Pivoted adjustable shoulder pad

A shoulder pad/chest protector combination is provided for use in lacrosse or other sports in which the individual's arm is raised above shoulder level. The shoulder pad is pivoted to the chest protector by a lacing arrangement and is adjustable down the length of the arm by adjustment of the pivot point on the chest protector, with the shoulder pad being made to pivot with the arm by strapping the distal end of the pad to the arm. In one embodiment, the pivotal motion is provided by virtue of the twisting of the laces between the chest protector portion and the overlying shoulder pad. In another embodiment the shoulder pad includes a cuff for securing the distal end thereof to the arm of the individual. In one embodiment, lateral adjustment of the pivot point is made possible by providing laterally running lacing apertures at the top of the chest protector over the shoulder, with the lace passing through two apertures in the chest protector and four apertures in the shoulder pad. In one embodiment, the tension on the strands is adjustable by clamping the free ends of the lace. In a further embodiment, the shoulder pad chest protector combination is back closing, in which the back of the chest protector is laced together. This permits the front portion of the chest protector to be provided with a sternum pad to prevent injury. Additionally, mesh and perforated foam is provided for increased ventilation; and in a further embodiment, a neck roll may be added for comfort and protection.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to protective apparatus for individuals and more 
particularly to a shoulder pad arrangement which accommodates both a 
swinging motion of the arms as well as raising the arm above shoulder 
level. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Shoulder pads have been used in athletics and other occupations in which a 
chest protector is laced at the front, with shoulder pads extending from 
the chest protector over the shoulders. However, these shoulder pads are 
hinged to the outboard portion of the chest protector so that while they 
are free to move up and down, they cannot pivot at their point of 
attachment. The result is that as the arm swings, the shoulder moves out 
from under the pad. While such shoulder pads are suitable for football 
applications where there is only limited arm movement, in lacrosse the 
shoulder pad moves away from the top of the shoulder because of the wide 
ranging arm movement during play. It will be noted that in lacrosse one 
arm is usually raised above shoulder level when carrying a lacrosse stick. 
Also in lacrosse, the range of motion of the arms is much greater than in 
football. 
As to lacrosse-type shoulder pads, in general the shoulder pad is also 
hinged to the chest protector. As a result, when the arms are swung 
backwardly or forwardly and rotated in their sockets, the shoulder pad is 
displaced either in front of or in back of the shoulder, leaving it 
unprotected. Also because of the hinged pad arrangement, there is 
significant discomfort to the player because the pad gets in the way. 
In general, when an arm is moved backwardly of the torso, the hinged 
shoulder pad moves forward from over the top of the shoulder, whereas when 
the arm is swung forward the shoulder pad moves back from over top the 
shoulder. This is because the shoulder pad is not permitted to pivot with 
arm movement. 
Additionally, with prior art-type shoulder pads, when the arm is raised 
above shoulder level, the shoulder pad along with the chest protector digs 
into the neck of the player. It is in part because of a lack of lateral 
adjustability in the positioning of the pad above the shoulder that 
movement of the arm above shoulder level drives the chest protector and 
shoulder pad into the neck of the individual. 
The above is particularly acute in the game of lacrosse due to the fact 
that for a large percentage of the time, the arm associated with the head 
of the lacrosse stick is raised above shoulder level. In fact the entire 
game is predicated on the ability to raise this arm so as to permit 
control of the lacrosse stick. 
In summary, in lacrosse arm movement forward and aft moves the traditional 
fixed shoulder pad away from its initial position protecting the top of 
the shoulder to a position in which the top of the shoulder is left 
exposed. Since a significant amount of slashing occurs in lacrosse, 
leaving a shoulder unprotected is dangerous. 
There is thus a necessity for providing a combined chest protector and 
shoulder pad assembly or system in which the shoulder pad is permitted to 
move with the arm to which it is attached. This provides that the shoulder 
pad be positioned squarely over the top of the shoulder play. It is also 
desirable to be able to provide a pad adjustable in a lateral direction up 
and down the arm so that the shoulder pad assembly is adaptable for use by 
different size players. 
Moreover, present lacrosse protective garments are front closing, with 
laces up the front. For large players, this results in a gap over the 
sternum. Since a significant number of sternum injuries occur each year, 
additional sternum protection is necessary. 
In summary, in the game of lacrosse, slashing with the lacrosse stick is a 
primary concern both at the top of the shoulder and at the bicep, whereas 
leaving the sternum unprotected in a front lace configuration subjects the 
player to injury through the gap in the front of the chest protector. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In order to accommodate the game of lacrosse, the subject protective 
garment includes a shoulder pad, chest protector combination configured in 
such a way that the shoulder pad is pivotally attached to the top of the 
chest protector at its outboard edge so that, with the distal end of the 
shoulder pad anchored to the arm, the shoulder pad rotates with the arm to 
maintain its position directly above the shoulder. Additionally, the pivot 
point is adjustable laterally, up and down the arm, so that when the arm 
is raised, the edge of the chest protector and the edge of the shoulder 
pad do not dig into the individual's neck when the arm is raised above the 
shoulder level. 
