Shoulder pads with integral arm protectors

1. A protective upper body assembly for forward and defense positions in hockey and similar sporting activities, said protective upper body assembly comprising:

i) shoulder pads including:

(a) a frontal padding element;

(b) shoulder arches;

(c) a dorsal padding element, said dorsal padding element linked by said shoulder arches to said frontal padding element; and

(d) two rigid shells overlying the extremities of the shoulders, said rigid shells connected to said shoulder arches;

ii) arm protectors adapted for attachment to said shoulder pad, each said arm protector comprising:

(a) an upper arm protector for protecting the upper arm of a wearer, said upper arm protector at least partially covering the biceps of the wearer;

(b) a lower arm protector for protecting the lower arm of the wearer, said lower arm protector at least partially surrounding the lower arm of the wearer; and

(c) an elbow shell between said upper arm protector and said lower arm protector for protecting the elbow of the wearer, said elbow shell at least partially surrounding the elbow of the wearer; and

iii) suspending means for retaining said arm protectors to said shoulder pads.

2. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein said suspending means are adapted to vary the distance between said arm protectors and said shoulder pads.

3. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 2 , wherein said suspending means comprise straps and rings.

4. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 3 , wherein said straps comprise hooks and loops fasteners.

5. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 4 , wherein said strap is integrally connected to said arm protector and said ring is integrally connected to said shoulder pads.

6. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein said frontal padding element comprises:

(a) a pair of chest padding elements;

(b) a sternum padding element, said sternum padding element positioned in middle of said chest padding element;

(c) a pair of side padding elements; and

(d) an abdominal padding element, said abdominal padding element positioned below said pair of chest padding elements and said sternum padding element and adjacent to said pair of side padding elements.

7. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 6 , wherein said frontal padding element is made of foam material covered by layers of woven synthetic yarn.

8. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 7 , wherein said upper arm protector covers the entire biceps of the wearer.

9. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 8 , wherein said arm protectors comprise means for adjusting the fit of said arm protectors.

10. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 9 , wherein said means for adjusting the fit of said arm protectors are pull tabs.

11. A protective upper body assembly for forward and defense positions in hockey and similar sporting activities, said protective upper body assembly comprising:

i) shoulder pads including:

(a) a frontal padding element;

(b) shoulder arches; and

(c) a dorsal padding element, said dorsal padding element linked by said shoulder arches to said frontal padding element;

ii) arm protectors adapted for attachment to said shoulder pad, each said arm protector comprising:

(a) an upper arm protector for protecting the upper arm of a wearer, said upper arm protector at least partially covering the biceps of the wearer;

(b) a lower arm protector for protecting the lower arm of the wearer, said lower arm protector at least partially surrounding the lower arm of the wearer; and

(c) an elbow shell between said upper arm protector and said lower arm protector for protecting the elbow of the wearer, said elbow shell at least partially surrounding the elbow of the wearer; and

iii) suspending means for retaining said arm protectors to said shoulder pads.

12. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 11 , wherein said suspending means are adapted to vary the distance between said arm protectors and said shoulder pads.

13. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 12 , wherein said suspending means comprise straps and rings.

14. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 13 , wherein said straps comprise hooks and loops fasteners.

15. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 13 , wherein said strap is integrally connected to said arm protector and said ring is integrally connected to said shoulder pads.

16. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 11 , wherein said frontal padding element comprises:

(a) a pair of chest padding elements;

(b) a sternum padding element, said sternum padding element positioned in middle of said chest padding element;

(c) a pair of side padding elements; and

(d) an abdominal padding element, said abdominal padding element positioned below said pair of chest padding elements and said sternum padding element and adjacent to said pair of side padding elements.

17. A protective upper body assembly for forward and defense positions in hockey and similar sporting activities, said protective upper body assembly comprising:

(a) shoulder pads for protecting the thoracic region of a wearer;

(b) upper arm protectors for protecting the upper arm of the wearer and adapted for attachment to said shoulder pads;

(c) a first set of fasteners for adjustably connecting said upper arm protectors to said shoulder pads;

(d) elbow pads at least partially surrounding the elbow of the wearer and being adapted for attachment to said upper arm protectors; and

(e) a second set of fasteners for adjustably connecting said elbow pads to said upper arm protectors.

18. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 17 , wherein said first set of fasteners includes a first strap comprising hooks and loops fasteners.

19. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 18 , wherein said first strap is integrally connected to said upper arm protector, said first strap being adapted for insertion into a ring that is fixedly attached to said shoulder pads.

20. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 18 , wherein said second set of fasteners includes a second strap comprising hooks and loops fasteners.

21. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 20 , wherein said second strap is integrally connected to said upper arm fastener, said second strap being adapted for insertion into a ring that is fixedly connected to said elbow pad.

22. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein said elbow shell integrally bridges said lower arm protector and said upper arm protector.

23. A protective upper body assembly as defined in claim 11 , wherein said elbow shell integrally bridges said lower arm protector and said upper arm protector.