Patents by Inventor Aaron B. Weast

Aaron B. Weast has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11793272
    Abstract: An electronically controlled bladder assembly includes an adjustable pressure bladder and a reservoir connected by an electronically controlled valve. The electronically controlled valve is operated in a manner that inflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is below a target pressure and in a manner that deflates the adjustable bladder when the current pressure is above the target pressure. The inflation and deflation of the adjustable bladder are achieved in an iterative manner by controlling the flow of fluid between the constant pressure reservoir and the adjustable bladder over several cycles of heel strikes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James Molyneux, Aaron B. Weast
  • Publication number: 20230326572
    Abstract: An athletic parameter measurement device worn by an athlete during an athletic activity session includes a housing which attaches to the athlete, a display, a processor associated with the display, and an athletic parameter measurement sensor. During the athletic activity, the device detects, using the sensor, a vertical jump height of the athlete, and displays, during the performance of the athletic activity session, a representation of the vertical jump height on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: James Meschter, James Molyneux, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11749395
    Abstract: A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller, display and indicator system thereon. The controller has at least one sensor wherein activity of a user wearing the device is detected. The controller selectively illuminates the indicator system to indicate a level of activity of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron B. Weast, Jamian R. Cobbett
  • Patent number: 11744320
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar slide that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole including a ground-contacting surface and a foot-facing surface and an upper having a heel region. The footwear article also includes a strobel, the strobel affixed to the foot-facing surface of the sole and a collar elevator comprising a heel structure, the collar elevator connected with the strobel and coupled with the upper in the heel region. The collar elevator includes a collar slide forming a ramp interface during a donning operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
  • Publication number: 20230270202
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer’s foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole; an upper having a heel region; and a collar elevator coupled with the upper in the heel region. The footwear also includes a base affixed to the sole. The collar elevator is attached to the base and the base is an outsole, a midsole, an insole, or a strobel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams
  • Patent number: 11735308
    Abstract: A wearable device assembly has a housing supporting a controller, display and indicator system thereon. The controller has at least one sensor wherein activity of a user wearing the device is detected. The controller selectively illuminates the indicator system to indicate a level of activity of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron B. Weast, Jamian R. Cobbett
  • Publication number: 20230178209
    Abstract: An athletic parameter measurement device worn by an athlete during an athletic activity session includes a housing which attaches to the athlete, a display, a processor associated with the display, and an athletic parameter measurement sensor. During the athletic activity, the device detects, using the sensor, a vertical jump height of the athlete, and displays, during the performance of the athletic activity session, a representation of the vertical jump height on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: James Meschter, James Molyneux, Aaron B. Weast
  • Publication number: 20230165339
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator may be arranged at various positions among the footwear article, such as above or below a strobel. The collar elevator may be coupled to the footwear article using various connectors. The footwear article may have other features, such as an ankle collar, that are configured in a manner to work together with the collar elevator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2023
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams II
  • Publication number: 20230157411
    Abstract: Articles of footwear can include an adaptive-height sole structure that includes a variable height bladder system. The sole structure can include one or more bladder systems positioned between a midsole and a banking plate. The banking plate can change its relative orientation to the midsole based on an inflation level of the bladder systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2023
    Publication date: May 25, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II, Alexander S. Siegel
  • Publication number: 20230148905
    Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adriana Guerrero, Steven H. Walker, Aaron B. Weast
  • Publication number: 20230136147
    Abstract: An athletic parameter measurement device worn by an athlete during an athletic activity session includes a housing which attaches to the athlete, a display, a processor associated with the display, and an athletic parameter measurement sensor. During the athletic activity, the device detects, using the sensor, a vertical jump height of the athlete, and displays, during the performance of the athletic activity session, a representation of the vertical jump height on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2022
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James Meschter, James Molyneux, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11633016
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin J. Orand, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
  • Publication number: 20230081283
    Abstract: An adjustable multiple bladder system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder system includes an outer bladder that may be inflated using an external pump. A valve member is disposed within the outer bladder and divides the outer bladder into two distinct inflation chambers. The inflation chambers may be inflated separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, James Molyneux, Lee D. Peyton, Ty A. Ransom, Nicola J. Reynolds, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11600371
    Abstract: An athletic parameter measurement device worn by an athlete during an athletic activity session includes a housing which attaches to the athlete, a display, a processor associated with the display, and an athletic parameter measurement sensor. During the athletic activity, the device detects, using the sensor, a vertical jump height of the athlete, and displays, during the performance of the athletic activity session, a representation of the vertical jump height on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James Meschter, James Molyneux, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11583032
    Abstract: Articles of footwear can include an adaptive-height sole structure that includes a variable height bladder system. The sole structure can include one or more bladder systems positioned between a midsole and a banking plate. The banking plate can change its relative orientation to the midsole based on an inflation level of the bladder systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II, Alexander S. Siegel
  • Publication number: 20230048020
    Abstract: Systems and methods for sensing and monitoring various athletic performance metrics, e.g., during the course of a game, a practice, a training session, training drills, and the like, are described. These systems and methods can provide useful metrics for players and coaches relating to athletic performances in various sports, including various team sports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: James Molyneux, Aaron B. Weast, Brandon S. Burroughs
  • Patent number: 11576463
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11564597
    Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adriana Guerrero, Steven H. Walker, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11568977
    Abstract: An athletic parameter measurement device worn by an athlete during an athletic activity session includes a housing which attaches to the athlete, a display, a processor associated with the display, and an athletic parameter measurement sensor. During the athletic activity, the device detects, using the sensor, a vertical jump height of the athlete, and displays, during the performance of the athletic activity session, a representation of the vertical jump height on the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James Meschter, James Molyneux, Aaron B. Weast
  • Publication number: 20230015921
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a heel structure that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole, an upper having an ankle region and a heel region, and a heel structure. The heel structure is a coupled with the upper in the ankle region and the heel region between an exterior layer of the upper and an inner lining of the upper. The heel structure is formed from a material having a greater stiffness than the upper in at least the heel region and the heel structure has a curved profile in a medial to lateral direction of the footwear article in the heel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II