IP Library Granted Patent US 12,653,251
Granted Patent B2
US 12,653,251 · App. 17/498,936 · Granted Jun 16, 2026

Sports upper body protective gear

Inventor: Matthew J. Dierkes (Chicago, IL)
Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
A41D13/0512A41D13/0518A41D13/0575A63B2071/1208
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,653,251
App. No.
17/498,936
Granted
Jun 16, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A sports upper body protective gear may include a padded chest portion to extend over a chest of a sport participant and shoulder portions extending from the padded chest portion over shoulders of the sport participant. Each of the shoulder portions may include a shoulder pocket to removably receive a moldable and hardenable protective insert panel.

Claims (39)

1 . Sports upper body protective gear comprising:

a padded chest portion to extend over a chest of a sport participant; and

shoulder portions extending from the padded chest portion over shoulders of the sport participant, each of the shoulder portions comprising a shoulder pocket to removably receive a moldable and hardenable protective insert panel;

a back portion extending from the shoulder portions to extend over a back of the sport participant;

a shirt to be worn by the sport participant beneath the padded chest portion and the shoulder portions, the shirt comprising first and second side belt loops; and

first and second straps to extend from the back portion, through the first and second side belt loops, respectively, to the padded chest portion.

2 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 1 , wherein the padded chest portion is releasably attached to the shoulder portions.

3 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 2 further comprising:

a pouch releasably attached to an inner surface of the padded chest portion, the pouch comprising a chest pocket to removably receive a National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) ND200 Commotio Cordis protector.

4 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 3 further comprising a tightenable pouch securement strap releasably attaching the pouch to the inner surface of the padded chest portion.

5 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 4 , wherein the pouch securement strap comprises portions of a hook and loop fastening system on opposite end portions of the pouch securement strap.

6 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 5 , wherein the pouch comprises a pair of slits through which the pouch securement strap extends.

7 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 3 , wherein the pouch is releasably attached to the inner surface of the padded chest portion by two connectors, each of the two connectors having a different orientation to limit movement of the pouch relative to the padded chest portion in different non-parallel directions.

8 . Sports upper body protective gear comprising:

a shirt to be worn by a sport participant, the shirt comprising first and second side belt loops;

an upper body protector comprising:

a chest portion to extend over a chest of the sport participant and over the shirt;

a back portion to extend over a back of the sport participant;

shoulder portions extending between the chest portion and the back portion, over shoulders of the sport participant and over the shirt; and

first and second straps extending from the back portion, through the first and second side belt loops, respectively, to the chest portion.

9 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 8 , wherein the padded chest portion is releasably attached to the shoulder portions.

10 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 9 further comprising:

a pouch releasably attached to an inner surface of the chest portion, the pouch comprising a chest pocket to removably receive a National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) ND200 Commotio Cordis protector.

11 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 10 further comprising a tightenable pouch securement strap releasably attaching the pouch to the inner surface of the padded chest portion.

12 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 11 , wherein the pouch securement strap comprises portions of a hook and loop fastening system on opposite end portions of the pouch securement strap.

13 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 12 , wherein the pouch comprises a pair of slits through which the pouch securement strap extends.

14 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 10 , wherein the pouch is releasably attached to the inner surface of the padded chest portion by two connectors, each of the two connectors having a different orientation to limit movement of the pouch relative to the padded chest portion in different non-parallel directions.

15 . Sports upper body protective gear comprising:

a padded chest portion to extend over a chest of a sport participant; and

a pouch releasably attached to an inner surface of the padded chest portion, the pouch comprising a chest pocket to removably receive a National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) ND200 Commotio Cordis protector.

16 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 15 further comprising a tightenable pouch securement strap releasably attaching the pouch to the inner surface of the padded chest portion.

17 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 16 , wherein the pouch securement strap comprises portions of a hook and loop fastening system on opposite end portions of the pouch securement strap.

18 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 17 , wherein the pouch comprises a pair of slits through which the pouch securement strap extends.

19 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 15 , wherein the pouch is releasably attached to the inner surface of the padded chest portion by two connectors, each of the two connectors having a different orientation to limit movement of the pouch relative to the padded chest portion in different non-parallel directions.

20 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 1 further comprising the moldable and hardenable protective insert panel, wherein the moldable and hardenable protective insert panel is hardenable to a rigid unchanging arcuate shape after being molded and deformed to the arcuate shape.

21 . The sports upper body protective gear of claim 8 , wherein the back portion, the padded chest portion and the shoulder portions form an upper body protector positioned over the shirt, wherein the first and second straps each have end portions connected to the upper body protector and wherein the shirt comprises:

a shirt back portion underlying the back portion of the upper body protector;

shirt shoulder portions underlying the shoulder portions of the upper body protector; and

a shirt chest portion underlying the padded chest portion of the upper body protector.

Assignments (4)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2026
From: WILMINGTON TRUST (LONDON) LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
Reel/Frame 075170/0787 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST (LONDON) LIMITED, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066799/0087 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 15, 2024
From: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST (LONDON) LIMITED, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 066799/0119 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: DIERKES, MATTHEW J.
To: WILSON SPORTING GOODS CO.
Reel/Frame 057762/0030 →