CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to, and is entitled to the benefit of the earlier filing date and priority of, International Application No. PCT/US2009/062836 filed Oct. 30, 2009, and is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/290,510 filed Oct. 31, 2008 now U.S. Pat. No. 8,087,102, and is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/793,050 filed Jun. 3, 2010, all of which are herein incorporated by reference as if fully set forth. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Embodiments of this invention relate generally to protective shoulder pads such as those worn by individuals participating in athletic activities, including contact sports. In particular, this invention improves currently available protective shoulder pads with a feature that allows emergency medical personnel or others to safely and easily remove the protective shoulder pads from the individual wearing the shoulder pads in case of suspected neck or cervical spine injury. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Protective shoulder pads are commonly used by athletes and other individuals to protect the individual&#39;s shoulders, chest, upper and lower back, and upper arms from impact that may result in injury. For example, protective shoulder pads are utilized in sports where collision is inherent and produces a significant risk of injury, such as football, hockey and lacrosse. However, individuals wearing protective shoulder pads are generally reluctant to use protection for the fragile neck and upper spine because this protection significantly diminishes the mobility that athletes and other individual&#39;s desire. As a result, the neck and upper spine are more susceptible to injury than other parts of the human body. 
         [0004]    When such neck or cervical spine injuries occur, protective shoulder pads themselves become a risk factor for iatrogenic injury during the course of initial medical evaluation and management. Currently available protective shoulder pads only allow removal as an entire unit. Known shoulder pads are designed so that energy from an impact to any portion of the pads is dissipated throughout the entire pad and minimizes the impact to the wearer. The proper technique for protective shoulder pad removal includes one member of the medical team maintaining manual stabilization of the athlete&#39;s head and neck at all times. While that member of the medical team remains in place manually stabilizing the head and neck, the injured athlete&#39;s torso is elevated to a 30-40 degree angle by flexing the athlete&#39;s lower spine and hips. Alternatively, the entire athlete must be lifted. While in this compromised position, the protective shoulder pads are then maneuvered in a manner to remove them, essentially, over the head of the injured athlete. This maneuver is extremely complicated and may potentially cause a secondary injury. Research in the field of spinal cord injury has suggested up to 25% of cervical spinal cord injured patients experience neurologic deterioration during the course of initial evaluation and management. 
         [0005]    In the event that an individual suffers a suspected injury to the spine or neck, the current practice in the medical profession is to stabilize the individual in the supine position while diagnosing and treating the individual. The National Athletic Trainers&#39; Association&#39;s guidelines and recommendations in this field,  Prehospital Care of the Spine - Injured Athlete,  incorporated by reference in its entirety, require that any athlete who is suspected of having a head and/or spinal injury should be managed as though a spinal injury exists, and if unconscious, the player is presumed to have an unstable fracture until it is proved otherwise. The guidelines further state that the improper management of a suspected spinal injury can result in a secondary injury. Head and shoulder stabilization must be maintained during any manipulation and removal of equipment to avoid cervical movement, lateral flexion and other movements which could lead to further injury. 
         [0006]    While providing stabilization to the wearer&#39;s spine, the protective shoulder pads must be removed from the injured athlete while lying supine to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of a suspected cervical spine or neck injury. The current National Athletic Trainers&#39; Association&#39;s guidelines and recommendations require at least four individuals to remove currently available shoulder pads. Routinely up to eight individuals may be needed to remove the currently available shoulder pads. Realizing the importance of limiting the amount of unnecessary movement during this process to prevent a secondary injury, the guidelines recommend removing the protective shoulder pads only to an extent that full access to chest, face, neck, and arms may be accessed. The National Athletic Trainers&#39; Association&#39;s suggested method comprises the steps of cutting all soft clothing and soft portions of the shoulder pads with a knife or equivalent cutting apparatus as required to spread the two anterior halves of the protective shoulder pads that are currently available. However, the repositioning of the protective shoulder pads to this limited extent precludes sufficient access to the neck and cervical spine areas that medical personnel must access to diagnose and treat an individual with a suspected cervical spine injury. 
         [0007]    Recent published studies by Rechtine and Horodysky at the University of Rochester have demonstrated significant motion in the cervical spine during shoulder pad removal despite the utilization of optimal techniques that are currently recommended by national athletic training and trauma specialty organizations. The consequences of such motion may include loss of one or more levels of neurologic function in the acute spinal cord injured athlete. This alone could result in a potentially ambulatory athlete becoming non-ambulatory, an independent athlete becoming dependent, or an athlete who may have independent respiration becoming respirator dependent. The human cost and the cost to society of such deterioration is enormous. No current protective shoulder pad design allows for the safe removal of the protective shoulder pads from an individual immobilized in the supine position by less than four properly trained people. Furthermore, current protective shoulder pad designs prevent both stabilization of the potentially injured athlete and an acceptable quality of radiographic imaging. 
