Patents Examined by Haley A Smith
  • Patent number: 11974630
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure defines a ground engaging surface, and includes a cushioning member coupled to the upper and an outsole coupled to the cushioning member. The outsole includes a central portion and a plurality of lobes extending outward from a periphery of the central portion. Each of the plurality of lobes is independently movable relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: PUMA SE
    Inventors: Mauro Bonin, Andreas Siegismund, Arnaud Redon
  • Patent number: 11963576
    Abstract: A sole structure for a shoe includes an upper wall portion disposed on the upper side, a lower wall portion disposed below and away from the upper wall portion, and a sidewall portion that is disposed between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion and that is elastically deformable in the vertical direction. The upper and lower wall portions and the sidewall portion are formed of resin-made wall-shaped members. A three-dimensional elastic fiber structure formed of resin fibers is provided in the interior region between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion. The interior region includes a hollow portion that is in contact with the three-dimensional elastic fiber structure via a partition wall formed of a resin-made wall-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: MIZUNO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenjiro Kita, Takao Oda, Natsuki Sato, Yo Kajiwara, Shingo Sudo
  • Patent number: 11963574
    Abstract: A sole structure including a midsole, an outsole, and a plate disposed between the plate and the outsole. The plate includes a first portion having an arcuate shape extending through a forefoot region and a mid-foot region, and a planar second portion connected to the first portion along a joint and extending in a first plane at an oblique angle from the joint. The plate includes a first channel extending from a first end of the plate along the first portion and in a direction toward the second portion. A second channel extends from a second end of the plate along the second portion and in a direction toward the first portion. The first channel separates the plate into a first pair of tabs formed at the first end and the second channel separates the plate into a second pair of channels formed at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mesrop Megrabyan, Nathan M. VanHook
  • Patent number: 11957207
    Abstract: Foot support systems include a fluid flow control system that facilitates movement of fluid into, out of, and/or within a sole structure and/or article of footwear, e.g., to change and/or control pressure in fluid filled bladder(s). Aspects of this technology may relate to one or more of: (a) footwear structures in which such systems are incorporated; (b) valve stem based fluid flow transfer systems; (c) solenoid based fluid flow transfer systems; (d) user input button features; (e) air filter features; (f) fluid tube to fluid distributor connection features; (g) fluid distributor to footwear connection features; (h) valve position sensor features; (i) valve transmission features; (j) pressure control algorithm features; (k) electronic communication features; (l) system sealing features; and/or (m) pressure sensor mounting features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Browne, Narissa Y. Chang, Remy Pieron, Stepan Ryabinin, Adam Vollmer, Michael Fairchild, Ethan Vella, Daniel Weeks
  • Patent number: 11950653
    Abstract: A sole structure includes a foam element extending from a forefoot region to a heel region. A lower surface of the foam element includes a recess formed in the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a posterior cushioning arrangement extending along a peripheral region of the sole structure from a heel region to a mid-foot region, and an anterior cushioning arrangement disposed in the recess of the foam element. The anterior cushioning arrangement has a proximal end adjacent to the lower surface of the foam element and a distal end formed on an opposite side of the anterior cushioning arrangement than the proximal end. The anterior cushioning arrangement includes at least one medial bladder proximate to a medial side of the sole structure and at least one lateral bladder proximate to a lateral side of the sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul VanDomelen
  • Patent number: 11944155
    Abstract: An article of footwear is provided having an elevated plate structure incorporated in the sole structure and optionally including a fluid-filled chamber. The elevated plate structure can include an upper plate and a plurality of legs extending downward toward the outsole. End portions of the legs can engage an upper region of the outsole. The elevated plate structure can form a cage region that can optionally include a fluid-filled chamber substantially disposed therein. The elevated plate structure can further include a lower plate disposed at an upper region of the outsole, which can form a lower portion of the cage region. Portions of the legs can be integrated with impact-attenuating members in the heel region in various configurations and can provide features for the impact-attenuating members, such as support, impact-attenuation and adjustable impact-attenuation features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: DeVonne DeVoe, Lee D. Peyton
  • Patent number: 11937664
