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.

Protector for an American football player, including, as impact absorption device, an inflatable element defining an inner chamber adapted to receive an inflation fluid and adapted to assume an active inflated condition. Use of an inflatable element as a protector for an American football player and a method for protecting an American football player are also described.

An attachment system is provided for attaching a neck protector to a face mask. The attachment system includes a cord and a connector where the connector comprises a first portion and a second portion with corresponding engaging elements and a throughbore defined through each of the first portion and the second portion for receiving the cord. Kits for attaching a neck protector to a face mask are also provided where the kits include one or both of the neck protector and face mask together with the attachment system.

Disclosed herein are an apparatus and system for limiting head movement while, for example, but not limited to, dribbling a basketball. The apparatus may comprise an upper portion made of a substantially rigid material, the upper portion being configured to contact a chin of a user; a lower portion positioned orthogonal to the to the upper portion, the lower portion being configured to connect to a neck of the user; and one or more securing portions configured to secure the upper portion and the lower portion to the user.

Implementations of an arm sleeve that provides external assistance to an arm and shoulder of a user during an arm motion are provided. In one implementation, the arm sleeve comprises a framework that includes a torso portion configured to be attached to the torso of the user and an arm portion configured to receive at least a portion of the arm of the user. The framework of the arm sleeve is a unitary construction of interconnected elastic members. The interconnected elastic members include a first elastic member configured to play an active part throughout an overhead throwing motion, a second elastic member configured to decrease the concentric contraction force necessary for shoulder abduction during the cocking phase of a throwing motion, and a third elastic member configured to assist eccentrically contracting muscles during the deceleration phase of a throwing motion. In another implementation, the framework of the arm sleeve is encased by an elastomeric cover.

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.

The emergency protective helmet includes a storage support worn about the neck, a series of curved elements mounted movable in rotation with the storage support worn about the neck and with each other at their ends so as to be able to switch between a first, functional deployed position, in which the curved elements form a protective structure, and a second, non-functional stowed position, in which the curved elements are housed in the storage support worn about the neck, the emergency protective helmet further including a compressed gas cartridge and a set of flexible tubes fluidically connected to the cartridge and connecting the curved elements to each other, the flexible tubes being arranged such that inflating the flexible tubes switches the curved elements from the second, stowed position to the first, deployed position.

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 radiation protective device, such as a thyroid collar, for protection against radiation, such as ionizing radiation is disclosed. The device comprises a first section extending in a transverse direction, from a first front portion to a first back portion, in a coronal direction, and in a sagittal direction, the first front portion and the first back portion having a length in the coronal direction, and a second section extending in the transverse direction, from a second front portion to a second back portion, in the coronal direction, and in the sagittal direction, the second front portion and the second back portion having a length in the coronal direction, wherein the second front portion of the second section is arranged at least partially coronal of the first front portion of the first section.

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.