Patent Publication Number: US-2011061155-A1

Title: Shoulder protector pads

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates, in general, to a shoulder pad, more particularly, the present invention relates to a shoulder pad that is releasably attached to the shoulders so as to protect the shoulders when carrying heavy loads upon ones shoulders. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     N/A 
     BACKGROUND 
     Many people working in construction and other occupations such as rebar steel workers or roadbusters are required to carry relatively heavy loads on their shoulders as part of the job. Without protection for the shoulders after a days work the workers shoulders can become raw and sore. Thus, the present invention is designed to protect the shoulders of such workers. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for protecting a person&#39;s shoulders from loads being carried on such shoulders. The apparatus comprises at least one support member formed of a predetermined material for resting on a person&#39;s shoulders, such at least one support member having a raised neck portion on a first end thereof for engagement with and for providing protection for a user&#39;s neck. At least one neck strap is used for securing the raised portion around such user&#39;s neck. A pair of arm straps are disposed on a second end of the at least one support member for engagement with an upper portion of a user&#39;s underarm closely adjacent a shoulder. There is a securing means for securing such pair of arm straps around such user&#39;s underarm. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus for protecting a person&#39;s shoulders from loads being carried on such shoulders. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that further has a raised portion for protecting the neck. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein the upper surface is hard plastic for engagement with such load and a soft padded underside for protection of such user&#39;s shoulders. 
     In addition to the various objects and advantages of the invention which have been described in some specific detail above it should be noted that various other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description, particularly when such description is taken in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of the apparatus for protecting a user&#39;s shoulders when carrying heavy items upon the shoulders. 
         FIG. 2  is an inset of the at least one neck strap showing the strap secured by means of hook and loop. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings. 
     In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated  10 , for protecting a person&#39;s shoulders from loads being carried on such shoulders. The apparatus  10  comprises at least one support member  2  formed of a predetermined material for resting on a person&#39;s shoulder, such at least one support member  2  having a raised neck portion  4  on a first end thereof for engagement with and for providing protection for a user&#39;s neck. At least one neck strap  6  is used for securing the raised portion  4  around such user&#39;s neck. A pair of arm straps  14  are disposed on a second end of the at least one padded support member  2  for engagement with an under arm portion of a user&#39;s arm closely adjacent a shoulder. There is a securing means  16  for securing such pair of arm straps  14  around such user&#39;s underarm. It is presently preferred that such securing means is a hook and loop attachment  12 . 
     It is also preferred that a second end of the at least one support member  2  further includes a raised portion  18  for assisting in keeping such load being carried on such shoulder centered on said at least one support member  2  between such raised neck portion  4  on a first end of the support member  2  and the raised portion  18  on the second end of the support member  2 . It is presently preferred that such predetermined material includes a hard plastic material on an upper surface  24  of such support member  2  thereof and that such predetermined material further includes a soft padded underside  22  for protection of such user&#39;s shoulder. Such soft padded underside  22  is selected from a group including natural rubber, synthetic rubber, foam and combinations thereof. 
     In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention such at least one neck strap  6  is secured by a hook and loop attachment means  12 . Such raised neck portion  4  on the first end of the support member  2  includes slots  8  disposed on an outer surface thereof for retaining such at least one neck strap  6 . 
     It is also presently preferred that such at least one support member is a pair of support members, one support member for each of a person&#39;s shoulders. It is also an embodiment of the invention that such predetermined shape of the at least one support member includes an arch shape that corresponds to a shape of a person&#39;s shoulder for comfortably resting the at least one support member on such person&#39;s shoulder. 
     While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.