1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to chest protection technology and more particularly, to an umpire chest protector for protecting the chest of an umpire in a baseball game.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional umpire chest protector for the game of baseball, as shown in
Accordingly, there is a need for an umpire chest protector that eliminates the aforesaid problems.
The present invention has been accomplished to provide an umpire chest protector, which has the characteristics of good ventilation, material saving, light weight and wearing comfort.
To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, an umpire chest protector includes a body member, a sternum plate, first left and right side plates, second left and right side plates, two shoulder plates, a shoulder strap assembly and a rear padding system. The rear padding system has an air channel defined therein, saving material, reducing the weight and enhancing wearing comfort. The left and right paddings, upper padding, outer left padding and outer right padding of the rear padding system are detachable, easy on and off and washable, material-saving and capable of dispersing impact force. The sternum plate is attached to one side of each of the shoulder plates and affixed thereto with rivets, and side flaps and bottom flaps of the sternum plate are respectively affixed to the upper portions and lower portions of the first left and right side plates with rivets, providing wrap around feel, making the protector still and strong, and avoiding pain when hit by the ball.
Referring to
a body member 1, which is made of a predetermined thickness of ethylene vinyl acetate foam material not heat pressed, and covered with a waterproof breathing cloth covering 10, having left and right shoulder portions 11 bilaterally disposed at the top side thereof and left and right bottom protrusions 12 bilaterally disposed at the bottom side thereof;
a sternum plate 2, which is fastened to the front side of the body member 1 with rivets 21, having opposing side flaps 27 respectively extended from left and right sides thereof and opposing bottom flaps 24 respectively bilaterally extended from the bottom side thereof (see the imaginary lines in
first left and right side plates 3, which are respectively affixed to the left and right sides of the body member 1 with rivets 31, having the respective upper portions 32 thereof respectively attached to the side flaps 27 of the sternum plate 2 and affixed thereto with rivets 23 and the respective lower portions 33 thereof respectively attached to the bottom flaps 24 of the sternum plate 2 and affixed thereto with rivets 25 and leaving a gap 30 between each of the first left and right side plates 3 and the corresponding one of the left and right side edges 26 of the sternum plate 2 to facilitate movement of the umpire;
second left and right side plates 4, which are respectively affixed to the left and right sides of the body member 1 with rivets 41 at an outer side relative to the first left and right side plates 3, leaving a gap 40 between each of the second left and right side plates 4 and the corresponding one of the first left and right side plates 3 to facilitate movement of the umpire;
two shoulder plates 5 affixed to the left and right shoulder portions 11 of the body member 1 with rivets 52, each having one side 51 thereof respectively affixed to the opposing left and right sides of the sternum plate 2 with rivets 22 and a respective shoulder pad 50 fixedly secured to an outer side thereof;
a shoulder strap assembly (see also
a rear padding system 7 (see
Further, the left and right paddings 71; 72, upper padding 73, outer left padding 74 and outer right padding 75 of the rear padding system 7 can be made of non-heat pressed ethylene vinyl acetate foam material and 3D mesh fabric, and covered with a respective waterproof breathing cloth covering 711; 721; 731; 741; 751 that is provided with a respective releasable hook-loop fastening strip 7111; 7211; 7311; 7411; 7511 detachably fastenable to a respective releasable hook-loop fastening strip 131; 132; 133; 134; 135 at the left, right, upper, left outer or right outer side of the back wall of the body member 1 (see
Further, the sternum plate 2 is prepared by polyethylene or carbon fiber. Further, the first left and right side plates 3, the second left and right side plates 4 and the shoulder plates 5 are respectively prepared by polyethylene.
Referring to
Further, the first left and right side plates 3 and the second left and right side plates 4 are respectively connected together with durable coated nylon band of material 91; 92.
In conclusion, the umpire chest protector of the present invention provides the following advantages.
1. The design of at least one air channel 70 in the rear padding system 7 saves material consumption, reduces the weight, and enhances wearing comfort.
2. The left and right paddings 71; 72, upper padding 73, outer left padding 74 and outer right padding 75 of the rear padding system 7 are detachable, easy on and off and washable, material-saving and capable of dispersing impact force.
3. The sternum plate 2 is attached to one side 51 of each of the shoulder plates 5 and affixed thereto with rivets 52, and the side flaps 27 and bottom flaps 24 of the sternum plate 2 are respectively affixed to the upper portions 32 and lower portions 33 of the first left and right side plates 3 with rivets 23; 25, providing wrap around feel and making the protector still and strong and avoiding pain when hit by the ball.
4. All the plates 2; 3; 4; 5 on the body member 1 of the umpire chest protector are either rivet together or connected with durable coated nylon band of material 91; 92 When the plates 2; 3; 4; 5 are impacted, no one plate will take the entire impact. Instead, the force will be transferred to the rest of the protector for the best protection.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20120311774 A1 | Dec 2012 | US |