         [0008]    In their article Helmet and Shoulder Pad Removal in Football Players with Unstable Cervical Spine Injuries, M. C. Dahl, D. Ananthakrishnan, G. Nicandri, and R. P. Ching, the authors, while recognizing that “patient handling is often impaired due to the protective equipment worn and improper stabilization of these patients can exacerbate neurologic injury,” the authors discussed alternative methods for removing protective shoulder pads and the resulting detriments caused by each method. The levitation technique was found to produce motion in the anterior and right lateral directions. The tilt technique resulted in motions in the posterior left lateral directions, and the log roll technique generated motions in the right lateral direction and had the largest amount of increased instability when comparing the intact and lesioned specimen. According to the authors, “these findings suggest that each method of equipment removal displays unique weaknesses that the practitioner should take into account.” 
         [0009]    In another study, the amount of motion that occurred during protective shoulder pad removal in a cadaver with an injured spine was evaluated and quantified. Helmet and shoulder pad removal from a player with suspected cervical spine injury. A cadaveric model.  Spine.  W F Donaldson, W C Lauerman, B Heil, R Blanc, T Swenson. 1998. The authors of the study concluded that shoulder pad removal in the unstable cervical spine is a complex maneuver, and that because of the motion observed in the unstable spine, shoulder pad removal should be performed in a carefully monitored setting by at least three, preferably four, trained people. 
         [0010]    Another problem with currently available shoulder pads is that different types of protective shoulder pads are available for specific purposes, and the different types exacerbate the problems in removing the shoulder pads. Specific models of protective shoulder pads have posterior portions of the shoulder pads that protect down to the small of the user&#39;s back. The injured athlete must be moved to a greater degree to remove the shoulder pads, thus increasing the potential for a secondary injury. The weight of the wearer&#39;s torso exerted on the posterior member of the shoulder pads prevents easy removal of the shoulder pads, and as discussed, it is undesirable to move the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads. Another complication of attempting to remove protective shoulder pads over the head of an individual is the weight and mass of the individual. Large and heavy individuals are more difficult to lift and their body mass proves detrimental to the removal of the protective shoulder pads, thus requiring more movement of the individual and increasing the potential for a secondary injury in a person with a suspected neck or cervical spine injury. 
         [0011]    One overriding problem of current shoulder pad design is that the pads must be rigid enough to dissipate the energy of impact to any particular portion of the pad across the majority of the entire shoulder pad, but this primary advantage is a significant deterrent to the ability to remove the one piece pads from an injured player in the supine position. Applicant is aware of several systems disclosing chest protection devices that may be removed quickly and references disclosing vests capable of carrying artillery that may be removed quickly, but none are designed to be rigid enough to dissapate the energy of impact across the entire structure and still be removable while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
         [0012]    Branson et al. (WO/2008108856) disclose an antiballistic garment in which a front panel portion is attached to the shoulder and side portions by a quick-release cable and loop system. This vest system is not designed to withstand or dissipate impact and does not have to maintain a rigid structure when worn. 
         [0013]    D&#39;Annunzio (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,948,188 and 6,769,137) discloses an armored vest that includes a retaining cable connecting together various portions of the vest, the retaining cable being easily removable in order to quickly separate the vest into its components. 
         [0014]    Johnson (U.S. Pat. No. 7,020,897) discloses a cut away vest that includes a retaining cable connecting together various portions of the vest, the retaining cable being easily removable in order to quickly separate the vest into its components. 
         [0015]    McDunn et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 74424,748) disclose a ballistic resistant vest that includes a retaining cable connecting together the various portions of the vest, the retaining cable being easily removable in order to quickly separate the vest into its components. 
         [0016]    Parks et al. (US 2008/0263737) disclose a ballistic resistant garment that includes a retaining cable connecting together the various portions of the vest, the retaining cable being easily removable in order to quickly separate the vest into its components. 
         [0017]    McBride et al. (WO/2009051619) discloses a clam-shell vest in which a front panel portion is attached to the shoulder and side portions by a quick-release cable, loop and plunger system. 
         [0018]    These references disclose types of apparel having a release feature providing for the disengagment of portions of the apparel from other portions of the apparel. Each of these references disclose an article of apparel that is functional to remove the front portion of the apparel from the rear portion of the apparel. The references disclose articles of apparel not designed for use as a protection device during athletic activity, but disclose apparel to be utilized during military or paramilitary activities. None of the references, taken either together or alone, disclose an article of apparel for use in a contact sport rigid enough to dissipate the energy of an impact over the entire portion of the article, having with a quick release feature used to decouple front and back portions, or left and right side posterior portions, of the apparel, wherein the quick release feature is accessable from, and activated from, the front or anterior surface of the article of apparel, and the article of apparel may be removed while the individual wearing the apparel is lying in the supine position. What is needed in the industry is an article of apparel designed for and capable of dissipating the energy of an impact received during a contact sport based upon the rigidity of the individual components of the article and is also capable of removal while the individual wearing the article is lying in the supine position. 
         [0019]    In addition, of all of the identified shoulder pad protection devices, all utilize a rear mechanical connection between the left and right posterior portions of the shoulder pads which is neither designed for, nor capable of, disconnection while the individual wearing the shoulder pad protection device is lying in the supine position, without the need to substantially reposition the athlete in a potentially detrimental manner. Previous attempts to design shoulder pads that may be dissembled easily have failed due to their lack of rigidity and their lack of the ability to dissipate the energy due to impact across the majority of the pads. 
