Patent ID: 7082617

Claim:
A protective garment having an outer surface and inner surface for disposition over a user's clothes, comprising: a back panel having an upper and a lower edge; a pair of shoulder panels extending from the upper edge of the back panel, each shoulder panel having a medial end and a lateral end; a neck opening having a peripheral border defined by the upper edge of the back panel and respective medial ends of said shoulder panels; two chest panels, each having a medial and lateral side, depending from an associated shoulder panel, thereby defining a generally longitudinal opening between each chest panel and the back panel, in laterally spaced apart relation to one another, thereby defining a generally longitudinal opening there between; wherein each chest panel has a greater lateral extent at its upper end and a lesser lateral extent at its lower end, thereby forming an inward curve; at least one absorptive patch affixed to a panel chosen from the group consisting of chests shoulder, back and sleeve panels; a fluid-resistant layer affixed to the inner surface of the garment forming a layer of protection between the user and the garment; a fastener associated with at least one of the medial sides of the chest panels for releasably joining the chest panels together in overlapping fashion so that said generally longitudinal opening is closed releasably; and two sleeve panels extending from the lateral end of an associated shoulder panel and back panel, each sleeve panel being open along their entire extent and extending partially over the user's upper arm thereby providing additional protection.