An articulated protective apparatus (100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700) comprising: an impact shell having an anterior surface (102, 516), an opposite posterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge; the impact shell further comprising: a medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the medial edge to a medial hinge edge (120, 508, 608, 710); and a lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702) extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the lateral edge to a lateral hinge edge (118, 510, 610, 708); the medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) is physically independent of the lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702); wherein the lateral hinge edge (118, 510, 610, 708) and the medial hinge edge (120, 508, 608, 710) define a physical separation between the lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702) and the medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704), thereby forming an articulation joint; and an impact attenuating structure (201, 506, 606, 706) having a posterior surface (202, 514), an opposite anterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge, the impact attenuating structure anterior surface directly coupled to the posterior surface of the impact shell proximate a portion of the medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) and proximate a portion of the lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702); characterized by a puncture prevention element (512, 612) positioned along the joint, and on the anterior surface of the impact attenuation structure (201, 506, 606, 706) between the medial hinge edge (120, 508, 608, 710) and the lateral hinge edge (118, 510, 610, 708). an impact shell having an anterior surface (102, 516), an opposite posterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge; the impact shell further comprising: a medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the medial edge to a medial hinge edge (120, 508, 608, 710); and a lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702) extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the lateral edge to a lateral hinge edge (118, 510, 610, 708); the medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) is physically independent of the lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702); a medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the medial edge to a medial hinge edge (120, 508, 608, 710); and a lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702) extending from the superior edge to the inferior edge and from the lateral edge to a lateral hinge edge (118, 510, 610, 708); the medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) is physically independent of the lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702); wherein the lateral hinge edge (118, 510, 610, 708) and the medial hinge edge (120, 508, 608, 710) define a physical separation between the lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702) and the medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704), thereby forming an articulation joint; and an impact attenuating structure (201, 506, 606, 706) having a posterior surface (202, 514), an opposite anterior surface, a medial edge, an opposite lateral edge, a superior edge, and an opposite inferior edge, the impact attenuating structure anterior surface directly coupled to the posterior surface of the impact shell proximate a portion of the medial shell element (116, 502, 602, 704) and proximate a portion of the lateral shell element (114, 504, 604, 702); characterized by a puncture prevention element (512, 612) positioned along the joint, and on the anterior surface of the impact attenuation structure (201, 506, 606, 706) between the medial hinge edge (120, 508, 608, 710) and the lateral hinge edge (118, 510, 610, 708).