Apparel incorporating a protective element
Protective components may include a plate element and a cushioning element that are secured together with a hook-and-loop fastening system. The cushioning element may include a pair of material layers and a pad or a plurality of pad components located between the material layers. The plate element may include a polymer material and the pad may include a polymer foam material.
1. An article of apparel comprising:
a cushioning element having a first cushioning-element surface facing in a first direction and a second cushioning-element surface facing in a second direction that is opposite to, and away from, the first direction, wherein the cushioning element comprises a pad component between the first and second surfaces;
a plate element, the plate element having a cushion-facing surface facing in the second direction and towards the cushioning element and an outward-facing surface facing in the first direction and away from the cushioning element;
wherein the cushion-facing surface is coupled to the first cushioning-element surface via a hook-and-loop fastening system; and
wherein peripheral edges of the plate element are spaced inward from peripheral edges of the cushioning element.
2. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the cushioning element further comprises a first material layer coupled to the pad component and forming the first cushioning-element surface and a second material layer coupled to the pad component and forming the second cushioning-element surface.
3. The article of apparel of claim 2 , wherein the first material layer includes a polymer sheet.
4. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein a first part of the hook-and-loop fastening system is coupled to the cushion-facing surface of the plate element, and wherein a second part of the hook-and-loop fastening system is located on the first cushioning-element surface.
5. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the pad component comprises a first plurality of indentations and a second plurality of indentations, wherein the first plurality of indentations and the second plurality of indentations intersect to form an angle.
6. The article of apparel of claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of indentations and the second plurality of indentations extend partially through the pad component.
7. The article of apparel of claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of indentations and the second plurality of indentations are perpendicular.
8. The article of apparel of claim 1 , wherein the pad component comprises a first plurality of elongated voids and a second plurality of elongated voids, and wherein the first plurality of elongated voids and the second plurality of elongated voids intersect to form an angle.
9. An article of apparel comprising:
a base layer having an inner-facing surface and an outer-facing surface;
a cushioning element having a first cushioning-element surface facing in a first direction and a second cushioning-element surface facing in a second direction that is opposite to, and away from, the first direction, the cushioning element including a pad component disposed between a first material layer and the base layer;
a plate element, the plate element having a cushion-facing surface facing in the second direction and towards the cushioning element and an outward-facing surface facing in the first direction and away from the cushioning element; and
a hook-and-loop fastening system, wherein a first part of the hook-and-loop fastening system is positioned on the cushioning element and a second part of the hook-and-loop fastening system is positioned on the plate element;
wherein the surface area of the first cushioning-element surface and the second cushioning-element surface is greater than the surface area of the cushion-facing surface and the outward-facing surface.
10. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the cushioning element further comprises a second material layer coupled to the second cushioning-element surface.
11. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the pad component includes a thickness and a first plurality of indentations extending partially through the thickness.
12. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein the pad component comprises a first plurality of elongated voids and a second plurality of elongated voids, and wherein the first plurality of elongated voids and the second plurality of elongated voids intersect to form an angle.
13. The article of apparel of claim 9 , wherein a peripheral edge of the plate element is offset a distance from a peripheral edge of the cushioning element.
14. The article of apparel of claim 13 , wherein the distance is between 0 and 3 inches.
15. A pants-type garment comprising:
a base layer having an inner surface and an outer surface, the base layer having a pelvic region and two leg regions extending from the pelvic region;
a cushioning element having an inner surface facing in a first direction and an outer surface facing a second direction that is opposite to, and away from, the first direction, the inner surface of the cushioning element coupled to the outer surface of the base layer;
a plate element, the plate element having a cushion-facing surface facing in the second direction and towards the cushioning element and an outward-facing surface facing in the first direction and away from the cushioning element;
a hook-and-loop fastening system, wherein a first part of the hook-and-loop fastening system is disposed on an outer surface of the cushioning element, and wherein a second part of the hook-and-loop fastening system is disposed on the inner surface of the plate component, and
wherein peripheral edges of the plate element are spaced inward from peripheral edges of the cushioning element.
16. The pants-type garment of claim 15 , wherein each of the two leg regions comprises the cushioning element and the plate element.
17. The pants-type garment of claim 15 , wherein a polymer sheet is coupled to the base layer at least partially around a perimeter of the cushioning element to secure the cushioning element between the polymer sheet and the base layer.
18. The pants-type garment of claim 15 , wherein the cushioning element and the plate element are configured to align with a thigh of a wearer when the pants-type garment is in an as-worn configuration.
19. The article of apparel of claim 15 , wherein the cushioning element includes a thickness and a first plurality of indentations extending partially through the thickness.
20. The article of apparel of claim 19 , wherein the pad component comprises a first plurality of elongated voids and a second plurality of elongated voids, and wherein the first plurality of elongated voids and the second plurality of elongated voids intersect to form an angle.