The Impact Protection System (IPS), designed by Charles T. Cooksey of The Cooksey Group (TCG), is a product of Cooksey's
passion for football, his favorite sport. He has loved the sport since he began playing in Pop Warner at the cornerback position
when he was eight years old.
Cooksey excelled in the position and the game. In many years he played on championship teams and received recognition. As he
ascended the different levels from Pop Warner, through high school, and on to college, he always elevated his skills and successfully
competed. As a starter at Langston University, his childhood aspirations of becoming a professional in the National Football League
seemed possible. After an impressive junior year agents and scouts contacted him and a coach confirmed his professional
potential. However, in his senior year a knee injury failed that dream. Nevertheless, he remained a loyal fan of the sport.
After graduation, Cooksey played in recreational touch and flag leagues. He briefly pursued professional football opportunities when
he went to free agent tryouts for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and the then Houston Oilers, as well as the now
defunct USFL. He ultimately became the consummate "arm chair professional".
Cooksey's passion for football sustained and grew while the game became the most popular sport in America. However, he
became very concerned and alarmed by the number of devastating and sometimes tragic collision injuries to very young amateurs
as well as veteran professionals. IPS concepts began to develop because of incidents like New England Patriots Darryl Stingley's in
1978 that resulted in him becoming a quadriplegic (Stingley later became a friend after Cooksey moved to Chicago and joined the
Darryl Stingley Youth Foundation as a mentor and PR volunteer).
Cooksey knew something had to be done to eliminate the gut-wrenching anxiety experienced by families, fans, teammates, and the
media each time a player was rendered motionless on the field after a vicious collision. He knew the unbearable tension, borne from
anxious eyes searching for even the slightest movement of a player's limbs, had to be nullified. He recognized that career-ending
concussions, post-career dementia, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), and tragic incidents resulting in paralysis and death
would diminish the game's popularity and lead to legislative restrictions and stifling litigation. Sadly, over 300 former NFL players
(and some wives) have filed lawsuits against the NFL due to concussions and other related ailments.
See Concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in the News, Studies and Statistics, and
Impact Injury News
Since 1999, Cooksey has actively conceptualized and designed IPS. In 2000, he constructed his first "conceptual prototype" made
from poster board, rubber bands, springs, etc. to confirm his concepts. Subsequently, he has evolved his original concept and
created possibly the most innovative safety equipment for sports/recreation participants and fall-prone physically challenged
individuals.
He has researched safety in the sports equipment industry and studied sports/recreation injuries. He has collaborated and consulted
with product designers, patent attorneys, product developers, material experts, mechanical engineers, equipment managers, sports
trainers, medical professionals, and athletes. In addition, Cooksey has become a member of the Chicago Concussion Coalition,
and developed relationships with the Sports Legacy Institute and the Illinois Eye Institute Foundation. These organizations are
world leaders in concussion research, prevention, awareness, and advocacy.
IPS designs and concepts are being adapted and modified for many sports/recreation activities including:
Football
Hockey
Skateboarding
Snowboarding
Cycling / Motocross / Mountain Biking
Motorcycling
Downhill Skiing / Ski Jumping
Lacrosse
Bobsleighing
Bull/Bronco Riding
Equestrian Sports
See IPS Markets - Sports/Recreation
Crude hand sketches have been transformed into detailed concept renderings.
Currently, working Pro E 3-Dimension designs are being transformed into virtual and physically functional prototypes using
3-Dimensional Printer and Rapid Prototype technology. IPS is expected to be ready for retail markets by Spring 2013.
Also, see IPS Funding Support and Rewards, The IPS Shop, and IPS Funding Impact
Also, IPS is focusing on designs for physically challenged individuals. See IPS Markets - Physically Challenged
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