Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a recess defining a first opening in the peripheral surface. The sole structure for an article of footwear also includes an insert disposed within the recess and including a first material having a first gloss unit value and a second material disposed on an outer surface of the first material and having a second gloss unit value. The second material is at least partially disposed within the first opening.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 28, 2023
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Michael Jones, Michael F. Joubert, Chun-Wei Kuo, Yong S. Lee, Thea Moshofsky, Randall S. Wolfe
Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component with a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void. The knitted component may further include a tongue, where the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper, and where the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge. The knitted component may further include at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior surface of the knit element and extending a length along at least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue, where the tongue and the at least one raised element have a common yarn.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 21, 2022
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Bhupesh Dua, Adrian Meir, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include a knitted component having a knit element and an inlaid strand. The knit element may extend seamlessly from a first side of the upper, through a heel area of the upper, and to a second side of the upper. The inlaid strand may also extend continuously through the knit element from the first side of the upper, through the heel area of the upper, and to the second side of the upper.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 20, 2018
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer
Abstract: An adjustable heel support member includes a base portion and an extended portion. The extended portion comprises a lateral portion, a medial portion and a rearward portion. The heel support member further includes a fastening member that can be used to adjust the lateral portion, the medial portion and the rearward portion to resize the heel support member. In some cases, the fastening member may be an elastic ring.
Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper that is directly attached with the sole in an article of footwear mold. The sole has a film extending up sidewalls of the sole to a film edge that is prior to the sidewall and the upper joining. Method of manufacture of the article of footwear includes steps of positioning a film over a mold cavity and then securing the film to the mold. The film is heated and then drawn into the mold cavity under a vacuum. The film forms a liner of the mold cavity. A foam composition is injected into the lined mold cavity. As the foam composition expands, the foam composition interacts with and mechanically engages with the upper that is positioned at the mold cavity to allow for the mechanical engagement that results in the direct attachment of the sole to the upper.
Abstract: Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices may include an authentication or activation system for providing power or otherwise determining the connection of a sensor in the article of footwear.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
November 6, 2023
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
William E. Berner, Jr., Albert Shum, Charles W. Case, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
Abstract: Foot support systems include a fluid flow regulator and/or valve that: (a) can operate as a stop valve to stop transfer of fluid between a first fluid container and a second fluid container, (b) can open in a controlled manner to allow transfer of fluid from the second fluid container to the first fluid container, (c) can open to equalize pressure in the first and second fluid containers, and (d) can act as a check valve to enable flow of fluid from the first fluid container to the second fluid container when/if gas pressure in the first container exceeds that in the second container by a predetermined amount. Additional features relate to fluid flow control systems and methods, systems and methods for changing and controlling the crack pressure of a valve (e.g., a check valve), and/or systems and methods for matching foot support pressure features in two different sole structures.
Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a knit sock having a leg portion and an integrally knit ankle welt extending around a circumference of the leg portion and positioned at a lower end of the leg portion. The knit sock further includes an integrally knit tab located at a back aspect of the ankle welt.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 6, 2023
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Trina Z. Murrietta, Asli E. Whitham, Ronen Yehuda
Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to articles that include a cured coating that includes a matrix of crosslinked polymers and optionally a colorant (e.g., pigment particles or dye or both). The cured coating can include a matrix of crosslinked polymers. The cured coating is a product of crosslinking a coating composition comprising uncrosslinked polymers (e.g., a dispersion of uncrosslinked polymers in a carrier to form the matrix of crosslinked polymers), wherein the uncrosslinked polymers are crosslinked to form the matrix of crosslinked polymers. The matrix of crosslinked polymers can be elastomeric. The present disclosure is also directed to articles including these bladders, methods of forming these bladders, and methods of making articles including these bladders, where the bladders include the cured coating.
Abstract: A method of integrating a cryptographic digital asset into a digital software application, includes receiving a digital asset identification (ID) code, the digital asset ID code existing together with a unique owner ID code on a distributed blockchain ledger. The digital asset ID code represents the cryptographic digital asset, and the cryptographic digital asset comprises a plurality of attributes. A virtual object is then represented on the display via the digital software application. The virtual object has an appearance that is based on the plurality of attributes of the cryptographic digital asset, and the virtual object includes a plurality of object attributes. The method further includes modifying at least one of the object attributes according to an aspect of the digital software application or interaction between the character avatar and the virtual object and representing a modified virtual object on the display via the digital software application.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 13, 2023
Date of Patent:
April 1, 2025
Assignee:
NIKE, Inc.
Inventors:
Christopher Andon, Matthew Davis, Hien Tommy Pham, Jeremy Schroeder