US1660342A - Athlete's protective garment - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 28, 1928.

D. LEVINSON ATHLETE s PROTECTAIVE GARMENT Filed-Ian. 17, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,Dmmd lam/765071 Feb. 28, 1928. 1,660,342

D. LEVINSON ATHLETES PROTECTIVE GARMENT Filed Jan. 17. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 28, 1928.

entrain staras DAVID LEVINSQN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

* resent ASSIGNOR TO VJILSOhT-WES'IEERN SPORTING- Goons so, or CHICAGO, rumors, a oonroaarron or DELAWARE.

ATHLETES PROTECTIVE GAliitItHillT'1..v

Application filed January 17, 1923. Serial Ito. 613,103.

The invention relates to athletes protective garments, and particularly to garments which are primarily designed to be used by baseball players, football players, and other athletes, who, during the playing of a game, slide upon the surface of the field or floor, and in so doing subject their hips, legs, and other parts of their bodies to the possibility of injury. i

The garment referred to embodies the various features shown, described, and claimed in my copending application for United States Letters Patent, Serial Number 596,260, filed October 23, 1922. It also embodies a number of additional improvements which form the subject matter of this application.

An object of the invention is to provide a garment which will protect the hips, thighs, rear portion, and legs of the player against injury, and to employ pads which are connected together so as to allow relative movement between the pad elements forming the protective parts of the garment.

Another object of the invention is to arrange the pads ofthe garment in sets, which hang at the sides and the rear of the wearer, so that one pad of a set is permitted to slide relatively to another, or to the others of the set, and to connect them together in a way that their proper relative relation will be maintained when they are brought into action and use during sliding and also after sliding.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the garment that the number of protective'elements or pads may be increased or diminished, according to the wishes of the user.

It is a further object of the invention toso construct the garment that certain of the protective elements or pads are readily adjustable, and that they may be shifted and changed in their positions, i. e., they may be raised or lowered to suit the desires of the wearer.

An additional object of the invention is to construct a garment with belt and skirt portions to which the side pads are attached, and to which the rear pads may be attached. By this construction the strains onthe garment arising from use by'the' player are dis tributed and the lasting and wearing ties of the garment are increased.

One of the-specific objects of the invention is to provide the rear portion of the garment with a sliding pad which may be adjustably qualisecured to the rear skirt portion of the garment'by'means of a cord and eyelet arrangement.

A further object of the invention is construct the rear pad in such amanner that it will effectively and efficiently protect the wearer in the region of the lower terminat1on of the spinal column.

The invention will be explained and more readily understood when readin connection with the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, it being'obvious that changes and modiiications may be made without departing rom'the spirit of the appended claims.

In the drawings: I Figure 1 is a rear elevation of an athletes protective garment constructedaccording to the invention and showing the rear pad in position on the garment.

Figure 2 is a rear elevational view of the garment with the side pads broken away and the rear pad removed.

' Figure 3 is a section taken on line '3-3 of Figure-1.

Figure 41s a section taken on line H of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55 of Figure 1. I

Figure 6, is an elevational view of a por- 7 is a section taken on line 7-7 of the binding strip 12. The body portion is also provided with a front or abdomen skirt portion 18, and a rear skirt portion 14, which skirt portions are stitched together at the sides'and extend downwardly from the belt.

The front or abdomen portion of the garment has a placket with lacing 15, so that the garment may be adjusted to comfortably fit the wearer. i

The belt 11 has at the rear thereof a gore or gusset 16, made of elastic, or other suit able material, to compensate for the expansion and contraction to which the belt is subjected, and to assist in making the garment fit snugly and comfortably.

The belt of the gari'nent is reinforced with strips of webbing 17 and 18, which each extend on their respective sides substantially from the placket and lacing 15 to adjacent the elastic gore or gusset 16. A support 19 is removably attached to the lower ends of the front and rear skirt portions 13 and 14-.

