Patents Examined by Jila M. Mohandesi
  • Lacing architecture for automated footwear platform
    Patent number: 11388955
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper and a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, and each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides can be adapted to receive a length of the lace cable. The lace cable can extend through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper. The footwear assembly can also include a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable into a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion. Finally, the footwear assembly includes a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the lacing engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Travis J. Berrian, Fanny Yung Ho, Eric P. Avar, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Katelyn Ricciardi
  • Sole structure with electrically controllable damping element
    Patent number: 11382388
    Abstract: A sole structure may include a damping pad. The damping pad may include a chamber, a foam element located within the chamber, particles located within the chamber and at least partially filling cavities in the foam element, and a set of electrodes positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Austin Orand, Christopher L. Andon
  • Article of footwear comprising dandelion foam latex materials
    Patent number: 11350694
    Abstract: An article of footwear comprising a sole and an upper on the sole. The sole comprises an insole, a midsole, and an outsole. At least one of the upper, insole, midsole, or outsole comprises a dandelion latex foam material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: COLE HAAN LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Montross, Xiao Jun
  • Footwear having auxetic structures with controlled properties
    Patent number: 11350697
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole incorporating a plurality of apertures extending from an upper surface. The article of footwear further includes a strobel that may be placed along the auxetic structure of the sole. The strobel may restrict the flexure of the sole in particular locations to varying degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Elizabeth Langvin
  • Shoe bottom cleansing apparatus
    Patent number: 11337584
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus, system and method for efficiently and rapidly cleaning the bottom of a shoe. The system includes a base having a plurality of alternating, complementary shaped cleansing portions separated by grooves. The configuration of the cleansing portions provides for a sturdy and efficient device for cleaning the bottom of a shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Stomp Patent LLC
    Inventor: David Gonzales
  • Foot pain relief device
    Patent number: 11337490
    Abstract: A foot pain relief device formed as a shoe or boot insert comprising a plurality of removable pieces designed to be selectively removed from the insert to thereby create a hollow portion, indentation, dip, concavity, groove, or impression area of the insert that allows the injured area to be free from impact of any sort while going through its healing process while the user continues daily activities without feeling discomfort or pain from the injured area of the foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Warfield T Morsell
  • Footwear with closing mechanism permitting easy donning and doffing
    Patent number: 11330868
    Abstract: A shoe having a toe portion, a heel portion and first and second sides, the shoe including a sole, an upper and a closing mechanism extending from a top portion of the upper down along the first side of the shoe and then horizontally between the sole and the upper around the toe portion, around the second side and around the heel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Claudio Innocente
  • Article of footwear with a tensioning system including a guide assembly
    Patent number: 11324284
    Abstract: An article with an automatic tensioning system includes a lace guide assembly. The lace guide assembly includes a lower guide member and two upper guide members that include channels for routing a tensioning member. Straps of the upper are attached to the two upper guide members. As the tensioning member is pulled into a tensioning device, the two upper guide members are pulled toward the lower guide member. This pulls on the straps and acts to tighten the upper around a foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Arch support system
    Patent number: 11311074
    Abstract: An arch support comprising a first end that is inwardly curved in a distal direction; a second end that is outwardly curved in the distal direction, the second end is opposite to the first end; a middle portion connecting the first end and the second end, and wherein the first end, the second end and the middle portion are configured to support only an arch of a foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Inventor: Michael A. Carlson
  • Method of manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber with a reinforcing element
    Patent number: 11291269
    Abstract: Several sole components and a method of manufacturing those sole components are disclosed. In general, each sole component includes a fluid-filled bladder and a reinforcing element extending around a portion of the bladder. The reinforcing element is bonded to the exterior of the bladder, and may be recessed into the bladder. In some configurations, the reinforcing element is die-cut from a sheet of polymer material, and the reinforcing element may exhibit a layered configuration. In manufacturing the sole component, the reinforcing element may be located within a mold, and the polymer material forming the bladder may be bonded to the reinforcing element during the molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher O. Parker
  • Method of forming and shaping waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper and shoe upper thereof
    Patent number: 11284672
    Abstract: A method of forming and shaping a waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper includes disposing a shoe upper and a waterproof and moisture permeable film on a shoe last, wherein at least one of the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film includes microwave treatable material, and heating the shoe last with the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film thereon by microwave, so that the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film are combined by the microwave treatable material and shaped to form the waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper after cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SHENG LONG MATERIAL TECH. LTD. (WS)
    Inventor: Chin-Hsun Hsiao
  • Sole structure with tiered plate assembly for an article of footwear
