Shoulder pads with head and neck protection

Abstract

The present invention provides a shoulder pad for use in a contact sport, such as football, hockey or lacrosse. The shoulder pad includes a pair of arch members, each having an upper portion, a front portion depending from the upper portion, and a rear portion depending from the upper portion. The shoulder pad further includes at least one side pad assembly having an epaulet and a shoulder cap, wherein the shoulder cap overlies the wearer's shoulder region and the epaulet overlies both the arch member and the shoulder cap. The epaulet portion extends vertically to protect the head and neck of the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoulder pad apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
 two body arch portions, each of said body arch portions comprising a front portion, an upper portion with an outer edge and curved inner edge, and a rear portion, wherein said front portion of each body arch portion and said rear portion of each body arch portion form a central opening defined by said curved inner edge of each body arch portion;   a shoulder cap assembly on each of said body arch portions that is operably connected to said outer edge of said upper portion of each of said body portions; and   an epaulet on each of said body arch portions and comprising an outer face and an inner face, wherein said epaulet extends vertically from said upper portion of said body arch portion such that said epaulet covers and abuts both a portion of said upper portion of said body arch portion and a portion said shoulder cap assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said body arch portions is substantially bilaterally symmetrical. 
     
     
         3 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each of said body arch portions is configured to extend continuously over the shoulders of wearer with said front portion covering the chest of said wearer, the upper portion covering the shoulders of said wearer, and the rear portion covering the upper back of said wearer. 
     
     
         4 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising an interior pad assembly reversibly connected to and covering at least a portion of an inner surface of said body arch portions. 
     
     
         5 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said epaulet has an anterior portion with a sweptback front vertical edge. 
     
     
         6 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said epaulet is a sloped projection that increases in height from said outer edge to said curved inner edge of said upper portion of said body arch portion. 
     
     
         7 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said epaulet is an L-shaped projection that increases in height from said outer edge to said curved inner edge of said upper portion of said body arch portion and said outer face of said epaulet has a concave portion. 
     
     
         8 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said epaulet is an L-shaped projection that increases in height from said curved inner edge to said outer edge of said upper portion of said body arch portion and said inner face of said epaulet has a concave portion. 
     
     
         9 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said epaulet is a block-shaped projection that is substantially even in height from said outer face of said epaulet to said inner face of said epaulet. 
     
     
         10 . A shoulder pad apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
 two body arch portions, each of said body arch portions comprising a front portion, an upper portion with an outer edge and curved inner edge, and a rear portion, wherein said front portion of each body arch portion and said rear portion of each body arch portion form a central opening defined by said curved inner edge of each body arch portion;   a shoulder cap assembly on each of said body arch portions that is operably connected to said outer edge of said upper portion of said body portion;   an epaulet on each of said body arch portions that is contoured to cover both a portion of said upper portion of said body arch portion and a portion of said shoulder cap assembly; and   a protrusion on each of said body arch portions that projects vertically from said upper portion of said body arch portion.   
     
     
         11 . The shoulder apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said protrusion is formed between said epaulet and said curved inner edge of said upper portion of each of said body arch portions. 
     
     
         12 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said protrusion has an anterior portion with a sweptback front vertical edge. 
     
     
         13 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said protrusion has an anterior portion and a posterior portion that extends away from said anterior portion in a substantially perpendicular direction towards said curved inner edge of said upper portion of said body arch portion. 
     
     
         14 . A shoulder pad apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
 two epaulets each comprising an outer face and an inner face and extending vertically from an upper portion of said shoulder pad apparatus, wherein there is one of said epaulets positioned on each side of said shoulder pad apparatus between a medial line of said shoulder pad apparatus and a lateral edge on each of said sides of said shoulder pad apparatus.   
     
     
         15 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said epaulet has an anterior portion with a sweptback front vertical edge. 
     
     
         16 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said epaulet has an anterior portion and a posterior portion that extends away from said anterior portion in a substantially perpendicular direction towards said medial line of said shoulder pad apparatus. 
     
     
         17 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said epaulet is a sloped projection that increases in height from said lateral edge of said shoulder pad apparatus to said medial line of said shoulder pad apparatus. 
     
     
         18 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said epaulet is an L-shaped projection that increases in height from said lateral edge of said shoulder pad apparatus to said medial line of said shoulder pad apparatus and said outer face of said epaulet has a concave portion. 
     
     
         19 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said epaulet is an L-shaped projection that increases in height from said medial line of said shoulder pad apparatus to said lateral edge of said shoulder pad apparatus and said inner face of said epaulet has a concave portion. 
     
     
         20 . The shoulder pad apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein said epaulet is a block-shaped projection that is substantially even in height from said outer face of said epaulet to said inner face of said epaulet.