WO2004110571A2

WO2004110571A2 - Takraw padding

Info

Publication number: WO2004110571A2
Application number: PCT/GB2004/002174
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tithma Lorhpipat; Boonchai Lorhpipat
Original assignee: Satian Industries Co. Ltd.; Weston, Robert
Priority date: 2003-06-13
Filing date: 2004-05-20
Publication date: 2004-12-23
Also published as: WO2004110571A3; GB2397535A; TW200505534A; GB0313734D0; GB2397535B

Abstract

Disclosed is a takraw body protector comprising at least one outer component of fabric, at least one inner component of flexible, shock absorbing material attached to the outer component and at least one elastic component being part of or attached to the outer component; such that, when worn to play takraw, the protector can be stretched over a given area of a takraw players body: one embodiment is for a takraw player's ankle area, wherein the outer component and the elastic component are combined as a tube (10) of elasticised fabric (12, 14) shaped to fit around the ankle and the inner component is a pad or pads (24, 26) of resilient material attached to the tube sides so as, when worn to play takraw, a takraw player's inner and/or outer ankles are protected; another embodiment is for a takraw player's forehead, wherein the outer component (48) is a headband (46), the inner component is a thin pad (56) of resilient material retained within the headband and the elastic component is an elastic member (50) connected between the ends (64, 66) of the headband; means (60, 62) being provided, when worn to play takraw, to preferentially transmit tension from the elastic member to the upper and lower margins (52, 54) of the headband.

Description

TAKRAW PADDING

This invention relates to protectors for Takraw players.

BACKGROUND

Takraw is a team sport originating in Southeast Asia wherein a hard, relatively inelastic, woven ball of rattan or synthetic plastics material is played by hitting it with defined areas of the body (hereinafter "playing areas"); either in a court across a net, with some similarities to volleyball (sepaktakraw), or through a high hoop. Use of the hands and arms is forbidden and the ball is primarily struck with the inside of the ankle or the forehead; although other areas of the body, such as the outside of the foot and ankle or the sides of the head or trunk or the outer thighs or shoulders are used to strike or block. Further information on sepaktakraw can be obtained from the website www.takrawworld.com. Information on modern synthetic takraw balls can be obtained from our Patent Specifications No's GB-2196861-A and WO 95/28206-A.

Striking a takraw ball can be a painful experience; especially for the beginner and especially when the forehead or the inner or outer parts of the ankle, the most commonly used areas of the body, are used because these areas have little or no natural padding in the form of subcutaneous fat or muscle.

PRIOR ART

It is known to provide ankle braces which support the ankle but which, of necessity, restrict movement of the foot about the ankle; see, for example, Documents US-A- 4,237,874 and US-A-5,681,271.

Document-A-US 5,882,205 discloses a training device for teaching a football (soccer) player the correct position to head a soccer ball and essentially comprises multiple layers of individual, removable pads held in pocket within the forehead portion of a cap; the outer or playing surface of such a padded cap does not conform to the shape or contour of a player's forehead and thus the player's control over the direction of flight of a headed ball is compromised. Document-A-US 4,698,852 also discloses a head guard for a soccer player, the head guard being designed to both protect the head of a soccer player and to facilitate, i.e. improve, control of a soccer ball when heading the ball. There is no three-dimensional shaping of the head guard to the forehead, none of the materials constituting the three layers is described as being elastic and therefore cannot shape in three dimensions.

Document-A-US2002/0069452 discloses a head protector for sports enthusiasts wherein insertion cuts 8, in layers 4 and 5, even though covered by a polystyrene film 7, must affect the contour of the headgear when worn and thus directional control.

Document US-A-6094743 discloses an arm protector for athletes, such as but not limited to baseball or softball and is comprised of padded material covered by a flexible plastic insert with varying geometric profiles fitted within a sleeve of elastic cloth type material of varying shapes. This is a deflector protector and is not designed to and is not capable of functioning as a protection for a playing area for which directional control has to be retained.

Document US-A-4910804 discloses a head-guard, preferably an annular brow band, comprising a cellular plastic unit 2 having adjustment portions 8 & 9, 10 & 11. Such a structure cannot conform to the shape of a playing area and must, in use, affect directional control.

