Protective Equipment Including Bladder Components

Protective equipment, comprising:

• a base member;
• a bladder engaged with the base member, the bladder including:
• (A) a thermoplastic envelope defining an interior chamber that is movable between an expanded configuration and a compressed configuration, wherein a first through hole opening is defined through the thermoplastic envelope, the first through hole opening permitting fluid from an external environmental area to enter the interior chamber,
• (B) a first fluid line in fluid communication with the interior chamber and with the external environmental area, wherein the first fluid line is separate from the first through hole opening,
• (C) a first valve located and configured with respect to the first fluid line to allow fluid to exit the interior chamber via the first fluid line but inhibiting fluid from the external environmental area from entering the interior chamber via the first fluid line, and
• (D) a resilient component located in the interior chamber, the resilient component applying a force to the thermoplastic envelope in a direction toward the expanded configuration;
• and
• a securing system engaged with at least one of the base member or the bladder, the securing system being configured to releasably secure the protective equipment to a wearer's body.