Protective padding assembly for a sports apparel article

Abstract

A protective sports garment comprising including an article of clothing and at least a first pad assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a pad area. The pad assembly includes a plurality of spaced apart cells coupled together by a plurality of linking members, and first and second regions. Each of the first and second regions extends over at least 25 percent of the pad area. The first region is formed of a first inner layer and a first outer layer, and the second region is formed of the first inner layer and does not include the first outer layer. The first inner and outer layers are formed of first and second materials having first and second durometer values measured on a hardness scale, respectively. The second durometer value is greater than the first durometer value. The inner surface of the pad assembly engages the article.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multi-layered pad assembly configured for use with an article of athletic apparel, the pad assembly comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart cells, the cells including, an inner layer having an inner surface, an outer surface and a side surface and being formed of a first material having a first durometer value measured on an Asker C hardness scale, the inner surface coupled to the article of athletic apparel, and at least two of the plurality of cells including an outer layer formed of a second material, the second material having a second durometer value measured on an Asker C hardness scale, the second durometer value being greater than the first durometer value; and   a plurality of linking members, each of the linking members having first and second ends, the first end connected to one of the cells and the second end connected to another of the cells.   
     
     
         2 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the linking member is connected only to a single one of the cells, and wherein the second end of the linking member is connected only to another one of the cells. 
     
     
         3 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein each the plurality of cells include the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         4 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two cells including the inner and outer layers defining a first region of the pad assembly, and wherein the cells formed without the outer layer defining a second region of the pad assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the linking members are formed of at least the first material. 
     
     
         6 . The pad assembly of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the linking members is formed of the first and second materials. 
     
     
         7 . The pad assembly of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of cells define at least one shape having area within the range 200 mm 2  to 2000 mm 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The pad assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the outer layer of the at least two cells extends over at least 30 percent of the outer surface of the inner layer. 
     
     
         9 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner and outer layers define an opening that extends through at least one of the inner and outer layers. 
     
     
         10 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein at least 40 percent of the cells are directly connected to no more than two adjacent cells by the linking members. 
     
     
         11 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is a foam material, and wherein the second material is a compressed, thermal molded foam material. 
     
     
         12 . The pad assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the linking member is directly connected to the side surface of one of the cells and wherein the second end is directly connected to the side surface of another of the cells. 
     
     
         13 . A pad assembly configured for use with an article of athletic apparel, the pad assembly comprising:
 a plurality of spaced apart cells including an inner layer having an inner surface and an outer surface and being formed of a first material, the inner surface coupled to the article of athletic apparel;   a plurality of linearly extending linking members connecting the cells together, the plurality of linearly extending linking members including at least first and second linking members defining at least first and second axes, respectively, the first and second axes defining a first angle, the first angle being within the range of 20 degrees to 90 degrees, each of the linking members having first and second ends, the first end connected to one of the cells and the second end connected to another of the cells.   
     
     
         14 . The pad assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least first and second linking members defining at least first and second axes include at least first, second and third linking members defining at least first, second and third axes, respectively, and wherein the third axes is substantially parallel to the first axis. 
     
     
         15 . The pad assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least first and second linking members defining at least first and second axes include at least first, second, third and fourth linking members defining at least first, second, third and fourth axes, respectively, and wherein the fourth and first axes define a second angle. 
     
     
         16 . The pad assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second angle is approximately the same as the first angle, and wherein the polarity of the second angle is opposite the first angle. 
     
     
         17 . The pad assembly of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of cells define at least one shape having area within the range 200 mm 2  to 2000 mm 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The pad assembly of  claim 17  wherein the shape of the cells is ovular. 
     
     
         19 . The pad assembly of  claim 17  wherein the shape of the cells is selected from the group consisting of are circular, triangular, rectangular, hour glass shaped, polygonal shaped, semi-circular, an alphanumeric shape and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The pad assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the cells are formed in at least first and second different sizes. 
     
     
         21 . The pad assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the cells are formed in at least first, second and third different sizes 
     
     
         22 . The pad assembly of  claim 13 , wherein a majority of the plurality of cells define a through-cell opening extending from the outer surface to the inner surface. 
     
     
         23 . The pad assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the through cell openings define cell opening area of at least 50 mm 2 . 
     
     
         24 . A protective sports garment comprising:
 an article of clothing;   at least a first pad assembly having an inner surface and an outer surface, the pad assembly including a plurality of spaced apart cells coupled together by a plurality of linking members, and first and second regions, the outer surface of the first pad assembly defining a pad area, each of the first and second regions extending over at least 25 percent of the pad area, the first region being formed of a first inner layer and a first outer layer, and the second region being formed of the first inner layer and not including the first outer layer, the first inner and outer layers being formed of first and second materials having first and second durometer values measured on a hardness scale, respectively, the second durometer value being greater than the first durometer value, the inner surface of the pad assembly engaging the article of clothing.   
     
     
         25 . The protective sports garment of  claim 24 , further comprising a second pad assembly, wherein the second pad assembly is formed of a second inner layer and a second outer layer, wherein the second inner and outer layers are formed of third and fourth materials having third and fourth materials durometer values, respectively, the third durometer value being greater than the fourth durometer value, wherein the second pad assembly includes a plurality of cells, and wherein each of the cells includes the second and outer layers. 
     
     
         26 . The protective sports garment of  claim 24 , further comprising a third pad assembly formed of a continuous third padding layer having an outer surface, wherein the third pad assembly includes a plurality of cells coupled together by a plurality of linking members, wherein the outer surface of the third layer is the outer surface of the third pad assembly. 
     
     
         27 . The protective sports garment of  claim 24 , wherein the inner surface of the first pad assembly is fixedly attached to the article of clothing. 
     
     
         28 . The protective sports garment of  claim 24 , wherein the article of clothing includes a flexible cover layer extending over the outer surface of the first pad assembly.