Patents Examined by Ted Kavanaugh
  • Footwear article with hinged heel
    Patent number: 11523654
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a hinged portion in a heel region that may be biased in various positions to increase or decrease a size of a foot-insertion opening. The hinged portion may be arranged in a first position, in which the hinged portion is more upright and is in position to cup a wearer's heel or Achilles region when the footwear article is worn. In addition, the hinged portion may be hingedly rotated downward or rearwardly (e.g., away from the foot-insertion opening) to a second position, which may increase a size of the foot-insertion opening and/or may change an angle along which a foot can pass through the foot-insertion opening when the footwear article is being donned or doffed. One or more elastic members may be attached to the hinged portion and to some other portion of the footwear article to bias the hinged portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Ami M. Davis, Richard S. Ramsay
  • Sport shoe of the self-cleaning variety with a compressible cleaning structure
    Patent number: 11517076
    Abstract: A self-cleaning sport shoe includes a traction member or plurality thereof, extending downward from the bottom of the shoe to traction the playing field surface below upon contact. The self-cleaning sport shoe incorporates a compressible cleaning structure, smaller in size and less cumbersome than existing cleaning type cushions and which is symbiotically mated, when applicable, to a concave reservoir located in the sport shoe outer sole, and in certain instances of design both the outer sole and accommodatingly shaped mid sole as well. As the structure is compressed and expanded, debris that might otherwise remain attached is discarded. This concave reservoir appreciably enhances the cleaning ability of its compressible cleaning structure and the shoe as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Anthony Louis Chechile
  • Skate or other footwear
    Patent number: 11510455
    Abstract: A skate (e.g., an ice skate) or other footwear for a user, in which a skate boot or other foot-receiving structure for receiving a foot of the user may be configured to enhance power transfer of the user (e.g., for push-off and skating straight), agility of the user (e.g., for turns), and/or other aspects of performance of the user, such as by comprising a sole region that is configured to be disposed under the user's foot and includes different materials strategically distributed (e.g., in a longitudinal direction of the skate boot or other foot-receiving structure) or otherwise implements these enhancements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: BAUER HOCKEY LLC
    Inventors: Garnet Alexander, Marc Poirier
  • Spring cushioned shoe with encapsulated spring
    Patent number: 11497273
    Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprises a midsole, a sole having a heel region, and a first wave spring disposed within a vacuity located within the heel region. The wave spring includes a top surface and a bottom surface. A plate, resting upon the top surface of the wave spring, is unsecured to the midsole and sized to permit movement within the vacuity along with the wave spring responsive to a rolling foot strike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Spira, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Adametz, Robert Azar
  • Drop-in unitary footwear sole with first and second cushioning bodies of differing hardness
    Patent number: 11490684
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a unitary sole with a first cushioning body having a first hardness and a second cushioning having a second hardness greater than the first hardness. Both the first and the second cushioning bodies are exposed at a periphery of the sole. The second cushioning body may have a wedge surface that interfaces with a lateral extremity of the first cushioning body and angles laterally outward toward a lateral side exterior surface of the sole from a lower extent to an upper extent of the wedge surface. The second cushioning body may underlie the first cushioning body in a portion of a forefoot region of the sole such that the first cushioning body establishes a foot-facing exterior surface and the second cushioning body establishes a ground-facing exterior surface of the sole where the first cushioning body overlies the second cushioning body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristina L. S. Kurcinka, Jeffrey S. To
  • Boot cover
    Patent number: 11490678
    Abstract: An equestrian boot cover for protecting against the elements and extending the life of an equestrian riding boot comprising a cover body and a neck extending the height of the equestrian riding boot for forming a snug fit against the outer surface of the equestrian riding boot and including a spur aperture for allowing passage of the spur from about the equestrian boot cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Abbi Bentz
  • Particulate foam with other cushioning
    Patent number: 11490681
    Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface and an inner surface disposed on opposite sides. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on opposite sides. The bottom surface opposes the inner surface to define a cavity therebetween. The article of footwear also includes a first series of projections extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in a first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a second series of projection extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in the first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a quantity of particulate matter disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Aaron K. Seid
