Abstract: The invention discloses a method for coating foil comprised of nickel or a nickel alloy by sputtering a layer comprised of a metal compound on the foil in a vacuum. The foil is treated in an argon plasma with a pressure of 1031 3 to 10−2 millibar, for a variable time with a variable rate, and with energy of the plasma ions. A chromium oxide layer or a layer containing chromium oxide is successively sputtered by means of a reactive magnetron atomizing of at least one target comprised of chromium or an alloy containing chromium. The layer is sputtered with at least one atomization source in an argon-oxygen mixture with a pressure of 10−3 to 10−2 millibar. The operating point is constantly maintained in given boundaries and the foil is bonded in a defined thermal contact with a thermal buffer when the foil is being coated. The foil is coated until a given interference color pertaining to an interference of a first or second order is reached on the foil.

Abstract: A protector, particularly for protective clothing of motorcyclists, comprises an underlay comprising shock-absorbing segments, a covering layer of a yielding material, grooves having a wedge-shaped section located between the segments, and empty spaces between complementary outer edges of the protector that disappear on bending it into the form of a shell.