Chest Protector Patents (Class 2/463)
  • Patent number: 5996118
    Abstract: A new dishwashing aid for providing a person a more comfortable and easier way of washing dishes. The inventive device includes a chest plate dimensioned for covering a chest of a user. The chest plate is supported on a counter area of a sink. A hip plate is provided that is dimensioned for covering a pelvic region of the user. The hip plate is adjustably coupled with respect to the chest plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventor: Vincent L. Carlone
  • Patent number: 5978961
    Abstract: An improved rigid safety-vest structure intended for general use in hazardous-construction environments, such as encountered by trench and tunnel workers. Sudden cave-in situations are said by the U.S. Federal-agency O.S.H.A. to tragically take many lives annually to insidious suffocation, attributable to simple impairment of a workers'upper-abdomen/thorax region by suddenly surrounding cave-in earth. The notion of the HardJacket.TM. being to prevent these fatalities, by providing the worker a light-weight aerated upper-torso safety-vest within which an earthen immobilized worker can maintain their vital breathing action, -while efforts are being made to bodily extricate them. The disclosure includes a three-paneled frontally opening self-donning structure fabricated with an interlaced metal truss-structure, preferably enveloped in a bright-colored aerating nylon-fabric; plus a generic-variant embodiment, formed of inner and outer rigid-skins separated by a rigid foam-core interior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Inventor: Nicholas Barker
  • Patent number: 5974585
    Abstract: A protective garment for covering a frontal chest, waist and groin areas of a wearer which includes, a panel constructed of a plurality of sheets in which each sheet is constructed of flexible woven high strength protective fibers and in which the panel is formed for underlying clothing which covers the frontal waist area of the wearer and in which the panel extends continuously to overlie the frontal chest area down to and over the frontal waist and groin areas of the wearer. Various straps are used for releasably securing the panel to and maintaining the panel in a position overlying the frontal chest, waist and groin areas of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Second Chance Body Armor, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas E. Bachner, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5970513
    Abstract: The Multi-Piece, Integrated Body Armor System is a two component system. The first component consists of a small piece of body armor, worn as an undergarment, that can weigh less than 2 pounds (a hard ballistic plate is optional) and covers the human upper torso area (lower neck to below the heart). The second component consists of a vest/jacket that is worn over a normal shirt. This component provides ballistic protection for areas where the first component's protection ends. The significance of this invention is that it offers complete, inconspicuous, ballistic protection while providing the wearer ease and comfort of continuous wear of the undergarment component and ease of removal for the externally worn component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Robert William Kocher
  • Patent number: 5966747
    Abstract: A protective suit for covering the limbs and body of an operative to shield them from the effects of explosive devices such as anti-personnel mines includes on the front thereof an upper reinforced breast plate and a lower reinforced groin plate to provide added protection to the vital organs of the wearer. In the deployed position the groin plate at its upper end overlaps the lower end of the breast plate, and the lower end of the groin plate extends in front of and below the crotch region of the wearer. The groin plate is movable upwardly to a retracted position within a pouch in front of the breast plate, and in this retracted position does not interfere with the freedom of movement of the wearer's legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Med-Eng Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Vince Crupi, Donald Alexander Gunn, Richard J. L'Abbe, Aristidis Makris, Ron Purvis, Kalaam Shaik
  • Patent number: 5950249
    Abstract: The Stealth Chest Guard's size is 5"6/8" by 11"3/8" by 3/8" thick, it is comprised of a rubber pad to absorb the hit from an object such as a ball coming off of a bat or a bounce coming from the ground directed to the heart area. The plastic caplike shape that goes over the rubber is to help distribute the impact away from the heart area and give more support to the rubber pad. the soft terry cloth is worn for comfort and to let the skin breath. The flexablity of the rubber pad and the size of this chest guard was a very important factor. The players in the field need protection ,but they need flexability,and protection without the bulk that comes with other protective gear. The Stealth Chest Guard is light weight ,comfortable ,durable, and provides a protection for the players that is not yet available to them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Theresa M. Clement
    Inventor: Theresa M. Clement
  • Patent number: 5943694
    Abstract: Armor, in particular body armor for female wearers is made of multiple layers (30) of penetration-resistant material for example made of polyaramid fibers, specially shaped to fit over a shaped area to be protected, e.g. the bust of a female wearer. The armor's shaped part is held in shape by a series of darts (37) in successive layers (30) of the material. Each dart in a material layer comprises a generally V-shaped section (35) whose edges (37) are joined to form the dart. The V-shaped section (35) of the material is folded on itself to form a pleat (40) which is folded over to one side of the dart (37) to form an added thickness overlaying or underlying an adjacent part of the material (30). The darts (37) are angularly offset from one another with the pleats (40) oriented in directions so that the added thickness is distributed substantially evenly, thereby avoiding bulges or stiffness and improving the wearing comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Beatrice Moureaux, Friedrich V. Pfister, Nicolas A. Van Zijl
