Patents Assigned to Nike, Inc.
  • Athleticism rating and performance measuring systems
    Patent number: 8070654
    Abstract: A universal athleticism rating system and related athletic performance measuring systems for accurately detecting and recording athletic performance are disclosed. The athleticism rating system evaluates individual athletes against a common, standardized, set of athletic performance tests. Each athlete performs the athletic tests and his or her scores in the individual tests are entered into a standardized calculation to produce a single athletic performance score. The related performance measuring system is preferably a timing system that ensures quick, easy, and accurate collection of athletic event timing related data without the need for the athlete to wear any special detection devices or the like. In a preferred embodiment, the performance measuring system integrates with the rating system to provide seamless athletic data collection and rating of athletes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Rodolfo Chapa, Jr., Hamid G. Arjomand, Adam C. Braun, Andrew Bark
  • Collapsible athletic training ladder
    Patent number: 8070656
    Abstract: A collapsible ladder for use primarily for athletic training and the like has a plurality of spaced-apart, substantially rigid rungs secured with collapsible connectors to a plurality of spaced-apart, substantially rigid spacers extending therebetween. In one disclosed embodiment, the collapsible connectors are strips of flexible material extending between the rungs and spacers. Another disclosed embodiment has a second set of rungs aligned substantially parallel to the plurality of spaced-apart rungs along a common central set of spacers. The collapsible connectors allow the ladder to be quickly and easily transitioned between an extended, operational position, and a collapsed, storage position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: William Dieter
  • Golf club head or other ball striking device having stiffened face portion
    Patent number: 8070623
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, has a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft proximate a heel thereof. The face includes one or more stiffening members or other structures on the inner surface of the face to provide locally increased stiffness to particular areas of the face. Certain stiffening members may provide greater stiffness than other stiffening members, allowing the face to be configured for areas of greatest stiffness and greatest COR tailored to common impact patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Robert Boyd
  • Golf club with golf club head having compressible V-shaped grooves
    Patent number: 8070624
    Abstract: A golf club with a golf club head having compressible v-shaped grooves is presented. The club head may include a plurality of grooves formed in a striking face. In some arrangements, the grooves have a rectangular cross section. The grooves may also include a compressible insert having a v-shaped end and being formed of a material softer than that of the grooves. As the club head strikes a golf ball, the insert may compress, thereby allowing additional contact between the groove and the ball to impart spin on the ball. In an alternate arrangement, the groove may include a compressible support arranged between the insert and an end of the groove. The compressible insert may be formed of a material softer than the groove and/or the insert and is configured to compress when the club head strikes a golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew G. V. Oldknow, Donald S. Rahrig
  • GOLF CLUB HEAD OR OTHER BALL STRIKING DEVICE HAVING REMOVABLE or INTERCHANGEABLE BODY MEMBER
    Publication number: 20110294589
    Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball, a main body member connected to the face and having an engagement surface located in the rear side, a removable body member removably connected to the main body member, and a connecting element removably connecting the removable body member to the main body member. The connecting element includes a moveable engaging member that is moveable between a locked position, where the engaging member engages the engagement surface to retain the removable body member to the main body member, and an unlocked position, where the engaging member does not engage the engagement surface and the removable body member is removable from the main body member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Robert Boyd, David Anthony Chargin, Aaron Barrett Size, Mark J. Perry, Timothy J. Lastrapes, Robert E. Mora, J. David Robbins
  • Golf Club With Adjustable Shaft
    Publication number: 20110294591
    Abstract: Golf club, golf club shaft and golf club head structures are presented. The golf club may include an adjustable shaft configured to be received in a slot formed in a crown of the golf club head. In some examples, the slot may include a plurality of receivers, such as apertures, configured to receive the shaft in various positions along the length of the slot. The various positions may be progressively closer to a central area of the ball striking surface in order to increase the power transferred to the ball upon striking it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex W. Okot
  • Message-Conveying Interlocking Athletic Gloves
    Publication number: 20110289651
    Abstract: A message-conveying athletic glove with enhanced gripping is provided. The glove comprises a palm-side portion and a back portion connected to form four finger sheaths, a thumb sheath, and an opening capable of receiving a human hand. A first image portion of a complete image is located on one or more of the palm-side portion or the back portion of the glove. When the glove is worn by the user and interlocks with a second glove having a second image portion of the complete image displayed, the complete image is displayed by the interlocked gloves, conveying a message. The palm-side portion of the glove is made of a material to enhance gripping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: Timothy A. Clark
  • RUNNING BAG WITH A CONVEX BACK PANEL
    Publication number: 20110290843
    Abstract: Systems and methods for carrying a load on the back of a user and backpacks having a convex back panel are described. The convex back panel of the backpack may curve outward from the center of a wearer's back to minimize contact between the backpack and the wearer's back The backpack may also have a center-support panel for contacting the spinal region of the back of the wearer of the backpack. The center-support panel may have grooves for distributing a load along a wearer's back.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventor: DAVE SAGAN
  • Golf Club With Wind Resistant Shaft And Golf Club Head
    Publication number: 20110294590
    Abstract: Golf club, golf club shaft and golf club head structures are presented. The golf club may include a shaft having a core and an airfoil shaped skin substantially surrounding the core and in contact with the core. The golf club may further include a golf club head having a plurality of apertures formed in a front face of the golf club head and extending through an interior of the golf club head to a rear portion of the golf club head. The apertures may narrow or widen as they extend from the front face to the rear portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex W. Okot
  • Article of footwear having an upper with a matrix layer
    Patent number: 8065818
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) a sole structure; (b) an upper having lateral and medial side elements engaged with the sole structure, the upper made from a polymer matrix structure that extends through at least a heel region; (c) a size adjustment mechanism located at the heel region; (d) a heel tongue element located adjacent the size adjustment mechanism; (e) a shoe securing mechanism; (f) an instep tongue member; and/or (g) a bootie member located at least partially within the foot-receiving chamber. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Pamela S. Greene, John Hurd, John Hoke
  • Golf club head having a bridge member and a weight positioning system
    Patent number: 8066584
    Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares
  • Dampening system for stringed-racquet
    Patent number: 8066592
    Abstract: A system for storing one or more stringed-racquet vibration dampeners on an article of apparel so that they are easily accessible during game play is disclosed. In disclosed embodiments, the vibration dampener is detachably secured to an article of footwear by way of an opening in the upper of the shoe, such as at the tongue or the like. The dampening device may provide surface ornamentation thereon, such as a logo, other indicia, or a color scheme selectable by the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Forester
  • Shoe outsole
    Patent number: D649335
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Jason G. Petrie
  • Shoe outsole
    Patent number: D649336
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Leo S. Chang
  • Shoe outsole
    Patent number: D649337
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug D. Wilken, Nancy Katherine Wu
  • Shoe outsole
    Patent number: D649756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Cheresse Thornhill
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D649760
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Cheresse Thornhill
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D649762
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug D. Wilken, Nancy Katherine Wu
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D649764
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Doug D. Wilken, Nancy Katherine Wu
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D649771
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: TaeYong Lee