Prior art protective equipment addresses primarily the upper body whilst in several sports, recreational activities the lower body is subjected to the most traumatic impacts which occur to the buttocks, coccyx, hips, shins, knees etc. Accordingly, there is a need for protective garments for the lower body tailored to the requirements of these sports. Embodiments of the present garment address this whilst also providing garments which include integrated protective elements targeting specific body regions where subset of these protective elements are either configurable to the user by virtue of being inflatable or provide additional functionality such as heating. Further, the integration of sensors and electronics allows data acquisition, alarms, closed-loop feedback of the heating/inflation etc.

Prior art protective equipment addresses primarily the upper body whilst in several sports, recreational activities the lower body is subjected to the most traumatic impacts which occur to the buttocks, coccyx, hips, shins, knees etc. Accordingly, there is a need for protective garments for the lower body tailored to the requirements of these sports. Embodiments of the present garment address this whilst also providing garments which include integrated protective elements targeting specific body regions where subset of these protective elements are either configurable to the user by virtue of being inflatable or provide additional functionality such as heating. Further, the integration of sensors and electronics allows data acquisition, alarms, closed-loop feedback of the heating/inflation etc.

An illuminated ankle strap assembly for enhancing visibility of a user in a darkened environment includes a strap that is wearable around a user's ankle. A plurality of light emitters is coupled to the strap to emit light outwardly from the strap. Each of the light emitters is actuatable in a first condition having each of the light emitters blinking on and off to visually alert the motorists to the location of the user in a darkened environment. Each of the light emitters is actuatable in a second condition has each of the light emitters is continually on. In this way each of the light emitters enhances visibility for the user when the user is walking in a darkened environment.

A knee pad support frame that is a molded component having an upper section and lower section that are coupled together by a flexible connector. The upper section has a knee pocket shape and both the upper and lower sections have ribbing to provide the necessary strength and rigidity. Additional molded components are provided for attaching the frame to the other knee pad components such as a cushion, cover and securing strap.

A full-body protection gear is disclosed. The protection gear includes a torso protector, an arm protector, and a lower body protector. The torso protector includes a protective vest defining a neck opening, a first arm opening, and a second arm opening. The torso protector includes a front shield, aback shield, a first pair of side shields, a second pair of side shields, a first shoulder shield and a second shoulder shield fixedly disposed on the protective vest. The arm protector includes a first part adapted to cover an upper arm region of a user extending from a shoulder to an elbow, and a second part adapted to be removably coupled with the first part and to cover a lower arm region of the user extending from the elbow to a palm. The lower body protector includes a first part adapted to cover pelvic region and an upper leg region of a user, and a second part removably coupled with the first part in a partial overlapping manner, and adapted to cover lower leg region of the user. The lower leg region is indicative of a region extending from above a knee joint to above an ankle joint of the user.

A full-body protection gear is disclosed. The protection gear includes a torso protector, an arm protector, and a lower body protector. The torso protector includes a protective vest defining a neck opening, a first arm opening, and a second arm opening. The torso protector includes a front shield, aback shield, a first pair of side shields, a second pair of side shields, a first shoulder shield and a second shoulder shield fixedly disposed on the protective vest. The arm protector includes a first part adapted to cover an upper arm region of a user extending from a shoulder to an elbow, and a second part adapted to be removably coupled with the first part and to cover a lower arm region of the user extending from the elbow to a palm. The lower body protector includes a first part adapted to cover pelvic region and an upper leg region of a user, and a second part removably coupled with the first part in a partial overlapping manner, and adapted to cover lower leg region of the user. The lower leg region is indicative of a region extending from above a knee joint to above an ankle joint of the user.

A wader comprising a body portion and a bootie. The bootie is attached to the body portion. The bootie is comprised of a toe piece, an ankle piece, and a sole piece. The toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are adhered together to form the bootie. The toe piece has an outside surface, and the toe piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the outside surface. The ankle piece has an inside surface, and the ankle piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the inside surface. The toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are all comprised of a neoprene material. The raised neoprene area on the inside surface of the ankle piece is configured to wick moisture up and away from the foot of the wearer.

A wader comprising a body portion and a bootie. The bootie is attached to the body portion. The bootie is comprised of a toe piece, an ankle piece, and a sole piece. The toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are adhered together to form the bootie. The toe piece has an outside surface, and the toe piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the outside surface. The ankle piece has an inside surface, and the ankle piece comprises a raised neoprene area on the inside surface. The toe piece, the ankle piece, and the sole piece are all comprised of a neoprene material. The raised neoprene area on the inside surface of the ankle piece is configured to wick moisture up and away from the foot of the wearer.

The invention disclosed herein is a protective support for joints and extremities comprising a structure for securing the support to the body in the vicinity of the joint, one or more elongated resilient hinges that are attached to the support. Each resilient hinge spans a parasagittal plane of the joint and has a superior end, an opposite inferior end, and an intermediate section there between, the hinge also defining a cross-sectional thickness that is at its minimum near the superior end and inferior end, but gradually increases along a length of the hinge such that the intermediate section defines the hinge's maximum cross-sectional thickness. Each hinge may define a plurality of longitudinal ribs and optional transverse ribs that aid in structural integrity of the hinge and may have a generally hourglass shape, and with the superior and inferior ends adapted to conform to the various superficial contours of the joint or extremity.

An athletic sock for athletes, or those seeking to increase their athletic performance, to reduce the likelihood of lateral-extension ankle sprains and foot and leg cramps, and to reduce the likelihood of aggravating or bring relief from plantar fasciitis. The sock will additionally increase an athlete's vertical jump height and lateral foot speed. The sock enacts tensions on the foot at specific locations causing the foot to dorsiflex. The sock incorporates elastic material from the balls of the feet to an area ranging from the instep to above the ankle to provide tension for dorsiflexion. Elastic material is placed around the ankle and heel for support and protection while maintaining tensile strength that does not inhibit easy application of the sock or the foot's range of motion. Elastic material can be added around the arch of the sock to further reduce the aggravation of, or bring relief from, plantar fasciitis.