Patents Examined by Bao-Thieu L Nguyen
  • Footwear having motorized adjustment system and elastic upper
    Patent number: 11219276
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers
  • Safety glove with fingertip protective member
    Patent number: 11219253
    Abstract: A safety glove having a protective member or insert extending around the fingertip of the safety glove is provided. The protective member may be positioned along the outer surface or the inner surface of the glove. Alternatively, the protective member may be integrally formed between two layers of glove material. The protective member terminates distally from an interphalangeal joint line to enable finger flexion in order to grasp an item, such as a slab of meat to be deskinned in a skinning machine. The glove may include a rough outer surface formed from thrice dipping the glove and allowing the glove to cure. Additionally, the glove may have a width near the wrist that is wider than the width near the palm to enable the glove to be rapidly removed (i.e., doffed) in an emergency event of the glove getting caught in a rotating blade on the skinning machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Summit Glove Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Hull
  • Protective helmet
    Patent number: 11213086
    Abstract: The invention relates to a protective helmet, in particular a protective motorcycle helmet, comprising an outer shell (1) for distributing impact forces, a battery socket (2), which is firmly connected to the outer shell (1), for detachably accommodating a battery (3), and a line assembly (4), which is electrically connected to the battery socket (2), for supplying electricity by means of the accommodated battery (3) to an electric apparatus (5) which is mechanically coupled to the outer shell (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventors: Jan-Christian Becker, Thomas Schulz, Christian Dittmer-Peters, Markus Moebius, Thomas Hagemeier
  • Article with sole structure having multiple components
    Patent number: 11213095
    Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole structure with multiple components. The sole structure includes a midsole member, an outsole member and an exterior support member. The midsole member and the outsole member have corresponding grooves. The exterior support member provides reinforcement for the midsole member. The outsole member includes a plurality of bristle members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Nadia M. Panian, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Article of footwear with dynamic support
    Patent number: 11206892
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers, Nathan T Gilbreath
  • Functional underwear support
    Patent number: 11206873
    Abstract: Provided is a functional underwear support for men having active exercises such as running, marathon, and cycling in which the penis and the scrotum are separately accommodated independently of each other with high air permeability, the functional underwear support including a scrotum pocket which is formed with a functional fabric such as a mesh, a coolon, or a coolmax having a high air permeability, to entirely supporting the scrotum, a penis support cover which is formed by sewing a stretchable, soft spandex fabric fixedly supporting the penis so as not to be shaken to the both left and right ends of the scrotum pocket outer side, and a rechargeable motor fan unit which is provided to one side of the scrotum pocket to remove moisture or facilitate ventilation of the scrotum and the groin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: VERTEXKOREA LTD.
    Inventor: Ki Su Park
  • Braided articles and methods for their manufacture
    Patent number: 11202483
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to braided articles and methods for their manufacture. The braided articles may include articles of footwear having braided uppers. The braided uppers may include a base yarn and a high performance yarn. The high performance yarn may form a braided structure within the braided upper. The braided structure may be continuously braided to provide continuous support to a wearer's foot when the article of footwear is worn as intended, by a wearer. Additionally, the high performance yarn may be configured to exit the braided upper and re-enter the braided upper to form a plurality of arcuate loops along the throat area of the braided article of footwear for accommodating a lace for further adjustment of the fit of the article of footwear on the wearer's foot, when worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Eun Kyung Lee, James Y. Yoo, Chikao Ichikawa
  • Gloves with a cut out portion and methods to manufacture gloves with a cut out portion
    Patent number: 11172713
    Abstract: Embodiments of golf gloves having a cut out portion and methods to manufacture gloves having a cut out portion are generally described herein. Other embodiments of gloves may be described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignee: KARSTEN MANUFACTURING CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryan J. Bruce, John H. Loudenslager, Toby Stapleton
  • Protective headgear
    Patent number: 11166510
    Abstract: Aspects herein relate to protective headgear for sports and to methods of using such headgear. In one aspect, the headgear has an external head-protecting shell that is soft to reduce the risk of injuring other players. In another aspect, the headgear has a rear closure arrangement that includes a bridge component for ease of putting on the headgear and for added protection at the closure area of the rear closure arrangement. In another aspect, fit pads of different sizes are removeably attachable to a cheekbone extension member of the headgear to provide a proper fit to the wearer's cheekbone. A face mask is integrated with the headgear in some embodiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Cascade Maverik Lacrosse, LLC
    Inventors: Jesse Newman, Nicholas Colville, David Winthrop Fream, Stephen Moore
  • Footwear article having cord structure
    Patent number: 11160324
    Abstract: A footwear article is provided herein. The footwear article may include a cord structure including interconnected bights in a vamp cord and a rand cord forming a loop line extending along at least a portion of the footwear article, and further including an anchor cord extending along the portion of the footwear article and parallel to the loop line. The rand cord may couple to the anchor cord. In this way, the cord structure may be tensioned independently of other upper materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Fuerst Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory Fuerst, Jr., Stefano Del Biondi
  • Article of footwear with removable and height adjustable heel
    Patent number: 11147343
    Abstract: There is an article of footwear that may have an interchangeable, height adjustable heel. The article of footwear has a recess in the heel portion. The height adjustable heel engages and is secured to the article of footwear by way of the cylindrical recess. The interior surface of this recess is preferably threaded, although it may have some other property that also enables securement of the height adjustable heel. The height adjustable heel has a connecting section and a base section. The connecting section engages the cylindrical recess. The base section can be of varying sizes allowing the article of footwear to take on a number of appearances and be worn in a variety of settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Inventor: Anatalie Saint Louis
  • Knitted component with adjustable knitted portion
    Patent number: 11140933