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided. The sole structure includes a first midsole portion, a second midsole portion, and a sheet. The first midsole portion includes a first sidewall. The second midsole portion includes a second sidewall. The sheet is disposed between the first midsole portion and the second midsole portion and extends from the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The sheet extends at least partially over the second sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Jeong Choi, Tory M. Cross, Christian Alexander Steinbeck, James Zormeir
  • Patent number: 11930882
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear is described. In one example, the sole structure includes first and second foam components and one or more mesh components, e.g., a mesh textile component. The first foam component includes first and second opposing sides, and the second foam component includes first and second opposing sides. The first and second foam components form a stack in the sole structure. The mesh components, e.g., a mesh textile component, are positioned in the stack between and bonded to the second side of the first foam component and the first side of the second foam component. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Jeong Choi, Tory M. Cross, Christian Alexander Steinbeck
  • Patent number: 11918078
    Abstract: Foot support members, e.g., sole structures for articles of footwear, include dynamically transformable portions, e.g., to change a dimension and/or apply a tensile or compressive force to some portion of an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. Such foot support members may include a flexible support member having a wave shaped portion that flexes under an applied force. Flexing of this wave shaped portion under weight of a wearer produces: (a) a change in at least one of a longitudinal or transverse dimension of the foot support member, (b) application of a compressive or tensile force to the plantar support component and/or another part of the foot support member, article of footwear, or other foot-receiving device, (c) flattening of the wave shaped portion, and/or (d) compressing the wave shaped portion together (e.g., to fold up, decrease in overall height, etc.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton
  • Patent number: 11918074
    Abstract: A bladder for an article of footwear includes a plate, a first tensile layer disposed adjacent to a first side of the plate, and a second tensile layer disposed on an opposite side of the plate from the first tensile layer, the second tensile layer joined to the first tensile layer through the plate by a plurality of inner bonds. The bladder additionally includes a first barrier layer disposed adjacent to the first tensile layer and joined to the first tensile layer by a plurality of first outer bonds to form a first chamber, one or more of the first outer bonds interposed between adjacent ones of the inner bonds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Roger Paul Murphy, Lee D. Peyton
  • Patent number: 11896080
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a cushioning element including a first material and a cradle including a second material. The cradle is attached to the cushioning element and includes a first plate disposed against the cushioning element and a second plate spaced apart from the cushioning element, the second plate including an aperture. The sole structure additionally includes a bladder disposed within the cradle and including a first portion contacting the first plate and a second portion extending through the aperture of the second plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nate Durflinger, Christopher J. Lyke
  • Patent number: 11877625
    Abstract: A force absorbing device for a footwear appliance includes a shoe sole having a planar sole surface, such that the shoe sole is adapted to be disposed against a ground surface such as turf, grass or dirt. A ground interface member having a general appearance of a footwear cleat extends from the planar sole surface. Within the sole, the ground interface member couples to a force mitigation assembly for absorbing forces against the cleat. The force mitigation assembly includes an elastic field of a resilient, compressible material, and an inclined surface is disposed against the elastic field and oriented to compress the elastic field. A linkage or connecting surface transmits a displacement force for disposing the inclined surface across the elastic field, where the inclined surface compresses the elastic field as it moves across. In response, the elastic field exerts a counterforce against the ground interface member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
    Inventor: Christopher A. Brown
  • Patent number: 11877619
    Abstract: A sole structure for a footwear article includes a system of support structures. Each support structure includes a tubular body with an inwardly curving wall, which compresses under load to attenuate a force or impact and returns to a resting state when the load is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Cailee M. Caldwell, Petre Gheorghian, Ryan R. Larson, Troy C. Lindner, Thea Moshofsky, Jay T. Worobets, Krissy Yetman
  • Patent number: 11849799
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a three-dimensional structure composed of a unit structure repeatedly, regularly and continuously arranged in at least one direction, the unit structure being a three-dimensional shape formed by a wall having an external shape defined by a pair of parallel planes or curved surfaces. In the shock absorber, a differently shaped portion which does not correspond to the wall defining the unit structure is locally provided in a shock absorbing region which is a region in which the three-dimensional structure has the unit structure disposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ASICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaro Iwasa, Masanori Sakamoto, Norihiko Taniguchi, Koji Shimomura
