Athletic protector cup

Abstract

An athletic protector cup is provided including a rigid cup-shaped base member and an impact resistant resilient body which is fixedly attached to an exterior surface and around a periphery of the base member. The resilient body includes a flange extending beyond portions of the base member edge and having a geometry for providing additional impact resistance.

1. An athletic protector, comprising:
 a rigid cup-shaped base member having interior and exterior surfaces defined along their peripheries by an outer edge having an anchor formation; 
 an integral resilient flexible body comprising: a cup-shaped portion, a thickened flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup-shaped portion and said thickened flanged portion; 
 wherein said cup-shaped portion enveloping substantially the entire exterior surface of said cup-shaped base member, said entire outer edge including the anchor formation is enveloped by said transition portion, and an inner surface of the transition portion and the interior surface of the cup-shaped base member facing a body of a wearer form a continuous smooth internal surface. 
 
     
     
       2. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said integral resilient flexible body is molded over the exterior surface of said rigid cup-shaped base member. 
     
     
       3. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said integral resilient flexible body is molded over substantially the entire exterior surface of said rigid cup-shaped base member. 
     
     
       4. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 3 , further comprising one or more apertures extending through said rigid base member and said resilient body. 
     
     
       5. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 3 , wherein an upper segment of said rigid cup peripheral edge terminates at an upper integral lip and a lower segment of said peripheral edge terminates at a lower integral lip, said integral resilient flexible body enveloping said upper and lower integral lips. 
     
     
       6. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said integral resilient flexible body comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
       7. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said resilient flexible body is injection molded to said rigid cup-shaped base. 
     
     
       8. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said thickened flanged portion terminates at a rounded end having a generally crescent-shaped cross-sectional geometry, said rounded end having a convex outer surface and a concave inner surface. 
     
     
       9. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 1 , wherein upon application of a force to an exterior surface of said athletic protector, said thickened flange portion collapses inwardly in such a manner as to form a cushioning barrier between the rigid peripheral edges of said base member and the body of a wearer. 
     
     
       10. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising said anchor formation of the outer edge having an outwardly extending solid leading portion; the exterior surface of the cup-shaped base member and an exterior surface of the solid leading portion forming an integral smooth external surface, wherein an interior surface of the solid leading portion has a stepped-shaped configuration. 
     
     
       11. An athletic protector as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said transition portion is formed with a continuous substantially uninterrupted channel enveloping said solid leading portion and said integral, external smooth surface. 
     
     
       12. An athletic protector, comprising:
 a unitary rigid cup-shaped base member having interior and exterior surfaces defined along their peripheries by an outer edge, the edge having upper and lower segments joined by opposite side segments, said upper and lower segments terminating at corresponding upper and lower lips, said opposite side segments having an outer edge with an anchor formation; 
 an integral resilient body comprising:
 a cup-shaped portion, a thickened flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup-shaped portion and said thickened flanged portion; 
 wherein said cup-shaped portion being molded over so as to envelope substantially the entire exterior surface of said cup-shaped base member, said outer edge including said anchor formation is enveloped by said transition region, and an inner surface of the resilient transition region and the interior surface of the rigid cup-shaped base member facing a body of a wearer form a continuous smooth internal surface. 
 
 
     
     
       13. An athletic protector having an upper, central and lower region and having a first and second sidewall, said protector comprising:
 a rigid cup-shaped base member having interior and exterior surfaces defined along their peripheries by an outer edge;   an integral flexible body comprising: a cup-shaped portion, a flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup shaped portion and said flanged portion;   wherein said outer edge is covered by said transition portion; and   wherein said first and second sidewalls are substantially comprised of said integral flexible body at said central region.    
     
     
       14. The athletic protector as recited in claim 13, wherein said cup-shaped portion substantially covers one of said interior or said exterior surfaces.  
     
     
       15. The athletic protector as recited in claim 14, wherein the other of said exterior or said interior surface form a continuous surface with said integral flexible body.  
     
     
       16. The athletic protector as recited in claim 13, wherein said upper region is capable of being positioned against the side of a wearer's body while said lower region is capable of being positioned beneath the wearer's body.  
     
     
       17. The athletic protector as recited in claim 13, wherein said cup shaped portion substantially covers said cup-shaped base member.  
     
     
       18. An athletic protector having upper, central and lower region and a first and second sidewall, said protector comprising:
 a unitary rigid cup-shaped base member;   an integral flexible body comprising: a cup-shaped portion, a flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup shaped portion and said flanged portion;   wherein said cup-shaped portion substantially covers said cup-shaped base member; and   wherein said first and second sidewalls are substantially comprised of said integral flexible body at said central region.    
     
     
       19. The athletic protector as recited in claim 18, wherein one of said interior surface or said exterior surface forms a continuous surface with said integral flexible body.  
     
     
       20. An athletic protector having upper, central and lower segments and first and second sidewalls, comprising:
 a rigid cup-shaped base member having interior and exterior surfaces defined along its periphery by an outer edge having an anchor formation;   an integral flexible body comprising: a cup-shaped portion, a thickened flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup shaped portion and said thickened flanged portion;   wherein said cup shaped portion substantially covers one of said interior or said exterior surfaces and said anchor formation; and the other of said exterior or said interior surface forms a continuous surface with said integral flexible body; and   wherein at least a portion of said first and second sidewalls comprise a portion of said integral flexible body.    
     
