Patents by Inventor Jeffrey C. Spanks

Jeffrey C. Spanks 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: 20110192058
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes at least one illuminable strand located to be visible from an exterior of the article of footwear. In some configurations, the upper includes a power source at least partially embedded within the upper and electrically-coupled to the illuminable strand. In another configuration, the upper includes a foundation layer and a cover layer that are secured to each other, and the illuminable strand is located between the foundation layer and the cover layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Publication number: 20110192059
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes an illuminable panel and a plurality of strands positioned to extend adjacent and parallel to the illuminable panel. The illuminable panel has a surface with a covered area and an exposed area. The covered area includes a substantially opaque covering, and the exposed area is at least partially visible from the exterior of the footwear. The strands are located to correspond with the exposed area of the illuminable panel. Light from the exposed area of the illuminable panel may enhance, highlight, or otherwise increase the visibility of the strands or areas of the upper that include the strands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Spanks, Tiffany A. Beers
  • Publication number: 20100287788
    Abstract: A method of forming an article of footwear includes injecting a first material into a first cavity of a mold assembly to form a sole assembly, injecting a second material into a second cavity of the mold assembly, a first last being suspended within the second cavity, to form an upper of the article of footwear about the first last. The upper and the sole assembly are positioned in contact with one another. The upper and the sole assembly are cured and bonded together to form an article of footwear. The article of footwear is removed from the mold assembly and from the first last and allowed to expand to a first size. The article of footwear is placed on a second last having a second size that is smaller than the first size, and heated and cooled until it shrinks to the second size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Spanks, Eric P. Avar, Tom Luedecke, Chiung Yao Lynn Chang
  • Publication number: 20100186255
    Abstract: A stability and comfort system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The stability and comfort system includes a bootie and a sock liner. The sock liner may include a heel counter that is contoured to fit a heel. The sole of the article may include an outrigger portion. The outrigger portion can be separated from a central portion of the sole to allow the outrigger portion to move substantially independently of the central portion of the sole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Tom Luedecke, Matthew A. Nurse, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Publication number: 20090064535
    Abstract: A method of making a sole for an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes steps of attaching a double sided acrylic adhesive film to a composite plate. The composite plate is then attached to an outer member of the article of footwear using the acrylic adhesive film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Publication date: March 12, 2009
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Spanks, Foxen Thomas