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 heat shielding sleeve defining a limb placement zone and including an installed position encapsulating a user's limb and an uninstalled position removed from a user's limb. The heat shielding sleeve further comprises an elastic or semi-elastic outer layer operably configured to enclose a user's leg and a secondary layer defined by a plurality of raised members wherein the secondary layer and the plurality of raised members are comprised of a thermally insulating material. The secondary layer further defines a plurality of exhaust apertures designed to provide thermal venting of the user's skin. The heat shielding sleeve is designed to protect motorcycle riders' and passengers' lower limbs from burns caused when riders and passengers come into physical contact with a motorcycle's exhaust pipes or the gas emissions emanating therefrom, while providing a comfortable and breathable garment sleeve that may be operably adjusted to the comfort of the user.

A method for manufacturing individualized protective gear such as pads based on a body scan, and the resulting pads, are disclosed herein. A body scan is taken of a wearer-defined area for a desired set of pads. The scan is converted to a mesh model. The mesh model is used to define a first surface of the pad shell and then translationally or orthogonally offset to provide a second surface of the pad shell. The mesh is also flattened to provide a liner for the pad. The shell may be manufactured using additive printing technology. The shell and the liner are then attached, such as by adhesive.

A heat shielding sleeve defining a limb placement zone and including an installed position encapsulating a user's limb and an uninstalled position removed from a user's limb. The heat shielding sleeve further comprises an elastic or semi-elastic outer layer operably configured to enclose a user's leg and a secondary layer defined by a plurality of raised members wherein the secondary layer and the plurality of raised members are comprised of a thermally insulating material. The secondary layer further defines a plurality of exhaust apertures designed to provide thermal venting of the user's skin. The heat shielding sleeve is designed to protect motorcycle riders' and passengers' lower limbs from burns caused when riders and passengers come into physical contact with a motorcycle's exhaust pipes or the gas emissions emanating therefrom, while providing a comfortable and breathable garment sleeve that may be operably adjusted to the comfort of the user.

An article that includes a vortex-generator device may include various features. For example, the article may include a material layer and one or more elongate members coupled to the material layer. In addition, the one or more elongate members interconnect two or more vortex generators.

A disclosed method for manufacturing a glove includes forming a base via molding, the base being shaped to include a palm portion and one or more extremity portions. The method also includes forming a top skin via molding, the top skin including one or more compartments, and forming a backhand assembly by attaching one or more edges of the one or more compartments of the top skin to the base. At least one remaining edge of each of the one or more compartments is unattached from the base. The method also includes reversing an orientation of the backhand assembly, filling each of the one or more compartments of the top skin with foam, and attaching the at least one remaining edge of each of the one or more compartments to the base.

A method of manufacturing a flexible, impact-resistant pad (1), primarily for use in an item of protective wear, comprises the following steps. First, a sheet (16) of impact-absorbing material (3, 4, 4), for example a closed-cell foam is provided. The sheet (16) is cut to provide a piece (16) with a profile required for the pad (1) and this piece (16) is then cut into a plurality of spaced, separate elements (2), which are retained within the required profile of the pad (1). A first, flexible layer (17, 4) of material (3) is provided and one side of same is bonded to the spaced, separate elements (2). The edge (5) of the pad (1) is streamlined by the following additional steps which may be carried out either before cutting of the sheet (16) into the plurality of spaced, separate elements (2) or after bonding of the first, flexible layer (17, 4) of material (3) to the spaced, separate elements (2). First, a contoured mould tool (8) is provided that defines a recess (9) having a shape complementary to the shape required on one side of the pad (1) and a streamlined edge (10) around at least part of its periphery. The impact-absorbing material (3, 4, 4) or the mould tool (8) is heated and the mould tool (8) is then pressed into it to mould it on one side to define the shape that is required. Preferably, the method comprises the further step of bonding a second flexible layer (17, 4) of material (4) to the moulded side of the pad (1). During bonding of this second flexible layer (17, 4) of material (4), the pad (1) is preferably supported on a yielding surface (23) to enable the moulded side of the pad (1) to flatten during bonding. Also provided is a flexible, impact-resistant pad (1) Comprising a first, flexible layer (17, 4) of material (3) and a plurality of spaced, separate elements (2) that are each comprised of an impact-absorbing material (3, 4, 4) and that are bonded to one side of the first flexible layer (17, 4) of material (3). At least some of the elements (2) adjacent the edge (5) of the pad (1) are streamlined around at least part of the periphery of the pad (1).

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 customizable knee pad includes a foam main body having an anterior surface A and a posterior surface molded to the shape of the knee. The anterior surface is formed with an array of spaced recesses covering the knee to be protected. Each recess defines a negative incremental area and, cumulatively, define an area A.sub.r. The effective area A.sub.eff of the anterior surface is equal to A.sub.eff=AA.sub.r. A fabric sheet covers the posterior surface. A gel pad is provided within the main body in close proximity to the fabric sheet. The main body of the knee pad is injection molded with the gel pad and fabric sheet in place to bond the fabric sheet and gel pad to the molded main body to be effectively integrated therewith. Changing the recesses' shape and spacing alters the flexibility of the knee pad and renders it harder or softer.

A headband is provided which has a fabric layer defining pockets, padding layers positioned circumferentially around the headband in the pockets, and an impact panel. The impact panel is positioned to be proximate to the forehead of a wearer of the headband. One of the padding layers is positioned behind the impact panel, such that the padding layer is positioned between the impact panel and the forehead of a wearer.