         [0020]    Thus, known articles of apparel and/or known protective shoulder pads become an impediment to diagnosing and treating an individual while the individual is in the supine position and wherein the removal of the article of apparel and/or shoulder pads may potentially cause a secondary injury due to repositioning of the wearer. The removal of known protective shoulder pads requires significant movement of the wearer by at least four trained medical personnel. No known protective shoulder pad is disclosed that allows for removal of the shoulder pads and allows for sufficient access to the wearer&#39;s neck and spine while maintaining the neck and spine in a neutral position, while the wearer is in the supine position. What is needed in the industry are shoulder pads allowing for safer removal of the protective shoulder pads from a wearer while substantially immobilized in the supine position without sacrificing the rigid nature of the pads. Furthermore, what is needed in the industry are shoulder pads that promote both stabilization of the potentially injured wearer and allow an acceptable quality of radiographic imaging. 
         [0021]    These improved protective shoulder pads according to embodiments of the present invention provide a solution to the challenges of safely removing the shoulder pads to permit diagnosing and treating suspected neck and spinal injuries. By allowing the removal of the shoulder pads while maintaining the neck and spine in the neutral position, these improved shoulder pads substantially eliminate the risk of further injury to an individual wearing shoulder pads with a suspected neck or spinal injury. The benefit of these improved protective shoulder pads is the ease and effectiveness of removal of those portions of the protective shoulder pads that typically present obstacles to the effective diagnosis and treatment. Once these portions are removed, medical personnel can more effectively diagnose and treat the individual suspected of a cervical spine or neck injury. The release mechanisms for the protective shoulder pads according to an embodiment of the present invention address the risk of increasing neurologic injury in the spinal cord injured athlete by eliminating the spinal motion demonstrated by Rechtine during shoulder pad removal while maintaining the integrity of the pads during normal use. Embodiments of the present invention provide for removal of the shoulder pads by simple release mechanisms which are easily accessible by first responders and medical professionals, while maintaining the rigidity of the pad required under normal use. Once the protective shoulder pads are safely removed, the injured athlete&#39;s spine becomes readily accessible for stabilization and radiographic evaluation. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    Responsive to the foregoing challenges, Applicant has developed a novel protective shoulder pad with a release mechanism. 
         [0023]    An embodiment of the present invention are shoulder pads for use in a contact sport, comprising a left shoulder pad portion and a right shoulder pad portion, each with anterior, superior and posterior portions, wherein the anterior portions depend from an anterior face of the superior portions and the posterior portions depend from a posterior face of the superior portions, wherein the right and left shoulder pad portions are in communication at the anterior, superior, and posterior portions, wherein the shoulder pads are sufficiently rigid when assembled to dissipate the energy created by an impact to a portion of the pads across substantially the entire shoulder pad, and a release mechanism enabling removal of the shoulder pads while the wearer is in the supine position, wherein a portion of the release mechanism is disposed on the posterior portion of the pads, and wherein the release mechanism is operable to separate a first removable portion of the pad from a second removable portion of the pad while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
         [0024]    The release mechanism may comprise a loop disposed on the first removable portion of the pads, an aperture disposed on the second removable portion of the pads, and a removable elongated coupler, wherein the loop is received by the aperture, and wherein the loop is retained in the aperture by the insertion of the removable elongated coupler through the loop received by the aperture thereby assembling the first and second removable portions of the pad, wherein removal of the elongated coupler from the loop permits egress of the loop from the aperture and disassembly of the first removable portion from the second removable portion while the wearer remains in the supine position. The loop may be in communication with or disposed on the right posterior portion of the pad and the aperture may be in communication with or disposed on the left posterior portion of the pad, or vice versa. The loop may be in communication with or disposed on the superior portions of the pad and the aperture may be in communication with or disposed on the posterior portions of the pad, or vice versa. 
         [0025]    The elongated coupler may be routed from the posterior portion of the pads to the superior portion of the pads, or, in an alternative embodiment, from the posterior portion of the pads, over the superior portion of the pads, and terminating on the anterior portion of the pads. The elongated coupler may be comprised of a cable, cord, pin, strap, tie, filament, wire, tether, any other suitable structure, or any combination thereof, and may be comprised of metal, plastic, polymer, synthetic, textile, elastic, or any other suitable material. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment of the present invention, the release mechanism may be a hinge assembly comprising a first hinge knuckle, a second hinge knuckle, and a removable elongated coupler capable of insertion through the hinge knuckles, wherein the first hinge knuckle is disposed on a first removable portion of the pads and the second hinge knuckle is disposed on a second removable portion of the pads, wherein the elongated coupler is threaded through the first knuckle and the second knuckle when the first removable portion of the pads is assembled to the second removable portion of the pads, wherein the removal of the elongated coupler from the first and second knuckles is operable when the wearer is in the supine position, and wherein removal of the elongated coupler decouples the first removable portion from the second removable portion while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
         [0027]    The first removable portion of the pad may be the posterior portion and the second removable portion may be the superior portion. In one embodiment, the first removable portion may be the left shoulder pad portion and the second removable portion may be the right shoulder pad portion. The elongated coupler may be comprised of a cable, cord, pin, strap, tie, filament, wire, tether, or any other suitable structure, or any combination thereof, and may be comprised of metal, plastic, polymer, synthetic, textile, elastic, or any other suitable material. 
