Protective garment for weight lifters

Claim 1

A protective garment construction for weight lifters to prevent bruises and abrasions on the weight lifter's neck, shoulders and upper torso from contact with a metal bar during weight lifting exercises; wherein, the protective garment constructions consists of: a garment unit comprising a sleeveless jacket member having a front panel segment, a back panel segment and a raised collar segment surrounding a throat opening wherein each of the segments is provided with an inner and an outer layer of fabric whereby the upper portion of the front and back panel segments are provided with a plurality of compartments that are formed by joining the inner and outer fabric layer; and, wherein the raised collar segment is also provided with a compartment that is formed by joining the inner and outer fabric layers of the raised collar segment; and, wherein said plurality of compartments consists of a single upper back compartment; a neck compartment; a pair of shoulder compartments; and, at least one upper chest compartment covering at least one side of the upper portion of the user's torso; and, a padding unit comprising a plurality of individual padded members that are dimensioned and conformed to occupy the said plurality of compartments that are formed in the upper portion of the front and back panel segments and the raised collar segment wherein the said plurality of padded members comprise: a neck pad member; an upper back pad member; a pair of shoulder pad members; and at least one upper chest pad member; wherein, said padded members are concentrated in the upper portion of the sleeveless jacket member.