The present invention provides a protective sports helmet for a wearer engaged in a contact sport, such as football. The helmet includes a shell having a front region, a rear region, two side regions, and an ear flap depending from a side region. A jaw flap extends forwardly from each ear flap, wherein the jaw flap overlies an extent of a mandible of the wearer. The shell also includes a raised central band that extends from the front region across the crown to the rear region. The central band has lower side portions that extend from the rear region towards the side region of the shell and terminate proximate an ear opening in the shell. The central band has a width defined by a pair of opposed sidewalls that extend transversely from an outer surface of the shell. The shell also includes a first plurality of vent openings aligned along a first side of the raised central band and a second plurality of vent openings aligned along a second side of the band.

A universal joint includes a first band and a second band which are separated by a slot, are cylindrical and coaxial with one another with respect to a common axis, a first stiffener whose ends are joined to the first band, and a second stiffener whose ends are joined to the second band. A stem extends between the first stiffener and the second stiffener. A crown is around the stem. Four torsion bars exist, of which two extend between the crown and the first band and two extend between the crown and the second band.

A universal joint includes a first band and a second band which are separated by a slot, are cylindrical and coaxial with one another with respect to a common axis, and further includes a first torsion bar, whose ends are joined to the first band, and a second torsion bar whose ends are joined to the second band.

A bed comprises a fixed width deck section, a wing movably coupled to the fixed width section, and a rack and pinion mechanism for extending and retracting the wing.

A helmet comprising first and second parts and a connector connecting the first and second parts of the helmet, the connector comprising: a first plate; a first anchor point on one side of the first plate, configured to be connected to the first part; a second plate located on an opposite side of the first plate from the first anchor point; a second anchor point on an opposite side of the second plate from the first plate, configured to be connected to the second part; a low friction interface provided between opposing surfaces of the first and second plates; and a cuff of deformable material provided around the first and second plates, and configured to at least partially cover the side of the first plate on which the first anchor point is located and to at least partially cover the side of the second plate on which the second anchor point is located.

An articulating portion for an elongate medical device is disclosed. The articulating portion may include a plurality of segments movable relative to one another, and a plurality of hinges disposed between adjacent segments. The segments can be configured to bend at the hinges upon manipulation of a control member of the device. The segments and the hinges can also be a single continuous piece of material.

Coupling members to join two rotary members, such that the coupling members (300) include a unitary body having a first coupling element (302), a second coupling element (304), and a hub (306), wherein the unitary body forms a single piece with the hub (306) extending between and connecting the first coupling element (302) to the second coupling element (304). The first coupling element (302) defines a first plane, the second coupling element (304) defines a second plane with the first and second planes being parallel, and the hub (306) defines a hub axis normal to the first and second planes. Each of the first and second coupling elements (302, 304) comprises a plurality of connection elements (308, 310) arranged about a respective circumference having a respective radius extending from the hub axis, wherein a material of the respective coupling element in a respective circle and in a respective plane is less than the area of the circle. The material forming the first and second coupling elements (302, 304) is arranged in a respective circumscribing circle over an area less than the total area defined by the circle in the respective plane.

Coupling members to join two rotary members are described. The coupling members include a unitary body having a first coupling element, a second coupling element, and a hub, wherein the unitary body forms a single piece with the hub extending between and connecting the first coupling element to the second coupling element. The first coupling element defines a first plane, the second coupling element defines a second plane with the first and second planes being parallel, and the hub defines a hub axis normal to the first and second planes. Each of the first and second coupling elements comprise a plurality of connection elements arranged about a respective circumference having a respective radius extending from the hub axis, wherein a material of the respective coupling element in a respective circle and in a respective plane is less than the area of the circle.

A bed comprises a fixed width deck section, a wing movably coupled to the fixed width section, and a mechanism for extending and retracting the wing.

A bed comprises a fixed width deck section, a wing movably coupled to the fixed width section, and a mechanism for extending and retracting the wing.