Patent Publication Number: US-2013239309-A1

Title: Comfort padded rash guard

Description:
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/685,356 filed on Mar. 16, 2012. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
     The invention is generally related to apparel worn by individuals engaged in water sports and more specifically it is related to rash protection apparel for a surfer or body boarder that would be lying in the prone position on a board. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Rash protection apparel has gained in popularity due to the ability of synthetic fabrics to wick moister, protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation, and provide muscle compression. Garments of this nature have been successfully adapted for water sports and are commonly referred to as “rash guards” because of their ability to prevent irritation from a wet suit or the chafing that can result from sliding back and forth on a board. For this reason, rash guards are particularly useful to those engaged in surfing and body boarding where an individual is lying on a board paddling, or waiting to catch a wave. 
     Surfing and body boarding requires a person to lie in the prone position on a board, often for long periods of time This can cause discomfort, particularly on the lower rib cage at the point where it contacts the board. While effective at preventing chafing, rash guards provide no cushioning for the rib cage. The padding provided by a neoprene wetsuit can alleviate some of the discomfort to the lower rib cage, however, wearing a wetsuit or a neoprene shirt may not be comfortable in warmer climates, and could lead to heat exhaustion. 
     The prior art is aware of several devices associated with rash guard apparel that are meant to be worn on the upper body by and individual engaged in water sports. U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. 2009/0151041 A1 is a rash guard designed to allow the wearer an easier method of entry and exit. U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. 2012/0149261 A1 is a shirt like garment with pockets to place foam pads meant to increase floatation. While these devices address convenience and safety, they do not address the comfort of an individual lying in the prone position on a surf board or body board. 
     U.S. Patent Publication No. U.S. 20120304369 A1 is a garment that addresses the discomfort that can be experienced while lying in the prone position on a surf board or body board. This garment is comprised of a lower portion constructed of a band of neoprene wrapping completely around the lower body, extending from the waist to the chest of the wearer. This band of neoprene provides cushioning for the rib and kidney areas. The upper portion is constructed of a material consistent with typical rash guards (lycra or spandex) and is sewn to the lower portion below the chest. 
     The neoprene that serves as the cushioning in the above garment does not specifically target the rib cage. Additionally, the neoprene comprises the entire lower half of the garment. This type of construction uses more cushioning material than is necessary and thus may not be comfortable in warmer waters or under a wet suit in colder waters. The present invention addresses these problems. 
     SUMMARY  
     The present invention is a rash guard shirt with pads sewn into the front, across the base of the rib cage, targeting the point of contact with the surfboard or body board. It addresses the discomfort that can be experienced from lying in the prone position on a surfboard or body board in a manner that reduces the amount of padding material and allows the shirt to be warm more comfortably in warmer waters or under a wet suit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of one embodiment of the rash guard shirt in accordance with the present invention in which the padded portion is comprised of a series of pads covering the base of the rib cage. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view a different embodiment of the rash guard shirt in accordance with the present invention in which the padded portion is comprised of a single pad covering the base of the rib cage. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The two primary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is a front view of both embodiments of the rash guard shirt. It includes a main body portion of the shirt  1  with an opening at the base to fit around the waste  2 , an opening for the neck  3 , and an opening for each arm where the left  4  and right  5  sleeves attach. The sleeves are shown as short, only covering a portion of the wearer&#39;s arm. They may also be long to cover the entire arm of the wearer, or they may be absent. The neck  3  and sleeves  4 , 5  are shown as separate pieces, they also may be integrally formed with main body portion of the shirt. 
     The preferred material for the main body portion  1  of the rash protection shirt is spandex or lycra. However, various materials may be used including, but not limited to, nylon, polyester, neoprene, or elastic textile. Ideally, the material should fit snugly such that the padding material remains in the proper place on the wearer&#39;s chest and it should not cause a rash or irritation while in use. 
     The rash guard shirt also includes a padded portion on the chest  6 . This portion should cover the base of the rib cage on the front of the rash guard shirt. In the first embodiment of the rash guard shirt,  FIG. 1 , the padding is comprised of a series of separate pads  7  covering the base of the rib cage. In the second embodiment of the rash protection shirt,  FIG. 2 , the padding is comprised of a single pad across the chest area. Each pad is placed into individual pockets that are sewn into the shirt  8 . The pockets may be comprised of the same material as the main body of the rash guard shirt, or if appropriate, a different material. The pockets may be sewn into the inside of the rash guard shirt, or into the outside of the rash guard shirt. The pockets may be sewn completely closed or they may be left open in such a manner that the pads can be removed and/or replaced. The stitching used to construct the pockets should be able to stand up to the intended use of the rash guard shirt. The padding may be comprised of several types of material including, but not limited to, neoprene, soft foam, rubber, or plastic. The material used for the padding should be soft and flexible such that it conforms around the chest and rib cage. It should also be firm enough to provide the necessary support. If the material is composed of neoprene or a similar material, it may be sewn directly into body portion of the shirt, rather than placed in pockets. 
     Although the examples given include many specificities, they are intended to be illustrative of only the primary embodiments of the invention. Other embodiments and modifications will, no doubt, occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, the examples given should only be interpreted as illustrations of some of the preferred embodiments of the invention, and the full scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.