Shoulder pad

• US 6,941,586 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark S. Weinhold
• Original Assignee: Mark S. Weinhold
• Inventors: Weinhold, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tejash
• Application Number:
  US10/942,245
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 245/9, 226/8, 245/5, 2 4/4, 2 4/5, 246/8, 232/7, 290/8, 246/1, 246/7, 128/878, 128/876, 602/4, 602/5, 602/20, 602/62, 224/257, 224/264, 224/265, 224/600
• US Class Current: 2/459
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0512 Neck or shoulders area
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0575 in an openable pocket

Abstract

An embodiment of the invention is a pad that detachably engages around a user'"'"'s shoulder and upper torso to pad the user'"'"'s shoulder against objects borne over and against the user'"'"'s shoulder.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a body portion including a pad;

a first strap portion extending from a first end of the body portion;

a second strap portion extending from the first end of the body portion and adjacent to the first strap portion; and

a third strap portion extending from a second end of the body portion approximately opposite of the first end, the first and second strap portions to detachably engage with the third strap portion to secure the pad over a shoulder of a user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the first, second, and third strap portions further comprising a hook and loop fastening system to detachably engage the first and second strap portions with the third strap portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the first and second strap portions further comprising a hook fastening system to detachably engage with a surface of the third strap portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the first, second, and third strap portions further comprising a fastener selected from the group consisting of a snap, a buckle, a single adjusting side release buckle, dual adjusting side release buckle, a center release buckle, a cam buckle, a spring snap, and a snap hook.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the body portion further comprising a pad pouch.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, the pad pouch further comprising a fastener to substantially secure the pad in the body portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises a material selected from the group consisting of closed cell foam, open cell foam, gel, fabric, leather, metal, and a combination thereof.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises hydrochloric foam.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the pad comprises one of a liquid chamber, an air chamber, or a combination thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, at least one of the body portion, first strap portion, second strap portion, or third strap portion further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, polyester, nylon, veltex, lycra, EPDM, nubuck, leather and a combination thereof.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, the body portion, first strap portion, second strap portion, and third strap portion further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, polyester, nylon, veltex, lycra, EPDM, nubuck, leather, and a combination thereof.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a body portion including a pad pouch;

a first strap portion including a hook fastener extending from a first end the body portion;

a second strap portion including a hook fastener extending from the first end the body portion and adjacent to the first strap portion; and

a third strap portion including a loop fastener extending from a second end of the body portion approximately opposite of the first end, the hook fasteners of the first and second strap portions to detachably engage with the loop fasteners of the third strap portion to secure a pad contained within the pad pouch over a shoulder of a user.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, at least one of the body portion, first strap portion, second strap portion, or third strap portion further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, polyester, nylon, veltex, lycra, EPDM, nubuck, leather and a combination thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, the body portion, first strap portion, second strap portion, and third strap portion further comprising a material selected from the group consisting of neoprene, polyester, nylon, veltex, lycra, EPDM, nubuck, leather, and a combination thereof.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, the pad pouch further comprising a fastener to substantially secure a pad in the body portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the pad comprises a material selected from the group consisting of closed cell foam, open cell foam, gel, fabric, leather, metal, and a combination thereof.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the pad comprises hydrochloric foam.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the pad comprises one of a liquid chamber, an air chamber, or a combination thereof.

19. An apparatus comprising:

a body portion including a pad;

a first strap portion extending from a first end of the body portion, the first strap portion to extend over the posterior side of a shoulder;

a second strap portion extending from the first end of the body portion and adjacent to the first strap portion, the second strap portion to extend over the posterior side of the shoulder; and

a third strap portion extending from a second end of the body portion approximately opposite of the first end, the third strap portion to extend over the anterior side of the shoulder and the anterior side of a torso,

the first strap portion to wrap beneath the inferior side of the shoulder and to detachably engage with the third strap portion on the anterior side of the torso, and

the second strap portion to wrap around the posterior side of the torso and the lateral side of the torso opposite the shoulder and to detachably engage with the third strap portion on the anterior side of the torso to secure the pad over the shoulder.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, the first, second, and third strap portions further comprising a hook and loop fastening system to detachably engage the first and second strap portions with the third strap portion.