Patent Application
20250176645
The present invention relates generally to the field of protective garments. More specifically, the present invention relates to a protective sports bra device comprised of a sports bra with a removable protective insert that protects the wearer's chest and heart from sudden impacts. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
Commotio cordis is a medical condition characterized by a sudden, blunt, non-penetrating impact to the chest leading to cardiac arrhythmia and potentially sudden cardiac arrest. This condition affects young athletes and can be fatal. The critical factor in triggering the arrhythmia is the timing of the impact, which must occur during a specific phase of the heart's cycle, particularly the upstroke of the T wave. Sports involving fast-moving projectiles, such as baseball, lacrosse, hockey, and cricket, see a higher incidence of commotio cordis.
However, the design and use of existing sports bras (and other garments) do not offer protection against chest impacts that could lead to commotio cordis. Traditional sports bras are tailored for support and comfort rather than impact protection, often crafted from soft, flexible materials that are incapable of absorbing or dispersing the force from a high-impact blow. Furthermore, existing sports bras usually only cover the breasts, not the entire chest area, leaving the heart region, which is critical for preventing commotio cordis, exposed and vulnerable. Protection against blunt force trauma necessitates materials that can effectively absorb and distribute impact force, which is typically achieved with rigid or semi-rigid materials not found in standard sports bras.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved sports bra. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective sports bra device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective sports bra device that protects a wearer from commotio cordis. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective sports bra device that protects a wearer from commotio cordis by providing a removable protective insert that can be placed into the bra while worn.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a protective sports bra device. The device is comprised of an upper body garment, preferably a sports bra, that is comprised of at least one pocket that receives at least one insert. The insert is a rigid or semi-rigid insert that protects the wearer's chest and/or heart from sudden impacts.
In this manner, the protective sports bra device of the present invention accomplishes all the forgoing objectives and provides an improved sports bra. More specifically, the device provides a sports bra that protects a wearer from commotio cordis. To do so, the device provides a removable protective insert that can be placed into the bra while worn to protect the wearer against chest impacts.
The following presents a simplified summary to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a protective sports bra device. The device is comprised of a sports bra body comprised of at least one removable protective insert that protects the wearer from sudden chest impacts which may result in Commotio Cordis. In the preferred embodiment, the body is a sports bra body. However, the body may be any upper body garment in different embodiments such as but not limited to a shirt, a tank top, etc. The body may be comprised of at least one strap.
The front area of the body is comprised of at least one internal pocket positioned such that it covers the chest and/or heart area of the wearer. The pocket is comprised of at least one opening that allows at least one insert to be inserted into the pocket. The insert may be any size, shape, and configuration that covers the chest and/or heart area of the wearer to protect said area from sudden impacts. The insert may be made from any rigid or semi-rigid material. Once inserted into the pocket, the opening can be secured closed via at least one fastener.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of an upper-body garment body (preferably but not limited to a sports bra) comprised of at least one pocket with at least one opening and at least one fastener, wherein the pocket receives at least one insert. Then, a user can put on the garment body. Next, a user can place the insert into the pocket via the opening. Then, the user can close the opening via the fastener. Finally, a user can wear the device while playing a sport (or other activity), wherein the insert protects the chest and/or heart area of the wearer from sudden chest impacts that can result in commotio cordis.
Accordingly, the protective sports bra device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved sports bra. More specifically, the device provides a sports bra that protects a wearer from commotio cordis. To do so, the device provides a removable protective insert that can be placed into the bra while worn to protect the wearer against chest impacts. In this manner, the protective sports bra device overcomes the limitations of existing sports bras known in the art.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved sports bra. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective sports bra device. More specifically, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective sports bra device that protects a wearer from commotio cordis. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a protective sports bra device that protects a wearer from commotio cordis by providing a removable protective insert that can be placed into the bra while worn.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of a protective sports bra device comprised of a sports bra body comprised of at least one removable protective insert that protects the wearer from sudden chest impacts which may result in Commotio Cordis. In the preferred embodiment, the body is a sports bra body but may be any upper body garment in different embodiments such as but not limited to a shirt, a tank top, etc. The body may be comprised of at least one strap.
The front area of the body is comprised of at least one internal pocket. The pocket is positioned such that it covers the chest and/or heart area of the wearer. The pocket is comprised of at least one opening that allows at least one insert to be inserted into the pocket. The insert may be any size, shape, and configuration that covers the chest and/or heart area of the wearer to protect said area from sudden impacts. The insert may be made from any rigid or semi-rigid material. Once inserted into the pocket, the opening can be secured closed via at least one fastener.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using the device. First, a device is provided comprised of an upper-body garment body (preferably but not limited to a sports bra) comprised of at least one pocket with at least one opening and at least one fastener, wherein the pocket receives at least one insert. Then, a user can put on the garment body. Next, a user can place the insert into the pocket via the opening. Then, the user can close the opening via the fastener. Finally, a user can wear the device while playing a sport (or other activity), wherein the insert protects the chest and/or heart area of the wearer from sudden chest impacts that can result in commotio cordis.
Accordingly, the protective sports bra device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it provides an improved sports bra. More specifically, the device provides a sports bra that protects a wearer from commotio cordis. To do so, the device provides a removable protective insert that can be placed into the bra while worn to protect the wearer against chest impacts. In this manner, the protective sports bra device overcomes the limitations of existing sports bras known in the art.
Referring initially to the drawings,
In the preferred embodiment, the body 110 is a sports bra body. However, the body 110 may be any upper body garment in different embodiments such as but not limited to a shirt, a tank top, etc. The body 110 may be made from any material, such as but not limited to a cotton, a spandex, a Lycra, a nylon, a polyester, a microfiber, a polyester, a microfiber, an elastane, a mesh, a latex, a coolmax fabric, a bamboo, a modal, a lace, a memory foam, etc. or any combination thereof. The body 110 may have any color and may have any design/indicia 112.
The body 110 may be comprised of at least one strap 140, as also seen in
The front area 120 of the body 110 is comprised of at least one internal pocket 122. The pocket 112 is preferably positioned such that it covers the chest and/or heart area of the wearer. The pocket 122 is comprised of at least one opening 124 that allows at least one insert 130 to be inserted into the pocket 122. The insert 130 may be any size, shape, and configuration that covers the chest and/or heart area of the wearer to protect said area from sudden impacts. The insert 130 may be made from any rigid or semi-rigid material such as but not limited to a molded plastic, a carbon fiber, a polycarbonate, a foam, a Kevlar, a gel padding, a rubber, a polyurethane, a non-Newtonian fluid, a neoprene, a stainless steel mesh, etc. Once inserted into the pocket 122, the opening 124 can be secured closed via at least one fastener 128 such as but not limited to a zipper, a button, a tie, a snap button, a magnet, etc.
The present invention is also comprised of a method of using 200 the device 100, as seen in
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “protective sports bra device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the protective sports bra device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the protective sports bra device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the protective sports bra device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the protective sports bra device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the protective sports bra device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the protective sports bra device 100 may be of any size, shape, and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/606,312, which was filed on Dec. 5, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63606312 | Dec 2023 | US |