  • Manual and dynamic shoe comfortness adjustment methods
    Patent number: 11478043
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various methods and devices for modifying the comfort and performance characteristics of a shoe. In various embodiments, the devices are soles, insole or outsoles, of a shoe comprising one or more shocks. The shocks may be defined by shock cavities positioned within one or more surfaces of a sole. In some embodiments the shock cavity may be configured to receive one or more shock cavity inserts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Inventor: Hoe-Phuan Ng
  • Article of footwear having a sole structure including a fluid-filled chamber and an outsole, the sole structure, and methods for manufacturing
    Patent number: 11470915
    Abstract: The disclosure id directed to an article of footwear including an upper and the sole structure, to the sole structure, and to a method for manufacturing the sole structure and a method for manufacturing the article of footwear. The sole structure includes a fluid-filled chamber and an outsole that at least partially surrounds the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Benjamin J. Monfils, Lee D. Peyton
  • Shoe extension for patient gait modification
    Patent number: 11464279
    Abstract: A shoe extension for gait modification includes a vamp section, a base section, an attachment strap, and a restraining mechanism. The vamp section is connected to a top surface of the base section forming a receiving slot. A toe box of a shoe worn on a healthy limb is slidably positioned into the receiving slot such that the base section is positioned along an outsole of the shoe. The attachment strap is utilized to establish a connection with the shoe. By increasing an overall length of the footwear worn on the healthy limb, a speed of motion of the healthy limb may be reduced in order to increase weight bearing on the unhealthy limb. The restraining mechanism, which is preferably integrated into a bottom surface of the base section, may also be used to reduce the speed of motion of the healthy limb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventors: Nazeeh Alothmany, Ehab Hafiz Wali, Abdulhameed Fouad Alkhateeb, Umar M. Alabasi, Mirza Pasovic
  • Article of footwear with knitted component having plurality of graduated projections
    Patent number: 11464290
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper defines a cavity that is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper is at least partially defined by a textile. The textile includes a first area that is substantially smooth. The first area defines a reference boundary that conforms to the cavity. The textile includes a second area. The second area includes a plurality of projection structures that project away from the reference boundary and outwardly from the cavity at varying heights. The second area includes a plurality of recess structures that recess away from the reference boundary and inwardly toward the cavity. The plurality of projection structures and the plurality of recess structures are in an alternating arrangement across the textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Lysandre Follet, Gjermund Haugbro, James Molyneux, Philip Woodman
  • Shoe accessory traction device
    Patent number: 11464277
    Abstract: An apparatus can comprise a main body configured to cover a portion of a lower side of a shoe, a plurality of cleats extending from a lower side of the main body, and at least one strap coupled to the main body and configured to extend over a shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Minimal Gear LLC
    Inventor: Gilad Frank Nachmani
  • Adjustable suspension shoe
    Patent number: 11464288
    Abstract: A spring compression system for shoes that functions much like a car's suspension in absorbing the shock and impact that occurs when shoes contact the ground. Wherein form is the most important element of shoes and function is a distant afterthought, the ergonomically poor design of shoes desperately require the healthier environment for the wearer a spring compression system would offer with the additional ability to be adjusted to suit the weight of the wearer as well as the level of shock absorption desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Inventor: Scott Baker
  • Sole structure with plates and intervening fluid-filled bladder and method of manufacturing
    Patent number: 11452335
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate, a fluid-filled bladder supported on the first plate, and a second plate supported on the fluid-filled bladder with the fluid-filled bladder disposed between the first plate and the second plate. The first plate ascends rearward of the fluid-filled bladder and the second plate descends rearward of the fluid-filled bladder with a posterior portion of the first plate above a posterior portion of the second plate rearward of the fluid-filled bladder. A method of manufacturing footwear sole structures includes assembling sole structures for plural ranges of footwear sizes, each of the sole structures including a fluid-filled bladder with a predetermined inflation pressure that is different for at least two of the plural ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan P. Conrad, Ross Klein, Troy C. Lindner, Bryan R. Picco, Jeffrey George Rasmussen, Bryan K. Youngs
