Patents Examined by Katharine G Kane
  • Patent number: 11805858
    Abstract: An adjustable clog with a unique strap system is described. The sole assembly for the clog has an interior sole wing situated near a heel of the sole assembly, and an exterior sole wing on an opposite side of the sole assembly from the interior sole wing, near the heel of the sole assembly, wherein the interior sole wing and the exterior sole wing consist of webbing strap and rubber that extend above the sole assembly. The clog also includes an upper, where the upper is affixed to the sole assembly. A wing hook strap is affixed to the interior sole wing on the first end of the wing hook strap and to the paracord loop on a second end of the wing hook strap, wherein the wing hook strap includes a first G-hook that hooks into one of the first plurality of hook pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Inventors: Nicholas Pence, Daniel Opalacz
  • Patent number: 11793249
    Abstract: A protective wash garment for use by workers during washing operations is disclosed. The protective wash garment is comprises a two-layer construction in which the first layer is a water resistant material. The second layer is a high porosity material that is laid over the first layer. Water that comes into contact with the second layer passes through and is caught between the first and second layer. The water then falls to the bottom of the first layer into a gutter formed by folding a bottom flap of the first layer up. The bottom flap is folded such that the gutter runs at an angle to urge the water that falls into the gutter to flow to a lower end of the gutter. The lower end of the gutter is beyond the feet of the worker wearing the garment. Thus, water spayed upon the garment falls into the gutter and flows out away from the feet of the worker wearing the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Inventors: Nancy A Green, David Michael Morelock
  • Patent number: 11793270
    Abstract: A shoe has a shoe upper configured to receive a foot of a user, a sole coupled the shoe upper and having a cavity, and a sole spring in the cavity. The sole spring has a first leg and an opposite second leg, and the sole spring is removably positioned in the cavity. Accordingly, when the user presses the shoe into contact with a support surface, the first leg and the second leg flex toward each other thereby cushioning the foot of the user, and when the user moves the shoe away from the support surface the first leg and the second flex away from each other thereby propelling the user away from the support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: Versi LLC
    Inventor: Daniel C. Buck
  • Patent number: 11793275
    Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, with a shoe upper (2) and a sole (3) connected with the shoe upper (2), wherein the shoe (1) comprises a central fastener (4) for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of a wearer, wherein the central fastener (4) comprises at least one tensioning element (5) which is arranged on or in a region of the shoe upper (2) by which a lacing force can be exerted onto the region of the shoe upper (2) and at least one gear element (6) driven by an electric motor (7), wherein a section (8) of the tensioning element (5) can be pulled against a fixed location (9) of the shoe (1) by means of the gear element (6) to create a tensioning force for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PUMA SE
    Inventors: Markus Bock, Randolph Maussner
  • Patent number: 11786004
    Abstract: A sports shoe includes a shell formed of a first shell portion and of a second shell portion, distinct from each other and adapted to be assembled together. The first shell portion includes a first peripheral rim edge and the second shell portion includes a second peripheral rim edge including, respectively, a first joining rim portion and a second joining rim portion adapted to be coupled together. Specifically, the first joining rim portion includes at least a joining channel adapted to cooperate with a corresponding at least a joining projection included in the second joining rim portion. The joining channel and the corresponding joining projection are fixable to each other by means of heat welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: CALZATURIFICIO DAL BELLO S.R.L.
    Inventors: Pietro Cagliari, Stefano Prosdocimo, Alessandro Morandin, Federico Soligo, Loris Tittoto
  • Patent number: 11779064
    Abstract: A side opening vest includes a front panel and a back panel that are connected by shoulder straps and that are spaced apart from each other defining a left side gap and a right side gap. Straps extend from the back panel across the gaps for connection with the front panel. The front panel has engagement areas for receiving the straps to connect the front and back panels of the garment. The vest includes an adapter system enabling the use of any selected one of a plurality of different closure mechanisms to releasably connect the straps with the front panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Safariland, LLC
    Inventor: Ulysses Martinez
  • Patent number: 11779081
    Abstract: A shoe is provided with a first forming portion provided on a medial side and a second forming portion provided on a lateral side across a central opening formed forward from a foot insertion portion of an upper on each of which a string passing portion is formed; a first support member a tip end of which is fixed to the second forming portion, including a first string passing structure provided at the tip end, and extending downward so as to abut a medial side of a foot; a second support member a tip end of which is fixed to the first forming portion, including a second string passing structure provided at the tip end, and extending downward so as to abut a lateral side of the foot; and a shoelace which passes through the string passing portion and continuously passes through the first and second string passing structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Asics Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Ishikawa, Ayu Bessho, Koji Otobe, Seigo Nakaya, Seiji Yano
  • Patent number: 11766090
    Abstract: An article of footwear and methods include an insole, an upper configured to form a space between the upper and the insole configured to admit and secure a foot of a wearer, and a rotatable conveyor element. The rotatable conveyor element is seated in at least one of the insole and the upper. The rotatable conveyor element is configured to rotatably engage a body part of the wearer as the foot enters the space and draw the foot into the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Andon, Timothy P. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 11766087
    Abstract: A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a sole coupled to a cord structure. The cord structure may include interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Fuerst Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Aveni, John Tawney, Rory Fuerst
  • Patent number: 11766076
    Abstract: A support garment includes a support band extending laterally around the wearer's torso and two cups. Each cup includes a form-fitting enclosure and a cantilevered support form secured to the support band. Each support form has a first and second lateral appendage; a first and second fulcrum; and a medial support structure. The first fulcrum joins an inferior end of the first lateral appendage with a first end of the medial support structure and the second fulcrum joins an inferior end of the second lateral appendage with the second end of the medial support structure. The weight of the breast is transferred by rotational force around each fulcrum through each lateral appendage to the support band across the back of the wearer by way of tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Inventor: Anthony Crawford Cahan
