A flexible, fibrous energy managing composite panel includes multiple flocked energy absorbing material (FEAM) layers separated by dividers. The FEAM layers can be single side or double side and can be fabricated from monofilament fibers having different properties (e.g., length and denier) flocked onto various substrates. The dividers can include sheets, fabrics, films, foam, spacer fabrics to separate the flock fibers in adjacent layers. The composite panels can be processed for breathability and flexibility. Other embodiments include piezoelectric FEAM layers and dividers for electronic sensing applications, and application of composite panels to body armor and the outer shells of helmets.

A shield for a lacrosse helmet, wherein the shield includes a shield structure having a shield front, a shield rear, a shield top, a shield bottom and shield sides, wherein the shield structure includes a mounting structure located proximate the shield bottom, wherein the mounting structure is configured to securely associate the shield structure with a front top portion of the lacrosse helmet, and wherein the shield structure is arcuate in shape between the shield sides to conform to the front top portion of the lacrosse helmet, and wherein the lacrosse helmet shield further includes an impact absorbent material associated with the shield rear to be located between the shield rear and the front top portion of the lacrosse helmet when the helmet shield is associated with the lacrosse helmet.

A shield for a lacrosse helmet, wherein the shield includes a shield structure having a shield front, a shield rear, a shield top, a shield bottom and shield sides, wherein the shield structure includes a mounting structure located proximate the shield bottom, wherein the mounting structure is configured to securely associate the shield structure with a front top portion of the lacrosse helmet, and wherein the shield structure is arcuate in shape between the shield sides to conform to the front top portion of the lacrosse helmet, and wherein the lacrosse helmet shield further includes an impact absorbent material associated with the shield rear to be located between the shield rear and the front top portion of the lacrosse helmet when the helmet shield is associated with the lacrosse helmet.

A helmet comprising and outer liner and an inner liner slidably coupled to an interior surface of the outer liner is disclosed. The outer liner comprises an interior surface and the inner liner comprises an exterior surface. The inner liner is composed of an elastically deformable material. A majority of the interior surface of the outer liner and a majority of the exterior surface of the inner liner are both substantially parallel to a pseudo-spherical surface having a coronal cross section that is circular with a first radius and a sagittal cross section that is circular with a second radius different from the first radius. The inner liner is elastically deformable along the interior surface of the outer liner in response to rotation of the outer liner relative to the inner liner caused by an impact to the helmet.

A fiber reinforced resin composite for ballistic protection comprising a plurality of first and second plies wherein the first and second plies further comprise a woven fabric and a polymeric resin. The fabric has a Russell tightness factor of from 0.2 to 0.7 and a cover factor of at least 0.45, The fabric is impregnated with the resin, the resin comprising from 5 to 30 weight percent of the total weight of fabric plus resin. The fabric of each first and second ply comprises regions wherein the fabric is distorted from an orthogonal woven state by a distortion angle of least 30 degrees. The composite may further comprising a third ply having a surface area no greater than 50% of the surface area of a first and second ply. The ratio of the number of first plus second plies to the number of third plies is from 2:1 to 12:1.

The present invention provides a head protection helmet comprising an impact resistant shell comprising: a cavity for accommodating a user's head and an array of crushable bodies having a hollow closed configuration, e.g. flutes in corrugated material 14,16, the crushable bodies each having an axis that extends outwardly from the cavity to absorb impact forces exerted along the direction of the axis.

The present invention provides a head protection helmet comprising an impact resistant shell comprising: a cavity for accommodating a user's head and an array of crushable bodies having a hollow closed configuration, e.g. flutes in corrugated material 14,16, the crushable bodies each having an axis that extends outwardly from the cavity to absorb impact forces exerted along the direction of the axis.

A helmet comprising and outer liner and an inner liner slidably coupled to an interior surface of the outer liner is disclosed. The outer liner comprises an interior surface and the inner liner comprises an exterior surface. The inner liner is composed of an elastically deformable material. A majority of the interior surface of the outer liner and a majority of the exterior surface of the inner liner are both substantially parallel to a pseudo-spherical surface having a coronal cross section that is circular with a first radius and a sagittal cross section that is circular with a second radius different from the first radius. The inner liner is elastically deformable along the interior surface of the outer liner in response to rotation of the outer liner relative to the inner liner caused by an impact to the helmet.

A magnetic quick connect for a fluid delivery system includes a male coupling member and a female coupling member. The male coupling member defines a first outer fluid communication path and includes a first magnetic material. A first inner member is disposed within the first outer fluid communication path and defines a first inner communication path. The female coupling member defines a second outer fluid communication path and includes a second magnetic material. A second inner member is disposed within the second outer fluid communication path and defines a second inner communication path. The male and female coupling members are detachably held together by an attractive force between the first and second magnetic materials such that the first and second outer communication paths are held in fluid communication, and the first and second inner communication paths are held in fluid communication.

A magnetic quick connect for a fluid delivery system includes a male coupling member and a female coupling member. The male coupling member defines a first outer fluid communication path and includes a first magnetic material. A first inner member is disposed within the first outer fluid communication path and defines a first inner communication path. The female coupling member defines a second outer fluid communication path and includes a second magnetic material. A second inner member is disposed within the second outer fluid communication path and defines a second inner communication path. The male and female coupling members are detachably held together by an attractive force between the first and second magnetic materials such that the first and second outer communication paths are held in fluid communication, and the first and second inner communication paths are held in fluid communication.