A shoulder pad assembly has main body cushions consisting of a plurality of different types of foam material joined together to result in a hybrid pad structure constructed from slow-response foam and open-cell foam. A main body cushion is constructed from a first sheet or panel of slow-response foam disposed over the torso of the wearer, a second sheet or panel of slow-response foam disposed over the back of the wearer, joined together by a third sheet or panel of open-cell foam positioned between the first sheet and second sheet, disposed over the wearer's shoulder. Optionally, a fourth sheet or pad of slow-response foam is disposed on the third sheet, disposed over the wearer's shoulder, preferably at the location that is most likely to suffer blows during football play. Optionally, a fifth sheet or pad of open-cell foam is disposed on the first sheet, on the side of the first sheet in contact with the wearer and a sixth sheet or pad of open-cell foam is disposed on the second sheet.

A torso protector device for martial arts is disclosed. The device comprises a cylindrical torso protection body to protect a wearer's torso; a shoulder cover coupled to the cylindrical torso protection body at front and rear portions thereof, wherein the shoulder cover has a neck opening defined in a top thereof, wherein left and right arm passing openings are defined in the shoulder cover in the left and right sides thereof respectively; a wire coupled to the cylindrical torso protection body and the shoulder cover; a wire adjuster module coupled to the wire; and a screener to screen the wire, wherein an adjustment dial is operatively coupled to the wire adjuster module, wherein the rotation of the adjustment dial results in length increase or decrease of the wire.

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 shoulder-pad system includes various components, including an impact-plate assembly and one or more sub-layers. The shoulder-pad system may be substantially retained in an arrangement or configuration using one or more securing garments. An exemplary securing garment includes an upper-body garment that at least partially wraps over, and attaches to, the impact-plate assembly.

A bodily protection assembly for protecting a user from impact energy includes a pair of shoulder pads structured to be worn by the user. A top cage is coupled to the shoulder pads such that the top cage is positioned between the shoulder pads and the user's shoulders. Thus, the top cage may prevent impact energy from being transferred into the user's shoulders. A lower cage is coupled to the shoulder pads such that the lower cage is positioned between the shoulder pads and the user's upper torso. The lower cage surrounds the user's upper torso. Thus, the lower cage may prevent impact energy from being transferred into the user's upper torso.

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).

Disclosed herein are conformable protection pads, which can be integrated into articles such as clothing and protective cases. An exemplary cushioning pad can include an upper layer and a lower layer and cushioning material therebetween in a first cushioning region and one or more second cushioning regions, and one or more grooves between the first cushioning region and the second cushioning regions to enable articulation of the second cushioning regions relative to the first cushioning region.

A protective system including: a protective suit capable of withstanding the force of an impact without tearing, the protective suit including: a head portion; a neck portion connected to the head portion; a torso portion connected to the neck portion; a fluid bladder formed in at least two of the head portion, neck portion and torso portion, the fluid bladder containing a fluid; and an alert indicator for indicating when the force of an impact on the fluid bladder exceeds a predetermined threshold.

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 body impact protection system includes an inner layer and an impact force dampening and defusing structure. The inner layer includes a material composition and is adjacent to a body part when the body impact protection system is worn. The impact force dampening and defusing structure is juxtaposed to the inner layer and includes a plurality of components. The components function to reduce pressure on the body part from an impact force on a layer by layer basis. Each layer of the system dampens and defuses the impact force such that, by the time it reaches the body part, it has been substantially attenuated and spread over a large area.