US2786209A - Shoulder pads - Google Patents

Description

March 26, 1957 KLziNMAN 2,786,209

SHOULDER PADS Filed June 5, 1953 IN V EN TOR. 2 M 1? W United States Patent SHOULDER PADS Jacob L. Kleinman, Arverne, N. Y.

Application lune 3, 1953, Serial No. 359,256

6 Claims. (Cl. 2-268) This invention relates to the construction of shoulder pads and shoulder pad covers, of various types, and more particularly to a type of shoulder pad structure provided with means adapted to be held frictionally in desired position without the aid of sewing, and wherein such shoulder pad may be removed without resorting to the undoing of seams or of sewing, and wherein the shoulder pad and the cover are each provided with means permitting the circulation of air therethrough thereby providing air ventilation for the interior of the pad structure and forming air cushioning means for same, and wherein the shoulder pad structure is provided with means adapted to house or support a. fragrant or perfumed element, or any other desirable element, and is filed as a continuation in part of my copending application, S. N. 756,369, filed June 23, 1947, matured into Patent Number 2,640,993, issued June 9, 1953.

My novel construction is capable of being utilized in connection with various styles or types of shoulder pads, for example, shoulder pads made of sponge rubber, foam rubber, or of foam made of plastic, or of any other suitable element, or of a combination of elements, and be utilized or worn by the wearer in any suitable or desirable manner.

In accordance with my invention, I produce a shoulder pad provided with a groove or slitted channel adapted to underlie the shoulder strap of a brassiere located upon' the wearers shoulder and having its wall portion encase, or embrace, frictionally, such shoulder strap thus holding same in desired position upon such shoulder, cushioning same against strap-pressure, and also house therein shoulder straps of the wearers slip, undergarment, or corselet in desired position thereby preventing or minimizing the possibilities of such straps slipping off the wearers shoulder, and in addition thereto I provide my shoulder pad structure with an air cooling system which ventilates and cushions the inner portion of the structure and also with a compartment for housing. a fragrant or perfumed element, or any other suitable element.

To illustrate the ordinary commercial utility of my novel shoulder pad in daily life, a shoulder pad constructed in accordance with my invention, of whatever style or type: it may be made, could be utilized to great advantage; the fact that my shoulder pad could be placed under the shoulder strap upon the wearers shoulder, cushioning such shoulder against strap=pressure, and be held in selected position by frictional engagement with such str p, particularly so without resorting to means of sewing, and be removed, or replaced, without resorting to undoing of seems, a matter which is a difficult task to most of the people especially to those not trained in the sewing profession, would render great comfort and satisfaction to' the wearer to an extent whereby such shoulder pad would become an indispensable Wardrobe item, and thus quite valuable to the trade commercially, especially so when such. shoulder pad is provided with my air cooling, ventilating and cushioning system.

The same is true with respect to the compartment formed in my shoulder pad structure for housing a fragrant or perfumed element.

For explanatory purposes the following may be pointed out. it is a well known fact that women frequently dab a bit of perfume upon their shoulders so as to diffuse a pleasing fragrance or scent about them, but such bit of pc re occasionally soils or stains their wearing apparel, at times to an extent which results in a permanent stain that can not be removed. Furthermore, the scent of such bit of perfume readily evaporates and the user has to replace, frequently, afresh bit of perfume in order to retain the desired fragrance about herself; this is of course very annoying to the individual concerned. Although such performance constitutes an annoying and unpleasant task, yet, women desiring a perfumed scent about themselves must undergo such annoying performance.

But my shoulder pad structure solves the above-mentioned problem in a complete and satisfactory manner. It completely eliminates such annoying performance; the fact that my shoulder pad is provided with a compartl ent for housing a perfumed element which will diffuse a pleasing fragrance will provide the wearer with the desired scent without the necessity of dahbing perfume upon her shoulders, thereby eliminating the danger of soiling her wearing apparel.

it will thus be seen that this feature of my invention, namely, the facilities within my shoulder pad for pro viding the wearer with a desired scent, is a very important feature, in fact a very important part of my invention. This feature can be utilized in connectionwith various types or styles of shoulder pads. it can be made of various materials and in various styles, types, shapes or forms. it an be utilized to great advantage and render great comfort and satisfaction to the wearer to an extent whereby such a shoulder pad will become a necessity and an actual indispensable wardrobe item with the average person, and therefore quite valuable commercially.

