Patents Examined by Alissa J. Tompkins
  • Patent number: 12329234
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a sole structure. Data is received for a cushioning profile of the sole structure of an article of footwear, the sole structure including a bladder network including multiple bladders interconnected by conduits, the sole structure also including a plurality of openings exposing the conduits. Based on the received data, configurations of at least some stems in a frame are adjusted. The frame is installed into the sole structure, the installing including inserting the stems through the openings so as to at least partially close at least a portion of the conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 12317946
    Abstract: A chin strap assembly is provided for use with a sports helmet. The chin strap assembly includes an inner pad member, a strap assembly and an outer protective member. The outer protective member is coupled to the strap assembly by an attachment member, such as a post. A sports helmet with the chin strap assembly is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Riddell, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Infusino, Nelson Kraemer, Vittorio Bologna
  • Patent number: 12290125
    Abstract: Safety head wear for use for example in high risk activities such as sports and industrial purposes where protection from head injuries is required. Components are provided inserted between the liner and outer shell and consists of two parts; a chamber or bladder and a fluid or gel like material. The fluid or gel material is contained in the chamber or bladder and is positioned in such a way to create low friction between the surface of the shell and liner or liner and head. It can also be used on the outer surface of the shell or placed within two layers of the liner. The device provides a method of independently managing both compression and shear force characteristics of the helmet around the head designed to decrease brain trauma resulting from high linear and angular acceleration during impacts to the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: MIPS AB
    Inventors: Thomas Blaine Hoshizaki, Andrew Michael Post, Philippe Rousseau
  • Patent number: 12268278
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a platform for footwear. The platform includes bevels and an internal channel for assembling an upper with the platform. A first bevel is defined in a first side portion of the platform and is configured to receive a portion of a first upper side. A second bevel is defined in a second side portion of the platform and is configured to receive a portion of a second upper side. An internal channel is positioned within the platform and extends between the first bevel and the second bevel. The internal channel is configured to receive a fastener to assemble the upper with the platform. The platform may also include a slot for receiving an edge portion of a sock liner to assemble the sock liner with the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: HILOS, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Folsom, Gaia Giladi, Elias Stahl
  • Patent number: 12262791
    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
  • Patent number: 12262788
    Abstract: A ballet pointe shoe has an upper in which a shank insert and/or an elastic loop can removably and replaceably installed without even partial deconstruction of the ballet pointe shoe. Embodiments may have an upper including a tunnel which may extend beneath a toe box, the tunnel having a mouth which is accessible via the foot compartment and by way of which a shank insert can be installed, removed or replaced. In some embodiments an elastic loop may be routed under a portion of the shank insert extending from the mouth of the tunnel. In some embodiments the tunnel may penetrate a shank body under which an elastic loop may be routed. A shank insert and/or elastic loop may be selected from sets of ones having different characteristics. In some embodiments the toe box and shank body may be included in a monolithic foot supporting structure. In some embodiments a shank insert and/or toe box may be reshaped at any time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Inventor: Lisias Ransan
  • Patent number: 12225964
    Abstract: A shoe includes a sole, an upper, and a welt. The sole and upper define a seam. The welt overlies the seam. The sole includes flex grooves. The upper includes perforations. The welt includes flex slits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: COLE HAAN LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Mokos, Scott Patt
  • Patent number: 12213540
    Abstract: A garment comprising a front portion; a back portion; the front portion and the back portion converging to define a first edge section and a second edge section; a first attachment device having a first opening located in proximity to the first edge section; a second attachment device having a second opening located in proximity to the second edge section; the first and second openings extend from the front portion to the back portion; an embellished back strap having a first surface a second surface, a first attachment portion, and a second attachment portion; the first attachment portion loops through the first opening and the second attachment portion loops through the second opening; and an adjustable attachment system for attaching the first and second attachment portions to the second face of the embellished strap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Inventor: Ariane Joannou
  • Patent number: 12207699
    Abstract: A plurality of fluid-filled chambers may be incorporated into sole structures of articles of footwear. The chambers may be configured to be substantially diamond-shaped. The chambers may lie within cavities formed by a lower surface of the midsole and may extend into apertures in the outsole. The apertures in the outsole may be aligned with the cavities of the midsole. The chambers may be bounded by bounding regions between and at the perimeter of the chambers. The bounding regions may be formed of a polymer foam material of the midsole. The chambers may additionally be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Dekovic, Bradley S. Long, Brian E. Santa Maria, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Danielle L. Taylor
  • Patent number: 12207697
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a braided upper is disclosed. The article includes a braided upper with a bottom opening and a bottom peripheral portion surrounding the bottom opening. An article can include an insole component with a projecting portion that fits though the bottom opening. An article may otherwise include a midsole component with an upper projecting portion that fits through the bottom opening. A midsole component and/or an insole component may be attached directly to the bottom peripheral portion of the braided upper using a bonding agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Santos
  • Patent number: 12195893
    Abstract: Various fabrics, compression garments and compression garment systems are described. Fabrics formed from wicking and absorbent materials provide effective compression and an improved environment next to a wearer's skin, which provides greater comfort and improved overall performance. Two and multi-layer compression garments are described. An outer layer may be formed with an opening having a closure and an elastic material joining the sides of the opening. This provides a first level of compression with the closure open and a second level of compression with the closure closed and also helps a user in applying the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: THE MERINO COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Blythe Guy Rees-Jones, Rogier Rolf Simons, Stewart Roger Collie, Marie Stella Banks
  • Patent number: 12151155
    Abstract: The invention is a glove having a palmar side panel and a dorsal side panel and a thumb stall and a plurality of finger stalls for receiving a thumb and fingers of a human hand. The invention further includes a finger or thumb stall having a transverse expansion zone and/or a longitudinal expansion zone comprised of expandable material for accommodating fingers of varying sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Hillerich & Bradsby Co.
