Patent Publication Number: US-8533871-B2

Title: Lacrosse shirt and protective pad assembly

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The invention relates generally to athletic pads used to prevent injury during lacrosse or other contact sports. More particularly, the invention relates to an athletic pad assembly that allows removal of an outer pad. Specifically, the invention relates to a separate shoulder pad and sternum protector assemblies which are connected to an undershirt that may have a plurality of additional pads. 
     2. Background Information 
     Athletic pads are well known and used in a variety of sports including lacrosse and football. Shoulder pads typically used in football and lacrosse have a neck opening located between two hard shoulder portions which connect at both the front and back below the player&#39;s neck. The shoulder pad may be a two piece unit split along the centerline of both the front and back. The back is connected with riveted plates, while the front may be connected with a draw string or plates. The shoulder pad assembly is a ridged unit which redistricts movement of the player. While the player is protected from potential injury, mobility is limited and it is cumbersome to clean and maintain the pads due to their size. 
     An alternative to the hard style pads are soft pads. Soft pads may be placed within an athletic garment or on the outside of the athletic garment. To locate the pads within the garment, the pad is stitched within a pocket in the garment and is permanently fixed. In an alternative arrangement, soft pads are stitched to the outside of the garment instead of located within a pocket. The soft pads provide much greater mobility for the player since he is not restrained by a ridged one-piece should pad. Nevertheless, the soft pads suffer from a lack of protection. The soft pads cannot withstand the force of harder hits and the player may be injured more readily when wearing soft pads instead of ridged shoulder pads. 
     One attempt to overcome the problems of the hard shoulder pads and the soft shoulder pads is the Rhinoskin by Brine. The Rhinoskin shoulder pads have a soft pad system covering the entire rib section of a player and extending upwards around the neck to cover the player&#39;s shoulders. Further, the soft pads continue down the shoulder blades of the player about half way down his back. On the front side, a loop is stitched near the collar bone area of each side and includes hook or loop on the outside. Similarly, on the back side, a loop is stitched near the shoulder blade of each side and includes hook or loop on the outside. A hard pad, can then be located between the front and back loops on either or both sides. The hard pad includes a length of material with either hook or loop that passes through one of the loops and is wrapped around the loop and secured to the top of the loop. 
     While the Rhinoskin prior art is adequate for the purpose for which it was intended, there remains needs that must be satisfied in the art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention broadly comprises a garment including an undershirt having a plurality of first pads, at least two mounting loops extending from the undershirt, a plurality of second pads, each of the plurality of second pads having at least two fingers, and wherein the at least two fingers are engaged with the at least two mounting loops to secure the plurality of second pads to the undershirt. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which Applicant has contemplated applying the principles of the invention, is set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a player wearing a preferred embodiment garment with a plurality of first and second pads; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a player wearing a preferred embodiment garment with a plurality of second pads located on the player&#39;s left side and a plurality of second pads removed from the player&#39;s right side and sternum; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of a player wearing a preferred embodiment garment with a plurality of second pads located on the player&#39;s left side and a plurality of second pads removed from the player&#39;s right side; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged view of a preferred embodiment second pads being installed within mounting loops as indicated by arrows on a players right side; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of preferred embodiment second pads installed within mounting loops on a player&#39;s right side; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the encircled region of  FIG. 5  illustrating a preferred embodiment interaction of the fingers and the mounting loops; 
         FIG. 7  is a section view of the fingers and mounting loops taken generally along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment second pad and elbow pad removed from a player; and, 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating another preferred embodiment second pad removed from a player and another preferred embodiment elbow pad secured to the mounting loop. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical, or functionally similar, structural elements of the invention. While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention as claimed is not limited to the disclosed aspects. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. 
