Method for manufacturing a hollow object from a material comprising threads mechanically linked to one another to form a first shell. The method comprises a reference step that involves shaping the first shell on a support, a first step, subsequent to the reference step, that involves covering the first shell with a sealed membrane and obtaining a pressure difference on opposite sides of the membrane, the pressure on the side of a surface of the membrane in contact with the first shell being less than the pressure on the side of a free surface of the membrane, and a second step, simultaneous with and/or following the first subsequent step, that involves causing a change of state and/or the bonding of some or all of the threads forming the first shell.

The invention relates to a curved product, and in particular an armor product. The armor product is produced by a filament winding process in which a plurality of reinforcing elements in the form of fibers and/or tapes are impregnated with a polymer matrix and wound onto a mandrel. The polymer matrix comprises a solution and/or dispersion of a polymer in a carrier fluid, which carrier fluid is at least partly evaporated during and/or after winding. The armor product comprises a high amount of reinforcing elements with respect to the total mass of the product.

A helmet has inner and outer shells separated by a plurality of interconnected relatively soft columns or posts. The columns each have a middle post or pillar section, a capital that is of larger diameter than the post, and a base also of larger transverse dimension than the post. When an impact above a design threshold occurs on the outer shell, the columns, particularly the post sections thereof, near the impact location compress and buckle, dissipating impact kinetic energy, while columns spaced from the impact zone stretch and support more of the impact force. The applied force is therefore reduced and spread out over a relatively large area, and a resultant wave created within the column manifold disperses additional heat, further reducing the force and torque applied on the outer shell and transmitted to the inner shell and onto the skull of a helmet user. A method and mold for fabricating the column manifold are also disclosed.

A template made of plexiglass or similar material is inserted into a cover for a protective helmet so that the cover is stretched and once the template is inserted the assembled combination of the cover and the template is oval-shaped. The oval-shaped assembly is placed on top of the bottom plate of a heat press. A layer with a decal or sticker is placed on top of the oval-shaped assembly. A heat press cover sheet is then placed on top of the oval-shaped assembly so that it also becomes into contact with the top plate of the heat press when the heat press is closed. The heat press may be set to a temperature of at least 350 degrees Fahrenheit and it can be set in a closed position for at least 10 seconds in order to transfer sufficient heat so that the decal or sticker is applied or affixed to the cover surface.

A helmet and method for forming a helmet having a multi-density impact liner may include forming a puck with an interface surface and at least one side. The interface surface of the puck is placed in direct contact with a receiving surface of a cap located in an impact liner mold. Next, the interface surface of the puck is thermally fused directly to the receiving surface of the cap while contemporaneously an impact liner body is formed inside the mold. The impact liner body is fused to the at least one side of the puck, and to a majority of the receiving surface of the cap. The density of the puck may be greater than the density of the impact liner body. The puck and the impact liner body may be EPS, and the cap may be PC.

Impact-dissipating liners, helmets having an impact-dissipating liner, and methods of fabricating impact-dissipating liners are provided. The liners include a fluid impermeable enclosure having cavities with sidewalls and a fluid contained in the enclosure. The enclosure may have a central portion and lobes extending from the central portion, wherein the central portion and the lobes are adapted to conform to the shape of an internal surface of a helmet. The helmets may include bodies positioned within the cavities of the liner, where, under impact loading, contact between the bodies and the liner absorbs at least some of the energy of the impact loading. Aspects of the invention are particularly adapted for use for head protection, such as, helmets; however, aspects of the invention are also adaptable to provide impact-dissipation for any body or surface that would benefit from such protection.

Methods, assemblies, and/or the like are provided. In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure there is provided a suspension assembly including a suspension frame having a lower band including one or more band holes configured to provide ventilation to a wearer of the suspension frame; and an upper band having one or more slots; and a pad overmolded onto the suspension frame, wherein the pad has one or more pad holes, wherein the one or more pad holes are configured to be aligned with the one or more slots such that the one or more pad holes are configured to provide ventilation to the wearer of the suspension frame. In some embodiments, the pad is overmolded onto the upper band of the suspension frame. In some embodiments, the suspension frame is a single piece including the lower band and the upper band.

A template made of plywood or similar material is inserted into a cover for a protective helmet so that the cover is stretched and once the template is inserted the assembled combination of the cover and the template resembles the shape of a disk. The disk-shaped assembly is placed on top of the bottom plate of a heat press. A layer with a decal or sticker is placed on top of the disk-shaped assembly. A heat press cover sheet is then placed on top of the disk-shaped assembly so that it also becomes into contact with the top plate of the heat press when the heat press is closed. The heat press may be set to a temperature of 350 degrees Fahrenheit and it can be set in a closed position for about 30 seconds in order to transfer sufficient heat so that the decal or sticker is applied or affixed to the cover surface.

Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having enhanced a dynamic storage modulus, which correlates to low composite backface signature.

A system for monitoring a physiological parameter of player wearing protective sports equipment. The monitoring system includes a monitoring unit configured to be positioned within a piece of protective sports equipment worn by a player and transmit physiological parameter data to a database. A database is configured to receive and store the transmitted physiological parameter data. A server is configured to automatically generate a report after a predetermined time interval, where the report has at least one training opportunity indicator and a portion of the received and stored physiological parameter data. The training opportunity indicator is generated when the transmitted physiological parameter data exceeds a predetermined threshold that is based on a previously recorded collection of physiological parameter data. That physiological parameter data can be: the player's own historical data, a team's historical data, a sum of alertable impacts from other similarly situated players, and/or a sum of alertable impacts the player has received over the alertable time period.