         [0028]    One embodiment of the present invention are shoulder pads for use in a contact sport, comprising a left shoulder pad portion and a right shoulder pad portion, each with anterior, superior and posterior portions, the superior portion having a central opening, wherein the anterior portions depend from an anterior face of the superior portions and the posterior portions depend from a posterior face of the superior portions, a release mechanism operable to separate a first removable portion of the pad from a second removable portion of the pad while the wearer remains in the supine position, wherein a portion of the release mechanism is disposed on the posterior portion of the pads. A portion of the release mechanism may extend to the superior portion of the pad, and in an embodiment may extend over the superior portion of the pad and terminate on the anterior portion of the pad. In an embodiment a portion of the release mechanism may extend substantially the length of the posterior portion of the pads. 
         [0029]    One embodiment of the present invention are shoulder pads for use in a contact sport, comprising a left shoulder pad portion and a right shoulder pad portion, each with anterior, superior and posterior portions, and the superior portion having a central opening, wherein the anterior portions depend from an anterior face of the superior portions and the posterior portions depend from a posterior face of the superior portions a release mechanism operable to separate a first removable portion of the pad from a second removable portion of the pad wherein a portion of the release mechanism is disposed on the posterior portion of the pads and extends to the superior portion of the pads disposed between the central opening and a lateral portion of the pads. In one embodiment, the release mechanism may comprise an elongated coupler extending from the posterior portion of the pads to the superior portion of the pads, wherein a first end of the elongated coupler is accessible at the superior portion of the pad. In one embodiment, the release mechanism may comprise a strap with a first end terminating in a loop and a second end in communication with the first removable portion of the pads, an aperture disposed on the second removable portion of the pads, wherein the loop is received by the aperture, and a removable elongated coupler threaded through the loop received in the aperture and retaining the first end of the strap in the aperture thereby assembling the first and second removable portions of the pad, wherein the elongated coupler extends substantially along the posterior portion of the pads, over the superior portion of the pads, having a first end terminating at the anterior portion of the pads, wherein removal of the elongated coupler from the loop permits the first end of the strap to egress back through the aperture allowing disassembly of the first removable portion from the second removable portion. 
         [0030]    An embodiment may use mechanical fasteners or equivalent which allow for removal of the posterior portions of the protective shoulder pads from the superior portions of the protective shoulder pads while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads is in the supine position, the posterior portions of the protective shoulder pads are attached to the superior portions of the protective shoulder pads at approximately the 3rd and 4th thoracic vertebrae. The mechanical fasteners or equivalent allow for efficient and simple detachment of the posterior portions of the protective shoulder pads from the superior, anterior, and lateral portions of the protective shoulder pads while the individual suspected of the cervical spine or neck injury is lying in the supine position. The posterior portions of the protective shoulder pads can be subsequently reattached to the remaining portions of the protective shoulder pads if desired. Alternatively, using a mechanical fastener or equivalent which allows for detachment of the left shoulder portion of the protective shoulder pads from the right shoulder portion of the protective shoulder pads while the individual wearing the shoulder pads is in the supine position, the left shoulder pad and the right shoulder pad may be separated from each other and removed from underneath the individual while the individual is lying in the supine position. The left shoulder pad and the right shoulder pad can be subsequently reattached in this alternate configuration if desired. 
         [0031]    The weight of the individual&#39;s torso on the posterior portion of the shoulder pads becomes immaterial because there is no requirement for the individual to be repositioned to effectuate removal of the portion of the protective shoulder pads that impedes treatment and diagnosis of the suspected cervical spine or neck injury. Upon removal, medical personnel and others gain access to the location of the suspected cervical spine and neck injury to treat the injury. Additionally, radiographic imaging machines can be positioned to provide clearer images of the suspected injury while only the posterior portions of the protective shoulder pads, or in the alternative, no portions of the protective shoulder pads remain in place. 
         [0032]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein by reference, and which constitute a part of this specification, illustrate certain embodiments of the invention and, together with the detailed description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0033]    In order to assist the understanding of this invention, reference will now be made to the appended drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements. The drawings are exemplary only, and should not be construed as limiting the invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 1  illustrates a distal plan view of one embodiment of the present invention, in which hinges with the elongated couplers intact are shown as the mechanical connections. 
           [0035]      FIG. 2  illustrates a partial distal plan view of the same embodiment of the present invention as shown in  FIG. 1 , in which one elongated coupler is removed from the hinge. 
           [0036]      FIG. 3  illustrates a distal plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention, in which a removable cable retains the straps that couple both the left and right halves of the protective shoulder pads. 
           [0037]      FIG. 4  illustrates a partial lateral prospective view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in which the removable elongated coupler is channeled towards the anterior portion of the protective shoulder pads. 
