Abstract: Disclosed and claimed are cap (120), skullcap (200), hat (270), and hat insert (350) devices comprising a weight-increasing layer, such as an elastomeric weight layer (114, 214, 350, 414, 454, 514). The elastomeric weight layer (114, 214, 350, 414, 454, 514) is comprised of an elastomer and weighted bodies. In some embodiments the weight-increasing layer is shaped to conform to the crown of the head of a person wearing headwear of the present invention. In other embodiments a weighted component fits within a hat. Other forms of the weight-increasing layer include a double-walled bladder structure (700), shaped to conform to a person's head, into which weighted material is added. Exercise with such devices serves to increase the bone strengthening weight stress experienced by the wearer's spinal column and to encourage the wearer to maintain an improved, healthier posture.

Abstract: The object of this invention is to provide a leisure sports helmet having both a fan and a plurality of vents on a helmet body. Due to the fan (100) and the vents (20), atmospheric air is drawn into the interior of the helmet to cause convection to transfer heat from the head of a user to the air, and the heated air with sweat is discharged to the atmosphere. Thus, the helmet is forcibly ventilated while the user wearing the helmet participates in rapid leisure sports, so that the helmet does not generate any odor caused by the heat and sweat in the interior of the helmet and maintains a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere. The fan collaterally provides a decoration effect to make the appearance of the helmet more attractive.

Abstract: A vest to be worn by a driver/passenger of a two-wheeled vehicle or the like provided with a plurality of air chambers which are folded and housed wherein the air chambers instantaneously expand in two stages by being filled with carbon dioxide gas injected through a carbon dioxide gas cylinder connected to the activating device, creating a buffer effect to cushion the impact on the driver/passenger, who is thrown out onto a road surface, a construction on the road, a wall surface, or the like, which is a circumstance typical to traffic accident disasters of two-wheeled vehicles or the like.

Abstract: A face shield assembly including a frame and a removable protective element supported by the frame is disclosed herein. The protective element is removably supported in an opening of the frame by a channel, without the use of fasteners. Because the face shield lacks fasteners, it is easy to remove and replace, even with the use of gloves. In one embodiment, the frame is molded as a single, unitary member and includes an upper detent, a lower detent and a channel formed between a lip and the frame that receives an edge of the protective element in order to hold the protective element within the frame. In another embodiment, the frame is pivotally supported on a support structure such that the frame can be moved between an upper (out of use) and a lower (in use) position, and may further include an adjustable mounting member so that the frame can be selectively spaced relative to the user's head.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in shaping casual turn-down collars has a flexible sheet substrate with a profile that fits underneath a casual turn-down collar. There is an adhesive coating on each side of the substrate. The substrate fits without showing and with a portion of the substrate near a tip of the collar. The coating is self-releasing and pressure sensitive. There is a cover film on each side of the substrate over the adhesive coating. The substrate has a removal tab section with no adhesive coating on each side of the substrate. There is a pull-tab on each cover film that extends beyond the adhesive coating on the substrate. The pull-tab extends over the removal tab section. The collar is manually shaped and the apparatus is placed between the shirt body and the collar to fix the collar in place.