Three sets of sliding pads are provided, two side sets and one rear set. Each set comprises a plurality of pads. Each of the pads designated 20, 21, and 22 is arranged next the bodyof the wearer. Each of the inner side pads 20 and 21 has its upper, straight end sewed, or otherwise secured, on the inner face of the main body portion 10 of the garment. The pads are sewed, or otherwise secured, to the belt 11 at the top, as indicated at 23 and also at 24 in ldigure 6. The straight, upper edges of each of the inner side pads 20 and 21 are caught under and secured by the binding strip 12. The inner pads 20 and 21 ext-end downwardly from the belt portion a suitable distance to wards the knees ofthe wearer and are made with roundedends. The inner pads are constructed in a manner to protect the wearer under hard and strenuous usage, but, nevertheless in such a way that the wearer may have complete comfort and freedom of movement at all times and in all positions. The inner pads 20 and 21 are each provided with a plurality of eyelets which are in a plurality of rows 25'and 26 arranged transversely oi? the length of the pad intermediate the ends thereof.

One, or more additional pads 27 and 28, which are removable, may be laced by the laces 29, or otherwise secured, in a row of the eyelets. It will be obvious that in case a large amount of padding is desired, one, or more, additional pads '27 and 28 may be laced, or otherwise secured in the other, or others, (if they are provided) of said. rows of eyelets in saidinner pads. The. primary purpose in having the plurality of rows of eyelets in the inner pads 20 and 211's to permit the removable pads 27 and 28 to be adjustably secured in place. player might like to have the removable pads 27 and 28 hang relatively far down and would use the lowest row of eyelets. At another time he might like to have the pads 27 and 28 raised as far as possible and would use thehighest row of eyelets.

Outer pads 31 and 32 are, respectively, associated with the inner pads 20 and 21.

One time the stantially corresponds in outline to the lower portion of the inner pads. The outer pads are connected adjacent their upper edges, as indicated at 33, 3a to the hip portion of the main body lOof the garment. The outer pads are placed over both hangover and and th ghs of the wearer.

the inner pads and protectthe sides, hips,

it will be apparent that, since the inner pads 20 and 21 are secured in straight lines, as shown, to the inner face of the belt and skirt portions of the garment and that the upper, rounded ends oi", the outer pads 31 and are secured to the outside of the skirt portions of the garment, that the strains ensuing fromthc relative movement of the pads on each other when the player slides on the ground or floor will be distributed in such a way that the garment will have increased strength and durability.

The pairs of pads 20, 21, and 31, 32 are, respectively, connectedtogether at their opposite edges by means of the front and rear connecting bands 35 and 36. These bands may be of elastic or non-elastic material and are constructed to hold and maintain'the pairs of inner and outer pads, as well as the intermediate pads, betweenthem and in their proper relation, and to permitthem to move relatively to and slide upon each other when. they are in use and when the player runs and slides to the desired position. The intermediate, removable pads which are held between theinner and outer pads, hang freely from the line, or lines, of lacing in the row, or rows, of eyelets,25 and 26, and although between the connecting bands 35 and 36 are not directly connected to them.

The intermediate removable, auxiliary pads 27 and 28 are arranged and] employed between the pairs of inner and outer pads.

Each of the auxiliary or intermediate pads substantially corresponds in design to the inner pads and has a straight, upper por tion and a rounded, lower portion. The auxiliary and intermediate pads are provided with eyelets 3'7. The eyelets in the intermediate pads 27 and 28 are arranged in alignment with the eyelets in the inner pads 20 and 21, so that the attaching cord or lacing 29 may be readily passed through the eyelets of both pads and thereby secure these pads together.

The upper edge of each intermediate pad has a reinforcing strip 38 which extends across the entire width of the upper end of the pad andhas the eyelet-s 37 therein.

It will be understood that if the player should desire to increase the number of the intermediate pads in either set of side pads,

this can readily be done. To accomplish this, it is only necessary to remove the cord,

arrange the desired number of intermediate pads, so that the eyelets therein are in alignment with the eyelets in the pads 20 and 21 and then thread the cord or lacing 29 through the eyelets. f i

The rear set of pads'is placed between the side sets and is removablysecured to the-rear skirt portion 14.- The rear skirt portion 14 is provided with a plurality of rows of eye lets 39, 40 and 41. The rows of eyelets are spaced apart below the strips of webbing 17 and 18 and the individual eyelets are an ranged on opposite sides of the gusset or gore 1G in vertical alignment with each other.

