Abstract: A protective sports equipment for protecting a body part of a wearer includes an inner layer comprising at least one protective pad, and a suspended panel located inwardly of the inner layer and connected thereto at first and second locations, the suspended panel being tensioned and defining a space with the inner layer, the space being located between the first and second locations. A method of assembling a protective sports equipment is also provided.

Abstract: Protective shoulder pads, such as the type worn for playing ice hockey, including a central panel configured to cover a portion of a chest of the wearer and defining a centerline extending centrally therethrough, and two side panels partially overlapping the central panel and each disposed on opposite sides of a centerline of the central panel. Each of the side panels is rotatable relative to he central panel about a rotation axis located proximate an upper end of each of the side panels, so as to adjust a width of the protective shoulder pad which is defined between opposed outer lateral edges of the side panels. The side panels are securable to the central panel at a plurality of attachment points to maintain a selected width of the adjustable shoulder pad.

Abstract: A shin guard for a hockey player includes a knee portion having a knee cap adapted to cover a knee of the hockey player, and a shin portion located below the knee portion and extending from a lower end adapted to be proximate a foot of the hockey player toward the knee cap to cover a shin of the hockey player. The shin portion includes a shin cap having an outer side facing away from the shin and an inner side facing toward the shin, a main padded liner overlapping at least a portion of the inner side of the shin cap, and a shin comfort liner mounted internally of the main padded liner. The shin comfort liner is movable relative to the shin cap between first and second positions, the shin comfort liner moving away from the knee cap from the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A metallic extruded profile has two parallel skins interconnected by a set of at least two webs running between extrusion edges of the profile and snap-fit features on joining edges permitting two instances of the profile to snap fit together along the joining edges, where a first web that is closest to snap-fit features of a first joining edge, is a curved web viewed from the extrusion edges. The curvature allows for both the curved web and skins to participate in snap-fit deformation, allowing for the deformation to be distributed over a large area, for a stiffer snap fit, and reduced plastic deformation.

Abstract: A foam-plastic protector includes a foam insert having a front surface and a rear surface. A plastic sleeve is harder than the foam insert and has a base and an overlapping portion spaced from the base to define a gap. The foam insert is received against the base and inter-locked with the plastic sleeve. A covered portion of the foam insert is positioned within the gap and covered by the overlapping portion of the plastic sleeve. A remainder of the foam insert is exposed. A protective sport padding and a method of assembling same are also disclosed. The foam insert may be fixedly attached to the protective sport padding.

Abstract: A sports helmet has: a shell; a face protector; and a face mask disposed on an inner side of the face protector, the face mask having a body overlapping a nose and a mouth and defining a volume between the face and the body, the body defining a top edge for engaging the face and a bottom edge opposed to the top edge and disposed proximate a chin, the bottom edge secured to a lower portion of the face protector at a location spaced apart from the face to define a gap therebetween, and lateral straps secured to one or both of the face protector and the shell for biasing the top edge against the face of the wearer, the body made of a material offering a flow resistance such that an exhalation flow from the wearer is deviated towards the gap and away from the face protector.

Abstract: The leg guard for protecting at least a shin of a wearer includes a shin guard body and a strap. A peripheral edge of the shin guard body defines part of a perimeter of the shin guard body. The shin guard body includes a first coupling base and a second coupling base disposed on one of the interior and exterior surfaces. A first coupler is disposed at a first end of the strap and is releasably attachable to the first coupling base at a plurality of first attachment points, and a second coupler is disposed at the second end of the strap and is releasably attachable to the second coupling base at one of a plurality of second attachment points. A length of a wrappable segment is adjustable by releasably attaching the second coupler to the second coupling base at another one of the plurality of second attachment points.

Abstract: A metallic extruded profile has two parallel skins interconnected by a set of at least two webs running between extrusion edges of the profile and snap-fit features on joining edges permitting two instances of the profile to snap fit together along the joining edges, where a first web that is closest to snap-fit features of a first joining edge, is a curved web viewed from the extrusion edges. The curvature allows for both the curved web and skins to participate in snap-fit deformation, allowing for the deformation to be distributed over a large area, for a stiffer snap fit, and reduced plastic deformation.

Abstract: The leg guard for protecting at least a shin of a wearer includes a shin guard body and a strap. A peripheral edge of the shin guard body defines part of a perimeter of the shin guard body. The shin guard body includes a first coupling base and a second coupling base disposed on one of the interior and exterior surfaces. A first coupler is disposed at a first end of the strap and is releasably attachable to the first coupling base at a plurality of first attachment points, and a second coupler is disposed at the second end of the strap and is releasably attachable to the second coupling base at one of a plurality of second attachment points. A length of a wrappable segment is adjustable by releasably attaching the second coupler to the second coupling base at another one of the plurality of second attachment points.

Abstract: A hockey shirt suitable for being worn by a hockey player and comprising (a) a torso portion having a head opening and a lower trunk opening; and (b) first and second sleeves, each of the first and second sleeves comprising biceps, elbow and forearm portions and a gripping zone provided on one of the biceps, elbow and forearm portions. The gripping zone is made of a material having a coefficient of friction sufficient for preventing movement between the hockey shirt and a hockey elbow pad worn by the hockey player.

