Disclosed is a wearable thermal protection and perspiration management apparatus that includes a two-ply composite main body and an inner layer of elastic material. The two-ply main body includes an outer layer made of moisture absorbent material and an interior layer made of moisture wicking material this is arranged in contact with the outer layer of moisture absorbent material. The interior layer provides a moisture barrier which is adapted for preventing captured moisture from contacting a wearer's body. The inner layer of elastic material is adapted and configured to secure the two-ply composite main body in contact with the wearer's body. Preferably, the two-ply composite main body has a Thermal Protective Performance rating of greater than 35 cal/cm.sup.2.

A protective pad for protection from impact and a protective garment using the protective pad may be provided. In one implementation, the protective pad may include a foam part and a plate part. The foam part may include a plurality of channels, a plurality of cutout portions, and a plate accommodating section for receiving the plate part. The channels may be formed in a first surface of the foam part and the plate accommodating section may be formed in a second surface opposite to the first surface. The cutout portions of the foam part may include through-holes formed in the foam part from the first surface to the second surface. The plate part may be arranged on the plate accommodating section of the foam part, and the plate part may include a plurality of cutout portions that are substantially aligned with the cutout portions of the foam part.

A shin protecting sock assembly includes a sock that is worn on a user's lower leg and foot during athletic activities. The sock has a pocket and a leg portion. The leg portion has a first grip section to engage the user's lower leg when the sock is worn. In this way the leg portion is inhibited from falling downwardly on the user's lower leg. The leg portion has a second grip section to engage the user's lower leg when the sock is worn. In this way the leg portion is inhibited from falling downwardly on the user's lower leg. A shield is insertable into the pocket such that the shield is positioned over the user's shin when the sock is worn. The shield is comprised of a rigid material to protect the user's shin from impact.

A leg pad (e.g., a hockey leg pad) for protecting a leg of a user, in which the leg pad is designed to enhance protection and freedom of movement (e.g., during skating strides), such as by providing flexibility of the leg pad proximate to a knee and optionally an ankle of the user (e.g., for extension and optional retraction of one or more parts of the leg pad) to better follow natural movements of the user's leg (e.g., bending of the knee and optional flexion of the ankle of the user).

Disclosed herein is a padded and prewired exoskeleton harness. The exoskeleton harness comprises a clothing article including a clothing material to receive at least a portion of a user. In certain embodiments, the clothing material includes a fabric and at least one patch with a greater coefficient of static friction and greater thickness than the fabric to increase the friction between the user and the exoskeleton, thereby increasing coupling and power transfer therebetween. In certain embodiments, the exoskeleton harness includes at least one internal electronic port positioned at an interior of the clothing material to electronically communicate with one of a plurality of skin-mounted biosensors. The internal ports are prewired within the clothing material to an external electronic a port for communicating with the exoskeleton. The prewiring of the exoskeleton harness facilitates connection between skin-mounted sensors and a data acquisition (DAQ) system.

In one example, a system includes an airbag inflating system, a control system operably coupled to the airbag inflating system, and a pair of pants and/or other lower-body garments that include one or more airbags configured to be removably coupled to the airbag inflating system. The airbag inflating system can be operated manually by the user, and/or automatically based on input from one or more sensors. The airbags may be inflated by a compressed gas, or by a flow of air from a mechanism such as a fan.

A compression foot garment is integrally knit of a body yarn, and adapted for wear on a foot of a user. The foot garment incorporates first and second high compression zones, and a compression release zone between the high compression zones. The first high compression zone is adapted for applying substantially circumferential compression to the foot below the plantar fascia between the calcaneus and metatarso-phalangeal joints and generally around the midfoot. The second high compression zone is adapted for applying substantially circumferential compression to the foot above the calcaneus and generally around an ankle of the user. The first and second high compression zones may comprise elastic yarns integrated with the body yarn. The compression release zone is adapted for applying reduced compression to the foot in an area between the first and second high compression zones.

The present invention relates to motorcycling and devices that facilitate high speed cornering for motorcycle riders, particularly in motorcycle racing. Motorcycle riders lean into turns while cornering with increasing lean angles dependent on the speed and radius of the corner. Improved tire compounds allow increased cornering angles for riders. Riders typically provide support during cornering by dropping their knees and forearms to the ground. Prior art pads exist to protect riders during these cornering maneuvers but have the significant drawback of substantial friction between the ground and the pad. This friction slows the rider, impacts the cornering geometry and creates rider discomfort.

The present invention seeks to solve these problems by providing a forearm and shin glider for motorcycle cornering. The claimed invention includes a deformable base with slits that allow secure and comfortable fit to the rider's arm or leg. An abrasion resistant casing is attached to the base. This casing holds a set of abrasion resistant balls made of high speed smooth abrasion resistant ceramic. The abrasion resistant balls are located by bearings, also manufactured of ceramic. This device allows the rider to make contact with the ground for support during tight cornering maneuvers with substantially reduced and minimized friction. The abrasion resistant balls move smoothly within the bearings and casing and roll when contacting the ground, creating minimal friction but also providing substantial rider support. The glider device is attached to the rider's clothing using Velcro or hook and loop attachment devices.

The invention is to a protective pad for protection from impact and a protective garment using the same. The protective pad includes a foam part and a plate part. The foam part includes a plurality of channels, a plurality of cutout portions, and a plate accommodating section for receiving the plate part. The channels are formed in a first surface of the foam part and the plate accommodating section is formed in a second surface opposite to the first surface. The cutout portions of the foam part are through-holes formed in the foam part from the first surface to the second surface. The plate part is arranged on the plate accommodating section of the foam part, and the plate part includes a plurality of cutout portions that are substantially aligned with the cutout portions of the foam part.

An impact force dampening and defusing structure includes a plurality of components arranged in a grid array. A component has a three-dimensional geometric shape that includes an impact receiving surface area and an impact defusing surface area. The impact defusing surface area is larger than, and a distance d from, the impact receiving surface area. The component includes a material composition and, when an impact force strikes the impact receiving surface area of the component and the impact force dampening and defusing structure is in position to protect a body part, the component contributes to reducing pressure on the body part based on the material composition, the distance d, the impact receiving surface area, and the impact defusing surface area.