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.

A description is given of a shin guard (1) having a shin element (2) which is based on a hard plastics material or metal and has a concave inner side (16) which is curved transversally to a longitudinal axis (41) of the shin guard and encloses an interior (18) for accommodating a user's shin region. The shin guard is characterized in that at the lower end of the shin element (2), said lower end being directed towards the user's foot, it has a separate sliding element (3), which is based on a hard plastics material or metal and has a concave inner side (17), winch is adapted to the lower region of the shin element (2) and is curved transversally to the longitudinal axis (41) of the shin guard, as well as a convex outer surface (11), and in that the sliding element (3) is mounted such that it can be displaced dynamically essentially along the longitudinal axis (41), within defined limits, counter to a spring force directed towards the foot.

The invention concerns cushioning compositions comprising (a) at least one of urethane polymer and silicone polymeric putty; and (b) hydraulic silicone crumb; said hydraulic silicone crumb being mixed with component (a). The invention also concerns devices and methods using such compositions. Protective devices have been used to protect the hoofs of animals. Shoes have been used to protect the hoofs from damage while the animal is walking or running.

A decompression floating protective patellar knee joint pad for preventing contact between the patella and an external surface may include a fabric sleeve sized to surround a user's knee region, extending from the user's lower leg to the user's thigh; a stabilizing platform with a central opening mimicking a shape of the patellar region of the user attached to the fabric sleeve; a cushioning material attached to a posterior surface of the stabilizing; and a patellar cap attached to the stabilizing platform and covering the central opening, wherein the patellar cap is protracted away from the user, creating a void configured to prevent the patella from having contact with the external surface.

This invention provides for an improved lineman trouser comprising: an upper segment extending down from a waist to about 6 inches above a knee; a middle section attached to the upper segment and extending down to a bottom segment of the trouser; a gusseted crotch, wherein the upper segment constructed with only one vertical seam at a front side of the trouser above the gusseted crotch to the waist, the middle section constructed with only one vertical seam on each outside leg of the trouser, the middle section joined to the upper segment with the gusseted crotch without a central seam so that there is no central seam between the trouser's seat and the front side of the trouser.

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.

Articles and methods for obtaining measurements for the design and/or manufacture of personalized and/or customized clothing, and/or alteration of existing patterns or clothing, and for measuring and/or monitoring one or more parameters, such as size(s), shape(s) and dimension(s), of one or more aspects of a body of the wearer of the article. The articles include a stretchable material interwoven with sensors and/or conductive fibers. The articles include socks, bodysuits, bras, gloves, hats, and so forth. The personalized and/or custom-fitted clothing includes shirts, suits, pants, shorts, dresses, skirts, bras and other undergarments, sleepwear, socks, shoes, gloves, hats, exercise/active wear, protective wear (e.g., helmet, shoulder pads, body armor, etc.), and so forth. The articles and methods may further be used for health and fitness assessment.

Garments made from a composite, protective fabric are disclosed. The composite fabric has textile layers placed in proximity to metallic mesh layers of woven stainless steel mesh. The metal mesh layers formed from any metal which forms suitable fibers. The textile layers are fabric formed with well-known fabric fibers selected from those including para-aramid fibers, meta-aramid fibers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, cellulose fibers, polyamide fibers, a mixture of para-aramid fibers and meta-aramid fibers, and a mixture of para-aramid fibers and carbon fibers. Forming the non-metal textile layers is by any suitable method for interlacing yarns including weaving, knitting, crocheting, knotting, or felting, or combinations thereof. The garments made using the fabric include gloves, bullet proof vests and chain-saw resistant trousers.

Protective materials and protective garments make using the materials are disclosed. The protective materials include metallic mesh layers sandwiched between inner and outer layers of fabric. The mesh is joined at one or both ends to pieces of elastic material that are also sandwiched between the layers of fabric and are joined to them. The metallic meshes are woven from stainless steel fiber having a diameter of less than 0.20 mm and have a largest space between fibers of less than 0.20 mm. The meshes may be regular cut or bias cut or a combination thereof. Multiple meshes may be overlaid such that their respective warp-fiber directions are oriented at an angle of 22.5 +/−5 degrees with respect to each other. The protective material may be used protective clothing such as, but not limited to, gloves, knee and elbow guards as described in detail in the specification.