Upper-body padded athletic garment

Abstract

A padded upper-body athletic garment is disclosed. The garment includes a pocket on an inside surface of sleeves. The pocket overlaps an elbow region of the sleeve. A pad is insertable in the pocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of clothing, comprising:
 an upper-body garment including a main body made of fabric, the main body including a neck opening, a torso opening, a first arm opening, and a second arm opening,   wherein the upper-body garment further includes a first sleeve fixedly attached to the main body at the first arm opening,   wherein the upper-body garment further includes a second sleeve fixedly attached to the main body at the second arm opening, and   wherein the first sleeve includes (a) a shoulder end fixedly attached to the main body at the first arm opening, (b) a distal end at an opposite end of the first sleeve from the shoulder end, and (c) a pocket on an inward-facing surface of the first sleeve, at least a portion of the pocket covering a midpoint between the shoulder end and the distal end of the first sleeve.   
     
     
         2 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve includes (a) a shoulder end fixedly attached to the main body at the second arm opening, (b) a distal end at an opposite end of the second sleeve from the shoulder end, and (c) a pocket on an inward-facing surface of the second sleeve, at least a portion of the pocket covering a midpoint between the shoulder end and the distal end of the second sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a sports bra with sleeves. 
     
     
         4 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , further comprising a pad removably inserted in the pocket. 
     
     
         5 . The article of clothing of  claim 4 , wherein the pocket includes an opening at one end to allow insertion and removal of the pad. 
     
     
         6 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket includes a detachable fixing element at one end to facilitate closing the pocket at the one end and opening the pocket at the one end. 
     
     
         7 . The article of clothing of  claim 6 , wherein the detachable fixing element includes at least one of: a hook and loop fabric and a snap. 
     
     
         8 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is defined by a piece of fabric stitched, around outer edges of the piece of fabric, to the inward-facing surface of the sleeve, and
 wherein the garment further comprises a pad located in the pocket between the piece of fabric and the inward-facing surface of the sleeve.   
     
     
         9 . The article of clothing of  claim 8 , wherein an entire circumference of the piece of fabric is stitched to the inward-facing surface of the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the pocket is a geometric stadium shape comprising two rounded ends and two straight sides connecting the two rounded ends. 
     
     
         11 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the first sleeve includes a palm strap at the distal end of the first sleeve,
 wherein edges of the palm strap define a first opening for receiving a thumb of a wearer and a second opening for receiving fingers of the wearer.   
     
     
         12 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric is an elastic fabric. 
     
     
         13 . The article of clothing of  claim 1 , wherein the second sleeve includes (a) a shoulder end fixedly attached to the main body at the second arm opening, (b) a distal end at an opposite end of the second sleeve from the shoulder end, and (c) a pocket on an inward-facing surface of the second sleeve, at least a portion of the pocket covering a midpoint between the shoulder end and the distal end of the second sleeve,
 wherein the garment is a sports bra with sleeves,   wherein the article of clothing further comprises a pad removably inserted in the pocket,   wherein the pocket includes an opening at one end to allow insertion and removal of the pad,   wherein the pocket includes a detachable fixing element at the one end to facilitate closing the pocket at the one end and opening the pocket at the one end,   wherein the detachable fixing element includes at least one of: a hook and loop fabric and a snap,   wherein the pocket is defined by a piece of fabric stitched, around outer edges of the piece of fabric, to the inward-facing surface of the sleeve,   wherein the pocket is one of an oval shape and a geometric stadium shape comprising two rounded ends and two straight sides connecting the two rounded ends,   wherein the first sleeve includes a palm strap at the distal end of the first sleeve,   wherein edges of the palm strap define a first opening for receiving a thumb of a wearer and a second opening for receiving fingers of the wearer, and   wherein the fabric is an elastic fabric.