Shoulder Pads and Foam Material for Body Protection

Abstract

A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Pads for use in athletic competitions comprising:
 a. a first textile layer adapted to receive an upper body of a wearer;   b. a second textile layer sewn to the first textile layer to form a plurality of enclosed pockets; and   c. a plurality of foam arrays arranged in the plurality of enclosed pockets, each foam array comprising a plurality of foam pellets having an aperture substantially near a minor axis thereof, and a substrate connecting the plurality of foam pellets.   
     
     
         2 . The pads of  claim 1 , where the first textile layer is a compression fabric. 
     
     
         3 . The pads of  claim 1 , where the enclosed pockets are separated by an area free of pockets. 
     
     
         4 . The pads of  claim 1 , further comprising a yoke in the form of an arch adapted to fit over a shoulder of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The pads of  claim 4 , wherein the yoke comprises composite material. 
     
     
         6 . The pads of  claim 4 , wherein the yoke is removable. 
     
     
         7 . The pads of  claim 4 , where the yoke further comprises a front section in the approximate shape of a “J.” 
     
     
         8 . The pads of  claim 4 , wherein the yoke further comprises a back section in the approximate shape of an “O.” 
     
     
         9 . The pads of  claim 4 , further comprising an epaulet attached to the yoke in a position to extend over a shoulder of the wearer when worn. 
     
     
         10 . The pads of  claim 1 , wherein the first textile layer is in the form of a shirt. 
     
     
         11 . The pads of  claim 1 , wherein the first textile layer comprises a torso portion and a sleeve portion.