An active suspension orthotic support system is disclosed. The suspension orthotic support system comprises at least one variable resistance beam extending from a heel section to a mid-arch section of the footwear, wherein rotation of the variable resistance beam from a first position to a second position causes a resistance provided by the variable resistance beam to vary between a minimum resistance to a maximum resistance.

Articles of sports equipment, such as striking implements (e.g., sticks) and wearable articles (e.g., skates, helmets) for playing hockey or other activities, in which at least one of the characteristics (e.g., stiffness) of the articles of sports equipment is adaptable and can be altered during use of the sports equipment, such as by comprising an alterable component coupled to a controller, by comprising an alterable component that is autonomously alterable, and/or by an alterable component that can be altered in response to a command of a remote device.

A snow sport shock absorbing system includes: a snow sport device and a shock absorbing device, which is configured to attach to the snow sport device, such that the shock absorbing device absorbs shocks incurred from using the snow sport shock absorbing system for movement on a ground surface. The shock absorbing device includes an upper mounting structure, a lower mounting structure, and a shock absorber which is connected between the upper lower mounting structures.

A snow sport shock absorbing system includes: a snow sport device and a shock absorbing device, which is configured to attach to the snow sport device, such that the shock absorbing device absorbs shocks incurred from using the snow sport shock absorbing system for movement on a ground surface. The shock absorbing device includes an upper mounting structure, a lower mounting structure, and a shock absorber which is connected between the upper lower mounting structures.

A ski binding reduces a likelihood of injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the tibia is accomplished by absorption in the binding to limit loads transmitted through the boot-binding interface. Release based on an injury threshold includes a binding response tower attached to the ski and adapted for selective engagement with the ski, such that the binding response tower permits biased vertical and lateral horizontal displacement, prior to a release threshold. The binding is in communication with the boot heel and is adapted for slideable engagement in response to vertical and lateral forces exerted from the boot heel. The binding response tower adapted to disengage, or release upon reaching at least one a predetermined lateral displacement or a predetermined vertical displacement, such as when the boot heel is forced sufficiently sideways or upwards due to skier movement that would tend to cause an ACL injury.

A ski binding reduces a likelihood of injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and the tibia is accomplished by absorption in the binding to limit loads transmitted through the boot-binding interface. Release based on an injury threshold includes a binding response tower attached to the ski and adapted for selective engagement with the ski, such that the binding response tower permits biased vertical and lateral horizontal displacement, prior to a release threshold. The binding is in communication with the boot heel and is adapted for slideable engagement in response to vertical and lateral forces exerted from the boot heel. The binding response tower adapted to disengage, or release upon reaching at least one a predetermined lateral displacement or a predetermined vertical displacement, such as when the boot heel is forced sufficiently sideways or upwards due to skier movement that would tend to cause an ACL injury.

Articles of sports equipment, such as striking implements (e.g., sticks) and wearable articles (e.g., skates, helmets) for playing hockey or other activities, in which at least one of the characteristics (e.g., stiffness) of the articles of sports equipment is adaptable and can be altered during use of the sports equipment, such as by comprising an alterable component coupled to a controller, by comprising an alterable component that is autonomously alterable, and/or by an alterable component that can be altered in response to a command of a remote device.

A snow sport shock absorbing system includes: a snow sport device and a shock absorbing device, which is configured to attach to the snow sport device, such that the shock absorbing device absorbs shocks incurred from using the snow sport shock absorbing system for movement on a ground surface. The shock absorbing device includes an upper mounting structure, a lower mounting structure, and a shock absorber which is connected between the upper lower mounting structures.

A snow sport shock absorbing system includes: a snow sport device and a shock absorbing device, which is configured to attach to the snow sport device, such that the shock absorbing device absorbs shocks incurred from using the snow sport shock absorbing system for movement on a ground surface. The shock absorbing device includes an upper mounting structure, a lower mounting structure, and a shock absorber which is connected between the upper lower mounting structures.

The invention relates to a sports item (1), comprising a carrier (3) for a coupling device (25) for accommodating a user and including at least one distributing device (2) for the loads and/or forces to be transmitted to the sports item (1), which at least one distributing device (2) connects the carrier (3) to the sports item (1) via a joint arrangement, the latter having at least one pivoting arm (4, 5; 6, 7), which is pivotably connected, in each case via a joint (8, 9; 10, 11), to the sports item (1) at one arm end of the pivoting arm and to the carrier (3) at the other arm end of the pivoting arm, wherein the carrier (3) is movable from a starting position, counter to the restoring force of at least one elastic restoring element, to a balancing position in which the carrier is brought closer to the sports item (1). The sports item (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the at least one restoring element is an elastically deformable spring element (12; 13), which is held at one end on the carrier (3) and at the other end on the sports item (1).