Flexible material

Abstract

A flexible material includes a plurality of separate resilient elements joined to a flexible, resiliently stretchable substrate. Such a material is suitable for providing protective war for human and animal bodies. Preferably, the elements includes a foam material such as a closed cell polyethylene foam and the substrate includes a knitted fabric. In an advantageous embodiment, a second flexible substrate is bonded over the elements to sandwich them between the two layers of substrate.

Description

[0001]Notice: multiple reissue applications have been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,325. This application is a continuation reissue application of reissue application Ser. No. 11 / 269,919, filed Nov. 8, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. Re. 41,346 which is a reissue application of U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,325, filed as application Ser. No. 10 / 030,782 on Apr. 23, 2002, which claims priority to PCT / GB00 / 02687 filed Jul. 13, 2000; GB99 / 16291 filed Jul. 13, 1999; and GB 99 / 21804 filed Sep. 16, 1999; all of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS[0002]Not applicable.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0003]Not applicable.REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX[0004]Not applicable.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0005]The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a flexible material suitable, primarily, for use as a flexible protective material to protect for human and animal bodies.BACKGROUND OF THE IN...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention provides a flexible material that can be used as protective material or wear. The material is made up of separate, resilient elements that are bonded to a flexible substrate. This allows the material to flex in all directions, making it more comfortable and better suited for movement. The elements can be made of foam or other materials that provide desired properties, such as flexibility or insulation. The material can be used in various forms, such as clothing, furniture, or upholstery. It can also be used as a cushioning medium for beds and wheelchairs. The material is resilient, comfortable, and can be easily manufactured."

Problems solved by technology

There are, however, a number of problems with this arrangement.

Provision of different sizes can be expensive or inconvenient.

Also, closely fitting articles can restrict movement of the wearer, especially when worn on or near joints.

However, the foram elements of the bandage touch one another at their base, which restricts the stretchability of the material as a whole and is also designed to be worn with the elements in contact with the skin, which would restrict movement.

A moulded foam article can only correctly fit a joint when in one position.

When the joint moves, the article will no longer fit correctly.

This may reduce the protection it affords.

Such materials are time consuming to produce.

Also, such materials can generally only easily be flexed in a direction perpendicular to that of the strips of foam.

Flexing the material in a direction along the length of the strips involves flexing the strips themselves which, depending on the type of foam used, can be difficult.A similar type of garment is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,082 which describes an athletic garment in which strategically placed rib-shaped gel, air or foam padding is contained in envelopes that are individually affixed to an elasticized fabric shell.

Images