Disclosed herein are wearable articles and methods for the manufacture and use thereof. The wearable articles can comprise compression elements, gripping elements, and support elements containing a rate-sensitive materials which can operate to prevent injury.

The invention includes a protective headpiece and components thereof and methods for their use. Preferred examples comprise a helmet component, a plurality of piers joining said helmet component to a shoulder pad component and an inner hat component permitting the wearer the ability to move the head from side to side and/or up and down within the helmet component without moving the helmet component. The helmet component may comprise a plurality of fluid-filled floating plates or floats on the inner surface thereof to cushion the head against impact during activities including, for example, football, race car driving, military activities and the like.

An article of apparel includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes a four way stretch material. The second layer, coupled to the first layer, includes an auxetic layer.

The invention is to shoulder pads having arches that are pivotably connected to the chest and back portions of the pads to give an increased range of motion for a user. The arch is connected with a single pivoting connection on the chest portion and a single pivoting connection on the back portion so that the arch pivots relative to the chest and back portions of the shoulder pads. The arch portions of the pads are manufactured by injection molding so that the arches maintain their arch shape without the need for structural components to maintain its shape. The invention also includes a buckle system for shoulder pads that provide an easy mechanism for a user to adjust and to take the pads on and off. The buckle system provides a generally flush mount which reduces and preferably eliminates any grab points.

A wearable shield for evaluating accuracy of a fighter's performance. The shield has a target strike cover with a front surface and side surfaces. Target aim points are located on the front and side surfaces of the target strike cover for providing aiming points for a user's strikes. Impact absorbers or cushioning are provided so that the user can repeatedly strike the target strike cover safely. A data collection and processing core is attached to the target strike cover. The data collection and processing core has a processor, a data receiving device, a signal transmission device configured to transmit data from the shield, and/or at least one force plate, accelerometer, gyroscope, location sensor, thermometer, pressure sensor, and/or humidity sensor. A flexible strap connected to the rear surface of the target strike cover permits a trainer to wear the shield during workout, training, and practice sessions.

A wearable score-keeping device to reliably record successful strikes in games of mock swordplay is provided. In one embodiment, a player (111) wears a breastplate device (110) that houses a target module (114). Contacting the strike zone (116) of the target module (114) of the opposing player with a sword device (112) is each player's objective. When contact is made with the strike zone, an impact switch (216) relays that information to a circuit board (220), which is programmed according to game rules chosen by the players (111). The circuit board then instructs one or more signaling devices (118, 218) to alert the players (111) to any landed strikes and so keeps score.

A sporting equipment is disclosed. The sporting equipment may include a barrel, an action connected to a base end of the barrel, and a stock connected to the action opposite the barrel. At least two of the barrel, the action, and the stock are fabricated from a plurality of fibers.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a cushioning component for absorbing energy when the device is contacted (i.e., impacted or otherwise contacted), in which the cushioning component comprises a core comprising a plurality of zones of different materials (e.g., which may differ in one or more materials properties such as density, stiffness, resilience, etc.) and a covering disposed on the core. In some embodiments, a given one of the zones of different materials may be a zone of expanded microspheres. The cushioning component may provide enhanced protection, comfort, and/or vibration or other shock absorption while being relatively lightweight.

A novel multi-directional flexible dynamically adjustable protection apparatus for use in protecting a user in a manner which provides relief from mechanical forces via both direct impact and mechanical forces when the user moves.

An article includes a cushioning assembly which has a first bladder element forming a first fluid chamber, and a second bladder element within the first bladder element and forming a second fluid chamber sealed from and within the first fluid chamber. The first bladder element includes an inner surface having a first feature. The second bladder element includes an outer surface having a second feature. The first feature interfits with the second feature such that a first area of the inner surface of the first bladder element is aligned with a first area of the outer surface of the second bladder element at a bonded interface. The second bladder element is exposed to the first fluid chamber away from the bonded interface. A method of manufacturing the article includes interfitting the first feature with the second feature and bonding at the bonded interface.