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 self-adjusting system for joint protection comprising a joint protector pad aligned relative to a joint and disposable between an operative orientation and a spaced orientation in relation thereto. A first attachment assembly of at least one elongate strap connects the joint protector to a foot or hand of the wearer, and a second attachment assembly of an elongate strap(s) connecting the joint protector to a point near the torso of the wearer, such as a waistband or belt. In a spaced orientation when the joint is straight, the joint protector is spaced apart from the joint so as not to impede movement. In an operative orientation when the joint is flexed, the joint protector at least partially covers the joint, supporting and protecting it from the underlying surface. The strap(s) ensure the joint protector is automatically properly aligned in moving between the spaced and operative orientation.

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 cooling knee pad includes a housing having a base, a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the base, and an upper end defining an interior volume. A pad is affixed to the upper end of the housing. A power supply is operably connected to a cooling mechanism disposed within the interior volume of the housing. The cooling mechanism may include a Peltier cooling unit including a radiator, an electric fan, a water pump, and at least one buck converter. A pair of adjustable fasteners affixed to the housing is configured to secure the housing to a user such that the pad contacts a knee of the user. In this way, the user can kneel on the pad to comfortably support the knee and cool the knee with the cooling mechanism.

A knee pad assembly includes a flexible body having an upper surface and a lower surface. A pocket disposed on the upper surface and includes a closed lower end adjacent a lower edge of the flexible body and an open upper end adjacent an upper edge of the flexible body. A pad is removably secured within the pocket. Fasteners are disposed on the lower surface of the flexible body, which may include adhesives or removable adhesives. The fasteners are configured to secure the lower surface of the flexible body to a garment. The knee pad assembly can be utilized to provide an adjustable support pad for the user's knee when secured to the knee area of a lower body garment.

The present invention relates to a protective upper and lower body assemblies and protective suit comprising the same. The protective upper body assembly comprises a ventral and a dorsal padding panels, a left and a right shoulder fasteners, and a left and a right flank fasteners. Each of the ventral and the dorsal padding panels include at least two layers of resiliently compressible material and one layer of breathable material. The protective lower assembly comprises a left and a right upper thigh portions, a left and a right lower thigh portions, a left and a right knee shells, a left and a right lower leg portions, and a left and a right feet shells.

A customizable knee pad includes a foam main body having an anterior surface A and a posterior surface molded to the shape of the knee. The anterior surface is formed with an array of spaced recesses covering the knee to be protected. Each recess defines a negative incremental area and, cumulatively, define an area A.sub.r. The effective area A.sub.eff of the anterior surface is equal to A.sub.eff=AA.sub.r. A fabric sheet covers the posterior surface. A gel pad is provided within the main body in close proximity to the fabric sheet. The main body of the knee pad is injection molded with the gel pad and fabric sheet in place to bond the fabric sheet and gel pad to the molded main body to be effectively integrated therewith. Changing the recesses' shape and spacing alters the flexibility of the knee pad and renders it harder or softer.

Technical garments including joint stabilization socks, sleeves, and other garments are disclosed. The exemplary garments disclosed herein include regions with material properties, such as tensile strengths, that are different from other regions of the garment. Particular regions of the exemplary garments include interwoven materials with substantially high tensile strengths for providing resistance/compression to targeted body parts (e.g., ankles, knees, shoulders, etc.) for preventing undesirable movement (e.g., that mimics medically-relevant taping patterns). In particular embodiments, the regions with higher tensile strengths are interwoven or integrated into a base material, such that the garment can be comfortably worn while also providing compression and support to targeted body parts.

The present invention relates to a garment with elastic inserts produced on circular machines of the type comprising elasticised sectors (3) and elasticised zones obtained by working in a further elastomeric yarnin addition to the ground yarn and the reinforcing yarn normally usedand actually knitting the yarns so as to create machined portions, both horizontally and obliquely, which result in well-defined and demarcated zones which provide greater compression than the knitted stitches on the same row, thereby providingwithin the elasticised sectors (3)a greater compression value than outside the sector on the same row of knitted stitches. The elasticised sectors (3) are designed portions which create ornamental figures or banding with specific compression which can provide support, contribute to the stimulation of blood circulation, reduce fatigue, and render movement safer and more supported, when properly positioned and sized.

An adjustable seal system, seal component for use in the system, and method are provided for forming a sealing interface between a residual limb and a prosthetic socket. The seal component is selectively placed over the outer surface of a suspension liner including a plurality of seal bands, which the seal component may removably and securely engage.