Patent Application
20230110515
Participants and officials in various sport activities often wear upper body protective gear. For example, participants in football and lacrosse frequently wear upper body protective gear that protects both the chest and shoulders of the sports participant. Baseball and softball catchers, as well home plate umpires, frequently wear chest protectors.
Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar, but not necessarily identical, elements. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and the size of some parts may be exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the example shown. Moreover, the drawings provide examples and/or implementations consistent with the description; however, the description is not limited to the examples and/or implementations provided in the drawings.
Disclosed is an example upper body protective gear that protects portions of the upper body of a sports participant during a sporting activity. The example sports protective gear may offer a snug fit and may better move in unison with the sport participant to provide enhanced protection and enhanced freedom of movement for the sports participant. Although the example sports upper body protective gear is disclosed for use in the sport of lacrosse, various features of the gear may likewise be adapted for use in other sporting activities such as football, baseball, softball, and the like.
In some implementations, the sports protective gear comprises shoulder portions that include shoulder pockets. The shoulder pockets removably receive moldable and hardenable protective insert panels. For example, the pockets may removably receive a panel including gel to shell technology, commercially available under the EVOSHIELD® brand name. The shape of each of the insert panels is moldable and customizable to match the contours of the individual sport participant's shoulder, providing a snug fit about the shoulders. In some implementations, the shoulder portions are provided as part of an outer upper body protector that includes a padded chest portion that also extends over a chest of the sports participant.
In some implementations, the sports protective gear comprises a shirt that is to be worn by the sports participant. The shirt may be fabric and may or may not include padding. The shirt comprises first and second side belt loops. The sports protective gear may further comprise an outer upper body protector that comprises a chest portion, a back portion and shoulder portions that extend between the chest portion and the back portion. First and second straps extend from the back portion, through the first and second side belt loops of the shirt, to the chest portion. The first and second straps may be elastic and/or may include a buckle, adjustable hook and loop fasteners or other tightening mechanisms that allow the chest portion and the back portion to be drawn towards one another and retained in a snug fit against the front, back and sides of the sports participant.
Shirt 24 underlies upper body protector 26. Shirt 24 may be formed from a breathable fabric. In some implementations, shirt 24 may be formed from an elastic or resiliently stretchable material such as Lycra. In other implementations, other elastic or resiliently stretchable materials can be used. Shirt 24 closely conforms to the body of the sport participant 22. In the example illustrated, shirt 24 additionally comprises shoulder pads 25 which are stitched into the material of shirt 24 along the shoulders of shirt 24 or which are releasably joined the shoulders of shirt 24 by hook and loop fasteners or the like. In some implementations, shoulder pads 25 may be omitted.
Shirt 24 comprises first and second external belt loops 30 on opposite sides of shirt 24. As will be described hereafter, belt loops 30 are to receive straps that extend around the sides of the sport participant 22 so as to retain front and rear portions of upper body protector 26 in close conformity with the body of sport participant 22. Although shirt 24 is illustrated as comprising a single belt loop 30 on each opposing side, in other implementations, shirt 24 may comprise multiple belt loops on each side.
Upper body protector 26, sometimes referred to as shoulder pads, protects the chest and shoulders of the sport participant 22. Upper body protector 26 comprises a front chest portion 40, a rear or back portion 42, shoulder portions 44, and side straps 45. Chest portion 40 extends over a chest of the sport participant 22 and includes padding for protecting the chest of the sport participant 22.
Back portion 42 extends along the back of the sport participant 22. Shoulder portions 44 extend between chest portion 40 and back portion 42. As shown by
Interior panel 52 is formed from a moldable and hardenable material such as a gel to shell material commercially available from EVOSHIELD®. As shown by
Referring to
Side straps 45 each have a portion that are connected to back portion 42 and chest portion 40. In the example illustrated, both end portions of each side straps 45 are releasably connected to chest portion 40 and back portion 42. In the example illustrated, as shown by
In the example illustrated, regions 60 and 62 extend transversely across a majority of a width of just chest portion 40 and back portion 42, respectively. In the example illustrated, each of regions 60 have a width W1 of at least 2 inches. Region 62 has a width W2 of at least 3 inches. Because straps 45 are releasably connected at both ends to chest portion 40 and back portion 42 by hook and loop system, both end portion 64 and 66 of straps 45 may be releasably connected to back portion 42 and chest portion 40 at a continuum of possible transverse locations to provide a continuum of possible diameters about the torso of the sports participant to adjust for different sized torsos. Such an adjustment be quickly and easily achieved along both the front and the back of upper body protector 26. The adjustability along both chest portion 40 end back portion 42 increases the extent to which upper body protector 26 may be adjusted to accommodate different torso sizes.
In some implementations, end portion 64 and 66 may alternatively be releasably connected to back portion 42 and chest portion 40 using other connections such as snaps, buttons, hooks, clasps, and the like. In some implementations, chest portion 40 and back portion 42 may be provided with multiple snaps, buttons, hooks, clasps at multiple locations to provide multiple torso sizes for upper body protector 26. In some implementations, each of straps 45 may have one end that is free prior to being releasably connected to upper body protector 26 and another end which is fixed to upper body protector 26. For example, in some implementations, end portions 64 straps 45 may be fixed to back portion 42 with stitching, welding, or the like. In some implementations, end portions 66 may be fixed to chest portion 40 with stitching, welding on the like.