It is also known for takraw players to bind protective padding, such as plastic foam, to playing body parts; again the outer or playing surface of such crude padding does not conform to the shape or contour of the playing area.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a takraw body protector that reduces the impact shock of a takraw ball on a playing area whilst retaining control of the takraw ball; that is neither significantly improving or degrading ball control. It is an object of one embodiment of the present invention to provide a takraw body protector that, additionally, does not significantly restrict movement of a mobile playing area; such as the ankle. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, a takraw body protector comprises at least one outer component of fabric, at least one inner component of flexible, shock absorbing material attached to the outer component and at least one elastic component being part of or attached to the outer component; such that, when worn to play takraw, the protector can be stretched over a given area of a takraw players body so that the outer and inner components can substantially and smoothly conform to the shape of that area; whereby impact shock of a takraw ball on said area can be reduced, whilst directional control can be retained. By "substantially and smoothly conform" is meant that the tension applied by the elastic component to the outer component when the whole protector is stretched over the appropriate body part changes the shape of the outer component to match the shape of the body part, the tensioned outer component also makes the inner component change shape to match the shape of the body part. The effect of this shaping is that control of the takraw ball when it is hit by the body part is essentially same as if the protector was not used.

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, the outer component is in the form of a cover of a relatively elastic material and is shaped to fit said given body area, to be retained thereagainst and to substantially and smoothly conform to the contours of that body area; the inner component being in the form of resilient padding shaped to fit within the cover and to be moulded thereby to smoothly conform to the contours of that body area; whereby, when worn to play takraw in use, the contours of that body area continue to be followed by the outer and inner components as the takraw player moves.

According to a second embodiment of the present invention and a takraw player's ankle area, the outer component and the elastic component are combined as a tube of elasticised fabric shaped to fit around the ankle and inner component is a pad or pads of resilient material attached to the tube sides so as, when worn to play takraw, to protect a takraw player's inner and/or the outer ankles are protected; the elasticity and shaping of the tube being such as to substantially retain ankle mobility of the ankle.

According to a third embodiment of the present invention and a takraw player's forehead, the outer component is a headband, the inner component is a thin pad of resilient material retained within the headband and the elastic component is an elastic member connected between the ends of the headband; means being provided, when worn to play takraw, to preferentially transmit tension from the elastic member to the upper and lower margins of the headband.

According to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member is an adjustable elastic belt and the tension transmission means are one or more inelastic straps attached between an end of the belt and the respective headband end; with each strap being operative, when worn to play takraw, to transmit tension to the upper margin and/or the lower margin respectively.

All the above embodiments of protector can shape in three dimensions so that the protector can closely conform to the shape of the body part.

The above and other features of the present invention are illustrated, by way of example, in the Drawings, wherein: -

Fig. 1 is a perspective inner view of an ankle protector in accordance with the present invention and worn on a player's left foot; Fig. 2 is a perspective inner view of the ankle protector of Fig.

1 worn on a right foot and with the player wearing a sports shoe;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line X-X of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan of a component for the ankle protector of Fig. 1 , prior to final assembly;

Figs 5a and 5b are plan views of ankle cushion pads for the ankle protector of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a forehead protector also in accordance with the present invention and worn on a player's head;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation corresponding to the side elevation of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail of an elasticated belt and buckle component for the forehead protector of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a plan of a component for the forehead protector of

Fig. 6, prior to final assembly; and, Fig. 10 is a section on the line Y-Y of Fig. 9

As shown by Figs 1 to 5, an ankle protector in accordance with the present invention comprises a tube 10 formed from a two superimposed, elongate, essentially rectangular sheets 12, 14 of elasticised material, such as Spandex®, each having a cut-out 16, 18 in each side 20, 22 thereof. The protector is assembled by inserting two thin, typically 10 to 11 mm uncompressed, cushion pads 24, 26 of resilient, shock- absorbing material, such as polyethylene or polyurethane foam on either side of the cut-outs 16, 18 (as shown in Fig. 4) and sewing through the two sheets 12, 14 and along and about the respective pad 24, 26 so as to form four, thin, longitudinally extending, padded ribs 27, 28, 30, 32. The pads are thereby anchored and compressed between the two sheets; the final thickness is a compromise between shock absorbency and contour shaping, as discussed in more detail below. The sides 20, 22 to either side of each cut-out 16, 18 are then respectively seamed together so that the ankle protector assumes the shape shown in Figs 1 and 2.

