Abstract: A hand protection system for use by individuals involved in de-mining operations to locate and identify buried anti-personnel mines is designed to provide a degree of protection to the hands of the operative while still enabling the hands to perform necessary operations such as manipulating a probe rod, clearing soil by use of the fingers, etc. In one form the hand protector is a trough-shaped shield which tapers to a rounded forward end and is adapted to fit over the back of the hand of the user, the shield being open on its underside so that the user's fingers can be manipulated. In another form the hand protecting shield is of conical shape having a hole through its narrow end through which a probe can be extended and manipulated by a hand received within the protector. The protector includes laminated layers of aramid fibers together with other tough blast resistant materials such as polycabonate.

Abstract: A system to provide foot protection against anti-personnel land mines is designed for use by mine clearance personnel and includes a raised frame having a central foot support location thereon which ensures a spacing of the wearer's foot above the ground surface of from 10 to 30 cm. The ground-engaging parts of the frame are spaced forwardly and rearwardly of the foot location and the frame includes on its underside blast protection material, the combined results of these measures being to greatly attenuate the blast and fragmentation effects of an exploding mine on the foot of the user. Moreover, the underside of the structure, including legs, is aerodynamically shaped to deflect the blast wave loading and fragments generated by the mine detonation.

Abstract: A protective suit for covering the limbs and body of an operative to shield them from the effects of explosive devices such as anti-personnel mines includes on the front thereof an upper reinforced breast plate and a lower reinforced groin plate to provide added protection to the vital organs of the wearer. In the deployed position the groin plate at its upper end overlaps the lower end of the breast plate, and the lower end of the groin plate extends in front of and below the crotch region of the wearer. The groin plate is movable upwardly to a retracted position within a pouch in front of the breast plate, and in this retracted position does not interfere with the freedom of movement of the wearer's legs.

Abstract: A protective system for shielding the head and neck regions of an operative from the blast effects of exploding munitions comprises a helmet with a visor which is inwardly curved rearwardly at its lower end and interacts with a double collar arrangement of a protective suit to provide enhanced protection to the neck region of the operative.

Abstract: Disclosed is a unique spine protector for use with or without protective clothing and in particular, in bomb disposal suits or in sports related activities. The protector is made up of a plurality of overlapping elongate support members having a central recess in the mid-portion thereof such that when an external force is applied to the spine protector, the force exerted is transmitted to the spinal muscles and/or thoracic support structures on either side of the vertebrae while the vertebrae remain minimally loaded. The spine protector is made up of two sizes of support members which overlap each other in mating relationship and are loosely joined so that the spine protector can flex in three dimensions.