           [0038]      FIG. 5  illustrates a partial frontal prospective view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in which a loop on the anterior end of the elongated coupler is used to remove the elongated coupler from the straps that couple both the left and right halves of the protective shoulder pads. 
           [0039]      FIG. 6  illustrates a distal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in which the left and right halves of the protective shoulder pads are decoupled. 
           [0040]      FIG. 7  illustrates a frontal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , in which the wearer is in the supine position. 
           [0041]      FIG. 8  illustrates a frontal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , in which the wearer is in the supine position and the release mechanism has been activated while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
           [0042]      FIG. 9  illustrates a frontal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , in which the wearer is in the supine position and the release mechanism activation is complete and the pads are removed while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
           [0043]      FIG. 10  illustrates a frontal plan view of an embodiment of the present invention wherein the elongated coupler is a belt. 
           [0044]      FIG. 11  illustrates a distal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 10 . 
           [0045]      FIG. 12  illustrates a distal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 10 , wherein the elongated coupler has been partially activated. 
           [0046]      FIG. 13  illustrates a distal plan view of an embodiment of the present invention wherein the elongated coupler comprises a zipper portion. 
           [0047]      FIG. 14  illustrates a distal plan view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0048]      FIG. 15  illustrates a distal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 , wherein the elongated coupler is partially removed. 
           [0049]      FIG. 16  illustrates a distal plan view of an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 , wherein the elongated coupler is partially removed. 
           [0050]      FIG. 17  illustrates a distal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 14 , wherein the elongated coupler is fully removed. 
           [0051]      FIG. 18  illustrates a distal plan view of an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0052]      FIG. 19  illustrates a distal plan view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIG. 18  wherein the elongated coupler has been removed. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0053]    Embodiments of this invention relate generally to protective shoulder pads such as those worn by individuals participating in athletic activities, including contact sports, such as, but not limited to, football, hockey, and lacrosse. In particular, these embodiments improve currently available protective shoulder pads providing a feature that allows emergency medical personnel or others to more safely and easily remove the protective shoulder pads from the individual wearing the shoulder pads in case of suspected neck or cervical spine injury without sacrificing the ability of the pads to dissipate the force of an impact while the pads are in normal use. Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of the present invention are shoulder pads  2  for use in a contact sport, comprising a left shoulder pad portion  9  and a right shoulder pad portion  9 ′, each with anterior  3 , superior  4  and posterior  8  portions, wherein the anterior portions  3  depend from an anterior face of the superior portions  4  and the posterior portions  8  depend from a posterior face of the superior portions  4 , wherein the left  9  and right  9 ′ shoulder pad portions are in communication at the anterior  3 , superior  4 , and posterior  8  portions. The superior portion  4  comprises a central opening. The protective shoulder pads  2  protect the chest, shoulders, upper back, and upper arms of the individual wearing the shoulder pads  2 . The anterior portions  3  of the shoulder pads  2  protect the individual&#39;s chest, the superior portions  4  of the protective shoulder pads  2  protect the individual&#39;s shoulders, the posterior portions  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2  protect the individual&#39;s upper back, and, if present, the lateral portions  6  of the protective shoulder pads  2  protect the individual&#39;s upper arms. 
         [0055]    Shoulder pads  2  comprise a release mechanism  7  enabling removal of the shoulder pads  2  while the wearer is in the supine position. A portion of the release mechanism  7  is disposed on the posterior portion  8  of the pads, and the release mechanism  7  is operable to separate a first removable portion of the pad from a second removable portion of the pad while the wearer remains in the supine position. The first removable portion of the pad may comprise the posterior portion  8  and the second removable portion may comprise the superior portion  4 . In an alternative embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the first removable portion may comprise the left shoulder pad portion  9  and the second removable portion may comprise the right shoulder pad portion  9 ′. 
         [0056]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , in one embodiment of the present invention release mechanism  7  comprises a hinge-like assembly  10 . The hinge assembly  10  may comprise a first hinge knuckle  12 , a second hinge knuckle  16 , and a removable elongated coupler  20  capable of insertion through the hinge knuckles  12 ,  16 , wherein the first hinge knuckle  12  is disposed on a first removable portion of the pads and the second hinge knuckle  16  is disposed on a second removable portion of the pads, wherein the elongated coupler  20  is threaded through the first knuckle  12  and the second knuckle  16  when the first removable portion of the pads is assembled to the second removable portion of the pads. The removal of the elongated coupler  20  from the first  12  and second  16  knuckles is operable when the wearer is in the supine position. The removal of the elongated coupler  20  decouples the first removable portion from the second removable portion while the wearer remains in the supine position. The elongated coupler  20  may be comprised of a cable, cord, pin, strap, tie, filament, wire, tether, any other suitable structure, or any combination thereof, and may be comprised of metal, plastic, polymer, synthetic, textile, elastic, or any other suitable material. 
         [0057]    By way of example only as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the following discussion assumes that the first removable portion of the pads are the superior portions  4  and the second removable portions are the posterior portions  8 . The knuckles  12  are in communication or disposed on the first removable portion of the pads, or in this example, superior portion  4 , and knuckles  16  are in communication with or disposed on the second removable portion of the pads, or in this example, posterior portion  8 . The posterior portions  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2  are mechanically coupled to the superior portions  4  of the protective shoulder pads  2  by a release mechanism  7 . An elongated coupler  20  is inserted into the hinge opening  22  formed by the apertures in each of the hinge knuckles  12  and the hinge knuckles  16 , mechanically and rigidly connecting the superior portion  4  of the protective shoulder pads  2  to the posterior portion  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2 . The outer end of the elongated coupler  20  may have a curved end  24  to allow for a person other than the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads to remove the elongated coupler  20  laterally out of the hinge opening  22  while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads is lying in the supine position. 
         [0058]    In one embodiment, comprising hinge leaves  14  and  18 , the hinge knuckles  12  of the hinge leaf  14  that is attached to the superior portion  4  of each protective shoulder pad  2  mate at the hinge knuckles  16  of the hinge leaf  18  that is attached to the posterior portion  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2 . The hinge leaves  14  and  18  may be chemically bonded, mechanically fastened, or otherwise attached to or molded into the pads by any other suitable means. Alternatively, the superior hinge knuckles  12  and the posterior hinge knuckles  16  can be manufactured into each of the superior portions  4  and posterior portions  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2 . In one embodiment hinge knuckles  12  and  16  may be disposed on, or in otherwise communication with, the posterior portion  8  of the left portion  9  and posterior portion  8  of right portion  9 ′. 
         [0059]      FIG. 2  illustrates the state of the protective shoulder pads after one of the elongated couplers  20  is removed from the hinge opening  22  of the hinge assembly  10 . Subsequent to removing elongated couplers  20  from each hinge opening  22  on each side of the protective shoulder pads  2 , the anterior  3 , superior  4 , and in this example, lateral  6  portions of the protective shoulder pads  2  can be removed from the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  by separating the anterior portion  3 , the superior portion  4 , and lateral portion  6  of the protective shoulder pads  2  from the posterior portions  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2 . A full diagnosis of the individual who was wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  can then be performed without moving the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  to any detrimental degree. The posterior portions  8  of the protective shoulder pads may be recoupled to the superior portions  4  of the protective shoulder pads  2  for future use. 
         [0060]    As shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the first removable portion of the pad may comprise the left shoulder pad portion  9  and the second removable portion of the pad may comprise the right shoulder pad portion  9 ′. As shown in  FIG. 18 , release mechanism  7  comprises a hinge-like assembly  10 . The hinge assembly  10  may comprise a first hinge knuckle  12 , a second hinge knuckle  16 , and a removable elongated coupler  20  capable of insertion through the hinge knuckles  12 ,  16 , wherein the first hinge knuckle  12  is disposed on a first removable portion of the pads and the second hinge knuckle  16  is disposed on a second removable portion of the pads, wherein the elongated coupler  20  is threaded through the first knuckle  12  and the second knuckle  16  when the first removable portion of the pads is assembled to the second removable portion of the pads. The removal of the elongated coupler  20  from the first  12  and second  16  knuckles is operable when the wearer is in the supine position. The removal of the elongated coupler  20  decouples the first removable portion from the second removable portion while the wearer remains in the supine position. The elongated coupler  20  may be comprised of a cable, cord, pin, strap, tie, filament, wire, tether, any other suitable structure, or any combination thereof, and may be comprised of metal, plastic, polymer, synthetic, textile, elastic, or any other suitable material. 
         [0061]    By way of example only as shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the following discussion assumes that the first removable portion of the pads are the left shoulder pad portion  9  and the second removable portions are the right shoulder pad portion  9 ′. The knuckles  12  are in communication or disposed on the first removable portion of the pads, or in this example, left shoulder pad portion  9 , and knuckles  16  are in communication with or disposed on the second removable portion of the pads, or in this example, right shoulder pad portion  9 ′. The left shoulder pad portion  9  of the protective shoulder pads  2  are mechanically coupled to the right shoulder pad portion  9 ′ of the protective shoulder pads  2  by a release mechanism  7 . An elongated coupler  20  is inserted into the hinge opening  22  formed by the apertures in each of the hinge knuckles  12  and the hinge knuckles  16 , mechanically and rigidly connecting the left shoulder pad portion  9  of the protective shoulder pads  2  to the right shoulder pad portion  9 ′ of the protective shoulder pads  2 . The outer end of the elongated coupler  20  may have a curved end  24  to allow for a person other than the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads to remove the elongated coupler  20  laterally out of the hinge opening  22  while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads is lying in the supine position. 
         [0062]    In one embodiment, comprising hinge leaves  14  and  18 , the hinge knuckles  12  of the hinge leaf  14  that is attached to the left shoulder pad portion  9  of each protective shoulder pad  2  mate at the hinge knuckles  16  of the hinge leaf  18  that is attached to the right shoulder pad portion  9 ′ of the protective shoulder pads  2 . The hinge leaves  14  and  18  may be chemically bonded, mechanically fastened, or otherwise attached to or molded into the pads by any other suitable means. Alternatively, the superior hinge knuckles  12  and the posterior hinge knuckles  16  can be manufactured into each of the left shoulder pad portion  9  and right shoulder pad portion  9 ′ of the protective shoulder pads  2 . As such, hinge knuckles  12  and  16  may be disposed on, or in otherwise communication with, the posterior portion  8  of the left portion  9  and posterior portion  8  of right portion  9 ′. 
