The invention is directed to a joint protection device that has a frame of an elastomeric material. The elastomeric material has a flash point above 500 degrees Celsius. A solid face is attached to the frame. The solid face has a first side and a second side and has a high gas permeability for an elastomer. A hardness adjustable structure is attached to the second side of the solid face. The hardness adjustable structure does not support microbiological growth. In one case, the elastomer is a silicone rubber, which meets the flame resistant or flame retardant clothing (FRC) requirements. This also makes the device flexible so that it is more comfortable to wear.

A hip protector system includes an inflatable airbag, a proximity sensor to measure a distance to a point on the ground surface, a gyro to provide spatial orientation of the waist plane of the user, an accelerometer to determine the vertical acceleration of the waist plane of the user and a micro-controller unit. The micro-controller unit calculates a height based on proximity measurement and spatial orientation, computes values of downward velocity based on a change of the height in time and based on the vertical acceleration integrated over time and correlates the downward velocities to validate a true height in time to the ground surface. The airbag is inflated to protect the user responsive to the true height.

The protective structure comprises a at least in one direction curved support rib structure of a material or a material composition that is suited for injection molding, which support rib structure is formed of an outer frame and of inner frames fitted into the interior space of the outer frame and being fixed to each other and/or to the outer frame. The material thickness of the support rib structure varies in a direction perpendicular to a surface formed by the support rib structure so that the material thickness is greater at the middle of the support rib structure compared to the material thickness at the edges of the support rib structure.

The present invention relates to a material that includes a first elastic element and a second elastic element that are (a) adjacent but not contiguous in a resting state and (b) connected to a substantially inelastic element, wherein both of the elastic elements are disposed on the exterior surface of the material and the first elastic element or the second elastic element spreads laterally upon impact with an object.

An article of apparel includes a padding system that dynamically changes configuration in response to an impending impact. The padding system may change from a state that has a high flexibility and offers low protection from impact to a state that has a low flexibility and offers increase protection from impact. The system may use a filament to constrict a plurality of padding elements together in order to increase the overall stiffness of the pad. The filament may be tightened and loosened by a spool. The spool may receive a signal regarding the impending impact from a sensor that is a part of the article of apparel, or a sensor that is separate from it.

An article of apparel may include a base layer and a cover layer. The cover layer may be stitchlessly-secured to an exterior surface of the base layer and positioned to extend along a side area and from a pelvic region to a leg region of the base layer. A width of the cover layer may be greater in the pelvic region than the first leg region. In some configurations, a frictional resistance of the exterior surface of the base layer may be greater than a frictional resistance of a surface of the cover layer.

Embodiments disclosed herein relate to systems for automatically protecting an individual from injuries using one or more sensors and one or more protective members, and methods of using the same. The system can include a supportive member supporting one or more protective members. The protective members can include at least one passive layer and at least one active layer. The active layer includes at least one energy-responsive material that changes at least one physical property thereof responsive to at least one stimulus energy. For example, the system can include at least one energy source that is configured to deliver the stimulus energy to the energy-responsive material. The system can also include one or more sensors configured to sense one or more characteristics. The system can include at least one controller communicably coupled to the energy source and the sensors.

The present disclosure relates to protection devices. In particular, the present disclosure relates to protection devices that can be worn on the human body. Further in particular, the present disclosure relates to wearable protection devices that inflate to prevent injury of the human body in case of an accident, e.g., a fall accident. Accordingly, there is provided a wearable protection device for protection of at least a body part of a wearer, comprising an inflatable element arranged adjacent to a body part to be protected, wherein the inflatable element is inflatable from a first, substantially uninflated condition to a second, substantially inflated condition, by application of a releasable source of a gas to the inflatable element, for at least partially filling of the inflatable element with said gas.

An article of apparel includes a padding system that dynamically changes configuration in response to an impending impact. The padding system may change from a state that has a high flexibility and offers low protection from impact to a state that has a low flexibility and offers increase protection from impact. The system may use a filament to constrict a plurality of padding elements together in order to increase the overall stiffness of the pad. The filament may be tightened and loosened by a spool. The spool may receive a signal regarding the impending impact from a sensor that is a part of the article of apparel, or a sensor that is separate from it.

A body protection system comprising multiple protective assemblies that permits adjustability of the multiple assemblies in respect to one another thereby permitting a complete body protection system that is usable across different size personnel. The multiple protective assemblies may be separately adjusted permitting a one-size-fits-most capability for the different sized personnel. The body protection system permits reuse among different sized people thereby reducing overall costs associated with protecting members of law enforcement, military or other organizations. The body protection system may include a unique adjustable neck protectors that provides enhanced protection for the neck area. The various multiple protective assemblies may suspend directly or indirectly from the shoulder pad assemblies providing a common comprehensive suspension system for a wearer.