Motorcycle jacket

Abstract

The motorcycle jacket is an article of apparel for providing protection while riding and a lightweight, attractive street jacket for casual wear when not riding. The motorcycle jacket includes a jacket shell having a rear panel and a split front panel, the shell defining arm openings and being adapted for covering the shoulders and torso. A pair of sleeves extend from the arm openings. The split front panel includes a releasable fastener, such as a zipper, for closing the front panel. At least the sleeves have a lining formed of an abrasion resistant fabric. The elbows have pockets inside the sleeves that removably receive protective foam pads, and a protective foam pad for the spine is removably disposed adjacent the rear panel on the inside of the jacket shell. The spine pad is attached to a flexible panel of abrasion resistant fabric, either directly or by being placed in a pocket or pouch formed on the panel, the panel being secured to the shell by releasable fasteners.

1 . A motorcycle jacket, comprising:
 a jacket shell having a rear panel and a split front panel defining left and right front portions, the jacket shell defining a pair of arm openings and being adapted to cover a wearer's shoulders and torso;   a releasable closure attached to the left and right portions for selectively joining the left and right front portions to close the jacket;   a pair of sleeves extending from the arm openings, the sleeves being lined with an abrasion resistant material;   a protective back member assembly removably secured to the jacket shell adjacent the rear panel, the assembly having a flexible fabric sheet formed from an abrasion-resistant material and a protective pad attached to the flexible fabric sheet, the assembly providing protection for the wearer's back when riding a motorcycle and being removable for casual street wear of the jacket.   
   
   
       2 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad is releasably attached to the flexible fabric sheet. 
   
   
       3 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the protective pad has an upper portion adapted for providing protection and support for the wearer's upper back, and a lower portion adapted for providing protection and support for the wearer's lower back, the upper portion being wider than the lower portion. 
   
   
       4 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible sheet has a plurality of holes formed therein laterally and grommets reinforcing the holes, the motorcycle jacket further comprising:
 mating first releasable fasteners attached to an upper portion of said flexible sheet and shoulder portions of said jacket shell; and   a plurality of straps extending laterally from inside seams of said jacket shell, the straps having second releasable fasteners disposed thereon, the straps being selectively looped through the grommets and secured by the second releasable fasteners to form closed loops removably attaching said flexible sheet to said jacket shell laterally.   
   
   
       5 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first releasable fasteners comprise mating strips of hook and loop fastening material. 
   
   
       6 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said first releasable fasteners comprise zippers. 
   
   
       7 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said second fasteners comprise snap fasteners. 
   
   
       8 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said pad comprises a foam pad made from ethylene vinyl acetate. 
   
   
       9 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said abrasion resistant material comprises 600-denier nylon. 
   
   
       10 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pocket formed within each of said sleeves; and   an elbow pad disposed within each of the pockets, the elbow pad being made from a synthetic foam material.   
   
   
       11 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of said pockets further comprises a releasable closure, whereby said elbow pads are removable. 
   
   
       12 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said releasable closure comprises a zipper. 
   
   
       13 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said flexible fabric sheet has a pocket formed, said protective pad being removably disposed in the pocket. 
   
   
       14 . The motorcycle jacket as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a first releasable fastener attached to said protective pad and a mating second releasable fastener attached to said sheet within said pocket for releasably securing said protective pad within said pocket. 
   
   
       15 . A motorcycle jacket, comprising:
 a jacket shell having a rear panel and a split front panel defining left and right front portions, the jacket shell defining a pair of arm openings and being adapted to cover a wearer's shoulders and torso;   a releasable closure attached to the left and right portions for selectively joining the left and right front portions to close the jacket;   a pair of sleeves extending from the arm openings, the sleeves being lined with an abrasion resistant material;   a pair of elbow pads;   means for removably securing the elbow pads within the sleeves;   a protective back member; and   means for removably securing the back member within the jacket shell adjacent the rear panel, the back member assembly providing protection for the wearer's back when riding a motorcycle and being removable for casual street wear of the jacket.   
   
   
       16 . The motorcycle jacket according to  claim 15 , wherein said means for removably securing said elbow pads comprises a pocket formed within each of said sleeves, the pocket having a releasable closure. 
   
   
       17 . The motorcycle jacket according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said protective back member comprises:   a flexible sheet of abrasion resistant material having a plurality of holes defined therein laterally and grommets reinforcing the holes; and   a foam back pad attached to the flexible sheet; and   said means for removably securing the back member comprises:   mating first releasable fasteners attached to an upper portion of the flexible sheet and shoulder portions of said jacket shell for selectively securing the flexible sheet to said jacket shell at the shoulders; and   flexible straps extending from lateral inside seams of said jacket shell, the flexible strap having second releasable fasteners, the straps being selectively inserted through the grommets and secured by the second releasable fasteners to form closed loops securing the flexible sheet to said jacket shell laterally.   
   
   
       18 . The motorcycle jacket according to  claim 17 , wherein said flexible sheet of abrasion resistant material further comprises a pocket formed thereon, said foam back pad being removably disposed in said pocket. 
   
   
       19 . The motorcycle jacket according to  claim 18 , further comprising a first releasable fastener attached to said foam back pad and a second mating releasable fastener disposed within said pocket for securing said foam back pad within the pocket. 
   
   
       20 . The motorcycle jacket according to  claim 15 , wherein said jacket shell further comprises a liner formed from a moisture wicking material.