Abstract: A method of securing a strap and a strap fastening apparatus integral with an article of apparel includes an article of apparel and a planar surface. The apparatus further includes a wedge having a handle and a surface with a predetermined angle. The wedge also includes projections which engage with a strap. The apparatus also provides a housing where the wedge is contained within the housing. The apparatus also includes an attachment device where the attachment device fastens the housing to the planar surface. The housing and planar surface form a first opening and a second opening. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for reducing contact area between the strap and the planar surface, whereby translational displacement required for locking the wedge and smoothing wear of the wedge are substantially reduced while friction is substantially increased between the wedge and the strap and between the planar surface and the strap.

Abstract: A face guard 10 employs a plurality of tubular curved members 12. The geometric configuration of the tubular members 12 is suitable for a football line backer's helmet face guard. The tubular curved members 12 are slightly indented where they cross another tubular member 12. Each tubular curved member 12 is slightly tapered at its ends. The tapered ends 14 reduce the need for grinding and facilitates easy coating of the tubular curved members with a synthetic resin 18. The tapered ends 14 are welded to other tapered ends 14 of other tubular curved members 12. Beneath the synthetic resin coating 18 is an inner metal curved tube 22. The curved metal tube 22 has a wall thickness T1 and an outer diameter D1. The outer diameter D1 and inner wall thickness T1 are a function of at least three ratios. The ratios provide a tubular member design that protects the user from frontal and side impact forces and reduces fatigue of the user while providing a relatively unobstructed field of vision for the user.

Abstract: A baseball glove having a laminate foam rubber padding with low rebound and energy damping properties, is constructed and arranged to provide stiffness in the longitudinal axial direction of the thumb and forefinger portion of the glove and the little finger portion of the glove but a flexibility in a transverse axial direction across the palm of the hand in a direction toward the little finger portion of the glove, to thereby preclude the "breaking-in" period customarily required for a new glove. The glove laces are made of hollow plastic tubing having elastic memory. The tubular end portions of the lacings are secured to the leather covering by fasteners having planar surfaces carrying advertising indicia.

Abstract: A baseball glove having a laminate foam rubber padding with low rebound and energy damping properties, is constructed and arranged to provide stiffness in the longitudinal axial direction of the thumb and forefinger portion of the glove and the little finger portion of the glove but a flexibility in a transverse axial direction across the palm of the hand in a direction toward the little finger portion of the glove, to thereby preclude the "breaking-in" period customarily required for a new glove. The glove laces are made of hollow plastic tubing having elastic memory. The tubular end portions of the lacings are secured to the leather covering by fasteners having planar surfaces carrying advertising indicia.

Abstract: Underarm straps for shoulder pads wherein a pair of non-elastic strap segments are connected between the breast plates and back plates of the shoulder pads and extend underneath the arms of the user on each side of the shoulder pads. The strap segments are adjustably connected by clamping rings which permit a quick infinite adjustment of the effective length of the underarm straps by the user pushing the strap segments forwardly to tighten the shoulder pads. One of the clamping rings is provided with a handle to facilitate the manual release of the gripping action of the clamping rings, and a releasable fastener is provided on the strap segments to hold one strap segment in a folded position over the other strap segment to cover the clamping rings after the shoulder pads have been tightened on the user.

Abstract: A front-lock stabilizer for protective shoulder pads having breastplates and backplates wherein the breastplates are closed by laced interdigitated plates fixedly secured to the vertical edges of the breastplates, and the backplates are closed by a plurality of rigid plates extending between the backplates and fixedly secured thereto. The breastplates are prevented from being deflected inwardly relative to each other to thereby prevent injury to the wearer's sternum, and the right and left shoulder pads are prevented from movement relative to each other in a vertical plane to prevent one shoulder from receiving the full impact of a hit to the shoulder.

Abstract: A shock attenuation tension mounting for connecting a face guard to a helmet wherein a pair of looped straps are provided on each side of the helmet. Each pair of looped straps includes an inner relatively stretchable looped strap enclosing a wire segment of the face guard, and an outer, relatively stiff looped strap enclosing the inner loop. The inner looped strap allows controlled movement of the face guard toward the helmet with increasing resistance force for shock attenuation, and the outer strap limits the movement of the face guard toward the helmet, the amount of movement being controlled by the selection of relative loop lengths of the outer and inner straps.

Abstract: A unitized chin strap for football helmets and the like is molded from an elastomer possessing elastic memory. The device includes a protective chin cup which is curved on two axes and is adapted to receive an apertured chin cushioning pad which allows the tip of the chin to be safely suspended in a space defined by the chin strap cup. The cup gradually diminishes in thickness and rigidity from the center of the cup toward its marginal edge. Divergent axis relatively flexible and somewhat stretchable straps are joined to the sides of the chin cup by relatively wide twist-resistant strap-to-cup joint portions. Conventional buckles having snap fastener components are slidably engaged on the straps of the device to provide a secure four point attachment of the chin strap to a helmet. The device substantially eliminates movement of the helmet on the head during use, thereby greatly reducing the likelihood of severe injury.

Abstract: Athletic pants of the type worn by football players include in each pant leg a frontal pocketed thigh pad and an adjacent independently pocketed pad to cover and protect the vastus lateralis. The hinged cooperative relationship of the two separate pads allows full leg flexure and freedom of movement without binding or discomfort. The added side pad also prevents excessive movement of the larger frontal pad and tends to hold the latter in its preferred position. The additional pad is easily installable on newly manufactured and existing pants at relatively minimal cost.