Protective garment for sporting activities

Abstract

A protective device for protecting the upper thorasic portion of a wearer's body made of stretchable material formed into a tubular shirt like body covering garment having a shape conforming to the wearer's body. The garment includes front and rear sides, a lower opening, head opening and arm openings and further includes a plurality of pockets, a first pocket being located on the front side of the garment and pockets located on the rear side of the garment. The first pocket is formed with an upper edge generally shaped in a sinusoidal wave, the apex of which is located above the heart area when worn by the user. The rear pockets also have an upper sinusoidal shape extending across the back of the wearer, the apex of which is located across the upper back area of the wearer. A plurality of rigid, impact absorbing plates are positioned in the pockets. The plates are contoured and shaped to fit the body configurations of the wearer to provide maximum protection against a variety of impacts. A second protective device is a shirt like garment having a kidney shaped pocket adjacent the wearer's shoulder area for protection against the recoil forces of a firearm.

1 . A protective device for protecting the upper thorasic portion of a wearer's body comprising:
 a upper torso body covering,garment having a front and a rear, including a lower opening, head opening and arm openings;   a plurality of pockets formed in said garment, a first of said pockets being located on said front of said garment and at least one second pocket being located on said rear of said garment; said first pocket having an upper edge generally sinusoidal shaped, the apex of which is located above the heart area when worn by the user; said second pocket having an upper sinusoidal shape extending at least partway across the back of the wearer, the apex of which is located across the upper back area of the wearer;   and, a plurality of rigid, impact absorbing plates sized and shaped to and positioned in said pockets; said plates being contoured and shaped to fit the body configurations of the wearer.   
   
   
       2 . The protective device of  claim 1  wherein said first pocket is larger in the center of the front side of said garment and is progressively smaller away from said center of the front side of said garment. 
   
   
       3 . The protective device of  claim 2  wherein said first pocket is further defined by a lower edge having an upwardly curved shape. 
   
   
       4 . The protective device of  claim 1  wherein said rear side is formed with two pockets; a first pocket extending from approximately midway of the rear side to a first rear side edge and a second complimentary pocket extending from approximately midway of the rear side to an opposite rear side edge. 
   
   
       5 . The protective device of  claim 4  wherein said first and second pockets are juxtaposed and form a sinusoidal upper edge. 
   
   
       6 . The protective device of  claim 1  wherein said garment is formed of stretchable material to conform to the body contours of the wearer. 
   
   
       7 . A protective device for protecting the shoulder portion of a wearer's body comprising:
 a stretchable material formed into a tubular body covering garment having a shape conforming to the wearer's body; said garment having a front and a rear side, a lower opening, head opening and arm openings;   said garment including a pocket located adjacent the shoulder of the wearer; said pocket being generally kidney shaped having a convex portion toward the pectoral muscle of the wearer and a concave area toward the outer edge of the wearer's arm;   and, a rigid, impact absorbing plate positioned in said pocket; said plate being contoured and shaped to fit the outer shoulder body configuration of the wearer.