Abstract: In a face mask for use in the practice of paint-ball games or other such activities requiring effective shielding of the face, a large unitary lens is applied to an aperture extending from the brow to the chin and from one temple to the other. The lens is secured by a pair of releasable clips that can be quickly manipulated for cleaning or replacement of the lens in a matter of seconds. A semi-conical breath deflector extends behind the lens from the nose bridge to the base of the lens channeling the breath away from the lens and towards ventilating slits in the base of the mask. The slant of the deflector avoids any obstruction of the field of vision such as created by the lens frame of conventional goggles and face masks.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a wall defining an opening. A first bracket is connected to the wall and defines a first channel. A second bracket is located across the wall opening from the first bracket and defines a second channel. A hinge connects the second bracket to the wall such that the second bracket can pivot from a first position in which the second channel is open toward the wall opening to a second position in which the second channel is open toward the first channel. The brackets are configured to retain the lens in an installed position in which the lens extends across the wall opening, the first bracket captures a first end of the lens, the second bracket is in its second position, and the second channel captures a second end of the lens.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism for the headband of a protective helmet or other headgear allows for adjustment of the size and fit of the headband. The headband has overlapping rear end portions which are enclosed in a housing, which is comprised of an outer substantially arc-shaped housing section joined to a inner substantially arc-shaped housing section. Also contained with the housing sections is an adjustment mechanism adapted to cause lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband with respect to one another. The outer and inner housing sections are substantially segmented into multiple discrete portions such that the respective housing sections are flexible along defined boundaries between the discrete portions to provide for a better and more comfortable fit.

Abstract: A helmet construction for protecting a user's head, and the brain within the cranium from impact forces, includes a shell contoured to the shape of the user's head, with cushioning along at least part of the shell interior and a chinstrap. The shell consists of three (or more) discrete panels that are physically and firmly coupled together providing rigid protection under most circumstances, but upon impact the panels move relative to one another, but not relative to the user's head, thereby permitting impact forces to be dissipated and/or redirected away from the cranium and brain within. Upon impact to the helmet, there are sequential stages of movement of the panels relative to each other, these movements initially being recoverable, but with sufficient vector forces the helmet undergoes structural changes in a pre-determined fashion, so that the recoverable and permanent movements cumulatively provide a protective ‘crumple zone’ or ‘shear zone’.

Abstract: An altitude protection device for an acceleration protection suit having a plurality of liquid-filled veins is comprised of a bladder inserted in a pocket. A spacer fabric that is non-compressible under the loads to be provided is enclosed in the pocket and defines a minimum volume inside the bladder. The bladder is closed off or opened relative to surrounding air in the aircraft cabin via a valve that is opened if a rate of pressure change in the cabin is less than or equal to a presettable maximum value, and closed if the rate of pressure change is greater than the value. If the valve closes and the pressure falls further, air located in the bladder inflates the bladder and pocket, increasing tensile stress in the fabric, and thereby raising the internal pressure of the veins resulting in increased internal pressure in the entire acceleration protection suit.

Abstract: Methods of using carnival beads to create twisted bead structures. A plurality of primary bead strands and shorter Prep pieces are twisted together in order to create quaternary structures having particular three-dimensional configurations. The structures can be interlocked together to form larger structures. The twisted beads can be coated with a protective coating.

Abstract: A surgical garment includes a head gear apparatus for supporting a face shield and shroud. The head gear apparatus includes a helmet that supports a fan assembly, and that defines forward and rear ventilation passageways. The helmet includes a chin bar that defines a centrally located slot, and an upper ledge. The upper edge of the face shield contacts the upper ledge, while the lower edge of the shield includes a tab that extends through the slot. The chin bar and face shield include a plurality of magnetic elements that magnetically connect the lower edge of the face shield to the chin bar. The helmet is suspended from a strap assembly that is carried directly on the head of the wearer. The strap assembly includes an adjustable occipital support that bears against the occiput of the wearer. The face shield can include a plurality of film layers that can be removed when soiled.

Abstract: Protective headgear is provided having cushioned ear guards and a head support connecting the ear guards and cradling a wearer's head to provide a comfortable and stable fit during use. The head support comprises first and second lateral straps interconnecting the ear guards, and a transverse strap having a central portion and forward and rear legs for interconnection with the lateral straps. The ear guards include an outer later having a nylon laminate, a shell portion having a plurality of slots for receiving ends of the head support, a landing pad attached to the perimeter of the shell portion, and an inner layer attached along the perimeter thereof to the outer layer and including a cushioning material that aligns with the landing pad and cushions the head of a wearer. The ear guards also include a plurality of raised ventilation areas in the shell that align with apertures in the outer layer to provide ventilation for the wearer.

