Patents by Inventor Gerd Rainer Manz
Gerd Rainer Manz 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).
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Patent number: 8327559Abstract: Disclosed are articles of footwear and soles therefor, in particular sports shoe soles that include openings for ventilation and vapor exchange. The soles include an insole layer with a plurality of first openings, a support layer with a plurality of second openings that partially overlap the plurality of first openings, and an outsole layer with at least one third opening that at least partially overlaps the plurality of second openings to provide fluidic communications through the sole from an interior of the shoe to an exterior of the shoe. A substantial portion of the plurality of first openings in the insole are interconnected to provide a path for diffusion. The shoes and soles can include a cushioning layer, a tread layer, a breathable membrane, and additional support elements. In addition, the shoes can be used with climate control socks to further enhance the climate control properties of the shoes.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2010Date of Patent: December 11, 2012Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Christoph Berger, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Patent number: 8209882Abstract: The invention relates to an article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe, wherein the article of footwear includes a ventilation system with at least one active ventilation element arranged in a midfoot area of the article of footwear. Furthermore, the article of footwear includes at least one air channel with an inlet and an outlet which are arranged in the sole area in the interior of the article of footwear. The active ventilation element is arranged such that air is sucked from the interior of the article of footwear through the inlet and is blown into the interior of article of footwear shoe through the outlet.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Robert Leimer, Timothy Kelvin Robinson, Frank Ingo Michel, Gerd Rainer Manz, Josh Robert Gordon, Tom Allen, Martin Harnisch, Joerg Blinn
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Patent number: 8006411Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2010Date of Patent: August 30, 2011Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Timothy David Lucas
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Publication number: 20110197473Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe having a sole element. The sole element includes a sole area extending below a wearer's foot and a heel cup three-dimensionally encompassing a heel of the wearer's foot. The heel cup alone forms at least a portion of a sidewall of the shoe.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 28, 2011Publication date: August 18, 2011Applicant: ADIDAS INTERNATIONAL MARKETING B.V.Inventors: Bruno Jean Antonelli, Wolfgang Scholz, Jürgen Weidl, Josh Robert Gordon, Jan Hill, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Publication number: 20110138652Abstract: The present invention relates to shoe, in particular a sports shoe. The shoe includes a sole plate having in a forefoot area a plurality of leaf spring elements, wherein the sole plate and the plurality of leaf spring elements are manufactured as a single piece. Each of the plurality of leaf spring elements has one free end not connected with the sole plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: adidas AGInventors: Timothy David LUCAS, Gerd Rainer MANZ, Jan HILL, Paul Leonard Michael SMITH, John WHITEMAN
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Patent number: 7954259Abstract: The invention relates to a shoe having a sole element. The sole element includes a sole area extending below a wearer's foot and a heel cup three-dimensionally encompassing a heel of the wearer's foot. The heel cup alone forms at least a portion of a sidewall of the shoe.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2007Date of Patent: June 7, 2011Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Bruno Jean Antonelli, Wolfgang Scholz, Jürgen Weidl, Josh Robert Gordon, Jan Hill, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Publication number: 20100229430Abstract: Disclosed are articles of footwear and soles therefor, in particular sports shoe soles that include openings for ventilation and vapor exchange. The soles include an insole layer with a plurality of first openings, a support layer with a plurality of second openings that partially overlap the plurality of first openings, and an outsole layer with at least one third opening that at least partially overlaps the plurality of second openings to provide fluidic communications through the sole from an interior of the shoe to an exterior of the shoe. A substantial portion of the plurality of first openings in the insole are interconnected to provide a path for diffusion. The shoes and soles can include a cushioning layer, a tread layer, a breathable membrane, and additional support elements. In addition, the shoes can be used with climate control socks to further enhance the climate control properties of the shoes.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2010Publication date: September 16, 2010Inventors: Christoph Berger, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Publication number: 20100139120Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 9, 2010Publication date: June 10, 2010Applicant: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Timothy David Lucas
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Patent number: 7716852Abstract: Disclosed are articles of footwear and soles therefor, in particular sports shoe soles that include openings for ventilation and vapor exchange. The soles include an insole layer with a plurality of first openings, a support layer with a plurality of second openings that partially overlap the plurality of first openings, and an outsole layer with at least one third opening that at least partially overlaps the plurality of second openings to provide fluidic communications through the sole from an interior of the shoe to an exterior of the shoe. A substantial portion of the plurality of first openings in the insole are interconnected to provide a path for diffusion. The shoes and soles can include a cushioning layer, a tread layer, a breathable membrane, and additional support elements. In addition, the shoes can be used with climate control socks to further enhance the climate control properties of the shoes.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2008Date of Patent: May 18, 2010Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Christoph Berger, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Patent number: 7665232Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Timothy David Lucas
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Patent number: 7644518Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe sole including a cushioning element. The shoe sole can include a heel cup or heel rim having a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of heel of a foot. Further, the heel part can include a plurality of side walls arranged below the heel cup or rim and at least one tension element that interconnects at least one side wall to another side wall or to the heel cup or rim. The heel cup or rim, the plurality of side walls, and the at least one tension element can be integrally formed as a single piece.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2008Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Matthew Daniel Chandler, Timothy David Lucas, Jan Hill, Robert Leimer, Mark Andrew Henderson, Angus Wardlaw, Charles Griffin Wilson, III, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Publication number: 20090113762Abstract: The invention relates to an article of footwear, in particular a sports shoe, wherein the article of footwear comprises a ventilation system with at least one active ventilation element arranged in a midfoot area of the article of footwear. Furthermore, the article of footwear comprises at least one air channel with an inlet and an outlet which are arranged in the sole area in the interior of the article of footwear. The active ventilation element is arranged such that air is sucked from the interior of the article of footwear through the inlet and is blown into the interior of article of footwear shoe through the outlet.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: May 7, 2009Applicant: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Robert Leimer, Timothy Kelvin Robinson, Frank Ingo Michel, Gerd Rainer Manz, Josh Robert Gordon, Tom Allen, Martin Harnisch, Joerg Blinn
