US4516273A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Upper body protector apparatus and method
Assignee: JT USA Inc
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Filing: 1984-07-09
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Granted: 1985-05-14
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Expires: 2004-07-09
Abstract
Abstract The upper body protector comprises a semirigid integral upper body shield having a chest plate portion, a back plate portion and shoulder plate portions, adapted to comformably embrace the chest, back and shoulders, respectively. A pair of shoulder flaps are hingedly connected to the upper body shield so that the shoulder flaps are superposed over the shoulder portions, the shoulder flaps being movable laterally in an arcuate path between an uppermost position and a lowermost position. A shoulder cap or epaulet is hingedly connected to each shoulder flap. Locking means is associated with the shoulder portions and the shoulder flaps for locking each shoulder flap in a fixed lowermost position so that the force of a downward impact on each shoulder flap is diffused, thereby reducing the force exerted on the wearer's shoulder. Also included is restraining means hingedly interconnecting the shoulder flaps to the shoulder portions for restraining the shoulder flaps and epaulets from pressuring the wearer's shoulder when a shoulder flap is in the uppermost position as a result of a lateral impact. A method of constructing same is also included.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Gregory
- 👤 Gerald Parks
- 👤 John D. Dondero
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 06:50
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/08; A63B71/12; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/015; A41D13/0153; A63B2071/1208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
122 words
An upper body protector comprising: an upper body shield having a chest plate portion, a back plate portion, and left and right shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the chest, back and shoulders of a wearer; a pair of stiff flexible shoulder flaps each being hingedly connected at fixed pivot points to front and back portions of the left and right shoulder portions, respectively, of said upper body shield so that each of said shoulder flaps is superposed over respective left and right shoulder portions, and so that each of said shoulder flaps is movable in an arcuate path about said pivot points between an uppermost and lowermost position; and a pair of epaulets, each being hingedly connected to respective shoulder flaps.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
122 words
An upper body protector comprising: an upper body shield having a chest plate portion, a back plate portion, and left and right shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the chest, back and shoulders of a wearer; a pair of stiff flexible shoulder flaps each being hingedly connected at fixed pivot points to front and back portions of the left and right shoulder portions, respectively, of said upper body shield so that each of said shoulder flaps is superposed over respective left and right shoulder portions, and so that each of said shoulder flaps is movable in an arcuate path about said pivot points between an uppermost and lowermost position; and a pair of epaulets, each being hingedly connected to respective shoulder flaps.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said upper body shield is an integral one-piece unarticulated construction.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chest plate portion includes reinforcing portions of varying thickness.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chest plate portion has a central, inverted V-shaped slit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chest plate portion includes louvers to control ventilation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said chest plate includes inside padding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said back plate portion has louvers.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claims 5 or 7, wherein said louvers include slats to control ventilation and minimize wind resistance, said slats being downwardly sloped inward so that said slats are horizontally positioned when the wearer leans forward, thereby increasing ventilation and decreasing wind resistance.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claims 5 or 7, further comprising cover means to block air movement through said louvers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said back plate portion includes an extending lower portion adapted to conformably embrace the lower back.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said back plate portion has reinforcing ribbing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said epaulets is hingedly connected to respective shoulder flaps forwardly of the transverse medial axis of each of said shoulder flaps so that each of said epaulets protects the shoulders and front of the respective arms of the wearer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said epaulets has louvers arranged so that the slats thereof are in a position parallel to the direction of travel when the wearer leans forward, thereby increasing air intake and exhaust, and decreasing wind resistance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
107 words
An upper body protector, comprising: a shoulder portion having left and right shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the shoulders of a wearer; each of said shoulder portions having a front portion and a back portion; a pair of stiff flexible shoulder flaps each being hingedly connected at pivot points to said front and back portions so that each of said shoulder flaps is superposed over respective shoulder portions, and so that each of said shoulder flaps is movable in an arcuate path about said pivot points between an uppermost and a lowermost position; and a pair of epaulets, each being hingedly connected to respective shoulder flaps.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
An upper body protector, comprising: a shoulder portion having left and right shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the shoulders of a wearer; each of said shoulder portions having a front portion and a back portion; a pair of stiff flexible shoulder flaps each being hingedly connected at pivot points to said front and back portions so that each of said shoulder flaps is superposed over respective shoulder portions, and so that each of said shoulder flaps is movable in an arcuate path about said pivot points between an uppermost and a lowermost position; and a pair of epaulets, each being hingedly connected to respective shoulder flaps.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a chest plate portion integral with said front portion of each of said shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the chest of a wearer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a back portion integral with said back portion of each of said shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the ribcage and lower back.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
144 words
An upper body protector comprising: an upper body shield of integral construction having a chest plate portion, a back plate portion, and right and left shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the chest, back and shoulders of a wearer; a pair of stiff flexible shoulder flaps each being hingedly connected at two spaced fixed pivot points to front and rear facing portions of said body shield adjacent said right and left shoulder portions, respectively, so that each of said shoulder flaps is superposed over the projects outwardly from respective right and left shoulder portions to protect outer portions of the shoulders of a wearer, and so that each of said shoulder flaps is movable in an arcuate path about said two spaced pivot points between an uppermost and a lowermost position; and a pair of epaulets, each being hingedly connected to respective shoulder flaps.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
144 words
An upper body protector comprising: an upper body shield of integral construction having a chest plate portion, a back plate portion, and right and left shoulder portions adapted to conformably embrace the chest, back and shoulders of a wearer; a pair of stiff flexible shoulder flaps each being hingedly connected at two spaced fixed pivot points to front and rear facing portions of said body shield adjacent said right and left shoulder portions, respectively, so that each of said shoulder flaps is superposed over the projects outwardly from respective right and left shoulder portions to protect outer portions of the shoulders of a wearer, and so that each of said shoulder flaps is movable in an arcuate path about said two spaced pivot points between an uppermost and a lowermost position; and a pair of epaulets, each being hingedly connected to respective shoulder flaps.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-05-13 | 1988-11-12 | 1989-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-05-13 | 1992-11-12 | 1993-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-05-13 | 1996-11-12 | 1997-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |