US1657866A - Protector for athletes - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 31, 1928. 1,657,866

' W. C. MOONEY PROTECTOR FOR ATHLETES FiledDec. 24, 1925 gwmnhw Fig /4 ////'am Q Mooney,-

Patented J an. 31 19 28.

UNITED-STATES wrLLInl c. noonniz,

* 1,657,869 PATENT OFFICE.

or oxtnnomn' our, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOB 'ro xarnnnmn m TRACY, or noamnnnv, MISSOURI.

PROTECTOR FOR ATHLETES.

Application filed December 24, 1925 Serial No. 77,470.

This invention relates to protectors for athletes; and has more particular reference to a body covering adapted to be secured over the ribs, shoulder blades, collar bone,

0 heart and'other vulnerable or vital parts of a football player or other athlete engaging in hazardous sports.

An object of-the present invention is to provide a padded article of the character described which will not be unduly heavy and yet will be very effective in receiving and absorbin impacts andblows so that they will-not communicated to the body of the wearer.

Another object is to provide a protector of the character stated which will be sufliciently flexible to be worn with comfort and to allow free movement of the body of the wearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protector having cushioning means which may be ex anded during use to pro- I vide maximum e ectiveness; and which may becontracted when not in use so that the article may be compactly rolled or folded so that it will take up little space.

These objects of the invention are attained by providing the protector with pneumatic pads which may beinflated during use and deflated when not in use. A plurality of pads is used in preference to a singlepad so as to provide greater flexibility. Moreover, should one pad be punctured or deflated during a scrimmage, protection will still be afforded by the other pads.

35 Other objects and advantages will suggest themselves during the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which like numbers of reference denotes like parts whereever they occur,

Figure 1 is a front view of the protector;

Figure 2 is a rear view thereof Figure 3 is a perspective view of the'device;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a view of one of the pneumatic bags.

The protector comprises a jacket 1 of heavy material such as canvas, the same bein preferabl without sleeves and adapted toflie fastene in the back by lacing 2. The jacket is short so as to terminate about at the ,to prevent thev tube from creeping'or fallwaistline; and is provided on the right and 7 left sides of its front with respective rows of pad holding means,'such as pockets 3, each of which pockets is adapted to receive an inflatable'or pneumatic bag or pad 4. The rows of pockets are located -upon opposite sides of a medial line and extend from the neck to approximately the waist-line, covering the shoulder, breast, and the underthe-arm portions of the body. The pockets in each row are preferably elongated approximately transversely to the direction of the row so as to be substantially parallel to the underlying ribs of the wearer. The bags or pads 4 are preferably, therefore, also of elongated or tubular form, so as to fit the elongated pocket-s 3. The pockets 3 are preferably stitched to thefront of the jacket or body covering 1 and may consist of any suitable material which will resist the strain incident to the impacts and abrasions experience-d in the course of a football game. The pockets 3 have openings 5, preferably formed in one of their ends to permit of the introduction or removal therethrough of the pads or inflatable tubes 4. The elongated form of tube and pocket provides a maximum friction surface between the tube and pocket for a' given volume, and thus tends ing out of its respective pocket when inflated. The openings 5 may, if desired, be constricted so as to be smaller in diameter than the transverse dimensions of the pocket and the inflate-d tube, so; that the tube can not be removed from the pocket until it is deflated to permit of its passage through the constricted opening 5. The openings 5, whether constricted or not, may preferably be provided with lacings 6 so as to close them completely. The pneumatic bags 3 are each provided with the usual valve 7 which admits of inflating the bag and which confines and prevents the escape of air.

Having thus fully described this invenv tion, I hereby reserve the benefit of all changes in form, arrangement, order, or use of parts as it is evident that many minor changes maybe made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A protector of the jacket ty e having the frontal portion thereof provid d with a double substantially arcuate row of padholding means in the form of pockets, said rows being located upon opposite sides of a medial line and extending from the neck to the waistline thereby covering the shoulder, breastand theunder-the-ar1n portions of the body, each ocket being elongated transversely to the cirection of the row to substantially parallel the underlying ribs and collarbone of the wearer and individual inflatable pads adapted to fit within said pockets.

2. A protector of the jacket type having the frontal portion thereof provided with a double substantially arcuate row of padholding means in the form of pockets, said rows being located upon opposite sides of a medial line and extending from the neck to the Waist line thereby covering the shoulder, breast and the under-the-arin portions of the body, each pocket being elongated transversely to the direction of the row to substantially parallel the underlying ribs and collar-bone of the wearer, each of said pockets having their rear ends open and individual inflatable pads insertible within the open end of said pockets.

3. A protector of the jacket type having the frontal portion thereof providedwith *a double substantiall arcuate row of padholding means in the form of pockets, said rows being located upon opposite sides of a medial line and extending from the neck to the Waist line thereby covering the shoulder, breast and the under-the-arm portions of the body, each pocket being elongated transversely to the direction of the row to substantially parallel the underlying ribs and collar-bone of the wearer, each of said pockets having their rear ends open, individual inflatable pads insertible within the open end of said pockets and means for fastening said open ends.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature. 7

Images