Upper body protective system

Abstract

A contact sports upper body protector having an inner, breathable fabric layer and an outer layer composed of multiple, individual padding elements. A tensioning system is integrated into the inner layer to comfortably secure the protector to the body without impeding movement and includes reinforcing such as stitching running over the shoulders and joining together front and back before proceeding toward the waist of the wearer where a tensioning strap on either side is cooperatively engaged. The tensioning strap extends from the front portion of the garment through a D-ring on the rear and returns to the front where it is removeably secured at a point below its original departure point so as to provide tension both around the body/waist and over the shoulders to secure the protector in place.

1 . A garment for the protection of a wearer during contact sports, comprising
 an inner fabric layer capable of being worn around the neck and over the shoulders of said wearer and having an opening therein to accommodate the neck of said wearer, said inner fabric layer further comprising a front portion and a back portion, said front portion extending downward from said opening along left and right lateral edges to a distal bottom end positioned at or below a sternum of said wearer and said back portion extending downward from said opening along left and right lateral edges to a distal bottom end in back of said wearer, said back portion further comprising a pair of strap guides, each strap guide being affixed on opposing sides of said back portion proximate to said distal bottom end;   a tensioning system, comprising,
 a left tensioning element engaged from the left lateral edge of said front portion, passing through a corresponding strap guide on said back portion, and engaged to said front portion proximate said distal bottom end, and 
   a right tensioning element engaged from the right lateral edge of said front portion, passing through a corresponding strap guide on said back portion, and engaged to said front portion proximate said distal bottom end   whereby tensioning of said left and right tensioning elements results in tightening of said inner layer along the torso of said wearer, over said shoulders and around the abdomen of said wearer; and   an outer layer of one or more padding elements affixed to said inner fabric layer.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said strap guides are D-rings and wherein said left and right tensioning elements are straps. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a left and a right reinforcing seam each stitched along said inner fabric layer from proximate one of said tensioning elements to an opposing shoulder of said wearer, wherein said left and a right reinforcing seams cross each other. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said distal bottom ends of said front portion and said back portion terminate at or near the waist of said wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a fastening strip on said front portion to which said left and right tensioning elements are removably affixed. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 5  wherein said left and right tensioning elements are removably affixed to said fastening strip by the cooperative engagement of Velcro® panels, snaps, hooks, or buckles. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said left and right tensioning elements are made of an elastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said left and right tensioning elements are each between 10 and 20 inches long. 
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein said left and right tensioning elements are each 15 inches long. 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said strap guides are adjustable along said left and right lateral edges of said back portion. 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said one or more padding elements collectively cover shoulders, chest, sternum, upper back/shoulder blades, lower back/kidneys and abdominal area of said wearer. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 11  further comprising a plurality of gaps between each of said one or more padding elements wherein said one or more padding elements are capable of moving relative to one another. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said one or more padding elements are made of foam material. 
     
     
         14 . The garment of  claim 11  wherein the edges of said one or more padding elements correspond to said left and right reinforcing seams. 
     
     
         15 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said front portion further comprises a releasable, vertical closure between said opening and said distal end. 
     
     
         16 . The garment of  claim 15  wherein said closure is resealed with a zipper. 
     
     
         17 . The garment of  claim 15  wherein said closure is resealed with one or more buttons. 
     
     
         18 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said back portion further comprises a resealable, vertical closure between said opening and said distal end. 
     
     
         19 . The garment of  claim 18  wherein said closure is resealed with a zipper. 
     
     
         20 . The garment of  claim 18  wherein said closure is resealed with one or more buttons. 
     
     
         21 . A method of securing a protective garment to the upper body of a wearer comprising the steps of
 providing a protective garment be worn over the shoulders of said wearer and extending downward therefrom, front and back, toward the waist of said wearer, said protective garment comprising a front portion and a back portion, said front portion extending downward from said wearer's neck to a bottom end in front of said wearer and said back portion extend in downward from said wearer's neck to a bottom end in back of said wearer;   affixing a tensioning element to each of a left side and a right side of said protective garment such that each tensioning element is engaged from said front portion to said back portion and back again to said front portion,   tensioning each said tensioning element to thereby tighten said protective garment on a torso of said wearer, over said wearer's shoulders and around the abdomen of said wearer.   
     
     
         22 - 34 . (canceled) 
     
     
         35 . A garment for the protection of a wearer during contact sports, comprising:
 a padded front portion for wear over the chest, said padded front portion being substantially X-shaped with four corners;   a back portion for wear over the back, said back portion being attached to said front portion at all of said four corners, and adjustably attached thereto at least two of said four corners;   a first length-adjustable tensioning element attaching one of said front portion corners to said back portion; and   a second length-adjustable tensioning element attaching another of said front portion corners to said back portion.   
     
     
         36 . The garment of  claim 35  wherein said first and second tensioning elements are incrementally adjustable in length. 
     
     
         37 . The garment of  claim 36  comprising a fastening strip on said front portion to which said tensioning elements are removably affixed. 
     
     
         38 . The garment of  claim 37  wherein said tensioning elements are removably affixed to said fastening strip. 
     
     
         39 . The garment of  claim 38  wherein said left and right tensioning elements are removably affixed to said inner fabric layer fastening strip by the cooperative engagement of Velcro® panels, snaps, hooks, or buckles. 
     
     
         40 . The garment of  claim 35  wherein said left and right tensioning elements are removably affixed to said front portion at least at one end. 
     
     
         41 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein said left and tensioning elements are made of an elastic material.