Protecting an Athletic Participant Against Impact Injury

Abstract

An article, garment and method protect a user's coccyx. Articles include: a core member constructed of an elastic composite, the core member including a upper lobe and a lower lobe, the core member further having an outer face, an inner face and a thickness between the outer face and the inner face; an arched outer shell attached to the outer face of the core member, the outer shell having a thickness less than the thickness of the core member, the outer shell biasing the core member toward an arched configuration; and a layer of resilient material attached to the inner face of the core member.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article constructed for protecting a user's coccyx, the article comprising:
 a protective system comprising:   a core member constructed of an elastic composite that establishes a resistive load under deformation, the core member having a protective contour configuration including an arched central portion having a upper lobe and a lower lobe extending longitudinally along a curved path, the core member further having an outer face, an inner face and a predetermined thickness between the outer face and the inner face; and   an outer shell attached to the outer face of the core member, the outer shell having a contour configuration complementary to the protective contour configuration of the core member, and a thickness less than the thickness of the core member, the outer shell being constructed with a degree of stiffness for biasing the elastic composite of the core member toward the protective contour configuration of the core member during conduct of the athletic activity, while enabling flexing of the article to accommodate the athletic activity, such that upon fitting the article over the coccyx of the participant, the core member will protect against an impact, while the outer shell will resist damage to the core member.