Shoulder pad

Abstract

A relatively rigid body member is combined with a relatively soft pad member to form a shoulder pad. The pad member is mounted on a curved lower surface of the body member. The upper surface of the body member includes a slot which accepts a luggage strap and which is angled forwardly toward the lower surface. The curved lower surface accommodates the curvature of the user's shoulder while the pad member conforms to the individual user's shoulder anatomy. The upper and lower surfaces of the body member are formed in an angular relationship so that during use, the slot is always directed toward the user's shoulder so that the load exerted by the shoulder strap keeps the shoulder pad in place on the user's shoulder.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A shoulder pad comprising: 
 a body member having an upper surface and a lower surface with said lower surface angularly disposed relative to said upper surface, with said lower surface further defining a curved surface, and    attachment means for attachment of said shoulder pad to a shoulder strap.    
     
     
         2 . The shoulder pad of  claim 1  in which said attachment means for attachment of said shoulder pad to a shoulder strap comprises a slot portion formed in said upper surface.  
     
     
         3 . The shoulder strap of  claim 2  in which said slot portion further comprises a strap portion disposed removably covering said slot portion.  
     
     
         4 . The shoulder strap of  claim 3  in which said strap portion comprises hook and loop fastener means.  
     
     
         5 . The shoulder pad of  claim 2  in which said slot portion is disposed in an angular relationship with respect to said lower surface.  
     
     
         6 . The shoulder pad of  claim 1  in which said body member comprises a relatively thicker portion, and a relatively thinner portion.  
     
     
         7 . The shoulder pad of  claim 1  further comprising a pad member with said pad member attached to said lower surface.  
     
     
         8 . The shoulder pad of  claim 7  in which said pad member is made of a relatively compliant material.  
     
     
         9 . The shoulder pad of  claim 8  in which said pad member is made of a gel material.  
     
     
         10 . The shoulder pad of  claim 1  in which said body member is a relatively stiff member.  
     
     
         11 . The shoulder pad of  claim 1  in which said body member comprises a hollow plastic member.  
     
     
         12 . The shoulder pad of  claim 1  in which said slot portion formed in said upper surface comprises an upper portion integrally formed in said body member with said upper portion partially overlying said upper surface of said body member.  
     
     
         13 . The shoulder pad of  claim 1  in which said body member comprises: 
 a first longitudinal edge;  
 a second longitudinal edge with said second longitudinal edge spaced away from said first longitudinal edge;  
 a first transverse edge; and  
 a second transverse edge with said first longitudinal edge defining said relatively thicker portion and with said second longitudinal edge defining a relatively thinner portion.  
 
     
     
         14 . The shoulder pad of  claim 14  in which curved surface of said curved surface is defined by curve starting at said first transverse edge and extending to said second transverse edge.