The inner pad 22 of the rear set of pads is designed so that it may be worn with comfort to the player. Thispad 22 is provided with a plurality of reinforced eyelets '42 which are'arranged adjacent the upper edge of the pad. The eyelets 42 are formed in the material 43 providing-a reinforcing band for the upper part of the pad; lVhenrit is desired to secure the rear: pad 22 to'the re- 22 is stitched and secured to the inner pad 22 along the upper edge at 46 and is also stitched and secured to the inner pad along the lower and side edges at 47 48, and 49 in a manner to permit of relative movement of the pads 22 and 45 with respect to each other. 7

This last mentioned pad 45 has secured to it a suitably shaped pad 50 of soft material, such as felt, which is arranged bet-weenthe pad 45 and the inner pad 22. This felt pad 50 is stitched'or otherwise secured to the pad 45 to form a. pocket in which is enclosed a suitably shaped disc or plate 51 of fibre or other similar and relatively stiff and hard material. The disc or plate 51 is primarily employed. to protect the lower end of the spinal column of the wearer. The felt pad 50 provides a cushion for the end of the spine and is placed between the body of the wearer and the fibre disc or plate 51 to provide a cushion between the player and the plate.

It is manifest that by the provision of the eyelets in the skirt portion 14 the pads 22, 45 and 50 and the plate 51 may be moved relatively to the garment to position the plate 51 and the cushion 50 to the desired region of the players anatomy to be protected.

The inner pads 20 and 21 are provided with the elastic bands 52 and 53. Thebands are connected to the oppositeedges of the respective inner padsandwith the pads, are designed to encircle the legs of the wearer and hold thepads 20 and 2-1 in their proper positions with relation to. the legs and hips of the wearer.

As before stated, the main body portion 10 is designed with skirtportions which have the support 19 secured thereto. A plurality of buttonholes 54 is placed in the front and rear skirt portions. Buttons 55 are secured to thesupport 19, whereby the support is buttoned to the skirt portions 13 and 14. This support, it will be readily understood, not only serves to support organs of the player, but holds and maintains the front and rear skirt portions snugly against the body of the wearer and also holds and main tains the three sets of pads firmly on the body of the wearer. V

- From the foregoing it will be understood that. an athletic garment is produced which will-diminish the friction between the body of the: player and the ground or floor, and

thus fully protect the player against njury. It will also be understood that the innergand outer pads of each set of pads are secured together, yet permitted and adapted to move and slide with relation to each other.

It is also evident that an athletic garment is produced in which there is cooperation be tween the three sets of'pads in protecting the body of the wearer when he slides, falls or rolls on the ground or floor, and if he collides with or brushes against his opponents.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a garment of the character described the combination of a belt portion, a pair of members carried by the belt portion and extending downwardly from the rear thereof when worn by a person, said pair of members having a row of eyelets. and said belt portion having a plurality of rows of eyelets, a lacing threaded in said eyelets to adjustably secure said-pair of members to saidbelt portion, said members being connected together for relative movement of portions of said members with respect to each other, acushioned plate supported and interposed between said members, and said cushioned plate being arranged with respect to said members to locate said cushioned plate adjacent the termination of the spine of the 2. In a garment of the character described the combination of a belt portion, a detachable pad extending downwardly from the wearer, and means whereb T said cushion and plate may be adjustably ield with relation to saidbelt portion, said means comprising a plurality of rows of eyelets in said belt portion and eyelets in said downwardly extending pad, and a lace threaded in the eyelets of said belt portion and said pad.

3. In a garment of the character described the combination of a belt portion, a pair of members carriedby and extending downwardly from the rear of the belt portion when worn by a person, a plate, a cushion, said plate being interposed between the cushion and one of said members, said cushion being secured to said member, said plate and cushion being arranged between said members which extend from the belt portion, said pair of members being secured for movement with respect to portions of each other and adjustably held with relation to said belt portion, and said plateand cushion being located relatively to the mere-- her to which they are secured to locate said plate. and cushion adjacent the termination of the spine of the wearer.

4. In a garment of the character described the combination of a belt portion, a pair of members carried by and extending downwardly from the rear of the belt portion when worn by a person, a plate, a cushion,

cushion being located relatively to the member to whichthey are secured to locate said plate and cushion adjacent the termination of the spine of the wearer, said adjustment beingsecured by means of eyelets, and a lacing in said belt portion and said downwardly extending member to which the cushion is not secured. In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe nay name this 11 rdayaof January, A. D., 1 23. i

Davin LEVINSON.

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