US2545039A

US2545039A - Shoulder pad

Info

Publication number: US2545039A
Application number: US77773A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl E Mitchel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1949-02-23
Filing date: 1949-02-23
Publication date: 1951-03-13
Anticipated expiration: 1968-03-13

Description

March 13, 1951 c. E. MITCHEL SHOULDER PAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 23. 1949 ATTORNEYS March 13, 1951 c, MITCHEL 2,545,039

SHOULDER PAD Filed Feb. 23, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 67404 t. Mrcwez.

Patented Mar. 13, 1951 FFlCE SHOULDER PAl) Carl E. Mitchel, San Francisco, Calif. Application February 23, 1949, Serial No. 77,773

4 Claims. (01. z-2

An object of my invention isto provide'a shoulder pad in which the body portion carries a shock absorbing arch that is not only spaced above the shoulder portion of the body but is also spaced in front of the chest portion of the body. In the playing of football, the blow caused by a body contact between opposing players is frequently received on the chest as well as ,on' the shoulder. An arch extending only over the shoulder does not dissipate a chest blow. My device by using an arch that is spaced from' the chest and shoulder, spreads the force of the blow whether it is received on the shoulder orzon the chest. The chest and collar bone are thus PIP- tected. V,

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the two halves of the body portion may be adjustably connected together so that the shoulder pad can be worn by players of different sizes. 'Ilheiadjustment is such that the two halves are held in parallel arrangement and prevents any neck pinching which usually results when only lacing interconnects the two halves.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the type described in which the padding for the body portion and that for the shoulder caps is all in one piece. Novel connecting means is provided for hingedly connecting the shoulder caps with the body portioniiso that any strain on the shoulder caps caused by a body blow is taken up by the connecting means rather than by the padding.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following specification, and the novel features of the device will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the P Figure 2 is a rear elevation;

Figure 3 is a development view of the padding for the body and the shoulder cap with a portion of the body member being shown and the cap;

Figure 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the body member and the shock absorbing arch and illustrates how the two are connected together;

Figure 6 is a section along the line VIVI of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is a section along the line VII-VII of Figure 1;

shoulder Figure 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the body member showing the shock absorbing Y, arch operatively applied thereto; and

Figure 9 is a section along the line IX-IX of Figure 8.

While I have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In carrying out my invention I provide a. shoulder padding comprising two identical halves or body members and they are indicated generally at A and A. Sinceboth halves are identical in construction, a detailed description of one will suflice for both. I; willdescribe the left half A shown in Figure 2 and the right half A will be given the same letters and numbers except that they will be primed.

Referring to Figure 8, it will be noted that the left half A has a body member B that may be made out of any semi-rigid. material desired. The body member B is arched so as to extend over the shoulder of the player and has a rear portion indicated generally-atl, an arch 2,,and a front portion indicated generally at 3. The front portion extends down over the chest of the player the desired distance. Both Figures 1 and 2 illustrate how the body member B has the shoulder portion 2 provided with a concave curve on its inner edge so as to give sufficient room for I The portions I and the neck C of the player.

3 of the body member B are made wide enough to give full protection to the body of the player.

The body member B has a shock absorbing arch indicated generally at D secured thereto,

the greater portion of the arch being spaced from the outer surface of the body member B. Again referring to Figure 8, it will be seen that the rear end 4 of the arch is secured to the body member portion l by rivets 5 or other suitable fastening means. The shoulder portion: 6 of the arch is spaced above the corresponding portion 2 of the body member B. A resilient block indicated generally at E is placed between the member B and the arch D at a point where the shoulder portion 2 merges into the chest portion. Any means desired may be used for securing the resilient block to the members B and D and in fact any resilient support could be used between these two members without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I have shown one type of fastening means for the block E on an enlarged scale in Figure 9. The

member B disposed adjacent to the resilient block E has an opening I for receiving a connecting member F that is in two parts 8 and 9. The part; 8 has a cylindrical portion that enters a bore In provided in the resilient block E and the cylindrical portion is threaded at l. The other part 9 has a threaded shank. i 2 that is adjustably received in the threaded bore II, the shank also passingthrough an opening 12 in the meni+ ber D and havinga-head [4 bearing against the member. The head l4 has a kerf by means of which the part 9 may be rotated by a screw" driver for compressing the resilient block to the desired extent. In this way the arch member D will have a resilient support due to the mania and at the same time the member D can fulcrum on the block to a certain extent.

The front end I of the shock absorbing arch D is secured to the chest portion 2 of themember B by rivets I6, or other suitable fastening means. The end l5 has an offset portion I! disposed near the front edge and Figure 5 illustrateshow the offset portion spaces the arch from the body member B between the offset portion and the resilient block E. Figure 5 illustrates the left half of the shoulder pad when looki ng in the direction of the arrow V in l figure The shoulder portion 6 of the shock absorbingarch is spaced above the shoulder portion 2 of the member B while the chest portion is of the arch is spaced in front of the chest portion 3 o fthe body member B.

A blow on the shoulder portion 6 of the arch D will be dissipated to the rear end 4 of .the arch and to the resilient block E. Such a blow will tend to depress the shoulder arch portion Sand to' create a greater curvature 'in the chest arch portion 18 with the result that the blow onthe shoulder 6 wili be dissipated by the chest portion [8 and carried down to the place where the rivets l6 connect the end ii of the arch to thebod'y member B.

A' blow against the chest portion 13 of the arch D will likewise be dissipated to the rivets l5 and to the end of the chest portion 3 and also to the resilient block E. Such a blow will move the chest portion 18 of the arch; toward th chest portion 3 of the body member B and will cause the arch D to tend. to fulcrum ,onfthe block E and to create a greater arch shape in the shoulder 6. Therefore, a chest blow will be dis; sipated to the arch portion 6 of the member I) and thence carried to the rivets 5, therear 'end' 4 of the arch member D and the rear portion I of the left half A. It will alsobe seenthat a' body blow on the shoulder portion 6, "or the chest portion l8, of the semi-rigid arch, .wi1l be dissipated over the entire left half A of thede'vice and the player will be protected tofa far greater extent than would otherwise 'be possibleif the chest portion I8 of the member D were not pro; vided Both halves A and A" are provided'with the body members B, B and shock absorbing 'arch'es' D, D. Figures 1 and 2 show the inner edges is and i9 of the arches D and D spaced'further from the neck C of the playerthan the inner edges of the shoulder portions of the body mjem bers B and B. This will give sufficient-clearance for the neck of the player so that the device will not pinch or chafe the neck.

I provide pad in G and (3' under each r the body membe s 13 and B. Figure 3 s ows the protects the collar bone of the player.

One of the novel features of the present invention is the provision of a single piece of padding G that not only underlies the body member B but also has a portion that underlies the cupshaped member H. Since the portion 25 of the padding is integral with the

portions

29 and 21, greater. protection will be afforded the player.

Straps

22, 23 and 24 connect the cup-shaped member H with the member B and act as a hinge between the two while at the same time taking up any blow that might strike the cup-shaped member H. In this way the padding that extends between the

portions

28 and 2| and the portion 25 is not torn or placed under a strain since all of the blow is transmitted from the cup-shaped member H directly to the body memberB by the straps and not by the padding. Should for any reason the

straps

22, 23 and 24 be torn loose, the padding G. would still retain the cup H in place because the padding is in one piece.

In Figures 1 and 2 I show epaulets J that are connected by hinges 26 to the shock absorbing arches D at the shoulder portion 6. The epaulets extend partially over the arches D and over the shoulder caps H, so as to aid in protecting both from body blows. The leather hinge 26 permits the player to raise his armfreely, the epaulet J- swinging upwardly during this movement. The

straps

22, 23 and 24 also act as hinges and per: mit the cup=shaped shoulder cap H to swing upwardly.

