Abstract: The present invention is directed to a chest pad that significantly reduces the occurrence of commotio cordis among athletes. The chest pad may be utilized as a stand-alone chest protector intended to provide coverage primarily for the upper chest wall and the cardiac area. The chest pad may also be implanted into or utilized in traditional chest protectors that provide full coverage of the user's torso. The chest pad of the present invention provides additional protection to the heart of the wearer such that impact in the heart area with a projectile is absorbed by the chest pad.

Abstract: A chest pad that significantly reduces the occurrence of commotio cordis among athletes is disclosed. The chest pad may be utilized as a stand-alone chest protector intended to provide coverage primarily for the upper chest wall and the cardiac area. The chest pad may also be implanted into or utilized in traditional chest protectors that provide full coverage of the user's torso. The chest pad provides additional protection to the heart of the wearer such that impact in the heart area with a projectile is absorbed by the chest pad.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a leg guard that provides increased protection while also providing maximum articulation and increased freedom of movement for the user. More particularly, the leg guard includes a toe guard, a shin guard, a knee guard including an extended knee cap wrap, an extended knee guard, a thigh guard, a left hinge, and a right hinge. Through the use of an extended knee cap wrap and a hinged configuration, the leg guard provides additional protection for the knees of a catcher and allows catchers to freely and quickly move to or through different stances without having to re-position the pads of the leg guard. The hinged configuration provides enhanced mobility for the user by preventing the leg guard from shifting and rotating about the shin of the user and allowing the leg guard to remain static without axial rotation or vertical movement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a chest pad that significantly reduces the occurrence of commotio cordis among athletes. The chest pad may be utilized as a stand-alone chest protector intended to provide coverage primarily for the upper chest wall and the cardiac area. The chest pad may also be implanted into or utilized in traditional chest protectors that provide full coverage of the user's torso. The chest pad of the present invention provides additional protection to the heart of the wearer such that impact in the heart area with a projectile is absorbed by the chest pad.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a leg guard that provides increased protection while also providing maximum articulation and increased freedom of movement for the user. More particularly, the leg guard includes a toe guard, a shin guard, a knee guard including an extended knee cap wrap, an extended knee guard, a thigh guard, a left hinge, and a right hinge. Through the use of an extended knee cap wrap and a hinged configuration, the leg guard provides additional protection for the knees of a catcher and allows catchers to freely and quickly move to or through different stances without having to re-position the pads of the leg guard. The hinged configuration provides enhanced mobility for the user by preventing the leg guard from shifting and rotating about the shin of the user and allowing the leg guard to remain static without axial rotation or vertical movement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a leg guard that provides increased protection while also providing maximum articulation and increased freedom of movement for the user. More particularly, the leg guard includes a toe guard, a shin guard, a knee guard including an extended knee cap wrap, an extended knee guard, a thigh guard, a left hinge, and a right hinge. Through the use of an extended knee cap wrap and a hinged configuration, the leg guard provides additional protection for the knees of a catcher and allows catchers to freely and quickly move to or through different stances without having to re-position the pads of the leg guard. The hinged configuration provides enhanced mobility for the user by preventing the leg guard from shifting and rotating about the shin of the user and allowing the leg guard to remain static without axial rotation or vertical movement.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a leg guard that provides increased protection while also providing maximum articulation and increased freedom of movement for the user. More particularly, the leg guard includes a toe guard, a shin guard, a knee guard including an extended knee cap wrap, an extended knee guard, a thigh guard, a left hinge, and a right hinge. Through the use of an extended knee cap wrap and a hinged configuration, the leg guard provides additional protection for the knees of a catcher and allows catchers to freely and quickly move to or through different stances without having to re-position the pads of the leg guard. The hinged configuration provides enhanced mobility for the user by preventing the leg guard from shifting and rotating about the shin of the user and allowing the leg guard to remain static without axial rotation or vertical movement.

Abstract: An ergonomic facemask for a headpiece, including a wire cage having a plurality of horizontal wires and a plurality of vertical wires. The plurality of horizontal wires includes a horizontal wire configured to extend forward of a user's face at a height between the user's nose and the user's upper lip, and the plurality of vertical wires includes a center vertical wire that extends along the sagittal line of a user's face. The mutual arrangement of the center vertical wire together with the horizontal wire adequately shields a user's face while avoiding interference with, the user's field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a head injury including head gear and at least one cooling medium. The cooling medium has a prolonged cooling effect to aid injured persons recovery and health after sustaining a head injury. The apparatus and method is also contemplated for use with headaches, migraines, heat and/or sun stroke, as well as persons that have suffered a stroke.

Abstract: A garment includes a waistband having a first face and a second face, with a first support structure affixed to the first face and a second support structure affixed to the second face. The waistband is selectively adjustable between a first arrangement that provides the garment with a first style and fitting, and a second arrangement that provides the garment with a same style and different fitting.

Abstract: An ergonomic faceguard for a helmet, and a helmet including the ergonomic faceguard; the faceguard including a wire grid having a plurality of horizontal wires. The plurality of horizontal wires includes a horizontal wire configured to extend proximate to a user's chin, the horizontal wire including a pair of lateral sections for engaging a shell of a helmet and a front section extending between the lateral sections, with the lateral sections extending along a common plane and the front section deviating from the plane along which the lateral sections extend. The front section has an anterior point that is elevated at a height that is greater than a height of the lowest point in the front section.

Abstract: An ergonomic facemask for a headpiece, including a wire cage having a plurality of horizontal wires and a plurality of vertical wires. The plurality of horizontal wires includes a horizontal wire configured to extend forward of a user's face at a height between the user's nose and the user's upper lip, and the plurality of vertical wires includes a center vertical wire that extends along the sagittal line of a user's face. The mutual arrangement of the center vertical wire together with the horizontal wire adequately shields a user's face while avoiding interference with the user's field of view.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating a head injury including head gear and at least one cooling medium. The cooling medium has a prolonged cooling effect to aid injured persons recovery and health after sustaining a head injury. The apparatus and method is also contemplated for use with headaches, migraines, heat and/or sun stroke, as well as persons that have suffered a stroke.

Abstract: An ergonomic faceguard for a helmet, and a helmet including the ergonomic faceguard; the faceguard including a wire grid having a plurality of horizontal wires. The plurality of horizontal wires includes a horizontal wire configured to extend proximate to a user's chin, the horizontal wire including a pair of lateral sections for engaging a shell of a helmet and a front section extending between the lateral sections, with the lateral sections extending along a common plane and the front section deviating from the plane along which the lateral sections extend. The front section has an anterior point that is elevated at a height that is greater than a height of the lowest point in the front section.

Abstract: A garment includes a waistband having a first face and a second face, with a first support structure affixed to the first face and a second support structure affixed to the second face. The waistband is selectively adjustable between a first arrangement that provides the garment with a first style and fitting, and a second arrangement that provides the garment with a same style and different fitting.

Abstract: A baseball chest protector includes a protector pad to which is united a chest protector harness. The chest protector harness includes a generally Y-shaped harness back portion defined by a juncture portion, a pair of upwardly diverging arms and a generally downwardly projecting leg formed as a single piece of injection-molded synthetic polymeric or copolymeric material. A lower harness portion or spine portion is also formed as a single injection-molded piece of synthetic polymeric or copolymeric material and is united by an adjusting buckle to the leg or first part of the upper back harness portion. Adjusting buckles also adjustably secure a pair of elastic webs to the arm portions of the Y-shaped harness back portion and the elastic webs are each in turn secured by two injection molded harness top tab portions to shoulder areas of the protector pad of the baseball chest protector.

Abstract: The protective headgear, such as a catcher's/umpire's headgear, is defined by a forward substantially concave rigid shell and a rear substantially concave rigid shell articulately interconnected together adjacent upper portions thereof. Resilient straps snap-secure opposite lower side portions of the forward shell to opposite lower edge portions of the rear shell. A rigid framework having a relatively large view opening is fastened to a view opening of the forward shell to afford maximum visibility to the user.