Aspects herein relate to a shoulder-pad system that may be used to attenuate impact in various contexts. The shoulder-pad system may have a number of subcomponents, which may include an impact plate assembly, an impact-attenuation sub-layer, a base-layer garment, and a securing garment, among others. The shoulder-pad system may be described as modular, in that the various subcomponents may be added to, and/or removed from the system when it is desirable to do so.

Provided herein are multi-layered protective coverings, wearable multi-layered protective devices, and methods of using the multi-layered protective coverings and wearable multi-layered protective devices.

A helmet body includes an outer shell and an energy management liner with an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface of the outer shell. At least two shoulder pad recesses are positioned at a lower edge of the outer shell on a respective left and right sides of the helmet. The energy management liner is adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and includes at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material. Each of the at least two shoulder pads is received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet, each shoulder pad extending from inside of the outer shell to across at least a majority of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell.

A collar sized to be worn around the neck of a human subject has at least one member that defines an arc of less than 360° and greater than 180° having a diameter, a first compressor at a first end of the arc, a second compressor at a second end of the arc and a bend angle sensor. The collar is adapted to exert an inwardly-directed force on the first and second compressors when worn. The bend angle sensor is configured and positioned to detect a bend angle of the collar, wherein the bend angle correlates to the inwardly-directed force on the first and second compressors when worn.

A brace for a part of a body includes a first conductive fiber associated with a first polarity, and a second conductive fiber associated with a second polarity different from the first polarity. The second fiber is woven together with the first fiber and insulated from the first fiber. The brace also includes a selectively electrically activated cross-linking agent between the first and second fibers. The agent is constructed to cross-link in a first active mode when the first and second fibers are electrified and is constructed to not cross-link in a second inactive mode when the first and second fibers are not electrified. The brace surrounds a body part, such as a knee or neck. The agent can include an ER fluid and/or EAP. A brace system includes a selectively electrically activated brace for the part of the body.

An enhanced garment and method of using the same is characterized by a garment that provides for one or more grip pads to be secured onto or integrated into the garment at locations where the grip pads may be advantageous to the user. In some embodiments, the positioning of the grip pads on or within the garment may correspond to locations wherein friction, cushioning, or other advantage is desired. When in use, the present invention may provide that the user may grip objects more securely, manipulate objects equipment more efficiently, or otherwise perform tasks in a desired way.

A shoulder pad assembly has main body cushions consisting of a plurality of different types of foam material joined together to result in a hybrid pad structure constructed from slow-response foam and open-cell foam. A main body cushion is constructed from a first sheet or panel of slow-response foam disposed over the torso of the wearer, a second sheet or panel of slow-response foam disposed over the back of the wearer, joined together by a third sheet or panel of open-cell foam positioned between the first sheet and second sheet, disposed over the wearer's shoulder. Optionally, a fourth sheet or pad of slow-response foam is disposed on the third sheet, disposed over the wearer's shoulder, preferably at the location that is most likely to suffer blows during football play. Optionally, a fifth sheet or pad of open-cell foam is disposed on the first sheet, on the side of the first sheet in contact with the wearer and a sixth sheet or pad of open-cell foam is disposed on the second sheet.

The invention is to shoulder pads having arches that are pivotably connected to the chest and back portions of the pads to give an increased range of motion for a user. The arch is connected with a single pivoting connection on the chest portion and a single pivoting connection on the back portion so that the arch pivots relative to the chest and back portions of the shoulder pads. The arch portions of the pads are manufactured by injection molding so that the arches maintain their arch shape without the need for structural components to maintain its shape. The invention also includes a buckle system for shoulder pads that provide an easy mechanism for a user to adjust and to take the pads on and off. The buckle system provides a generally flush mount which reduces and preferably eliminates any grab points.

An airbag inflation system includes a processing circuit configured to receive object data including positional data regarding an object and at least one of a relative velocity and a relative acceleration of the object relative to a first helmet and control operation of an inflation device to inflate an airbag based on the object data.

A head, neck and shoulder protection assembly for protecting the head, neck and shoulders of a user includes a pair of shoulder pads. A helmet, which has a bottom edge defining an opening, is reversibly couplable to the shoulder pads. The bottom edge is substantially complementary to an upper surface of the shoulder pads. The helmet is couplable to the shoulder pads such that the helmet is fixedly positioned relative to the shoulder pads. The opening is configured for insertion of the user's head into the helmet. The helmet is positioned to couple to the pair of shoulder pads, such that movement of the helmet relative to the shoulder pads is restricted. The helmet is dimensionally larger than the head and neck of the user, such that the user has full range of movement of the head and neck of within the helmet without the user's head contacting the helmet.