Abstract: The protective garment of the present invention primarily for use as protective athletic equipment includes protective gear for the shoulders, ribs, biceps, forearms, thighs, knees and shins. The protective garment is generally composed of variable pressure pads, air cushions, and/or shields. The variable pressure pad includes two superimposed plies of a light-weight, non-elastic fluid-impervious fabric material having the adjacent surfaces of the material sealed around the periphery to form a pressure tight inflatable garment which does not distend and other adjacent surfaces sealed at regions internally of the periphery to define a plurality of fluid chambers and fluid passageways. The internal fluid chambers are fluidly communicable with adjacent fluid chambers by means of the fluid passageways. The material crinkles and folds over at preselected regions to constrict fluid communication between the fluid chambers as an external force is applied to the variable pressure pads.

Abstract: A device which supports and cushions the human foot by means of fluid pressure is disclosed. The device is non-elastic and self-supporting. Two superimposed plies of a fluid impervious woven fabric material are sealed to each other around the periphery and, according to predetermined design, at selected areas within the periphery. The result is a series of foot supporting pneumatic cushions interspersed and separated with void regions which do not touch the underside of the foot. The fluid containing chambers which form the pneumatic cushions are in communication with each other through fluid passageways located around the periphery of the device. The device permits fluid to flow from one internal chamber to another when compressed, but with a back pressure build up sufficient to prevent sudden surges of fluid from one chamber to another. This provides additional pressure which resists and cushions the impact of the forces applied to the device.

Abstract: A channel beam is characterized by a base portion having upper and lower surfaces thereon with first and second legs depending from the lower surface thereof. A cross piece is disposed between the first and second legs and cooperates with the legs and the lower surface of the base portion to define a region adapted to carry a heat transfer fluid. End caps are provided at the ends of the channel beam to enclose the region and define an enclosed interior volume. Each channel beam is adapted for interconnection with a next-adjacent channel beam such that the upper surfaces thereof define a substantially continuous surface area useful as an athletic playing area. The interior volume of each next-adjacent channel beam may be interconnected through inlet and outlet means so as to define a continuous heat transfer fluid conduction path beneath the athletic playing area so that heat energy incident on the surface area may be transferred to the heat transfer fluid.