Abstract: Individuals with special needs often struggle to put on swim caps as they may lack dexterity, strength, or coordination to pull the cap over their ears. An improved swim cap to aid such wearers includes a swim cap body to encapsulate an upper head area and ears of a wearer, a first ring near a right ear area of the cap, and a second ring near a left ear area the body. A reinforcing band is attached on an interior of the swim cap body, wherein ends of the band connect to the first ring and the second ring. The rings allow for easy gripping of the swim cap to easily pull the cap over the wearer's head and ears.

Abstract: Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired, such as the lower back, the arch of the foot, etc.); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting forces to selected portions of the wearer's body, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.

Abstract: Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body and/or stretch resistance, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.

Abstract: There is provided herein, a sock comprising a toe and/or a heel area, wherein said toe area is divided to at least two sub-areas, wherein a borderline between at least two adjacent sub-areas is essentially vertical. There is also provided, a method for manufacturing a sock comprising forming a toe and/or a heel area divided to at least two sub-areas, wherein a borderline between at least two adjacent sub-areas is essentially vertical.

Abstract: A finger brace device is disclosed herein. The finger brace device can comprise a first hinge component configured to connect a proximal component configured to fit around at least a first portion of a finger near a wrist, to an intermediate component located at a central portion of the apparatus, wherein the proximal component is located at a lateral portion of the apparatus. Also disclosed is a second hinge component configured to connect the intermediate component of the apparatus to a distal component configured to fit around at least a second portion of the finger near a finger nail, wherein the distal component is located at a distal portion of the apparatus.

Abstract: A protective shield can be mounted in front of the face of a wearer of a protective helmet. In an as worn orientation, the protective shield extends across the eyes and typically also across the nose of the wearer. The protective shield has at least one arcuate lens portion which, in the as worn orientation, curves across an eye of the wearer. The arcuate lens portion has a horizontal curvature extending in a horizontal direction and a vertical curvature extending in a vertical direction, wherein the vertical curvature is a horizontally varying vertical curvature (?).

Abstract: Protective headgear in one case comprises a main body having a pair of side head parts connected by a forehead part and a crown part extending from the forehead part. The body is shaped to encompass the head of a wearer. The main body comprises an inner sheet of an open cell polyurethane foam material, an outer barrier layer, and an intermediate section comprising portions of an open cell polyurethane foam material between the inner and the outer layers. The open cell polyurethane foam has a density of from 100 to 300 kg/m3 which significantly reduces the G-force energy transferred to a players head during impact.

Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to an apparel thermo-regulatory system that actively heats or cools a wearer. The apparel thermo-regulatory system comprises an apparel item, a dimensionally stable frame comprising at least one aperture that is affixed to an outer-facing surface of the apparel item at a predetermined location, an absorbent material applied to an exposed face of the dimensionally stable frame, and at least one thermoelectric module that is releasably positioned within the aperture of the dimensionally stable frame.

Abstract: Aspects herein provide for a pocket structure for a garment that is configured to effectively stow and secure objects such as balls. The pocket structure comprises a gusset insert located on an outer-facing panel of the pocket structure and a pleat structure located on an inner-facing panel of the pocket structure. The gusset insert and the pleat structure work in combination to increase the interior volume of the pocket structure to effectively accommodate the stored object.

Abstract: A fishing wader having a chest piece, a back piece, and a waterproof zipper installed on a side of the wader between the chest piece and the back piece, the zipper extending substantially vertically from an armpit area of the wader to a horizontal seam between the chest and back pieces and one or more torso pieces, and the zipper opening in a downward direction from the armpit area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to breathable, vented, and insulating cold weather garments. More particularly, the present invention relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Perforations along the seams between the insulating chambers may achieve optimal evaporative moisture transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment.

Abstract: A compressible liner for a helmet or other apparatus subject to shock loading comprises three substantially co-extensive layers mutually engaged by respective cone-like protuberances and cone-like recesses. The intermediate layer is of a different compressibility and provides for de-coupling of the layers in an oblique impact.

Abstract: A shoe comprises a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a top member having an outer surface and an inner surface and mounted on the sole. The top member and sole to together define a space for receiving a foot, and the top member further comprises an opening. A fastener is provided in the top member and extends from the opening and continues over the top member such that a portion of the top member is movable between a first position in which the space is substantially closed and a second position in which a portion of the top member is folded back from the sole to provide access to the space.

Abstract: The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear effective to regulate the temperature of the feet of a wearer. In an embodiment, the article of footwear includes an upper and an insole with a thermal effect membrane. The thermal effect membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. The bottom of the sole structure of the article of footwear further includes a multiple openings in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions. The multiple openings promote airflow into the interior of the upper. In operation, the article of footwear is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to footwear lacking the membrane and/or openings), increasing wearer comfort.

Abstract: A helmet may include a helmet body, a fit system, a bezel, and a hardware retainer. The helmet body may have an outer shell and an energy management layer. The bezel may be separate from the outer shell and coupled to the helmet body at the vent opening of the helmet, encircle the vent opening, and have a hardware opening extending through the bezel and an anchor opening in the bezel adjacent the hardware opening. The hardware retainer may be positioned behind and coupled to the bezel. The hardware retainer may include a hardware receiving aperture aligned with the hardware opening and a hardware retainer cover coupled to a rear side of the hardware retainer. The hardware retainer may further include an anchor recess aligned with the anchor opening. The bezel may be in-molded into the energy management layer.

Abstract: A skydiving helmet including a helmet shell having a front opening, is provided. The helmet further includes a visor having a lateral mounting section, where the visor is operable between a lowered position and a raised position. The skydiving helmet also includes a visor mounting system laterally positioned on the helmet shell to pivotally connect the lateral mounting section to the helmet shell. The visor mounting system includes a base plate having a cavity formed therein with a locking slot and a guiding section communicating with one another. The visor mounting system also includes a locking element positioned within the cavity and being operable between an extended configuration for preventing rotation of the visor, and a retracted configuration for allowing a frontward translation of the visor, away from the helmet front opening, and subsequent rotation of the visor, from the lowered to the raised position.

Abstract: A mechanical connector configured to releasably engage a stud is disclosed. The mechanical connector includes a housing having a central opening configured to receive the stud, first and second clamps housed in the housing, first and second biasing members coupled to the first and second clamps, and first and second separators coupled to the housing. The first and second clamps each include a pair of arcuate arms. The first and second clamps are configured to move between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The first and second biasing members are configured to bias the first and second clamps into the engaged position. The first and second separators are configured to move between an extended position in which the first and second clamps are in the engaged position and a depressed position in which the first and second clamps are in the disengaged position.

Abstract: A footlet is provided with a heel portion formed by knitting, a toe portion, and a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion. The middle portion comprises lateral sides that extend between the heel portion and the toe portion on either side. The heel portion is provided with a knitted elastic band forming an edge, which is provided with an anti-slip element applied thereto on a side facing the toe portion. The anti-slip element has been applied to the elastic band after the knitting of at least the elastic band.

Abstract: Earphones which attach to an interior of a helmet are disclosed. Physical attachment of the earphones to the helmet result in an electrical connection in some embodiments. The headphones may be used without the helmet through the use of strap holder adapters in some embodiments.

Abstract: A garment includes a panel of material having an outer edge and a main opening. A slit is formed (e.g., cut) in the panel of material. An open end of the slit interfaces to the main opening and a closed end of the slit ends between the main opening and the outer edge of the panel. The slit is configured to be tied where the slit meets the main opening to adjust a size of the main opening so that the garment is wearable in various configurations including being warn as a poncho or a cape.