Limb protectors, methods of making and methods of using

Abstract

Disclosed herein are limb protectors with one or more conformal, articulating pads disposed on a compression sleeve. The pads comprising circumferential coverage of greater than 90 degrees and improved impact resistance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A limb protector, comprising:
 a compression sleeve;   one or more conformal, articulating pads disposed on the sleeve, the one or more pads comprising circumferential coverage of greater than 90 degrees;   wherein the pads are adapted to prevent the transmission of force of no greater than 50 kiloNewtons (kN).   
     
     
         2 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , the one or more pads comprise a circumferential coverage of greater than 135 degrees. 
     
     
         3 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , the one or more pads comprise a circumferential coverage of greater than 180 degrees. 
     
     
         4 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise a circumferential coverage of greater than 225 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise a circumferential coverage of greater than 270 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise a circumferential coverage of greater than 315 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise greater than 315 degree circumferential coverage. 
     
     
         8 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads each comprise a side edge, and wherein in use, the side edges are spaced apart by less than ½ inch. 
     
     
         9 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads each comprise a side edge, and wherein in use, the side edges are spaced apart by less than 1 inch. 
     
     
         10 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads each comprise a side edge, and wherein in use, the side edges are spaced apart by less than 1½ inches. 
     
     
         11 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise polyurethane foam in a density range of about 8 pcf to about 30 pcf. 
     
     
         12 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise polyurethane foam in a density range of about 18 pcf to about 25 pcf. 
     
     
         13 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise polyurethane foam at a thickness of about 0.2 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise polyurethane foam at a thickness of about 0.3 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise polyurethane foam at a thickness of about 0.4 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise polyurethane foam at a thickness of about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads comprise polyurethane foam at thickness of about 0.6 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the circumferential coverage is continuous. 
     
     
         19 . The limb protector of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more pads are unitary. 
     
     
         20 . A limb protector, comprising:
 a compression sleeve;   one or more conformal, articulating pads disposed on the sleeve, the one or more pads comprising circumferential coverage greater than 90 degrees;   wherein the pads comprise polyurethane foam with a density ranging from about 8 pounds per cubic foot (pcf) to about 30 pcf and a thickness ranging from about 0.2 inches to about 1 inch.