Composite materials having superior material properties useful as impact absorbing devices can be fabricated by embedding a lattice structure (e.g., polymer lattice structure) within a foam, so that the foam reinforces the lattice structure under impact. Materials and dimensions of the foam and the lattice structure may be selected to achieve composite materials having tailored impact absorbing elastic and/or viscoelastic responses over a wide range of temperatures.

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.

A protective garment comprising multi-layered composite structures is conformable to the contours of the body parts for which protection is required. The composite structure contains rigid impact-deflecting outer structures, impact-dissipating gel middle layers, and impact-damping microlattice lower layers. In one embodiment, the structure is designed for impacts associated with contact sports, such as football, hockey and lacrosse. In another embodiment, the structure is designed for military/police applications, in which impacts can be blunt forces, from weapons such as clubs, or penetrative forces, from knives, bullets or shrapnel.

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.

A helmet for wearing by a sports player comprises: a bubble-shaped body having a hollow interior surrounded by a wall and an opening formed in the wall for inserting a head of the player, and a fastening device for releasably fastening the body to shoulder pads being worn by the player. At least a portion of the wall is formed of a transparent material. Alternate designs are also disclosed, including a helmet constructed of a plastic-coated wireframe, and a non-transparent plastic helmet with a face mask, where in all cases the helmet is rigidly but releasably attached to a chest pad or shoulder pad worn by the player, so that impact forces on the helmet are not transferred to the player's head.

Hockey pants having a floating pad for protecting the abdominals are provided. The pad may be connected indirectly to the hockey pants by means of one or more flexible bands which together comprise a belt connected to the lateral edges of the pad. The pad is also positionable at various heights on the front of the abdominals depending on the body type and needs of the wearer. This configuration allows for the wearer to customize the placement and fit of the abdominal pad, and also to gain protective benefits from the abdominal pad while not being constrained by obtrusive padding at the waist.

Protective shoulder pads to be worn by an individual engaged in a contact sport, such as football, lacrosse or hockey, are provided. The shoulder pads protect an individual wearing the protective shoulder pads against impact to the superior, anterior, posterior and/or lateral regions of the shoulder and upper arm regions. The shoulder pads include a release mechanism that releasably couples left and right arch members of the shoulder pads and allows for removal of the shoulder pads from the individual while he or she is maintained in the supine position, thus decreasing the risk of further injuring the individual wearing the protective shoulder pads.

An improved design for an athletic helmet incorporating non-Newtonian fluid shock absorbing structures.

A device (e.g., an article of athletic gear) comprising a post-molded expandable component, which is a part of the device that is configured to be expanded or has been expanded after being molded. This may allow the post-molded expandable component to have enhanced characteristics (e.g., be more shock-absorbent, lighter, etc.), to be cost-effectively manufactured (e.g., by using less material and/or making it in various sizes), and/or to be customized for a user (e.g., by custom-fitting it to the user).

An energy absorbing member that may be coupled to a chest protector like those worn by baseball or softball catchers and/or umpires is provided. The energy absorbing member may be releasably attachable with, or permanently sewn or riveted into, an upper central region of the chest protector. The energy absorbing member includes a backing plate having low elasticity that abuts the chest protector. The energy absorbing member further includes a front plate attached to the backing plate that preferably projects outwardly from the backing plate to form a hollow interior portion between the plates. The front plate is preferably an arcuate, convex plate that is able to distribute energy and deflects a batted or pitched ball so that absorbing member may absorb and distribute energy from the ball along the chest.