Football shoulder pads

Abstract

Breathable, lightweight football shoulder pads include left and right torso pads which present a foam body. The foam body includes a hard inner layer, and first and second layers of breathable, lightweight foam secured to opposing surfaces of the hard, inner layer. The layers present a sandwich configuration. A breathable, lightweight fabric layer, such as mesh, extends around the periphery of the foam body. The hard inner layer includes spaced apart openings which allow air or moisture to flow through the foam body. The football shoulder pads can include adjustable and selectively removable cap pads attachable to the shoulder portion of the football pads. The cap pads include a member for securing the cap pad to the wearer's arm. The football shoulder pads can further include adjustable and selectively removable deltoid pads and attachments for securing football pad accessories, such as a neck roll or rib protector, to the shoulder pads.

1 . A breathable athletic protective pad, comprising: 
 a breathable foam body including a hard, inner layer and first and second layers of breathable foam secured to opposing surfaces of said hard, inner layer, said layers presenting a sandwich configuration;    said hard, inner layer having spaced apart openings therethrough, said protective pad thereby allowing air or moisture to flow therethrough substantially throughout its area.    
   
   
       2 . A breathable athletic protective pad as claimed in  claim 1  wherein at least one of said layers of breathable foam are formed of closed cell foam beads fused together.  
   
   
       3 . A breathable athletic protective pad as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said layers of breathable foam include spaced apart perforations therethrough with at least one said perforation overlapping one said opening in said hard, inner layer.  
   
   
       4 . A breathable athletic protective pad as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said hard, inner layer is plastic.  
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A breathable athletic protective pad as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a breathable fabric layer around said foam body's periphery.