Patent ID: 8015621

Claim:
A shoulder pad assembly comprising: a flexible vest having a back side, a right front side and a left front side; a pair of rigid shoulder pads coupled to the vest; a first strap extending from a first location on the back side of the vest and refastenably attached to the right front side of the vest; and a second strap extending from a second location on the back side of the vest and refastenably attached to the left front side of the vest; at least a portion of the left front side being configured to releasably engage the first strap, and at least a portion of the right front side being configured to releasably engage the second strap, wherein the first strap and the second strap can be crossed over one another in an “X” configuration and wherein the first and second straps can be refastenably attached to one another on the front of the vest.