EASTON ICE HOCKEY PROTECTIVE LINE - STEALTH CX/ C9.0/ C7.0/ YTH CX: SHOULDER PADS, ELBOW GUARDS, LEG GUARDS, PANTS & GLOVES
The project included the design and development of three price-points (pp); the top tier pp was the CX as shown below, the second C9.0 and third C7.0. It also involved the size grading of the SR, JR and YTH sizes, with 3-4 sizes each, size validation, tech-packs were created and sampled.
The Stealth CX range is designed to be a very low profile and extremely lightweight protective, it features HDPE caps, exposed HD foams and PE inserts to provide maximum impact protection. As exposed hard caps became illegal in the game, the shoulder caps had to be covered with foams to pass the regulations. A unique design was conceived to sandwich the HDPE caps with an outer foam "skin", that still matched the design language and allowed branding applications. The dual layer construction of the shoulder pad, enabled mobility, full range of motion and close to body protection. An injected moulded sternum cap was the jewel on the pad, creating an on the shelf visual centre point. By using compression moulded exposed HD foams, it also helped to save cost and time in lamination and the material preparation time, while still being ultra protective and attractive.
Role: Developer/ 3D CAD/ Material sourcing/ Factory communication
Designed by the Montreal design team, the work collaborated upon was mainly on the development, creating tech-packs, 3D CAD modelling/ follow-ups, size grading, sample/ fit development/ feedback, material sourcing, quality control and R&D visits to factories to review and test samples.
Design and Solidworks 3D CAD modelling with the introduction of heat compression post fastenings to attach injection moulded components to the fabric and foam liners, to save assembly time and cost, instead of traditional riveting or stitching methods. Also creates a much cleaner and minimal design aesthetic with invisible fasteners.
