Protective shoulder pads with release mechanism
View Patent ↗This invention concerns protective shoulder pads ( 2 ) having a release mechanism ( 7 ). The shoulder pads ( 2 ) protect an individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2 ) against impact to the superior, anterior, posterior and/or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm. Release mechanism ( 7 ) allows the protective shoulder pads ( 2 ) to be more safely and easily removed from the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2 ) while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2 ) is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of further injuring the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2 ).
1. Shoulder pads for use in a contact sport, comprising:
a left shoulder pad portion and a right shoulder pad portion, each with anterior, superior and posterior portions;
wherein the anterior portions depend from an anterior face of the superior portions and the posterior portions depend from a posterior face of the superior portions;
wherein the right and left shoulder pad portions are in communication at the anterior, superior, and posterior portions;
wherein the shoulder pads are sufficiently rigid when assembled to dissipate the energy created by an impact to a portion of the pads across substantially the entire shoulder pad; and
a release mechanism enabling removal of the shoulder pads while the wearer is substantially in the supine position;
wherein a first portion of the release mechanism is disposed on the posterior portions of the pads and wherein a second portion of the release mechanism is disposed on the superior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions; and
wherein the release mechanism is operable to laterally separate the posterior portion of the left shoulder pad portion from the posterior portion of the right shoulder pad portion from underneath the wearer while the wearer remains substantially in the supine position.
2. The shoulder pads of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises:
at least one strap extending transversely between the posterior portions of the first and second shoulder pad portions, the strap having an end portion with a loop;
an aperture disposed on the posterior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions;
a removable elongated coupler;
wherein the loop is received by the aperture; and
wherein the loop is retained in the aperture by the insertion of the removable elongated coupler through the loop received by the aperture thereby assembling the left and right shoulder portions;
wherein removal of the elongated coupler from the loop permits egress of the loop from the aperture and lateral separation of the left and right shoulder portions while the wearer remains substantially in the supine position.
3. The shoulder pads of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an elongated coupler that is routed from the posterior portion of the pads to the superior portion of the pads.
4. The shoulder pads of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an elongated coupler that is routed from the posterior portion of the pads, over the superior portion of the pads, terminating on the anterior portion of the pads.
5. The shoulder pads of claim 2 , wherein the elongated coupler is a cable, cord, pin, strap, tie, filament, wire, tether, or any combination thereof.
6. Shoulder pads for use in a contact sport, comprising:
a left shoulder pad portion and a right shoulder pad portion, each with anterior, superior and posterior portions;
the superior portions collectively defining a central opening configured to receive a wearer's head, wherein the anterior portions depend from an anterior face of the superior portions and the posterior portions depend from a posterior face of the superior portions;
wherein the shoulder pads are sufficiently rigid when assembled to dissipate the energy created by an impact to a portion of the pads across substantially the entire shoulder pad;
a release mechanism operable to laterally separate the posterior portion of the left shoulder pad portion in an opposite lateral direction from the posterior portion of the right shoulder pad portion while both the shoulder pads and the wearer remain substantially in the supine position whereby the wearer is not moved to any detrimental degree;
wherein a first portion of the release mechanism is disposed on the posterior portion of the pads and a second portion of the release mechanism extends through a guidance channel affixed to an outer surface of one of the superior portions, wherein the guidance channel extends along an inner edge of the superior portion proximate the central opening.
7. The shoulder pads of claim 6 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an elongated coupler that extends from the posterior portion to the superior portion of the pad.
8. The shoulder pads of claim 7 , wherein the elongated coupler extends over the superior portion of the pad and terminates on the anterior portion of the pad.
9. The shoulder pads of claim 6 , wherein the release mechanism extends substantially the length of the posterior portion of the pads.
