Athletic equipment

Claim 1

IN ATHLETIC PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, A JACKET COMPRISING A BODY OF FLEXIBLE CLOSED-CELL VINYL MATERIAL ADAPTED TO EXTEND OVER THE SHOULDERS AND AROUND THE ADJACENT UPPER PORTIONS OFTHE WEARER''S BODY TO ENCLOSE AND PROTECT THE SAME, SAID BODY HAVING AN OPENING AT ONE SIDE WITH THE EDGES THEREOF ARRANGED TO EXTEND INTO PROXIMITY WITH EACH OTHER, MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID EDGES TOGETHER, SAID BODY HAVING PORTIONS THEREOF CUT AWAY TO PROVIDE A NECK OPENING, A PAIR OF PADS OF SAID MATERIAL EACH HAVING A PART EXTENDING OVER AND CEMENTED TO ONE OF THE SHOULDER PORTIONS OF SAID BODY, EACH OF SAID PADS HAVING A PART FOR COVERING AND PROTECTING THE UPPER PORTION OF ONE OF THE ARMS OF THE WEARER WITH THE OPPOSITE EDGES OF SAID PARTS EXTENDING INWARDLY TO FORM A HINGE THEREBETWEEN, REINFORCING STRIPS OF TAPE ENCLOSING AND CEMENTED TO SAID HINGE EDGES, AND REINFORCING AND CUSHIONING LAYERS OF SAID CLOSED-CELL VINYL MATERIAL CEMENTED TO THE SURFACES OF SAID PADS, SAID BODY, SAID PADS AND SAID CUSHIONING LAYERS BEING COVERED WITH A CONTINUOUS COATING OF IMPERVIOUS PLASTIC MATERIAL TO RENDER THE SAME IMPERVIOUS TO MOISTURE AND DIRT.