US1136307A - Protective device for ball-players. - Google Patents

Description

E. BOURBON. PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR BALL PLAYERS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. I8, 1914.

L16 8@?@ Patentd Apr. 20, 1915.

EIIIE BOURBON, OF WEST VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA.

PROTECTIVE DEVICE FOR BALL-PLAYERS.

Application filed February 18,

and effective means which is adapted to be worn on those parts of the body which are most liable to be injured in the course of a ball game or the like, thereby providing a.

- means whereby players may protect themselves efiectively against blows which would prove injurious were they not so protected, such as a blow from a lacrosse bat, hockey stick, contact with another player, and the like.

A further object is to devise a protective means which is adapted for all such games, that is, for those games in which there are a number of parts of the body liable to be injured, or for those games in which there are only certain particular parts requlring protection, my device being adapted to be worn as a complete combination of separate members to protect all the parts, or each member may be used, with equal facility, 1ndependently of the others where only one. particular part of the body requires protection.

I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawing, n whicl1 Figure 1 is a view illustrating my com-. plete protective device. Fig. is a side new of the head protectpr, in section.

Similar figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout.

1 represents the head protector, which is formed of felt or other light material, and which is adapted to fit the head of the player. On the crown of this felt shape 1 and extending well down around the head is secured a piece of light metal, 2, such as aluminum, this metal piece being adapted to conform to the shape of the felt member 1, so that when assembled, the head protector may be worn in the same way as an ordinary cap, the metal piece 2 effectively protecting the vulnerable parts of the skull.

3 is an elastic band by means of which the head protector is detachably connected to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 2d, 1215. 1914;. Serial No. 819,477.

the shoulder straps, hereinafter mentioned, or to the garment of the player.

4 are the shoulder protectors, consisting of a felt base 5 reinforced on the upper side thereof by aluminum plates 6, as shown.

fectively, and the pliable nature of the material of which they are constructed allows them to conform to the required shape.

7 and 8 are shoulder straps by means of which the protectors are carried in place, these straps being adapted to detachably connect the protectors 4 together.

9 and 10 are straps secured to the protectors 4, on the front and back edges re spectively, these straps being adapted to detachably connect the shoulder protectors 4 to the stomach protector, hereinafter mentioned, or to the belt of the player.

11 is the protector for the upper part of that arm which the player uses most in warding ofi blows, this protector consisting of a felt base 12 reinforced on its upper side by a continuous member of aluminum, 13, which member extends from the shoulder to the elbow and is of curved section to fit snugly around the exposed surface of the arm. The felt base 12 is connected to the felt base 5 in such a manner as to allow perfect freedom of movement between the protector 4 and the protector 11, such as shown at 4.

15 are straps which pass under the arm to be secured in buckles 16 for the purpose of adjusting the protector 11 in place.

Although I have shown the protector 11 as consisting of a felt base reinforced by a continuous plate of curved section, I may preferably form it in the manner shown in 'These protectors 4 extend from the base of the neck to cover the entire shoulder cfthe protector 23, that is, consisting of a felt base 24: reinforced by the number of separate metal strips 25 disposed closely together.

17 is the forearm and wrist protector, consisting of a felt base 18 reinforced by aluminum plates 19" and adapted to be strapped around the exposed surface of the forearm and wrist by means of the straps 20 and buckles 21. This protector 17 is adapted to be detachably connectedto the protector 11 by means of suitable straps 22.

26 is the stomach protector, consisting of a felt base, 27 reinforced by aluminum plates, 28, and adapted to be held in place, covering the stomach, by means of the belt 29, which is passed around the body to be tightened thereon, and the straps 9 and 10, which engage in suitable buckles 30 provided on the protector 26.

31 are the knee protectors, consisting of a felt base, 32, reinforced by aluminum plates, 33, these knee protectors forming the upper portion of the shin protectors 34:, to which they are suitably connected to allow perfect freedom of movement, as shown at 35. The shin protectors, 34, consist of a felt base, 36, reinforced by a continuous aluminum member, 37, which is arched to conform to the exposed surface of the front part of the leg and which extends from the knee downwardly to protect the entire shin bone. These protectors, 34, are secured in the same manner as the other protective members, namely, by means of the straps 38 and buckles, 39, the felt pad, 40, lying against the calf of the leg and providing for greater comfort in the wear.

41 are elastic straps for detachably connecting the protectors, 34, to the stomach protector 26. The aluminum plates are perforated as shown, 42, for the sake of lightness, and are secured to the felt base by stitching or other equivalent means.

The manner in which my device is used will be clearly seen on reference being made to the drawing.

It will be seen, therefore, that I have devised a simple means whereby ball players and others may effectively protect those parts of the body which are most liable to be injured in the course of a game and a means which is adapted to all such either those in which all the vulnerable parts require protection, or those in which certain particular parts only are liable to injury.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A protective device of the class degames,

scribed, comprising a normally flat base of pliable fabric, a normally flat flexible metallic plate secured on the outer surface of the said base, and buckling straps for securing the said base over any exposed vulnerable part of the body, the said base and said plate being adapted to conform temporarily to the contour of the part which it protects by the tightening of the said buckling straps, as and for the purpose specified.

2. A protective device of the class described, comprising a plurality of normally fla t bases of pliable fabric, normally flat flexible metallic plates secured on the outer surfaces of the said bases, buckling straps for securing the said bases over any exposed vulnerable part of the body, each of the said bases and said plates being capable of conforming temporarily to the contour of that part of the body which it protects as the said buckling straps are tightened, and means for detachably connecting the said bases to each other, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a protective device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of normally flat bases of pliable fabric detachably connected together and a plurality of normally flat flexible metallic plates secured thereto on the outer surface thereof, of a base of pliable fabric adapted to conform to the shape of the crown of the head, and a flexible metallic plate conforming to the shape of said base and secured on the outer surface thereof, as and for the purpose specified.

Dated at Vancouver, 13. (1., this 28th day of January, A. D. 1914.

ELIE BOURDON. Witnesses:

JAMEs TAYLOR, W. H. GALLAGHER.

Images