Thus a structure made in accordance with the teachings of my invention may be utilized for various purposes, to suit the wearers occasional requirements. For example, it may be utilized as a deodorizer, or be made to be worn or used in any other desirable manner, or in combined form, as may be found suitable by the manufacturer or required by the trade or consumer.

The variety of possible applications of the features of my novel construction in connection with different articles of apparel; as hereinabove indicated, is so prolific that for the purpose of illustrating the invention the specific embodiment of my invention in its application to a garment exhibiting the greatest difficulties has been selected. Such a garment is one which necessarily must conform most rigidly to the body contours and one which has the field of greatest possible commercial use. For this purpose .t' have selected for illustration of my novel construction, a garment constituting a brassiere provided with shoulder straps adapted to support upon the wearers shoulder a shoulder pad made in accordance with my invention, so that the principle of construction may be best illustrated in the combination of the parts of the invention disclosed therein.

"5 he objects of the present invention are attained by a novel construction which will be hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawing in connection with a specific embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing in which such specific embodiment of my invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a perspective top View of my shoulder pad structure, showing the frictional connection between the brassiere shoulder strap and the shoulder pad, and also showing the compartments for housing the perfumed element, and also showing the perforations through which the scent of the perfumed element is being difiused or distributed.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental perspective view showing that several straps may be positioned simultaneously and be held within the shoulder pad groove.

Fig. 3 is a perspective top view of my shoulder pad constructed to be used only as a strap cushioning means to prevent strap pressure.

Fig. 4 is a fragmental perspective view showing my shoulder pad provided with a narrow longitudinal slot.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the same structure as in Fig. 4 when worn upon the wearers shoulder.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmental perspective view of the front portion of the shoulder pad partly covered.

.Fig. 7 is a fragmeutal cross-sectional view showing a perfumed element within the shoulder pad compartment.

Fig. 8 is a View partly in cross-section of a perfumed element container.

Fig. 9 is a view showing the cover for the container shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a perspective fragmental view of the container shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 11 is a fragmental perspective view showing the shoulder pad being held by a strap secured to the underface of the shoulder portion of the wearers garment.

.Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which similar reference characters identify similar parts in the several views, in my novel shoulder pad structure.

My present invention comprises a shoulder pad having a body portion 5, which may be made of various types of material, for example, rubberized material, sponge rubber, foam rubber, plastic foam, or any other suit able material. Such body portion 5 may be constructed in any desirable style, shape or form. It may be molded, machined, fabricated, or formed in any suitable manner, as may be deemed advisable.

The body portion 5 comprises a rear section 6 and a front portion 7 and may, at a suitable location, be provided with an open compartment 9, and with a groove or slitted channel 8, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

The front portion 7 is provided with openings, recesses, perforations or apertures forming air-compartments 9. Each of these compartments 9 is provided with communicable openings, apertures or perforations 11 to permit the circulation of air therethrough. The wall portions 12, While they may be formed in any desirable manner, may also be made, or formed, in a manner wherein the upper portions and the lower portions of the walls 12 are of a heavier thickness than that of the center portions of such walls 12, so that such wall portions may easily and automatically become compressed or expanded during the wearers shoulder movements. It is naturally understood that each time when the upper portion 14 is pressed towards the lower portion 15 the accumulated air within the openings or apertures 11 or 16 or compartments 9 will escape through such perforations or openings 11 or 16, and each time when such upper portion 14 will assume its normal position such compartments will again inhale fresh air through its openings or apertures. Thus the wall portions 12, in addition to their function of forming the individual air compartments, also assume a spring-action which creates a system for suction, or inhaling, and expulsion of air, causing such air to circulate through the various openings or apertures thereby providing ventilating or cooling means for the interior of the shoulder pad structure, making same a practical air conditioned shoulder pad. Naturally, the above disclosure is for illustrative purposes only and not for limitations, various changes of form of structure may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention or the teachings of same, for example; porous material or foam rubber, wherein the,

pores or cells 16 intersect or interconnect with each other permitting the flow of circulation of air therethrough, may be utilized; or the cover 17 may comprise loosely woven material wherein the threads are separated from each other thus providing apertures 1?: in the cover material for the circulation of air therethrough; or the body 5 may be provided with through perforations 19 for the circulation of air therethrough, thereby providing the inner structure of the shoulder pad with an air cushioning, air cooling and air ventilating system.