Another novel feature of my invention, is the provision of means for interconnecting the two halves A and A- so that the shoulder pad can be worn by players of different sizes. In Figures 1 and 8, I show a semi-rigid connecting member K. This member has it ends underlying the rear portions I of the body members B and B. Each end of the member K is provided with upper end

lower slots

27 and 28. These slots have

branch slots

29 and 30, respectively, that in turn have bayonet shaped ends for receiving

screws

31 and 32, that are carried by the member B. In Figure 2 I show the screws 3| and 32 received in the

central branches

22 and 30 and therefore the two halves A and A will be spaced a predetermined distance from each other and held in position. The screws 3| and 32 may be of any type do:- sired. In Figure 6 I show the screws as being of the same type as the connecting members F. Further description of these members 3| and 32 need not be given.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, the operation thereof may be readily understood.

The shoulder pad is adjusted to the right size by means of the screws 3| and 32 and the con: necting member K. When worn, the shock absorbing arches D and D will take the initial shoulder and chest blows. These blows will be dissipated and spread over the body members B and B in the manner already stated. The pad: ding Gand G will afford greater protection for the player because each half A and A has a single piece that extends under both the body member B or B and the shoulder caps H or H.

It is possible to omit the two lower screws 32 in order to permit the two halves to rock about the two upper screws 3|. It is also possible to place the plate K at the front of the two halves rather than at the back in order to give a solid front effect. The rear portions of the halves could then be laced together or otherwise secured.

I claim:

1. A shoulder pad comprising two halves, each having a semi-rigid body member arched so as to extend over the shoulder and down over the back and chest so as to protect both, and a semi-rigid shock absorbin arch having one end connected to the back of the body member and the other end connected to the front of the body member, the portion of the arch disposed between its ends being spaced from the body member for dissipating any blows directed against the shoulder and chest of the player to the ends of the arch and body member portions disposed adjacent thereto.

2. A shoulder pad comprising two halves, each having a semi-rigid body member arched so as to extend over the shoulder and down over the back and chest so as to protect both, a semi-rigid shock absorbing arch having one end connected to the back of the body member and the other end connected to the front of the body member, the portion of the arch disposed between its ends being spaced from the body member for dissipating any blows directed against the shoulder and chest of the player, and a resilient support for the arch and placed between the body member and the arch and disposed at the front of the body member and near its arched portion.

3. In a device of the type described, a semirigid body member arched so as to extend over the shoulder and down over the back and chest so as to protect both, a semi-rigid shock absorbing and shock dissipating arch having one end connected to the back of the body member and the other or front end connected to the front of the body member, the end of the arch disposed adjacent to the front connection being ofiset for spacing the greater portion of the arch from the front and shoulder portion of the body member for dissipating any blows directed against the shoulder and chest of the player and conveying the force of the blow to the ends of the arch and body member portions disposed adjacent thereto, and a resilient support placed between the body member and the arch and disposed at the front of the body member and near its arched portion, said support acting as a shock absorber for blows received by the arch and also acting as a fulcrum for permitting a slight flexing and swinging of the arch when the latter receives a blow at a point above or below the support.

4. In a device of the type described, a semirigid body member arched so as to extend over the shoulder and down over the back and chest, the back and chest portion being wider than the arched shoulder portion so as to offer greater protection to these parts and the arched portion being recessed on one side to provide room for the neck; a semi-rigid shock absorbing and shock dissipating arch extending over the shoulder and down over the back and chest and having the end of its back portion connected to the back of the body member and the end of its chest portion connected to the chest portion of the body member; the arch being spaced the greater part of its length from the body member and being made wider at its back and chest portions for offering greater protection, the shoulder portion of the arch being recessed on the side corresponding to the recessed side of the body member; and a resilient support placed between the body member and the arch and on the chest portion at a point near the shoulder portion, said support acting as a shock absorber for the arch and constituting a fulcrum point for the arch a the latter is flexed when receiving blows at points above or below the support.

CARL E. MITCHEL.

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

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 1,294,138 Mitchell Feb. 11, 1919 1,761,206 Glahe June 3, 1930 2,247,961 Mulvey .4... July 1, 1941 2,430,502 Goldsmith Nov. 11, 1947