This invention relates to lower leg and foot protectors and especially but not exclusively to a lower leg protector providing all round protection for the lower leg and a sports boot providing enhanced shock absorbency.

Lower leg protectors are commonly used in sports such as soccer and do provide a degree of protection. They do, however, provide protection only to a relatively small part of the lower leg and lower leg injuries are common in such sports. Such injuries, including knee and ankle injuries, may take a long time to heal and it is clearly desirable to avoid injuries of this type.

Injuries may occur by impact such as harsh tackling from other players or from shock related injuries caused by the repeated impact of the player's feet on the ground.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a lower leg protector, adapted, in use, to form a protective tube extending around the lower leg such that the axis of the tube is

substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg, said lower leg protector comprising: front protection means to protect the front of the lower leg; rear protection means to protect the rear of the lower leg; and support means including a connection portion for connecting said front protection means and said rear protection means .

Preferably, either or both of said front protection means and said rear protection means comprises a number of relatively rigid protection members, said relatively rigid protection members being supported by a relatively flexible respective front or rear leg portion of said support means.

Preferably, at least one of said protection members is removable from the relatively flexible respective front or rear leg portion of said support means.

Preferably, at least one of said front leg portion and said rear leg portion includes one or more protection member retention means, each of said one or more protection member retention means being adapted to retain one or more protection members.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a lower leg protector comprising: a relatively flexible support means, adapted, in use, to form a tube extending around the lower leg such that the axis of the tube is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lower leg; a number of relatively rigid protection members, said relatively rigid protection members being supported by said support means; wherein said protection members are releasably retained by protection member retention means provided by said support means.

Preferably, there is provided a front leg portion and a rear leg portion of said support means at least one of which includes one or more protection member retention means .

Preferably, said relatively rigid protection members are elongate members located substantially axially on said support means .

Preferably, said relatively rigid protection members are tapered so as to be wider at the top of said leg protector than at the bottom of said leg protector.

Preferably, said relatively rigid protection members are made from a plastics material.

Preferably, at least one of said protection member retention means comprises a pocket, most preferably a tapered longitudinal pocket.

Said support means may comprise a resilient tubular sleeve, adapted to fit around the lower leg.

Alternatively, said support means may comprise a sock, including a portion adapted to accommodate a foot.

Said support means may comprise a panel adapted to be wrapped around the lower leg so as to form a tube. In this case said panel may include securing means in order to maintain the leg protector in position.

Said securing means may comprise one or more portions provided with attachment means such as poppers, buckles or multiple-hook, multiple-loop attachment means.

Preferably, there are provided additional elements such

as a cuff member and/or stirrup member to enhance the locating of the protector on the lower leg.

Preferably, the leg protector is made primarily from a textile material having an elastic quality.

Preferably, said lower leg protector is a football leg protector.

There is also provided a method of protecting a person whilst playing soccer comprising use of a protector as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 18.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an item of footwear, adapted for use in playing sports, comprising: an upper portion adapted to accommodate a foot; an outer sole portion ; and an inner sole portion constructed so as to provide a high degree of shock absorbency.

Preferably, the outer sole portion is either provided with, or adapted to receive, a plurality of studs.

Preferably, the item of footwear comprises a soccer boot.

The inner sole portion may incorporate a high shock absorbency gel to provide said high degree of shock absorbency.

Preferably, the inner sole portion includes a plurality of horizontally distributed resilient shock absorbing members extending between the upper surface of a lower inner sole portion and the lower surface of an upper inner sole portion.

Preferably, the cross sectional area of each shock absorbing member varies with the distance from the upper and inner sole portions.

Preferably, each shock absorbing member is attached to either the upper surface of the lower inner sole portion or the lower surface of the upper inner sole portion, and the cross sectional area of each shock absorbing member diminishes with the distance from the said sole portion.

Preferably, the end of each shock absorbing member which is further from the inner sole portion to which said shock absorbing member is attached, is rounded.

Preferably, said rounded ends are substantially hemispherical.

Preferably, a lower plurality of shock absorbing members is provided, extending upwardly from the upper surface of the lower inner sole portion and an upper plurality of shock absorbing members is provided, extending downwardly from the lower surface of the upper inner sole portion.

Preferably, the upper surfaces of the lower plurality of shock absorbing members engage the lower surfaces of the upper plurality of shock absorbing members.

The inner sole portion may be constructed to provide a number of discrete sealed gas-filled pockets.

Preferably, the inner sole portion comprises a permanently attached part of the footwear.

There is also provided a method of protecting a person

whilst playing soccer comprising use of an item of footwear as claimed in any of Claims 20 to 32.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig la shows an embodiment of a lower leg protector in accordance with the first and second aspects of the present invention and Fig lb shows one of a plurality of protection members forming part of the protector of Fig la; Fig 2 shows a back or inside view of the embodiment of Fig 1; Fig 3a, Fig 3b and Fig 3c show respectively rear, front and side views of a second embodiment of a lower leg protector in accordance with the first and second aspects of the present invention; Fig 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a football boot in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention; and Fig 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention.

