US1239980A - Body-protector. - Google Patents

Description

, L. STEWART BODY PROTECTOR. APPLICATION map ocr. 1. I915 Patented Sept. 11, '1917 WALTER L. s'rnwnnr, or nus MOINES, IUWA.

BODY-PROTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent. Pgmggnfi gd n w 111 191'? Application filed October 1, 1915. Serial No. 53,624.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WVALTER L. swa m, a citizen of the United States, residing at Des Moines, in the county of Polk and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Body-Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of. the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to body protectors and is more particularly designed to be worn by foot-ball players and athletes.

One of the objects of this invention is the provision of a-body protector consisting of sections suitably connected together, whereby the body of the wearer is amply protected against injury.

Another object of this invention is to provide a body protector of two sections formed of felt or the like, provided with a plurality of thick pads upon the sections, formed of papier-mach, wood fiber, or other hardsubstance, which pads are covered by. heavy canvas, and are sopositioned upon the sections as to amply protect the ribs and hips of the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a body protector formed of sections resiliently connected together to permit the free movement of the body of the wearer.

Another object of this invention is to provide a body protector which is light and simple in construction, cool and durable, and which can be more readily attached to or detached from the body of a person than the form of jackets now in use.

Other objects and advantages of this invention'will be hereinafter more clearly set forth in the specification, defined in the claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a view showing the invention as applied to a human figure.

Fig. 2 is a detail View of the invention showing the same in extended position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, on line 3-8 of Fig. 2, through one of the sec tions of the protector showing. the detail a construction of the pads of the sections.

Referring to the drawings, the body protector preferably consists of two oppositely disposed sections of similar construction, however, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to two sec tions, as a greater number of sections may preferably made of felt of suitable weight and thickness and is formed so as to provide the wider upper portion 1 for embracing the body of the wearer, and the narrower portion .Zfor embracing the hips oi the wearer. The upper edge of the upper portion 1 ofthe sections is cut away or scalloped to provide the recess 3 for the reception of the arm pits of the wearer.

Suitably secured upon the portions 1 of the sections are the larger pads 4, and also suitably secured upon the portions 2 of the sections are the smaller pads 55. These pads 4 and 5 are formed of papier-mach, wood fiber, or other hard substance, as shown at 6 in Fig. 3, the substance forming these pads is covered by the heavy canvas at also shown in Fig. 8, the canvas 41: being suitably stitched or otherwise secured to the felt c011- stituting the body of the sections.

The edges of the sections, which lie at the front of the wearer, are resiliently connected together by the straps 8 formed of elastic band or material, preferably two in number as shown. Upon the other edge of one of the sections is suitably securedthe strap 9, having secured in its free end the buckle 10, or other suitable securing means, and upon the corresponding edge of the other section is suitably secured the strap 11 adapted to be secured in the buckle 10 of the strap 9 for securing the protector around the body of the wearer, the straps 9 and 11 being preferably secured at the back of the wearer.

In the construction shown in this invention I am enabled to provide a body protector primarily for the use of foot-ball players, constructed in such a manner that the ribs and hip bones of the player, which are usually the most exposed parts, are amply protected against injury, and at the same time the protector is cool, light, and durable, and one which can be more easily attached to or detached from the body of the wearer than the jackets now commonly used. Again, by connecting two of the ad jacent edges of the sections together through the medium of the elastic straps or hands, the protector not only snugly fits the body of the wearer, but at the same time, due to its resiliency, admits of the free movement of the body, as well as adjusting itself to the expansion and contraction of the body during respiration, this latter feature being an important factor in this invention as the respiration of the wearer is not in the least interfered with as in other structures of this class.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Lettors-Patent, is

A body protector, comprising oppositely disposed spaced sections adapted to be positioned at the sides of the wearer, each of said sections comprising an upper member and an mtegral lower member, said upper member being of greater dimensions than said lower member, exterior pads formedwithconcaved cut-out portions to provide recesses .i'or the receptlon oi the arm pits or the wearer, a pair of spaced elastic members connecting the forward edges of said upper members for respectively engaging the chest trally between said" elastic members for I equalizing the strains upon said elastic members-and for attachably securing the protector at the back ofthe wearer for maintaining the sections in their relative positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses! WALTER L. STEl/VART.

Vitnesses J. BROWN, ELMER Soo'rT.

Copies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington; D. G.

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