Patent ID: 7503080

Claim:
A chest wall protector comprising: a shell made of a substantially hard, rigid material; a cushion comprising an impact-absorbing material attached to the shell such that the cushion is disposed between the shell and a thoracic wall of a person outside of a region over a heart of the person when the protector is worn by the person; a soft material disposed between the shell and the thoracic wall of the person inside of the region over the heart of the person when the protector is worn by the person, the soft material defining an outer perimeter; and a garment configured to be worn by the person and to retain the shell and cushion in positions to protect a portion of the thoracic wall of the person when the garment is worn by the person; wherein the cushion is substantially co-planar with the soft material, and is disposed outside of the outer perimeter of the soft material; and wherein the cushion and the soft material are attached to the shell.