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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . 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.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein said shape memory material is superelastic. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe insole according to  claim 2  wherein said shape memory material is Nitinol. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe insole according to  claim 2  wherein said shape memory material is a Titanium near-beta alloy. 
     
     
         5 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe insole according to  claim 5  wherein said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material and wherein at least one of said top layer and said bottom layer do not comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe insole according to  claim 5  wherein wherein said bottom layer, said top layer and said plurality of interconnecting filaments all comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein said shape memory material is engineered to have a martensitic state between 0 degrees C. and 90 degrees C. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein the shape memory material is engineered to oscillate between phase transformations so as to maximize its peak dampening characteristics and storage modulus. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein said shoe insole is contoured so as to provide increased support to specific regions of a user's foot 
     
     
         11 . A shoe insole according to  claim 10  wherein said contouring is achieved by shape-setting said shoe insole using a heating source. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein voids in said spacer fabric are filled with a material. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe insole according to  claim 12  wherein said material is a gel. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe insole according to  claim 12  wherein said material comprises a polymer capable of transitioning between a solid state and a viscous state due to loading and unloading of said shoe insole. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein said shape memory material is coated with silver to impart antibacterial and antifungal properties to said shape memory material. 
     
     
         16 . A shoe insole according to  claim 1  wherein said shoe insole comprises an orthotic. 
     
     
         17 . A shoe upper 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.   
     
     
         18 . A shoe upper according to  claim 17  wherein said shape memory material is superelastic. 
     
     
         19 . A shoe upper according to  claim 18  wherein said shape memory material is Nitinol. 
     
     
         20 . A shoe upper according to  claim 17  wherein said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         21 . A shoe upper according to  claim 20  wherein wherein said bottom layer, said top layer and said plurality of interconnecting filaments all comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         22 . A shoe upper according to  claim 17  wherein said shape memory material is engineered to have a martensitic state between 0 degrees C. and 90 degrees C. 
     
     
         23 . A shoe upper according to  claim 17  wherein the shape memory material is engineered to oscillate between phase transformations so as to maximize its peak dampening characteristics and storage modulus. 
     
     
         24 . A shoe upper according to  claim 17  wherein voids in said spacer fabric are filled with a material. 
     
     
         25 . A shoe upper according to  claim 17  wherein said shape memory material is coated with silver to impart antibacterial and antifungal properties to said shape memory material.