  • One piece footwear
    Patent number: 11452341
    Abstract: A blank of flexible sheet material used to form and article of footwear upper and an article of footwear having a sole attached to the upper. According to one embodiment the blank of flexible sheet material includes a main bottom portion having a front toe area, a rear heel area and opposed sides, said main bottom portion being in the general shape of a foot sole. A front strap portion having an elongated shape extends outward from one of the opposed sides of the main bottom portion near the front toe area and having a free end, and a pair of heel-strap flaps extend outward from opposite sides of the main bottom portion near the rear heel area and configured to form an enclosed heel portion and a rear strap of the shoe upper. According to another embodiment the front strap is formed separately from the main bottom portion and pair of heel-strap flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Inventor: Daniel R. Blondeau
  • Sole for a shoe
    Patent number: 11445783
    Abstract: Improved soles for shoes, in particular for sports shoes, are described. A sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, is provided, said sole having a cushioning element that includes randomly arranged particles of an expanded material and a control element. The control element is free from expanded material and reduces the shearing motions in a first region of the cushioning element compared to shearing motions in a second region of the cushioning element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: John Whiteman, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, Angus Wardlaw, Heiko Schlarb, James Tarrier
  • Shoe last for air activation and air cooling
    Patent number: 11439205
    Abstract: A shoe last for air activation and air cooling utilized to heat and activate as well as cool and shape a semi-finished shoe made up of a midsole and a vamp includes a body, at least one inlet, and at least one jet outlet. The body has an outer surface. The at least one inlet is disposed on the outer surface of the body. The at least one jet outlet is disposed on the outer surface of the body, is spaced apart from the at least one inlet, and fluidly communicates with the at least one inlet. The semi-finished shoe is sleeved on the body and covers the at least one jet outlet. Gas is injected into the body via the at least one inlet, flows out of the body via the at least one jet outlet, and is ejected to the semi-finished shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TRUE TEN INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shun-Tsung Lu
  • Mid-sole traction device
    Patent number: 11439204
    Abstract: A mid-sole traction device for a shoe or a boot comprises a traction platform formed of a flexible rubber material. The platform has a first face for contacting a ground surface and a second face for attachment to a mid-sole of the shoe/boot. The first face is spaced from the second face. First and second protrusions are formed on the first face. The first protrusion has first and second ends, each of which defines an opening for receiving a spike. The second protrusion has first and second ends, each of which defines an opening for receiving a spike. The second protrusion is separate and spaced from the first protrusion. A first slot is formed in the platform and is located near a first peripheral edge of the platform for receiving a strap. A second slot is formed in the platform near a second peripheral edge for receiving a strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Dentec Safety Specialists Inc.
    Inventor: Claudio Dente
  • Padded overshoe assembly
    Patent number: 11433292
    Abstract: A padded overshoe assembly for facilitating a user to walk on a fragile surface includes a shoe binding for receiving a user's shoe. A paddle is provided and the shoe binding is pivotally disposed on the paddle. The paddle has a width and a length that is greater than the width and the length of the sole to evenly distribute the user's weight over a surface upon which the user is walking thereby reducing the likelihood the user will damage the surface. A cushion is coupled to and extends downwardly from the paddle to abut the surface upon which the user is walking. Additionally, the cushion is comprised of a resiliently compressible material to inhibit the surface from being damaged by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Douglas Gay
  • Foot covering with divided sole
    Patent number: 11432614
    Abstract: In one possible embodiment, the inventive subject matter is directed to a foot covering, comprising: a thin, flexible compartment for receiving a foot. The compartment has a forefoot section, a midfoot section, and a rearfoot section of selected rigidity. The compartment has a top surface for securing the foot and a ground-facing surface having a sole divided into at least two portions comprising (1) a forefoot portion and midfoot portion and/or (2) a midfoot portion and a rearfoot portion. At least one sole portion comprises a midfoot portion disposed between a forefoot portion and/or a rearfoot portion. In the foot covering, each pair of sole portions is divided along a flexural line running generally transverse to the longitudinal axis of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Pointe Noir Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: David Fox