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A conformable shielding for protective equipment including multiple shielding elements constructed from rigid, impact resistant material and a flexible material overlaying the elements. The material can include a connecting element joining the shielding elements. The connecting element can enable ad

A conformable shielding for protective equipment including multiple shielding elements constructed from rigid, impact resistant material and a flexible material overlaying the elements. The material can include a connecting element joining the shielding elements. The connecting element can enable adjacent shielding elements to flex about a plurality of axes, relative to one another, and to extend outwardly from one another, and to retract toward one another. The connecting element can include an accordion structure positioned between adjacent shielding elements, and can be aligned with a joint of the appendage of the wearer.

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1. A conformable shielding for protective equipment, comprising: a plurality of shielding elements constructed from a rigid, impact resistant material, at least one of the shielding elements having a curved cross section to conform to an appendage of a wearer of the protective equipment, at least on

1. A conformable shielding for protective equipment, comprising: a plurality of shielding elements constructed from a rigid, impact resistant material, at least one of the shielding elements having a curved cross section to conform to an appendage of a wearer of the protective equipment, at least one of the shielding elements defining a plurality of apertures, the plurality of shielding elements including an interior surface adapted to face the appendage of the wearer, and an exterior surface opposite the interior surface;a flexible elastomeric material joined with adjacent ones of the shielding elements, the flexible elastomeric material overlaying at least a portion of the exterior surface, the flexible elastomeric material at least partially projecting into the plurality of apertures defined by the shielding elements to provide a mechanical interlock between the flexible elastomeric material and the respective shielding elements, the elastomeric material including a connecting element extending between adjacent ones of the shielding elements to join the adjacent shielding elements,wherein the connecting element enables the adjacent ones of the shielding elements to flex about a plurality of axes, relative to one another, and to extend outwardly from one another, and to retract toward one another,wherein the connecting element is aligned with a joint of the appendage of the wearer,wherein the connecting element includes an accordion structure positioned between spaced apart side portions of the adjacent shielding elements, the accordion structure providing flexibility to the connecting element,wherein each shielding element includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the at least one shielding element is adjacent the second end of another shielding element with a ventilation gap defined therebetween, wherein at least a portion of the joint of the wearer's appendage is located under the ventilation gap, the flexible elastomeric material leaving at least a portion of the ventilation gap uncovered when the appendage is in a flexed state and in an unflexed state,wherein the first end of the shielding element includes a projection that protrudes outward over the ventilation gap so that the ventilation gap remains at least partially covered by the projection when the appendage of the wearer is in the flexed state. 2. The conformable shielding of claim 1 wherein the appendage is a digit of a wearer's hand, wherein the plurality of shielding elements include a first shielding element adapted to overlay and protect a distal phalanx of a wearer's digit, a second shielding element adapted to overlay and protect a middle phalanx of a wearer's digit, and a third shielding element adapted to overlay and protect a proximal phalanx of a wearer's digit. 3. The conformable shielding of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of shielding elements include opposing sides and an upper portion, wherein the connecting element spans the gap on the opposing sides of the adjacent shielding elements, and terminates short of the upper portion. 4. The conformable shielding of claim 1 wherein the plurality of apertures include at least one connecting element aperture pair, the connecting element aperture pair including a first aperture defined by a first shielding element and a second aperture defined by a second shielding element adjacent the first shielding element. 5. The conformable shielding of claim 4 wherein the first aperture and the second aperture are offset a distance from one another so that the first and second apertures do not overlay one another, the first and second apertures being non-aligned. 6. The conformable shielding of claim 5 wherein the connecting element includes a first end and a second end, wherein the first end includes a portion that extends at least partially into the first aperture, wherein the second end includes another portion that extends at least partially into the second aperture. 7. The conformable shielding of claim 6 wherein the accordion structure is positioned at least partially between the first aperture and the second aperture. 8. The conformable shielding of claim 1 wherein the connecting element includes the plurality of axes about which the adjacent shielding elements can pivot in relation to one another. 9. A conformable shielding for protective equipment, comprising: a first shielding element constructed from a rigid, impact resistant material, the first shielding element configured to follow the contours of a portion of a wearer's body;a second shielding element adjacent and joined with the first shielding element, the second shielding element configured to follow the contours of a portion of a wearer's body, the first shielding element and the second shielding element defining a ventilation gap therebetween;a flexible material overlaying the first shielding element and the second shielding element, the flexible material including a connecting element extending between the first and second shielding elements to join the shielding elements, the connecting element including an accordion structure extending between spaced apart side portions of the first and second shielding elements,wherein the connecting element enables the first and second shielding elements to flex about a plurality of axes, relative to one another, and to extend outwardly from one another, and to retract toward one another,wherein the connecting element is aligned with a joint of the appendage of the wearer,wherein at least a portion of the joint of the wearer's appendage is located under the ventilation gap, the connecting element leaving at least a portion of the ventilation gap uncovered when the appendage is in a flexed state and in an unflexed state,wherein one of the shielding elements includes a projection that protrudes outward over the ventilation gap so that the ventilation gap remains at least partially covered by the projection when the appendage of the wearer is in the flexed state. 10. The conformable shielding of claim 9 wherein the elastomeric material is joined with the shielding elements without extending substantially beyond those shielding elements. 11. The conformable shielding of claim 9 wherein the first and second shielding elements include a plurality of apertures, wherein the elastomeric material at least partially projects into the plurality of apertures to provide a mechanical interlock between the shielding elements and the flexible elastomeric material. 12. The conformable shielding of claim 9 wherein the first and second shielding elements define a connecting element aperture pair, the connecting element aperture pair including a first aperture defined by the first shielding element adjacent the gap and a second aperture defined by a second shielding element adjacent the gap. 13. The conformable shielding of claim 12 wherein the connecting element includes first and second ends, wherein the flexible elastomeric material extends at least partially into each of the first and second apertures to mechanically interlock the first and second ends to the first and second shielding elements.