IMPACT ABSORBING STRUCTURES FOR ATHLETIC HELMET

A garment worn by a wearer has an exterior shell and an interior shell with impact absorbing material comprising various structures between the exterior shell and the interior shell. When force is applied to the exterior shell, the structures of the impact absorbing materials deform (e.g., compress), reducing the force received by the interior shell. For example, the impact absorbing material forms structures such as multiple branched "Y" shapes or multiple cylindrical rods with a surface contacting the exterior shell and a surface contacting the interior shell. The interior of the rods and other impact absorbing structures may be filled with a deformable material, such as foam. The impact absorbing material may be formed into jacks, spherical shapes, bristles, intersecting arches, or other shapes positioned between the exterior shell and the interior shell.