Patents by Inventor Tinker L. Hatfield

Tinker L. Hatfield 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: 11957208
    Abstract: Footwear and sole structures include structures and properties, e.g., to support urban dance and urban dance moves. Such dance styles include various dance moves and movements that require contact between side edges of the wearer's shoes and the dance floor surface (e.g., made from concrete, asphalt, wood, etc.). Such dance styles also require transition of the body's center of mass along the edge(s) of the foot. Footwear and sole structures in accordance with this technology provide structures and properties to support to support such dance styles and moves, including one or more of: selected materials and/or selected material properties in various areas to promote sliding or gliding along various surfaces and/or other desired interactions with various surfaces; selected sizing and/or dimensional features of components in various areas; various flexion promoting structures and/or characteristics; etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Thomas G. Bell, Rory S. Blanche, Risha Dupre, Christopher Mellick, Kaigin Olafson, Andrew A. Owings, Jeffrey C. Spanks, Caitlin Vultaggio
  • Publication number: 20240090625
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 11882905
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20230276892
    Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
  • Patent number: 11684109
    Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
  • Publication number: 20230123618
    Abstract: Footwear and sole structures include structures and properties, e.g., to support urban dance and urban dance moves. Such dance styles include various dance moves and movements that require contact between side edges of the wearer’s shoes and the dance floor surface (e.g., made from concrete, asphalt, wood, etc.). Such dance styles also require transition of the body’s center of mass along the edge(s) of the foot. Footwear and sole structures in accordance with this technology provide structures and properties to support to support such dance styles and moves, including one or more of: selected materials and/or selected material properties in various areas to promote sliding or gliding along various surfaces and/or other desired interactions with various surfaces; selected sizing and/or dimensional features of components in various areas; various flexion promoting structures and/or characteristics; etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Thomas G. Bell, Rory S. Blanche, Risha Dupre, Christopher Mellick, Kaigin Olafson, Andrew A. Owings, Jeffrey C. Spanks, Caitlin Vultaggio
  • Publication number: 20230088769
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20230014734
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 11553758
    Abstract: Footwear and sole structures include structures and properties, e.g., to support urban dance and urban dance moves. Such dance styles include various dance moves and movements that require contact between side edges of the wearer's shoes and the dance floor surface (e.g., made from concrete, asphalt, wood, etc.). Such dance styles also require transition of the body's center of mass along the edge(s) of the foot. Footwear and sole structures in accordance with this technology provide structures and properties to support to support such dance styles and moves, including one or more of: selected materials and/or selected material properties in various areas to promote sliding or gliding along various surfaces and/or other desired interactions with various surfaces; selected sizing and/or dimensional features of components in various areas; various flexion promoting structures and/or characteristics; etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Thomas G. Bell, Rory S. Blanche, Risha Dupre, Christopher Mellick, Kaigin Olafson, Andrew A. Owings, Jeffrey C. Spanks, Caitlin Vultaggio
  • Patent number: 11533967
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Patent number: D977236
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger
  • Patent number: D981092
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Rory S. Blanche, Tinker L. Hatfield, Kaigin Olafson
  • Patent number: D981093
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Rory S. Blanche, Tinker L. Hatfield, Kaigin Olafson
  • Patent number: D985906
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger
  • Patent number: D985907
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger
  • Patent number: D985908
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger
  • Patent number: D985909
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger
  • Patent number: D985913
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger
  • Patent number: D985917
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger
  • Patent number: D985924
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Michael Berger