         [0063]      FIG. 19  illustrates the protective shoulder pads as the elongated coupler  20  is removed from the hinge opening  22  of the hinge assembly  10 . Following removal of elongated coupler  20  from hinge assembly  10  left portion  9  and right portion  9 ′ of the protective shoulder pads  2  can be removed from the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  by separating the left portion  9  and right portion  9 ′ of the protective shoulder pads  2 . A full diagnosis of the individual who was wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  can then be performed without moving the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  to any detrimental degree. The left portion  9  of the protective shoulder pads may be recoupled to the right portion  9 ′ of the protective shoulder pads  2  for future use. 
         [0064]      FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 , and  FIG. 6  illustrate an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The release mechanism  7  may comprise a loop  42  disposed on the first removable portion of the pads, an aperture  46  disposed on the second removable portion of the pads, and a removable elongated coupler  40 . The loop  42  is received by the aperture  46 , wherein the loop passes through or is threaded through the aperture. The loop  42  is then retained in its position through or in the aperture  46  by the insertion of the removable elongated coupler  40  through the loop  42  following the insertion of loop  42  passing through the aperture  46 , thereby assembling the first and second removable portions of the pad. Removal of the elongated coupler  40  from the loop  42  permits egress of the loop  42  back through or from the aperture  46  and permits disassembly of the first removable portion from the second removable portion while the wearer remains in the supine position. The loop  42  may be in communication with or disposed on the posterior portion  8  of the right portion  9 ′ of the pad and the aperture  46  may be in communication with or disposed on the posterior portion  8  of the left portion of the pad  9 , or vice versa. In an alternative embodiment, the loop  42  may be in communication with or disposed on the superior portions  4  of the pad and the aperture  46  may be in communication with or disposed on the posterior portions  8  of the pad, or vice versa. 
         [0065]    The elongated coupler  40  may be routed from the posterior portion  8  of the pads to the superior portion  4  of the pads, or, in an alternative embodiment, from the posterior portion  8  of the pads, over the superior portion  4  of the pads, and terminating on or near the anterior portion  3  of the pads. The elongated coupler  40  may be comprised of a cable, cord, pin, strap, tie, filament, wire, tether, any other suitable structure, or any combination thereof, and may be comprised of metal, plastic, polymer, synthetic, textile, elastic, or any other suitable material. 
         [0066]    By way of example only, in this immediate discussion, the first removable portion of the pads is the left portion  9 , and the second removable portion of the pads is the right portion  9 ′. As can be seen in  FIG. 3 , one embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongated coupler  40  passed through retaining loop  42  that are fabricated onto one end  45  of the straps  44  that couple the left  9  posterior portion  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2  to the right  9 ′ posterior portion  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2 . The elongated coupler  40  prevents the retaining loop  42  from passing back through aperture  46  in the body of the protective shoulder pads  2 . The elongated coupler  40  is guided along its desired path via guidance channel  48  and guidance channel  50  to assist in ease of removal during actuation. In one embodiment, elongated coupler  40  comprises a first end terminating in an actuation loop  54 . A second end of elongated coupler  40  may terminate in a terminating channel  52  disposed on posterion portion  8  of the pads  2 . 
         [0067]    As  FIG. 4  illustrates, the elongated coupler  40  is routed through guidance channels  48  toward the anterior portion  3  of the protective shoulder pads  2 . As  FIG. 5  illustrates, the anterior end  54  of the elongated coupler  40  terminates at the anterior portion  3  of the protective shoulder pads  2 . Returning to  FIG. 3 , during actuation, with the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  maintained in the supine position, the elongated coupler  40  is removed through retaining loops  42 , guidance channel  48 , guidance channel  50 , and terminating channel  52  by pulling on the anterior access loop  54  of the elongated coupler  40 , effectively releasing the elongated coupler  40  from the retaining loops  42 , guidance channel  48 , guidance channel  50 , and terminating channel  52 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the retaining loops  42  are now capable of passing back through the apertures  46  in the left  9  posterior portion  8  of the protective shoulder pads  2  with the elongated coupler  40  evacuated from the retaining loops  42 . With the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  still maintained in the supine position, the anterior coupling that attaches the two anterior portions of the shoulder pads may be separated, thus providing two separate left  9  and right  9 ′ portions of the protective shoulder pads  2 . The separate shoulder pads  2  can subsequently be removed laterally from underneath the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  without moving the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  to any detrimental degree. A full diagnosis of the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads  2  is now possible. The left protective shoulder pad  9  and the right protective shoulder pad  9 ′ may be recoupled to form complete protective shoulder pads  2  for future use. 
