COMPRESSION UNDERGARMENT
A compression undergarment may include a fabric enclosure that is configured to fit about at least a portion of a wearer's chest and back. In some instances, the compression undergarment may include one or more protective pads that can, if desired, be removed to accommodate a neck brace. The protective pads may be left in place when no neck brace is being used.
1 . A compression undergarment comprising:
a fabric enclosure including a front portion and a back portion, the fabric enclosure being configured to fit about at least a portion of a wearer's chest and upper back;
an upper chest pad that is removably secured to the front portion of the fabric enclosure; and
an upper spine pad that is removably secured to the back portion of the fabric enclosure;
wherein the upper chest pad and the upper spine pad can be removed to accommodate a neck brace and permit proper alignment and positioning of the neck brace and the upper chest pad and the upper spine pad can remain in place when the wearer chooses not to use a neck brace.
2 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , wherein the upper chest pad is removably located in a chest pad fabric pocket formed within or secured to the front portion of the fabric enclosure.
3 . The compression undergarment of claim 2 , wherein the upper chest pad fabric pocket comprises a void between an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer.
4 . The compression undergarment of claim 3 , wherein the upper chest pad can be inserted into the upper chest pad fabric pocket and/or removed from the upper chest pad fabric pocket through an opening formed as an overlapping between first and second pieces of fabric forming the outer fabric layer.
5 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , wherein the upper spine pad is removably located in an upper spine pad fabric pocket formed within or secured to the back portion of the fabric enclosure.
6 . The compression undergarment of claim 5 , wherein the upper spine pad fabric pocket comprises a void between an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer.
7 . The compression undergarment of claim 5 , wherein the upper spine pad can be inserted into the upper spine pad fabric pocket and/or removed from the upper spine pad fabric pocket through an opening formed as an overlapping between first and second pieces of fabric forming the outer fabric layer.
8 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , further comprising a lower chest pad removably secured within a lower chest pad pocket.
9 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder pad removably secured within a shoulder pad pocket.
10 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , further comprising an additional spine pad removably secured within an additional spine pad pocket.
11 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , further comprising a rib pad removably secured within a rib pad pocket.
12 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , wherein the fabric enclosure is configured to fit the wearer as a long sleeve shirt, a short sleeve shirt or as a sleeveless shirt.
13 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , wherein the upper chest pad and/or the upper spine pad is/are formed of a low density base foam and a high density outer foam disposed on the low density base foam.
14 . The compression undergarment of claim 13 , wherein the upper chest pad and/or the upper spine pad include air vents.
15 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , wherein the front portion of the fabric enclosure includes additional foam or is otherwise configured to help align a front extension of a neck brace when the upper chest pad has been removed.
16 . The compression undergarment of claim 1 , wherein the back portion of the fabric enclosure includes additional foam or is otherwise configured to help align a rear extension of a neck brace when the upper spine pad has been removed.
17 . A compression undergarment configured to fit as a shirt, the compression undergarment comprising:
a dual layer fabric enclosure including an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer, the dual layer fabric enclosure having a front portion and a back portion;
an upper chest pad pocket formed within the front portion of the dual layer fabric enclosure, the upper chest pad pocket defined by fastening the inner fabric layer to the outer fabric layer;
an upper chest pad that is removably disposed within the upper chest pad pocket;
an upper spine pad pocket formed within the back portion of the dual layer fabric enclosure, the upper spine pad pocket defined by fastening the inner fabric layer to the outer fabric layer; and
an upper spine pad that is removably disposed within the upper spine pad pocket;
wherein the upper chest pad and the upper spine pad can be removed to accommodate a neck brace and permit proper alignment and positioning of the neck brace but can remain in place when the wearer chooses not to use a neck brace.
18 . The compression undergarment of claim 17 , wherein the upper chest pad pocket is formed by stitching between the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer within the front portion of the dual layer fabric enclosure.
19 . The compression undergarment of claim 17 , wherein the upper spine pad pocket is formed by stitching between the inner fabric layer and the outer fabric layer within the back portion of the dual layer fabric enclosure.
20 . A protective assembly comprising:
a compression undergarment configured to fit as a shirt, the compression undergarment including:
a dual layer fabric enclosure including an inner fabric layer and an outer fabric layer, the dual layer fabric enclosure having a front portion and a back portion;
an upper chest pad pocket formed within the front portion of the dual layer fabric enclosure, the upper chest pad pocket defined by fastening the inner fabric layer to the outer fabric layer;
an upper spine pad pocket formed within the back portion of the dual layer fabric enclosure, the upper spine pad pocket defined by fastening the inner fabric layer to the outer fabric layer; and
a neck brace having a front extension nestled into the upper chest pad pocket and a rear extension nestled into the upper spine pad pocket.