AU2005304265B2

AU2005304265B2 - A shield for protecting a part of the human body

Info

Publication number: AU2005304265B2
Application number: AU2005304265A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Trevor Sadler
Original assignee: HORNSBY COMFY HIPS Pty Ltd
Current assignee: HORNSBY COMFY HIPS Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2004-11-11
Filing date: 2005-10-28
Publication date: 2010-05-13
Anticipated expiration: 2025-10-28
Also published as: AU2005304265A1

Description

WO 2006/050554 PCT/AU2005/001670 -1 A SHIELD FOR PROTECTING A PART OF THE HUMAN BODY Technical Field This invention relates to a shield for protecting part of the human body. 5 Background to the Invention It has been tried to provide protective shields for protecting part of the human body. One such example is the use of protective shields for protecting the hip bones of a person against the impact of a fall. Typically, two hard plastic shields are fitted to a person, one on each side and located over each hip bone. The shields are usually 10 permanently affixed inside a pair of pants to be worn by the user. Summary of the Invention In a first aspect the present invention provides a shield for protecting a part of the human body, the shield including: a generally planar body formed substantially entirely from flexible silicone 15 rubber; the body includes a number of projections extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of the body that operate to cushion the impact of a blow to the shield. The projections may be cylindrical. 20 The projections may be right cylindrical. The projections may be frustoconical. The projections may include an internal cavity. The internal cavity may extend from one side of the shield to the other. The shield may further include holes provided between the projections. 25 The projections may be provided in a regular grid pattern. The projections towards the periphery of the shield may have chamfered outside edges. The projections may be interconnected with webs.

WO 2006/050554 PCT/AU2005/001670 -2 Brief Description of the Drawings An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shield according to an embodiment of the 5 present invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the shield of figure 1; and Figure 3 is a cross section view along the line A-A of figure 2. Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the figures, a shield 10 is shown. Shield 10 is generally planar. 10 At its edges, the shield is about 1.5mm thick. Shield 10 is generally oval about its perimeter with a maximum diameter of about 190mm and a minimum diameter of about 160mm. Shield 10 includes a number of frustoconical projections 12 arranged in a regular grid pattern. Each projection 12 includes a cylindrical internal cavity 14 which 15 passes through shield 10 from one side to the other (see figure 3). The projections are about 13mm in height, the internal cavities are about 4mm in diameter. The internal cavities allow the projections to deform in the manner of crumpling when subjected to an impact force. The projections 12 are interconnected by webs 20. These serve to increase the 20 stiffness of the projections and -add to the overall strength of the shield. Between the projections 12 are provided holes 16. These allow for ventilation to improve the comfort of a wearer. The projections provided towards the edges of the shield are chamfered on their outside edges indicated by reference numeral 18. The chamfered edges are 25 provided so that the thickness of the shield decreases gradually outwardly at the edges. This improves comfort of the wearer. Shield 10 is made from 40 durometer liquid silicone in a heat assisted injection moulding process. The type of silicone used may be industrial grade, hospital grade or FDA grade. About 107 cubic centimetres of silicone is required to fabricate shield 10. 30 The durometer of the silicone, and the exact dimensions of the projections on the shield can be varied to obtain a shield with the necessary impact resistance characteristics.

- 3 The shield 10 of this embodiment is intended for use in a hip protector in the form of a pair of underpants. The underpants are provided with pockets positioned over the hip bone (greater trochanter) of the wearer. A shield 10 is provided in each pocket so that the pads 10 lie over the hip bone. 5 Shield 10 will not burst or puncture in use, it is highly resistant to fracture. The shield 10 could also be used to protect parts of the human body other than the hips. For instance, the pad can be inserted in a suitable garment to protect elbows, shins, knees, head and other areas of the body. Again, the specific dimensions of the projections on the shield, and the hardness of the silicone may be varied to suit the particular application. The overall shape of 10 the shield may be varied to conform and overlie the particular body part that is to be protected. Shield 10 protects against impact injuries to the body and also protects against abrasion injuries. Any reference to prior art contained herein is not to be taken as an admission that the information is common general knowledge, unless otherwise indicated. 15 Finally, it is to be appreciated that various alterations or additions may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the spirit or ambit of the present invention. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive 20 sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 2248861_1 (GHMatters) 14/04/10

Claims

1. A shield for protecting a part of the human body, the shield including: a generally planar body formed substantially entirely from flexible silicone rubber; the body includes a number of projections extending substantially perpendicularly to the plane of 5 the body that operate to cushion the impact of a blow to the shield.

2. A shield according to claim 1 wherein the projections are cylindrical.

3. A shield according to claim 2 wherein the projections are right cylindrical.

4. A shield according to claim 1 wherein the projections are frustoconical. "

5. A shield according to any preceding claim wherein the projections include an internal 10 cavity.

6. A shield according to claim 4 wherein the internal cavity extends from one side of the shield to the other.

7. A shield according to any preceding claim further including holes provided between the projections. is

8. A shield according to any preceding claim wherein the projections are provided in a regular grid pattern.

9. A shield according to any preceding claim wherein the projections towards the periphery of the shield have chamfered outside edges.

10. A shield according to any preceding claim wherein the projections are interconnected 20 with webs.

11. A shield according to any preceding claim which is formed from about 40 durometer liquid silicone.

12. A garment including a shield according to any preceding claim.

13. A garment according to claim 12 which is arranged in use to maintain the shield in 25 position to protect the hip of the wearer.

14. A shield substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2248881.1 (GHMatters) 14/04/10