Combined neck and upper body protective garment

Abstract

A neck protector comprising a collar sized and shaped to provide a continuous closure around a neck of a wearer. The collar has a first pair of opposed ends, with one end having a first tongue and the other a first groove. The first tongue fits into the first groove to form a first tongue and groove interlock, which is maintained with a closure. Also, an upper body protector which may be used in combination with the neck protector. The upper body protector comprises a body portion and a spine protector shield system, and/or a chest protector shield system attached to the body portion. Both shield systems comprise at least two overlapping shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover at least a portion of the wearer's spine or sternum, while permitting flex, freedom of movement, and venting.

1 . A neck protector comprising:
 a collar sized and shaped to provide a continuous closure around a neck of a wearer, when in a closed configuration;   said collar having a first pair of opposed ends;   said collar having a first tongue at one of the ends and a first groove at the other of the ends, wherein said first tongue is adapted to fit into said first groove to form a first tongue and groove interlock; and   a closure for maintaining the first tongue and groove interlock and keeping the collar in said closed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The neck protector according to  claim 1 , wherein said first tongue and said first groove are sized, shaped and positioned so that the first tongue and groove interlocking permits perimeter adjustment of the collar. 
     
     
         3 . The neck protector according to  claim 1 , further comprising a bib depending from the collar. 
     
     
         4 . The neck protector according to  claim 3 , wherein the bib is sized, shaped and adapted to attach to and be overlapped by an upper body protector to provide coverage of the wearer's neck, larynx and throat. 
     
     
         5 . The neck protector according to  claim 4 , wherein the bib includes hook and/or loop fasteners for attaching to corresponding hook and/or loop fasteners on the upper body protector. 
     
     
         6 . The neck protector according to  claim 5 , wherein the hook and/or loop fasteners are positioned and arranged on the bib to permit overall height adjustment of the neck protector relative to the upper body protector. 
     
     
         7 . The neck protector according to  claim 3 , wherein the collar depends from the bib in a freestanding manner. 
     
     
         8 . The neck protector according to  claim 3 , further comprising at least one venting section between the collar and the bib. 
     
     
         9 . The neck protector according to  claim 3 , further comprising at least one neck shield member attached to the collar and to the bib, wherein the neck shield member is adapted to break initial impact and distribute impact forces between the collar and the bib. 
     
     
         10 . The neck protector according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one neck shield member is positioned over a throat area of the wearer. 
     
     
         11 . The neck protector according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one neck shield member is positioned over a spine area of the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The neck protector according to  claim 9 , wherein said at least one neck shield member has a top end which is splayed to prevent any hindering or intrusive points of contact and to further distribute the impact forces. 
     
     
         13 . The neck protector according to  claim 9 , wherein the at least one neck shield member is a semi-rigid plastic member. 
     
     
         14 . The neck protector according to  claim 1 , wherein the closure comprises:
 a strap having a first end and a second end, the first end of the strap being attached to the collar adjacent to one of said first tongue and said first groove;   one of a hook and a loop fastener being attached adjacent to the other of said first tongue and said first groove; and   the other of the hook and the loop fastener being attached adjacent to the second end of the strap.   
     
     
         15 . A neck protector according to  claim 1 , wherein said collar comprises a first part and a second part, each of said first and second parts having a first end and a second end;
 the first pair of opposed ends comprising the first end of the first part and the second end of the second part;   the collar further comprising a second pair of opposed ends comprising the second end of the first part and the second end of the second part;   said collar having one of a second tongue and a second groove at said second end of said first part and the other of said second tongue and said second groove at said first end of said second part;   wherein said second tongue is adapted to fit into said second groove to form a second tongue and groove interlock.   
     
     
         16 . The neck protector according to  claim 15 , further comprising a bib depending from the collar, wherein the bib comprises first and second members, the first member being attached to the first part of the collar, and the second member being attached to the second part of the collar. 
     
     
         17 . A combined neck and upper body protector comprising:
 an upper body protector; and   a neck protector according to  claim 11 , detachably attached to said upper body protector, said upper body protector having a chest protector shield system, the at least one neck shield member being sized, shaped, and positioned to underlie the chest protector shield system to provide uninterrupted protection of at least a portion of the wearer's throat, larynx, sternum and chest.   
     
     
         18 . A combined neck and upper body protector comprising:
 an upper body protector; and   a neck protector according to  claim 11 , detachably attached to said upper body protector, said upper body protector having a spine protector shield system, the at least one neck shield member is sized and shaped to underlie the spine protector shield system to provide uninterrupted protection of at least a portion of the wearer's spine.   
     
     
         19 . A neck protector comprising
 a collar sized and shaped to provide a continuous closure substantially around a neck of a wearer;   a bib depending from said collar; and   at least one neck shield member attached to the collar and to the bib, wherein the neck shield member is adapted to break initial impact and distribute impact forces between the collar and the bib.   
     
     
         20 . An upper body protector comprising:
 a body portion having a front and a back;   a spine protector shield system attached to the back of the body portion, said spine protector shield system comprising:   at least two shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover a wearer's spine when the upper body protector is worn by the wearer;   each of the at least two shield sections having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of each shield section being attached to the body portion;   the bottom end of at least one shield section overlapping a top end of an adjacent shield section, the bottom end of the at least one shield section being free;   whereby the spine protector shield system is adapted to protect at least a portion of the wearer's spine while permitting flex and freedom of movement, as well as venting in the region of overlap.   
     
     
         21 . The upper body protector according to  claim 20 , wherein the at least two shield sections are constructed of vented, semi-rigid plastic bonded to perforated medium density foam encased in a breathable external fabric. 
     
