Shoes and braces with superelastic supports

• US 20020038522A1
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Published: 04/04/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James G. Whayne, Russell A. Houser
• Original Assignee: James G. Whayne, Russell A. Houser
• Inventors: Whayne, James G., Houser, Russell A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,718,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/28
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1415 characterised by the location under the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/14 Special medical insertions for shoes for flat-feet, club-feet or the like

Abstract

Described are shoes, orthodic appliances, and anatomic braces containing superelastic support members for enhanced performance. The superelastic supports provide dynamic response to deflection. As such, the superelastic supports incorporated in the soles of shoes enhance walking, running, jumping, kicking, or other motion involving the foot. The superelastic supports may be incorporated in the body of shoes to reinforce the ankle joint. The embodiments of the invention also provide superelastic supports in braces to reinforce or stabilize the knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, shoulders, back, neck, hips, or other anatomy commonly associated with a degree of twisting, rotation, bending, or other desired motion. The braces also intensify the motion of anatomic structures, apply a specific resistance at the joint to strengthen the muscles during training or rehabilitation, and/or immobilize or stabilize joints, bones, or other anatomic structures during healing of an injury.

Claims

1. An orthopedic device for supporting an anatomy comprising:

at least one superelastic member;

a covering encapsulating said superelastic member;

wherein said superelastic member is adapted to deflect in response to an external force and return towards its resting configuration upon reducing or removing the external force.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said covering comprises the sole of a shoe;

and

wherein, multiple superelastic members are distributed throughout said covering.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said covering comprises the housing of an orthodic appliance;

and

said superelastic member is bonded between layers of said covering.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said covering comprises an anatomic brace;

and said superelastic member is bonded between layers of said covering.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one first superelastic member having first stiffness parameters and at least one second superelastic member having second stiffness parameters different from said first stiffness parameters are distributed throughout said covering.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said superelastic member comprises a first end having first stiffness parameters and a second end having second stiffness parameters different from said first stiffness parameters.

7. An orthopedic device for exerting a force against an anatomy comprising:

at least one superelastic member adapted to deflect from a first configuration to a second configuration different from said first configuration in response to an external force;

a covering encapsulating said superelastic member;

wherein said superelastic member returns towards said first configuration upon reduction or removal of said external force thereby applying force against said anatomy.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein said covering defines multiple compartments in the sole of a shoe, each of said compartments adapted to removably secure said superelastic member.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein said covering comprises the housing of an orthodic appliance;

and

said superelastic member is adapted to provide cushioning against a foot by providing upward force in response to said deflection.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein said covering comprises an anatomic joint brace;

and

said superelastic member is adapted to limit motion of the joint in a first direction and augment the motion of the joint in a second direction different from said first direction.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein said covering comprises an anatomic brace;

and

said superelastic member is adapted to provide resistance to motion about the joint.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein said covering comprises the ankle region of a shoe;

the covering is bonded to the sole of said shoe; and

said structure is embedded between layers of said covering.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein said structure and covering comprise a joint brace.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein said first location is distinct from said second location.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein said second location is said first location and the at least one superelastic member extends completely around said anatomic joint.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one superelastic member extends around said anatomic joint multiple times.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein said at least one superelastic member comprises nickel titanium.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein said structure is adapted to deflect in response to an external force, said structure returns toward its preformed configuration when the external force is reduced or removed.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein said structure is adapted to expand in response to an external force for placement around said anatomic joint, said structure compresses at least partially around said anatomic joint when the external force is reduced or removed.

12. An orthopedic device for reinforcing an anatomic joint of a body comprising:

a structure fabricated from at least one superelastic member extending at least partially around said anatomic joint from a first location to a second location;

a covering encapsulating said structure;

wherein said structure is adapted to be removably attached to the body above and below said anatomic joint.