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. 12,642,550, Dec. 18, 2009, which 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. In addition to the above applications, the following also are all continuation reissue applications of reissue application Ser. No. 11 / 269,919, filed Nov. 8, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. Re. 41,346: continuation reissue application Ser. No. 11 / 642,522 filed Dec. 18, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. Re. 42,689; continuati...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a flexible material that is more comfortable and accommodative of movement than conventional materials, making it ideal for use as protective material and wear. The material has separate elements that allow for flexing in all directions without locking up, making it more universal and flexible than prior art arrangements. The elements can be of regular or irregular shape and are evenly distributed on the substrate, making it easier to flex and cut to different sizes. The material can also be used as cushioning medium for saddles, thermally insulating for swimming aids, and can be used to form protective wear or costumes for swimming or other activities. The flexible material is easy to cut and can spring back after cutting.

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.

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