Patents by Inventor Eric P. Avar

Eric P. Avar 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: 10342291
    Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole structure with multiple components. The sole structure includes a midsole member, an outsole member and an exterior support member. The midsole member and the outsole member have corresponding grooves. The exterior support member provides reinforcement for the midsole member. The outsole member includes a plurality of bristle members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Nadia M. Panian, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Patent number: 10278456
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) an upper; (b) a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a plurality of polygonal lugs arranged about a base surface of the outsole. The outsole may include one or more regions wherein the characteristics of a portion of the lugs within a region differ from the characteristics of a portion of the lugs in another region. The lugs may differ, for example based on size, construction and/or spacing between the lugs. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Kevin W. Hoffer, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20190116937
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an actuator assembly can include an actuator frame with a plurality of integrated actuators. The actuator frame is adapted to interconnect elements of the actuator assembly, the actuator frame including a width, a length, and a thickness where the width and length form an exterior surface and an interior surface separated by the thickness. The plurality of actuators are integrated into the actuator frame, each actuator of the plurality of actuators including an actuator head extending from the exterior surface and a button interface extending from the backside of the actuator head through the interior surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Narissa Chang, Fanny Yung Ho
  • Publication number: 20190116935
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an Lacing architectures for automated footwear assemblies are discussed. In an example, a footwear assembly can include a floating tongue within an upper assembly. The lacing architecture can include a first plurality or lace guides forming a first lacing zone and a second plurality of lace guides forming a second lacing zone. The lacing architecture can also include a tongue lace guide assembly secure to a proximal portion of the floating tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Summer L. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10238170
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) an upper; (b) a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a plurality of polygonal lugs arranged about a base surface of the outsole. The outsole may include one or more regions wherein the characteristics of a portion of the lugs within a region differ from the characteristics of a portion of the lugs in another region. The lugs may differ, for example based on size, construction and/or spacing between the lugs. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Kevin W. Hoffer, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20180199671
    Abstract: A footwear assembly can comprise, an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner can comprise a tensioning member secured to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable, and a floating overlay attached to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable. The tensioning members can comprise an elastic member. The tensioning members can be configured to provide a stiff lockout zone and an elastic stretch zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Christopher Andon
  • Publication number: 20180199673
    Abstract: A footwear assembly can comprise, an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner can comprise an elastic member extending between two lace guides of the plurality of lace guides, an elastic member extending between first and second portions of the upper, an elastic member extending between a portion of the upper and a lace guide of the plurality of lace guides, a heel channel connected to a heel portion of the upper and configured to facilitate access to an interior space, an elastic member coupled to the footwear assembly that functions to smooth out a torque versus lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Publication date: July 19, 2018
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Christopher Andon
  • Publication number: 20180192737
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper and an outsole bonded to the upper. The outsole may include multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole. The article may further include a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper. The midsole may be non-destructively removable from the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Matt Holmes, Eric P. Avar, Jeongwoo Lee, Fanny Ho, Bryant Klug
  • Patent number: 9980536
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a tensioning system is disclosed. The tensioning system is adjustable and includes a first layer and a second layer that is moveable and extends over the first layer. The article can include elements that are capable of distributing tension over the article. The article may include a tensile element, guide elements, and one or more strap guides attached to an underside of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Spanks, Nadia M. Panian, Eric P. Avar
  • Patent number: 9955748
    Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes upper and a sole structure. The upper defines an interior void that is configured to receive the sole structure and a foot. A lower surface of the upper defines a plurality of apertures, and the sole structure includes a plurality of projections that extend through the apertures to form a ground-engaging surface. The projections are connected to a foot-supporting member that remains within the upper. A locking system is incorporated into the upper and sole structure to secure the sole structure to the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Grove, Eric P. Avar, Bruce J. Kilgore, Michael R. Friton
  • Publication number: 20180110294
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the lace guide is deformable to assist in facilitating automated lace tightening. The lace guide can include a middle section, a first extension and a second extension. In this example, the lace guide can be configured to define a first route for a lace cable, the first route including receiving the lace cable along the first incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along the first outgoing lace axis. In this example, the lace guide can also deflect, in response to tension on the lace cable, resulting in defining a second route for the lace cable, the second route including receiving the lace cable along a second incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along a second outgoing lace axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Travis Berrian, Fanny Yung Ho, Eric P. Avar, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Katelyn Bruce
  • Publication number: 20180110298
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper and a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, and each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides can be adapted to receive a length of the lace cable. The lace cable can extend through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper. The footwear assembly can also include a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable into a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion. Finally, the footwear assembly includes a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the lacing engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Travis J. Berrian, Fanny Yung Ho, Eric P. Avar, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Katelyn Bruce
  • Patent number: 9943134
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper and an outsole bonded to the upper. The outsole may include multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole. The article may further include a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper. The midsole may be non-destructively removable from the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Holmes, Eric P. Avar, Jeongwoo Lee, Fanny Ho, Bryant Klug
  • Patent number: D810419
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Nadia M. Panian
  • Patent number: D811074
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Nadia M. Panian
  • Patent number: D821077
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Bryant Klug, Timothy K. Liles
  • Patent number: D821083
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Bryant Klug, Timothy K. Liles
  • Patent number: D821712
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein, Bryant Klug, Timothy K. Liles
  • Patent number: D821733
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Bryant Klug, Timothy K. Liles
  • Patent number: D851375
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein