the molded outer shell relative to a lower leg portion of the molded outer shell when a knee of the goalkeeper bends. 
     
     
         17 . The leg pad of  claim 14 , wherein each of the molded flexion facilitators comprises a recess. 
     
     
         18 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a molded strap attachment for attaching a strap to the leg pad. 
     
     
         19 . The leg pad of  claim 18 , wherein the molded strap attachment comprises a strap-receiving opening for receiving the strap. 
     
     
         20 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a molded edge projection located in an edge region of the molded outer shell adjacent to the lateral portion of the leg pad. 
     
     
         21 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a molded calf wing member. 
     
     
         22 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a molded knee wing member. 
     
     
         23 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a plurality of molded ornaments that define a molded relief of the molded outer shell. 
     
     
         24 . The leg pad of  claim 23 , wherein respective ones of the molded ornaments define a molded decorative pattern. 
     
     
         25 . The leg pad of  claim 23 , wherein at least one of the molded ornaments graphically conveys information to an observer of the leg pad. 
     
     
         26 . The leg pad of  claim 25 , wherein the information comprises at least one of a word, a model name, a logo, indicia, or a serial number. 
     
     
         27 . The leg pad of  claim 23 , comprising a decorative layer received by a given one of the molded ornaments. 
     
     
         28 . The leg pad of  claim 27 , wherein the decorative layer comprises a decal, a sticker, or paint. 
     
     
         29 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises molded foam. 
     
     
         30 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises molded material including a plurality of different constituents. 
     
     
         31 . The leg pad of  claim 30 , wherein the different constituents include a first foam and a second foam that is different from the first foam. 
     
     
         32 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell comprises a foam layer and a non-foam layer. 
     
     
         33 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the molded outer shell is a compression molded outer shell. 
     
     
         34 . The leg pad of  claim 1 , wherein the protective padding comprises a plurality of padding materials that are different from one another. 
     
     
         35 . The leg pad of  claim 34 , wherein a first one of the padding materials is a first foam and a second one of the padding materials is a second foam different from the first foam. 
     
     
         36 . The leg pad of  claim 35 , wherein the first foam is denser than the second foam. 
     
     
         37 . The leg pad of  claim 36 , wherein the second foam is disposed between the first foam and the inner liner. 
     
     
         38 . The leg pad of  claim 35 , wherein a first one of the padding materials that forms an outer layer of the protective padding is stiffer than a second one of the padding materials that forms an inner layer of the protective padding. 
     
     
         39 . The leg pad of  claim 34 , wherein the padding materials are disposed relative to one another to control a rebound effect in different areas of the protective padding. 
     
     
         40 . The leg pad of  claim 39 , wherein a first one of the padding materials is disposed in at least one limited area of the protective padding on a second one of the padding materials to control the rebound effect in the at least one limited area of the protective padding. 
     
     
         41 . The leg pad of  claim 40 , wherein the at least one limited area of the protective padding is a plurality of limited areas of the protective padding that are spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         42 . A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising:
 a) a molded outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad, the molded outer shell comprising an upper leg portion, a knee portion, and a lower leg portion, the molded outer shell having a molded bent configuration such that the molded outer shell is bent in a longitudinal direction of the leg pad;   b) an inner liner for facing the leg; and   c) protective padding disposed between the molded outer shell and the inner liner.   
     
     
         43 . A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising:
 a) an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad;   b) an inner liner for facing the leg; and   c) protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the protective padding comprising a plurality of padding materials that are different from one another, wherein the padding materials are disposed relative to one another to control a rebound effect in different areas of the protective padding.   
     
     
         44 . A leg pad for a hockey goalkeeper, the leg pad being wearable on a leg of the hockey goalkeeper to protect the leg, the leg pad comprising a frontal portion, a medial portion, and a lateral portion respectively configured to be positioned adjacent to a front, a medial side, and a lateral side of the leg when the leg pad is worn on the leg, the leg pad comprising:
 a) an outer shell comprising an outer surface of the leg pad;   b) an inner liner for facing the leg; and   c) protective padding disposed between the outer shell and the inner liner, the protective padding comprising a plurality of padding materials that are different from one another, wherein: a first one of the padding materials is disposed in at least one limited area of the protective padding on a second one of the padding materials.