BODY PROTECTING ELEMENTS FOR USE WITH SPORTS APPAREL TO PROTECT A WEARER FROM IMPACT AND FRICTIONAL FORCES

摘要

The present invention is directed to a human body protecting element for use with and attachment to an article of clothing, such as sports apparel, to protect a wearer from impact and frictional forces, such as road rash. One exemplary body protecting element includes a first part having a first locking member. The first part is for placement along an inner surface of the article of clothing. The body protecting element also includes a second part having a second locking member that is complementary to the first locking member and results in a mechanical coupling (e.g., a snap-fit attachment) between the first and second parts when the first and second locking members engage one another. The second part is for placement along an outer surface of the article of clothing and includes an outer ground contacting contoured surface. The ground contacting surface provides a high impact surface that is contoured so that if the wearer contacts and/or slides across the ground, the ground contacting surface protects the wearer by shielding the wearer's body from the abrasive ground surface.