Patents Examined by Jila M. Mohandesi
  • 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
  • Ground-engaging structures for articles of footwear
    Patent number: 11206890
    Abstract: Ground-engaging components (240) for articles of footwear (200) include an upper (202)-facing surface (222S) and a ground-facing surface (248G) opposite the upper (202) facing surface (222S). At least the ground-facing surface (248G) may be formed to include a matrix structure (250), and this matrix structure (250) may include a plurality of open cells (252) (e.g., in a heel region (252H) and/or a midfoot region (252M)) and a forefoot region (252F) including a plurality of closed forefoot support cells (252). The ground-engaging component (240) may be engaged with a midsole member (220) (e.g., including a foam midsole element (222F) and/or one or more fluid-filled bladders (222A, 222F), and this combination may form a sole structure (204) that is engaged with an upper (202) to form an article of footwear (200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Hollinger, Cheresse Thornhill
  • Adjustable foot support systems including fluid-filled bladder chambers
    Patent number: 11206896
    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: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Olivier Henrichot, Timothy P. Hopkins, Elizabeth Langvin, Austin Orand, Levi J. Patton
  • Sole provided with overturning anti-slipping means
    Patent number: 11191318
    Abstract: In an anti-slipping device for a shoe sole having an anti-slipping or anti-sliding component such as nails or spikes which are not secured to the sole but are secured on support elements which can be overturned to be hidden in slots made on the sole itself, each overturning support element is hinged at its ends on cubic blocks which are anchored to the sole due to a mushroom-shaped coupling element which is molded in once piece to the cubic block itself, made of the same thermo-polyurethane material as the support elements and which is snap-fitted in its seat arranged in the sole next to the slot where the overturning support element is accommodated after the overturning, without interfering with the integrity of the sole itself and thus allowing the replacement thereof without difficulty. Also included is a mechanism for avoiding the accidental loss of the support element when walking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: AL.PI. SRL
    Inventors: Demetrio Biancucci, Alfredo Brasca
  • Channeled shoe sole system
    Patent number: 11185124
    Abstract: Shoe soles with channels for receiving shoelaces or other tightening devices. The channels penetrate through the sole crossing the lateral direction (long length of the foot). Variation of the lacing pattern provides for many different aesthetic or functional arrangements. Some versions have tubes in or on the walls of the upper of the shoe. These can shield the laces from view, abrasion, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Nicholas Lemons
  • Heeled footwear and method of producing heeled footwear
    Patent number: 11178936
    Abstract: Heeled footwear such as a shoe or boot including a sole assembly and a heel part may be provided. In one implementation, the heel part may include an insert formed in a first material. The insert may include a core body delimited by an upper surface, a lower bottom surface, and an outer surface connecting the upper and lower surfaces. At least a part of the outer surface may be encased in a second material different from the first material. The outer material may form an outer contour layer of the heel part, and the sole assembly may include an outsole formed in the second material, the second material being softer than the first material. The outsole and the outer contour layer may be designed to be formed in one piece providing an outer sole unit being one component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: ECCO Sko A/S
    Inventor: Paulo Jorge Seabra
  • Dual-layer insole apparatuses for diabetic foot lesion prevention and related methods
    Patent number: 11172731
    Abstract: Dual-layer insole apparatuses for diabetic foot lesion prevention and related methods are provided. Some insole apparatuses have a body defining a plurality of cavities configured to be coupled to a fluid source. The fluid source can deliver fluid to vary internal pressures of the cavities. The body further defines an insole-shaped structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: The Board of Regents of the Universsity of Texas Systems, The University of North Texas Health Science Center At Fort Worth
    Inventors: Muthu B. J. Wijesundara, Wei Carrigan, Ryan Landrith, Metin Yavuz
  • Footwear having removable motorized adjustment system
    Patent number: 11166525
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include a motorized tensioning system. The tensioning system may include a tensile member and a motorized tightening device configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. The tensioning system may further include a power source configured to supply power to the motorized tightening device. The tensile member, the motorized tightening device, and the power source may be configured to be removably attached to the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Tiffany A. Beers
  • Sport sandal
    Patent number: 11166519
    Abstract: A sport sandal having a sole and a securement mechanism coupled to the sole. The securement mechanism has a brace, which couples a plurality of toe posts to a plurality of lateral supports. The securement mechanism also has a heel leash coupled to the plurality of lateral supports. The sport sandal provides a user with improved forefront control, improved lateral side traction on the user's toes, improved comfort, and a reduction of forward pressure on the user's toes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Inventor: Jorge Luis Gurrola
  • Running shoe having lacing
    Patent number: 11147344
    Abstract: A running shoe includes medial and lateral eyelets arranged on the medial and lateral side in the longitudinal direction from the front foot area of the running shoe to the heel section, wherein in each case a medial eyelet and a lateral eyelet located at the same height in the longitudinal direction form an eyelet pair; reinforcing ribs are arranged on the medial and lateral side in the front foot area, wherein the reinforcing ribs are arranged at an acute rib angle to the longitudinal direction of the running shoe, and a lace having lace sections for lacing, wherein the lace is led through the eyelets in such a way that the lace sections extending from the eyelets of the first lace pair in relation to the front foot area, each run at an acute lacing angle to the longitudinal direction to at least one further eyelet closer to the heel section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: ON CLOUDS GMBH
