Patent ID: 6138277
Filing Date: 2000-10-31
Classification: A41D

Abstract:
A multi-section one piece garment for protecting against impact upon a human torso when worn by an athlete during sporting activities comprising:a vest sized and shaped to be worn on a torso of an athlete, the vest having a multi-section padding all around the vest for protectively encasing the torso of the athlete including a chest, a stomach, a lower abdomen, a pair of sides and a back, an hour glass simulated shaped shoulder portion, a front portion, a pair of side portions, a back portion, and an offset opening, the multi-section padding having a first section, a second section and a third section, the first section being formed from a breathable material for allowing air to permeate the vest, the second section being formed from a padding material for protecting against impact against the torso, the third section being formed from a breathable moisture absorbing material for absorbing moisture generated by the body, the hour glass simulated shaped shoulder portion having the multi-section padding being 1/2 inch to 1 inch to permit unhindered movement of both arms of the athlete wearing the vest, the hour glass simulated shaped shoulder portion further having a limited V-neck design sized and shaped to protect up to a clavicle area and over an athlete's shoulders while permitting full movement of an athlete's neck, the hour glass simulated shaped shoulder portion further having a pair of oversized apertures therein for the arms, each oversized aperture being sized and shaped to permit full movement of both arms leaving the hour glass shaped shoulder portion in an unrestricted condition, each oversized aperture having an edge, the edge being rounded to minimize body chafing, the front portion having the multi-section padding being 1 inch to 11/2 inches sized and shaped in a front tapered design to allow unhindered movement of an athlete's leg and to protect against impact against the chest, stomach and lower abdomen while the athlete is engaged in sporting activities, the front portion further containing the offset opening, the offset opening being coextensive from the shoulder portion to a bottom of the front portion dividing the front portion into a first side and a second side, the offset opening being located off set from a center axis of the vest to protect against body impact to internal organs such as a heart of the athlete, the pair of side portions being located under the pair of oversized apertures, each side portion having the multi-section padding being 1 inch to 11/2 inches sized and shaped to protect against impact to the pair of sides while the athlete is engaged in sporting activities, the back portion having the multi-section padding being 1 inch to 11/2 inches to protect against impact against the back while the athlete is engaged in sporting activities, the back portion further being sized and shaped in a back tapered design to allow unhindered movement of the athlete's legs and to provide protection for the lower spine, tailbone and ilium areas of a human body;an overlap, the overlap being coextensive from the hour glass simulated shaped shoulder portion to the bottom of the front portion and located over the offset opening for protecting against impact over the offset opening, the overlap having the multi-section padding being a 1/4 inch, the overlap being stitched into the first side and fastened across the offset opening by a fastening means located about the offset opening on both the first side and the second side, the overlap further being temporarily attached to the first side by an overlap fastening means sized and shaped for keeping the overlap clear of the offset opening while the user puts on the vest; anda plurality of adjustable securing belts, each belt being wrapped around the multi-section padding to secure the vest about the torso of an athlete's body, the plurality of adjustable securing belts being inserted through a plurality of vertical loops, the vertical loops being stitched into the vest at a plurality of locations uniformly spaced about the vest to hold the plurality of adjustable securing belts to engage the torso of the athlete wearing the vest, the plurality of adjustable securing belts being fastened by a plurality of belt fasteners, the plurality of belt fasteners being located about the offset opening so as to be covered by the overlap.