Specifications: A. Title: Male Nipple Abrasion Protector B. Cross-reference to related applications: US Patent Application Number: 081629,867 C. Background of Invention: 1. Field of invention: This invention primarily pertains to maies engaged in physical activities but aiso has substantiai application to men wearing shirts without undershirts. This invention can also be applied to any male (or in some cases females) that has nippé abrasion problems. Common nipple abrasion probiems exist among maie runners jogging extended distances and male athletes. The nippé abrasion problem results from shirt movement causing friction on chest nipples. Most male distance runners have this problem which commonly causes painful abrasions and may result in nipple tip bleeding. This painful condition may exist for several days until properly healed. A marathon runner may take 40,000 steps to cover a 26.2 mile course. Each step causes friction on the runners'nipples no matter how soft the runners'shirt may feel. In the book, Making the Marathon Your Event by Richard Benyo, he writes :"Some men have a tendency to suffer bleeding nipples when they run long distances-this is caused, in large part, as salt crystals forming as perspiration evaporates. The salt crystals eventually build up to cause severe chafing." 2. Closest known prier art: Currently most runners will engage in a messy unreliable approach of smearing a large gob of petroieum jelly over the nipples and/or cover with a long strip of tape. The tape commoniy comes loose and the jelly tends to rub off the nipple tip. ~f the tape holds, it is difficult to take off afterwards due to its rec3uired lengt and its adhesion to chest hairs. The taping does not confam to the nipple and it uncomfortable on the chest. Males who are not engaged in athletic activities are normally protected by tee-shirts from abrasive rubbings of a normal shirE Bras could be used but this requires straps or bands and normally males are not in favor of wearing bras. Weather permitting, many runners will run without a shirt to avoid abrasion.

D. Description of Drawings: The drawing, FIG. 1 is a front view and FIG 2 is a side view (larger than actual size) of a normal male nipple. Item 1 is the nippé base, which is the brown area with no hair. This is the primary surface to which the protector is attache. Item 2 is the nipple itself and item 3 is the tip of the nippé on which painful abrasion occurs. FIG. 3 is a front view drawing of one configuration of the nipple protector and FIG. 4 is a side view. The shape of the front and side views can vary and the sizes vall also vary to accommodate various size nippés i. e. small, medium, large and extra-large.

The general conhguration need not be circular since the majority of the motion appears to be in the up and down direction. Circular configurations can contribute to ease in putting on since orientation would not be necessary. Item 4 is the cavity area. Material configurations can vary to reduce cost and weight. Materials configurations can also optimize comfort, protection and minimize friction against material surface. Item 7 is the base of the protector.

E. Detailed Description of Invention: The Male Nippé Abrasion Protector is an inexpensive nipple protector for use on a human body to minimize abrasion on the nippé surface. The device consists of a base portion sized to contact and cover a portion of the area surrounding the nipple to be protected; a base portion having an aperture formed thereby allowing tne nipple to protrude there through without irritation; a cover attache to the base portion that is dispose over and encloses the aperture and an adhesive layer dispose on the side of the base member opposite the cover and being suitable for attaching and holding the nipple protector in place during exercise when exposed to normal body secretion caused during exercise.

Figures 5,6 and 7 show a disk version of the Male Nipple Abrasion Protector. The device's body (Item 7), material cover (Item 8) with an adhesive backing (Item 9) adhere to a nippé base. The protectoes bottom has an aperture (Item 10) to allow the nippé to pass into the protector's cavity (Item 11). The nippé is protected form abrasion by the cavity halls and the cover (Item 8).

Figure 7 is a drawing of the nipple protector in place on a male nipple.

Item 12 is the nipple and Item 13 is the nipple base. The nipple tests comfortably in the protectoKs cavity (Item 11). The protector is held on by an adhesive layer (Item 9) and the nipple is protected in the cavity (Item 11) by the device's body (Item 7) and cover (Item 8).

Packaging the nippé protectors can be accomplished by individually covering the adhesive surface (Item 9) with a peel-off wax paper type of materai or placing several protectors on a treated paper sheets allowing the protectors to be distributed in small sheets and peeled off when needed.