With reference to Fig la, Fig lb and Fig 2, a first embodiment of a lower leg protector generally designated 1 comprises a support means in the form of a flexible panel 10 adapted to wrap around the lower leg. The panel 10 is provided with first to ninth pockets 11 to 19 forming protection member retention means. Each of the first to ninth pockets 11 to 19 is adapted to receive a relatively rigid protection member 5 (Fig lb) . The first to ninth pockets are narrower at the bottom than at the top and are open at the top in order to allow easy insertion or removal of the relatively rigid protection member 5 which is made in a

corresponding shape. The shape is particularly appropriate for use in a lower leg protector because the lower leg is narrower at the bottom than at the top.

The lower leg protector 1 includes a cuff member 20 formed from a tube of a resilient material and attached at a first end thereof to the side of the panel 10 so as to extend away from said panel. At a second end of the cuff member 20 there is provided a stirrup member 21.

The protection device includes fastening means adapted to allow the panel 10 to be fastened around the lower leg. In the illustrated embodiment the fastening means comprises first, second, third and fourth outer fastening members 22, 23, 24, 25 located towards an edge of the panel 10 and located on the face of the panel which bears the pockets 11 to 19. In use this face of the panel would be the outermost face. The fastening means further comprises first, second, third and fourth inner fastening members 26, 27, 28, 29 which are attached at an opposite edge of the panel to the edge at which the outer fastening members 22, 23, 24, 25 are attached and are attached on the second face of the panel which corresponds, in use, to the inside face. Fig. 2 shows the inner face, which bears the inner fastening members, and for clarity shows the features of the outer face (as shown in Fig. la) in broken lines. In the illustrated embodiment the fastening members 22 to 29 comprise areas of a multiple hook, multiple loop fastening means such as is sold under the Trade Mark VELCRO.

The bottom edge of the panel 10 is formed with first, second, third and fourth scallop portions 2, 3, 4, 5.

In use the scallop portions extend a short distance down the front, rear and sides of the lower leg so as to cover some or all of the ankle, without inhibiting movement of the ankle joint.

In use the embodiment of a lower leg protector 1 shown in Figs 1 and 2 is operated as follows. With the pockets 11 to 19 empty of the protection members the user inserts a foot through the cuff member 20 which is sufficiently resilient to snugly accommodate the ankle of the user after the foot has passed through. The stirrup member 21 passes underneath the foot helping to secure the cuff member 20 around the ankle. The user then wraps the panel 10 around the lower leg and secures the panel in its wrapped around configuration by use of the fastening members 22 to 29. With the panel 10 securely wrapped around the lower leg a protection member 5 is inserted into each of the lower pockets 11 to 19.

Once all 9 protection members have been inserted into the pockets 11 to 19, the lower limb protector is assembled and affords all round protection to the lower leg.

Fig 3a, Fig 3b and Fig 3c illustrate a second embodiment of a lower leg protector in accordance with the first and second aspects of the present invention. In this embodiment, the support means, generally designated 30, is in the form of a football sock comprising a lower leg portion 32 and a foot portion 34. The lower leg portion 32 is tubular and is provided with a number of pockets adapted to receive protection members. In the illustrated embodiments there are provided ten such pockets comprising: three rear pockets 35, 36, 37 (shown in Fig 3a); three front

pockets 38, 39, 40 (shown in Fig 3b); two first side pockets 41, 42 (shown in Fig 3c); and two second side pockets (not shown but corresponding to the first side pockets). A number of protection members similar to the protection member 5 of the first embodiment (see Fig la) would be provided. Since the circumference of the lower leg is continuous and curved it is difficult to define exactly where each of the rear, front and sides of the lower leg begin and end. These terms are, however, used herein for convenience.

In use the lower leg protector would be put on the same way as a normal football sock, with pockets 35 to 42 empty. A protection member would then be inserted into each of the pockets 35 to 42 and would be retained in the pocket. Once all the protection members are inserted in the respective pockets the top of the lower leg portion 32 of the lower leg protector would be folded over with the fold adjacent to the tops of the protection members. The folded portion would thus give the protector the appearance of the traditionally folded football sock and would also serve to retain the protection members and prevent them from working their way out of the pockets in an upwards direction. Fastening means (for example in the form of a multiple hook, multiple loop fastener 47, 48) could be provided in order to retain the folded portion of the lower leg protector in position.

It is envisaged that the parts of the lower leg protectors which, in use, are situated between the protection members and the leg would be formed from a relatively thick resilient material in order to provide additional protection.

Lower leg protectors could be provided in a number of

different sizes. For example, the lower leg protector illustrated in Figs 1 and 2, adapted for protection of a small leg, would be sized as follows: the panel would be approximately 27 cms in height (that is in the direction parallel to the axial direction of the protection members) and would be approximately 39 cms wide at the top and 31 cms wide at the bottom. Each of the pockets 11 to 19 would be approximately 19 cms long, being approximately 3 cms wide at the top and 2 cms wide at the bottom. The protection members are preferably substantially semi-circular in cross section, or are at least provided with a convex outwardly facing surface.

