US2509645A

US2509645A - Molded shoulder pad

Info

Publication number: US2509645A
Application number: US695467A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jack L Kleinrock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-09-07
Filing date: 1946-09-07
Publication date: 1950-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 1967-05-30

Description

y 1950 J. L. KLEINROCK 2,509,645

MOLDED SHOULDER PAD Filed Sept. 7, 1946 J4me J. fis/Neocz,

IN V EN TOR.

ATrOQ/VEY.

Patented May 30, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOLDED SHOULDER PAD Jack L. Kleinrock, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application September I, 1946, Serial No. 695,487

Claims. (01. 2-268) This invention relates to improvements in shoulder pads and is particularly directed to a unitary, moulded, washable, seamless, nonabsorptive, resilient and compliant shoulder pad.

It is recognized that shoulder pads have been used in various garments for many years. Originally, shoulder pads were composed of layers of felt, stitched together and permanently attached to shoulder areas of mens coats, etc. In more recent years, relatively light weight shoulder pads, made of wedding and covered with cambric or other cloth, have been extensively used in women's garments, including coats, gowns, suits and even blouses. These shoulder pads have certain disadvantages. For example, in many instances, they are not pre-formed and do not have an inherent contour which conforms to the contours of the human shoulder, but instead, require to be bent to the shoulder by the garment. Moreover, the prior shoulder pads cannot be readily subjected to washing or dry cleaning, since the wadding has a tendency to mat and become agglomerated into undesirable lumps. In addition, these prior pads had a tendency to chafe and irritate the skin by reason of numerous lines of stitching and raw edges of material exposed on the surface of the pads. A still further disadvantage lay in the absorptive character of the pads so that after being worn for an appreciable length of time they become unsanitary and somewhat offensive.

The present invention relates to a pre-formed or moulded shoulder pad preferably made of sponge like rubber composition, provided with an integral substantially imperforate and continuous surface film of rubber com-position. Shoulder pads of this invention are washable, non-absorptive, retain their desired contours and thickness, do not mat, or become stiff, and may be readily attached to and detached from the garments.

It.is an object, therefore, of this invention, to disclose and provide an improved type of shoulder pad which is free from the disadvantages 01 prior pads.

It is a iurther object of the invention to disclose and provide a pre-formed or moulded shoulder pad, composed of a sppnge like rubber composition, having an integral substantially imperforate and continuous surface film.

A still further object of the invention is to disclose and provide a moulded shoulder pad provided with spaced ports formed in the thin edge portions of the pad whereby the object may be readily attached to garments,

These, and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from. the following detailed description. In the course of such description, reference will be had to the appended drawings in which- Fig. l is a perspective view of a shoulder pad made in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a section through a portion of a shoulder pad made in a somewhat modified manner.

Fig. 4 is a section through an attachment means carried by a shoulder pad of a still further modification.

As previously stated, the preferred shoulder pad is made of a sponge like porous, resilient, yieldable, rubber-like composition. Sponge-like rubber compositions of this general type have been previously made under the name Air- Foam. The particular moulded object contemplated by the present invention is not cut from a block of such sponge-like rubber, but instead is moulded to a shape capable of readily conforming to the contours of a shoulder.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the shoulder pad generally indicated at Ill is provided with a convex upper surface II and a concave lower surface I2. These concave and convex surfaces meet along a thin edge indicated at H. In longitudinal section, the shoulder pad "I is wedge shaped as best shown in Fig. 2, presenting a relatively fiat, wide outer end surface l4.

During the moulding operation, the outer surfaces of the shoulder pad become provided with an integral continuous unbroken non-absorptive and substantially imperforate skin film of rubber composition, whereas the interior I5 is of a porous and spongy character, many 01' the pores being inter-communicating.

The relatively thin material areas of the shoulder pad adjacent the curved edge l3 are preferably provided with means for attaching shoulder pads to a garment. Various means may be employed. In Figs. 1 and 2, these relatively thin marginal areas are provided with a plurality of spaced ports such as l6, l1 and I 8. Annular raised rims may be provided in the upper and lower surfaces around such ports for the purpose of strengthening the material and preventing thread or other fastening means from cuttin into the edge areas of the pad and breaking through the impervious continuous surface film.