The thus-formed ankle protector has a main, double-layered tubular body part 34, front and rear seams 36, 38, an inner ankle cushion pad 24 and an outer ankle cushion pad 26. The sheet parts between the cut-outs 16, 18 form a seamless stirrup 40.

In use, the protector is stretched over a players foot so that the tubular body part 34 surrounds the ankle and the stirrup 40 locates in the player's instep to help retain the protector in place about the player's ankle; the absence of a seam much improves comfort. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the cushion pads are sufficiently long so that, in use, they extend down within the collar 42, that is the rim or edge around the opening of the sports shoe 44 where the foot goes in .

The shape and elasticity of the fabric ensures that the protector fits snugly over a player's foot and surrounds the ankle; with the pads 24 and 26 covering and protecting the inner and outer ankle bones respectively. The elasticity of the tube material is such that, when the protector is stretched about a players foot, sufficient ^" tension is generated for it to stay in place and to compress the pads so that they closely conform to the shape of the foot in the ankle region and still permit essentially full freedom of ankle movement. The ribbed nature of the pad also permits the protector to better shape around the ankle. Clearly, the thicker the pad the more shock protection it provides but the less the pad will conform to the ankle playing area and the less direction and force will be applied to a takraw ball when struck by this playing area. The pad thickness is kept to the minimum found to reduce ball strike shock to a bearable level.

When playing takraw, the ball is principally, 90% of the time, struck by the inner ankle surface, although the outer ankle surface is occasionally used. It will be seen that the design of the protector in conforming to the contours of the inner and outer ankle surfaces closely replicates the surfaces of the unprotected playing areas. Sepaktakraw regulations prevent the use of any aid to that provides an advantage to a player. The ankle protector of the present invention does not provide any advantage; indeed the anti-shock cushion will, if anything, slightly reduce the striking force which a player can impart to a ball.

Although a protector with both inner and outer ankle cushions has been described; a protector can be provided with only an inner ankle cushion, a protector with only an outer ankle cushion is possible but would be of little practical use.

As shown by Figs 6 to 10, a forehead protector in accordance with the present invention comprises a headband 46 formed from a two superimposed, elongate, bow- shaped sheets 48, 50 of fabric. The fabric may be elasticised, such as Spandex®, or plain, such as cotton, or of various mixes of plain and elasticised. Each sheet has an arcuate upper edge 52 and an essentially straight lower edge 54 (see Fig. 9). A cushion or pad 56, again of thin, typically 3-4 mm uncompressed, shock-absorbing material, such as polyethylene or polyurethane foam, is shaped so as to follow the inner periphery of the sheets 48, 50. The outer peripheries of the two sheets are sewn together by a double seam 58; with the cushion pad 56 trapped between the two sheets. A pair of inextensible straps 60, 62 respectively converge from each end 64, 66 of the protector onto a buckle 68, 70; one being, respectively, anchored at either end of an adjustable elastic belt 72. Each strap is directed towards and terminates with a respective one of the upper or lower margins 52, 54.

In use, the protector is stretched about the head of a player and the elastic belt 72 is adjusted so that the headband fits snugly over the player's forehead; the tension generated by the elastic belt is transmitted by the straps 60, 62 to the upper or lower margins 52, 54 of the headband, which are thus preferentially tensioned with respect to the remainder of the headband. This preferential tensioning assists the headband both to shape to the contour of the forehead and be retained on the forehead during play.

As with the ankle protector, the cushion pad 56 is compressed by the headband sheets 48, 50 so that the outer sheet 48 still closely follows the contour of the forehead. As can be seen most clearly in Figs 6 and 7, the arcuate upper side 52 follows the player's brow whilst the straight lower side 54 follows over the player's nose, the orbit of each eye and the temples.

We have found that it can be advantageous to only anchor the pad 56 to the two sheets 48, 50 together in one area; such as by stitching through both sheets and the cushion pad at point 74. This prevents the pad from moving or creasing within the headband and still permits the headband and pad to shape to the contour of the forehead.

