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 compensating damper comprises opposed working end faces, a hermetically sealed chamber between the working end faces, and a set of plates in the chamber with a film of viscous fluid between each pair of adjacent plates. The damper has at least two different film thickness zones across the set of plates, each of the different film thickness zones providing a different resistance response when acted upon by an outside force exerted on at least one of the opposed working end faces. Multiple internal guide pins may extend axially from the opposed working end faces for engaging the plate stack partially from each of said working end faces to increase the stroke while providing for a compact damper. The plates may have a conical configuration to providing dampening in different plans.

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.

Headgear, helmets, and related protective equipment having friction reducing interface elements are provided. The headgear includes a helmet shell having external surface and an internal surface; a headgear liner shaped and adapted to be received by the helmet shell, the head gear liner having an external surface positioned to contact the internal surface of the helmet shell; and at least one interface element positioned between the external surface of the headgear liner and the internal surface of the helmet shell. The at least one interface element provides at least some reduction in friction between the external surface of the headgear liner and the internal surface of the helmet shell. The headgear liner may comprise a fluid-filled headgear liner. The interface elements may provide surfaces at multiple elevations that assist in dispersing an impact load to the headgear liner. Methods of protecting the wearer of the headgear are also provided.

An impact absorbing apparatus includes a first chamber including a first chamber wall and a first valve disposed in the first chamber wall. The impact absorbing apparatus includes a second chamber including a second chamber wall and a second valve disposed in the second chamber wall. A plurality of connecting pillars connects the first chamber to the second chamber. The plurality of connecting pillars is configured to shift position in response to a first impact. The first valve is configured to pass air in and out of the first chamber. The second valve is configured to pass air in and out of the second chamber.

A protective suit comprising: a head portion comprising a fluid-filled head portion chamber; a neck portion releasably secured to the head portion and comprising a neck portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled head portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and a torso portion releasably secured to the neck portion and comprising a fluid-filled torso portion chamber, wherein the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is in fluid communication with the neck portion chamber; and wherein the head portion is configured to be disposed on a head of the wearer, the neck portion is configured to be disposed in an arcuate manner around a neck of the wearer, and the torso portion is configured to be disposed on a torso of the wearer, such that when a force of an impact is received on the head portion, fluid from the fluid-filled head portion chamber is transferred into the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer, and when a force of an impact is received on the torso portion, fluid from the fluid-filled torso portion chamber is transferred to the neck portion chamber to support the neck of the wearer against translational and rotational forces imparted to the wearer.

A headgear apparatus is disclosed comprising a molded headgear apparatus which includes a cushioned core component to provide impact resistance during an activity. The headgear is configured to be low-profile to reduce the loss of vision caused by thick headgear which extends away from the face. The headgear may be molded to the facial contour of the user to provide complete protection from cuts, scrapes, swelling, and impact encountered in impact sports, such as martial arts, football, or other sports wherein impact to the head region is possible.

The present disclosure relates to a cushion for use in a helmet comprising an outer shell for impact with an incoming force, the cushion disposed between the outer shell and a head when the helmet is worn, the cushion comprising: a sealed bladder comprising a flexible membrane; a pad housed within the bladder, said pad comprising a compressible member having interstices open to the exterior of the pad; and a liquid within the interior of the bladder; wherein said pad absorbs at least some of said liquid when uncompressed and expels said liquid when compressed; and wherein the volume of liquid within the bladder is sufficient to allow opposing surfaces of the bladder to be displaced in a shearing motion relative to each other when the cushion is compressed and subjected to shear forces, to decouple shear forces between said helmet and the head.

A garment worn by a wearer has an exterior shell and an interior shell with various impact absorbing material between the exterior shell and the interior shell. The impact absorbing material includes multiple structures, such as rods or filaments, capable of deforming when force is applied then returning to its state prior to application of the force. In various embodiments, a rate sensitive material (RSM) is positioned in one or more locations relative to the exterior shell and the interior shell of the garment to further attenuate impacts to the garment. The RSM changes its resistance to force based on a rate at which the material is loaded.

An energy absorption system is provided with a plurality of energy absorbing panels that may be releasably connected to a helmet. The energy absorbing panels are provided with a plurality of air flow channels defining a plurality of energy absorption chambers. Each of the air flow channels is designed to direct air flow from an anterior of the helmet to a posterior of the helmet when the energy absorbing panels are connected to an outer shell of the helmet.