Patent ID: 7673351

Claim:
An accessory for providing protection to a part of the human body, the accessory comprising: a rigid outer protective shell defining an interior surface; a layer of a shock absorbing material secured to the interior surface of the protective shell; wherein the shock absorbing material comprises: a support surface made of a flexible material; a plurality of upstanding, hollow support members extending from the support surface, the support members made of flexible material; wherein each support member has an inner end adjacent the support surface and an outer end adjacent the shell and a sidewall extending between the inner and outer ends; and wherein each support member defines a first opening in the sidewall, and defines a second opening in the inner end and extending through the support surface; and defines a third opening in the outer end whereby air is able to flow through the first, second and third openings in each support member; and a flex airspace defined between each pair of adjacent support members, such that the adjacent support members are free standing; and wherein the support members flex into the flex airspace upon application of a force to the support member; and wherein the rigid outer protective shell defines openings that are aligned with the third openings in the outer ends of some of the support members; whereby the openings in the shell are in communication with the first, second and third openings in the support members.