Guard Design
ProtectShin offers various sports guards that offer almost double the protection of common guards in the market. With the advanced technology utilized, ProtectShin guards can absorb around 96.6% of an impact. The combination of the crumple zone technology combined with shock-absorbant materials like Sorbothane and Polyurethane foam allows the shin guard to absorb high loads.
Key Features
Sorbothane
Polyurethane Foam
Polyurethane Foam
The strip of Sorbothane has significant dampening properties and is therefore used directly on the bone. Sorbothane absorbs up to 94.7 percent of shock energy. Sorbothane is viscoelastic meaning it exhibits properties of both liquids (viscous solutions) and solids (elastic materials). Viscous materials deform under load, transmit forces in all directions, and are unable to recover their shape. Elastic materials deform under load and return back to their original shape when such load or force is removed. The swallowed energy of the Sorbothane turns into a small amount of heat.
Polyurethane Foam
Polyurethane Foam
Polyurethane Foam
Polyurethane foam is utilized in the crumple zone along with the outermost layer of the guard. The Sorbothane is placed directly in front of the bone while the Polyurethane foam is not only placed in front of the exposed part of the bone but also covers part of the muscle. The Polyurethane foam is utilized for general protection while the Sorbothane is utilized for enhanced protection unique to the invention described herein. The Polyurethane foam has a cellular structure that allows for some degree of compression and resilience to produce a cushioning effect by dispersing the force of an impact.
Crumple Zone
Crumple Zone
Crumple Zone
Traditionally, padded guards use hexagonal, quadrilateral, and circular pellets made of Ethylene-vinyl Acetate and Polyolefin foam, placed perpendicularly to the body’s surface. While these materials are designed to absorb impact, the perpendicular orientation limits shock energy dispersion before reaching the bone, causing non-uniform absorbance. In contrast, the Polyurethane foam cylinders in the ProtectShin crumple zone are placed parallel to the surface of the body and uniformly absorb impact with each kick.
Guard Case
Crumple Zone
Crumple Zone
The case of the ProtectShin guard is removable, so it can be thrown in a washer for a cycle. It is made out of cotton which is known for its high absorbency, therefore absorbing more sweat and allowing the user to feel drier. Additionally, cotton is significantly more breathable compared to the polyester most common guards in the market utilize.