Insole and foot orthotics made of shape memory material (SMM) three-dimensional spacer fabrics

Abstract

A shoe insole comprising:

• • a spacer fabric comprising a bottom layer, a top layer, and a plurality of interconnecting filaments extending between said bottom layer and said top layer;
  • wherein at least one of said bottom layer, said top layer and said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material.

Description

REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]This patent application:[0002](i) is a continuation-in-part of pending prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 843,656, filed Mar. 15, 2013 by Matthew Fonte et al. for DYNAMIC POROUS COATING FOR ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT (Attorney's Docket No. FONTE-15171824), which patent application (a) is a continuation-in-part of prior U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 764,188, filed Feb. 11, 2013 by Matthew Fonte et al. for POROUS COATING FOR ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT UTILIZING POROUS, SHAPE MEMORY MATERIALS (Attorney's Docket No. FONTE-15), which patent application claims benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 596,900, filed Feb. 09, 2012 by Matthew Fonte et al. for POROUS, SHAPE MEMORY MATERIAL, ORTHOPEDIC IMPLANT COATING (Attorney's Docket No. FONTE-15 PROV); (b) claims benefit of prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 612,496, filed Mar. 19, 2012 by Matthew Fonte et al. for POROUS, SHAPE MEMORY MATERIAL, ORTH...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]The present invention relates to a shoe insole and foot orthotics made of three-dimensional spacer fabrics produced out of metallic shape memory materials (SMM), e.g., Nitinol, which are substantially stronger than the polymer monofilaments used today and which are not susceptible to deleterious creep which often renders polymeric insoles and orthotics useless. The novel shape memory material (SMM) spacer fabric constructs can be shape set to a specific foot geometry, supply improved dampening / cushioning and offer superelastic shape recovery to ensure long-lasting support. See FIG. 6, which shows a novel three dimensional spacer fabric 50 formed out of a shape memory material (e.g., Nitinol), wherein spacer fabric 50 comprises a first layer 55, a second layer 60 and a plurality of interconnecting filaments 65 extending between the first and second layers 55, 60.

Problems solved by technology

While acceptable cushioning properties may be obtained initially, over time such elastomeric or foam material insoles are compressed during use, causing them to lose their shape.

Insoles made of elastomeric or foam materials have proven uncomfortable and ineffective to users over extended periods of use by failing to provide sufficient support and / or cushioning.

However, these polymer spacer fabrics are weak and can easily be crushed without elastic recovery.

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