    Inventor: James M. Kleinert
  • Patent number: 12150510
    Abstract: Helmet for sport activities comprising a lattice structure shaped so to accommodate a part of a user head and comprising empty and full portions arranged so that a continuous network of interconnected air channels runs through the lattice structure. The lattice structure comprises on its inner side at least one pocket permeable to air. The pocket is shaped so to accommodate said at least one permeable energy absorbing pad. Method for manufacturing the helmet comprising the steps of providing a lattice structure shaped so to receive a part of a user head and comprising at least one inner pocket, and inserting at least one energy absorbing pad which is permeable to air into said at least one pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: GEORGE TFE SCP
    Inventor: Piers Christian Storey
  • Patent number: 12133995
    Abstract: A ventilated hood having an external air flow hose and comprising a filter incorporated in the ventilated hood, and a seal, wherein when the seal is intact, air does not flow through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Christophe Chessari, Swan Tuffery
  • Patent number: 12108841
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, sporting goods manufactured by such methods, for example a shoe, as well as a device for performing such methods. The method for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, is provided, wherein the sporting goods has a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface. The method includes activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy without contact, and connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first connection surface and the second connection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Jan Hill, Clemens Paul Dyckmans, Giridharan Kirupanantham, Gerd Rainer Manz, Dietmar Klaus Drummer
  • Patent number: 12108845
    Abstract: A last includes a base part including a bottom and a plurality of additional parts, each of which is formed in a plate shape and is capable of being assembled to the base part. The base part includes a mounting unit and a first forming surface. The plurality of additional parts include a second forming surface. Each additional part has an end face. The second forming surface includes the end face of each of the plurality of additional parts. The base part includes a first base member including a mounting unit and a second base member attachable to and detachable from the first base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: ASICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Genki Hatano, Yuya Kozuka, Shingo Takashima, Naoto Iwashita, Kei Kanematsu
  • Patent number: 12102174
    Abstract: Foot support components for footwear include a sole member made from one or more parts and including a base surface. A plurality of medial side primary traction elements (e.g., soccer cleats) and a plurality of lateral side primary traction elements (e.g., soccer cleats) extend in a direction away from the base surface. A central space is defined between interior extents (e.g., interior-most surfaces) of the plurality of medial and lateral side primary traction elements, and this central space may be free of primary traction elements (e.g., free of cleats). A projection field comprising a plurality of projections is located at least partially in the central space. These projections can readily bend under the weight of the user and help provide better “feel” for a ball, e.g., by transmitting force from the ball to the wearer's foot and providing audible feedback when contacting the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver McLachlan, Krissy Yetman
  • Patent number: 12075856
    Abstract: Mesh fabric panels that provide a compressive force to a wearer's mid-section and tummy-covering garments equipped with the mesh fabric panels are disclosed. The mesh fabric panels can be formed of a material having a suitable rigidity for providing the compressive force. The mesh fabric panels include left and right panels adapted to be stitched or otherwise affixed to left and right front sections, respectively, of a garment such as a pant, a dress, a skirt, shorts, swimwear, or the like. Each of the left and right mesh fabric panels includes a seam side edge adapted to be affixed to a corresponding seam side of a tummy-covering garment, a fly side edge adapted to be affixed to a fly facing of the garment, a waist edge, and a bottom edge. The left and/or right mesh fabric panel may be a dual layer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Torrid LLC
    Inventors: Heather A. Strobel, Elizabeth Munoz-Guzman
  • Patent number: 12075855
    Abstract: Mesh fabric panels that provide a compressive force to a wearer's mid-section and tummy-covering garments equipped with the mesh fabric panels are disclosed. The mesh fabric panels can be formed of a material having a suitable rigidity for providing the compressive force. The mesh fabric panels include left and right panels adapted to be stitched or otherwise affixed to left and right front sections, respectively, of a garment such as a pant, a dress, a skirt, shorts, swimwear, or the like. Each of the left and right mesh fabric panels includes a seam side edge adapted to be affixed to a corresponding seam side of a tummy-covering garment, a fly side edge adapted to be affixed to a fly facing of the garment, a waist edge, and a bottom edge. The left and/or right mesh fabric panel may be a dual layer panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Torrid LLC
    Inventors: Heather A. Strobel, Elizabeth Munoz-Guzman
  • Patent number: 12064010
    Abstract: Articles of footwear having an upper that includes a tensile support structure are described. The tensile support structure is formed by a plurality of strands that are arranged in a chain-linked configuration. The chain-linked arrangement of the strands assists with distributing tensile forces over portions of the upper of the article of footwear and helps to conforms the upper to a foot of a wearer upon the application of tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephan Hausmann, Laura C. Parrett, Robert C. Williams, Jr.