Abstract: A high energy shock absorbing and dissipating device designed to be mounted on existing shoulder pads for football, hockey, dirt bike riders, etc. The head of the wearer is in a spaced relation to the inside surfaces. It consists of a crown structure and a lower support structure with vertical shock absorbing springs in between. An energy dissipating foam annular band is in a plane at the forehead level to attenuate the forces from whiplash-type movements. The possibility of the wearer receiving a concussion is virtually eliminated and will have the maximum of protection against devastating spinal cord injuries.

Abstract: A shoe having a selectively rotating cleat assembly mounted to the sole of the shoe below the ball of a wearer's foot. The rotating cleat assembly includes a core that mates with and is held in rotatable engagement by a recess in the sole of the shoe. The rotating cleat assembly is free to rotate relative to the sole when the force of impact with a playing surface is substantially normal to a central rotation axis of the cleat assembly. The rotating cleat assembly locks relative to the sole of the shoe when the force of impact with a playing surface is a predetermined angle from the central rotation axis for a given force.

Abstract: A thin-profile multi-compartmented inflatable liner for use as an energy-absorbing device inside a protective headgear or other protective equipment. The multiple air compartments with integral intercommunicating air channels are formed of flexible plastic sheets which are dielectrically heat bonded together. The air compartments have within, resilient foam plastic co-acting bafflements with integral protrusions which interact with the intercommunicating air channels to thereby control the rate of air flow between the air compartments in response to an impact compression of the air compartments. The unique construction provides a thin-profile, light weight, high-energy absorbing liner with strength, durability and reliability to a high degree.

Abstract: A chin strap safety attachment including a high impact resistant rigid anchor insert mounted upon a chin strap of the protective headgear. The anchor insert has a tongue which is shaped so as to be insertable into an opening in a coacting anchor plate when the anchor insert is rotated from its normal locking position in engagement with the anchor plate. A Lift-the-Dot fastener, adjustably mounted on the free end of the chin strap adjacent the anchor insert, engages the anchor plate to provide additional securance of the chin strap.

Abstract: An ancillary multichambered fluid-filled cushion for use as an energy-absorbing insert on the inside of protective headgear of the type having an outer helmet shell and a flexible inner liner. The chambers may be distinct or may be interconnected by means of communicating passages which control the flow of fluid between chambers. The chamber and communicating passages are formed of resilient material bonded together at perimeter flanges which may be engageable with the helmet inner liner so as to hold the cushion in place. The cushion is aligned intermediate the wearer's head and the outer shell, between existing inner liner components, so as to provide partial support of the helmet shell.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing liner for use in conventional outdoor headgear to provide protection in the event of an impact directed against the wearer's head. A plurality of fluid-filled cushions having walls of resilient material are joined together into a regular and spaced relationship. The connected cushions are mounted over the inside of the outdoor headgear so as to contact and cushion the wearer's head upon impact. In an preferred embodiment, the cushions have two chambers separated by a common wall and are connected by means of flanges along the perimeters of the cushions. The cushions may be interconnected by fluid carrying passages of predetermined cross section to facilitate dispersing of impact forces laterally and may be arranged from a central round or square configuration.

Abstract: An energy-absorbing headband assembly to be worn with protective headgear. The headband assembly comprises a headband, a vertex pad, and a nape pad which coact to apply clamping pressure between the crown of the wearer's head and the back of the wearer's neck for securing the headband assembly in place and for absorbing and distributing forces within the headband assembly. The vertex pad may have multiple fluid-filled chambers and is held in position on the crown of the wearer's head by a flexible front support band fixed to the front of the headband. Nape bands are fixed to the sides of the headband and extend upward transversely to the vertex pad and extend downward and rearward to the nape pad to effect the clamping pressure.