Comfort padded rash guard
The present invention relates to a rash guard shirt for a surfer or body boarder that provides relief from the discomfort and soreness experienced at the base of the rib cage where it contacts the board. The rash guard shirt is worn on the upper body of the user and consists of a main body portion and a padded portion. The padded portion is comprised of a pad or multiple pads oriented to cover the base of the rib cage, where it is in contact with a board while the surfer or body boarder is engaged in their respective activity.
This application claims benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/685,356 filed on Mar. 16, 2012.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe 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.
BACKGROUNDRash 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.
SUMMARYThe 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.
The two primary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the figures.
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'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,
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.
Claims
1. A rash guard shirt having:
- a. A main body portion with an opening around the bottom to fit around waist, an opening at the top for the neck, and two openings on either side for the arms.
- b. A padded portion consisting of a series of pads placed in pockets that are sewn into the inside of the rash protection shirt oriented in such a manner that they cover the base of the rib cage on the front of the rash protection shirt.
2. The rash guard shirt of claim 1, wherein the padded portion described in 1b is instead comprised of a single pad placed in a pocket sewn into the inside of the rash protection shirt.
3. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 with short sleeves covering the upper arm above the elbow.
4. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 with long sleeves covering the entire arm down to the wrist.
5. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 with no sleeves.
6. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 in which the pad(s) are placed in pocket(s) sewn into the outside of the rash protection shirt.
7. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 in which the pocket(s) are sewn completely closed.
8. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 in which the pocket(s) are left open on one side such that the pad(s) can be removed and/or replaced.
9. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 in which the pad(s) are sewn, or otherwise directly attached, to the outside of the main body portion of the rash protection shirt without the use of pockets.
10. The rash guard shirt of claims 1 and 2 in which the pad(s) are sewn, or otherwise directly attached, to the inside of the main body portion of the rash protection shirt without the use of pockets.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 8, 2013
Publication Date: Sep 19, 2013
Inventor: Mathew Douglas Webb (Cary, NC)
Application Number: 13/815,550