Body protective device

In a body padding comprising a plurality of modules, an elastic membrane interconnecting each of said modules and a plurality of air passages extending through at least one of said modules and said membrane, a method for forming said modules comprising the steps of:

• placing an insert between an upper layer of material and a lower layer of material in a mold cavity between two halves of a mold;
• providing fins on said insert, said fins extending outwardly from said insert in a direction generally parallel to said upper and lower layers of material to allow centering of said insert in said mold;
• and
• bringing together the halves of said mold cavity and heating said mold to secure said upper layer of material to said lower layer of material around a perimeter of said insert, said fins inhibiting movement of said insert in a direction generally parallel to said upper and said lower layers of material;
• and
• melting a material which flows around said fins and around the perimeter of said insert to bond together said upper and lower layers of material and to capture said insert therebetween.

Body padding comprising:

• a plurality of modules, each of said modules comprising:
• an upper layer formed of a flexible material;
• a lower layer formed of a flexible material;
• a middle layer having fins extending outwardly therefrom around a perimeter to prevent movement of said middle layer during assembly;
• and
• heat activated material which flows around the perimeter of said middle layer and around said fins to bond together said upper and lower layers of material around the perimeter of said middle layer;
• and
• an elastic membrane interconnecting said modules, said membrane having an upper layer and a lower layer.

Articulated body padding comprising:

• a plurality of foam modules each having an upper surface and a lower surface;
• a first membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface and interconnecting adjacent ones of said modules, said modules being rigid relative to said first membrane, said first membrane being sufficiently flexible and stretchable to allow bending and stretching thereof in response to movement of a body part;
• and
• a second, elastic membrane having an upper surface and a lower surface, said second membrane being secured to at least one of said modules and being adapted to extend around at least a portion of a body part.