An impact protection device includes a first shell configured to be disposed on a body portion of a user, a second shell spaced at a distance from the first shell, and a set of elastomeric members spanning the distance between the first shell and the second shell. Each elastomeric member includes a first end and an opposing second end, each first end comprises a first end portion disposed within a corresponding opening defined by the first shell and a terminal portion disposed against an inner wall of the first shell and each second end connected to the second shell. The set of elastomeric members are configured to stretch between the first shell and the second shell in response to a translation of the second shell relative to the first shell and at a location that is substantially opposite to an impact receiving location of the second shell.

A protective leg device and method designed to keep a user's legs clean while kneeling or standing on the ground or floor when engaging in activities such as gardening, grouting, landscaping, construction, and the like and which provides comfort while salvaging a user's pair of pants.

A protective clothing device having an article of clothing having an inner layer and/or an outer layer is disclosed. The protective clothing device may have thin force absorbing members coupled to the inner layer or outer layer of the article of clothing. The force absorbing members can have overlapping or interlaced portions for enhanced protection even when the protective clothing device expands. In one embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a protective hat. In another embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a headband.

A protective clothing device having an article of clothing having an inner layer and/or an outer layer is disclosed. The protective clothing device may have thin force absorbing members coupled to the inner layer or outer layer of the article of clothing. The force absorbing members can have overlapping or interlaced portions for enhanced protection even when the protective clothing device expands. In one embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a protective hat. In another embodiment, the protective clothing device may be a headband.

A body limb protection system includes an outer layer, an inner layer, and a force dampening and defusing structure. The outer layer includes a first material composition and has an exterior surface that includes a substantially planer area. The inner layer includes a second material composition and has a shape corresponding to a body limb portion. The force dampening and defusing structure is positioned between the inner layer and the outer layer. The force dampening and defusing structure has a shape corresponding to a difference between the shapes of the inner and outer layers. The force dampening and defusing structure includes a plurality of components arranged to reduce pressure on the body limb portion when a force is applied to the substantially planer area.

The present disclosure relates to flexible energy absorbing systems and body armor, helmets and protective garments incorporating flexible energy absorbing systems. A flexible energy absorbing system may comprise a first plurality of cells having a first re-entrant geometry and a second plurality of cells having a second, different geometry. The first plurality of cells and the second plurality of cells may comprise an elastomeric material.

A left knee pad with a locking work piece having a knee pad body for the support of a protective surface having a locking workpiece with a first pair of opposing channels attached to the left side of the body, comprising a first channel and a second channel, and an attachment tab region coupled to the right side of the knee pad body. A tab having an eyelet. An elastomeric tube first portion passing thru the eyelet, the first portion is folded back around the eyelet clamped to a first portion of the cord. The tube is passed around the leg of the wearer, drawn into tension by the wearer. The tension portion of the cord is then compressed and passed into the first channel and then drawn into tension and compressed and passed into the second channel to lock the tube and knee pad to the wearer.

A binding system is provided for attaching a first object to a second object and/or for bundling a plurality of objects. The binding system includes a locking work piece having a first channel and a second channel, the first channel having a channel opening on a first side of the locking work piece, the second channel having a channel opening at an opposite side of the locking work piece. An elastomeric cord has a first end and a second end, and a first cross-sectional dimension when in an unstretched condition, wherein the first channel has a width that is less than the first cross-sectional dimension of the elastomer cord, wherein the elastomer cord may be guided around the second object so that the second end can be connected to the locking work piece by stretching the elastomer cord to reduce the cross-sectional dimension of the elastomer cord to a size smaller than the width of the first channel, inserted into the first channel, and unstretched so that the elastomer cord is retained within the first channel, and wherein the second channel has a width that is less than the first cross-sectional dimension of the elastomer cord, wherein the second end of the elastomer cord that is retained within the first channel can be further stretched to reduce the cross-sectional dimension of the elastomer cord to a size smaller than the width of the second channel, inserted into the second channel, and unstretched so that the elastomer cord is retained within the second channel.

An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.

A belt apparatus is configured to support the trousers worn by a person and to include a number of airbags that are deployable in a falling event to protect the person from bone breakages. The belt apparatus includes a flexible belt element and a fastener that appear and function in much the same way as an ordinary trouser belt, i.e., fitting through belt loops in trousers and being fastenable to itself to support the pair of trousers at the waist of the user. Despite the ordinary appearance of the belt apparatus, it includes one or more airbags internal thereto whose expansion is controlled by a control apparatus. Responsive to a falling event in a particular direction with respect to the user, the control apparatus triggers the rapid expansion of an airbag that is situated on the belt element in the particular direction with respect to the user.