Chest protector

Abstract

A chest protector for protecting the wearer from commotio-cortis. A snug-fitting garment, which avoids creating bulk or restricting movement, includes a pocket over the cardiac region of the chest. The pocket holds a protective pad. The pad has at least one layer of a visco-elastic polymer. The pad also may include another layer of the visco-elastic polymer, or foam, sandwiching therebetween a rigid plastic layer. Each layer may include either one sheet or more than one sheet. The visco-elastic polymer receives impact energy, converts a portion of the impact energy to heat, and dissipates the heat.

1 . A chest protector, comprising: 
 a pad disposed proximate a cardiac region of the chest, said pad comprising at least one layer of a visco-elastic polymer structured to absorb impact energy, convert at least a portion of the impact energy to heat, and dissipate the heat.    
   
   
       2 . The chest protector of  claim 1 , wherein said pad further comprises a second layer.  
   
   
       3 . The chest protector of  claim 1 , wherein said pad further comprises a rigid layer proximate to said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       4 . The chest protector of  claim 3 , wherein said rigid layer is sandwiched between said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer and a second layer.  
   
   
       5 . The chest protector of  claim 1 , further comprising a garment having a pocket disposed proximate the cardiac region where the garment is worn, and wherein said pad is removably inserted in said pocket.  
   
   
       6 . The chest protector of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer comprises a plurality of adjacent elevated portions defining spaces therebetween.  
   
   
       7 . The chest protector of  claim 6 , wherein said elevated portions are substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       8 . The chest protector of  claim 2 , wherein said second layer is foam.  
   
   
       9 . The chest protector of  claim 2 , wherein said second layer is a visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       10 . A protective garment, comprising: 
 a protective pad comprised of at least one layer of a visco-elastic polymer structured to absorb impact energy, convert at least a portion of the impact energy to heat, and dissipate the heat; and    holding means for holding the protective pad above a body portion to be protected.    
   
   
       11 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein said pad further comprises a second layer of the visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       12 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein said pad further comprises a rigid layer proximate said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       13 . The protective garment of  claim 12 , wherein said rigid layer is sandwiched between said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer and a second layer.  
   
   
       14 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein said pad is removably inserted in a pocket provided in said holding means.  
   
   
       15 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer comprises a plurality of adjacent elevated portions defining spaces therebetween.  
   
   
       16 . The protective garment of  claim 15 , wherein said elevated portions are substantially rectangular.  
   
   
       17 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the body part to be protected is a cardiac region of a human chest.  
   
   
       18 . The protective garment of  claim 11 , wherein said second layer is foam.  
   
   
       19 . The protective garment of  claim 11 , wherein said second layer is a visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       20 . A commotio-cortis protection system, comprising: 
 a garment worn by an athlete, comprising a pocket over a cardiac region of the athlete's chest;    a protective pad provided in said pocket, comprising at least one layer of a visco-elastic polymer, and a rigid layer proximate said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer.    
   
   
       21 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 20 , wherein said visco-elastic polymer absorbs impact energy, and coverts at least a portion of the impact energy to heat.  
   
   
       22 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 20 , wherein said visco-elastic polymer comprises raised portions for receiving the impact energy, and spaces between said raised portions for dissipating the heat.  
   
   
       23 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 22 , wherein said protective pad comprises a plurality of adjacent raised portions.  
   
   
       24 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 23 , wherein said raised portions are generally rectangular.  
   
   
       25 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 20 , wherein said garment comprises a vest.  
   
   
       26 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 20 , wherein said garment comprises a strap harness.  
   
   
       27 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 20 , further comprising a second layer, with said rigid layer sandwiched between said at least one layer and said second layer.  
   
   
       28 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 27 , wherein said second layer is foam.  
   
   
       29 . The commotio-cortis protection system of  claim 27 , wherein said second layer is a visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       30 . A commotio-cortis protection garment, comprising: 
 a pocket over a cardiac region of an athlete's chest combined with means for holding the pocket over the cardiac region; and    a pad inserted in said pocket, said pad comprising at least one layer of a visco-elastic polymer structure to absorb impact energy of a blow to the cardiac region, convert at least a portion of the impact energy to heat energy, and dissipate the heat energy.    
   
   
       31 . The commotio-cortis protection garment of  claim 30 , wherein said holding means comprises a vest.  
   
   
       32 . The commotio-cortis protection garment of  claim 30 , wherein said holding means comprises a strap.  
   
   
       33 . The commotio cordis protection garment of  claim 30 , wherein said pad is removable from said pocket.  
   
   
       34 . A method of protecting a cardiac region of a human chest, comprising: 
 positioning over the cardiac region of the chest a pad including at least one layer of a visco-elastic polymer; and    upon receiving a force, the pad converting at least a portion of the force to heat, and disseminating the heat.    
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said pad further comprises a rigid layer and a second layer.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer comprises a plurality of adjacent elevated portions defining spaces therebetween.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said pad is positioned over the cardiac region by insertion into a pocket of a garment.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said second layer is foam.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said second layer comprises a plurality of sheets of foam.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein said second layer is a visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said second layer comprises a plurality of sheets of visco-elastic polymer.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein said at least one layer of visco-elastic polymer comprises a plurality of sheets of visco-elastic polymer.