Additionally, while in the past the shoulder pads were allowed to move 
independently of the arms and vice versa, in the subject invention the 
outboard end of the shoulder pad is secured to the bicep or another 
portion of the arm so that pad pivoting is governed by the movement of the 
underlying arm. 
Because of the pivoting of the pad as well as its adjustability up and down 
the arm, the shoulder pad/chest protector combination is adapted to fit a 
wide range of body types and sizes. 
Moreover, a back closing structure is provided which eliminates the 
problems of players having big shoulders that ordinarily increases the 
opening between the two halves of the chest protector. Since this is a 
critical area for protection, the chest protector is made both with back 
lacing and is provided with a sternum pad in front between the two halves 
of the chest protector. 
The entire combination provides more protection for the shoulder and bicep 
where slashing occurs, whereas the flexible pivoting of the shoulder pad 
on the chest protector makes the shoulder pad move with the arm so that it 
stays in place while at the same time providing increased flexibility. 
Adjustable tension in lacing the shoulder pad to the chest protector also 
provides for increasingly flexible adjustment. 
In a still further embodiment, a neck roll is provided for additional 
protection between the shoulder pad and the neck to provide increased 
protection. 
Finally, increased ventilation is afforded through the utilization of a 
mesh fabric cover and the utilization of perforated foam. 
In summary, a shoulder pad/chest protector combination is provided for use 
in lacrosse or other sports in which the individual's arm is raised above 
shoulder level. The shoulder pad is pivoted to the chest protector by a 
lacing arrangement and is adjustable down the length of the arm by 
adjustment of the pivot point on the chest protector, with the shoulder 
pad being made to pivot with the arm by strapping the distal end of the 
pad to the arm. In one embodiment, the pivotal motion is provided by 
virtue of the twisting of the laces between the chest protector portion 
and the overlying shoulder pad. In another embodiment the shoulder pad 
includes a cuff for securing the distal end thereof to the arm of the 
individual. In one embodiment, lateral adjustment of the pivot point is 
made possible by providing laterally running lacing apertures at the top 
of the chest protector over the shoulder, with the lace passing through 
two apertures in the chest protector and four apertures in the shoulder 
pad. In one embodiment, the tension on the strands is adjustable by 
clamping the free ends of the lace. In a further embodiment, the should 
pad chest protector combination is back closing, in which the back of the 
chest protector is laced together. This permits the front portion of the 
chest protector to be provided with a sternum pad to prevent injury. 
Additionally, mesh and perforated foam is provided for increased 
ventilation; and in a further embodiment, a neck roll may be added for 
comfort and protection.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring now to FIG. 1A, in the prior art an individual 10 is provided 
with a protective garment 12 in the form of a shoulder pad 14/chest 
protector 16 combination. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, shoulder pad 14 is 
hinged to chest protector 16 via a sewn flap 18. A bicep protector 20 is 
also hinged to chest protector 16 as illustrated at 22 so that while the 
shoulder pad is free to move, it can only move about an axis illustrated 
by dashed line 24, whereas bicep protector 20 can only move about an axis 
defined by dashed line 26. 
As will be appreciated, as a result of the hinge-like attachment method 
employed in prior art shoulder pads, there is no pivotal motion either of 
the shoulder pad or the bicep protector and that, as will be seen in FIGS. 
1C-1E, when the individual's arms are either swung or raised, shoulder pad 
14 moves out from over top of the shoulder which exposes the shoulder to 
injury. 
Referring again to FIG. 1A, it will also be appreciated that the chest 
protector portion of the protective garment is provided with two halves 
16a and 16b which are joined centrally at 30 by a lacing arrangement 
generally indicated by reference character 32. As mentioned hereinbefore, 
this front lacing arrangement provides an open area, here illustrated at 
34 in the vicinity of the sternum which leaves the sternum unprotected. 
Referring now to FIG. 1C, when the individual's arm is moved as illustrated 
by arrow 36, the entire bicep protector 20, shoulder pad 14, and chest 
protector 16 combination moves in the direction of arrow 38 so that 
shoulder pad 14 not only moves out from over the top of the shoulder as 
indicated by arrow 40, its edge 42 digs into the neck of the player. 
This prior art shoulder pad/chest protector combination, as illustrated in 
FIG. 1D is also responsible for the dislodging of shoulder pad 14 from the 
top of the shoulder with a backward movement of the arm as illustrated by 
arrow 44, such that the shoulder pad moves in the direction of arrow 46 in 
front of the top of the shoulder as illustrated by arrow 40. 
Likewise, and referring now to FIG. 1E, when the individual's arm is raised 
as illustrated by arrow 48, shoulder pad 14 moves in the direction of 
arrow 50, backwardly and again off of the top of the shoulder as 
illustrated by arrow 40. 
