Patents by Inventor Frank A. Kirk

Frank A. Kirk 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).

  • Publication number: 20240260705
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2024
    Publication date: August 8, 2024
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Patent number: 11903448
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Patent number: 11779080
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Dirk Meythaler, Harald Geyer, Marco Fischhold, Robert Frank Kirk, Jack Huang, Bruno Jean Antonelli
  • Publication number: 20230088266
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Patent number: 11540589
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Publication number: 20210052032
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Patent number: 10863790
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Publication number: 20200329817
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Inventors: Dirk Meythaler, Harald Geyer, Marco Fischhold, Robert Frank Kirk, Jack Huang, Bruno Jean Antonelli
  • Patent number: 10750826
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Dirk Meythaler, Harald Geyer, Marco Fischhold, Robert Frank Kirk, Jack Huang, Bruno Jean Antonelli
  • Patent number: 10624413
    Abstract: A sole for a sports shoe comprises a plurality of profile elements and a friction element. The profile elements are distributed such that the friction element can contact a sports ball to increase the friction between a lower side of the sole and the sports ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Robert Frank Kirk, Constantin Zwick, Benjamin Turck, Zachary Clinton Coonrod
  • Patent number: 10575585
    Abstract: Described are supporting elements for a shoe, in particular for soccer shoes or American football shoes, as well as a sole and a shoe with a supporting element. The supporting element includes a first bending stiffness for bendings from an initial unbent state up to an upper end of a threshold angle range, and a second bending stiffness for bendings beyond the upper end of the threshold angle range, wherein the second bending stiffness is greater than the first bending stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Robert Frank Kirk, Daniel Stephen Price, Harald Körger, Constantin Zwick, John Whiteman, Iain James Sabberton, Peter Georg Laitenberger
  • Patent number: 10182618
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight and improved tensile strength. The material includes a first foil layer and a textile reinforcement layer, which is at least partially laminated with the first foil layer. The textile reinforcement layer includes a first textile material with at least three axes, each axis defining an orientation of a set of essentially parallel yarn-portions in the textile material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Robert Frank Kirk, Brian Hoying, Angus Wardlaw, Christopher Edward Holmes, Carl Arnese, Daniel Paul Cocking, Stanislav Gousev, Marco Fischold, Jack Huang
  • Publication number: 20180332921
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Patent number: 10039339
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton
  • Patent number: 9978425
    Abstract: Described are methods and systems for associating frames in a video of an activity of a person with an event. The methods include recording a video of an activity of a person; storing a time-series of a plurality of sensor data (82) obtained from a sensor assembly (12) of at least one sensor (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) coupled to the person while the person is performing the activity; synchronizing the video with the sensor data (82); detecting an event in the time-series; and associating the event with at least one corresponding frame in the video showing the event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Robert Frank Kirk, Constantin Zwick, Dominik Schuldhaus, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Harald Körger, Maike Petra Stöve
  • Publication number: 20180035757
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk Meythaler, Harald Geyer, Marco Fischhold, Robert Frank Kirk, Jack Huang, Bruno Jean Antonelli, Ernie Rustam, Dylan Moore
  • Publication number: 20180035758
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventors: Dirk Meythaler, Harald Geyer, Marco Fischhold, Robert Frank Kirk, Jack Huang, Bruno Jean Antonelli
  • Patent number: 9775409
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Dirk Meythaler, Harald Geyer, Marco Fischhold, Robert Frank Kirk, Jack Huang, Bruno Jean Antonelli
  • Patent number: 9763494
    Abstract: Described are materials for a shoe upper, in particular for soccer shoes, with a particularly low weight. The material includes an inner polyurethane layer, an outer polyurethane layer, and a textile reinforcing layer. The textile reinforcing layer is arranged between the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer. The inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer comprise thermoset polyurethane. The textile reinforcing layer comprises apertures through which the inner polyurethane layer and the outer polyurethane layer are connected to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Dirk Meythaler, Harald Geyer, Marco Fischhold, Robert Frank Kirk, Jack Huang, Bruno Jean Antonelli, Ernie Rustam, Dylan Moore
  • Publication number: 20170172246
    Abstract: Described are shoes for ball sports including an upper having an outer surface. An actuator is configured to change at least one surface property of a portion of the outer surface of the upper, and a sensor is configured to be sensitive to movements of the shoe. A processing unit is connected to the actuator and the sensor and configured to process sensor data retrieved from the sensor and to cause the actuator to change the at least one surface property of the portion of the outer surface of the upper if a predetermined event is detected in the sensor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Constantin Zwick, Robert Frank Kirk, Christian DiBenedetto, Eva Andrea Dorschky, Bjoern Michael Eskofier, Dominik Schuldhaus, Peter Georg Laitenberger, Iain James Sabberton