A protective foam material and pads are disclosed herein. The material is a rounded foam pellet having a hole through the center of the pellet. The pellets may be arranged and interconnected to form a pad. These pads may be applied to persons, animals, or other objects for protective functions.

A neck collar includes a narrow elongated base proportioned and contoured to extend circumferentially around the neck of the user. The elongated base has an inner surface in confronting engagement with the neck. The elongated base may be separated at opposing ends. The ends of base may be disposed below a user's chin when the elongated base is worn by the user. The neck collar includes a cooling composition disposed within an outer fabric covering. The neck collar also includes an additional loop on both ends to attach an eyeglass cord.

The invention is intended to protect football players, race car drivers and others. An apparatus that dampens impacts and prevents rapid movement of user's head protected by helmets. Two embodiments are disclosed using piston configuration. In one embodiment, the piston is moving inside a housing filled with a viscoelastic fluid and the other is a locking piston dampener mechanism.

An airbag system including an airbag and a detachable shell enclosing the airbag when the airbag is in a non-inflated state, and at least one size adjustment mechanism. Further, an inflatable helmet having such airbag system, and an item of apparel having such airbag system are provided.

An impact transfer device comprising a device body, an impact zone shield associated with a first body region, and at least one body contact associated with a second body region, each body contact comprising at least one contact surface, and at least one attachment structure configured to attach the impact transfer device to a person. At least a portion of a force applied to the impact surface is transferred to the second body region of the person through the contact surfaces.

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.

A neck gaiter system configured to be received on the neck of a wearer that includes a gaiter member that includes a neck portion and a clavicle portion, a sensor system that includes at least one gyro sensor positioned on the gaiter member, an actuation system in electrical communication with the sensor system, and a bladder positioned on at least the neck portion of the gaiter member. The bladder is in fluid communication with the actuation system. When the sensor system senses a predetermined rotational change, the actuation system inflates the bladder.

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.

A protective device and method of use includes a collar portion for positioning behind the neck of a wear and a right leg and a left leg connected to the collar portion that extend over the chest of a wearer. The collar portion and legs may be constructed of a single piece. An upwardly extending portion extends upwardly behind the head of a wearer and is movably affixed to the collar portion. A shock absorber has a first end attached to the collar portion and a second end attached to the upwardly extending portion to resist forward motion of the upwardly extending portion. A connector, such as a strap, communicates the upwardly extending portion to a helmet. Therefore, deceleration of the upwardly extending portion and a connected helmet is affected by the shock absorber, thereby mitigating the effects of a sudden deceleration as is often experienced during an auto accident.

A protective helmet is provided having an upper section and a lower section, each having an inside and an outside surface. A gap is formed between the upper section and the lower section. Resilient members in the form of a plurality of spaced apart compression struts are provided for connecting the upper section to the lower section. The upper section is movable with respect to the lower section whereby a portion of the force of an impact to the upper section will be absorbed and will not be transmitted to the lower section. A suspension harness is attached to the inside surface of the lower section. The suspension harness is adapted to receive a portion of the helmet user's head and to keep the helmet user's head from contacting the inside surface of the upper section.