The present invention relates to a protective upper and lower body assemblies and protective suit comprising the same. The protective upper body assembly comprises a ventral and a dorsal padding panels, a left and a right shoulder fasteners, and a left and a right flank fasteners. Each of the ventral and the dorsal padding panels include at least two layers of resiliently compressible material and one layer of breathable material. The protective lower assembly comprises a left and a right upper thigh portions, a left and a right lower thigh portions, a left and a right knee shells, a left and a right lower leg portions, and a left and a right feet shells.

A scaled composite structure (200) comprises a flexible base layer arrangement (204) and a plurality of three-dimensional (3D) scales (202A-N) attached to the flexible base layer arrangement. The plurality of 3D scales within the scaled composite structure overlap with each other when the scaled composite structure is placed on a planar surface. A range of motion of the scaled composite structure is controlled through a size and a shape of each of the plurality of 3D scales such that the plurality of 3D scales are intersecting with each other when a limit of the range of motion is applied to the scaled composite structure, to provide a mechanical interlocking effect.

Personal protective equipment configured to reduce the discomfort of the protruding joint of the conventional personal protective equipment includes a sleeve, at least one adhesive membrane, and at least one thin film. The sleeve is formed by curving an elastic fabric and joining two opposite joining edges of the elastic fabric in a butting manner. The adhesive membrane has an adhesive side adhesively attached to a surface of the sleeve over an area where the two opposite joining edges of the sleeve extend. The thin film covers and is adhesively attached to another adhesive side of the adhesive membrane. The personal protective equipment, therefore, has a flat joint and is spared those prior art drawbacks attributable to the protuberance of a hemmed border or overlap seam, such as an uncomfortable sensation and a lack of conformity to the contour of the body part being protected.

A hip protective, disposable undergarment is described. The hip protective, disposable undergarment includes a brief having a body between a first end and a second end. The first end includes a waist opening, and the second end includes two leg openings. A first pocket is included in the body, and a first hip protective insert is removably attached to the first pocket of the body. The first hip protective insert is configured to be disposed over a first trochanteric region of the wearer when the undergarment is worn. A second pocket is also included in the body and a second hip protective insert is removably attached to the second pocket of the body. The second hip protective insert is disposed over a second trochanteric region of the wearer when the undergarment is worn.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a protective apparatus that includes an impact shell and an impact attenuating component, which is less rigid than the impact shell. The impact attenuation component may include a series of channels or grooves on a posterior side, facing away from the impact shell.

Aspects of the present invention relate to a protective apparatus that is comprised of an impact shell and an impact attenuating structure. The impact shell includes two shell portions that are moveably hinged to one another to conform to the underlying protected portion, such as an athlete's shin region. The protective apparatus also utilizes an impact attenuating structure that functions to attenuate an impact force as well as serve as a hinge between the two-part shell. Additional aspects include a puncture prevention element that is positioned between the two shell portions to resist impalement at the hinge junction formed between the two shell portions. Further, additional aspects utilize one or more channels on a posterior surface of the impact attenuating structure to aid in guiding the articulation of the impact attenuating structure in a location related to the shell articulation joint.

A modular protective structure may be formed from an impact absorbing material formed into a repeating pattern of one or more geometrical shapes that may be assembled to a size, shape, and/or configuration desired to protect an athlete from impact. The thickness of the structure may vary in a repetitive fashion along at least a first axis of the structure, and may further vary in a repetitive fashion along a second axis of the structure.

A plate carrier (such as a vest) is provided having shock absorption capabilities for absorbing shock in response to movement of a plate within the carrier resulting from movement of the wearer. The plate carrier can include a cradle that supports the plate within a pocket from underneath. Stretchable material may be incorporated into the cradle to provide shock absorption. For example, the cradle may include a limit strap hanging to form a first loop and a shock-absorption strap hanging to form a second loop spaced above the first loop. The shock-absorption strap may be formed from a material more stretchable than the limit strap, for example, so that the limit strap provides a limit of plate deflection and shock absorption provided.

The present application provides a protective apparatus that includes a left and a right generally arched shaped portion with a foam padding system. The foam padding system comprising an adjustable channel that accommodates a shape of a shoulder, the foam padding system including a shoulder pad removably attached to an upper end of at least one of the generally arched shaped portions, and a pair of adjustable body pads removably attached to beneath the shoulder pad in a variable configuration that creates the adjustable channel.

An impact diffusing system for protecting a user's head includes a headpiece cage coupled to a thoracic framework. In one aspect, the headpiece cage includes at least two support bars, a plurality of rigid bars surrounding at least a portion of the forehead, top, and sides of the head, and a face mask that encloses at least a portion the user's face. The thoracic framework covers at least a portion of a chest, upper back, and shoulders of the user, and the thoracic framework is attached to the support bars of the headpiece cage in a manner that prevents movement of the headpiece cage relative to the thoracic framework. In another aspect, the system includes a helmet component (formed of e.g., carbon fiber) coupled to a thoracic cage, wherein the helmet component is a solid, unitary piece that surrounds the top, back, and sides of the user's head.