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Publication number: 20090107013Abstract: Disclosed are articles of footwear and soles therefor, in particular sports shoe soles that include openings for ventilation and vapor exchange. The soles include an insole layer with a plurality of first openings, a support layer with a plurality of second openings that partially overlap the plurality of first openings, and an outsole layer with at least one third opening that at least partially overlaps the plurality of second openings to provide fluidic communications through the sole from an interior of the shoe to an exterior of the shoe. A substantial portion of the plurality of first openings in the insole are interconnected to provide a path for diffusion. The shoes and soles can include a cushioning layer, a tread layer, a breathable membrane, and additional support elements. In addition, the shoes can be used with climate control socks to further enhance the climate control properties of the shoes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventors: Christoph Berger, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Patent number: 7487602Abstract: Disclosed are articles of footwear and soles therefor, in particular sports shoe soles that include openings for ventilation and vapor exchange. The soles include an insole layer with a plurality of first openings, a support layer with a plurality of second openings that partially overlap the plurality of first openings, and an outsole layer with at least one third opening that at least partially overlaps the plurality of second openings to provide fluidic communications through the sole from an interior of the shoe to an exterior of the shoe. A substantial portion of the plurality of first openings in the insole are interconnected to provide a path for diffusion. The shoes and soles can include a cushioning layer, a tread layer, a breathable membrane, and additional support elements. In addition, the shoes can be used with climate control socks to further enhance the climate control properties of the shoes.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: February 10, 2009Assignee: Adidas International B.V.Inventors: Christoph Berger, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Publication number: 20080155861Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, with a cushioning system comprising a lower sole element and an upper sole element. The cushioning system further comprises at least one lever having at least two arms where an angle ? between the arms lies within the range 0°<?<180°. The first arm is connected to a deformation element and the second arm is connected to one of the two sole elements, wherein the lever is pivotably arranged at the other sole element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2007Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Timothy David Lucas, Gerd Rainer Manz, Matthew Daniel Chandler, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, Josh Robert Gordon, Manfred Rippel, Robert Leimer, Jan Hill
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Publication number: 20080155859Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe sole including a cushioning element. The shoe sole can include a heel cup or heel rim having a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of heel of a foot. Further, the heel part can include a plurality of side walls arranged below the heel cup or rim and at least one tension element that interconnects at least one side wall to another side wall or to the heel cup or rim. The heel cup or rim, the plurality of side walls, and the at least one tension element can be integrally formed as a single piece.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2008Publication date: July 3, 2008Applicant: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Matthew Daniel Chandler, Jan Hill, Robert Leimer, Timothy David Lucas, Gerd Rainer Manz, Angus Wardlaw, Charles Griffin Wilson, Mark Andrew Henderson
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Patent number: 7350320Abstract: The present invention relates to a shoe sole including a cushioning element. The shoe sole can include a heel cup or heel rim having a shape that substantially corresponds to the shape of heel of a foot. Further, the heel part can include a plurality of side walls arranged below the heel cup or rim and at least one tension element that interconnects at least one side wall to another side wall or to the heel cup or rim. The heel cup or rim, the plurality of side walls, and the at least one tension element can be integrally formed as a single piece.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: Adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Matthew Daniel Chandler, Jan Hill, Robert Leimer, Timothy David Lucas, Gerd Rainer Manz, Angus Wardlaw, Charles Griffin Wilson, III, Mark Andrew Henderson
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Patent number: 7243445Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper heel cup and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower heel cup, wherein the upper heel cup and the lower heel cup have corresponding substantially spherical shapes. Complex multi-dimensional sliding and cushioning movements between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface are made possible by the corresponding three-dimensional shapes of the two substantially spherical surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2005Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Timothy David Lucas
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Patent number: 7210248Abstract: Disclosed is a ventilation system for articles of footwear. The ventilation system includes at least one opening in the shoe upper and at least one guiding surface over the opening. The guiding surface is oriented such that airflow is directed into the opening as the shoe moves. For even greater ventilation, the ventilation system may include a plurality of openings and guiding surfaces. Additionally, a discharge outlet may be included in the sole of the shoe.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2003Date of Patent: May 1, 2007Assignee: adidas I{umlaut over (n)}ternational Marketing B.V.Inventors: Allen W. Van Noy, Gerd Rainer Manz
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Patent number: 7140124Abstract: The invention relates to a sliding element for a shoe sole. The sliding element includes an upper sliding surface and a lower sliding surface, wherein the lower sliding surface is arranged below the upper sliding surface so as to be slideable in at least two directions. The upper sliding surface can form a lower side of an upper sliding plate and the lower sliding surface can form an upper side of a lower sliding plate. A relative sliding movement between the upper sliding surface and the lower sliding surface distributes the deceleration of the shoe sole over a greater time period and allows the foot to feel as if it is wearing a conventional shoe that contacts a surface with reduced friction, for example, a soft forest ground. As a result, the force acting on the wearer and the momentum transfer on his or her muscles and bones are reduced.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2005Date of Patent: November 28, 2006Assignee: adidas International Marketing B.V.Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Michael Steszyn, Berthold Krabbe