Protective activity garment

Abstract

A protective activity garment comprises a harness configured to cover at least a portion of an upper torso of a wearer, wherein the harness includes a pocket located proximate a front of the harness, and wherein the front of the harness is adapted to align with the chest of the wearer. The garment also comprises a shield member received within the pocket and including a first portion to cover one side of the chest area of the wearer and the second portion to cover an opposite side of the chest area of the wearer, wherein the shield member is adapted to absorb an initial force exerted on the shield member. The garment further comprises a pair of open-cell foam members received within the pocket and aligned with the first and second portions of the shield member, respectively, wherein the open cell foam members are adapted to disperse the force exerted on the shield member.

1 . A protective activity garment, comprising: 
 a harness configured to cover at least a portion of an upper torso of a wearer, the harness including at least one pocket located proximate a front of the harness, wherein the front of the harness is adapted to at least partially align with the chest of a wearer; and    an insert received within the at least one pocket of the harness and having a first portion adapted to cover a first pectoral area of a wearer, a second portion adapted to cover a second pectoral area of a wearer, and a third portion located between the first and second portions and extended downward therefrom to cover a sternum area of a wearer.    
   
   
       2 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the insert comprises a substantially rigid layer adapted to absorb an initial force exerted on the insert.  
   
   
       3 . The protective garment of  claim 2 , wherein the insert further comprises at least one open-cell foam member adapted to disperse a force exerted on the insert.  
   
   
       4 . The protective garment of  claim 3 , wherein the insert further comprises at least one air permeable cover encapsulating the at least one open-cell foam member.  
   
   
       5 . The protective garment of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one open-cell foam member includes a first foam member aligned with the first portion of the insert, and a second foam member aligned with the second portion of the insert.  
   
   
       6 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the insert is removably received within the pocket.  
   
   
       7 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the insert are each provided a concave shape so as to comfortably receive a breast of a wearer therein.  
   
   
       8 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion, the second portion and the third portion of the insert are integrally connected.  
   
   
       9 . The protective garment of  claim 1 , wherein the harness comprises a sports bra.  
   
   
       10 . A protective activity garment comprising: 
 a harness configured to cover at least a portion of a chest area of a wearer, the harness including at least one pocket located proximate a front of the harness and aligned with a portion of a chest area of a wearer;    a shield member received within the at least one pocket and including a first portion to cover one side of a chest area of a wearer and a second portion to cover an opposite side of a chest of a wearer, wherein the shield member is adapted to absorb an initial force exerted on the shield member; and    at least one open-cell foam member received within the at least one pocket and including a first portion aligned with the first portion of the shield member, and a second portion aligned with the second portion of the shield member, wherein the open-cell foam member is adapted to disperse a force exerted on the shield member.    
   
   
       11 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the shield member comprises a substantially rigid layer.  
   
   
       12 . The protective garment of  claim 11 , further including: 
 an air permeable cover encapsulating the at least one open-cell foam member.    
   
   
       13 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one open-cell foam member are separate from one another.  
   
   
       14 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the shield member further includes a third portion located between the first and second portion of the shield member and extending downwardly therefrom, and adapted to cover a sternum area of a wearer.  
   
   
       15 . The protective garment of  claim 14  wherein the first portion, the second portion and the third portion of the shield member are integrally connected.  
   
   
       16 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the shield member and the at least one open-cell foam member are removably received within the at least one pocket of the harness.  
   
   
       17 . The protective garment of  claim 10  wherein the first portion and the second portion of the shield member are each provided a concave shape so as to comfortably receive a breast of a wearer therein.  
   
   
       18 . The protective garment of  claim 10 , wherein the harness comprises a sports bra.  
   
   
       19 . A protective activity garment comprising: 
 a harness configured to cover at least a portion of a chest area of a wearer, the harness including at least one pocket located proximate a front of the harness and aligned with a portion of a chest area of a wearer;    a substantially rigid shield member removably received within the at least one pocket and including a first portion to cover one side of a chest area of a wearer, a second portion to cover an opposite side of a chest of a wearer, and a third portion located between and extending downwardly from the first and second portion of the shield member and adapted to cover a sternum area of a wearer, wherein the first, second and third portions of the shield member are integrally connected, the first and the second portions are each provided a concave shape so as to comfortably receive a breast of a wearer therein, and wherein the insert is adapted to absorb an initial force exerted on the shield member;    at least one open-cell foam member removably received within the at least one pocket and including a first portion aligned with the first portion of the shield member, and a second portion aligned with the second portion of the shield member, wherein the open-cell foam member is adapted to disperse a force exerted on the shield member; and    an air permeable cover encapsulating the at least one open-cell foam member.    
   
   
       20 . The protective garment of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second portions of the at least one open-cell foam member are separate from one another.