Abstract: The present invention provides a vest assembly, for wearing around a body of a user performing physical activity. The vest assembly includes a front plate and a rear plate each having a perimeter that includes a plurality of slits. The slits allow for insertion of a plurality of straps. A slit of the front plate tensions one of the straps together with a corresponding slit of the rear plate to fit the vest assembly around the body of the user.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a forefoot region disposed adjacent an anterior end, a heel region disposed adjacent a posterior end, and a mid-foot region disposed intermediate the forefoot region and the heel region. The sole structure further includes fluid-filled bladder having a first segment extending along a medial side in the heel region, a second segment extending along a lateral side in the heel region, and a web area disposed between the first segment and the second segment. Additionally, the sole structure includes an outer sole member having an upper portion extending from a first end in the forefoot region to a second end in the heel region. The second end of the outer sole member is received on a first side of the web area. The outer sole member also includes a rib extending downwardly from the upper portion and defining a cavity.

Abstract: A sun screen apparatus which includes apparatus for mounting on the visor of a so-called baseball cap that includes a planar translucent member carried on the apparatus for mounting that allows movement of the planar member between horizontal and vertical positions.

Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include a relatively soft and lightweight foam midsole component partially covered by at least one more rigid and/or dense cage (protective) component(s) and/or other protective component(s).

Abstract: A contractor knee pad designed for long-term comfort when working kneeling on the ground or on the floor. The kneeling work pads of the invention have a hard inner core and a comfortable outer sheath which protects the contractors knee from the inner core, a wide elastic webbing may be stretched across the back of the wearer's leg from one side of the kneeling work pads to the other. In order to provide uniform tension, a zipper is employed, the zipper of the wide elastic webbing closes downward, that is, the opposite to the most common direction. Optional strips attach to strip anchors actually on the front of the contractors kneeling word pads, which are simple studs so that the strips may be put over the stud to be held in place and no part of the attachment reaches to the back of the device.

Abstract: Drag-reducing exercise equipment in the form of a aerodynamic garment may comprise zones with applied textures. Each zone may be associated with properties and characteristics based on the movement of the garment associated with each zone through air during an athletic activity. The texture in each zone may be applied using a variety of methods such as printing. The resulting aerodynamic garment improves the performance of an athlete wearing the aerodynamic garment by reducing the aerodynamic drag experienced during the performance of the athletic activity.

Abstract: A garment for health care use is disclosed. The garment comprises at least one rear panel, at least two front panels and a plurality of releasable seams, positioned along peripheral regions of said at least one rear panel and said at least two front panels for releasably connecting said at least two front panels to said at least one rear panel. Each of the at least two front panels is permanently connected to the at least one rear panel at least one position. At least a portion of one the front panels overlaps the other. The rear and front panels each comprise a plurality of flaps or regions which can be folded over when in use as worn by a wearer, to expose different areas of said wearer's body.

Abstract: A garment for boosting circulation in areas of a user's body corresponding to the user's joints, having at least one fabric member of a size for at least partly covering at least one part of the user's body that includes at least one joint area lying over at least one joint of the user, and at least one muscle area lying over at least one muscle of the user, the fabric member being at least one of dimensioned and structured so as not to compress the part of the user's body covered by the fabric member, the fabric member having a heat insulating property at each joint area to be covered and a heat transmitting property at each muscle area to be covered, so that when the garment is worn, each joint area stays warmer than each muscle area to boost circulation in each joint area.

Abstract: A helmet to be worn on a head having an annular headband shaped area. The headband shaped area positioned near an upper junction of the ears and the wearer's head. A top area is centered about a top of the wearer's head. A middle area defined between the headband area and the top area. The helmet includes a shell having an inner surface. A first type of subliner elements extend from the inner surface at a location such that the first type of subliner elements are aligned with the headband area. A second type of subliner elements extend from the inner surface at a location such that the second type of subliner elements are aligned with the middle area. A third type of subliner element extends from the inner surface at a location such that the third type of subliner element is aligned with the top area.

Abstract: Footwear for use during a specialized activity such as skiing, cycling, skating and many other sports or industrial uses, and provides a dorsal element engaging the dorsal aspect of the foot for enabling the user to control relative to the plantar aspect the maximum height of the arch of the foot at substantially all times during the activity regardless of the position or orientation of the foot. A pivotal arm is mounted on a frame attached to the planter aspect for pivotal movement about an axis transverse to the foot and is compressed by an adjustable element operable by the user.

Abstract: A wearable impact protection and force channeling device operable to transfer force received via impact from a head of the user to a body of the user, thereby utilizing an entire mass of the user to lessen rapid momentum change of the head.

