Protective Shirt Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel protective shirt device. The device is a protective undershirt to be worn during contact sports like baseball, softball, or even hockey. A core function of the device during wear is the protection of soft tissue, bone, and organs by providing designated areas of protection. The protective shirt device comprises a shirt component with a plurality of protection areas positioned in designated areas on the shirt component. Further, the shirt component comprises a torso section, a neck opening, and two sleeve components. Padding components are secured to the plurality of protection areas to absorb the impact of a pitch or line drive. Further, each protection area is independent of the other areas, allowing free range of motion and expansion of the muscle groups.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective shirt device that protects a user from an impact during a sports activity, the protective shirt device comprising:
 a shirt component;   a plurality of protection areas; and   a plurality of padding components within the plurality of protection areas;   wherein the plurality of protection areas and the plurality of padding components provide protection of a user's soft tissue, bone and organs by providing designated areas of protection; and   further wherein the plurality of padding components are secured to the plurality of protection areas to absorb the impact from a sports activity.   
     
     
         2 . The protective shirt device of  claim 1 , wherein placement of the plurality of padding components and the plurality of protection areas must be spaced apart adequately and independent of one another to allow movement and free range of motion during sports activities to ensure safety. 
     
     
         3 . The protective shirt device of  claim 2 , wherein the shirt component is manufactured by sewing a front panel to a back panel, along sides, to create a torso section with a fastener, while leaving a collar section open to create a neck opening, and then sewing two sleeve components to the torso section to complete the shirt component. 
     
     
         4 . The protective shirt device of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of padding components are secured to the plurality of protection areas via an adhesive, a sewing, or a gluing. 
     
     
         5 . The protective shirt device of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of protection areas comprise pockets for the plurality of the padding components. 
     
     
         6 . The protective shirt device of  claim 4 , wherein strips of Velcro can be sewed to outer surface areas of the plurality of protection areas, and to underside of the plurality of padding components to secure the two together. 
     
     
         7 . The protective shirt device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protection areas include a posterior, a rib cage, a latissimus region, an oblique, a scapula, a rear deltoid, a trapezius region and a spinus prothesis. 
     
     
         8 . The protective shirt device of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of protection areas include upper arm, bi-lateral deltoid, triceps, and elbow joint. 
     
     
         9 . The protective shirt device of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of protection areas include an anterior, a frontal rib, a muscle and a sternum. 
     
     
         10 . The protective shirt device of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of padding components can be inserted or secured to any or all of the plurality of protection areas. 
     
     
         11 . The protective shirt device of  claim 1 , wherein the shirt component comprises an opening under a left arm pit and an opening under a right arm pit for flexibility and freedom of movement of the shirt component. 
     
     
         12 . The protective shirt device of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of indicia. 
     
     
         13 . A protective shirt device that protects a user from an impact during a sports activity, the protective shirt device comprising:
 a shirt component;   a plurality of protection areas; and   a plurality of padding components within the plurality of protection areas;   wherein the plurality of protection areas and the plurality of padding components provide protection of a user's soft tissue, bone, and organs by providing designated areas of protection;   wherein the plurality of padding components are secured to the plurality of protection areas to absorb the impacts from the sports activity;   wherein the plurality of padding components can be inserted or secured to any or all of the plurality of protection areas; and   further wherein placement of the plurality of padding components and the plurality of protection areas must be spaced apart adequately and independent of one another to allow movement and free range of motion during sports activities to ensure safety.   
     
     
         14 . The protective shirt device of  claim 13 , wherein the shirt component is manufactured by sewing a front panel to a back panel, along sides, to create a torso section with a fastener, while leaving a collar section open to create a neck opening, and then sewing two sleeve components to the torso section to complete the shirt component. 
     
     
         15 . The protective shirt device of  claim 13  further comprising a plurality of indicia. 
     
     
         16 . The protective shirt device of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of padding components are secured to the plurality of protection areas via an adhesive, a sewing or a gluing. 
     
     
         17 . The protective shirt device of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of protection areas comprise pockets for the plurality of the padding components. 
     
     
         18 . The protective shirt device of  claim 13 , wherein strips of Velcro can be sewed to outer surface areas of the plurality of protection areas, and to underside of the plurality of padding components to secure the two together. 
     
     
         19 . The protective shirt device of  claim 13 , wherein the shirt component comprises an opening under a left arm pit and an opening under a right arm pit for flexibility and freedom of movement of the shirt component. 
     
     
         20 . A method of protecting a user from an injury during a sports activity, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing a protective shirt device comprising a shirt component with a plurality of protection areas positioned in designated areas on the shirt component;   securing padding components into the plurality of protection areas on the shirt component;   securing the shirt component to a user by placing the shirt component over a user's head and through the sleeve components; and   utilizing the protective shirt device while playing sports.