Abstract: A protective guard for reducing injury to a shin of a person includes a conformable substrate and a plurality of core members disposed adjacent to a surface of the conformable substrate. The plurality of core members are arranged such that a first of the core members is rotationally movable about at least one axis relative to a second of the core members. A flexible fabric membrane comprised of natural or synthetic fibers is positioned adjacent to at least one of the conformable substrate and the plurality of core members.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a footwear portion including a core including a plurality of plates. A first one of the plurality of plates is hingedly attached, at one or more edges of the first plate, to one or more substantially adjacent other plates in the plurality of plates. Each hinge hingedly attaching an edge of the first plate to another plate joins less than the entire respective hingedly attached edge to a corresponding one of the one or more substantially adjacent other plates and is integrally connected to the first plate.

Abstract: An article is provided that includes a core including a plurality of triangular core members. Two or more edges of each triangular core member are each attached to respective edges of other triangular core members in the plurality of triangular core members by respective hinges in a plurality of hinges. Each hinge in the plurality of hinges joins respective edges of a respective pair of substantially adjacent triangular core members in the plurality of triangular core members, is of a length to provide an offset between the pair of triangular core members, has a thickness less than thicknesses of the pair of triangular core members, and is integrally connected to the pair of triangular core members.

Abstract: A method of improving an impact-protective property of a conformable substrate is provided. The method includes positioning a central core adjacent the conformable substrate. The central core includes a plurality of rigid plates. A first of the plates is joined by at least one hinge to a second of the plates.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a footwear portion including a core including a plurality of plates. A first one of the plurality of plates is hingedly attached, at one or more edges of the first plate, to one or more substantially adjacent other plates in the plurality of plates. Each hinge hingedly attaching an edge of the first plate to another plate joins less than the entire respective hingedly attached edge to a corresponding one of the one or more substantially adjacent other plates and is integrally connected to the first plate.

Abstract: A protective guard for reducing injury to a shin of a person includes a conformable substrate and a plurality of core members disposed adjacent to a surface of the conformable substrate. The plurality of core members are arranged such that a first of the core members is rotationally movable about at least one axis relative to a second of the core members. A flexible fabric membrane comprised of natural or synthetic fibers is positioned adjacent to at least one of the conformable substrate and the plurality of core members.

Abstract: An article is provided that includes a core with a plurality of plates. A first one of the plurality of plates is hingedly attached, at one or more edges of the first plate, to one or more substantially adjacent other plates in the plurality of plates. Each hinge that hingedly attaches an edge of the first plate to another plate joins less than the entire respective hingedly attached edge to a corresponding one of the one or more substantially adjacent other plates and is integrally connected to the first plate.