Patent ID: 8191174

Claim:
A conformable shielding for protective equipment, comprising: a plurality of shielding elements constructed from a rigid, impact resistant material, at least one of the shielding elements having a curved cross section to conform to an appendage of a wearer of the protective equipment, at least one of the shielding elements defining a plurality of apertures, the plurality of shielding elements including an interior surface adapted to face the appendage of the wearer, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface; a flexible elastomeric material joined with adjacent ones of the shielding elements, the flexible elastomeric material overlaying at least a portion of the exterior surface, the flexible elastomeric material at least partially projecting into the plurality of apertures defined by the shielding elements to provide a mechanical interlock between the flexible elastomeric material and the respective shielding elements, the elastomeric material including a connecting element extending between adjacent ones of the shielding elements to join the adjacent shielding elements, wherein the connecting element enables the adjacent ones of the shielding elements to flex about a plurality of axes, relative to one another, and to extend outwardly from one another, and to retract toward one another, wherein the connecting element is aligned with a joint of the appendage of the wearer, wherein the connecting element includes an accordion structure positioned between spaced apart side portions of the adjacent shielding elements, the accordion structure providing flexibility to the connecting element, wherein each shielding element includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one shielding element is adjacent the second end of another shielding element with a ventilation gap defined therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the joint of the wearer's appendage is located under the ventilation gap, the flexible elastomeric material leaving at least a portion of the ventilation gap uncovered when the appendage is in a flexed state and in an unflexed state, wherein the first end of the shielding element includes a projection that protrudes outward over the ventilation gap so that the ventilation gap remains at least partially covered by the projection when the appendage of the wearer is in the flexed state.