    Patent number: 11259593
    Abstract: A sole structure may have a tiered plate assembly including a first plate and a second plate. The first plate may extend from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure. Stated differently, the first plate may be a full-length plate that extends the full length of the sole structure. The second plate may be joined with the first plate in a midfoot region of the sole structure and at a rear of a heel region of the sole structure, and may diverge from the first plate between the midfoot region and the rear of the heel region to define a first heel gap between the first plate and the second plate in the heel region. Heel cushioning units may be stacked in the heel region, with a first heel cushioning unit disposed in the first heel gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence K. Amoako, Melusine Dieudonne, Tim Steffen Schulze
  • Lacing system
    Patent number: 11259599
    Abstract: A lace-receiving assembly includes a substrate, a first sheet, and a lace guide. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first sheet includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface is bonded to the first surface to define a channel extending between the substrate and the first sheet. The lace guide is disposed within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Katelyn Bruce, Piero Fenato, Kevin W. Hoffer, Daniel A. Johnson, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Peter Lam, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Weight-bearing structure for high-heeled footwear
    Patent number: 11246377
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a weight-bearing structure of high-heel footwear that is coupled to an outsole of high-heeled footwear, or in which a sole cover part becomes an outsole of the high-heeled footwear to linearly contact the ground during a loading response. An embodiment of the present invention provides a weight-bearing structure of high-heeled footwear, including: a heel part linearly contacting the ground; a strut part extending from the heel part; and a sole cover part extending from the strut part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Il Soo Kim
  • Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers
    Patent number: 11234485
    Abstract: Foot support systems, e.g., for articles of footwear, include systems for changing the hardness or firmness of the foot support portion (e.g., of a sole structure) and/or systems for moving (e.g., selectively moving) fluid between various portions of the foot support system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Henrichot, Timothy P. Hopkins, Elizabeth Langvin, Austin Orand, Levi J. Patton
  • Sole structure with bottom-loaded compression
    Patent number: 11234484
    Abstract: A running shoe includes an upper coupled to a sole structure. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole. The outsole wraps around a sole structure such that it contacts the midsole. The outer surface of the outsole includes a series of treads or traction elements extending along the bottom and sides of the outsole. With this configuration, when the sole structure contacts an uneven topography, the outsole conforms around the topography, stabilizing the footwear during use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: UNDER ARMOUR, INC.
    Inventor: David Dombrow
  • Medical shoe having a plurality of outsole projections
    Patent number: 11224263
    Abstract: A medical shoe having a plurality of outsole projections is provided. The medical shoe may include a sole assembly configured to support a foot, and a frame surrounding the sole assembly. The sole assembly may include a midsole portion forming a substantially planar surface for supporting the foot and an outsole portion including the plurality of outsole projections extending from the midsole portion. The frame may include a plurality of through holes corresponding to the plurality of outsole projections. The plurality of outsole projections may extend through the plurality of through holes so as to form a ground contacting surface. The plurality of outsole projections may also be provided in a symmetrical pattern. The sole assembly may be secured to the frame by a self-locking fit between the sole assembly and the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: DARCO INTERNATIONA I;, INC.
    Inventors: H. Darrel Darby, Wu Zhang
  • Insole for ergonomic shoes
    Patent number: 11219272
    Abstract: An insole for ergonomic shoes according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, including: a plurality of first polygonal grooves that are formed to be arranged in polygonal shapes on a lower surface of the insole; a first wall portion forming a rim of the first polygonal groove; and a second polygonal groove that is disposed in a pressure distribution portion, which is a part of an inner and lower surface of the insole, and is formed of a rim including a second wall portion having a height lower than a height of the first wall portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: FROMYITH INC.
    Inventor: Tae Hyung Lee
  • Shoe accoutrements and methods of making and using the same
    Patent number: 11213096
    Abstract: The disclosure is directed to shoe accoutrements and methods of making and using the same. A shoe accoutrement assembly for attaching to a shoe may be provided, the shoe attachment assembly comprising: (a) a spine positioned adjacent a back surface of the shoe, the spine extending vertically along the back surface of the shoe; (b) at least one securement device attached onto the spine, the at least one securement device for securing the shoe accoutrement assembly to the shoe; and (c) at least one accoutrement that includes a mount portion and an embellishment, and the mount portion attached onto the spine, and the embellishment being a decoration of the accoutrement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: MCIROA INC.
    Inventor: Gina Joseph
  • Retrofit plantar nerve protecting shoe sole
    Patent number: 11213092
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a retrofit plantar nerve protecting shoe sole for minimizing Solus Neuralgia or SNA, intense nerve pain in the sole of the foot, induced by high heel, rigid, or thin sole shoes by abating trauma causing repetitive wave energy, generated by walking, from impacting certain of the plantar nerves located between the arch of foot and toes. The sole is a pliable material having relief cutouts. Alignment indicia aids in orientating the sole with a foot in a shoe so that the relief cutouts are substantially positioned around and below the projected location of plantar nerves. An adhesive holds the sole in place on the outsole of the shoe. Optional toe-bridges lift toes to further abate nerve injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Inventor: Tammy Elliott