If desired, certain of the compartments 9 may be utilized to house a suitable perfumed element which may diffuse a pleasing fragrance or scent about the wearer, thereby eliminating the necessity of dabbing perfume upon the wearers shoulder thus minimizing the possibilities of soiling the wearers clothes.

It is naturally understood that the compartment 5 may be adapted to house any suitable or desirable perfumed element, or any other desirable element. But for illustrative purposes I am showing a certain type of perfumed element which may be utilized with considerable ease by the average person.

For example; a member 21, made of any suitable material, is provided with a shoulder 22 and with a knurled head 23. This member 21 is provided with a perfumed element 24 secured thereto in a mortise and tenon style to prevent the removal of the element 24 from the member 21 during the insertion or withdrawal of same from the compartment 9. The tapered end portion will facilitate the insertion of the element 24 into the compartment 9 and will lead the way for such element to be fully positioned within such compartment. When fully inserted the shoulder 22 will engage, frictionally, the inner face of the compartment 9, as at 26, and the head 23 will then lie flush against the outer face of the front portion 7 thus suspending the perfumed element 24 within the compartment 9 for the diffusion or spreading of the scent or fragrance through the apertures 11 into desired direction. By gripping the knurled head 23 the perfumed element may be withdrawn from the compartment 9.

If desired the compartment 9 may be provided with a tubular member, for example, such as indicated by arrow A. Such member A comprises a body 31 which may be of hexagon shape cross-sectionally as shown at 32, or of any other suitable shape or form, so as to be held within the compartment 9 in a frictional non-rotatable manner. The body 31 is provided with a chamber 33 having a screw-threaded portion 34 and a shoulder portion 35. The cover indicated by arrow 13 comprises a knurled head 36, a screw-threaded section 37 and a shoulder portion 38, and also comprises a slitted extension 39 adapted to hold an element 4-1 of any suitable material (felt, cotton or the like). This extension 39 may of course be made in any other suitable style or shape. The body 31 is provided with a reduced or tapered end section 42 to facilitate the insertion of the member (arrow A) into the compartment 9. It will be seen that the cover 17 is provided with openings 43 (located opposite the compartments 9) so that, while the shoulder pad 5 may be utilized without a cover, yet, if desired, such shoulder pad 5 may be encased within the cover 17, and the member (arrow A) may be inserted into the compartment 9 through the opening 43 of the front portion of such cover 17, and the shoulder may rest against the outer face of such front portion as shown inse m chamber 33.1na manner as indicated by the dotted lines 41', the perfumed fragrance or scent will then diffuse through the perforations or slots 46 and through the perforations 11 and then through the apertures 18 of the cover 17 and will then spread into desired direction. It will be seen that the slots 46 are located: at the upper or top portion of the member arrow A, so that if a drop of perfumed element detaches itself from the ele ment 41 itwill remain upon the floor 33? of the chamber 33 and, due to the closed cover 36, will be unable to escape and soil the wearers clothes.

It is naturally understood that the member indicated by arrow A may be removed, replaced or exchanged; or the wearer may adjust the strength of the scent. by the number of perfumed elements used simultaneously at one particular time; or the wearer may combine several different perfumed elements in order to obtain a certain desired scent; or certain of the compartments may be utilized as perfume chambers whereas the other compartments. may be utilized for air conditioning purposes, or such compartments or chambers may be utilized for other suitable purposes. Of course the above is a matter optional with the wearer.

While openings such as 43 are usually reinforced with metallic eyelets, yet, if desired, the openings. 43 may be reinforced with other suitable means, for example, stitchings 47.

Covered shoulder pads are usually provided. with means for securing same in desired. position upon the wearers shoulder; but uncovered shoulder pads have no means by which they could be secured into desired: position upon the wearers shoulder. Particularly so is it. true with respect to uncovered shoulder pads made offoam rubber, sponge rubber or the like. It can therefore be seen that the channel, slot or groove in my uncovered rubber shoulder pad provides novel means for securing uncovered shoulder pads in desired position upon-the wearers shoulder. It solves the above mentioned problem in a completely satisfactory manner. It makes possible utilization of rubberized shoulder pads without the use of covers, thus eliminating the expense of cover. material and the cost of making same. The followingpoints out the manner in which my channeled portion or groove functions.

