An apparel system configured to be worn on a torso of a wearer is disclosed. The apparel system includes an apparel having an area configured to cover at least a left pectoral region of the wearer when the apparel is worn. The apparel system includes a rigid plate configured to be coupled to the apparel at a location covering the left pectoral region of the wearer when the apparel is worn. The rigid plate has a contour corresponding to the left pectoral region of the wearer. The apparel system lacks any additional rigid plate other than the rigid plate. A protective element configured to be worn by a wearer is also disclosed. The protective element comprises a rigid plate configured to cover a left pectoral region of the wearer when the protective element is worn. The rigid plate has a contour corresponding to the left pectoral region of the wearer.

A back protection device for the practice of sporting activities includes a plate covering at least partially the surface of the back and in the thickness of which recesses are made intended to ensure the flexibility of the plate. The plate comprises a longitudinal ridge, the axis of which is intended to extend along the spine by delimiting, on either side, two right and left parts, each composed of an upper zone and a lower zone. The four zones are movable relative to each other, each being provided with recesses in the form of slots opening onto at least one face of the plate and being oriented with an inclination angle that is variable relative to the axis of the longitudinal ridge, so as to dissociate the flexibility of said zones.

A plate carrier (such as a vest) is provided having shock absorption capabilities for absorbing shock in response to movement of a plate within the carrier resulting from movement of the wearer. The plate carrier can include a cradle that supports the plate within a pocket from underneath. Stretchable material may be incorporated into the cradle to provide shock absorption. For example, the cradle may include a limit strap hanging to form a first loop and a shock-absorption strap hanging to form a second loop spaced above the first loop. The shock-absorption strap may be formed from a material more stretchable than the limit strap, for example, so that the limit strap provides a limit of plate deflection and shock absorption provided.

A method of making articles of apparel that include a base layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface. The base layer is associated with a thermoplastic polymer element, then an aperture is formed through the base layer and the thermoplastic polymer element. A cushioning elements that may have a first material layer, a second material layer, and a plurality of foam components is positioned proximate the aperture. The first material layer and the second material layer are bonded to the second surface of the base layer. The foam components are located between and secured to the first material layer and the second material layer. In addition, the foam components are positioned to correspond with a location of the aperture.

A garment (1) comprising an inflatable protection device (10) and a housing (2), the inflatable protection device (10) comprising at least one inflatable bag (12) housed in the housing (2) and designed to move between a rest condition, where it is in a deflated status and an operating condition, where it is in an inflated status and inflation means (14) connected with the inflatable bag (12) and designed, once triggered, for selectively inflating the inflatable bag (12). The at least one inflatable bag (12) is manufactured with an elastic material and, in said rest condition, occupies a limited portion of said housing (2).

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.

The invention relates to a garment (1), especially to a sports garment, comprising a substrate (2) which covers a part of the body of the wearer of the garment (1). To provide a garment of the generic type which has good thermal insulation properties and which is especially suitable for sports the invention proposes that the substrate (2) is at least partially designed as an at least two-layer arrangement, wherein an inner layer (3) is facing the body of the wearer and an outer layer (4) is delimiting the outside of the garment (1), wherein the two layers (3, 4) form a pocket (5) which is filled with a filling material (6) and wherein the filling material (6) are at least partially plastic particles which are arranged loosely in the pocket (5).

A clothing protection system for protecting elderly people from falls and for monitoring data captured by the clothing protection system. The clothing protection system includes an article of clothing having at least one hidden pocket for holding a pad element. The at least one hidden pocket and the pad element are positioned adjacent to an impact point of the elderly person. The clothing protection system also includes at least one sensor supported by the article of clothing. The sensor can be positioned in close proximity to the pad element to monitor movement of the elderly person. A method of collecting and monitoring data related to falls of elderly people includes the step of implementing a clothing protection system for an elderly person. The method also includes the step of receiving fall data from the clothing protection system responsive to a fall for the elderly person.

The invention relates to a garment (1), especially to a sports garment, comprising a substrate (2) which covers a part of the body of the wearer of the garment (1). To provide a garment of the generic type which has good thermal insulation properties and which is especially suitable for sports the invention proposes that the substrate (2) is at least partially designed as an at least two-layer arrangement, wherein an inner layer (3) is facing the body of the wearer and an outer layer (4) is delimiting the outside of the garment (1), wherein the two layers (3, 4) form a pocket (5) which is filled with a filling material (6) and wherein the filling material (6) are at least partially plastic particles which are arranged loosely in the pocket (5).

A plate carrier (such as a vest) is provided having shock absorption capabilities for absorbing shock in response to movement of a plate within the carrier resulting from movement of the wearer. The plate carrier can include a cradle that supports the plate within a pocket from underneath. Stretchable material may be incorporated into the cradle to provide shock absorption. For example, the cradle may include a limit strap hanging to form a first loop and a shock-absorption strap hanging to form a second loop spaced above the first loop. The shock-absorption strap may be formed from a material more stretchable than the limit strap, for example, so that the limit strap provides a limit of plate deflection and shock absorption provided.