Devices with internal flexibility sipes, such as slits, provide improved flexibility, improved cushioning to absorb shock and/or shear forces, and improved stability of support. Siped devices can be used in any existing product that provides or utilizes cushioning and stability. These products include human and other footwear, both soles and uppers, as well as orthotics; athletic, occupational and medical equipment and apparel; padding or cushioning, such as for equipment or tool handles, as well as furniture; balls; tires; and any other structural or support elements in a mechanical, architectural, or any other product.

A composite multi-axial impact protection liner for a helmet is provided that reduces rotational acceleration, rotational strain rate, and rotational strain that cause concussions. In a protective helmet so equipped, one or more layers of fluid polymer, including strain thinning and strain thickening polymers, are positioned between the wearer's head and a hard helmet shell. The liner offers greater injury protection, performance, and personal comfort using the rate dependent and combined effect of strain thinning and strain thickening of fluid polymer layers.

Cushioning elements for apparel may include a pair of material layers and a pad component that is located between and secured to the material layers. At least one surface of the pad component includes a plurality of elongate grooves. In addition, a plurality of elongate voids extend through the pad component.

There is described a protective helmet for sporting use, in particular for use while skiing, comprising an external cap-like structure (2) of a resiliently flexible material, an internal cap-like structure (3) which is received in the external cap-like structure (2) and which comprises a plurality of cap portions (5a, 5b) of expanded material which are structurally independent of each other and which are mutually interconnected with limited relative mobility between contiguous portions, the internal cap-like structure (3) delimiting a cavity (4) which is open towards the outer side and which is capable of receiving the head of the user, and at least one device (6) for absorbing energy as a result of forces of impacts on the helmet, which device is interposed between the internal cap-like structure (3) and external cap-like structure (2). The device comprises at least one flexible member (12) which includes a plate-like portion (12a) having a transverse thickness (13) which is defined between a pair of opposing surfaces (13a, 13b) and a plurality of reliefs (14) which project in the same direction from one of the surfaces (13a, 13b), the reliefs (14) extending with a tapering formation in the direction of the free end (14a) thereof, in the direction away from the portion (12a), and the at least one member (12) being fixedly joined to the external cap-like structure (12) in the region of the respective free ends (14a) of the reliefs (14) and the internal cap-like structure (3) in the region of the surface (13a) of the opposite portion (12a) to the portion which has the reliefs.

A helmet can include an energy absorbing shell including an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. A fit system member can be coupled to a rear of the energy absorbing shell to adjust a fit of the helmet for a user. A sliding layer can include an outer sliding layer surface oriented towards the inner surface of the energy absorbing shell and an inner sliding layer surface opposite the outer surface. The sliding layer can include at least one attachment member and at least one integrated fit system arm. The at least one integrated fit system arm can be coupled to the fit system member. An elastomeric member can include a first end coupled to the energy absorbing shell and a second end coupled to the attachment member of the sliding layer. Comfort padding can be coupled to the inner surface of the Sliding layer.

A football helmet with shell, faceguard, padding and comfort liner system, has replaceable nose bumpers for connecting a top center of the faceguard to the shell, button and keyhole connectors connecting the liner to an inner surface of the padding and T-nut connectors for connecting the padding to an inner surface of the shell. Front portions of the comfort liner have harder foam cushions than other portions of the liner to improve impact absorption. Selected areas of the padding system contain pads with inner and outer molded thermoplastic urethane parts of different durometer, each including a sheet with plural alternating hollow protrusions. The faceguard has an upper bar with raised ends above a lower edge of the front portion of the shell that form a face opening and on either side of the nose bumper.

An impact-absorbing coating may provide an impact-absorbing material and an outer skin. The impact-absorbing coating may be applied to an object and may reduce injuries that may be sustained by a user of the object to which the coating is applied. The impact-absorbing material may have a thickness of approximately ⅜″. The outer skin may be provided over the impact-absorbing material and may provide a paintable and decoratable finish.

An embodiment of a safety helmet for protecting the human head against repetitive impacts, moderate impacts and severe impacts so as to significantly reduce the likelihood of both translational and rotational brain injury and concussions includes an outer shell, an outer liner disposed within and coupled to the outer shell, and an inner liner disposed within and coupled in spaced opposition to the outer liner by a plurality of isolation dampers for omnidirectional movement of the inner liner relative to the outer liner and the outer shell.

Devices systems and methods are disclosed. Among other things, the devices systems and methods can facilitate ergonomic gripping of a handle; conform to the shape of a wrist; enhance golf techniques or performance; enhance racket sport technique or performance; protect a head of a user engaged in contact sports or other hazardous activities; identify concussions, in some cases in substantially real time; provide sterilization of garments; control surgical robots; allow for medical treatment of multiple subjects without disrobing; provide biometric or other data; and/or be used to train muscles or body parts for, for example, performing specified tasks using a body part.

A flex cell for absorbing energy from an applied force includes a panel attached to a flex cage. The flex cage is made from a resilient material that allows deformation of the flex cage when a force is applied to the flex cell. The flex cell is attachable to a support surface. In some instances, the flex cell is detached from the support surface when sufficient force is applied to the flex cell.