Padded surfing shirt

Abstract

A shirt for protecting the abdominal, rib, and kidney areas of a surfer is disclosed. The shirt is worn on the upper body of a user while surfing, in which the lower portion is constructed from a circumferential band of neoprene rubber extending between the waist and the chest of the user to provide cushioning for the rib and kidney areas of the user to help minimize pain, discomfort, and the effects of impact-related injury. The lower neoprene portion is attached via a sewn seam located below the chest to an upper portion, comprising the remainder of the shirt, which is constructed from a lightweight and flexible nylon and spandex fabric. The resulting garment gives the invention the combined qualities of cushioning for the intended critical areas, while ensuring unrestricted freedom of movement for the wearer.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims benefit of Provisional application No. 61 / 376,664 submitted 24 Aug. 2010.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention generally relates to the field of water sports and is more particularly directed to a shirt for protecting a surfer from injury and irritation to the abdominal, rib and kidney areas when paddling on a surfboard.[0003]As society attains a higher standard of living and technological advances allow work tasks to be completed more efficiently, people have more and more time and financial resources to engage in recreational activities. Those having access to large bodies of water increasingly enjoy outdoor aquatic activities such as boating, skiing and surfing.[0004]Surfing is particularly popular along ocean beaches and shores. Surfing is a water sport in which the surfer rides the front of a breaking wave. While it is possible to surf in a large river or lake, most surfing is done in the ocean...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019]The present invention solves the above noted problems with respect to the need for cushioning in the areas of a surfer's ribs and kidney by a novel shirt that in one embodiment uses a circumferential band of neoprene rubber extending between the waist and chest of the surfer to provide the intended cushioning. The shirt uses a lightweight and flexible nylon and spandex or polyester and spandex fabric in the manufacture of the upper portion of the garment to ensure maximum mobility. Thus, the surfing shirt of the present invention combines cushioning and freedom of movement all in one garment while preserving the style and surfer image that most surfers find important.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, maintenance of this culture and image sometimes means that surfers do not always avail themselves of safety devices and practices that make surfing safer and less prone to injury.

Surfing is inherently a dangerous sport.

Aside from the potential for drowning; there are a number of other hazards confronting a surfer.

While modern technology can protect surfers from all of these hazards, or at least mitigate their potential for serious injury, surfers tend to shy away from their use because they impair the “feel” of the surfboard, detract from the surfing experience, are bulky and uncomfortable to wear or use, or simply are not consistent with the surfing culture and image of a surfer.

The prior art is aware of devices that address the safety and convenience of a surfer, however, their adoption by the surfing community has been minimal for the reasons pointed out above.

The paddling action required while lying prone on a surfboard when paddling out to a wave, onto a wave or returning to shore can cause rib pain, abrasion, and injury.

Devices intended to provide flotation and arch support are not designed with specific padding for the abdominal, ribs, and kidney areas of the surfer and are far too cumbersome to the user.

Such devices are therefore not utilized by the vast majority of the surfing community.

While effective for preventing chafing, rash guards provide no cushioning for the abdominal, rib and kidney areas, and are not designed for that purpose.

While various protective pads are known in other fields of sport, such as football and hockey, none can be readily adopted for use by surfers in a manner that would be acceptable to the surfing community.

Prior art protective pads are too bulky, are not effective, inhibit the enjoyment of surfing, or simply are unappealing to surfers.

The act of lying prone on a surfboard while paddling with the arms and hands causes these types of small pads to shift and become misaligned with their intended targets, reducing, if not eliminating, their intended protection.

In addition, lying on these other types of pads creates a “high-spot” that is uncomfortable and potentially painful for the user.

However, rash guards are designed to prevent chafing and offer no other trauma-induced protection.

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