Articles of apparel incorporating cushioning elements

摘要

Cushioning elements for apparel may include a pair of material layers and a pad component that is located between and secured to the material layers. At least one surface of the pad component includes a plurality of grooves. In some configurations, both surfaces include the grooves. Moreover, the grooves may be elongate and extend at least partially across the pad component.

主权项

1. An article of apparel incorporating at least one cushioning element for attenuating impact forces, the cushioning element comprising:
a first material layer and a second material layer; and a pad component located between the first material layer and the second material layer, the pad component including a first surface and an opposite second surface and having a pad thickness extending between the first surface and the opposite second surface, the first surface facing the first material layer, and the second surface facing the second material layer, and the first surface including a plurality of elongate grooves that extend partially through the pad thickness from the first surface toward the second surface and at least partially across the pad component, wherein at least two grooves of the plurality of elongate grooves are spaced apart from one another by a portion of the pad component, the portion of the pad component having a width that is at least as wide as an elongate groove of the at least two grooves.