Embodiments of the present invention relate to a neck gaiter having a chewing surface attached to a part of the neck gaiter. The gaiter is designed for individuals on the Autism Spectrum who chew objects to satisfy their self-stimulatory behavior needs. This is a form of self-stimulation which can relieve anxiety, reduce fear and combat sensory overload. The gaiter is sized and proportioned to comfortably and releasably encompass the neck of the individual who will be wearing the gaiter. A textured chewing surface is attached to a central region of the gaiter. The chewing surface is made of non-toxic, tasteless material that does not erode during the chewing process, such as rubber, plastic, silicone, or a combination thereof. The chewing surface preferably comprises a plurality of indentations or protrusions to produce a textured surface.

The present invention relates to a standalone wearable protector, including a thin layer supporting fabric, at least one inflatable bag housed in a seat provided in said supporting fabric, at least one gas generator acting as inflating means connected to said inflatable bag and fastened directly or indirectly to said supporting fabric, a control unit also fastened directly or indirectly to said supporting fabric and suitable for activating said inflating means and sensing means connected to said control unit and provided on said supporting fabric. The present invention also relates to a protective clothing assembly including a protective garment made of material resistant to abrasion and friction stresses and said standalone wearable protector.

In one embodiment, a method of supporting the neck of a user when the user is laying on his or her back includes: obtaining a neck support device including first and second leg attachment portions, a head cradle, and a first coupling portion attaching the first leg attachment portion to the head cradle and a second coupling portion attaching the second leg attachment portion to the head cradle; attaching the first leg attachment portion to the first leg or foot of the user; attaching the second leg attachment portion to the second leg or foot of the user; and arranging the head cradle on a back portion of a user's head such that the user's head is held in tension.

A protective garment that manages perspiration and structured to be worn on the torso as a barrier to reduce and or prevent chaffing on the shoulder area, when wearing anything heavy including but not limited to, an apparatus with shoulder straps or harnesses or protective vest or backpack or rucksack or tools, carrying a heavy load or so that the wearer can remain reasonably comfortable. There are three versions of this protective garment. The body of the garment is essentially the same. Each version is differentiated by the Collar. Version 1 has a standard collar at the base of the neck. Version 2 and 3's neck is a turtleneck construction. They are essentially the same construction that creates a barrier that may protect the wearer from having objects such as embers, bullet casings, small projectiles fall into their outer garment unto their skin, as well as cold, heat, and UV rays. When extending the turtleneck portion from the folded position, over the wearer's mouth and nose, Version 3 has a filter affixed to the front of the turtleneck and provides protection from inhalable particulates of toxic material such as sand, dust, ash, smoke particles, air pollution, and construction site materials and can also function as a method to conceal the identity of the individual.

A helmet body includes an outer shell and an energy management liner with an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface of the outer shell. At least two shoulder pad recesses are positioned at a lower edge of the outer shell on a respective left and right sides of the helmet. The energy management liner is adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and includes at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material. Each of the at least two shoulder pads is received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet, each shoulder pad extending from inside of the outer shell to across at least a majority of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell.

A shoulder pad assembly has main body cushions consisting of a plurality of different types of foam material joined together to result in a hybrid pad structure constructed from slow-response foam and open-cell foam. A main body cushion is constructed from a first sheet or panel of slow-response foam disposed over the torso of the wearer, a second sheet or panel of slow-response foam disposed over the back of the wearer, joined together by a third sheet or panel of open-cell foam positioned between the first sheet and second sheet, disposed over the wearer's shoulder. Optionally, a fourth sheet or pad of slow-response foam is disposed on the third sheet, disposed over the wearer's shoulder, preferably at the location that is most likely to suffer blows during football play. Optionally, a fifth sheet or pad of open-cell foam is disposed on the first sheet, on the side of the first sheet in contact with the wearer and a sixth sheet or pad of open-cell foam is disposed on the second sheet.

There is no other self-inflatable football collar in the American football equipment market. Upon impact to the helmet, this collar is designed to catch in lower lip of the football helmet and transfer the force from the head and neck of the collar and shoulders.

A head and neck restraining system includes a helmet, a neck brace structure, and a tether system. The neck brace structure includes a neck extension that is attached to shoulder extensions. The tether system includes at least one ring structure that is configured to attach to the helmet and a single tether material that slides through the at least one ring. The single tether material is guided along the neck extension and attached to the shoulder extensions. The at least one ring structure is positioned between the neck and shoulder extensions along the single tether material and splits the load on the helmet to the neck extension and the shoulder extension along to the single tether material created by exerted forces.

A guard to protect the neck of a person absorbs kinetic energy from an object that, if not for the guard, would strike the person's neck. The guard includes a body that has a material that deforms when an object strikes it, a shape configured to cover the posterior region of each of the cervical vertebrae of a person's spine when the guard is worn by a person to protect their neck, and a coupler to position and hold the body over the posterior region of each of the cervical vertebrae of a person's spine. The guard's body also includes a first region positioned above a person's first cervical vertebrae, when the guard is worn by a person to protect their neck, and a second region positioned above a person's last cervical vertebrae, when the guard is worn by a person to protect their neck.

A protective apparel having a collar is disclosed. The collar defines a stowage pouch. The protective apparel comprises a foldable chinstrap having a first end and a second end. The first ends of the foldable chinstrap is disposed within the stowage pouch and the second end is attached to an interior surface of the collar in a folded configuration. The foldable chinstrap transitions from the folded configuration to an unfolded configuration when the second end of the foldable chinstrap is separated from the interior surface of the collar and extended to attach to an exterior surface of the collar.