Article of weightlifting equipment with torso pad

Abstract

An article of weightlifting equipment includes a weightlifting jacket having a main vest-shaped body having a front covering the torso of a user, a back connected to the front, and one or more pads that provide a cushion to provide comfort and to protect the user from injury by reducing the force on the body caused by a barbell. The pads include a front pad that is positioned on the portion of the jacket front to cover the lower torso of a user wearing the weightlifting jacket. The jacket also includes one or more adjustable straps that allow the jacket to be fitted for users of different sizes. The equipment can have other forms, such as a belt instead of a jacket for positioning the torso pad.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of weightlifting equipment comprising:
 a front member;   a back member connected to the front member; and   a front pad positioned on the front member, wherein the front pad has a thickness of at least three inches from the surface of the front member, wherein the front pad is positioned only on the lower portion of the front member, wherein the pad covers at least a portion of the lower torso of a user.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , further including a fastener adjustably connecting the front member to the back member. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article includes a belt. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the article includes a weightlifting jacket construction, and wherein the back portion includes first and second shoulder blade pads that extend outward from the back member. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the article includes a vest and the front pad has a thickness of at least five inches. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 5 , wherein the back member includes at least one shoulder blade pad. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the article includes a vest and the front pad with a thickness of at least seven inches. 
     
     
         8 . An article of weightlifting equipment comprising:
 a weightlifting jacket to be worn by a user, including:   a front member;   a back member adjustably connected to the front member, wherein the front and back members define a top neck opening, a right arm opening and a left arm opening;   a front pad disposed on a lower portion of the front member below the right and left arm openings such that when the jacket is worn the front pad is positioned only over at least a portion of the lower torso of a user.   
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 8 , the weightlifting jacket further including first and second side straps that adjustably connect front member to the back member, and wherein the front pad has a height that extends from a position generally adjacent the position of the first side strap to a position below the second side strap. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second side straps includes a front portion connected to the front member and having a free end with a first buckle, and a second portion connected to the back member and having a free end with a second buckle, and wherein the first buckle mates with the second buckle. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second side straps are a first pair of side straps on a first side of the weightlifting jacket, and wherein the weightlifting jacket further includes a second pair of side straps on a second side of the jacket, and wherein the side straps of the first and second pairs are adjustable. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the front pad extends at least three inches from the front of the weightlifting jacket. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the front pad extends at least five inches from the front of the weightlifting jacket. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the front pad extends at least seven inches from the front of the weightlifting jacket. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the front pad is removably attached to the front of the weightlifting jacket. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 8 , wherein the weightlifting jacket is a vest, and wherein the back portion includes first and second shoulder blade pads that extend outward from the back member. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 16 , wherein the front pad extends at least three inches from the front member. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the front pad extends at least five inches from the front member. 
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the front pad is removably connected to the front member. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 17 , wherein the front pad has a height of at least four inches and a width of at least four inches. 
     
     
         21 . An article of weightlifting equipment comprising:
 a wearable device to be worn by a user, and generally surrounding the user in the torso area, the wearable device including a front member; and   a front pad positioned on the front member, wherein front pad is positioned only on the front member whereby the pad covers at least a portion of the lower torso of a user for supporting a barbell positioned on top of the user when the user is in a generally horizontal position.   
     
     
         22 . A method of using a torso pad during weightlifting wherein the torso pad supports a weight, such as a barbell, on the user's torso, and in particular a lower torso area around the belly or hip area of the user, wherein the torso pad supports the weight at least during a portion of the lifting exercise.