Upper body protector with strap fastening mechanism

Abstract

An upper body protector that provides a comfortable fit for a player of virtually any shape or size, yet provides a secure fit to prevent shifting or sliding of the padding in the protector during game play or other player movement. The upper body protector comprises a garment capable of being worn around the neck and over the shoulders of said wearer and having an opening therein to accommodate the neck of said wearer, and having an improved strap mechanism comprising a set of straps attached to a back portion of the upper body protector that are fed through a pair of grommets on the front side of the upper body protector and folded back over themselves for attachment to the front portion of the upper body protector via a fastening means, such as Velcro®. The combination of the unique grommets at either end of the strap attachment mechanism and strap shape provide a secure, yet comfortable and adjustable fit to the wearer through a full range of motion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective vest assembly for the protection of a wearer during contact sports, comprising:
 a garment capable of being worn around the neck and over at least a portion of the shoulders of said wearer and having an opening therein to accommodate the neck of said wearer, said garment further comprising a front portion and a back portion, said front and back portions each having opposing lateral sides; and   an adjustable securing mechanism, comprising,
 a pair of straps engaged to said back portion, said straps each having a first thickness and comprising a tab near the distal end thereof having a second thickness, wherein said first thickness is less than said second thickness, 
 said straps further comprising attachment pads along their length on one side, and 
 exposed fastening areas for said straps on either side of said front portion, said fastening areas each bordered by a pair of slot grommets wide enough to accommodate said straps but not said tabs. 
   
     
     
         2 . The protective vest according to  claim 1 , wherein said garment includes a mesh fabric base layer. 
     
     
         3 . The protective vest according to  claim 2 , wherein the front portion of said base layer drapes down below a wearer's chest and flares out on both sides at the wearer's abdomen to opposing corners. 
     
     
         4 . The protective vest according to  claim 1 , wherein said attachment pads and said fastening areas comprise sections of hook-or-loop material. 
     
     
         5 . The protective vest according to  claim 4 , wherein each pair of slot grommets is attached proximate a corresponding corner of the front portion of said base layer. 
     
     
         6 . The protective vest according to  claim 1 , wherein one of said pair of straps extends from the rear portion around in one direction to said front portion through one of said grommets and doubles back for attachment by its attachment pad to one of said exposed fastening areas, and another of said pair of straps extends from the rear portion around in another direction to said front portion through one of said grommets and doubles back for attachment by its attachment pad to the other exposed fastening area. 
     
     
         7 . The protective vest according to  claim 6 , wherein an end of said first strap and an end of said second strap may be reinserted into corresponding ones of said pair of grommets for stowage. 
     
     
         8 . The protective vest according to  claim 1 , wherein said first strap and second strap are elastic. 
     
     
         9 . A protective vest for the protection of a wearer during contact sports, comprising:
 a harness comprising a base layer of fabric configured to be worn about a wearer's neck with a front portion draped over the wearer's chest and a rear portion draped over a wearer's back;   one or more sections of padding attached to said base layer; and   a strap attachment assembly for seeming the base layer front portion to said rear portion about a waist of said wearer, said strap attachment assembly further comprising,
 a first grommet located on one side of the front portion of said base layer, 
 a second grommet located on another side of the front portion of said base layer, 
 a first strap attachment pad of hook-or-loop material adjacent said first grommet, 
 a second strap attachment pad of hook-or-loop material adjacent said second grommet, 
 a first strap extending from the rear portion of said base layer around in one direction to said front portion and through said first grommet, said first strap having a section of hook-or-loop material proximate it distal end for temporary fixation to said first strap attachment pad, and 
 a second strap extending from the rear portion of said base layer around in another direction to said front portion and through said first grommet, said first strap having a section of hook-or-loop material proximate it distal end for temporary fixation to said second strap attachment pad. 
   
     
     
         10 . The protective vest according to  claim 9 , wherein said base layer of fabric comprises mesh fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The protective vest according to  claim 9 , wherein the front portion of said base layer drapes down the wearer's chest and flares out on both sides at the wearer's abdomen to opposing corners. 
     
     
         12 . The protective vest according to  claim 11 , wherein said first grommet and said second grommet are attached proximate corresponding corners. 
     
     
         13 . The protective vest according to  claim 12 , further comprising a third grommet spaced from said first grommet and a fourth grommet spaced from said second grommet. 
     
     
         14 . The protective vest according to  claim 13 , wherein said first attachment pad is located between said first and third grommet, and said second attachment pad is located between said second and fourth grommet. 
     
     
         15 . The protective vest according to  claim 9 , wherein said first strap extends from the rear portion of said base layer around in one direction to said front portion through said first grommet and doubles back for attachment by its section of hook-or-loop material to the first attachment pad, and the second strap extends from the rear portion of said base layer around in another direction to said front portion through said second grommet and doubles back for attachment by its section of hook-or-loop material to the second attachment pad. 
     
     
         16 . The protective vest according to  claim 15 , wherein said first strap extends from the rear portion of said base layer around in one direction to said from portion through said first grommet and doubles back for attachment by its section of hook-or-loop material to the first attachment pad, and the second strap extends from the rear portion of said base layer around in another direction to said front portion through said second grommet and doubles back for attachment by its section of hook-or-loop material to the second attachment pad. 
     
     
         17 . The protective vest according to  claim 16 , wherein an end of said first strap may be inserted into said third grommet for stowage, and an end of said second strap may be inserted into said fourth grommet for stowage. 
     
     
         18 . The protective vest, according to  claim 9 , wherein said first strap and second strap are attached centrally to said rear portion of said base later. 
     
     
         19 . The protective vest according to  claim 9 , wherein said first strap and second strap are elastic.