Abstract: A garment worn by a wearer has an exterior shell and an interior shell with various impact absorbing material between the exterior shell and the interior shell. The impact absorbing material includes multiple structures, such as rods or filaments, capable of deforming when force is applied then returning to its state prior to application of the force. In various embodiments, a rate sensitive material (RSM) is positioned in one or more locations relative to the exterior shell and the interior shell of the garment to further attenuate impacts to the garment. The RSM changes its resistance to force based on a rate at which the material is loaded.

Abstract: A foot positioning device is described. The device includes a strap, which can be utilized to place the foot in a desired position. The device can further include an article of footwear, such as a sock, which can assist with placement of the strap.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, devices, and systems for improved protective clothing such as helmets and protective headgear, including improvements in modular, semi-custom or customized helmet liners and/or inserts to enhance wearer comfort and reduce the deleterious effects of impacts between the wearer and other players and/or objects in all types of wearer activities (i.e., sports, military, equestrian, etc.).

Abstract: A garment that includes a main body, a waistband positioned along an upper side of the main body, and a pouch positioned centrally and frontally on the main body with respect to the user. The pouch includes an auxiliary pouch, an orifice panel forming an orifice, and a hood covering the orifice panel from an outside surface thereof. The auxiliary pouch is configured to accommodate a first anatomical part of the user. The orifice is configured to accommodate insertion of a second anatomical part of the user therethrough into a separated space. The separated space is defined by an outside surface of the orifice panel and an inside surface of the hood. The hood is attached to said garment at a top side of the hood and upper portions of both lateral sides of the hood. A bottom side of the hood is not directly attached to the garment.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for preventing and protecting a user from disease and virus transmission that might otherwise occur from contacting or touching potentially contaminated surfaces. A finger protector provides a barrier between a user's finger and a potentially contaminated surface when a user makes contact with or touches the surface. Indicia on the protector provide visual and/or physical indicators to enable a user to track the potentially contaminated and non-contaminated surfaces of the finger protector, before, during, and after use. This enables a user to safely grab the non-contaminated portion of the protector for removal from their finger after use, thereby further helping reduce the risk of contamination and potential disease and virus transmission. The disclosed methods and apparatus include for use, fabrication, packaging, and distribution of the protectors.

Abstract: A head and neck support and protection device includes an arm that is pivotably mounted, at a first end, to a support and has at a second end a slidably-mounted element connected to a helmet clip. The helmet clip engages a helmet pin. A resistance block transfers energy into a vehicle chassis when the arm hits the resistance block. The slidably-mounted element slides out of the arm, in a controlled manner, when conditions indicating a crash have been met.

Abstract: A hat, headband or helmet formed from a material (10) comprising first and second layers (11, 12) of material and a low friction interface (13) arranged between the layers to enable sliding of the first layer of material (11) relative to the second layer of material (12).

Abstract: A hood (16) of an upper body garment (10) is selectively retained and deployed. A first retention element (18) is provided on a main garment portion (14), a second retention element (20) is provided on the hood (16) and optionally, a third retention element (28) is provided on a helmet (16). The garment (10) can be worn like a conventional garment, with the hood (16) up or down, but when the hood (16) is down, it is retained place behind the wearer's back, by magnetic attachment of the first and second retention elements (18,20). The hood (16) can also be worn over the helmet (26) and can be held in place by magnetic attachment of the third retention element (28) on the helmet (26), to the second retention element (20) on the hood (16).

Abstract: Protection helmets may include integrated communication systems to allow the wearer to communicate with other persons. In a very loud environment, a reduction of ambient noise may be helpful, for example, for improving wireless communication. An improved protection helmet includes a helmet shell, a chin guard, a first microphone mounted on the inside of the chin guard and facing the mouth of the wearer, a second microphone mounted on the outside, the upper side or the lower side of the chin guard and not facing the mouth of the wearer, an electronic noise reduction unit generating a difference signal between signals of the first and the second microphone, and at least one interface for outputting the difference signal. Ambient noise in the signal of the first microphone can be reduced with the signal of the second microphone.