As shown in Fig. 3 the entire shoulder pad may be reinforced along the thin marginal edge by means of a flexible wire 20. the ports, such as l1 being located inwardly from the wire 26. The wire as is embedded and entirely covered by the rubber composition and strengthens the edge of the material, preventing the edges of the shoulder pad from tearing when the pad is repeatedly attached to and removed from a gent. The wire at is imbedded in the shoulder pad, the moul operation. Preferably the wire so is made of a non-corrosive metal or impregnated ilbre.

Fig. 4 illustrates a still further modification wherein the fastening means comprise a metallic, preferably enamelled glove snap fastener crimped into the relatively thin edge areas of the pad. The garment may have the mating portion of the fastener permanently attached thereto.

In the illustrated forms of the invention only three attachment ports are shown, one of such ports being located substantially at the apex of the shoulder, while the other two are located on the front and rear outward edges of the pad. It is to be understood, however, that the location and number of fastening means carried by the pad may be materially changed.

It is also to be understood that the pads may be made in various colors, since the rubber compositions may be easily pigmented so that flesh tints or color corresponding to the color of the garment may be obtained.

It is to be understood that the term concave and convex is general and certain areas of the inner and outer surfaces may be substantially plane. Moreover, the apex of the shoulder pad may not necessarily be midway of the thin marginal edge l3, but instead the rear portion of a shoulder pad such as, for example, that hearing the port l6 may be longer (from the apex of the pad) than the forward or front portion of the pad.

All changes and modifications coming within the scope of the pending claims are embraced thereby.

I claim:

1. A unitary, washable, removable, seamless, non-absorptive, resilient and compliant shoulder pad comprising: a unitary moulded object substantially triangular in plan and wedge-shaped in longitudinal section, said object having two thin curved marginal edge portions normally meeting at the apex of a shoulder of a wearer, and a thick, substantially flat base face, said object having a preformed upper convex surface and a lower concave surface, said surfaces meeting along said thin marginal edge portions; and ports iormed in I the thin marginal edge portions, said obiect being unitary and composed of a sponge-like rubber composition having an integral, substantially imperforate and continuous film over the entire surface of said object.

2. A shoulder pad of the character stated in claim 1 including annular raised rims integral with the body of said object around each of said ports.

3. A shoulder pad of the character stated in cl 1 including fastening means carried in each of said ports.

4. A unitary, washable, removable, seamless, non-absorptive, resilient and compliant shoulder pad comprising: a unitary moulded object substantially triangular in plan and wedge-shaped in longitudinal section, said object having two thin curved marginal edge portions normally meeting at the apex of a shoulder of a wearer, and a thick, substantially fiat base face, said object having a preformed upper convex surface and a lower concave surface, said surfaces meeting along said thin' marginal edge portions; said object being unitary and composed of a sponge-like rubber composition having an integral, substantially imperforate and continuous fllm over the entire surface of said object.

5. A unitary, washable, removable, seamless, non-absorptive, resilient and compliant shoulder pad comprising: a unitary moulded object substantially triangular in plan and wedge-shaped in longitudinal section, said object having two thin curved marginal edge portions normally meeting at the apex of a shoulder of a wearer, and a crescent-shaped, virtually flat base face, said object having a preformed upper convex surface and a. lower concave surface, said surfaces meeting along said thin marginal edge portions; said object being unitary and composed of a sponge-like rubber composition having an integral, substantially imperforate and continuous film over the entire surface of said object.

JACK L. KLEINROCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 751,302 Kraft et a1 Feb. 2, 1904 2,061,435 Neidecker Nov. 17, 1936 2,068,644 Frais Jan. 26, 1937 2,304,699 Levy Dec. 8, 1942 2,438,072 Piccinni Mar. 16, 1948