Whilst exposed straps 60, 62 have been described they could be hidden by the headband cover being extended to the buckles 68, 70, with the straps within, attached to the upper and lower margins and offset from the headband ends. The straps could each be replaced by a single inelastic strap or any other analogous construction that functions to preferentially transmit tension from an elastic member to the upper and lower margins of the headband; for example, the adjustable belt could be inelastic and the straps elastic.

The forehead protector could be completed by a light head cover or cap, somewhat like a hair net. Again, this forehead protector retains directional control of the ball whilst reducing ball strike shock to a bearable level, in like manner to the ankle protector. Again, striking force is only marginally reduced.

In the above-described embodiments, the elastic component has either been an integral part of the outer component, the ankle protector, or elasticity has been provided by the elastic belt in addition to or instead of an elastic outer component, the head protector. However, the elastic component could be constituted in whole or part by an elastic, shock-absorbing inner component.

The above described takraw game protectors are for the main strike playing areas of the ankle and forehead; however the principal of the present invention, of providing a shock absorbing padding that conforms to body area contours to maintain ball control and acceptably reduce strike shock, can be applied to protectors for other striking or blocking areas; such as the sides of the upper torso and thighs or the shoulders, upper arms and elbows.

Claims

Claims:-

1. A takraw body protector comprising at least one outer component (10, 48) of fabric and at least one inner component (24, 26, 56) of flexible, shock absorbing material characterised in that the at least one inner component (24, 26, 56) is attached to the outer component and at least one elastic component

(12, 14, 50) is part of or attached to the outer component (10, 48); such that, when worn to play takraw, the protector can be stretched over a given area of a takraw players body so that the outer and inner components can substantially and smoothly conform to the shape of that area; whereby impact shock of a takraw ball on said area can be reduced, whilst directional control can be retained.

2. A protector as claimed in claim 1 and further characterised in that the outer component is in the form of a cover (10, 48) of a relatively elastic material (12, 14, 46) and is shaped to fit said given body area, to be retained thereagainst and to substantially and smoothly conform to the contours of that body area; the inner component (24, 26, 56) is in the form of resilient padding shaped to fit within the cover and to be moulded thereby to smoothly conform to the contours of that body area; whereby, when worn to play takraw, the . contours of that body area continue to be followed by the outer and inner components as the takraw player moves.

3. A protector as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and for a takraw player's ankle area and further characterised in that the outer component and the elastic component are combined as a tube (10) of elasticised fabric (12,14) shaped to fit around the ankle and inner component is a pad or pads (24, 26) of resilient material attached to the tube sides so as, when worn to play takraw, a takraw player's inner and/or outer ankles are protected; the elasticity and shaping of the tube being such as to substantially retain ankle mobility.

4. A protector as claimed in claim 3 and further characterised in that the tube (10) is a double layer of fabric (12,14) and the or each pad is trapped between the tube fabric layers.

5. A protector as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4 and further characterised in that the tube (10) has a stirrup (40) to extend under the instep and, in use, help retain the protector in position.

6. A protector as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5 and further characterised in that the ankle padding (24,26)is ribbed (27,28,30,32) and, when worn to play takraw, extends down into a takraw player's shoe through the rim or edge .

7. A protector as claimed in claim 1 and for a takraw player's forehead and further characterised in that the outer component is a headband (46), the inner component is a thin pad (56) of resilient material retained within the headband and the elastic component is an elastic member (50) connected between the ends (64,66) of the headband; means (60,62) being provided, when worn to play takraw, to preferentially transmit tension from the elastic member to the upper and lower margins (52,54) of the headband.

8. A protector as claimed in claim 7(56) (56) and further characterised in that the elastic member (50) is an adjustable elastic belt (72) and the tension transmission means are one or more inelastic straps (60, 62) attached between an end of the belt and the respective headband end (64,66); with each strap being operative, when worn to play takraw, to transmit tension to the upper margin (52) and/or the lower margin (54) respectively.

9. A protector as claimed in claim 7 and further characterised in that the elastic member (50) is constituted by pairs of elastic straps attached between ends of an inelastic belt and the respective headband end (64,66) and each strap of each pair is operative, when worn to play takraw, to generate and transmit tension to the upper margin (52) or the lower margin (54) respectively.

10. A protector as claimed in claim 7 and further characterised in that the elastic member (50) is, in whole or in part, an inner component of elastic, resilient material.