Adjustable knee wedge for a catcher

Abstract

An adjustable knee wedge may include a wedge shaped first compressible block, a wedge shaped second compressible block releasably coupled to the wedge shaped first compressible block and a leg guard mounting interface coupled to at least one of the first compressible block and the second compressible block.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A catcher knee wedge comprising:
 a wedge-shaped first compressible block;   a flexible housing having an interior and a selectively closable mouth providing access to the interior, the interior removably containing the wedge-shaped first compressible block; and   a leg guard mounting interface coupled to an exterior of the flexible housing.   
     
     
         2 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 1 , wherein the wedge-shaped first compressible block has length with a channel extending along the length. 
     
     
         3 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 2 , wherein the wedge-shaped first compressible block has a first degree of flexibility, wherein the catcher knee wedge further comprises a compressible pad received within the flexible housing, wherein the compressible pad has a second degree of flexibility greater than the first degree of flexibility and wherein the compressible pad is deformed into the channel. 
     
     
         4 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 3 , wherein the compressible pad has a first side adjacent the channel and a second side, opposite the first side, forming a second channel extending along a length of the compressible pad. 
     
     
         5 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 1  further comprising a second compressible block received within the flexible housing and separable from the first compressible block. 
     
     
         6 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 5 , wherein the wedge-shaped first compressible block and the second compressible block collectively form a wedge-shaped fill for the flexible housing. 
     
     
         7 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible housing has a back face and wherein the leg guard mounting interface extends from the back face. 
     
     
         8 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 7 , wherein the leg guard mounting interface comprises a flexible sleeve configured to receive a leg guard strap. 
     
     
         9 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 8 , wherein the flexible sleeve has an internal opening width of at least 3 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 8 , wherein the back face has a length and a width shorter than the length and wherein the flexible sleeve comprises first and second sleeve openings spaced along an axis extending perpendicular to the length of the back face. 
     
     
         11 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible housing has a back face extending over and adjacent to the second channel and wherein the leg guard mounting interface comprises two pairs of aligned sleeves projecting from the back face. 
     
     
         12 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible housing comprises a back face formed from a first material and sidewalls formed from a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         13 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible housing tapers from a first end wall to a second end wall and wherein the mouth extends through the first end wall. 
     
     
         14 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible housing tapers from a first end wall to a second end wall and wherein the mouth extends through the first end wall. 
     
     
         15 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 1  further comprising a compressible pad releasably supported adjacent the first compressible pad. 
     
     
         16 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible housing has a back face and wherein the leg guard mounting interface comprises two pairs of aligned sleeves projecting from the back face. 
     
     
         17 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 16 , wherein each of the aligned sleeves has an internal opening width of at least 3 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The catcher knee wedge of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible housing comprises a back face having a length and a width shorter than the length and wherein the leg guard mounting interface comprises a flexible sleeve having first and second sleeve openings spaced along an axis extending perpendicular to the length of the back face. 
     
     
         19 . An adjustable knee wedge comprising:
 a wedge shaped first compressible block;   a wedge shaped second compressible block releasably coupled to the wedge shaped first compressible block; and   a leg guard mounting interface coupled to at least one of the first compressible block and the second compressible block.   
     
     
         20 . A leg protection system comprising:
 a leg guard;   a catcher knee wedge releasably connected to the leg guard and selectively adjustable between a plurality of configurations comprising:
 a first configuration comprising a wedge-shaped first compressible block; 
 a second configuration comprising a wedge shaped second compressible block sized differently than the wedge shaped first compressible block; and 
 a third configuration comprising a stacking of the first compressible block and the second compressible block.