Abstract: A protective garment comprising a form-fitting, stretchable inner garment for covering part of a body of a wearer, the inner garment including a plurality of cushioning pads attached thereto with portions of the inner garment being free of the cushioning pads, and an outer shell partially overlying the inner garment, the outer shell including a plurality of flexibly interconnected protective pads cooperating with the cushioning pads to protect at least a major pan of the portion of the body, the protective pads being more rigid that the cushioning pads, and the outer shell being separable from the inner garment.

Abstract: A protective garment comprising a form-fitting, stretchable inner garment for covering part of a body of a wearer, the inner garment including a plurality of cushioning pads attached thereto with portions of the inner garment being free of the cushioning pads, and an outer shell partially overlying the inner garment, the outer shell including a plurality of flexibly interconnected protective pads cooperating with the cushioning pads to protect at least a major pan of the portion of the body, the protective pads being more rigid that the cushioning pads, and the outer shell being separable from the inner garment.

Abstract: A protective garment comprising a form-fitting, stretchable inner garment for covering part of a body of a wearer, the inner garment including a plurality of cushioning pads attached thereto with portions of the inner garment being free of the cushioning pads, and an outer shell partially overlying the inner garment, the outer shell including a plurality of flexibly interconnected protective pads cooperating with the cushioning pads to protect at least a major part of the portion of the body, the protective pads being more rigid that the cushioning pads, and the outer shell being separable from the inner garment.

Abstract: A user wearable article of protective equipment for protecting a portion of a body of the user. The article of protective equipment generally conforms to the portion of the body of the user to be protected when worn by the user. The article of protective equipment comprises: (i) an energy absorbent core, the core having a body-facing side and an opposing non-body-facing side, the core comprising a polymeric foam; and (ii) an outer shell generally covering the non-body-facing side of the core, the outer shell being deformable during the use of the article of protective equipment by the user.

Abstract: An upper body protective garment having a lower portion including flexibly interconnected protective abdominal and lower back members, an upper portion including protective thoracic and upper back members with a neck hole defined therebetween, a flexible front connection allowing at least limited movement of a bottom end of the thoracic member with respect to the abdominal member, and a flexible rear connection between the lower back member and the upper back member provided by a protective spinal member including flexibly interconnected rigid members for overlaying a spine of the wearer, the front and rear connections allowing the upper portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to shoulders of the wearer and the lower portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to a waist of the wearer while the shoulders and waist are moved relative to one another.

Abstract: A protective pant comprising an inner pant including at least one first protective member, and an outer pant independent from the inner pant, the outer pant including at least one second protective member and a retaining element for retaining the out pant in place around the inner pant, the first and second protective members cooperating to protect at least one body portion of a wearer.

Abstract: An upper body protective garment having a lower portion including flexibly interconnected protective abdominal and lower back members, an upper portion including protective thoracic and upper back members with a neck hole defined therebetween, a flexible front connection allowing at least limited movement of a bottom end of the thoracic member with respect to the abdominal member, and a flexible rear connection between the lower back member and the upper back member provided by a protective spinal member including flexibly interconnected rigid members for overlaying a spine of the wearer, the front and rear connections allowing the upper portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to shoulders of the wearer and the lower portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to a waist of the wearer while the shoulders and waist are moved relative to one another.

Abstract: An upper body protective garment having a lower portion including flexibly interconnected protective abdominal and lower back members, an upper portion including protective thoracic and upper back members with a neck hole defined therebetween, a flexible front connection allowing at least limited movement of a bottom end of the thoracic member with respect to the abdominal member, and a flexible rear connection between the lower back member and the upper back member provided by a protective spinal member including flexibly interconnected rigid members for overlaying a spine of the wearer, the front and rear connections allowing the upper portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to shoulders of the wearer and the lower portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to a waist of the wearer while the shoulders and waist are moved relative to one another.

Abstract: A core protector including a pant having a torso portion and two tubular leg portions extending therefrom in communication therewith, each leg portion defining an opening for receiving a leg of a wearer therein, and a thigh protector adjacent each leg opening, each thigh protector being detachably connected to the pant to provide protection to a thigh of the wearer.

Abstract: An upper body protective garment having a lower portion including flexibly interconnected protective abdominal and lower back members, an upper portion including protective thoracic and upper back members with a neck hole defined therebetween, a flexible front connection allowing at least limited movement of a bottom end of the thoracic member with respect to the abdominal member, and a flexible rear connection between the lower back member and the upper back member provided by a protective spinal member including flexibly interconnected rigid members for overlaying a spine of the wearer, the front and rear connections allowing the upper portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to shoulders of the wearer and the lower portion to remain at least substantially fixed with respect to a waist of the wearer while the shoulders and waist are moved relative to one another.

Abstract: A protective garment comprising a form-fitting, stretchable inner garment for covering part of a body of a wearer, the inner garment including a plurality of cushioning pads attached thereto with portions of the inner garment being free of the cushioning pads, and an outer shell partially overlying the inner garment, the outer shell including a plurality of flexibly interconnected protective pads cooperating with the cushioning pads to protect at least a major part of the portion of the body, the protective pads being more rigid that the cushioning pads, and the outer shell being separable from the inner garment.

Abstract: A shell for protective equipment having a rigid outer layer defining an outer surface suitable for directly receiving a surface finish thereon, an inner layer having a higher impact resistance than the outer layer, and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the outer and inner layers, the intermediate layer forming a bond with the inner and outer layers. Also, there is provided a protective element comprising rigid inner and outer layer, and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the outer and inner layers, the intermediate later absorbing part of an energy produced upon an impact on the outer surface of the outer layer. Further, there is provided a method of manufacturing a shell for protective equipment.

Abstract: A protective sports pad having a substantially rigid outer shell, a padding layer connected to the shell in spaced apart first locations, and at least one suspension member connected to at least one of the padding layer and the shell along spaced apart second locations. The padding layer has a portion which is spaced away from an inner side of the outer shell to define a first free space between the padding layer portion and the shell. The suspension member is inwardly spaced away from the padding layer to define a second free space between the suspension member and the padding layer. The first and second free spaces are at least partially superimposed. The suspension member has an inner side which is adapted to contact a body portion of a wearer.

Abstract: A core protector including a pant having a torso portion and two tubular leg portions extending therefrom in communication therewith, each leg portion defining an opening for receiving a leg of a wearer therein, and a thigh protector adjacent each leg opening, each thigh protector being detachably connected to the pant to provide protection to a thigh of the wearer.

Abstract: A protective pant comprising an inner pant including at least one first protective member, and an outer pant independent from the inner pant, the outer pant including at least one second protective member and a retaining element for retaining the out pant in place around the inner pant, the first and second protective members cooperating to protect at least one body portion of a wearer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an articulated limb protection system and device for use in sports events such as ice hockey, street hockey, roller hockey and the like. The system or device comprises a buffer pocket which is disposed between an outer joint guard means and an inner joint guard means. The inner joint guard means is articulately connected to an adjacent limb guard means so that the inner joint guard means pivots relative to the limb member in response to bending action of the protected limb about the covered joint.