     
         22 . An upper body protector comprising:
 a body portion having a front and a back;   a chest protector shield system attached to the front of the body portion, the chest protector shield system comprising:   at least two shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover at least the wearer's sternum when the upper body protector is worn by the wearer;   each of the at least two shield sections having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of each shield section being attached to the body portion;   the bottom end of at least one shield section overlapping a top end of an adjacent shield section, the bottom end of the at least one shield section being free;   whereby the chest protector shield system is adapted to protect at least a portion of the wearer's sternum, while permitting flex and freedom of movement, as well as venting in the region of overlap.   
     
     
         23 . The upper body protector according to  claim 22 , wherein the at least two shield sections are constructed of vented, semi-rigid plastic bonded to perforated medium density foam encased in a breathable external fabric. 
     
     
         24 . A combined neck and upper body protector comprising:
 an upper body protector comprising:
 a body portion having a front and a back; 
 a spine protector shield system attached to the back of the body portion, the spine protector shield system comprising:
 at least two shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover the wearer's spine when the upper body protector is worn by the wearer; 
 each of the at least two shield sections having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of each shield section being attached to the body portion; 
 the bottom end of at least one shield section overlapping a top end of an adjacent shield section, the bottom end of the at least one shield section being free; 
 
 whereby the spine protector shield system is adapted to protect at least a portion of the length of the wearer's spine while permitting flex and freedom of movement, as well as venting in the region of overlap; and 
   a neck protector detachably attached to said upper body protector, said neck protector comprising:
 a collar sized and shaped to provide a continuous closure around a neck of the wearer, when in a closed configuration; 
 said collar having a first pair of opposed ends; 
 said collar having a first tongue at one of the ends and a first groove at the other of the ends, wherein said first tongue is adapted to fit into said first groove to form a first tongue and groove interlock; and 
 a closure for maintaining the first tongue and groove interlock and keeping the collar in said closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         25 . The combined neck and upper body protector according to  claim 24 , wherein the neck protector further comprises a bib depending from the collar, said bib being detachably attached to and overlapped by said upper body protector. 
     
     
         26 . The combined neck and upper body protector according to  claim 24  further comprising:
 a chest protector shield system attached to the front of the body portion, the chest protector shield system comprising: 
 at least two shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover at least the wearer's sternum when the upper body protector is worn by the wearer; 
 each of the at least two shield sections having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of each shield section being attached to the body portion; 
 the bottom end of at least one shield section overlapping a top end of an adjacent shield section, the bottom end of the at least one shield section being free; 
 whereby the chest protector shield system is adapted to protect at least a portion of the wearer's sternum, while permitting flex and freedom of movement, as well as venting in the region of overlap. 
 
     
     
         27 . The combined neck and upper body protector according to  claim 26 , wherein the neck protector further comprises a bib depending from the collar, the bib being detachably attached to and overlapped by the upper body protector, and wherein said neck protector further comprises at least one neck shield member attached to the collar and to the bib over at least a portion of the wearer's throat, and underlying at least a portion of the chest protector shield system, wherein the neck shield member is adapted to break initial impact and distribute impact forces between the collar, the bib, and the chest protector shield system, to provide uninterrupted protection of at least a portion of the wearer's throat, larynx, sternum, and chest. 
     
     
         28 . A combined neck and upper body protector comprising:
 an upper body protector comprising:
 a body portion having a front and a back; 
 a chest protector shield system attached to the front of the body portion, the chest protector shield system comprising: 
 at least two shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover at least a portion of the wearer's sternum when the upper body protector is worn by the wearer; 
 each of the at least two shield sections having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of each shield section being attached to the body portion; 
 the bottom end of at least one shield section overlapping a top end of an adjacent shield section, the bottom end of the at least one shield section being free; 
 whereby the chest protector shield system is adapted to protect at least a portion of the wearer's sternum, while permitting flex and freedom of movement, as well as venting in the region of overlap; and 
   a neck protector detachably attached to said upper body protector, said neck protector comprising:
 a collar sized and shaped to provide a continuous closure around a neck of the wearer, when in a closed configuration; 
 said collar having a first pair of opposed ends; 
 said collar having a first tongue at one of the ends and a first groove at the other of the ends, wherein said first tongue is adapted to fit into said first groove to form a first tongue and groove interlock; and 
 a closure for maintaining the first tongue and groove interlock and keeping the collar in said closed configuration. 
   
     
     
         29 . A combined neck and upper body protector according to  claim 28  further comprising:
 a spine protector shield system attached to the back of the body portion, the spine protector shield system comprising:
 at least two shield sections sized, shaped and positioned to cover the wearer's spine when the upper body protector is worn by the wearer; 
 each of the at least two shield sections having a top end and a bottom end, the top end of each shield section being attached to the body portion; 
 the bottom end of at least one shield section overlapping a top end of an adjacent shield section, the bottom end of the at least one shield section being free; 
 whereby the spine protector shield system is adapted to protect at least a portion of the length of the wearer's spine while permitting flex and freedom of movement, as well as venting in the region of overlap. 
 
 
     
     
         30 . The combined neck and upper body protector according to  claim 29 , wherein the neck protector further comprises a bib depending from the collar, said bib being detachably attached to and overlapped by said upper body protector, and wherein said neck protector further comprises at least one neck shield member attached to the collar and to the bib over at least a portion of the wearer's spine, and underlying at least a portion of the spine protector shield system, wherein the neck shield member is adapted to break initial impact and distribute impact forces between the collar, the bib, and the spine protector shield system, to provide uninterrupted protection of at least a portion of the wearer's spine.