Flexible protection layer for body protecting products

Abstract

Method for producing a flexible protection layer which can be incorporated in different body protecting products in order to prevent injuries caused by penetrating objects, such as nails, pointed weapons and the like. According to the method polymer fibres having a high breaking point are embedded in a hardenable binding material so that the binding material surrounds the fibres and upon hardening fixes the fibres in their positions. The method is characterized in that the fibres are embedded in the binding material in a mutually unarranged order, preferably felted together. The invention also relates to a flexible protection layer produced in accordance with the method and which can be incorporated in different body protecting products.

1 . A method of producing a flexible anti-nail protective layer for footwear intended to prevent injuries caused by penetrating objects, such as nails and the like, in which polymer fibers with high ultimate strength are embedded in a hardenable binder, so that the latter surrounds the fibers and, after hardening, fixes the fibers in the positions in which they are located, characterized in that, in a first step, the, fibers are treated so that they form a handleable product, in which the fibers are present in an unarranged state in relation to one another, and in that, in a second step, this product is embedded in the binder which is shaped to form a sole of the footwear.  
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the fibers are felted together to form a handleable product which is embedded in the binder.  
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that a high-molecular polyethylene fiber is used as the fiber.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in any one of claims  1 - 3 , characterized in that the fibers are molded integrally in a layer of the outsole of the footwear, which layer forms said protective layer.  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 4 , characterized in that the fibers are molded integrally in an outsole made of polyurethane.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in any one of claims  1 - 3 , characterized in that the fibers are embedded in a binder which is shaped to form a fixed insole or a loose insole.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in any one of claims  2 - 6 , characterized in that one or more fibrous layers produced by felting fibers together is or are embedded in the binder.  
     
     
         8 . A flexible anti-nail protective layer for footwear intended to prevent injuries caused by penetrating objects, such as nails and the like, which comprises polymer fibers with high ultimate strength embedded in a hardenable binder which surrounds the fibers and, in the hardened state, fixes the fibers in their positions relative to one another, characterized in that the fibers are pretreated to form a handleable product, in which the fibers are present in an unarranged state in relation to one another, and in that the fibers are embedded in the binder in the form of a sole of the footwear.  
     
     
         9 . The protective layer as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the fibers form part of a handleable product which is obtained by felting and is embedded in the binder.  
     
     
         10 . The protective layer as claimed in  claim 8  or  9 , characterized in that the fibers comprise a high-molecular polyethylene fiber.  
     
     
         11 . The protective layer as claimed in any one of claims  8 - 10 , characterized in that the fibers are molded integrally in a layer of the outsole ( 2 ) of the footwear, which layer forms said protective layer ( 4 ).  
     
     
         12 . The protective layer as claimed in  claim 11 , characterized in that the fibers are molded integrally in an outsole ( 2 ) made of polyurethane.  
     
     
         13 . The protective layer as claimed in any one of claims  8 - 10 , characterized in that the fibers are molded integrally in a binder shaped to form a fixed insole or a loose insole.  
     
     
         14 . Footwear with anti-nail protection, characterized in that it comprises a sole ( 2 ) with a flexible protective layer ( 4 ) as claimed in any one of claims  8 - 13 .