Protective pads including tethers and related methods and systems

Abstract

A protective pad system may comprise a vest, at least one right shoulder pad and at least one left shoulder pad. The vest may comprise a back region, a left shoulder region, a right shoulder region, and a chest region. The at least one left shoulder pad may be hinged relative to the left shoulder region of the vest, and at least one left front motion restraint device may be positioned and configured to transfer impact force from the at least one left shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest. Likewise, the at least one right shoulder pad may be hinged relative to the right shoulder region of the vest, and at least one right front motion restraint device may be positioned and configured to transfer impact force from the at least one right shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest.

1 . A protective pad system, comprising;
 a vest comprising a back region, a left shoulder region, a right shoulder region, and a chest region;   at least one left shoulder pad hinged relative to the left shoulder region of the vest;   at least one left front motion restraint device positioned and configured to transfer impact force from the at least one left shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest;   at least one right shoulder pad hinged relative to the right shoulder region of the vest; and   at least one right front motion restraint device positioned and configured to transfer impact force from the at least one right shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest.   
     
     
         2 . The protective pad system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one left back motion restraint device positioned and configured to transfer impact force from the at least one left shoulder pad to the back region of the vest; and   at least one right back motion restraint device positioned and configured to transfer impact force from the at least one right shoulder pad to the back region of the vest.   
     
     
         3 . The protective pad system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the at least one left front motion restraint device comprises a tether coupling a first side of the at least one left shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest;   wherein the at least one right front motion restraint device comprises a tether coupling a first side of the at least one right shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest;   wherein the at least one left back motion restraint device comprises a tether coupling a second side of the at least one left shoulder pad to the back region of the vest; and   wherein the at least one right back motion restraint device comprises a tether coupling a second side of the at least one right shoulder pad to the back region of the vest.   
     
     
         4 . The protective pad system of  claim 3 , wherein each tether has an adjustable free length. 
     
     
         5 . The protective pad system of  claim 4 , wherein each tether comprises hook-and-loop fastener features. 
     
     
         6 . The protective pad system of  claim 3 , wherein each tether has a fixed free length. 
     
     
         7 . The protective pad system of  claim 3 , wherein each tether is relatively rigid. 
     
     
         8 . The protective pad system of  claim 3 , wherein each tether is somewhat elastic. 
     
     
         9 . The protective pad system of  claim 3 , wherein each tether comprises webbing. 
     
     
         10 . The protective pad system of  claim 3 , wherein each tether comprises a textile having a generally triangular shape. 
     
     
         11 . The protective pad system of  claim 3 , wherein each tether has a free length that is between about 30% and about 40% of the length of the radial distance from the respective tether to an axis of rotation of the respective shoulder pad relative to the vest. 
     
     
         12 . The protective pad system of  claim 11 , wherein each tether has a free length that is about 35% of the length of the radial distance from the respective tether to an axis of rotation of the respective shoulder pad relative to the vest. 
     
     
         13 . The protective pad system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the at least one left shoulder pad is hinged relative to the left shoulder region of the vest by a top tether having a first end attached near a top of the at least one left shoulder pad and a second end attached to the left shoulder region of the vest; and   wherein the at least one right shoulder pad is hinged relative to the right shoulder region of the vest by a top tether having a first end attached near a top of the at least one right shoulder pad and a second end attached to the right shoulder region of the vest.   
     
     
         14 . The protective pad system of  claim 13 , wherein each top tether has an adjustable free length. 
     
     
         15 . A method of providing shoulder protection, the method comprising:
 providing a vest comprising a back region, a left shoulder region, a right shoulder region, and a chest region;   providing at least one left shoulder pad hinged relative to the left shoulder region of the vest;   providing at least one right shoulder pad hinged relative to the right shoulder region of the vest;   transferring impact force from the at least one left shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest upon impact to the at least one left shoulder pad; and   transferring impact force from the at least one right shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest upon impact to the at least one right shoulder pad.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 transferring impact force from the at least one left shoulder pad to the back region of the vest upon impact to the at least one left shoulder pad; and   transferring impact force from the at least one right shoulder pad to the back region of the vest upon impact to the at least one right shoulder pad.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein transferring impact force from each of the at least one right shoulder pad and the at least one left shoulder pad to the chest and back regions of the vest comprises transferring impact force with a tether. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising adjusting a free length of each tether to provide a desired range of arm and shoulder motion. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising adjusting a free length of each tether to be about 35% of the distance between an axis of rotation of the respective shoulder pad relative to the vest. 
     
     
         20 . A protective pad system, comprising;
 a vest comprising a back region, a left shoulder region, a right shoulder region, and a chest region;   at least one left shoulder pad hinged relative to the left shoulder region of the vest;   a first tether coupling a first side of the at least one left shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest;   a second tether coupling a second side of the at least one left shoulder pad to the back region of the vest;   at least one right shoulder pad hinged relative to the right shoulder region of the vest;   a third tether coupling a first side of the at least one right shoulder pad to the chest region of the vest;   a fourth tether coupling a second side of the at least one right shoulder pad to the back region of the vest.