Abstract: A system for transporting, storing and installing flexible gymnasium floor covering is provided. The system includes a spindle for supporting a roll of floor covering, and a transporting device having a longitudinal frame, casters attached to the frame, lifting arms for lifting the spindle, linear actuators for raising and lowering the lifting arms, means for powering and controlling the linear actuators and means for storing unused spindles. A method for transporting flexible floor covering is also provided and includes the steps of placing a spindle along an unrolled piece of floor covering and rolling the floor covering up around the spindle, moving a transporting device into position so that the bearing surfaces of the lifting arm are aligned with the arms of the spindle, lifting the spindle, moving the transporting device to the desired location and lowering the spindle.

Abstract: A rib protector is disclosed for protecting a player's torso while playing athletic events, such as football. The rib protector includes an pad having an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. A flexible belt is attached to the outer surface of the pad for securing the pad around the player's torso in a position in which the inner surface of the pad is adjacent the torso. A plurality of removable plates are attached to the belt for covering portions of the outer surface of the pad. The plates are constructed for receiving the impact of blows delivered to the rib protector and distributing the impact force to the pad. The plates are separate from one another and individually removable from the belt whereby a player using the rib protector may attach a selected number of plates to the belt.

Abstract: A shoulder pad for football players and the like. The shoulder pad comprises a left-hand member adapted to fit over the left shoulder and a right-hand member adapted to fit over the right shoulder, each of these members being of generally inverted U-shape as viewed from the side. Each member comprises a chestplate member, a backplate member and an arch member, and the arch members are relatively more rigid than the chestplate members and the backplate members. One chestplate member and one backplate member are fixedly interconnected to each arch member. The arches are laterally spaced to provide an opening for the neck of a wearer with the spacing such that the arches lie adjacent and relatively close to the neck. An additional aspect of this invention includes a method for producing shoulder pads of a range of sizes using arch members of one size.

Abstract: A spring arch system for a shoulder pad, such as a football shoulder pad. The spring arch system comprises inner and outer arches of generally inverted U-shape as viewed from the side. The outer arch extends substantially over the inner arch from a forward portion of the inner arch to a rearward portion of the inner arch. The spacing between the arches is such that the arches form a generally wedge-shaped configuration at least in the area of the top of the inverted U-shape. Impact on the outer arch causes deformation thereof relative to the inner arch, and thus some of the energy of the impact is absorbed through such relative deformation.

Abstract: A shoulder pad truss arch system for a shoulder pad. The shoulder pad has a generally inverted U-shape arch member adapted to fit over a shoulder of a wearer, and the arch member has chestplate and backplate portions interconnected by a curved shoulder portion. The shoulder pad truss arch system comprises a first truss extending from the chestplate portion of the arch member to the shoulder portion of the arch member, a second truss extending from the backplate portion of the arch member to the shoulder portion of the arch member, and a truss bridge. One end of the truss bridge is attached to the first truss, and the other end of the truss bridge is attached to the second truss so as to suspend the truss system and thus the shoulder pad on the shoulder of the wearer such that impact on the shoulder portion of the arch member causes the chestplate and backplate portions to be pulled toward one another.

Abstract: A shock attenuation system useful in protective headgear is disclosed wherein shock is attenuated by the axial compression and lateral deflection of elastomeric columns. Cushioning material occupies the spaces between the columns.

Abstract: A shock attenuation system comprising a plurality of shock attenuating columns of a substantially resilient elastomeric material. The columns are so dimensioned and configured that, when subjected to an axial impact force of predetermined magnitude, they resiliently deform for attenuating the shock resulting from the impact force. The columns then spring back substantially to their undeformed shape.

Abstract: An improvement in a shoulder pad of the type comprising a pair of arches which overlie the inner shoulders of the wearer, and a pair of flaps which extend in front-to-back direction over the shoulders for protecting the outer parts of the shoulders. The improvement comprises a flap hinge for hinging each flap to a respective arch. The hinge includes a pair of snubber straps secured at one of their ends to a respective flap at the front and back of the flap. The straps extend from the flap under the arch to the inner edge of the arch, up around the inner edge of the arch and then over the arch back to the flap for securement at their other ends to the flap.

Abstract: A C-shaped or ring-shaped collar member having a groove along the inner periphery of one end in combination with an adjustable pin insert for engaging the end of a torsion spring threaded on a cone. Apertures are provided in the collar for accepting a winding bar to rotate the collar.