         [0068]    As shown in  FIG. 14 , elongated coupler  40  is routed so as not to be exposed on the outer surface of the posterior portion  8  of pad  2 . Coupler  40  may extend beneath and on the underside of posterior portion  8  of pad  2 , exiting near the superior portion  4  of pad  2 . A portion of elongated coupler  40  may extend over superior portion  4  and terminate on anterior portion  3  of pads  2 . The elongated coupler  40  may be comprised of a cable, cord, pin, strap, tie, filament, wire, tether, any other suitable structure, or any combination thereof, and may be comprised of metal, plastic, polymer, synthetic, textile, elastic, or any other suitable material. Strap  44  comprises loop  42  that passes through aperture  46 . Elongated copuler  40  passes through loop  42  on the underside of posterior portion  8  to retain strap  44  in place and to attach left portion  9  and right portion  9 ′ of pads  2 . 
         [0069]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , elongated coupler  40  may be removed from pad  2  while the wearer is in the supine position.  FIG. 16  illustrates the removal of elongated coupler  40  and the release of strap  44  through aperture  46 .  FIG. 17  illustrates the complete removal of elongated coupler  40  and the separation of the left portion  9  and right portion  9 ′ of pads  2 . 
         [0070]      FIG. 7  illustrates a wearer of pads  2  lying in the supine position with the head being stabilized by another. Pads  2  are fully assembled, and elongated coupler  40  and anterior end  54  are visible and accessable from the anterior portion  3  of pad  2 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , release mechanism  7  is actuated by exerting a pulling force on anterior end  54  of elongated coupler  40 , accessed from anterior portion  3  of pads  2  while the wearer remains in the supine position.  FIG. 9  illustrates full actuation of release mechanism  7  by the removal of elongated coupler  40 , and the separation and removal of pads  2  while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
         [0071]      FIG. 10  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention as seen from the front of pads  2  comprising two elongated couplers  40  with anterior ends  54  disposed on the anterior portion  3  of pads  2 . Elongated coupler  40  is belt-like in structure and comprises eyelets  56  disposed on at least the portion of elongated coupler  40  that is accessable from anterior portion  3  of pads  2 . Buckle  58  is attached to anterior portion  3  of pads  2  and receives anterior end  54  of elongated coupler  40 . Buckle  58  comprises prong  60  having a first end and a second end, the first end fixedly or pivotally attached to one wall of buckle  58  and the second end designed to pass through eyelet  56  and rest on a second wall of buckle  58  when elongated coupler  40  and pads  2  are in the assembled position. 
         [0072]    As shown in  FIG. 11 , guidance channels  48  are disposed on the posterior portion  8  of pads  2 , and act to guide elongated coupler  40  through left shoulder pad portion  9  and right shoulder pad portion  9 ′. When elongated coupler  40  is secured by buckle  58  and prong  60  on anterior portion  3  of pads  2 , pads  2  are assembled. Upon disengagement of prong  60  and buckle  58  from elongated coupled  40  on anterior portion  3  of pads  2 , as shown in  FIG. 11 , elongated coupler  40  may be extracted from guidence channels  48  by exerting a pulling force on either anterior end  54  of elongated coupler  40  accessed from anterior portion  3  of pads  2  while the wearer remains in the supine position.  FIG. 12  illustrates the partial removal of elongated coupler  40  from guidance channels  48 , permitting the separation and removal of left shoulder pad portion  9  and right shoulder pad portion  9 ′ and removal of pads  2 , while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
         [0073]      FIG. 13  illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein release mechanism  7  comprises zipper  70  having first portion  72 , second portion  74 , and elongated coupler  40  comprising slider  78  and tab  76  of zipper  70  and anterior end  54 . First portion  72  of zipper  70  is attached to posterior portion  8  of left shoulder pad portion  9  and second portion  74  of zipper  70  is attached to posterior portion  8  of right shoulder pad portion  9 ′. The portion of elongated coupler  40  comprising tab  76  and slider  78  of zipper  70  is disposed on posterior portion  8  of pads  2 . Elongated coupler  40  extends from slider  78  and tab  76  from posterior portion  8 , over superior portion  4 , with anterior end  54  disposed on and accessable from anterior portion  3  of pads  2 . As shown in  FIG. 13 , release mechanism  7  is partially actuated by exerting a pulling force on anterior end  54  of elongated coupler  40  disposed on anterior portion  3  of pads  2 , allowing first portion  72  of zipper  70  and second portion  74  of zipper  70  to disengage while the wearer is in the supine position. As release mechanism  7  is fully actuated, first portion  72  and left shoulder pad portion  9  are disengaged from second portion  74  and right shoulder pad portion  9 ′ and pads  2  may be removed from the wearer while the wearer remains in the supine position. 
         [0074]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications of the present invention can be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover all such modifications and variations of the invention, provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
This invention concerns protective shoulder pads ( 2) having a release mechanism ( 7). The shoulder pads ( 2) protect an individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2) against impact to the superior, anterior, posterior and/or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm. Release mechanism ( 7) allows the protective shoulder pads ( 2) to be more safely and easily removed from the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2) while the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2) is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of further injuring the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads ( 2).