  • Patent number: 5937447
    Abstract: A protective garment is provided including a chest protector being formed of solid foam. Also included is an abdominal protector including a plurality of inflatable tubular mechanisms. The abdominal protector is connected to the chest protector. Next provided is a groin protector connected to the abdominal protector and formed of solid foam. Finally, a strap assembly is provided for securing the protectors on a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: William J. Howell
  • Patent number: 5933874
    Abstract: An upper body or chest protector includes a pad having a case occupied by a block of cellular foam adapted to be compressed upon receipt of impact loading. Neck and body girth straps are employed to detachably retain the pad in place on the chest of the user. The body girth straps may include a pair of support straps that downwardly depend from the pad and loop about a waist belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Michael Randolph
  • Patent number: 5926857
    Abstract: An armor with rollers is provided that enables a user to move in all positions by rolling on a hard and smooth surface while constantly varying his bearing points on the ground. The armor includes a pair of gauntlets extending from beyond the user's hand to the user's elbow and having rollers at both ends thereof. The armor also includes a pair of rigid leg pads having rollers near the user's knees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Blondeau
  • Patent number: 5920915
    Abstract: Protective padding primarily intended for use in sports gear. The pads include flexible, outer casings of porous, breathable, inelastic material overfilled with resilient, discrete beads of elastic material. The beads are initially in compressed states within the casing and place the outer, inelastic casing in tension. When a blow or force is applied, the beads are further compressed to absorb and dissipate the impact. Additionally, the applied blow or force will increase the tension in the outer casing to even further compress the elastic beads for better absorption and dissipation of the impact. In use, the porous pads are compressed and rebound to create a pumping effect that circulates air into and out of the pads drawing heat and perspiration from the athlete's body and keeping the athlete cool and dry. If desired, the pad can be secured directly to the athlete's jersey to enhance this pumping effect as well as the dissipation of the force of any impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Brock USA, LLC
    Inventors: David W. Bainbridge, L. Paul Nickerson
  • Patent number: 5897468
    Abstract: An exercise aid is composed of a harness which is worn on the lifter's chest when performing the bench press exercise and has left and right sides disposed at opposite respective sides of a central plane of the harness. The harness includes two pockets which are symmetrically disposed about the central plane. A stiff plate can be removably inserted in each pocket to provide a spacer which limits the extent to which the bar can be lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Inventor: Eric Lumpkin
  • Patent number: 5893175
    Abstract: A new pneumatic torso armor and helmet for creating a visual display on a wearer for use at sporting events. The inventive device includes an inflatable body portion comprised of a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of shoulder panels. The front panel has a chest portion and an abdominal portion. A side of the front panel has an inflation tube extending outwardly therefrom. The front panel has couplers extending outwardly of lower side edges thereof. The back panel has corresponding couplers extending outwardly of lower side edges thereof for mating with the straps of the front panel. The shoulder panels have opposed lateral edges each having corresponding couplers disposed thereon for engaging the shoulder panels to a wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Inventor: Eric Cooper
  • Patent number: 5884340
    Abstract: This invention comprises mainly a first strap, belt, or the like encircling one of the legs of the wearer, at least one first shield for covering and/or supporting a private part of the wearer, and a connecting element for connecting the first shield to the first strap or belt or the like. The invention can furthermore comprise a second strap which, with one end thereof connected to the first strap, the belt or the like encircling the leg, with the other end encircling a neck, attached to an upper arm, attached (with a hook-shaped portion) to a shoulder, or attached to the first strap after passing over the front side of body, a shoulder, and the rear side of the body. A second shield for covering and/or supporting the breasts of a wearer (particularly female wearer) can be fixedly or removably attached to the second strap. The first shield can be attached to the first strap directly or through the connecting element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Inventors: Chun Nan Chen, Chung Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 5882242
    Abstract: A shielding brassiere fabricated of a soft supple material such as cotton interwoven with stainless steel threads to shield and screen the breast from electromagnetic radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Robert E Hardy
  • Patent number: 5881395
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: Byron A Donzis
  • Patent number: 5867842