The shoulder pad is placed upon. the wearers shoulder. The strap S of the wearers brassiere (brassiere not shown) is then positioned" within the channeled portion or groove 3. This channeled portion 8 is provided with wall portions or lip sections 8' adapted tooverlie,.throughout its full length, the shoulder strap 8' and hold same against displacement. Furthermore, the, weight of the Wearers breasts usually pull downwardly such brassiere straps upon the wearers shoulders. Such pulling action naturally curves the shoulder pad 5 (upon the wearers shoulder) to conform to the curvature of such Wearers shoulder, for example, in a manner as indicated by the structure illustrated in Fig. 6. Such curving action causes the lip sections 8' to press tightly upon the shoulder strap S clamping such strap S within the channel 8. Such strap S in turn presses the shoulder pad 5 tightly against the wearers shoulder thus holding, firmly, such shoulder pad 5 in desired position upon the wearers shoulder.

The shoulder pad 5 is provided with a curved underface, for example as indicated by arrow D, so that when under pressiu'e by the strap S upon the wearers shoulder, such shoulder 5 will straighten out (as indicated by arrow C) and cause the lip sections 8 to close and form a straight top surface as shown by arrow E, for supporting the shoulder portion of the wearers garment.

The slitted channel 8 may be adapted to also encase the shoulder strap S of the wearers slip (slip not shown), thus preventing such strap from slipping off the wearers shoulder; or, if desired, the shoulder pad 5 may be provided with more than one slitted channel for such purposes or for any other desirable purposes.

If desired, the slitted channel 8 may he made in the form or shape of a straight groove, slot or gap 8". And when under pressure by the strap S, upon the Wearers shoulder, the end. portionsfia will be forced against each other, clamping such strap S and closing the gap 8", thereby providing a straight top surface as indicated by arrow F for supporting the shoulder portion of the wearers garment and also holding the shoulder pad 5 frictionally secured to the strap S, thus holding such shoulder pad in desired position upon the wearers shoulder.

If desired, the front portion 7 may be removed from the body portion 5, and the rear section 6 may be made in the form or shape as indicated by arrow K (Fig. 3). Such pad would act mainly as a strap cushioning means to prevent strap-pressure of the strap S against the wearers shoulder. This type of pad may be made either with the slitted channel 8 having wall or lip portions 8, or with the slot 8", with or without perforations, and function as herein-above described.

If desired, the shoulder pad 5 may be provided at its underface with a groove or slitted channel 51 having lip sections 52. A strap 53' may be sewn on by stitchings 54 to the underface of the shoulder portion 55 of the wearers' garment, thus the wearer can easily secure the shoulder pad 5 into desired position by just slipping a portion of such shoulder pad through the space between the strap 53' and the garment shoulder 55, until the strap 53 is placed Within the slot or groove 51. The wall portions or lip sections 52 will prevent accidental displacement ofthe strap 53 from the groove 51. The strap 53' may be made of any suitable material, but if desired, such strap may comprise rubberized material in which case the lip sections 52 may be eliminated and the shoulder pad 5 may be held in desired position against the underface. ofa shoulder portion of a garment by frictional pressure of such strap against the inner face of the slot or groove indicated by arrow 51. It may also be pointed out that in such. a case the groove 51 may, desired, be eliminated and the shoulder pad 5 may be held in desired position against the underface of the garment shoulder. 55 by frictional pressure of the strap or band 53 against the body portion of the shoulder pad.

If desired, the shoulder pad 5 may be provided with suitable means to be interlocked with means carried by the shoulder portion of the wearers garment (means not shown) and. thus be held in desired position.

The stitchings. 54 may, if so desired, be eliminated and the end. portions of. the strap 53 may be secured to the garment shoulder 55 by other suitable means, for example, snapfasteners or the like (fasteners not shown).

It is naturally understood that the full length of the strap 53 may be eliminated, if so desired, and that only the end portions of such strap may be secured to the shoulder pad 5 by any suitable means. For example; in connection with covered shoulder pads, such end portions may be secured to the cover, or be an integral part of such cover. On the other hand, if in connection with uncovered shoulder pads, then such end portions, or for that matter the entire length of such strap, may be secured to the shoulder pad 5 during the molding operation of such shoulder pad 5, and the loose end portions of such strap may be provided with suitable fastening means to be interlocked with fastening elements located at the underface of the shoulder portion of the wearers garment, and thus hold such shoulder pads in desired position.

