The present invention is a football helmet designed to reduce the occurrence of concussions and subconcussive impacts to the brain through use of a novel exterior shape and sandwich of materials. The present invention also reduces the occurrence of neck injuries through the use of a flexible neck support that provides protection against frontal impacts without restricting a player's range of motion.

A shock absorbing cap provides shock abortion in the space between the interior of a traditional safety helmet and the head of the wearer. The cap has a first region next to the scalp which is made of 100% knitted cotton for comfort and the absorption of sweat. A second region is made of 100% wool fleece braided fiber bundles that extend alternately in longitudinal and lateral directions sufficiently to nearly fill the space. The outermost region is made of one or more layers of braided 100% carbon fiber bundles, which run the opposite direction of the last wool lock. In an alternative, the first region is used but the second region completely fills the space with woven aramid and carbon fiber squares laid on top of each other and sewn together. The uppermost portion is laser cut for a tight but comfortable fit under the helmet.

A multi layer protective helmet has: a shell with inner surface and outer surface; at least one inner energy absorbing layer coupled to the inner surface of the shell; and at least one outer energy absorbing layer coupled to the outer surface of the shell. The outermost energy absorbing layer is a hair-like layer whereas each hair represents a spring-like element capable of deforming when force is applied then returning to its state prior to application of the force. The innermost energy absorbing layer has a contoured member to conform to the general outline of a wearer's head. In addition, the shell layer is integrated with energy absorbing material spaced within the structure of the shell to dampen the impact of energy further.

A force transfer system includes a body and an article. The article includes a first portion forming a first lateral axis and a second portion forming a second lateral axis, the axes being offset. An intermediate member is disposed between the first portion and the second portion, and holds the second portion to the first portion. A stimulus received by the first portion causes a temporary alteration of the intermediate member from an initial condition, the alteration of the intermediate member thereby causing a change in a characteristic of the second portion. The intermediate member subsequently returns to the initial condition, thereby causing a change in a characteristic of the first portion, which is influenced by the change in the characteristic of the second portion. The change in the characteristic of the first and second portions prevents at least a portion of the stimulus from reaching the body.

A helmet defining an opening for a user's head, the helmet including an outer shell providing a wave guide exit operatively associated with an integrated wave guide layer surrounded by the outer shell, the wave guide layer being adapted to direct sonic waves out the wave guide exit, thereby substantially preventing the sonic waves from penetrating through a remainder of the helmet to the opening. The wave guide layer may be a sonic wave transmission medium composed of acoustic metamaterial, wherein the wave guide layer communicates with the wave guide exit.

A method of forming a plate for an article of footwear includes applying a first strand portion to a base layer including positioning adjacent segments of the first strand portion to form a first layer on the base layer. The adjacent segments of the first strand portion having a greater density across a width of the plate between a medial side and a lateral side at a midfoot region of the plate than at a forefoot region of the plate and at a heel region of the plate. The method also includes applying at least one of heat and pressure to the first strand portion and to the base layer to conform the first strand portion and the base layer to a predetermined shape.

A wearable impact protection system is provided that includes an inner layer of a first shear thickening material that faces a wearer in use, an outer layer of a second shear thickening material and an intermediate deformable layer. In one example the impact protection system is provided in the form of a helmet.

A composite material includes an upper layer, a lower layer and means arranged so as to diffuse substantially transversely at least part of the kinetic energy induced by an impact on one of said layers, said means cooperating on both sides, with the upper layer and the lower layer. The diffusion means can consist in a network of interassembled base elements and of cavities, forming a three-dimensional structure. A protection device comprising includes an insert consisting of the composite material.

A garment worn by a wearer has an impact absorbing material comprising arrays of various hexagonal or other deformable polygonal-shaped structures positioned between an exterior surface and an interior surface. When force is applied to the exterior surface, the structures of the impact absorbing materials deform (e.g., buckle) in a desired manner, reducing the force received by the interior surface.

A helmet attachment may include a body, a connector, and a fastener. The body may have a rim and a concave inner surface configured to engage convex outer surface of a helmet. The connector may be coupled to the inner surface of the body and the connector may be configured to engage a helmet connector. The fastener may extend from the rim and be configured to engage an element coupled to the helmet.