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).

The invention relates to a leg pad for a hockey player. The leg pad extends along a longitudinal axis and comprises an upper portion, a bottom portion and a band. The upper portion has a knee cap for covering a knee joint of the player. The bottom portion has an upper shell for covering a substantial part of a shin of the hockey player and a lower shell for at least partially covering the shin and ankle of the hockey player. The band extends along part of a periphery of the upper shell and part of a periphery of the lower shell. The band interconnects the upper shell and the lower shell to one another wherein the lower shell is movable relative to the upper shell between a first position and a second position in response to flexion of the ankle.

An athletic protective wrap that properly secures, and maintains, a shin guard in position relative to a lower portion of a leg without permitting a plurality of protective pads to come into direct contact with a skin of a participant of an athletic activity. This is done through the utilization of the creation of an interlocking phenomenon of the plurality of protective pads, which is achieved through wrapping the athletic protective wrap around the lower leg of the participant of the athletic activity.

The present invention is directed to methods for a post process treatment of a plurality of individual expanded particles for manufacturing at least a part of a molded sporting good, in particular a midsole of a shoe. Furthermore, it is directed to a sporting good and a sports shoe. The method for a post process treatment of a plurality of individual expanded particles for manufacturing at least a part of a molded sporting good, in particular a midsole of a shoe, may include the steps of providing a plurality of expanded particles of a particle foam and controlling a heat treatment to increase the density of the individual expanded particles.

Personal protective equipment configured to reduce the discomfort of the protruding joint of the conventional personal protective equipment includes a sleeve, at least one adhesive membrane, and at least one thin film. The sleeve is formed by curving an elastic fabric and joining two opposite joining edges of the elastic fabric in a butting manner. The adhesive membrane has an adhesive side adhesively attached to a surface of the sleeve over an area where the two opposite joining edges of the sleeve extend. The thin film covers and is adhesively attached to another adhesive side of the adhesive membrane. The personal protective equipment, therefore, has a flat joint and is spared those prior art drawbacks attributable to the protuberance of a hemmed border or overlap seam, such as an uncomfortable sensation and a lack of conformity to the contour of the body part being protected.

A force defusing structure includes first and second plurality of spherical shaped objects. A first spherical shaped object is proximally positioned to two or more second spherical shaped objects. When a force is applied to the first spherical shaped object, the first spherical shaped object collides with the two or more second spherical shaped objects to defuse the force based on a multi-dimensional collision between the first spherical shaped object and the two or more second spherical shaped objects.

An ankle support and protection system is provided having a sock with an elongated elastic tube open at one end and closed as an opposed end. An intermediate portion of the tube away from the open end defines a pocket, the tube also defines a heel receptacle. The pocket is configured to receive a pad. The pocket is located proximate to the heel receptacle such that it aligns with a wearer's Malleus.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a protective apparatus that includes an impact shell and an impact attenuating component, which is less rigid than the impact shell. The impact attenuation component may include a series of channels or grooves on a posterior side, facing away from the impact shell.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a protective apparatus that is comprised of an impact shell and an impact attenuating structure. The impact shell includes two shell portions that are moveably hinged to one another to conform to the underlying protected portion, such as an athlete's shin region. The protective apparatus also utilizes an impact attenuating structure that functions to attenuate an impact force as well as serve as a hinge between the two-part shell. Additional aspects include a puncture prevention element that is positioned between the two shell portions to resist impalement at the hinge junction formed between the two shell portions. Further, additional aspects utilize one or more channels on a posterior surface of the impact attenuating structure to aid in guiding the articulation of the impact attenuating structure in a location related to the shell articulation joint.

The invention provides a protective garment comprising: a belt, adapted to be positioned around the waist of a user, two leggings, each legging comprising an upper portion intended to be wrapped around a user's thigh, a lower portion intended to be wrapped around a user's calf, and an intermediate portion connecting the upper and lower portions, a plurality of airbags for safety, and a triggering device for inflating the airbags, characterized in that the intermediate portion of each legging has a notch which comes over the front of the user's knee when the legging is in position around the user's leg, and in that the upper portion and lower portion of each legging each comprise at least one airbag adjacent to the notch of the intermediate portion.