    Abstract: An impact absorbing garment is shown having a number of inflatable compartments attached to the garment. A source of pressurized gas is mounted to a manifold assembly also attached to the garment. The manifold assembly includes internal passageways connecting a gas inlet that receives gas from the source of pressurized gas to a gas outlet. Tubing attached to the garment connects the manifold assembly gas outlet to the inflatable compartments. The manifold assembly also houses a gas release valve. A toggle link mechanism supported within the manifold assembly provides a mechanical advantage by reducing the force required to maintain the gas release valve in a closed position against high pressure gas at the gas inlet. An electric solenoid moves a slide member to release the toggle link mechanism and open the gas release valve when an electrical circuit is closed between the solenoid valve and an electrical power source attached to the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Inventors: Sherri Wallis Pinsley, Alan T. Fletcher, James E. Strauch
  • Patent number: 5862531
    Abstract: A garment with sleeves, worn on a baseball player's upper torso, which has rib cage-protective padding beneath a so-called pad-positioning sleeve so that, in use, a baseball player batting right-handed inserts a left hand through the pad-positioning sleeve and, after turning the garment around, a baseball player batting left-handed inserts a right hand through the pad-positioning sleeve and, by following this simple fitting procedure in both instances the single garment positions the protective pad in covering relation over the player's rib cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Inventor: Jeremy Ross
  • Patent number: 5806103
    Abstract: A breast protector and assembly are provided. The breast protector comprises a retention cup constructed of a rigid or semi-rigid material and formed into a demi-teardrop shape which approximates the natural shape of an unsupported female breast. The retention cup can have padding permanently or removably attached to an inner surface of the retention cup. A breast protector assembly comprises two retention cups fitted into a retention cup sleeve composed of a semi-elastic material in the shape of a tube. The retention cup assembly is sized so that the retention cups fit securely within the tube. The retention cup assembly can fit within the cups of an ordinary brassiere, being held thereby against the body of the wearer. Alternately, the retention cup assembly can be sewn into the brassiere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Youth Education Safety & Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamie McCracken, Kathy L. Goff
  • Patent number: 5742947
    Abstract: An adjustable chest protector to prevent athletic injuries, particularly in baseball. The chest protector is C-shaped in a horizontal plane and designed to fit comfortably and unnoticeably underneath clothing of the user. It is also designed to allow free, unhindered movement by the athlete. The chest protector nevertheless is strong enough to prevent potentially fatal injuries. A portion of the protector is contoured convexly away from the user to assume the natural shape of the user's hemithorax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Inventor: James B. Davis
  • Patent number: 5737774
    Abstract: A device for preventing or reducing the incidence or intensity of pain occurring in a region of the body of a wearer, includes insulating material (2) which is arranged to be worn in conformity and close proximity with the body region. The insulating material has at least one layer (14) for reducing heat loss from the body region by convection and at least one reflective layer (13) for reducing heat loss from the body by radiation, whereby a targeted local warming effect is achieved in the body region such that the skin and underlying musculoskeletal structures are in such an active state that they can function properly to provide a clinical benefit to the body region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Spine-Issimus Limited
    Inventors: Satham Petty-Saphon, Tommy Hansson
  • Patent number: 5716255
    Abstract: A brassiere underliner fittable to a brassiere to allow absorption of perspiration of the user. No modification of the brassiere is needed. The brassiere underliner fits under the breasts of the brassiere user and has greater thickness and rises higher in between the breasts to capture a greater amount of perspiration between the breasts. The underliner has curvatures that are contoured to fit the curves of the undersides of the breasts. A tacky adhesive retains the underliner in position on the brassiere. The underliner can be disposable, thereby allowing quick replacement as necessary and avoiding potential embarrassment. Further, the use of the underliner limits soiling of the brassiere, hence extending the life of the expensive garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Inventors: Sylvia A. Abercrombie, Lilly L. Maness
  • Patent number: 5692246
    Abstract: A chest pillow for use by a post-surgical patient has a flexible plate and padding surrounding and covering all sides and edges of the plate. A fabric cover surrounds and encloses the padding and the plate. Separable straps extend between upper and lower edges of the pillow, the straps having sufficient length to pass around the upper body of the patient, thereby to hold the pillow in a desired position, ready for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignees: Ray A. Benedick, Rose M. Benedick
    Inventor: Rose Marie Benedick
  • Patent number: 5690537
    Abstract: A protective brassiere that protects the delicate breast tissue and the related glandular areas from harmful radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Phyllis Kalmus
  • Patent number: 5669080
