US4435851A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flap hinge for a shoulder pad
Assignee: Rawlings Sporting Goods Co Inc
•
Filing: 1982-05-14
•
Granted: 1984-03-13
•
Expires: 2002-05-14
Abstract
Abstract An improvement in a shoulder pad of the type comprising a pair of arches which overlie the inner shoulders of the wearer, and a pair of flaps which extend in front-to-back direction over the shoulders for protecting the outer parts of the shoulders. The improvement comprises a flap hinge for hinging each flap to a respective arch. The hinge includes a pair of snubber straps secured at one of their ends to a respective flap at the front and back of the flap. The straps extend from the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch and then over the arch back to the flap for securement at their other ends to the flap.
Inventors
- 👤 Hal D. Mitchell
- 👤 Donald R. Walker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:53
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/08; A63B71/12; A63B2071/1208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
218 words
In a shoulder pad of the type comprising a pair of arches adapted to overlie the inner parts of the shoulders of the wearer, the arches having laterally-spaced inner edges providing an opening for the neck of the wearer, and a pair of flaps adapted to extend in front-to-back direction over the shoulders for protecting the outer parts of the shoulders, an improvement comprising a flap hinge for hinging each flap to a respective arch for enabling the flap to swing upwardly about the hinge upon upward movement of the outer part of a respective shoulder, said flap hinge comprising a first strap secured at one end to a respective flap generally adjacent the front of the flap and extending from the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence over the arch back to the flap for securement at its other end to the flap, and a second strap secured at one end to the flap generally adjacent the back of the flap and extending from the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence over the arch back to the flap for securement at its other end to the flap.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a shoulder pad of the type comprising a pair of arches adapted to overlie the inner parts of the shoulders of the wearer, the arches having laterally-spaced inner edges providing an opening for the neck of the wearer, and a pair of flaps adapted to extend in front-to-back direction over the shoulders for protecting the outer parts of the shoulders, an improvement comprising a flap hinge for hinging each flap to a respective arch for enabling the flap to swing upwardly about the hinge upon upward movement of the outer part of a respective shoulder, said flap hinge comprising a first strap secured at one end to a respective flap generally adjacent the front of the flap and extending from the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence over the arch back to the flap for securement at its other end to the flap, and a second strap secured at one end to the flap generally adjacent the back of the flap and extending from the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence over the arch back to the flap for securement at its other end to the flap.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 1, said first strap angling generally inwardly and rearwardly from the front of the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence outwardly and rearwardly across the top of the arch to its attachment with the flap, and the second strap angling generally inwardly and forwardly from the back of the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence outwardly and forwardly across the top of the arch for securement to the flap, said straps crossing one another as they angle across the top of the arch toward the flap.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 2, said first and second straps being anchored to the arch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 3, said first and second straps being anchored to the arch where they cross one another on top of the arch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 4, each shoulder flap being disposed laterally outwardly of the inner edge of a respective arch, with the inner edge margin of the flap overlying the outer edge margin of the arch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 5, said other ends of the straps being secured to the flap at the inner edge margin of the flap intermediate the front and back of the flap.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 6, said other end of each strap being secured to the underside of the flap.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an elongate stiffener extending along the arch on the underside of the arch and affixed at its ends to the arch, said first and second straps extending from the front and back of a respective flap under the stiffener and thence up and around the inner edge of the arch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 1, said one end of each strap being secured to the underside of the flap and extending up through a first slot in the flap and then down through a second generally parallel slot in the flap disposed generally inwardly of the first slot.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 9, said first slot being disposed, when said flap is unstressed, above and generally inwardly of the outer edge of a respective arch therebelow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 1, each shoulder flap being disposed laterally outwardly of the inner edge of a respective arch, with the inner edge margin of the flap overlying the outer edge margin of the arch.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 11, said one end of each strap being secured to the underside of the flap and extending up through a first slot in the flap and then down through a second generally parallel slot in the flap disposed generally inwardly of the first slot.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 12, said first slot being disposed, when said flap is unstressed, above and generally inwardly of the outer edge of a respective arch therebelow.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 12, said first strap angling generally inwardly and rearwardly from the front of the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence outwardly and rearwardly across the top of the arch for securement to the flap, and the second strap angling generally inwardly and forwardly from the back of the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch, and thence outwardly and forwardly across the top of the arch for securement to the flap, said straps crossing one another as they angle across the top of the arch toward the flap.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 14, said other ends of the straps being secured to the flap at the inner edge margin of the flap intermediate the front and back of the flap.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 15, said other end of each strap being secured to the underside of the flap.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 14, said first and second straps being anchored to the arch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 17, said first and second straps being anchored to the arch where they cross one another on top of the arch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
64 words
In a shoulder pad as set forth in claim 18 further comprising an elongate stiffener extending along the arch on the underside of the arch and affixed at its ends to the arch, said first and second straps extending from adjacent the front and back of a respective flap under the stiffener and thence up and around the inner edge of a respective arch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1489048A
Cited
US2196124A
Cited
US2545039A
Cited
US2957177A
Cited
US3087163A
Cited
US3867726A
Cited
US4158242A
Cited
US4295227A
Cited
US4322859A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-03-13 | 1987-09-12 | 1988-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-03-13 | 1991-09-12 | 1992-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-03-13 | 1995-09-12 | 1996-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |