Patents by Inventor Paul J. Francis
Paul J. Francis 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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Publication number: 20240079134Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Robert M. Bruce, Justin Fraga, Paul J. Francis
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Patent number: 11862334Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2021Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Robert M. Bruce, Justin Fraga, Paul J. Francis
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Publication number: 20230011412Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 16, 2022Publication date: January 12, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Paul J. Francis, Claudio Innocente
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Patent number: 11478044Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Paul J. Francis, Claudio Innocente
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Publication number: 20210151181Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 25, 2021Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Robert M. Bruce, Justin Fraga, Paul J. Francis
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Patent number: 10933281Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2019Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Robert M. Bruce, Justin Fraga, Paul J. Francis
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Patent number: 10786038Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear (e.g., outsole components) have one or more of: a base plate having a V-shaped support structure with lateral and medial support members extending forward from a base support area located in a heel or rear midfoot area of the outsole component; a base plate having a matrix structure with recesses or openings formed between rib elements that make up the matrix structure; and/or a base plate having a rear heel support. The base plates may be made, at least in part, as unitary, one-piece constructions, using selective laser sintering or other three-dimensional printing and/or rapid manufacturing additive fabrication techniques.Type: GrantFiled: July 16, 2018Date of Patent: September 29, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Berend, Paul J. Francis, Shane S. Kohatsu, Ryan R. Larson, Dov Michael Lashmore, Troy C. Lindner, Kenneth Link, Randall S. Wolfe
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Publication number: 20200275731Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 14, 2020Publication date: September 3, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Paul J. Francis, Claudio Innocente
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Patent number: 10716356Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2016Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Paul J. Francis, Claudio Innocente
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Patent number: 10314367Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole structure with an extension portion that maintains contact with the ground during a forward stride, extending the time period for deceleration of loads applied to the sole structure. The article of footwear comprises an upper and a sole structure. The upper has a forefoot region with a foremost extent. The sole structure has a forefoot portion underlying the forefoot region, and an extension portion extending forward from the forefoot portion. The extension portion extends forward of the foremost extent of the upper from a forward edge of the forefoot portion to a distal end. A top side of the extension portion is spaced apart from the upper between the forward edge and the distal end. The extension portion establishes a propulsion surface beyond the foremost extent of the upper during a forward stride.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2016Date of Patent: June 11, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bruce J. Kilgore, Paul J. Francis, Kevin W. Hoffer, Shane S. Kohatsu, Aaron K. Seid, Jeffrey C. Spanks, Andrea M. Vinet, George A. Xanthos
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Publication number: 20190151715Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Robert M. Bruce, Justin Fraga, Paul J. Francis
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Patent number: 10292450Abstract: An article of footwear includes a navicular support structure on a medial side. The navicular support structure includes a non-stretch, tensioned material that reduces an interior volume of the upper of the article of footwear and redirects applied forces from the midfoot region of the article of footwear to other regions, such as the forefoot region.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2017Date of Patent: May 21, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Paul J. Francis, Andrea M. Vinet, Michael S. Amos, Thomas Foxen, Lysandre Follet, Troy C. Lindner, John Hurd
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Patent number: 10286255Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2014Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Paul J. Francis, Justin Fraga, Robert M. Bruce
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Patent number: 10238169Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole with a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion. The sole has a ground-facing side and a foot-facing side opposite the ground-facing side. The article of footwear includes a support system that has one or more rods spaced from the sole and extending longitudinally from the forefoot portion to the heel portion on the foot-facing side. The rod is operatively connected to the sole at the forefoot portion and at the heel portion. A sling is suspended from the rod over the midfoot portion. The rod bends when the sole is flexed to thereby lift the sling away from the sole.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bruce J. Kilgore, Paul J. Francis
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Patent number: 10207149Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: February 19, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Robert M. Bruce, Justin Fraga, Paul J. Francis
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Publication number: 20180325213Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear (e.g., outsole components) have one or more of: a base plate having a V-shaped support structure with lateral and medial support members extending forward from a base support area located in a heel or rear midfoot area of the outsole component; a base plate having a matrix structure with recesses or openings formed between rib elements that make up the matrix structure; and/or a base plate having a rear heel support. The base plates may be made, at least in part, as unitary, one-piece constructions, using selective laser sintering or other three-dimensional printing and/or rapid manufacturing additive fabrication techniques.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Inventors: Thomas Berend, Paul J. Francis, Shane S. Kohatsu, Ryan R. Larson, Dov Michael Lashmore, Troy C. Lindner, Kenneth Link, Randall S. Wolfe
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Publication number: 20180289100Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole, and an upper that has a medial side portion extending from the medial side of the sole with a first distal end remote from the medial side. The upper has a lateral side portion extending from the lateral side of the sole with a second distal end remote from the lateral side. The upper may include a support member extending at least partially across the foot-receiving surface with a first end remote from the medial side. The medial and lateral side portions wrap at least partially around a foot with the first distal end securable proximal to the lateral side, and the second distal end separately securable proximal to the medial side. An article of footwear has cables with proximal ends fixed to one side of the upper and that extend through looped cables on an opposite side of the upper.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2016Publication date: October 11, 2018Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Paul J. Francis, Claudio Innocente
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Patent number: 10045588Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear (e.g., outsole components) have one or more of: a base plate having a V-shaped support structure with lateral and medial support members extending forward from a base support area located in a heel or rear midfoot area of the outsole component; a base plate having a matrix structure with recesses or openings formed between rib elements that make up the matrix structure; and/or a base plate having a rear heel support. The base plates may be made, at least in part, as unitary, one-piece constructions, using selective laser sintering or other three-dimensional printing and/or rapid manufacturing additive fabrication techniques.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: August 14, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Berend, Paul J. Francis, Shane S. Kohatsu, Ryan R. Larson, Dov Michael Lashmore, Troy C. Lindner, Kenneth Link, Randall S. Wolfe
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Publication number: 20180154214Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring athletic performances include determining “flight time,” e.g., the amount of time both feet are off the ground, and optionally “flight time” resulting from different types of activities, such as jogging, running, sprinting, jumping, etc. “Flight time” may help a player or coach better understand the effort the athlete is putting out, compare efforts of two or more players, gauge the athlete's performance change over time, and/or identify conditioning needs and/or areas for improvement. Such systems and methods also may generate and display various athletic performance metrics, such as: instantaneous flight time; average flight time; cumulative flight time during an athletic performance or other time period; instantaneous jump height; average jump height; cumulative jump height during an athletic performance or other time period; and comparisons of any flight time and/or jump height metric(s) of one player against another player and/or against himself/herself; etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: June 7, 2018Inventors: SantoshKumar Balakrishnan, Robert M. Bruce, Justin Fraga, Paul J. Francis
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Publication number: 20180084863Abstract: An article of footwear includes a navicular support structure on a medial side. The navicular support structure includes a non-stretch, tensioned material that reduces an interior volume of the upper of the article of footwear and redirects applied forces from the midfoot region of the article of footwear to other regions, such as the forefoot region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2017Publication date: March 29, 2018Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Paul J. Francis, Andrea M. Vinet, Michael S. Amos, Thomas Foxen, Lysandre Follet, Troy C. Lindner, John Hurd