Both of the described embodiments of a lower leg protector provide protection for the back and sides of the lower leg as well as for the front. There are a large number of other embodiments, and variations of either embodiment, which could be utilised without departing from the scope of the invention. For example in the embodiments illustrated all the protection members are shown to be of similar size and configuration. However, an embodiment is envisaged in which there is provided a single protection member for protecting the front of the leg and such a protector could have the traditional form of a shin guard, that is being in the shape of an arcuate plate adapted to fit around the front of the lower leg. A suitably sized and configured pocket could be provided to retain such a protection member. A lower leg protector incorporating such a protection member to protect the front of trie leg could also include a number of pockets for retaining protection members adapted to protect the rear and sides of the lower leg.

In a variation having a single protection member

adapted to protect the front of the lower leg such a protection member could be approximately 13 cms wide at the top by 11 cms wide at the base. A lower leg protector including such a protection member might be adapted to receive one additional protection member to protect each side of the lower leg and three protection members to protect the rear of the lower leg. A further variation could be provided with just two protection members, one adapted to protect the front of the lower leg and one adapted to protect the rear. Both of these protection members could be configured to extend around and offer protection to the sides of the lower leg, possibly to the extent that the gap between them is very small.

Clearly the pockets could be formed in a number of ways but an efficient way to form them is to use two thicknesses of material to form the support means, the two thicknesses of material being joined at the sides and bottom portions of the pockets, for example by stitching, and there being provided an opening at the top of each pocket. However, the means of retaining the protection members need not be pockets.

A further envisaged embodiment comprises a support means in the form of a resilient tube or sleeve. Such an embodiment could be similar to the embodiment of Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c but would not include a foot portion, but might include a cuff member 20 or stirrup member 21.

Additional protection members for protecting the ankle could be provided, for example in the form of protective rubber caps adapted to fit over and protect the ankle bones. Also although the protector is described as forming a tube about the lower leg, it is

not necessary that the protector should cover the whole of the circumference of the lower leg: for example, an embodiment in which front and rear portions are joined by straps which leave most of the sides of the lower leg exposed is envisaged.

Fig 4 shows a first embodiment of a football boot in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention. The boot comprises a boot upper 50 adapted to cover the foot and an outer sole 51 bearing a number of studs known in conventional football boots. In conventional football boots the outer sole is constructed from a relatively rigid plastics material, this rigidity being needed in order to adequately support the studs. Studs have a relatively large cross sectional area (typically of the order of 2 square centimeters) compared with, for example, spikes on athletics shoes.

In the illustrated embodiment the outer sole 51 may be constructed from a relatively rigid plastics material. However, this embodiment includes an inner sole portion 55 adapted to fit between the foot and outer sole 51. The inner sole portion 55 is made from a shock absorbing material such as that used in some known types of athletics shoe. Such a shock absorbing material is sometimes known as rubber jelly. The inner sole portion extends substantially the entire length and breadth of the sole and therefore provides a shock absorbing layer between the foot and the relatively rigid outer sole 51.

An alternative embodiment is shown in Fig 5. In this embodiment the boot includes an upper 60 and a relatively rigid outer sole 61 bearing studs. The boot also includes a shock absorbing layer 65. The shock

absorbing layer comprises an upper inner sole 66 which has an upper surface which is relatively smooth for presentation to the foot in use. There is also provided a lower inner sole 67 the lower surface of which abuts the top surface of the outer sole 61. The lower inner sole is provided with a multiplicity of rounded projections 68 extending upwardly therefrom towards said upper inner sole 66. The upper inner sole 66 is provided with a multiplicity of rounded projections 69 extending downwardly therefrom towards the lower inner sole 67. The lower surfaces of the projections 69 which extend from the upper inner sole engage the upper surfaces of the projections 68 which extend from the lower inner sole 67 thus spacing apart the lower inner sole 67 from the upper inner sole 66 and providing a gap 70 between them. The upper inner sole 66 and the lower inner sole 67 and the projections 68, 69 thereon are formed from a resilient material and thus provide a shock absorbent layer in the inside of the boot. Other configurations of projections are possible but projections which have a cross-sectional area which reduces as the projection extends away from the sole on which it is mounted have been found to provide good progressive shock absorbing qualities. The spacings between the projections may be varied according to the required characteristics. Fig. 5 shows projections which are relatively widely spaced, but a variation in which the projections are adjacent each other is also envisaged. Furthermore, an embodiment in which projections are provided on only one of the upper inner sole and lower inner sole is envisaged. The upper surface of the outer sole may form all or part of the lower inner sole.

Many alternative embodiments may be provided in accordance with the third aspect of the present

l -t invention. For example, shock absorbing sole portions including air bubbles or sealed air pockets may be provided.

Embodiments of boots in accordance with the third aspect of the invention provide greatly enhanced impact absorption over previously known football boots. The reduction of sudden impacts increases comfort and reduces the likelihood of injury to joints and soft tissues. Repetitive shocks have been known to cause injuries to ankles, knees, hips and spine as well as muscles, cartilage, ligaments and tendons. Football boots in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention may also help to reduce fatigue in football players thus enhancing performance in the middle and final stages of a game.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.