Abstract: A cured liquid silicone rubber (“LSR”) body having an outer surface, an inner surface opposing the outer surface, a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a non-biased body length separating the first and second ends of the cured silicone body, a pre-formed pleated portion disposed circumferentially along the body length and operably configured to enable selective and elastically biased adjustment of the non-biased body length, non-pleated portions of the LSR body forming a smooth surface of the outer surface of the LSR body and flanking the pleated portion, forming a sleeve shape with at least one enclosed opening and a sleeve channel for receiving a user's limb and defined by the inner surface of the LSR body, and defining a plurality of perforations thereon, disposed on the non-pleated portions of the LSR body that span through the LSR body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hairband for guiding sweat, which can guide and discharge sweat running down from a user's head area to a user's forehead area so as to prevent the sweat from reaching eye areas during exercise or working. A hairband for guiding sweat, which is flexibly worn on a user's forehead area and guides sweat, the hairband may comprise: a band part including a first band member and a second band member, each of which includes a coupling member which may be coupled to and mounted on the user's forehead area; and a sweat guiding part disposed between the first band member and the second band member, wherein the band part and the sweat guiding part are integrally formed. Therefore, the hairband can simplify a manufacturing process and thus reduce a manufacturing cost.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective sports helmet purposely designed for a selected group of helmet wearers from amongst a larger population of helmet wearers. A multi-step method for helmet design starts by collecting information from a population of players that may include information about the shape of a player's head and the impacts the player has sustained. This information is then processed to create player population information that is sorted to create categories. Advanced mathematical techniques are utilized to further sort these categories into player groups or data sets based on player attributes. Once the player groups are identified, another multi-step process is utilized to design optimized helmet prototype models for each player group.

Abstract: A throat guard has one or more insertion points which are received in openings or otherwise removably attached to a garment component. The insertion points can be upper horns and a lower section with the upper horns received in openings on the collar of the garment component and the lower section is received a central opening of the garment component. In an undeployed position the upper horns are released from collar of the garment component, but the throat guard remains attached to the garment component and available to be quickly secured around the throat area of the wearer.

Abstract: A helmet and shoulder pad assembly for protecting a user from a concussion injury includes a pair of shoulder pads that is wearable on a user's shoulders during athletic activity. A helmet is hingedly coupled to the shoulder pads and the helmet is positionable in a closed position to cover the user's head. The helmet is coupled to the shoulder pads when the helmet is positioned in the closed position thereby facilitating the helmet to transfer impact energy into the shoulder pads. In this way the helmet inhibits the user from suffering a concussion injury. The helmet is positionable in an open position to expose the user's head.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are directed towards helmet systems and methods for detection and notification of objects present in the blind spot. They detect objects through ultrasonic sensors and notify the presence of those objects through sensory output modules such as LED output modules, vibration motors and speakers. The helmet system comprises of at least one helmet body, at least two ultrasonic sensors positioned at the left and right side of at least one helmet body to cover a blind spot on the left and right side of a user, at least two LED output modules positioned at the right and left side of the front of at least one helmet body. at least two vibration motors which are concealed on either side of the helmet body and at least two vibration motors configured to generate the different patterns of an haptic feedback based on the different signals generated by at least two ultrasonic sensors.

Abstract: A unique attachment mechanism to connect a facemask to a helmet is described. This attachment mechanism uses a polymer urethane visco-elastic, or similar, material to absorb impact forces on the facemask to minimize injury for the person using the helmet. In some embodiments, a spring and bearing mechanism is used in conjunction with the polymer urethane visco-elastic material to further absorb forces. In another embodiment, a polymer urethane visco-elastic grommet on a screw is used for an upper attachment of the mask to the helmet, and a larger polymer urethane visco-elastic structure with an internal spring is used as the lower attachment between the helmet and the mask. In still another embodiment, the connection between the helmet and the mast is a U shaped structure with a flat spring enclosed.

Abstract: An upper garment is provided for use by both a wearer and a person positioned alongside the wearer. The upper garment may include first and second sleeves with a first pocket located in the first sleeve above the elbow in a rear portion. The first pocket may include an opening and an internal space having a depth dimension and a width dimension, wherein the depth dimension extends in a direction away from the opening toward an inner portion of the first sleeve. The internal space may be sized and the opening and the depth dimension may be configured to receive within the internal space the hand of the person positioned alongside the wearer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a lightweight glove for baseball or softball that may include an elastic backfinger to provide a conforming fit to the wearer's hand. In general, the elastic backfinger may replace existing, often leather backfingers, the back panel, the liner, and/or other elements of traditional gloves glove with the elastic material, combination of elastic materials, or combination of elastic and inelastic materials.

Abstract: A force generator applying a force load against a facemask. A first load cell carrying a first portion of the facemask at an attachment point of the facemask where the facemask is attachable to a helmet. A second load cell carrying a second portion of the facemask at another attachment point of the facemask where the facemask is attachable to a helmet. A first attachment platform carrying the first load cell, wherein the first attachment platform is laterally movable in at least two degrees of freedom. A second attachment platform carrying the second load cell, wherein the second attachment platform is laterally movable in at least two degrees of freedom. The force generator directs the contact plate against the facemask to cause a horizontal deformation of the facemask and a lateral movement of the attachment platforms to allow for repeatable force load testing on a single facemask.

Abstract: An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.