  • Patent number: 11844395
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole, where the midsole includes a cut-out section extending from a top surface of the midsole to a depth within the midsole. A support structure is disposed within the cut-out section, the support structure including a rail structure and a support plate that is movable in a sliding manner along the rail structure in a lengthwise direction of the sole structure. An insert is disposed within the cut-out section above the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Justin Howe, Amar Dhadwal
  • Patent number: 11832683
    Abstract: A shock absorber includes a three-dimensional structure composed of a unit structure repeatedly, regularly and continuously arranged in at least one direction, the unit structure being a three-dimensional shape formed by a wall having an external shape defined by a pair of parallel planes or curved surfaces. When the unit structure occupies a cuboidal space representing a unit space and defined by mutually orthogonal three sides having a first side extending in an axial direction in which the shock absorber exhibits a shock absorbing function as the shock absorber receives a load and second and third sides each extending from one end of the first side in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and the first side has a length L1 and a longer one of the second and third sides has a length L2, the shock absorber satisfies 1.1?L1/L2?4.0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: ASICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masanori Sakamoto, Yutaro Iwasa, Norihiko Taniguchi, Koji Shimomura
  • Patent number: 11825896
    Abstract: A glove includes a glove body configured to cover a hand of a wearer. The glove body has an outermost layer including cellulose particles and constituting an outer surface of the glove. At least some of the cellulose particles are at least partially exposed from the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: SHOWA GLOVE CO.
    Inventors: Kodai Kozuki, Kotaro Yoshimoto, Daisuke Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11812798
    Abstract: Embodiments herein are jacket systems with interchangeable elements that can form a jacket with configurable or swappable components. For instance, a customizable jacket that includes components of the jacket system includes a jacket body, a sleeve-receiver fastener, and a waist-receiver fastener. The jacket body is configured to fasten into a closed configuration and to unfasten into an open configuration. In the closed configuration, the jacket body defines an inner space interior to the jacket body. The sleeve-receiver fastener is integrated with the jacket body at a shoulder of the jacket body and is configured to attach a detachable sleeve, such that the detachable sleeve is toollessly detachable from the body. The waist-receiver fastener is integrated with the jacket body along a lower portion of the body, and the waist-receiver fastener is configured to attach a detachable waistband, such that the detachable waistband is toollessly detachable from the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventor: Tamara Blanton
  • Patent number: 11813816
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes molded footwear including a sole integrally connected to an upper. For example, a sole structure may include an insole and a strobel board. The insole may include a spacing structure that rests on a top surface of the strobel board to form a cavity between the insole and the strobel board. Further, the upper and/or strobel board may include perforations at least partially aligned with the cavity. Accordingly, the sole structure may be connected to the upper via injection molding material into the cavity formed between the insole, the strobel board, and the upper. The molding material may flow through the specifically located perforations in the shoe's upper and/or the shoe's strobel board such that the material bonds internally within the cavity, internally within the perforations, and externally to the shoe's upper and strobel board but within the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: Wayve, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel S. Andrews, Alexandra B. Joelson, Jack A. Browers, Shahwaz Khan
  • Patent number: 11805844
    Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole structure including a heel cushioning unit. The heel cushioning unit has a top portion, a bottom portion, a body portion connecting the top portion to the bottom portion, medial support fins in a medial side recess at a medial side of the heel cushioning unit and lateral support fins in a lateral side recess at a lateral side of the heel cushioning unit. Both the medial support fins and the lateral support fins extend transversely outward from the body portion and extend from the top portion to the bottom portion. The heel cushioning unit defines a through hole extending from the medial side to the lateral side and disposed rearward of the medial support fins and the lateral support fins. The article of footwear has an outsole with arch portions defining stepped ridges extending lengthwise in a fore-aft direction of the sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund Holmes, Justin D. Humphreys, Kuang-Nan Liao, Stuart Pollock, Marlon Rainville, Jay T. Worobets