     
       21. An athletic protector having an upper, central and lower segments and a first and second sidewall, comprising:
 a unitary rigid cup-shaped base member having interior and exterior surfaces;   an integral flexible body comprising: a cup shaped portion, a flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup shaped portion and said flanged portion; and   wherein said first and second sidewalls are substantially comprised of said integral flexible body at said central region; and   wherein said one of said interior or said exterior surfaces form a continuous surface with said integral flexible body.    
     
     
       22. An athletic protector having upper, central and lower regions and having first and second sidewalls, said protector comprising:
 a rigid cup-shaped base member defined along its periphery by an outer edge, said cup-shaped base member having interior and exterior surfaces; and   an integral flexible body comprising a cup-shaped portion, a flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup-shaped portion and said flanged portion;   wherein at least a portion of said outer edge is covered by said transition portion; and   wherein at least a portion of said first and second sidewalls comprise a portion of said integral flexible body.    
     
     
       23. The athletic protector according to claim 22, wherein said flanged portion terminates at a rounded end having a generally crescent-shaped cross-sectional geometry.  
     
     
       24. The athletic protector according to claim 22, wherein said cup-shaped portion of said integral flexible body covers at least a portion of said interior surface of said rigid cup-shaped base member.  
     
     
       25. The athletic protector according to claim 22, wherein said cup-shaped portion of said integral flexible body covers at least a portion of said exterior surface of said rigid cup-shaped base member.  
     
     
       26. The athletic protector according to claim 22, wherein said portion of said integral flexible body comprising at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls comprises said flanged portion.  
     
     
       27. An athletic protector having upper, central and lower regions and first and second sidewalls, said protector comprising:
 a unitary rigid cup-shaped base member; and   an integral flexible body comprising a cup-shaped portion, a flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup-shaped portion and said flanged portion;   wherein said cup-shaped portion is contiguous with at least a portion of said cup-shaped base member; and   wherein at least a portion of said first and second sidewalls comprise a portion of said integral flexible body.    
     
     
       28. The athletic protector according to claim 27, wherein the unitary rigid cup-shaped base member has interior and exterior surfaces.  
     
     
       29. The athletic protector according to claim 28, wherein said cup-shaped portion of said integral flexible body is contiguous with at least a portion of said interior surface of said unitary rigid cup-shaped base member.  
     
     
       30. The athletic protector according to claim 28, wherein said cup-shaped portion of said integral flexible body is contiguous with at least a portion of said exterior surface of said unitary rigid cup-shaped base member.  
     
     
       31. The athletic protector according to claim 27, wherein said portion of said integral flexible body comprises said flanged portion.  
     
     
       32. The athletic protector according to claim 27, said flanged portion terminates at a rounded end having a generally crescent-shaped cross-sectional geometry.  
     
     
       33. An athletic protector having upper, central and lower regions and first and second sidewalls, said protector comprising:
 a rigid cup-shaped base member defined along its periphery by an outer edge having an anchor formation, said cup-shaped base member having interior and exterior surfaces; and   an integral flexible body comprising a cup-shaped portion, a flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup-shaped portion and said flanged portion;   wherein said transition portion is contiguous with said anchor formation;   wherein said cup-shaped portion is contiguous with at least a portion of one of said interior or exterior surfaces;   wherein the other of said exterior or said interior surfaces forms a continuous surface with said integral flexible body; and   wherein at least a portion of said first and second sidewalls comprise a portion of said integral flexible body.    
     
     
       34. The athletic protector according to claim 33, wherein said portion of the integral flexible body comprising at least a portion of the first and second sidewalls comprises said flanged portion.  
     
     
       35. The athletic protector according to claim 33, wherein said flanged portion terminates at a rounded end having a generally crescent-shaped cross-sectional geometry.  
     
     
       36. An athletic protector having upper, central and lower segments and first and second sidewalls, comprising:
 a unitary rigid cup-shaped base member having at least one surface; and   an integral flexible body comprising a cup-shaped portion, a flanged portion and a transition portion between said cup-shaped portion and said flanged portion;   wherein at least a portion of said first and second sidewalls comprise a portion of said integral flexible body; and   wherein said at least one surface of the unitary rigid cup-shaped base member forms a continuous surface with said integral flexible body.    
     
     
       37. The athletic protector according to claim 36, wherein the unitary rigid cup-shaped base member has interior and exterior surfaces.  
     
     
       38. The athletic protector according to claim 37, wherein the interior surface of the unitary rigid cup-shaped base member forms the continuous surface with said integral flexible body.  
     
     
       39. The athletic protector according to claim 37, wherein the exterior surface of the unitary rigid cup-shaped base member forms the continuous surface with said integral flexible body.  
     
     
       40. The athletic protector according to claim 36, wherein said flanged portion terminates at a rounded end having a generally crescent-shaped cross-sectional geometry.  
     
     
       41. The athletic protector according to claim 36, wherein said portion of said integral flexible member comprising at least a portion of said first and second sidewalls comprises said flanged portion.