What can be seen is that with the prior art shoulder pad, the lacrosse 
player is relatively unprotected at the top of the shoulder which is 
susceptible to a slashing move that can cause shoulder separation. 
Referring now to FIG. 2A, the subject protective garment, here illustrated 
by reference character 60 is shown to include shoulder pads 62 pivotally 
mounted at 64 via a lacing system to be described to a chest protector 
generally indicated by reference character 66 which includes a sternum pad 
68 in between chest protector halves 66a and 66b. 
A bicep pad or protector 70 is attached to its respective shoulder pad, 
with the bicep protector pad having a bicep engaging strap 72 which 
secures the outbound edge of the bicep protector pad to the player's arm. 
Additionally, the top portion of the chest protector which surrounds the 
neck is provided with a neck roll 76 as illustrated, with the bottom 
portion of the chest protector provided with a circumferentially extending 
strap 78. 
As illustrated, the chest protector is provided with a mesh-like material 
79 for ventilation which, as will be seen in connection with FIG. 4 
hereafter is utilized to sandwich a perforated or cellular sponge-like or 
rubber-like material therebetween, with the sandwich combination acting 
both for padding and for ventilation purposes. 
Referring to FIG. 2B, it can be seen that with the movement of the player's 
arm as illustrated by arrow 80, shoulder pad 62 rotates as illustrated by 
arrow 82 to be positioned directly over the top of the shoulder here 
illustrated by arrow 84, the pad having pivoted about a point 64 due to 
the attachment of the bicep protector to the arm. Here, one half of the 
back of the chest protector is illustrated at 66c to be laced at 86 to a 
mating back half. 
Referring to FIG. 2C with a backward movement of the arm of the player as 
illustrated at arrow 90, the bicep-shoulder pad combination rotates as 
illustrated by arrow 92 such that shoulder pad 62 again is directly above 
the shoulder as indicated by arrow 84. Likewise in FIG. 2D with an upward 
movement of the arm as illustrated by arrow 94, shoulder pad 62 is again 
directly above the top of the shoulder as indicated by arrow 84. It will 
be appreciated from this drawing, the neck of the individual is protected 
by the neck roll 76. 
What can be seen from the above is that the top of the shoulder is uniquely 
protected by the subject pivotal arrangement of the shoulder pad with the 
chest protector. Note also that the player's sternum is appropriately 
protected by pad 68, with the neck roll providing an even further measure 
of protection and security. 
Referring now to FIG. 3, shoulder pad 62, bicep protector 64 combination is 
laced to the top portion 100 of chest protector 66b by a lace 102 starting 
from an end 104 projecting through a hole 106 in pad 62 and going up 
through holes 108 and 110 in an anchoring disk 112 from whence it goes 
down through a hole 114 in pad 62. From there it passes through one of the 
laterally-running holes 120 on the top of the chest protector and then 
back through another hole 122 in a line of holes arranged parallel with 
holes 120. From there the lace goes up through a hole 124 in shoulder pad 
62 and then through holes 126 and 128 in disk 112. From there the lace 
goes through a hole 130 in pad 62 and thence down to terminate at an end 
134 as illustrated. A lace clamping device 136 is utilized to clamp the 
free ends of the lace so that the pivotal flexibility is fully adjustable 
by tension on the lace. 
As illustrated, the lines of holes 120 and 122 run laterally across the top 
of the shoulder so that the pivotal point of attachment of the shoulder 
pad to the chest protector is adjustable up and down the arm of the 
individual. This permits locating the shoulder pad directly above the 
shoulder regardless of the player's size or physique. 
As can be seen in this figure, mesh material here illustrated at 140 covers 
a porous cellular material here exposed at 142, with the mesh and porous 
material providing breathability for the protective garment. 
Referring to FIG. 4 this sandwich structure is more clearly illustrated in 
which the cellular material 142 is shown to have passages 144 running from 
an exterior surface 146 to an interior surface 148 with the mesh material 
140 to either side of this material in a sandwich relationship. 
As can be seen, shoulder pad 62 is laced to an underlying portion 150 of 
chest protector 66b which is made of a similar type of porous material, 
here illustrated at 152 as having slots 154 therethrough for ventilation 
purposes. It will be appreciated that holes 120 or 122 are shown to be 
larger than the channels through this sponge-like rubbery material. This 
portion of the garment is also made to be surrounded by an open weave 
web-like material 140 such that the whole structure as illustrated is made 
to breath. 
Referring now to FIG. 5, the back closing and lace structure is shown at 86 
to include a lace 170 joining the back portions 66c and 66d of the chest 
protector. The back closing permits the fixed structure in the front of 
the garment so that the sternum pad can be carried and positioned at the 
proper place. 
While the subject protective garment has been described for use in 
lacrosse, it may be used as a protective garment for any sport or for any 
activity requiring shoulder protection. 
Having above indicated a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it 
will occur to those skilled in the art that modifications and alternatives 
can be practiced within the spirit of the invention. It is accordingly 
intended to define the scope of the invention only as indicated in the 
following claims.