Protective padding utilizing superelastic three-dimensional spacer fabric comprising shape memory materials (smm)

Abstract

Protective padding comprising: a spacer fabric comprising a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, and a plurality of interconnecting filaments extending between said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer; wherein at least one of said first fabric layer, said second fabric layer and said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Protective padding comprising:
 a spacer fabric comprising a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, and a plurality of interconnecting filaments extending between said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer;   wherein at least one of said first fabric layer, said second fabric layer and said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material.   
     
     
         2 . Protective padding according to  claim 1  wherein said shape memory material is superelastic. 
     
     
         3 . Protective padding according to  claim 2  wherein said shape memory material is Nitinol. 
     
     
         4 . Protective padding according to  claim 2  wherein said shape memory material is a titanium near-beta alloy. 
     
     
         5 . Protective padding according to  claim 1  wherein said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         6 . Protective padding according to  claim 5  wherein said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material and wherein at least one of said first fabric layer and said second fabric layer do not comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         7 . Protective padding according to  claim 5  wherein wherein said first fabric layer, said second fabric layer and said plurality of interconnecting filaments all comprise a shape memory material. 
     
     
         8 . Protective padding 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 . Protective padding 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 . Protective padding according to  claim 1  wherein said protective padding is contoured so as to provide increased support to specific regions of a wearer's anatomy. 
     
     
         11 . Protective padding according to  claim 10  wherein said contouring is achieved by shape-setting said protective padding using a heating source. 
     
     
         12 . Protective padding according to  claim 1  wherein voids in said spacer fabric are filled with a material. 
     
     
         13 . Protective padding according to  claim 12  wherein said material is a gel. 
     
     
         14 . Protective padding 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 . Protective padding 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 . Protective padding according to  claim 1  wherein said spacer fabric is disposed between an outer surface and an inner surface. 
     
     
         17 . Protective padding according to  claim 16  wherein said outer surface comprises the shell of a helmet, and said inner surface comprises a harness for attaching the shell of the helmet to the head of a wearer. 
     
     
         18 . Protective padding according to  claim 16  wherein said outer surface comprises a hard plastic. 
     
     
         19 . Protective padding according to  claim 16  wherein said inner surface comprises a soft material. 
     
     
         20 . Protective padding according to  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of said spacer fabric is coated with a polymer. 
     
     
         21 . Protective padding according to  claim 20  wherein said polymer is Teflon. 
     
     
         22 . Protective padding according to  claim 20  wherein said entire spacer fabric is coated with said polymer. 
     
     
         23 . Protective padding according to  claim 20  wherein only selected portions of said spacer fabric are coated with said polymer. 
     
     
         24 . Protective padding according to  claim 20  wherein said polymer coating is applied to the SMM wire before the SMM wire is knit into the spacer fabric construct. 
     
     
         25 . Protective padding comprising:
 an outer surface;   an inner surface; and   a spacer fabric disposed between said outer surface and said inner surface, said spacer fabric comprising a first layer, a second layer, and a plurality of interconnecting filaments extending between said first layer and said second layer;   wherein at least one of said first layer, said second layer and said plurality of interconnecting filaments comprise a shape memory material.