Abstract: This invention concerns a removable protective shoulder pad for protecting against impact to the top, anterior, posterior or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm, or portions thereof, during sporting activities comprising one or more sections that can be secured to a protective body vest a shirt, a vest or other garment. The removable protective pad, comprising an outer layer or layers of rigid, semi-rigid or semi-flexible material and an inner layer or layers of flexible, semi-flexible or semi-rigid material, is secured to the shoulder portion or upper arm portion of the protective body vest, the shirt, the vest or other garment by a fastening device or devices. The removable protective pad may further be secured to the upper arm and/or shoulder by a fastening device or devices.

Abstract: A protective body vest for protecting against impact upon torso when worn by an athlete during sporting activities. The invention comprises a multi-section, one-piece garment comprising of a vest sized and shaped to be worn on the torso of an athlete with a multi-layered protective padding that automatically adjusts for varying body sizes and can be customized by the wearer based on safety, comfort and athletic performance concerns. The invention further comprises a shoulder portion with oversized apertures for the arms, an anterior portion, a pair of lateral portions and a tapered-design posterior portion. The invention further utilizes an offset opening located off set from the medial line of a human torso to protect the heart and a flap or overlap to protect the region of the offset opening and cover the vest area about the offset opening.

Abstract: A laminated stretch cushion strap assembly having a stretchable cover, a stretchable cushion filler and a stretchable bottom or bottom fabric. The cover includes a stretchable top fabric, a first adhesive web layer positioned on one side of the top fabric and a stretchable base layer positioned on the first adhesive layer on a side opposite that of the top fabric. The stretchable bottom fabric forms with the cover an enclosure. The stretchable cushion filler is adapted to be completely enclosed within the enclosure. The stretchable cushion filler has a first cushion layer, and adhesive for securing during lamination the cover to the stretchable cushion filler, and the cushion filler to the stretchable bottom fabric. The adhesive is a second adhesive web layer positioned between the stretchable base layer and the first cushion layer to secure the cushion filler to the cover, and a third adhesive web layer positioned on the first cushion layer to secure the bottom fabric to the cushion filler.

Abstract: An impact and energy absorbing product for helmets and protective gear. More particularly, the invention teaches the usage of coiled springs in conjunction with polymeric materials or metals such as titanium, to absorb and dissipate forces of humans and other objects coming in contact with helmets and a variety of sporting equipment. Depending upon the exact environment in which the same are to be used, the coiled springs may be constructed of polymers or titanium—lightweight, yet durable materials to accomplish the purposes of the invention. In the preferred mode of attachment, an insert is fitted to each end of each spring, with a flared insert then placed into a molded female slot upon the equipment to hold the spring in place. Thus, a helmet, chest protector or the like may comprise a series of female slots such that multiple springs can easily slide therein.

Abstract: A padded shoulder protection device for essentially protecting against micro-trauma to one's shoulder due to carrying objects on the shoulder. The padded shoulder protection device includes a semi-flexible layered and padded member having four projecting portions, a neck-receiving edge, and further includes eight straps and four buckles with four of the straps being attached to respective projecting portions and the remaining four straps being attached either to a padded belt member or to four strap members with each strap member having a respective suspender-like clip attached thereto. The semi-flexible layered and padded member includes a layer of foam material, a layer of plastic material, and a layer of either rubber or leather.

Abstract: A baseball chest protector with shoulder guards extending over both shoulders of the wearer, to which adjustable straps are attached. The shoulder guards extend just slightly outward of the wearer's shoulder, such that the shoulder is protected but the guard does not interfere with the wearer's throwing motion. The chest protector of the present invention should rest on the wearer's shoulders, ensuring that the protector is properly positioned even when the straps are not perfectly adjusted.

Abstract: A ballistic resistant upper arm armor piece, for protecting the arm scye, thout restricting arm movement, includes a front lobe, a back lobe connected to the front lobe, and means such as an elastic strap with a hook and loop fastener, for securing the lobes to a user's upper arm so that a portion of the front lobe extends around a front portion of the user's torso and a portion of the back lobe extends around a back portion of the torso. The lobes have an upper edge and a lower edge, and together the lobes form a concave portion along the lower edge. The piece also includes means, on the upper edge of the lobes, for interconnecting the lobes to a garment worn by the user. The piece is constructed from a durable outer shell material, which encases an insert composed of multiple layers of ballistic resistant materials.

Abstract: The system of this invention describes shoulder pads for workers who need to carry heavy or cumbersome objects safely, comfortably and with ease. It comprises an interchangeable shoulder pad made from a comfortable and wear resistant material with a pair of front and back adjustable straps that connect to a worker's belt, pants or other clothing on the waist of the worker. The interchangeable nature of this pad permits the same pad to be used on the left or right side. The pad is specially contoured for the neck and shoulder and underlined with suade so as not to slip.

Abstract: A protective shoulder pad which is adapted to be worn on either the right or left shoulder of a wearer for supporting a load, and which includes a protective pad having a band forming an underarm loop connected adjacent one side thereof, and a pair of body straps connected adjacent the opposite side of the protective pad with the free ends of the body strap having complementary fastening means for securing the free ends of the body straps in a readily releasable manner so that when worn, one arm of the wearer is slipped through the underarm loop with the body strap being diagonally extended along the back and front of the wearer so that the free ends are secured in a readily releasable manner on the front of the wearer.