Abstract: A ballistic vest carrier is formed by two overlapping outer panels and two overlapping inner panels. The ballistic vest carrier is configured to hold a soft ballistic panel and provides a pocket for an optional hard ballistic plate. The pocket for the optional ballistic plate is accessible from the outside face through an outer access opening. The outer face of the ballistic vest carrier is free of protruding edges, allowing concealed use of the ballistic vest carrier. A ballistic vest includes two ballistic vest carriers which are connected by shoulder straps and side straps.

Abstract: A collapsible shoe heel is provided. The collapsible shoe heel features a support member having a first end and second end, a substantially u-shaped lifting member having a first end and a second end, an angle, formed by the support member and the lifting member, which has a natural position, a first hinge rotatably connecting the first end of the support member and the first end of the lifting member, and a second hinge rotatably connecting the second end of the support member and the second end of the lifting member. The first hinge and second are configured to retain the natural position of the angle.

Abstract: Foot support members, e.g., sole structures for articles of footwear, include dynamically transformable portions, e.g., to change a dimension and/or apply a tensile or compressive force to some portion of an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. Such foot support members may include a flexible support member having a wave shaped portion that flexes under an applied force. Flexing of this wave shaped portion under weight of a wearer produces: (a) a change in at least one of a longitudinal or transverse dimension of the foot support member, (b) application of a compressive or tensile force to the plantar support component and/or another part of the foot support member, article of footwear, or other foot-receiving device, (c) flattening of the wave shaped portion, and/or (d) compressing the wave shaped portion together (e.g., to fold up, decrease in overall height, etc.).

Abstract: A gird compression hip tensioning garment designed to provide compressive support extending throughout the acetabulofemoral and mid-gluteal portions of a wearer's lower torso so as to help relieve pain and to help promote healing from muscular/skeletal ailments and injuries of the mid-body of a wearer. This gird compression garment is constructed of a resiliently flexible and stretchable material and includes a ligature panel extending from approximately the sacrum of the spine of the wearer to the base of the gluteus medius, and a fastening device adapted to vary the amount of compressive force exerted by the garment.

Abstract: A garment is provided including a back panel joined with a bag panel, and a closure strap. The back panel and bag panel can be used in a wearing mode while the garment is worn, then turned inside out into a stowed mode, when the garment is to be stowed, to form a stowage bag within which the garment can be stuffed, with the closure strap movable to a closing configuration to at least partially close an opening of the stowage bag and secure the garment inside the stowage bag. Related methods of use are also provided.

Abstract: A device for handling hot objects and extinguishing a fire and a method of using the same are provided. A device for handling hot objects and extinguishing a fire includes: a first portion comprising an inner surface portion defining a pocket configured to receive a hand of a user therein; and a second portion configured to extinguish a fire by smothering, the second portion being configurable between a first configuration in which the second portion at least partially covers the first portion and has a first exposed surface area and a second configuration in which the second portion has a second exposed surface area greater than the first exposed surface area.

Abstract: There is described a protective helmet for sporting use, in particular for use while skiing, comprising an external cap-like structure (2) of a resiliently flexible material, an internal cap-like structure (3) which is received in the external cap-like structure (2) and which comprises a plurality of cap portions (5a, 5b) of expanded material which are structurally independent of each other and which are mutually interconnected with limited relative mobility between contiguous portions, the internal cap-like structure (3) delimiting a cavity (4) which is open towards the outer side and which is capable of receiving the head of the user, and at least one device (6) for absorbing energy as a result of forces of impacts on the helmet, which device is interposed between the internal cap-like structure (3) and external cap-like structure (2).

Abstract: A helmet configured to protect a human head against mild traumatic brain injury upon impact includes an outer shell and a liner consisting of pairs of fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers fluidly connected to each other by fluid connections between each of the pairs of fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers being spaced on opposite sides of the helmet and configured to fill a space between the head and the outer shell when the helmet is positioned on the head. Impact resistant flexible pads are also inside the liner and are spaced around an inner circumference of the outer shell adjacent to each of the fluid fillable flexible fluid chambers. A flexible inner shell inside the liner is configured to fit closely on the head.

Abstract: A shoe heel platform includes a substantially flat base sized to extend under a heel of a high heeled shoe. The base includes a heel section with a connecting member positioned and configured to removably attach to the heel of the high heeled shoe. The connecting member may be a magnet, a receptacle to receive a tap piece of the heel of the shoe, or both. The base also may include a sole section with a connecting member positioned and configured to removably attach to the sole of the high heeled shoe. The base also may include a linking member that connects the heel section to the sole section in a manner that enables a user to adjust the size of the base.