As shown by
As shown by
System 80 comprises pouch 82 and CC protector 84. Pouch 82 comprises a bag or flexible receptacle sized to receive CC protector 84. Pouch 82 retains CC protector 84 in place between chest portion 40 and the chest of the sports participant. Pouch 82 further facilitates removal and exchange of CC protector 84. As a result, CC protector 84 may be replaced for repair or for an updated CC protector 84.
In the example illustrated, pouch 40 has a single mouth 86 through which CC protector 84 may be inserted into the interior or chest pocket of pouch 82. In some implementations, those portions about mouth 86 are formed from an elastic material, wherein mouth 86 may be stretched during insertion of CC protector 84 and elastically contracts upon insertion to retain CC protector 84 within the interior of pouch 82. In some implementations, additional portions of pouch 82 may be formed from an elastic or stretchable material. In some implementations, pouch 82 is formed from a breathable fabric to reduce excessive heat buildup.
CC protector 84 is removably inserted into pouch 82. CC protector 84 comprises a National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) ND200 Commotio Cordis protector. In the example illustrated, CC protector 84 comprises a panel 88 formed from a compressible, shock absorbing material. In the example illustrated, panel 88 is perforated or honeycombed, including multiple openings 90 that extend completely through panel 88 from a front surface to a rear surface of panel 88. In the example illustrated, panel 88 has a thickness of at least 0.25 inch and no greater than 1 inch. In other implementations, CC protector 84 may have other sizes, shapes, and configurations so long as CC protector 84 complies with existing standards for such CC protection.
In the example illustrated, pouch 82 and CC protector 84 form a separate CC Protection module 92 that is releasably connected to an inner surface of chest portion 40 (the side of just portion 40 that faces or abuts the chest of the sports participant when worn). As a result, module 92 may be removed for repair or exchange. As a result, pouch 82 may be removed and cleaned or replaced. In certain applications, the pouch 82 and CC protector 84 may be not be necessary and may be removed as necessary.
In the example illustrated, pouch 82 is releasably connected to the inner surface of chest portion 40 by a pair of connectors 93-1 and 93-2 (collectively referred to as connectors 93). Connectors 93 have different orientations so as to limit movement of pouch 82 relative to chest portion 40 in different non-parallel directions. In the example illustrated, connector 93-1 limits movement of pouch 82 in a generally vertical direction along axis 96. Connector 93-2 limits movement of pouch 82 in a direction along a diagonal axis 98, at an angle oblique taxes 95, thereby limiting movement in a transverse direction, perpendicular to axis 95. As a result, pouch 82 and module 92 are securely retained in place.
In the example illustrated, connectors 93-1 and 93-2 comprise tightenable pouch securement straps 100-1 and 100-2 (collectively referred to as straps 100), respectively. Straps 100-1 and 100-2 are each sized and located so to pass through corresponding associated slits 102-1 and 102-2 formed in the pouch 82, respectively. The ends of straps 100 are releasably connected to one another to secure pouch 82 in place. In the example illustrated, the ends of straps 100 are releasably connected to one another using a hook and loop (VELCRO) fastening system. In other implementations, the opposite end portions of straps 100 may be released is secured to one another using other mechanisms such as buckles, snaps, class, and the like.
In other implementations, pouch 82 may be fixedly (permanently or non-releasably) joined to the inner surface of chest portion 40 by fasteners, stitching, adhesives, or the like. In some implementations, CC Protector 84 may be permanently contained within pouch 82, not removable from pouch 82. In some implementations, pouch 82 may be omitted such as where CC protector 84 is directly connected to the inner surface of chest portion 40. In such an implementation, CC protector 84 may be releasably connected directly to the inner surface of chest portion 40 or may be permanently flat fixedly connected directly to the inner surface of chest portion 40 such as with adhesives, welding, stitching or the like. In some implementations, CC protector 84 may be permanently or releasably contained within a pocket formed in and along the inner surface of chest portion 40. In some implementations, module 92 and/or CC protector 84 may be omitted.
The example sports upper body protective gear comprises four example features: (1) shoulder portions having shoulder pockets that removably receive moldable and hardenable protective insert panels; (2) a shirt in combination with straps that pass through belt loops in the shirt to conform the upper body protector to the sport participant; (3) a multi-piece assembly comprising a shoulder portion and a chest portion; and (4) a heart protector in the form of a CC protector removably received within a pouch carried by the chest portion. Although the example sports upper body protective gear is described as comprising each of the above features in combination with one another for overall enhanced performance, in other implementations, such features may be used independent of one another or in different combinations. For example, the above-described example shoulder portions with shoulder pockets and protective insert panels may be utilized on a single piece upper body protector or as part of sports upper body protective gear that omits the example shirt having belt loops and securement straps. The shoulder portion may be utilized with an upper body protector that omits the CC protector and its pouch. The above-described example CC protector and receiving pouch may be utilized on a single piece upper body protector with or without the above-described shirt and with or without the above-described shoulder pockets and protective insert panels. The above-described example shirt having belt loops and securement straps may be utilized with a single piece upper body protector, without the above-described example shoulder portions with shoulder pockets and protective insert panels and/or without the above-described example CC protector with its pouch.
Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to example implementations, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the disclosure. For example, although different example implementations may have been described as including features providing various benefits, it is contemplated that the described features may be interchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with one another in the described example implementations or in other alternative implementations. Because the technology of the present disclosure is relatively complex, not all changes in the technology are foreseeable. The present disclosure described with reference to the example implementations and set forth in the following claims is manifestly intended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specifically otherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element also encompass a plurality of such particular elements. The terms “first”, “second”, “third” and so on in the claims merely distinguish different elements and, unless otherwise stated, are not to be specifically associated with a particular order or particular numbering of elements in the disclosure.
