Abstract: A protective helmet having an impact-resistant outer shell with an impact liner disposed within. The impact liner encloses a substantial portion of a wearer's head. A fan assembly having at least one fan and preferably a fan cowling is disposed between the impact liner and the outer shell. In operation, the fan assembly is connected through a connecting assembly to a source of power. The connecting assembly may optionally include power conditioners. When connected, the fan assembly extracts air or other respiration gases from around a wearer's head, through channels in the impact liner, and exhausts it out of the helmet through vents. The vents and the outer shell feature covering the fan assembly are designed for shell integrity and resistance to impacts and entry by flames or foreign objects. A gas inlet connector may optionally be provided for connecting an external source of respiration gases to the helmet, as may ducting to guide such gas to a wearer's face for respiration.

Abstract: A face shield to be placed in front of the face of a wearer includes at least one light transparent part and a holding device for holding on to the face shield, the face shield includes at least one air deflecting device which is arranged, with the help of the directional effect and kinetic energy of the exhalation air to lead away the exhalation air from the region where the nose and mouth of the wearer are to be positioned, and that the inhalation air is supplied to the region where the nose and mouth of the wearer are to be positioned in essentially different directions to those in which the exhalation air is led away, so that a separation of the inhalation air and exhalation air is achieved.

Abstract: A hockey goaltender's glove is described, in which the outer cuff thereof is divided into three segments, namely a central segment and two lateral segments, and in which the central segment is connected to the lateral segments along edges thereof, via elastic webbing. The central segment thus may be readily flexed outwardly and away from the lateral segments, thereby providing improved flexibility of the cuff, to improve the goaltender's ability to smother the puck, without unduly sacrificing protection of the wrist and forearm area.

Abstract: A helmet has a generally dome shaped helmet body with inner and outer sides and a lower edge extending generally in the shape of a loop; an elongated reinforcement member is embedded in the helmet to extend proximate the looping lower edge portion; that member may have band shape; and additional such band shaped reinforcement members may extend within the dome shape of the helmet. Openings may be provided through the body to pass retention straps, a first strap holder configured to be supported at and by the outer side of the helmet, the holder attached to at least one strap that extends through one of the openings, and the holder operable to transmit strap tension to the helmet. The holder typically holds two strap ends, and defines slots through which the straps pass for adjustable retention by the holder.