US4989265A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Protective athletic equipment
Assignee: Cassemco Inc
•
Filing: 1989-11-17
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Granted: 1991-02-05
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Expires: 2009-11-17
Abstract
Abstract An article of protective athletic equipment to be worn by a person includes padding in the form of a layer of closed cell, elastomeric foam having a regularly bi-directionally convoluted surface for confronting the person. An exemplary shoulder pad using such padding has a chest protector including a substantially rigid, shape-retaining layer forming a back portion, and arch portion and a front portion including outside edges proximately overlying a vertical mid-line of each pectoralis major of the person so that forward motion of the arm is unrestricted by the chest protector. The outside edge of the chest protector extends downwardly and outwardly below the pectoralis major to provide protection for the ribs. Flexible pads are coupled to the shape-retaining portion to extend outwardly over the outer portion of the pectoralis major, the flexible pad being pivotable about the outside edge of the chest protector during movement of the shoulder. A shoulder joint cap having a padded inner portion and a substantially rigid outer portion is flexibly connected to an arch portion of the chest protector. A substantially rigid flap or epaulet is flexibly connected to the arch portion of the chest protector to overlie the chest protector upper portion and shoulder joint cap. The epaulet is adapted to contact the chest protector front portion. A neck pad is fixed to an inner margin of the arch portion of the chest protector.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard O. Nipper
- 👤 Donald E. Ettinger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 08:51
CPC Classifications
A; A41; A41D; A41D13/00; A41D13/05; A41D13/0518; A63; A63B; A63B71/00; A63B71/08; A63B71/12; A41D13/015; A41D13/0153; A63B2071/1208
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
An article of protective athletic equipment comprising: a first layer of substantially rigid, shape-retaining material, means for coupling the first layer to a person for protection during athletic activity, and a second layer fixed to the first layer for contact with the person, the second layer comprising a closed cell, elastomeric foam having a first surface confronting the first layer and a second regularly bi-directionally convoluted generally sinusoidal surface confronting the person.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
An article of protective athletic equipment comprising: a first layer of substantially rigid, shape-retaining material, means for coupling the first layer to a person for protection during athletic activity, and a second layer fixed to the first layer for contact with the person, the second layer comprising a closed cell, elastomeric foam having a first surface confronting the first layer and a second regularly bi-directionally convoluted generally sinusoidal surface confronting the person.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the surface convolutions of the second layer second surface have an amplitude of between about 0.5 cm and 3 cm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the surface convolutions of the second layer second surface have a periodicity of between about 1 cm and 10 cm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the second layer foam exhibits a water absorption of less than 1%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The article of claim 1 wherein the second layer foam is selected from vinyl-nitryl, cross-linked polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, and polyvinyl chloride.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 1 further comprising a third layer situated between the first and second layers, the third layer comprising an elastomeric foam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The article of claim 6 further comprising a fourth layer covering the second layer convoluted surface comprising a porous fabric.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The article of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of fasteners penetrating the first and second layers, each fastener including an inner and an outer end, and a like plurality of elongated covering strips each covering strip having a first end penetrated by one of the fasteners and a second end folded over the covering strip first end and fastener inner end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An article of protective athletic equipment adapted to be worn by a person comprising: a layer of closed cell, elastomeric foam having a regularly bi-directionally convoluted generally sinusoidal first surface, and means for coupling the layer to the person for protection during athletic activity so that the first surface is confronting the person.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
An article of protective athletic equipment adapted to be worn by a person comprising: a layer of closed cell, elastomeric foam having a regularly bi-directionally convoluted generally sinusoidal first surface, and means for coupling the layer to the person for protection during athletic activity so that the first surface is confronting the person.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The article of claim 9 wherein the surface convolutions have an amplitude of between about 0.5 cm and 3 cm and a periodicity of between about 1 cm and 10 cm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The article of claim 9 further comprising an additional layer of an elastomeric foam bonded to a surface opposite the bi-directionally convoluted first surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 11 wherein the additional layer also includes a bi-directionally convoluted surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The article of claim 11 wherein the additional layer comprises a pair of parallel planar surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
The article of claim 9 further comprising a porous fabric enveloping the layer of foam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
147 words
An article of protective athletic equipment comprising: a chest protector, and means for coupling the chest protector to a person for protection during athletic activity, the chest protector including a substantially rigid, shape-retaining portion comprising a back portion, and arch portion and a front portion including outside edges proximately overlying a vertical mid-line of each pectoralis major of the person so that forward motion of the shoulder is unrestricted by the chest protector, said outside edge extending downwardly and outwardly below the pectoralis major to provide protection for the ribs, separate flexible pads coupled to the shape-retaining portion and extending outwardly over the outer portion of the pectoralis major for protecting the outer portion of each pectoralis major, and hinge means coupling each separate flexible pad to said outside edge so that the separate flexible pad can pivot about said outside edge during movement of the shoulder.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
147 words
An article of protective athletic equipment comprising: a chest protector, and means for coupling the chest protector to a person for protection during athletic activity, the chest protector including a substantially rigid, shape-retaining portion comprising a back portion, and arch portion and a front portion including outside edges proximately overlying a vertical mid-line of each pectoralis major of the person so that forward motion of the shoulder is unrestricted by the chest protector, said outside edge extending downwardly and outwardly below the pectoralis major to provide protection for the ribs, separate flexible pads coupled to the shape-retaining portion and extending outwardly over the outer portion of the pectoralis major for protecting the outer portion of each pectoralis major, and hinge means coupling each separate flexible pad to said outside edge so that the separate flexible pad can pivot about said outside edge during movement of the shoulder.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
81 words
The article of claim 15 further comprising a shoulder area pad including a shoulder joint cap having a padded inner portion and a substantially rigid outer portion flexibly connected to the arch portion of the chest protector, a substantially rigid epaulet flexibly connected to the arch portion of the chest protector to overlie the chest protector upper portion and shoulder joint cap, the epaulet including a lower frontal portion adapted to overlie the outside edge of the chest protector front portion.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The article of claim 16 further comprising a neck pad fixed to an inner margin of the arch portion of the substantially rigid, shape-retaining chest protector, and extending inward and upward therefrom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
39 words
The article of claim 17 wherein the chest protector comprises a layer of closed cell, elastomeric foam having a first surface confronting the substantially rigid, shape-retaining portion and a second regularly bi-directionally convoluted generally sinusoidal surface confronting the person.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
65 words
The article of claim 18 further comprising a plurality of fasteners penetrating the foam layer and the substantially rigid portion, each fastener including an inner and an outer end, and a like plurality of elongated covering strips each covering strip having a first end penetrated by one of the fasteners and a second end folded over the covering strip first end and fastener inner end.
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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) | 1994-02-04 | 1994-08-06 | 1995-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-04 | 1998-08-06 | 1999-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-04 | 2002-08-06 | 2003-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |