Abstract: A cleat assembly mounting system includes a shoe sole with a curved underside portion with mounting holes. A cleat assembly for engaging a bicycle pedal is mounted to a curved underside portion of the sole. A shim between the sole and the cleat assembly has shim holes configured for alignment with the mounting holes. Each mounting hole is a slot extending in a first direction with a width less than its length. Each shim hole is a slot extending in a second direction with a width less than its length. The first and second directions are substantially orthogonal. Nut assemblies have one or more nuts for securing the cleat assembly using one or more threaded fasteners through the mounting holes and shim holes. The cleat assembly includes a spring housing, and a bottom plate configured to be secured to the shim and further configured to conformably receive the bicycle pedal.

Abstract: A footwear article is provided herein. In one embodiment, a footwear article comprises a first cord forming a first plurality of loops, a second cord forming a second plurality of loops, the second plurality of loops slippably-engaged and intertwined with the first plurality of loops to form at least a portion of an upper configured to at least partially enclose a foot, and a heel strap comprising a heel counter and a connection cord, the connection cord fixedly intertwined with at least the first cord, the heel strap is adjustable from a first position to a second position. In this way, the footwear article may be converted from a first type of footwear article into a second type of footwear article.

Abstract: A garment, such as sheer hosiery or other toeless garment, includes a body portion configured to encircle at least part of a lower leg of a wearer of the garment, and a welt portion adjacent an end of the body portion. The welt portion is configured to encircle a foot of the wearer, and defines an opening for a portion of the foot of the wearer. The welt portion can include a turned welt.

Abstract: A protective clothing device having an article of clothing having an inner layer and/or an outer layer is disclosed. The protective clothing device may have thin force absorbing members coupled to the inner layer or outer layer of the article of clothing. The force absorbing members can have overlapping or interlaced portions for enhanced protection even when the protective clothing device expands. In one embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a protective hat. In another embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a headband.

Abstract: A helmet may include a helmet body and an air vent assembly. The air vent assembly may include a vent body including a vent border and a vent base; a vent cover pivotally coupled to the vent base by at least a cover anchor; and at least a first magnet disposed on at least one of the vent cover and the vent body, and at least a second magnet or attractor disposed on the other of the vent cover and the vent body opposite the at least a first magnet. The vent cover may pivot to the open position or the closed position through interaction between the at least a first magnet and the at least a second magnet or attractor.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to trousers with a waist protection belt. The trousers include the waist protection belt that is detachably attached to a belt cloth of the trousers, a trouser body that includes a stretchable cloth at a position corresponding to a waist part of a back body part of the trousers, and a position adjusting part that is provided at substantially a center of the waist protection belt and is provided at a position on a back surface of the belt cloth corresponding to the waist part of the trouser body. The position adjusting part is configured to adjustably change an attachment position of the waist protection belt in a vertical direction with respect to the trouser body.

Abstract: Implementations described and claimed herein provide an integrated body armor harness system. In one implementation, a front panel extends between a proximal end and a distal end. A shackle harness is integrated with the front panel, and the shackle harness has at least one shackle strap extending from the front panel and having a shackle loop adapted to receive a shackle for releasably engaging a sling. A leg harness extends from the distal end of the front panel. The leg harness includes a set of leg straps forming a first leg loop and a second leg loop. A back panel is disposed opposite the front panel, with the front panel and the back panel forming a tactical vest. A torso harness is integrated with the back panel, and the torso harness includes a set of shoulder straps.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an anti-scratch and chew mitts that are designed to have a selectively exposed teething surface. The selectively exposed teething surface can have teething elements for an infant to chew while teething. The anti-scratch and chew mitt can have a reversible teething cap that can be reconfigured from a teething configuration to a protective configuration. The teething elements being exposed about an outer surface of the teething cap in the first teething configuration. The teething cap is reversible such that the teething cap can be folded inside-out and over itself in a second protective configuration. In the second protective configuration the first surface of the teething cap having the teething elements is inverted upon itself thereby containing the outer surface having the teething elements of the teething cap within an interior of the teething cap in the second configuration.

Abstract: A firefighter protective garment includes an external material and at least one abrasion resistant hem assembly. The external material has an inner surface and the at least one abrasion resistant hem assembly includes a strip of reinforcing material affixed along an edge of the firefighter protective garment to the inner surface of the external material by a fastener. The fastener is embedded within the external material.

Abstract: The footwear cushioning invention includes a floating elastic plate that stores and returns elastic energy to provide cushioning through deflection of the elastic plate. Cushioning is by energy return rather than the compression of a foam. Footwear cushioning utilizes a deflection plate integrated into the heel of the shoe for providing shock attenuation and energy absorption when a wearer impacts a hard surface with the shoe. The deflection plate can be carbon fiber because it increases energy return and minimizes energy loss. A cavity can be formed in a midsole of the shoe underneath the deflection plate to allow the plate to flex into the cavity when pressed down upon by a wearer's heel, thereby accepting the energy of a downward step. A post can be located in the center of the cavity underneath the deflection plate that allows support and minimizes excessive deflection of the deflection plate.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.

Abstract: A sports helmet has composite helmet liner to improve and customize the fit of the helmet to the wearer. The composite liner consists of a base liner and a selected group of fit elements, for example, fit pods, removably attached to the inner surface of the base liner (i.e., the surface of the base liner facing the wearer's head). The fit pods are selected from a set of fit pods having different properties, for example, different sizes, thicknesses, densities, and cross-sections. The selection of fit pods from the set may be aided by taking anatomical measurements of the wearer's head and analyzing the measurements with respect to the geometry of the helmet to produce a pressure map. The measurements may be taken by physical contact or by non-contact means. The fit pods may be selected to optimize a pressure map, and thus optimize the fit, for a given wearer of the helmet.

Abstract: A helmet includes a shell having an interior surface, a padding disposed along the interior surface of the shell, and a chinbar. The padding defines a first engagement surface positioned at a first lateral side of the padding and a second engagement surface positioned at an opposing second lateral side of the padding. The chinbar includes a cage, a first flange, and a second flange. The cage includes a first end defining a third engagement surface and a second end defining a fourth engagement surface. The third engagement surface interfaces with the first engagement surface and the fourth engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface. The first flange extends from the first end of the cage. The second flange extends from the second end of the cage. The first flange and the second flange of the chinbar are embedded within the padding.

Abstract: A self-adjusting system for joint protection comprising a joint protector pad aligned relative to a joint and disposable between an operative orientation and a spaced orientation in relation thereto. A first attachment assembly of at least one elongate strap connects the joint protector to a foot or hand of the wearer, and a second attachment assembly of an elongate strap(s) connecting the joint protector to a point near the torso of the wearer, such as a waistband or belt. In a spaced orientation when the joint is straight, the joint protector is spaced apart from the joint so as not to impede movement. In an operative orientation when the joint is flexed, the joint protector at least partially covers the joint, supporting and protecting it from the underlying surface. The strap(s) ensure the joint protector is automatically properly aligned in moving between the spaced and operative orientation.

Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area.

Abstract: An improved apparatus for forming tampon blanks for further processing into compressed, self-sustaining tampons, permits increased speed and accuracy of the process step. The apparatus includes a sliver guide; a gripper capable of reciprocating motion and arranged and configured to cooperate with the sliver 5 guide to grasp an end of a sliver maintained therein; a winding mandrel; a plurality of winding cups; and e) a string application and knotter apparatus comprising a circular ring bearing having a string conveyor mounted thereon. The circular ring bearing of the string application and knotter apparatus defines a plane perpendicular to the sliver guide and motion of the gripper and parallel to the 10 winding axis of the winding mandrel.

Abstract: A garden glove features a body formed from two pieces of material that are sewn together to include a number of finger portions. Webs extend between the finger portions and are delineated from the finger portions by stitching.

Abstract: A glove including a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and the bottom surface is configured to interface with an object being gripped by a user. The glove also includes an index finger portion configured to receive an index finger of the user. The index finger portion includes a knuckle configured to pivot about an axis. The glove further includes a gripping portion coupled to the index finger portion between the top and bottom surfaces. The gripping portion includes a first notch adjacent the top surface and a second notch adjacent the bottom surface. The first notch defines a first angle, and the second notch defines a second angle, wherein the first angle increases and the second angle decreases as the knuckle pivots about the axis.

Abstract: A sole for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has longitudinal ribs and a midsole that is disposed above the outsole and that defines notches. The longitudinal ribs are disposed in the notches.

Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole structure attached to an upper defining an internal void configured to receive a foot of a wearer is described. The sole structure includes a sole body portion having a central ridge element located in an aperture in the sole body portion. The central ridge element has a bottom surface configured to contact the ground and move vertically within the aperture. The movement of the central ridge element pushes a top surface of the ridge element attached to a portion of the upper against the foot of the wearer. The central ridge element is arranged approximately centrally between lateral and medial sides in the forefoot region of the sole structure. The central ridge element provide sensory feedback about lateral movement and to the foot of the wearer.