Shoulder pad

Claim 1

A shoulder pad for football players comprising a left-hand member adapted to fit over the left shoulder and a right-hand member adapted to fit over the right shoulder, each of said members being a relatively rigid member of generally inverted U-shape as viewed from the side and having a chestplate portion, a backplate portion and an arch integrally connecting said plate portions, said arches being laterally spaced to provide an opening for the neck of the wearer with the spacing such that said arches lie adjacent and relatively close to the neck, said arches being relatively narrow in relation to the width of the shoulders, each of said members having padding on the inside thereof with the padding at the top of the arch extending laterally over the shoulder and having an inner portion generally beneath the arch and an outer portion for covering the outer part of the shoulder, said outer portion being hinged to said inner portion and said outer portion comprising a front section adjacent the chestplate portion, said sections being separate toward their outer ends with the rear edge of said front section forward of the front edge of the back section for allowing the sections to spread apart as they swing upwardly about the hinge upon upward movement of the outer part of the shoulder whereby freedom is provided for raising the arms above a horizontal position by permitting upward movement of the outer part of the shoulder without substantial interference from the outer portion of said padding.