    Inventors: Olivier Bernhard, Ilmarin Heitz
  • Fluid flow control devices usable in adjustable foot support systems
    Patent number: 11147342
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron B. Weast, Timothy P. Hopkins
  • Footwear article having repurposed material with concealing layer
    Patent number: 11129444
    Abstract: In example aspects, materials are repurposed for footwear manufacturing. That is, in some instances, materials in the footwear manufacturing supply chain are potentially subject to disposal. However, aspects of this disclosure sustainably repurpose those materials (that might otherwise be disposed of) to be used in footwear articles. In some aspects, the repurposed materials may be obscured with a concealing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Kim Kovel
  • Insert liner for footwear and method of manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 11129442
    Abstract: An insert liner is provided and is configured to be removably received in an inner cavity of a shoe. The elastomeric liner includes: a longitudinal portion; opposing first and second lateral portions; and opposing front and rear portions, wherein the longitudinal, lateral, front, and rear portions define a cavity having an opening configured below the opposing front and rear portions and configured to receive a user's foot; and a fastener coupled to at least the front portion and the rear portion of the liner while being bond free relative to a toe portion of the shoe, the front portion is configured to releasably adhere to the tongue portion to maintain the opening below an upper edge of at least one of the heel portion and the opposing sidewall portions and to define the opening configured to receive the user's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: JCA Investment Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Justin Arquilla
  • Article of footwear and method of manufacturing an article of footwear
    Patent number: 11129441
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a strobel stitched to the upper at a series of stitches disposed in stitch holes that extend through the strobel. The strobel and the upper define a foot-receiving cavity with an inner surface of the strobel disposed at the foot-receiving cavity. A midsole is secured to the upper and an outer surface of the strobel is disposed at the midsole. The stitch holes are obstructed such that the stitch holes are not exposed to both the midsole and the foot-receiving cavity. Accordingly, when a flowable polymeric material is injected in a mold cavity to form the midsole with the lower portion of the upper and the strobel in the mold cavity, the stitch holes will not provide a path for entry of the flowable polymeric material into the foot-receiving cavity. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan M. Calle, Steven Ploem
  • Footwear upper having selectively located padding
    Patent number: 11122854
    Abstract: An article of footwear is provided, which may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper may include an exposed outer layer forming at least a portion of an external surface of the upper. The upper may also include a polymer foam material selectively located on an inner side of the exposed outer layer and adjacent portions of the exposed outer layer, thereby forming padded portions of the upper. The padded portions of the upper may be located in areas of the article of footwear that correspond with predetermined bones of a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sergio Cavaliere, Timothy J. Smith
  • Heel counter
    Patent number: 11122861
    Abstract: A heel counter for an article of footwear is disclosed. The heel counter includes an outer frame member and an inner elastic member. The heel counter may also include wing portions that extend up to a lacing region of the article of footwear. The wing portions may have eyelets that can be engaged by a lace. As the lace is tightened, the outer frame member is pulled forward to lock down the foot while the inner elastic member stretches and conforms to the heel to provide increased support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Tresser
  • Footwear insert formed from a composite assembly having anti-puncture and anisotropic properties
    Patent number: 11109639
    Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper configured to receive a foot and a sole assembly integrally connected to the upper. The sole assembly includes an outsole and a midsole coupled between the upper and the outsole. The sole assembly also includes a footwear insert coupled to the midsole having anisotropic and anti-puncture properties so as to provide protection, support, and stability to the foot of a wearer of the footwear assembly while still allowing for flexibility. The footwear insert is formed from a soft, dorsal layer having woven fabric, a hard, plantar layer formed from a fiber reinforced composite material bonded to the dorsal layer, and an interfacing polymer layer interposed between the dorsal and plantar layers and used to bond the two layers together. The layered arrangement has a high resistance to bending in a first direction and a low resistance to bending in an opposing second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Carbitex, Inc.
    Inventors: Arjun Shanker, Scott Calvin Woolley, Tyler Ross Carpenter
  • Article of footwear with dynamic edge cavity midsole
    Patent number: 11109643
    Abstract: An article of footwear that offers different levels of cushioning and support depending on the direction of force applied to the midsole. An outer edge of the midsole includes an inwardly-extending elongate groove with a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration. An elongate insert having a V-shaped cross-sectional configuration is secured to the elongate groove. The insert forms a spring that dynamically alters the character of the support provided by the footwear to a foot of a wearer during “banking” or side-to-side movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Foxen
  • Sole for a shoe
    Patent number: 11096441
    Abstract: Improved soles for shoes, in particular sports shoes, are described. A sole for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, is provided that includes a midsole with randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The sole further includes an element having a higher deformation stiffness in at least one direction than the expanded material. The material of the midsole at least partially surrounds the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, John Whiteman, Tru Huu Minh Le, Stuart David Reinhardt