Abstract: A protective headgear device comprises a circumferential member composed of a foam material, having an interior that generally conforms to the shape of one's head. The circumferential member has a first opening for viewing and a second open through which the neck of the user extends. A plurality of internal pads is secured to an interior surface of the circumferential member, and the pads are spaced apart from one another, to protect predetermined sensitive areas of the head. Impact plates are affixed to the interior surface of circumferential member, and each impact plate is disposed between the circumferential member and a corresponding internal pad. The impact plates supplement the protection of the internal pads and the circumferential member for absorbing trauma forces applied to the headgear.

Abstract: A facemask assembly for night vision goggles comprises a frame assembly, a mount assembly for attachment of the night vision goggles, an adjustment strap assembly, and a neck pad assembly, wherein the frame assembly is generally C-shaped and contoured to extend across the upper forehead of a user, with each end of the generally C-shaped frame assembly extending down around the outside of the eyes and to the hollow of the cheeks of a user, below the cheek bones and above the jaw.

Abstract: A sport protective headgear comprising a main section that is to be placed on the occiput of a head from which extends a parietal section that is to be placed against the parietal of a head. Also, integrally connected to the main section is a right side section that is to be placed against the right side of a head and a left side section that is to be located against the left side of a head. Straps secured to the left and right sections hold the main section on the occiput. The straps can be a head strap or a goggle strap. The headgear is designed to absorb shock experienced by a wearer falling during the sport.

Abstract: A helmet, such as for equestrian sports, includes an outer shell formed by an upper dome and a lower ring attached to a bottom edge of the upper dome by screws. The assembled arrangement is particularly strong but is adapted to facilitate molding and further has a traditional equestrian helmet appearance. A removable faceguard includes legs shaped to upwardly fit into downwardly-open cavities formed within the ring, and includes latches pivoted to the legs for snap-attachment to lateral surfaces within the cavities. The latches are made of a material optimized for durability and resiliency, and are preferably of a material different than the faceguard itself.

Abstract: A protective headgear, such as a baseball catcher's mask, is disclosed. The protective headgear includes a shell, a cage, padding, and a strap/harness device. The shell includes a flared jaw area providing protection to the player/wearer's jaw. The cage includes a throat protection portion that extends downward, past the shell, and a flared ear portion, flaring away from the wearer's face, which keeps balls in front of the player/wearer. Padding is strategically placed inside the chin and forehead areas for protection. The protective headgear is designed to be used with a separate catcher's skull helmet. The strap/harness device is used to connect the protective headgear to the separate catcher's skull helmet.

Abstract: A hockey helmet for receiving a head of a wearer, the head having a crown region, left and right side regions, a back region and an occipital region. The helmet comprises a shell comprising left and right side inner surfaces and left and right side inner pads at least partially covering the inner left and right side surfaces of the shell, the left and right side inner pads facing the respective left and right side regions of the head. The helmet also comprises a wedging member located between one of the left and right side inner pads and one of the respective left and right side inner surfaces. The wedging member is movable between first and second positions, wherein, in the first position, one of the left and right side inner pads apply a first pressure upon the respective left and right side regions of the head, and in the second position, one of the left and right side inner pads apply a second pressure upon the respective left and right side regions of the head.

Abstract: A hand and forearm protector having a sleeve with a primary opening at one end and at another end a discrete finger opening and a discrete thumb opening also includes a longitudinal opening disposed along the sleeve. The longitudinal opening extends from a point directly adjacent a juncture of the carpal bones and the radius of a hand of the wearer and extends rearwardly along an forward side of the forearm approximately to the primary opening at the end of the sleeve. A zipper is included that extends from the juncture of the sleeve that overlies the carpal bones and radius and the zipper extends rearwardly to the end of the sleeve for bringing the edges of the sleeve together to conform the sleeve to the forearm of the wearer.