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 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.

Generally described, aspects of the disclosed subject matter are directed to impact mitigating membranes. In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the impact mitigating membranes generally include a laminar core having a first lamina and a second lamina coupled to the first lamina and configured to shift relative to the first lamina to dissipate kinetic energy resulting from an oblique impact force. The laminar core may include a lubricating layer or self-lubrication between the lamina to reduce friction. In general, the laminar core is surrounded by first and second encapsulating layers positioned adjacent each lamina. An anchoring attachment coupled to one or more of the first and second encapsulating layer and associating with the laminar core constrains relative lateral motion between the laminar core and the first and second encapsulating layers.

A protective article of clothing for weight training comprising including a top adapted to be worn on an upper portion of an athlete. The top include a front surface and a rear surface, left and right arm openings and a head opening. An impact-resistant flexible collar is integrally attached to the top and is sized and positioned to substantially encircle the head opening. The collar is also configured to dampen an impact force to at least a portion of the athlete's shoulders, upper chest and upper back.

A protective article of clothing for weight training including bottoms adapted to be worn on a lower portion of an athlete. The bottoms have a front and a rear surface, a waist opening, and left and right leg portions, each with a foot opening. At least one impact-resistant flexible pad is integrally attached to the bottoms and is sized and positioned to substantially cover a zone of likely contact, including the athlete's shins, knees, thighs, hips, hip creases, shoulders, and upper back. The flexible pad dampens impact forces applied to the zones of likely contact.

The present disclosure relates to a protective garment, impact absorbing pads for use in a protective garment and methods of producing a protective garment. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a protective garment comprising at least two impact absorbing pads, the at least two impact absorbing pads being arranged laterally across the garment with a lateral space between the at least two pads.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for the reduction of head or neck trauma in a living being by mitigating the acceleration experienced by the head, relative to the torso, during a change in motion; for example, creating a neck support that provides improved extension, compression, rotation, and bending properties to the neck in order to control the acceleration experienced by the head. The apparatus can be configured to create a neck support in which acceleration of the head, relative to the torso, is reduced with minimal structure, discomfort, and other potential downsides to a user of the apparatus.

The present disclosure seeks to reduce the effects of rotational and linear acceleration experienced by the body of a user in response to an impact force. Modular disengaging systems of the present disclosure are generally suitable for coupling to protective equipment to provide a disengaging motion between various layers such that the effects of the impact force to the body of the user are reduced. Generally described, the modular disengaging systems of the present disclosure include layers configured to facilitate relative lateral motion therebetween upon an impact force.

A neck cushion system for reducing the likelihood of brain injuries in American football includes a helmet that is worn during athletic activities to absorb impact energy. A pair of shoulder pads is provided and the pair of shoulder pads is worn during athletic activities. A cushion is provided and the cushion is worn around a neck when the helmet and shoulder pads are worn. The cushion is positioned between the helmet and the shoulder pads when the cushion is worn. Moreover, the cushion is comprised of a resiliently compressible material. In this way the cushion transfers impact energy from the helmet to the shoulder pads to reduce the likelihood of a brain injury the could result from the impact energy.

An airbag deployment system includes a helmet, a torso protection assembly, and an airbag assembly. The airbag assembly is coupled to one of the helmet and the torso protection assembly and includes an airbag, an inflation device configured to inflate the airbag, and a first coupling device. The first coupling device is configured to couple to a second coupling device provided on the other of the helmet and the torso protection assembly upon inflation of the airbag. The coupling resists relative movement between the helmet and the torso protection assembly.