US2497808A - Shoulder pad - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1950 2,497,808

F. B. ZACKS SHOULDER PAD Filed July 50, 1948 Patented Feb. 14, 1950 SHOULDER PAD Florence B. Zacks, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to R. G. Barry Corporation, Columbus, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application July 30, 1948, Serial No. 41,451

6 Claims. 1

This invention relates to shoulder pads and has for its general object the provision of novel and improved shoulder pads for womens wear which are adapted to square up the shoulders of the garments to a more or less degree according to the prevailing mode, and which are removable from the shoulder independently of the garment, thus facilitating laundering of both the garment and the pad.

Within the scope of the invention, the pads may be stufl'ed with sponge rubber or batting of cellulosic or other origin pre-molded, at least to some extent, to fit the crown of the shoulder and preferably to taper to a desired degree from the maximum thickness at the outer margin to a minimum at the innermost point nearest the neck.

Each of the novel pads are provided with a pair of securing strapspreferably of elastic tape materialupon its underside-one upon the forward half and one upon the rearward half. These straps are permanently secured to the pad at one end and detachably secured at the other end as by means of a snap-fastener, and are adapted to frictionally embrace the shoulder strap of the slip, the brassire, or other undergarment of the wearer, and are thus attached and removed entirely independently of the garment to which they are designed to lend shape.

One of the principal features of the present invention is the provision-in connection with the securing elastics-of stiff although somewhat resilient reinforcing and tension-resisting strips or bones. These strips may be of'steel, whalebone, plastic, composition, or other suitable materials, and are contained within the fabric covering of the pads alongside of or embeddedin the filler or stuffing. The bones are disposed parallel with the securing elastics and are secured to the pad preferably by rivets, staples, or other fastening elements which may pass entirely through the pad and which may also serve to secure the clastics and one of the snap-fastener elements.

The stiffening strips or bones serve not only to reinforce the pad and aid in preserving its shape at all times, but they are especially useful in preventing the pads collapsing or buckling transversely under the tension of the securing straps or elastics,

Other objects and features of novelty will be apparent from the following specifications when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which certain embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a pad embodying the principles of the invention and applied to a shoulder;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the underside of a pad flattened out in a single plane, the pad in this example being stuffed with sponge rubber.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the pad shown in Figure 2, taken on line 3-3 of that figure;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 ofa pad stuffed with batting of fibrous material; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 of the pad of Figure 4, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

In the drawings the novel shoulder pad is indicated generally by the reference numeral [0 and will be seen to have a generally triangular contour, even approaching semi-circular as the inwardly directed corner is rounded on". The pad when applied assumes a generally inverted U- shaped configuration snugly fitting the shoulder I2 of the wearer and the thicker edge l3 outermost and the attenuated curved edge l4 nearer the neck I5 of the wearer. An undergarment l6 of any conventional type is shown in Figure l as having a shoulder strap I! to which the novel shoulder pad I0 may be anchored to prevent its inadvertent displacement from its proper position upon the crown or arch of the shoulder.

In Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention in which the padding or stufling of the shoulder pad is of molded sponge or foam rubber as indicated at 20. This mass of soft rubber is wedgeshaped in transverse section and is of a roughly triangular or semi-oval configuration being enclosed in the covering fabric 2|. The covering fabric is conveniently formed of an approximately oval assemblage of cloth which is doubled upon itself along a diameter corresponding to the margin 13 of the pad and the overlapping pinked edges 23 sewed together along the seam 25. The cloth blank of which the covering 2| is made is preferably composed of two parts united along the transverse seam 26.

Upon the under side of the pad and between the sponge rubber filler 20 and covering cloth 2| there is interposed a lining 2! which may be of a fairly coarse somewhat stifi fabric. Interposed between the liner 2'! and the sponge rubber 20 and extending diagonally of the pad upon each half thereof, as clearly shown in Figure 2, is the bone or reinforcing strip 30, which may be made of metal, plastic, whalebone, or any suitable or conventional stiff material. At one end of the liner 21, the comparatively rigid strip and the sponge rubber may be secured together as bymeans of the staple 32, while the other end of the assembled material, including the covering fabric 2|, is pierced by the rivet portion 35 of a snap fastener being carried by the free end 31 of the securing strap 38, the opposite end of which is sewed through the thickness of the pad and the bone or stripv 301- so that: when. not fastened the strap 38' lies in a position shown in the upper portion of Figure 2. Thus when the strap 38, which is preferably of elastic material, is stretched into position around the undergarment. shoulder strap I! so that the snap fastener 35, 36 may be closed, the shoulder-strap l-l will be frictionally embraced between the pad proper and the strap 38, with the edges of the shoulder strap I! confined between the snap fastener. 35, 36 and the folded portion 42 of the elastic 38. This arrangement insures that the shoulder'strap I! will be snugly and frictionally received by the J It will-alsobe readily perceivedthat'the bone or reinforcing strip 30 aids. in maintaining the properconfiguration of the pad,,especially' along thesforward and rear sides of the shoulder, and also resists any transverse deformation of the shoulder pad due: to the tension of the elastic securing strap; 38.

In Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, there is illustrated an; alternative embodiment of the inventionin which substantiallythe same coveri'ngstructure is" employed, including the. fabric 2|, but in: which the stufillng'zll comprises cotton batting: or'thelike; The bones or reinforcing strips are disposed at the same angular positions" as in the earlier stuffing by means of. the rivet-ZI and the. rivet portion135 of the snapv fastener 35., 36.. The: rivet 2! alsoserves to secure one=end of'the elastic supporting strap 38? to the pad. The. opposite end 31- of the elastic 38 carries the snap: fastener portion 33 which cooperates with the opposite portion 35 to secure the; elastic strap 38 in frictional retaining positioniaroundthe undergarment shoulder strap H.

The reinforcing strip 38" serves the same function i in; this embodiment in helping to preserve theshape of the padand resisting deformation due to the. tension of the. straps 38.

As used: in. the claims,,the phrase "direction of extent: ofthe shoulder offthe wearer. is intended to signify thedirection along the. ridge: of theshoulder. from the. neck outwardly.

Various changes and. modifications may' be made. in the embodiments illustrated. and. described: herein-.without; departing; from the scope Ofi the invention. as defined; by the following. claims;

Having; thus described. the invention, what is claimed; as new and desired. to be secured. by Letters Patentis:

1 Ashoulderpadof' the-class: described com.- prising, in combination, a covered fabric,,a soft yieldablestulfing.therein,,a pair of separate narrow stiff reinforcing bonesiembeddedin:thepad, each: boneextending approximately in' the. direction. of" extent of. the shoulder: of" the. wearer, the; bones: being spaced: apart; transversely of the shoulder; elastic retaining tapes; applied. to the underside-r of; the? pad; said tapes being approximately cotermlnous. and. parallel with the respective bones. means. for' securing the respec- 4 tive ends of the tapes to the body of the pad and to said bones at points adjacent thereto, with the tapes under tension and the intermediate \portions thereof embracing the shoulder strap of the undergarment of the wearer.

2. In a shoulder pad of the class described, a soft yieldable body portion a covering fabric, a narrowrrelatively. stiff reinforcing boneembedded in the pad, adapted to extend approximately in the direction of extent of the shoulder of the wearer, and of a length shorter than the extent O fi thezlpad in said direction, whereby said bone terminates somewhat short of the ends of the pad; a' retaining tape applied to the pad and disposed when in use substantially parallel and cot'erminous with said bone, means for securing one end; of said tape to the pad adjacent the corresponding end of said bone at one point, and means for securing the other end of said tape to the pad adjacent the opposite end of said bone.

3: In a shoulder pad of the class describedl'asoft yieldable body portion, a covering fabric; a narrow, relatively stiff reinforcing bone embedded in the pad andadapted toextend approximately in the-direction of extent of the shoulder of the wearer, a retaining tape applied to the pad and disposed when in use substantially parallel with said bone, means extending at least partially through the body of 'the pad for securing one end of said tape both to the pad and to saidbone at onewpoint, and means for similarly securing the other'end of'said tape to the pad'and to the bone at a point spaced from said first named point;

4. In a shoulder pad of the class-described; a soft yieldable body portion, a covering fabric, a straight, narrow, relatively stiff reinforcing bone embedded in the pad and adapted to extend approximately in the direction of extent ofthe shoulderof'the' wearer, an elastic retaining tape applied to the pad and disposed when in use substantially parallel with said bone, means extending at least partially through the body of" the pad for securing one end' of said tape permanently both to the pad and to said bone at one point, and" means for detachably securing the other end of said tape to the pad and to the bone at a point spaced from said first named point.

5'. The shoulder pad set forth in claim 4' in which the secondnamed securing means comprises'a snap fastener combination, one element of; which is permanentlysecured to said bone and thebody'of the pad and the mating element is? secured to the last named end of the tape and is adapted to be snapped into engagement with the first named element.

6; Theshoulder" pad set" forth in claim 4 in which the body of tlie pad issponge' rubber;

FLORENCE B. ZACKS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record

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