A custom-fitted helmet and a method of making the same can comprise, at a first location, obtaining head data for a customer's head comprising a length, a width, and at least one head contour. With at least one processor, generating a computerized three-dimensional (3D) headform matching the customer's head length, width, and head contour from the head data. The 3D headform can be compared to a helmet safety standard. At a second location different from the first location, a custom-fitted helmet based on the 3D headform can be formed, wherein the custom-fitted helmet satisfies the safety standard and comprises an inner surface comprising a topography that conforms to the length, width, and at least one contour of the customer's head. The first location can be a home or a store. Obtaining the head data from photographic images of a deformable interface member disposed on the customer's head.

A helmet body includes an outer shell and an energy management liner with an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface of the outer shell. At least two shoulder pad recesses are positioned at a lower edge of the outer shell on a respective left and right sides of the helmet. The energy management liner is adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and includes at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material. Each of the at least two shoulder pads is received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet, each shoulder pad extending from inside of the outer shell to across at least a majority of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell.

A safety helmet includes an outer shell configured for surrounding a head of a user, and an infrared reflective layer disposed in an interior of the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer is configured for reflecting at a least a portion of incident infrared radiation transmitted through the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer has infrared reflectivity of at least 40%. The safety helmet further may have an evaporative cooling pad positioned within a cavity defined by the inner surface of the outer shell. A method of manufacturing a safety helmet is also disclosed.

A safety helmet includes an outer shell configured for surrounding a head of a user, and an infrared reflective layer disposed in an interior of the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer is configured for reflecting at a least a portion of incident infrared radiation transmitted through the outer shell. The infrared reflective layer has infrared reflectivity of at least 40%. The safety helmet further may have an evaporative cooling pad positioned within a cavity defined by the inner surface of the outer shell. A method of manufacturing a safety helmet is also disclosed.

Disclosed are devices and methods for optimizing a protective helmet or other item of protective clothing with one or more enhanced principal impact zones and/or impact elements that incorporate protective features that can be particularized to a specific player-position and/or the individual behavior of a specific player or wearer.

A method of designing an impact mitigating structure. The method determines the force exerted by an object on the structure (11) as a function of the distance by which the object displaces a surface of the structure during impact. The method calculates a ratio of the integral of the force exerted by the object on the structure with respect to the distance by which the object displaces the surface of the structure during impact to the product of the maximum force exerted by the object on the structure during the impact and the total distance by which the object displaces the surface of the structure during the impact. The method also determines the respective values of characteristic variables of the structure that maximise the ratio for use in designing the structure.

A method of designing an impact mitigating structure. The method determines the force exerted by an object on the structure (11) as a function of the distance by which the object displaces a surface of the structure during impact. The method calculates a ratio of the integral of the force exerted by the object on the structure with respect to the distance by which the object displaces the surface of the structure during impact to the product of the maximum force exerted by the object on the structure during the impact and the total distance by which the object displaces the surface of the structure during the impact. The method also determines the respective values of characteristic variables of the structure that maximise the ratio for use in designing the structure.

A bespoke protective sports equipment to be worn by a player engaged in a sporting activity is provided. The bespoke sports equipment system includes methods for acquiring, storing and processing a player's unique data, namely the anatomical features of the body part against which the bespoke equipment is worn. The systems also includes methods of using the player's unique data to manufacture the bespoke protective equipment with a custom formed internal padding assembly that substantially corresponds to the player's unique data. The system and method allows for the design and manufacture of bespoke protective sports equipment that is purposely designed and manufactured to match the anatomical specifications of the player's body part.

A pressure sensing system for measuring pressure acting between a user's head and a protective helmet includes a flexible article that is configured to fit between a wearable protective article and a body part of a user. The system further includes a pressure sensor array comprising a plurality of pressure sensors secured to the flexible article. The system may include a data acquisition module configured to provide data from the pressure sensor array to a computer having a display that provides pressure data to a user.

The invention relates to a protective helmet, comprising an outer shell (1) for distributing impact forces and an antenna (2) for transferring a radio signal, which antenna is arranged at least partially inside the outer shell (1). The outer shell (1) consists of a main material in a main region (5). The protective helmet is characterized in that the outer shell (1) consists of a cut-out material in a cut-out region (6), the cut-out material having a lesser damping effect on the radio signal in comparison with the main material. The invention further relates to a method for producing a protective helmet.