    Abstract: The invention is a one-piece, fully adjustable, shock absorbing protective vest. The protective vest is contoured to fully protect the chest, shoulder and upper arm areas of the wearer. The protective vest allows free movement of both arms without pulling out of position or compromising the area of protective coverage. Further, enhancing the flexibility of the protective vest are slits positioned to help the protective vest move with the wearer without pulling the protective vest out of position. The protective vest is attached to the wearer through an adjustable combination of flexible and non-flexible straps which are further adjustable by the use of a dual adjustable piece allowing a full range of adjustment for different body types without compromising protection to the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventor: Dale M. Culton
  • Patent number: 5652967
    Abstract: A sport protector includes a chest-and-back protector, two shoulder guards and two arm guards. The chest-and-back protector and the arm guards have elastic paddings provided with air apertures and small air holes in walls of each air aperture for air to flow out so as to disperse shock in addition to absorb shock at the same time. Further, the air apertures are useful for heat produced by the body of a user to escape out, furnishing comfort to the user in wearing the protector. Besides, a reinforcing plate is respectively added on an outer side of the chest-and-back protector and the arm guards to increase endurable force against shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Inventor: Kevin Hsu
  • Patent number: 5644792
    Abstract: The invention provides a personally-worn system for security and combat units, comprising modular, interchangeable, load-bearing front and back panels having predesignated pouch arrangements integrally formed therewith, the front and back panels being interchangably secured to each other via interconnecting shoulder straps. The load-bearing panels are each further provided with interconnection means for optional releasable attachment of front or back body armour panels to an inner-facing surface thereof, and each of the body armour panels, when attached to the load-bearing panels, is secured to the body of the wearer by means of the respective load-bearing panel to which it is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Kata Professional L.T.D.
    Inventors: Dror Tishler, Nitzan Kimchi
  • Patent number: 5636378
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a vest constructed using woven tubing which generally forms a mesh throughout the vest. The tubing is connected with a reservoir, wherein the tubing and reservoir are filled with electrically conductive fluid. The fluid communicates with a pair of leads to maintain a constant, low-level electrical contact therebetween. The woven tubing is covered with cloth-like material and a hardening substance, such as epoxy. Hence, the tubing will break when the vest receives a significant impact. When the tubing is broken, the fluid escapes from the tubing and breaks the electrical contact between the leads, whereby a transmitter is activated to send a recorded message. In addition, a position sensor is attached to the transmitter for activating the transmitter to send the recorded message if the apparatus is maintained in a non-vertical position for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Inventor: Quentin L. Griffith
  • Patent number: 5623729
    Abstract: The chest protector of the present invention consists of an upper guard portion and a lower padding portion, the upper guard portion comprising a right and a left shoulder guard panels, a chest guard panel and a plurality of abdomen guard panels, each being injection molded from engineering plastic and provided with a plurality of holes, so that respective guard panels are connected with one another by means of a plurality of connecting plates and the buttons provided on the connecting plates.When the upper guard portion is assembled into a proper shape and size, the lower padding portion with corresponding shape and size can be selected with the upper guard portion being laid on the lower padding portion, and then having rivets driven into those holes on the guard panels not occupied by the buttons of the connecting plates, so that the upper guard portion is secured to the lower padding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Inventor: Mike C. Chen
  • Patent number: 5623728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective gear having a primary front protective pad and a rear protective pad, the front and rear pads being flexibly connected to one another and being adjustable relative to one another. This allows the primary front protective pad to extend to a greater or lesser extent downwardly over the player's abdomen, so as to accommodate the desired positioning of the front protective pad on the player's body. The protective gear also has arm sections that are adjustable in length to permit desired positioning on the player's arms. In a variant, the protective gear of the invention also has an adjustable secondary front pad which is attached to the primary front pad and the rear pad and which is configured to cover the player's upper chest and clavicle areas. The protective gear according to the invention is particularly useful for ice hockey players and particularly goaltenders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 29, 1997
    Assignee: Canstar Sports Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven G. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5621914
    Abstract: A protective garment minimizes injury to the wearer resulting from an impact to the general area of the heart. The garment is particularly adapted for use in sports participation such a little league baseball. The garment includes a shirt having a front side with a pocket on the inside of the shirt disposed in the general area of the heart. An impact resistant laminate is mounted in the pocket to shield the general area of the heart. The impact resistant laminate includes a protective flexible plate and a cushioning structure mounted in front of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Hardcore Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick J. Ramone, Paul M. Murphy