Football shoulder pad

Claim 2

In a shoulder protective device for athletic use having right and left side body portions arched over the respective shoulders and extending down over the chest and scapula areas between the right and left arms, the improvement of a system of strap means interconnecting said body portions in crossed relationship and including a right shoulder strap anchored to the right body portion and extending across the left body portion chest and scapula areas, and a left shoulder strap anchored to the left body portion and extending across the right body portion, whereby the respective body portions are relative free to move independently of each other to follow substantially the anatomical configuration.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said strap means includes stretchable portions to allow said strap means to conform individually to changes in the anatomical configuration.

Claim 4

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said system of strap means includes sUspender straps operably controlling said body portion response to anatomical configuration, and tie-down strap means connected to said body portions and having a body encirclement below said body portions.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 3 and including loop means movably connecting said suspender strap means to the chest and scapula areas of said body portions.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 4 and including loop means connecting said suspender strap means to said chest and scapula areas of said body portions for longitudinal motion therethrough.

Claim 7

An athletic shoulder protection assembly consisting of right and left protective bodies arched over the respective shoulders and extending down over the chest and scapula areas of the wearer, said protective bodies having adjacent margins in the chest and backbone areas of the wearer and neck margins following the shoulder arches, strap means fixed to each protective body adjacent the chest and scapula areas thereof and extending across the latter areas of the adjacent body and under the arms at the distant sides, guide means on said protective bodies to receive the strap means fixed to the adjacent body, said strap means fixed on one body portion acting on the other body portions for a base anchorage.

Claim 8

An athletic shoulder protection assembly consisting of right and left protective bodies arched over the respective shoulders and extending down over the chest and scapula areas of the wearer, said protective bodies having adjacent margins in the chest and backbone areas of the wearer and neck margins following the shoulder arches, strap means fixed to each protective body adjacent the chest and scapula areas thereof and extending across the latter areas of the adjacent body and under the arms at the distant sides, guide means on said protective bodies to receive the strap means fixed to the adjacent body, said strap means fixed on one body portion acting on the other body portions for a base anchorage.

Claim 9

The assembly of claim 6 in which each of said right and left protective bodies have margins in normally adjacent relation with said assembly in the rest position, and said strap means have cross-overs in the vicinity of said adjacent margins, and said strap means extends from one protective body in a loop about the adjacent protective body, said guide means retaining said loops in position on the respective bodies.

Claim 10

The assembly of claim 7 in which the strap means includes stretch portions to allow said protective bodies to conform individually to changes in the anatomical configuration.