10. Shoulder pads for use in a contact sport, comprising:
a left shoulder pad portion and a right shoulder pad portion, each with anterior, superior and posterior portions having an inner pad element affixed thereto
the superior portions collectively defining a central opening, wherein the anterior portions depend from an anterior face of the superior portions and the posterior portions depend from a posterior face of the superior portions;
wherein the shoulder pads are sufficiently rigid when assembled to dissipate the energy created by an impact to a portion of the pads across substantially the entire shoulder pad;
a release mechanism operable to separate the left shoulder pad portion in an opposite lateral direction from the right shoulder pad portion from underneath the wearer while the wearer remains in the supine position;
wherein an portion of the release mechanism is disposed on the posterior portion of the pads and a second portion of the release mechanism extends along an inner edge of the superior portion adjacent the central opening.
11. The shoulder pads of claim 10 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an elongated coupler extending from the posterior portion of the pads to the superior portion of the pads, wherein a first end of the elongated coupler is accessible at the superior portion of the pad.
12. The shoulder pads of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an elongated coupler, wherein a first extent of the elongated coupler extends along an inner surface of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions.
13. The shoulder pads of claim 12 , wherein the first extent of the elongated coupler is positioned between one of the left and right shoulder pad portions and internal pad element affixed thereto.
14. The shoulder pads of claim 12 , wherein a first extent of the elongated coupler extends along an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions and a second extent of the elongated coupler extends over the superior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions.
15. The shoulder pads of claim 1 , wherein the release mechanism comprises:
at least one strap extending transversely between the posterior portions of the first and second shoulder pad portions;
a loop formed at an end portion of the strap;
at least one aperture disposed on the posterior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions, wherein the aperture is dimensioned to receive the loop in an assembled position; and
a removable elongated coupler that extends through the loop in the assembled position.
16. The shoulder pads of claim 15 , wherein the end portion of the strap is fed through the aperture whereby the loop resides against an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the first and second shoulder pad portions in the assembled position.
17. The shoulder pads of claim 15 , wherein an extent of the strap resides against an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the first and second shoulder pad portions in the assembled position.
18. The shoulder pads of claim 6 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an elongated coupler, wherein a first extent of the elongated coupler extends along an inner surface of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions.
19. The shoulder pads of claim 18 , wherein the first extent of the elongated coupler is positioned between one of the left and right shoulder pad portions and internal pad element affixed thereto.
20. The shoulder pads of claim 18 , wherein a second extent of the elongated coupler extends along an inner surface of the superior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions.
21. The shoulder pads of claim 6 , wherein the release mechanism comprises:
at least one strap extending transversely between the posterior portions the first and second shoulder pad portions;
a loop formed at an end portion of the strap;
at least one aperture disposed on the posterior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions, wherein the aperture is dimensioned to receive the loop in an assembled position; and
a removable elongated coupler that extends through the loop in the assembled position.
22. The shoulder pads of claim 21 , wherein the end portion of the strap is fed through the aperture whereby the loop resides against an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the first and second shoulder pad portions in the assembled position.
23. The shoulder pads of claim 22 , wherein an extent of the strap resides against an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the first and second shoulder pad portions in the assembled position.
24. The shoulder pads of claim 10 , wherein the release mechanism comprises an elongated coupler, wherein a first extent of the elongated coupler extends along an inner surface of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions.
25. The shoulder pads of claim 24 , wherein the first extent of the elongated coupler is positioned between one of the left and right shoulder pad portions and internal pad element affixed thereto.
26. The shoulder pads of claim 24 , wherein a first extent of the elongated coupler extends along an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions and a second extent of the elongated coupler extends over the superior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions.
27. The shoulder pads of claim 10 , wherein the release mechanism comprises:
at least one strap extending transversely between the posterior portions the first and second shoulder pad portions;
a loop formed at an end portion of the strap;
at least one aperture disposed on the posterior portion of one of the left and right shoulder pad portions, wherein the aperture is dimensioned to receive the loop in an assembled position; and
a removable elongated coupler that extends through the loop in the assembled position.
28. The shoulder pads of claim 27 , wherein the end portion of the strap is fed through the aperture whereby the loop resides against an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the first and second shoulder pad portions in the assembled position.
29. The shoulder pads of claim 28 , wherein an extent of the strap resides against an inner surface of the posterior portion of one of the first and second shoulder pad portions in the assembled position.