Abstract: A Durable Padded Interchangeable Brassiere Strap Shoulder Shield is intended to be placed beneath a brassiere strap between the brassiere strap and the wearer's shoulder. Velcro.RTM. hook fastener material disposed on the dorsal surface of the shield engages the brassiere strap and holds the shield in place while the padded material absorbs the shock from the brassiere strap. The shield is comprised of a resilient semi-rigid form. The form has a gently curved shape in the general contour of a human shoulder, curving from front to back. Padding is disposed upon a bottom side of the form. The padding is held in place by a covering disposed over the padding and the form. The covering directly covers the form and is tight enough to hold the padding against the form giving the shield the general contour established by the form. The hook fastener material is disposed on the covering opposite the padding material.

Abstract: A simple, lightweight cooling garment is provided for medical personnel working at intense medical tasks in warm environments (e.g. lead aprons and sterile gowns). The garment comprises an outer, air impermeable layer of material of minimal weight and bulk and an inner layer of air permeable material of minimal weight and bulk. The layers are secured together in a manner that allows air to flow between such layers and through the inner air, permeable layer to the body of the individual wearing the garment. In addition, means is provided for connecting the garment to a source of air flow containing relatively dry air for direction between the layers of the garment to the body of the individual wearing the garment.

Abstract: This invention provides a pad for clothes, such as a shoulder pad, and a manufacturing method thereof, wherein the precise positioning of a shape memory material is maintained, while the safety of a pad is improved. A shape memory material is contained in a pouch-like body, and the pouch-like body is positioned in the pad materials. In the pouch-like body, the precise positioning of the shape memory material is achieved by forming an opening and by providing a positioning part. The shape memory material is inserted into the opening and is positioned adjacent to the positioning part.

Abstract: Load distribution shoulder pads (12, 14) for a backpack (10). Each shoulder pad is constructed from a first cushioned layer (16) and a second cushioned layer (18). Each cushioned layer is covered by a corresponding fabric layer (20, 22). The cushioned layers are contoured by the formation of a skived longitudinal recess (66) cut into the interior surface (62) of each cushioned layer along the perimeter edge (64) of the cushioned layer, defining a reduced thickness perimeter lip (70) around each cushioned layer. For assembly, the cushioned layers are placed exterior fabric side against exterior fabric side and a cushioned layer/fabric seam allowance (74) is sewn with stitching (76). The shoulder pad is then reversed inside-out, such that the seam allowances are received between the cushioned layers within a cavity (78) defined by the opposing skived recesses. The shoulder pad has a uniform thickness and density across the entire width, and uncomfortable pressure ridges are avoided.

Abstract: A lingerie strap cushioning device, for use by a woman having shoulders, when wearing an article of lingerie having shoulder straps, comprising an upper section and a lower section that are separated by a fold line. The upper section and lower section are normally coplanar, but are selectively foldable about the fold line to trap one of the lingerie straps therebetween. The cushioning device has a bottom curve which is symmetrical about the fold line. The cushioning device also has a top curve which intersects the fold line at a point of intersection, and is concave outward from the point of intersection with the fold line. When the cushioning device is folded about the fold line, the bottom curve overlaps the upper portion and lower portion, but the upper portion defines an extension section in the lower portion where the upper portion does not overlap the lower portion.

Abstract: A new Bra-Strap Securing System for retaining a bra-strap directly underneath a shirt strap of various types of sleeveless shirts preventing the bra-strap from exposure by securing the bra-strap with a middle positioned dual-sided adhesive tape. The inventive device includes a length of dual-sided adhesive tape formed into a tape roll, transparent or colored, which includes a plurality of perforations perpendicularly aligned to the longitudinal length of the dual-sided adhesive tape at various lengths apart allowing the user to remove an ergonomic section when needed from the tape roll, or can be sold in separate pieces in various lengths and widths.

Abstract: An improved impact absorbing pad comprising a foam core attached to and enclosed within a generally air impermeable covering, having at least one selected air permeable region, and wherein at least a portion of the covering enclosing one side of the core is comprised of stretch fabric.

Abstract: A one-piece wrap-around wrist guard is provided that includes a plurality of flexible plastic supports or stays positioned above and below the wrist. The wrap-around support structure helps absorb and distribute forces from a fall rather than transmitting them to the wrist, arm, elbow and shoulder.

Abstract: A cushion strap assembly and method of making same is provided which cushion strap assembly is adapted to be used in a brassiere shoulder strap. The assembly includes a top fabric layer, a first adhesive web layer positioned on one side of the top fabric layer, and a base layer positioned on the first adhesive layer on the side opposite that of the top fabric layer. The assembly also includes a cushion filler that is a first cushion layer, a third adhesive web layer positioned on a side of the first cushion layer, a second cushion layer positioned on the third adhesive layer on the side opposite that of the first cushion layer. A second adhesive web layer can be part of the cushion filler or separate. In either event, it is positioned on the first cushion layer on the side opposite the third adhesive web layer.

Abstract: An arm warmer garment (10) worn on an arm (12) of an athlete (14) to retain a substantial amount of body heat comprising a protective flexible sleeve (16) adapted to cover the arm (12) of the athlete (14) from a wrist (18) all the way up to a shoulder (20). A facility (22) is for securing the protective flexible sleeve (16) in place on the arm (12) of the athlete (14). The protective flexible sleeve (16) will stay on the arm (12) and maintain the temperature of muscles needed by the athlete (14) in the arm (12) for throwing an object (24), when the athlete (14) is idle during a sporting game.

Abstract: A pad for attachment to a strap, such as the shoulder strap of an article such as a brassiere, includes a fluid-filled envelope, slidable over the strap for eventual positioning over the shoulders of the wearer. A fabric cover may be placed over the envelope and attachment tabs may be secured to either the envelope or the cover to securely position the envelope relative to the strap during use. A modified form of the invention includes a second pair of fluid-filled envelopes affixed to the lower edges of the cups of a brassiere.