Multi-layered, open-celled foam shock absorbing structure for athletic equipment

Shock absorbing structure for athletic equipment to protect a wearer from infliction of an externally applied force, comprising:

• a flexible enclosure having first and second faces and a periphery defining a cavity, said first and second faces being air impermeable and said periphery having at least one air impermeable region and at least one air permeable region such that said cavity is in continuous fluid communication with the atmosphere outside the shock absorbing structure;
• a flexible open-celled foam portion comprising a multi-layered laminate of at least three open-celled foams of different foam density including inner, outer and intermediate foam layers each having two faces, one face of said intermediate foam layer being bonded to one face of said inner foam layer and the other face of said intermediate foam layer being bonded to one face of said outer foam layer, said foam portion having first and second faces disposed adjacent to and bonded at least in part to said first and second faces, respectively, of the flexible enclosure, and having a periphery disposed adjacent said periphery of the flexible enclosure, the cells of said foam portion releasably holding a volume of air selectively varied between first and second volumes differing by a volume differential in response to application and removal of the force on the shock absorbing structure, said volume differential being transferred between the foam portion and the atmosphere outside the shock absorbing structure through said at least one air permeable region of the periphery of the flexible enclosure;
• and
• shield structure disposed outside said flexible enclosure adjacent the face of the multi-layered laminate having the highest foam density to distribute the applied force across at least a portion of said face.