     The garment of the present invention is indicated generally at  10 , as is shown in  FIGS. 1 through 9 . As particularly shown in  FIG. 1 , a preferred embodiment garment  10  includes an undershirt  12 , a plurality of first pads  14 A- 14 W, and a plurality of second pads  16 A- 16 E. Garment  10  may also include elbow pads  18 A and  18 B secured to either undershirt  12  or one of the second pads (described below). First pads  14 A- 14 W are soft pads disposed within undershirt  12  in a preferred embodiment, while second pads  16 A- 16 E are hard pads. Although the preferred embodiment illustrates the first pads as soft pads and the second pads as hard pads, one of ordinary skill in the art will immediately realize that the first pads may be hard pads and the second pads may be soft pads, or any combination thereof is within the spirit and scope of the present invention as claimed. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , undershirt  12  is illustrated with second pads  16 A,  16 B, and  16 C removed and second pads  16 D and  16 E attached. Further, right elbow pad  18 A is detached, while left elbow pad  18 B is illustrated being worn by a player  22 . The right shoulder pad area includes  14 A,  14 B,  14 C,  14 D,  14 E, and  14 V, while the left shoulder pad area includes  14 K,  14 M,  14 N,  14 P,  14 Q, and  14 R. The sternum pad area includes  14 F,  14 G,  14 H,  14 L, and  14 J. 
     In accordance with a main feature of the invention, undershirt  12  includes mounting loops  20  at various positions throughout the front and back sides to secure second pads  16 A- 16 E. Mounting loops  20  are preferably a folded piece of straight material sewn to undershirt  12 . In a preferred embodiment, each mounting loop  20  is secured to the undershirt within a perimeter of first pads  14 . Due to the increased size of second pad  16 C, two mounting loops  20  may be secured within the perimeter of a single pad, such as first pad  14 F or  14 J. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4-5 , the second right shoulder pad includes pads  16 A and  16 B which are secured to undershirt  12  at mounting loops  20  located at first pads  14 A,  14 E, and  14 V. Second shoulder pads  16 A and  16 B are preferably held together with a connector  19  so that the two second pads function as a single unit. The second left shoulder pad includes pads  16 D and  16 E, which are secured to undershirt  12  at mounting loops  20  located at first pads  14 M,  14 Q, and  14 R. Similarly, second pads  16 D and  16 E are held together with a connector  21  so that the two second pads function as a single unit. Finally, the sternum pad includes pad  16 C and is secured to undershirt  12  at mounting loops  20  located at first pads  14 F and  14 J. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6-7 , in accordance with another main feature of the present invention, second pads  16  include non-parallel fingers  24  formed integral to second pads  16 , monolithically therewith. Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , fingers  24  are formed within a perimeter of second pads  16 . Specifically, fingers  24  define at least a portion of the outermost periphery of second pads  16 . Second pads  16 A and  16 B are installed by inserting a distal end  26  of finger  24  within mounting loop  20  in the direction indicated by arrow  28 . Since the fingers are secured within mounting loops  20  in different directions, the chances of second pads  16  inadvertently becoming disconnected are reduced. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  further illustrate finger  24  engaged with mounting loop  20 . A hook  30  extends from distal end  26  inward and helps to prevent finger  24  from becoming inadvertently disconnected from mounting loop  20 . At the same time however, fingers  24  can be also be removed from mounting loop  20  to facilitate cleaning of undershirt  12  or second pads  16 A- 16 E. Further, an opening  29  is defined by the second pad and distal end  26  of finger  24 . The opening extends proximate hook  30  and finger  24  to define a channel  31 . Advantageously, channel  31  allows simple engagement of the finger and mounting loop as well as allowing a wearer to adjust what pads are worn. 
