Protective garment

A protective garment is provided including a chest protector being formed of solid foam. Also included is an abdominal protector including a plurality of inflatable tubular mechanisms. The abdominal protector is connected to the chest protector. Next provided is a groin protector connected to the abdominal protector and formed of solid foam. Finally, a strap assembly is provided for securing the protectors on a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to a protective garment and more particularly 
pertains to protecting a user with a garment formed of both inflatable and 
foam segments. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
The use of protective vests is known in the prior art. More specifically, 
protective vests heretofore devised and utilized for the purpose of 
protecting a user against blows are known to consist basically of 
familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding 
the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been 
developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
By way of example, the prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,087; U.S. 
Pat. No. 3,995,320; U.S. Pat. Des. No. 340,542; U.S. Pat. No. 5,204,993; 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,870,706; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,215. 
In this respect, the protective garment according to the present invention 
substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the 
prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for 
the purpose of protecting a user with a garment formed of both inflatable 
and foam segments. 
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a 
new and improved protective garment which can be used for protecting a 
user with a garment formed of both inflatable and foam segments. In this 
regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of 
protective vests now present in the prior art, the present invention 
provides an improved protective garment. As such, the general purpose of 
the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater 
detail, is to provide a new and improved protective garment which has all 
the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages. 
To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises a chest 
protector having a rectilinear configuration. As shown in the Figures, the 
chest protector is defined by a square front surface, a square rear 
surface, and a periphery formed of a top face, a bottom face, and a pair 
of side faces. It is imperative that the chest protector be formed of 
solid foam. Next provided is an abdominal protector including a flexible 
foam housing. Such flexible housing has a rectilinear configuration with a 
square front surface, a square rear surface, and a periphery defined by a 
top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces formed therebetween 
defining an interior space. A plurality of vertically oriented inflatable 
tubes are situated within the flexible housing in a side-by-side 
relationship. It should be noted that the housing of the abdominal 
protector has the top face thereof hingably coupled along the bottom face 
of the chest protector. Associated therewith is a pair of rib protectors 
each including a flexible foam housing having a rectilinear configuration. 
The housings each have a rectangular front surface, a rectangular rear 
surface, and a periphery defined by a top face, a bottom face, and a pair 
of side faces formed therebetween defining an interior space. Similar to 
the abdominal protector, the rib protectors are each equipped with a 
plurality of vertically oriented inflatable tubes situated therein in a 
side-by-side relationship. The housing of the rib protectors each have one 
of the side faces thereof hingably coupled along an associated one of the 
sides faces of the housing of the abdominal protector. A groin protector 
is provided that is formed of solid foam. As shown in the Figures, the 
groin protector has a generally inverted triangular configuration with a 
front surface, a rear surface and a periphery defined by a top face and a 
pair of side faces. The top face of the groin protector is hingably 
connected along the bottom face of the abdominal protector. For 
maintaining the present invention mounted on a user during use, a strap 
assembly is provided. Note FIG. 3. Such strap assembly includes a pair of 
vertically oriented parallel chest straps coupled to opposite ends of the 
top face of the chest protector. Each of the parallel chest straps are 
equipped with a female connector coupled to a free end thereof. Next 
included is a horizontally oriented first pair of parallel rib straps 
connected to opposite ends of one of the side faces of a first one of the 
rib protectors. A male connector is coupled to each of the free ends of 
the first pair of rib straps. A first short vertical strap is connected to 
a central extent of a top one of the first pair of parallel rib straps 
with a male connector coupled thereto. With continuing reference to FIG. 
3, a horizontally oriented second pair of parallel rib straps is shown to 
be connected to opposite ends of one of the side faces of a second one of 
the rib protectors. Each of the second pair of rib straps is equipped with 
a female connector coupled thereto. A second short vertical strap is 
connected to a central extent of a top one of the second pair of parallel 
rib straps with a male connector coupled thereto. A third short vertical 
strap is shown to be coupled to a central extent of a bottom one of the 
second pair of parallel rib straps with a female connector coupled 
thereto. Finally, a vertical groin strap is connected to a bottom apex of 
the groin protector with a female connector coupled thereto. 
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features 
of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that 
follows may be better understood, and in order that the present 
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, 
additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter 
and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention 
in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its 
application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the 
components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the 
drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being 
practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood 
that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose 
of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon 
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the 
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the 
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, 
that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions 
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present 
invention. 
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved protective garment which has all the advantages of the prior art 
protective vests and none of the disadvantages. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
protective garment which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and 
marketed. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved protective garment which is of a durable and reliable 
construction. 
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved protective garment which is susceptible of a low cost of 
manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly 
is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby 
making such protective garment economically available to the buying 
public. 
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and 
improved protective garment which provides in the apparatuses and methods 
of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously 
overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
Still another object of the present invention is to protect a user with a 
garment formed of both inflatable and foam segments. 
Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved protective garment including a chest protector being formed of 
solid foam. Also included is an abdominal protector including a plurality 
of inflatable tubular mechanisms. The abdominal protector is connected to 
the chest protector. Next provided is a groin protector connected to the 
abdominal protector and formed of solid foam. Finally, a strap assembly is 
provided for securing the protectors on a user. 
