Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Bell

Thomas G. Bell 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: 10827803
    Abstract: An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Publication number: 20200323311
    Abstract: Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include: (a) an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite the upper-facing surface, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and (b) a matrix structure extending from the outer perimeter boundary rim (e.g., the ground-facing surface and/or the upper-facing surface) and across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells across the open space at least at the forefoot support area, wherein a plurality (e.g., at least a majority) of the open cells have curved perimeters with no distinct corners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2020
    Publication date: October 15, 2020
    Inventors: Michael S. Amos, Thomas G. Bell, Lysandre Follet, Thomas Foxen, John Hurd, Shane S. Kohatsu, Troy C. Lindner, Geng Luo, Adam Thuss, Andrea Vinet
  • Publication number: 20200305553
    Abstract: Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventor: Thomas G. Bell
  • Publication number: 20200275731
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Paul J. Francis, Claudio Innocente
  • Patent number: 10750817
    Abstract: A pair of sole plates for a complementary pair of articles of footwear may generally include a first article with a first sole plate and a second article with a second sole plate, where the first sole plate is asymmetrical with respect to the second sole plate. The first sole plate includes a first groove that extends along a first lateral side of the first sole plate, and the second sole plate includes a second groove that extends along a second medial side of the second sole plate. The asymmetry of first sole plate with respect to second sole plate may improve performance, flexibility, and agility during running and in particular, during athletic events along a curved track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Leslie Barnes, Thomas G. Bell, Dustin Hatfield, John Hurd, Troy C. Lindner, Geng Luo, Gordon A. Valiant, Jay T. Worobets
  • Patent number: 10716356
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Paul J. Francis, Claudio Innocente
  • Patent number: 10702021
    Abstract: Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include: (a) an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an upper-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite the upper-facing surface, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and (b) a matrix structure extending from the outer perimeter boundary rim (e.g., the ground-facing surface and/or the upper-facing surface) and across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells across the open space at least at the forefoot support area, wherein a plurality (e.g., at least a majority) of the open cells have curved perimeters with no distinct corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Amos, Thomas G. Bell, Lysandre Follet, Thomas Foxen, John Hurd, Shane S. Kohatsu, Troy C. Lindner, Geng Luo, Adam Thuss, Andrea Vinet
  • Patent number: 10694815
    Abstract: Textile Components, such as upper members for articles of footwear, include: (a) a first portion having a first edge, wherein the first edge includes a first portion of material engaged with a first seam support material via a first thermoplastic material; (b) a second portion having a second edge, wherein the second edge includes a second portion of material engaged with a second seam support material via a second thermoplastic material; and (c) structure to engage the first and second edges in an abutting edge joint (such as a zig-zag stitch). The resulting textile components may be lightweight and breathable (e.g., due to use of lightweight upper fabric), having a comfortable fit (e.g., due to the abutting edge joint), while still providing a strong, stable, and durable construction (e.g., due to the presence of the seam support member(s)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Bell
  • Patent number: D870428
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Goodwin Parker, Thomas G. Bell, Tinker L. Hatfield, Randall S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: D870440
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas G. Bell
  • Patent number: D871039
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Goodwin Parker, Thomas G. Bell, Tinker L. Hatfield, Randall S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: D871735
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Goodwin Parker, Thomas G. Bell, Tinker L. Hatfield, Randall S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: D872444
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Goodwin Parker, Thomas G. Bell, Tinker L. Hatfield, Randall S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: D874124
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D874811
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D875366
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Ross Klein, George A. Xanthos
  • Patent number: D875375
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D876076
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D889784
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Goodwin Parker, Thomas G. Bell, Tinker L. Hatfield, Randall S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: D896495
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Converse Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, George A. Xanthos