  • Patent number: 11707114
    Abstract: An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Patent number: 11684124
    Abstract: An accessory that is wearable around a boot or other high-top shoe includes a generally flat strap having a first side, a second side, a first end and a second end. A patch of hook material may be secured to the first side of the strap adjacent to the first end and a patch of loop material may be secured to the second side of the strap adjacent to the second end. The strap has a length sufficient to wrap around the shaft of a boot and reduce an effective circumference of the boot shaft with the patch of hook material in face-to-face engagement with the patch of loop material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Inventor: Charles H. Brown, III
  • Patent number: 11684110
    Abstract: An article of footwear, lacing engine, and method includes a motor, a transmission operatively coupled to the motor, and a lace spool. The lace spool is operatively coupled to the transmission and includes a top lace groove in a top surface of the lace spool and a circumferential channel, wherein the lace is configured to be inserted in the top lace groove and be taken up around the circumferential channel based on a turning of the lace spool from action by the motor and transmission. A fastener is configured to couple the lace spool to the transmission and is inserted into the lace spool via the top surface, the fastener having a head having a head width sufficient to partially cover the top lace groove, leaving a top gap having a gap width less than a thickness of the lace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Aznoe, Brendan Donohoe, Andrew Owenson, James Stevenson
  • Patent number: 11659896
    Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically producing a cord structure are provided herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises automatically forming, with at least one robotic arm, a first plurality of loops in a first plane, and automatically forming, with the at least one robotic arm, a second plurality of loops in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane, the second plurality of loops slippably engaged with the first plurality of loops. In this way, cord structures may be quickly constructed, thereby reducing labor input and expense.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Fuerst Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory Fuerst, Jr., Shane Dittrich, Michael A. Aveni, Kristopher Ryan Okelberry, Oscar Williamson, III
  • Patent number: 11659890
    Abstract: An article of footwear having a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid is described, along with a method of making the article. The chamber may include a tensile member extending between a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer. The tensile member may include a first tensile member layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer, a second tensile member layer bonded to the second chamber barrier layer, and a plurality of tethers connecting the first tensile member layer to the second tensile member layer. The second tensile member layer may include a first section and a second section separate from the first section. In addition, a portion of the second chamber barrier layer may extend toward the first tensile member layer between the first section and the second section, the portion being joined to the first tensile member layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hurd, Levi J. Patton
  • Patent number: 11596551
    Abstract: A sleep mask is created comprising a sleep mask cover that can accommodate a weighted mask component and a thermal mask component. The sleep mask cover may include a fastening mechanism at the opening which may be removably engaged or disengaged to disable or enable, respectively, access to the opening for insertion of the weighted mask component and the thermal mask component. The weighted mask component may include a set of eye panels that are devoid of weight material to prevent unwanted pressure on a human user's eyes when the sleep mask is worn around the head of a human user. Further, the weighted mask component may include a pocket for insertion of the thermal mask component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Gravity Products, LLC
    Inventors: Justin Seidenfeld, Yuk Cheung Wong, Wing Hin Ng, Michael James Grillo
  • Patent number: 11490682
    Abstract: An article of footwear and method of making an article of footwear are disclosed. The article includes an outsole having an outsole member. The outsole member includes a first piece and a second piece. The first piece is spaced from a base by a first vertical distance. The second piece is spaced from the base by a second vertical distance, the first vertical distance being greater than the second vertical distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: James C. Meschter
  • Patent number: 11484094
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may have a barrier, a stacked tensile member, and a fluid. The barrier may be formed from a polymer material that is sealed to define an interior void. The stacked tensile member may be located within the interior void and includes a first tensile element and a second tensile element that are joined to each other. Additionally, opposite sides of the stacked tensile member are joined to the barrier. The fluid is located within the interior void and may be pressurized to place an outward force upon the barrier and induce tension in the stacked tensile member. In some configurations, each of the tensile elements may be a spacer textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Swigart, Amy E. Gishifu
  • Patent number: 11470911
    Abstract: A cycling shoe cover is disclosed for protection of a cycling shoe when a cyclist dismounts and desires to walk in the cycling shoe. The cycling shoe cover includes a pair of side panels. A toe is coupled to one end of each of the pair of side panels forming a front pocket mateable with the toe of a cycling shoe. A heel is coupled to the opposite end of each of the pair of side panels forming a back pocket mateable with the heel of a cycling shoe. A sole member has a bottom surface and is joined to the pair of side panels. The bottom surface of the sole member is interposed between the cycling shoe and a ground surface when the cycling shoe cover is worn over the cycling shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Lorri Cornett
  • Patent number: 11473223
    Abstract: A machine and method are presented for continuously forming a woven composite with controllable internal fabric geometry. The machine may include one or more spools for dispensing one or more warp filaments, a roller assembly configured to receive a composite weave, a warp rack having a plurality of warp heads for engaging the warp filaments and vertically adjusting position to dynamically create a weave pattern in response to the insertion of one or more weft filaments by a weft inserter stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher Marc Oberste, Phillip Sung Tse Cheng, Ben Wang