A method for inhibiting fungal and bacterial infections of the foot enables a foot to be covered with a flexible, waterproof sheath while an upper region of the body is being washed. The sheath is donned on the foot before the upper region of the body is washed, so as to protect against carriers of the fungal contaminants, such as liquids, debris, and soap that flow towards the foot. The sheath is sufficiently sized and dimensioned, so as to snugly encapsulate the foot, and thereby inhibit moisture, soap, fungus, and bacterium that originate at the upper regions of the body from engaging the foot, anywhere from the ankle to the toes. The method enables the entirety of the foot to be covered with the sheath through a simple tugging motion. After washing the upper region of the body, the sheath is urged off the foot, and the foot is washed independently.

A lower leg guard device is disclosed allowing a full range of ankle motion, while at the same time preventing impact injuries to the lower leg, including the Achilles area, the ankle, and the shin. The lower leg guard device includes two substantially rigid exterior shells each with a cushioned interior liner. The lower leg guard device can be securely attached to the lower leg with one or more attachment straps, and with at least one floating attachment pad that attaches to the wearer's footwear. A floating attachment pad can be positioned over both the inner side and outer side of the ankle, preferably attached to footwear that covers the ankle. The floating attachment pads are attached to the footwear using removable fasteners, located on the exterior surface of the footwear worn by the wearer, so that the guard device can be quickly and easily put on and removed.

In the configuration of a supporter that at least partially includes a tubular cover portion which covers a part of a human body and which elastically expands and contracts, a load addition pattern portion that is adhered to at least a part of a half or more circumference in a circumferential direction on the front surface of the tubular cover portion and that can apply a load of a predetermined magnitude to the part of the human body when the part of the human body to which the tubular cover portion is fitted is moved is continuously formed of an elastic rubber material. Preferably, as the elastic rubber material, a silicone rubber material is used, and a part or the whole of the area of the load addition pattern portion is formed with a mesh-shaped portion and preferably a honeycomb shape.

In the configuration of a supporter that at least partially includes a tubular cover portion which covers a part of a human body and which elastically expands and contracts, a load addition pattern portion that is adhered to at least a part of a half or more circumference in a circumferential direction on the front surface of the tubular cover portion and that can apply a load of a predetermined magnitude to the part of the human body when the part of the human body to which the tubular cover portion is fitted is moved is continuously formed of an elastic rubber material. Preferably, as the elastic rubber material, a silicone rubber material is used, and a part or the whole of the area of the load addition pattern portion is formed with a mesh-shaped portion and preferably a honeycomb shape.

A system for rapid application and adjustment of protective cushioning employs a garment component covering a body portion and having a securing element affixed thereto. A pad having a mating securing element affixed thereto is releasably attachable to the securing element to engage the pad to the garment component to protect the body portion.

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).

An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.

A body impact protection system includes an inner layer and an impact force dampening and defusing structure. The inner layer includes a material composition and is adjacent to a body part when the body impact protection system is worn. The impact force dampening and defusing structure is juxtaposed to the inner layer and includes a plurality of components. The components function to reduce pressure on the body part from an impact force on a layer by layer basis. Each layer of the system dampens and defuses the impact force such that, by the time it reaches the body part, it has been substantially attenuated and spread over a large area.

A protective clothing (100) comprising saw protective layering regions (110) comprising saw protection filler material, wherein said saw protective layering regions (110) has at least one reinforced section (120). A reinforced section (120) is also disclosed comprising saw protection filler material, said reinforced section (120) arranged to be removably arranged to protective clothing (100).

The present invention relates to a hinged leg guard that may be used by catchers in diamond sports like baseball or softball. The hinged leg guard preferably includes a thigh guard, knee guard, shin guard that may be attached to one another by a flexible fabric. The thigh guard and shin guard also are preferably attached to a double hinge member that allows them to move relative to the knee guard. The knee guard also is preferably coupled to the double hinge member. When the hinged leg guard alternates between the extended and contracted position, an extension member of the knee guard preferably translates in one translational degree of freedom within a receiver of the hinge member. The translational movement preferably helps to keep the knee guard adjacent to the knee when a wearer crouches.