Abstract: Shock absorbing body protective pads for use by athletes in contact sports and comprising a pair of heat sealable woven scrim-reinforced plastic film members sealed together to form a plurality of cooperating and interconnected chamber elements therebetween. Each chamber element contains a foam pad constrainably retained within the chamber, and with the interior volume of at least two of the chamber elements being interconnected. A plurality of rigid tubular exhaust ports are arranged to communicate between the chambers and the ambient, with the exhaust ports being disposed along the lateral edges of certain of the chambers, and with these exhaust ports being arranged in oppositely disposed relationship, one to another, so as to insure continued communication with the ambient.

Abstract: A protective pad assembly usable primarily by athletes to protect body parts from injury, especially from traumatic shock as when struck by a high speed hockey puck. The pad assembly includes a relatively rigid outer shell or shield and an inner air entrained cushion releasably attached to the outer shell and closely conformable to the body part being protected. The cushion includes a flexible, shock absorbent pad covered by a flexible air impervious case. The pad is formed of a soft, springy material which expels air upon compression, such as polyurethane foam. Small openings in the case are provided for expulsion of air from the case upon deflection of the pad as under the influence of the force of impact of an external object. The amount and rate at which air is expelled from the case influences the resiliency and shock absorbency characteristics of the cushion.

Abstract: A protective pad assembly usable primarily by athletes to protect body parts from injury, especially from traumatic shock as when struck by a high speed hockey puck. The pad assembly includes a relatively rigid outer shell or shield and an inner air entrained cushion releasably attached to the outer shell and closely conformable to the body part being protected. The cushion includes a flexible, shock absorbent pad covered by a flexible air impervious case. The pad is formed of a soft, springy material which expels air upon compression, such as polyurethane foam. Small openings in the case are provided for expulsion of air from the case upon deflection of the pad as under the influence of the force of impact of an external object. The amount and rate at which air is expelled from the case influences the resiliency and shock absorbency characteristics of the cushion.