    Abstract: An article may include a base structure with a strand and an adjustment member. The adjustment member may include a course with a plurality of loops, and the strand of the base structure may be inlaid within the course of the adjustment member adjacent to a first loop and a second loop of the plurality of loops. The adjustment member may be configured to slide along the base structure from a first state to a second state such that the first loop and the second loop define a first loop distance in the first state, and the first loop and the second loop define a second loop distance in the second state. The first loop distance may be greater than the second loop distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Bruce Huffa
  • Body-enhancing garment and garment construction
    Patent number: 11129422
    Abstract: Systems or methods for anatomy warping a garment are provided. Anatomy warping is any deliberate manipulation of a garment's seams, pockets, and/or other construction lines and/or details in order to change the perceived shape of a wearer of the garment toward a desired appearance. Additionally, the garments that result from use of these systems and methods for anatomy warping are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: The H.D. Lee Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Darren J. Peshek, Justin T. Mark, Brian Marion, Kyle Stephens, Donald Hoffman, Stephen H. Zades
  • Skate boot having an inner liner with an abrasion resistant overlay
    Patent number: 11116280
    Abstract: A liner for a skate boot that includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface is configured to be mounted to a shell of the skate boot. The inner surface includes a first material and an overlay of a second material covering a part of the first material. The overlay and another part of the first material not covered by the second material are configured to be exposed to a foot when the foot is placed in the skate boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: BAUER HOCKEY, LLC
    Inventors: Gaetan Champagne, Jean-Marie Bidal, Donald Nault, Stephane Chalifoux
  • Magnetic pocket square
    Patent number: 11006677
    Abstract: Provided is a single-piece magnetic pocket square that folds over a pocket, and that uses magnets to retain its position and shape about the pocket. The pocket square provides adornment or an accessory that adds visual flair to the pocket in the same manner as a handkerchief or traditional pocket square while retaining its shape and position. The pocket square includes an inner rigid material extending between an upper half and a lower half, a bend plane at which the upper half folds towards the lower half, magnets attached to the upper half and lower half of the inner rigid material, and a fabric covering the pocket square. The pocket square works by placing the lower half in the pocket, and by folding the upper half over the pocket to create a magnetic force that couples the upper half to the lower half with the pocket edge disposed in between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventor: Randolph Winston Jones
  • Auxetic structures and footwear with soles having auxetic structures
    Patent number: 10986894
    Abstract: A material that includes at least one layer made of an auxetic structure and articles of footwear having soles comprising the materials. When the material is under tension, it expands in both the direction under tension and in the direction orthogonal to the direction under tension. The articles of footwear have soles that have at least one layer made of a material that has a pattern of apertures to provide the auxetic structure. The apertures are surrounded by sole portions that can rotate or pivot to change the size of the apertures. An outer covering can be mated with an outsole structure formed by the auxetic structure. The outer covering includes features that mate with the apertures in the outsole structure. The outer covering is elastic and can stretch to accommodate expansion of the auxetic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tory M. Cross, Kevin W. Hoffer, David P. Jones, Patrick B. Kirschner, Elizabeth Langvin, James C. Meschter
  • Article of footwear with dynamic support
    Patent number: 10986888
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a dynamic support system that controls arrays of tiles in the upper of the footwear to adjust the level of support provided in different regions of the upper. Sensors in the sole of the footwear, in the upper of the footwear and/or in an article worn by the wearer of the footwear measure the level of stress or other characteristics and provide input to one or more microprocessors that control motors located in the sole or in the upper of the footwear. When the motors are activated, they may compress or loosen arrays of tiles to adjust the stiffness of the upper in one or more regions of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers, Nathan T Gilbreath
  • Ring spinning machine with displaceably supported spindle rail
    Patent number: 10968542
    Abstract: A ring spinning machine includes a reciprocating, displaceably supported spindle rail that is driven by a motor via a shaft that passes through the ring spinning machine. The spindle rail is arranged along opposite sides of the ring spinning machine in a longitudinal orientation of the ring spinning machine and is subdivided into sections along each of the opposite sides. Cross braces extend between the opposite sides of the ring spinning machine and connect opposite sections of the spindle rail. The shaft is supported between the sections of the spindle rail. The spindle rail is suspended from at least one cam disc that is seated on the shaft. A circumferentially biased spring is configured with the shaft or the cam disc to provide torsional compensation on the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Rieter AG
    Inventor: Emil Krejci
  • Braided article of footwear incorporating flat yarn
    Patent number: 10905189
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear is provided, having a braided structure comprising a first yarn having a first cross-sectional shape and a second yarn having a second cross-sectional shape different than the first cross-sectional shape. The first cross-sectional shape comprises an outer surface parallel to an inner surface in a rectangular orientation. Additionally, the first yarn is oriented such that at least a portion of the outer surface comprises the first side of the first yarn and at least a portion of the inner surface comprises the second side of the first yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Eun Kyung Lee, James Y. Yoo, Chikao Ichikawa, Michihiro Ichikawa
  • Plastic to textile coupling for a patient interface and methods of manufacturing same
    Patent number: 10898668
    Abstract: A manufactured component, such as headgear or a headgear strap, for a patient interface for delivery of a supply of pressurised air or breathable gas to an entrance of a patient's airways may include a textile portion having a first material with a first melting point. It may also include a plastic portion over-moulded to the textile portion. The plastic portion may be formed of a second material having a second melting point. The melting points may be different such that the second melting point is chosen to be less than the first melting point of the first material. The component may be moulded in a multi-step process that moulds separate portions of the plastic portion and the textile portion at different times. The resulting plastic portion may then have a mechanical bond with the textile and may do so without significant chemical bonding between the plastic portion and the textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Inventors: Mun Yee Mah, Cheoung Hong Lee, Robin Yew, Murray William Lee, Bruce Richard Davies