Football Shoulder Pads

Abstract

Football shoulder pads having non-elastic underarm straps for securing the front panels to the back panels, each underarm strap being affixed on the interior side of the front panels using low profile securing members, passing through a ring member on the back panel, and then brought forward and secured to itself using a hook-and-loop fastening system.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 772,157, filed Mar. 4, 2013.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]This invention relates generally to the field of protective shoulder pads, such as for example shoulder pads worn in football or other athletic activities, and more particularly relates to an improved underarm strapping system for such shoulder pads.[0003]Protective shoulder pads for use in football and other athletic activities involving contact between players are well known. Modern shoulder pads typically comprise a relatively rigid and durable plastic shell assembly comprising right and left shell members in combination with cupped shoulder plates, and a cushioning system composed of multiple padded bodies positioned between the wearer and various components of the shell assembly. The right and left shell members each typically comprise a generally U-shaped shell member having a front panel and back panel with a bridging portio...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]In general the embodiments of the invention are football (or other sport) shoulder pads comprising an assembly of laterally connected right and left plastic shell members, each shell member comprising a front panel and a back panel, and a cushioning system comprising a plurality of padded bodies, the cushioning system being positioned internally to the plastic shell members. The lower portion of each front panel is joined to the lower portion of its corresponding rear panel on each side of the wearer's torso by a releasable, adjustable underarm strapping assembly comprising a non-elastic flat belt or strap member permanently secured to the interior side of the front panel using low profile securing members, preferably rivets. The strap member extends to the rear and passes through a rectangular or D-ring or loop member mounted to the interior of the rear panel with low profile securing members, preferably rivets. In this manner the rivets present no relatively large physical body on the exterior of the front and back panels, such that opposing players are not presented within any handhold or construct on which to gain purchase or leverage, and such that the jerseys are not subject to excessive wear and tear from the mechanical fasteners. Other mechanical mechanisms, as well as bonding or stitching, may also be utilized for the strap securing members provided that the strap securing members possess a low external profile such that they do not extend outwardly from the front and back panels to any great degree. The free end portion of the strap member is brought forward to tighten and secure the shoulder plays on the player. The strap member is provided with a hook-and-loop fastening system, such as sold under the brand VELCRO®, one member of the hook-and-loop fastening system being attached to the exterior of the portion of the strap member extending from the fixed end of the strap member toward to the mid-portion of the strap and the other member of the hook-and-loop fastening system being attached to the same side of the strap member from the mid-portion toward the free end portion. Thus, to tighten and secure the shoulder pads on the wearer, the free end portion of the strap member is pulled forward through the rear panel ring member to draw the front and rear panels together on the body and the free end portion of the strap member is affixed to the fixed portion of the strap member by the hook-and-loop fastening system.

Problems solved by technology

The presence of buckles, rings or other structural members extending from the front panel presents two problems—the first being that the buckles, rings, etc. provide a protruding body or “handhold” that opposing players can push against to control the wearer during blocking in a manner similar to grasping the jersey of the opposing player, and the second being that the protruding body or handhold typically results in tearing of the tight jerseys after only one game, thereby dramatically shortening their useful life and increasing equipment costs.

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