     In accordance with yet another main feature of the present invention, second pads  16  include an elbow finger  32  at a terminal end  34  in a preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . Elbow pads  18 A and  18 B each have an elbow mounting loop  36  at an elbow terminal end  38 . Elbow pad  18 A and  18 B are located on a player&#39;s elbow with elbow mounting loop  36  proximate terminal end  34  of second pads  16 A. In this position, elbow finger  32  is engaged with elbow mounting loop  36  to insure that the elbow pad is properly positioned during use. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , another preferred embodiment of elbow pads  18 A and  18 B are illustrated. This embodiment functions similar to the previously described embodiment in that it locates and insures that that the elbow pad is properly positioned during use. The second preferred embodiment will be described with reference to the right side shoulder pad and elbow pad; however the description is equally applicable to the left side. Second pad  16 A does not include an elbow finger; instead terminal end  34  is smooth. Undershirt  12  includes a shirt mounting loop  40  sewn to a sleeve  42 . Elbow pad  16 A includes a finger  44  with a hook  46  both formed in terminal end  38 . Finger  44  is formed similar to and functions similar to fingers  24  of second pads  16 . Elbow pad  16 A is connected to undershirt  12  by engaging finger  44  with shirt mounting loop  40 . 
     In accordance with still another main feature of the present invention, second pad  16 C is preferably bow shaped in a direction away from a player&#39;s sternum when in use. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , second pad  16 C includes a center portion  48 , an angled portion  50  extending from each side of the center portion and directed backwards, and a mounting flange  52  extending from each of the angled portions. Center portion  48  and mounting flanges  52  are preferably parallel to each other, while angled portion  50  provides the bow-like shape. Second pad  16 C, and center portion  48 , are each wider than the player&#39;s sternum so that contact in the sternum area is deflected through second pad  16 C whereby the second pad is deflected inward. 
     Second pad  16 C also includes a plurality of fingers  24  formed in the perimeter of mounting flanges  52 . Preferably, two fingers  24  are formed in each mounting flange to insure the second pad is secured in place during play. However, it should be immediately apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that only one finger  24  is necessary at each mounting flange  52  in order to maintain the second pad proximate the player&#39;s sternum. Further, fingers  24  are also preferably arranged with distal ends  26  facing in generally opposite directions and include hooks  30  to prevent accidental removal of second pad  16 C. 
     Second pad  16 C connects to undershirt  12  at mounting loops  20  at first pads  14 F and  14 J. In a preferred embodiment, two mounting loops  20  are located within the perimeter of first pad  14 F and first pad  14 J. Further, the two loops within each first pad are arranged generally perpendicular to each other to resist inadvertent removal of second pad  16 C. In operation, impact at second pad  16 C is deflected through the first pads  14 F and  14 J to reduce the potential for injury to the player. 
     Having described the structure of a preferred embodiment, a preferred method of operation will be described in detail and should be read in light of  FIGS. 1 through 9 . 
     Initially, a wear puts undershirt  12  on and may proceed with only first pads  14 A- 14 W. Next, the wear locates second pads  16 A and  16 B on one side and second pads  16 D and  16 E on the other side. In order to locate the second pads, fingers  24  are inserted through corresponding mounting loops  20  on undershirt  12 . The same method may be used to locate second pad  16 C proximate the wearer&#39;s sternum by inserting fingers  24  of second pad  16 C within mounting loops  20  on undershirt  12 . Next, elbow pads  18 A and  18 B may be connected by inserting elbow finger  32  within elbow mounting loop  36 . While the method of operation has been described as a series of steps, the wearer may decide to wear any number of pads in any combination or wear only the first pads. 
     During play, second pads  16 A- 16 E absorb impact and transfer the impact force to first pads  14 A- 14 W which are proximate the impact area. The force on the first pads is spread across all of the interconnected pads proximate the impact area and thereby reduces the force. Since the force is reduced because it is spread across a broader area, the first pads also function to absorb the impact. 
     It will be evident to one skilled in the art that a variety of changes can be made that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, the first pads may be a single unit disposed within the undershirt, or may be completely omitted so long as the mounting loops remain to secure the second pads. 
     Accordingly, the garment is an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device that achieves all the enumerated objectives of the invention, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior art devices, systems, and methods, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
     Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the garment is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangement, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.