Abstract: An adjustable hockey helmet includes a front shell that is longitudinally movable relative to a rear shell to adjust the length of the helmet. One or more substantially rigid straps or similar elements are attached to the front shell and extend to the interior of the rear shell. A cam mechanism or similar device is included on the rear shell for securing the straps directly or indirectly against the interior of the rear shell to prevent longitudinal movement of the front shell relative to the rear shell once the helmet is adjusted to a desired length. Alternatively, the one or more straps may be attached to the rear shell and the cam mechanism may be included on the front shell.

Abstract: A sports glove, such as a hockey or lacrosse glove, includes inverted finger pads connected such that exterior gaps are not present between some or all of the adjacent pads when a wearer grips a stick or otherwise closes his or her hand. The inverted pads optionally include stiffening elements attached to or integral with their outer surfaces to provide additional protection to the wearer's fingers. The finger pads covering the base regions of the fingers optionally are attached to the main body of the glove via an elastic material or similar material that allows the finger pads to move away from the main body during closure of a wearer's hand. These finger pads may further be attached to the main body via an inelastic strap or similar feature that prevents the finger pads from being pulled forward beyond the rear housing or cover that overlies these finger pads.

Abstract: The invention provides a shirt suitable for being worn by a sports player. The shirt comprises a torso portion having a head opening and a lower trunk opening; and first and second sleeves, each of the first and second sleeves comprising biceps, elbow and forearm portions and a gripping zone provided on one of the biceps, elbow and forearm portions. The gripping zone is made of a material having a coefficient of friction sufficient for preventing movement between said shirt and an elbow pad worn by the sports player.

Abstract: An adjustable hockey helmet includes a front shell that is longitudinally movable relative to a rear shell to adjust the length of the helmet. One or more substantially rigid straps or similar elements are attached to the front shell and extend to the interior of the rear shell. A cam mechanism or similar device is included on the rear shell for securing the straps directly or indirectly against the interior of the rear shell to prevent longitudinal movement of the front shell relative to the rear shell once the helmet is adjusted to a desired length. Alternatively, the one or more straps may be attached to the rear shell and the cam mechanism may be included on the front shell.

Abstract: A hockey helmet includes earpieces that are readily removable from the helmet without the need for tools or other objects, and without the need to remove screws or other components. The earpieces may be slidably attached to rails on a retention mechanism embedded in the foam helmet liner or to rails on the helmet shell itself. The helmet optionally includes an internal region of EPP foam fused or bonded between two thin polycarbonate layers, with the retention mechanism embedded within the EPP foam.

Abstract: A hockey shirt suitable for being worn by a hockey player and comprising (a) a torso portion having a head opening and a lower trunk opening; and (b) first and second sleeves, each of the first and second sleeves comprising biceps, elbow and forearm portions and a gripping zone provided on one of the biceps, elbow and forearm portions. The gripping zone is made of a material having a coefficient of friction sufficient for preventing movement between the hockey shirt and a hockey elbow pad worn by the hockey player.

Abstract: An adjustable hockey helmet includes a front shell that is longitudinally movable relative to a rear shell to adjust the length of the helmet. One or more substantially rigid straps or similar elements are attached to the front shell and extend to the interior of the rear shell. A cam mechanism or similar device is included on the rear shell for securing the straps directly or indirectly against the interior of the rear shell to prevent longitudinal movement of the front shell relative to the rear shell once the helmet is adjusted to a desired length. Alternatively, the one or more straps may be attached to the rear shell and the cam mechanism may be included on the front shell.

Abstract: An adjustable hockey helmet includes a front shell that is longitudinally movable relative to a rear shell to adjust the length of the helmet. One or more substantially rigid straps or similar elements are attached to the front shell and extend to the interior of the rear shell. A cam mechanism or similar device is included on the rear shell for securing the straps directly or indirectly against the interior of the rear shell to prevent longitudinal movement of the front shell relative to the rear shell once the helmet is adjusted to a desired length. Alternatively, the one or more straps may be attached to the rear shell and the cam mechanism may be included on the front shell.

Abstract: An adjustable hockey helmet includes a front shell that is longitudinally movable relative to a rear shell to adjust the length of the helmet. One or more substantially rigid straps or similar elements are attached to the front shell and extend to the interior of the rear shell. A cam mechanism or similar device is included on the rear shell for securing the straps directly or indirectly against the interior of the rear shell to prevent longitudinal movement of the front shell relative to the rear shell once the helmet is adjusted to a desired length. Alternatively, the one or more straps may be attached to the rear shell and the cam mechanism may be included on the front shell.

Abstract: An adjustable hockey helmet includes a front shell that is longitudinally movable relative to a rear shell to adjust the length of the helmet. One or more substantially rigid straps or similar elements are attached to the front shell and extend to the interior of the rear shell. A cam mechanism or similar device is included on the rear shell for securing the straps directly or indirectly against the interior of the rear shell to prevent longitudinal movement of the front shell relative to the rear shell once the helmet is adjusted to a desired length. Alternatively, the one or more straps may be attached to the rear shell and the cam mechanism may be included on the front shell.