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various 
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating 
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should 
be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there 
is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a 
new and improved protective garment embodying the principles and concepts 
of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral 
10 will be described. 
The present invention, the new and improved protective garment, is 
comprised of a plurality of components. Such components in their broadest 
context include chest, abdominal, rib, and groin protectors and a strap 
assembly. Such components are individually configured and correlated with 
respect to each other so as to attain the desired objective. 
More specifically, it will be noted that the system 10 of the present 
invention includes a chest protector 12 having a rectilinear 
configuration. As shown in the Figures, the chest protector is defined by 
a square front surface, a square rear surface, and a periphery formed of a 
top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces. It is imperative that 
the chest protector be formed of solid foam. As an option, such foam may 
be multi-layered, as shown in FIG. 6. 
Next provided is an abdominal protector 20 including a flexible foam 
housing 22. Such flexible housing has a rectilinear configuration with a 
square front surface, a square rear surface, and a periphery defined by a 
top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces formed therebetween 
defining an interior space. A plurality of vertically oriented inflatable 
tubes 24 are situated within the flexible housing in a side-by-side 
relationship. Such communication may be afforded by means of a plurality 
of small interconnect tubes. It should be noted that the housing of the 
abdominal protector has the top face thereof hingably coupled along the 
bottom face of the chest protector. 
Associated therewith is a pair of rib protectors 26 each including a 
flexible foam housing having a rectilinear configuration. The housings 
each have a rectangular front surface, a rectangular rear surface, and a 
periphery defined by a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces 
formed therebetween defining an interior space. Similar to the abdominal 
protector, the rib protectors are each equipped with a plurality of 
vertically oriented inflatable tubes 28 situated therein in a side-by-side 
relationship. The housing of the rib protectors each have one of the side 
faces thereof hingably coupled along an associated one of the sides faces 
of the housing of the abdominal protector. 
As shown in FIG. 4, the rib and abdominal protectors each have a plurality 
of vertical dividing walls 30 between each of the tubes. For allowing the 
inflation of the tubes, a valved aperture 32 is formed in each of the 
tubes. Such valved apertures are accessible from the face of the 
associated flexible housing. 
A groin protector 34 is provided that is formed of solid foam. As shown in 
the Figures, the groin protector has a generally inverted triangular 
configuration with a front surface, a rear surface and a periphery defined 
by a top face and a pair of side faces. The top face of the groin 
protector is hingably connected along the bottom face of the abdominal 
protector. While not shown, it should be understood that the groin and 
chest protectors are of a reduced thickness as compared to the rib and 
abdominal protectors. 
For maintaining the present invention mounted on a user during use, a strap 
assembly 40 is provided. Note FIG. 3. Such strap assembly includes a pair 
of vertically oriented parallel chest straps 42 coupled to opposite ends 
of the top face of the chest protector. Each of the parallel chest straps 
is equipped with a female connector 44 coupled to a free end thereof. 
Next included as a component of the strap assembly is a horizontally 
oriented first pair of parallel rib straps 46 connected to opposite ends 
of one of the side faces of a first one of the rib protectors. A male 
connector 48 is coupled to each of the free ends of the first pair of rib 
straps. A first short vertical strap 50 is connected to a central extent 
of a top one of the first pair of parallel rib straps with a male 
connector 52 coupled thereto. With continuing reference to FIG. 3, a 
horizontally oriented second pair of parallel rib straps 54 is shown to be 
connected to opposite ends of one of the side faces of a second one of the 
rib protectors. Each of the second pair of rib straps is equipped with a 
female connector 56 coupled thereto. A second short vertical strap 58 is 
connected to a central extent of a top one of the second pair of parallel 
rib straps with a male connector 60 coupled thereto. 
A third short vertical strap 62 is shown to be coupled to a central extent 
of a bottom one of the second pair of parallel rib straps with a female 
connector 63 coupled thereto. In the preferred embodiment, the first, 
second and third vertical straps are slidably coupled to the respective 
rib straps by way of a closed sliding loop. Finally, a vertical groin 
strap 64 is connected to a bottom apex of the groin protector with a 
female connector coupled thereto. It should be noted that each of the male 
connectors is equipped with a pair of biased prongs 66 adapted to be 
releasably situated within a sleeve 68 defined by the female connectors. 
Such sleeve has a pair of openings 70 formed therein for receiving the 
prongs of the male connectors. As an option, each pair of coupled straps 
may be adjustable by way of a buckle formed on the base of one of the 
connectors associated therewith. By such structure, the connector is 
adapted to be situated at various lengths along the corresponding strap. 
During use, the male connectors of the first pair of parallel rib straps 
are releasably connected to the female connectors of the second pair of 
parallel rib straps. Such coupling maintains the abdominal and rib 
protectors in place and further prevents lateral shifting of the present 
invention. Further, the male connectors of the first and second short 
vertical straps are releasably connected to the female connectors of the 
pair of parallel chest straps. This coupling maintains the vertical 
position of the protectors. Finally, the third short vertical strap 
releasably connected to the male connector of the groin strap in order to 
maintain the groin strap in place. 
As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same 
should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further 
discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the 
optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to 
include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of 
operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to 
one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those 
illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are 
intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the 
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and 
changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired 
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and 
described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may 
be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.