Abstract: A hip protecting device for minimizing risk of hip breakage upon a fall having a belt from which one or two gas inflatable pockets are suspended substantially over the hip joint or hip joints of a wearer. The hip protecting device further has a means for detecting rate and degree of attitudinal changes of the wearer, a microprocessor and inflation means. Upon detection of both a rate and degree of change in attitude of the wearer outside certain preprogrammed limits, the microprocessor sends a signal to the inflation means thereby causing the pocket or pockets to inflate and cushion the hips from the fall.

Abstract: An emergency signal device for use by those with medical conditions having means to detect the occurrence of a change in attitude in conjunction with a shock and an alarm means including audible messages alerting bystanders to the wearer's medical problems. The emergency signal device may also include means to activate the alarm means in the event the wearer exits a pre-specified geographic area, or at pre-specified time intervals. The emergency signal device may also include cellular and global positioning satellite means to automatically determine and transmit the location of the emergency signal device to a cellular base station upon activation of the alarm. The emergency signal device may further include means for activating existing emergency telephone notification systems.

Abstract: An improved sole for use with all types of footwear, including dress, casual, and athletic shoes and sandals, which has an upper layer having a plurality of chambers filled with helium. The upper layer is attached to an outsole having indentations, corresponding to the chambers, and coated with a fluidic polymeric material.