Protective padding for sports gear

Abstract

Protective padding primarily intended for use in sports gear. In a first set of preferred embodiments, the pads include flexible, outer casings of porous, breathable, inelastic material overfilled with resilient, discrete beads of elastic material. The beads are initially in compressed states within the casing and place the outer, inelastic casing in tension. When a blow or force is applied, the beads are further compressed to absorb and dissipate the impact. Additionally, the applied blow or force will increase the tension in the outer casing to even further compress the elastic beads for better absorption and dissipation of the impact. In use, the porous pads are compressed and rebound to create a pumping effect that circulates air into and out of the pads drawing heat and perspiration from the athlete's body and keeping the athlete cool and dry. If desired, the pad can be secured directly to the athlete's jersey to enhance this pumping effect as well as the dissipation of the force of any impact. In an alternate embodiment, the outer casing is made of an elastic material that is overfilled to its elastic limit to act in the manner of the preferred embodiments. In a second set of preferred embodiments, the outer casings of the pads are actually filled no more than a simple gravity fill (i.e., 100%) and preferably are underfilled (e.g., 90%) to less than a gravity fill. This second set of pads is preferably used in combination with a hard, outer shell. Variations of the basic features of the first and second sets of pads are also disclosed. All of the pads of the present invention are lightweight and washable and can be adapted and integrated into a wide variety of items.