From the above it will be seen that the features of my invention, namely, the uncovered air conditioned shoulder pad, the means for securing uncovered shoulder pads in desired position upon the wearers shoulder, and the perfume compartment within the shoulder pad structure, are very important and valuable features. The elimination of covers will naturally greatly reduce the cost of such shoulder pads, the perfume compartments will naturally make shoulder pad wearing a pleasure, and the air conditioning and air cooling system within the shoulder avsaeea structure will greatly facilitate the wearing of shoulder pads. It will be clearly seen that the teachings of my invention with respect to the communicable openings, pores or perforations intersecting or cooperating with each other to permit the flow or circulation of air therethrough, thus providing a ventilating system Within the shoulder pad structure and also providing a perfurnery system for diffusing a pleasing fragrance or scent about the wearer, and the means for securing uncovered shoulder pads in desired position upon the Wearers shoulder, are each very important features, or parts, of my invention, and. are very desirable from a practical point of view. They can be utilized individually or jointly in the construction of shoulder pads. It is believed that shoulder pads constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention, containing either one of the above-mentioned features, or a combination thereof, will become very popular among the consumers and thus quite valuable to the industry commercially.

It is therefore evident, that I have invented and per fected a shoulder-pad construction of a new and unique design, a shoulder-pad structure which is practical, use- 111 and therefore of commercial value, and, although I have shown certain preferred forms of illustrations in order to explain and describe the novelty of my invention, yet, by showing such structures, I do not, by any means, limit myself to the structures, nor to the terms used in describing same, as they are for illustrative purposes only. Various suggestions and changes of structure may be resorted to, and I desire it to be understood that I have same in mind when showing and describing this invention, and seek protection by Letters Patent. And, although I have mentioned in describing this invention of what material certain parts may be made, how they may be formed, shaped or styled, and how they may be assembled, yet I desire it to be understood that this structure, or parts thereof, may be made of any suitable material, and shaped, formed, styled or arranged in any desirable manner, and assembled in any convenient way so that the parts may be easily taken apart, removed, cleaned, replaced, re-attached and reassembled, and that various changes in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of this invention.

I claim:

1. A shoulder pad adapted to be positioned upon the wearers shoulder, said shoulder pad comprising a body portion having a series of apertures for the circulation of air thercthrough, resilient Wall portions separating certain of said apertures from each other, said body portion provided with a slitted channel, said channel having a floor and lipsections, and in combination with a shoulder strap of a body garment, said slitted channel adapted to house said shoulder strap, said strap adapted to press against the floor of said channel to hold said shoulder pad in conformity with the curvature of the said wearers shoulder and to have said lip-sections press tightly against said strap, said shoulder pad provided with means for housing a removable perfumed element therein.

2. A shoulder pad comprising a body portion having communicable openings, 21 member having a tubular opening located within one of said communicable openings, said member having apertures, said tubular opening forming a chamber for housing a removable perfumed element, said apertures and said communicable openings adapted to permit the diffusion of scent of said perfumed element.

3. A shoulder pad comprising a body portion having a compartment therein, a tubular member within said compartment, said tubular member forming a chamber for housing a removable perfumed element therein, and means permitting the diffusion of scent of said perfumed element.

4. A shoulder pad comprising a body portion made of rubberized material, said body portion having a compartment therein, a tubular member within said compartment, said tubular member forming a chamber to house a removable perfumed element.

5. A shoulder pad comprising a body portion made of porous material, said body portion having a compartment therein for housing a removable perfumed element, said compartment having at least one opening, said openning and the pores of sad body portion communicating with each other and adapted to permit the diffusion of scent of said perfumed element.

6. A shoulder pad adapted to be positioned upon the wearers shoulder, said shoulder pad provided with a compartment for housing a removable perfumed element and with combined perforations for permitting the diffusion of the scent of said removable perfumed element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,413,526 Solomon Dec. 31, 1946 2,441,482 Gerry May 11, 1948 2,476,798 Bernstein July 19, 1949 2,497,382 Weber Feb. 14, 1950 2,497,808 Zacks Feb. 14, 1950 2,526,808 Cohen Oct. 24, 1950 2,586,423 Frais Feb. 19, 1952 2,620,484 Gerry Dec. 9, 1952 2,624,885 McManus Jan. 13, 1953 2,640,993 Kleinrnan June 9, 1953 2,671,223 Axsom Mar. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 924,797 France Aug. 14, 1947

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