Patents Examined by Jillian K Pierorazio
  • Patent number: 11672300
    Abstract: A footwear article is provided having an upper and a wear guard arranged across a vamp of the upper. In one embodiment, the wear guard is configured with a grid pattern of raised articulations extends entirely across a width of the vamp. In another embodiment, the footwear article also include a heel guard positioned above a heel region of the upper. In yet another embodiment, a tab may be coupled to the heel guard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Fuerst Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Rory W. Fuerst
  • Patent number: 11653715
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid, the chamber having a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer about peripheral portions of the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer to define an interior void between the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may also include a tensile member bonded to, and extending between, the first chamber barrier layer and the second chamber barrier layer. The sole structure may include a bond inhibiting material located between the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer, the tensile member and the first chamber barrier layer being unbonded in an unbonded area in which the bond inhibiting material is disposed. The chamber may include an outwardly extending bulge in the unbonded area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Darren C. Davison
  • Patent number: 11647812
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar
  • Patent number: 11638449
    Abstract: A glove and garment system includes a garment having a first sleeve and a second sleeve, a first glove and a second glove. A first female buckle portion is mounted to the first glove, a first male buckle portion is mounted to the first sleeve, a second female buckle portion is mounted to the second sleeve and a second male buckle portion is mounted to the second glove. In a first configuration, the first male buckle portion is buckled to the first female buckle portion to fix the first glove to the first sleeve and the second male buckle portion is buckled to the second female buckle portion to fix the second glove to the second sleeve. In a second configuration, the first female buckle portion is buckled to the second male buckle portion to fix the first glove to the second glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Target Brands, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine R. Rowe, Sarah J. Zahradka
  • Patent number: 11612207
    Abstract: A ballistic helmet system having an integrated circuit layer electrically coupled to one or more powered devices, where the ballistic helmet is configured to operate and control the powered devices. The ballistic helmet system comprises a base layer configured to retain the circuit layer. The circuit layer comprises one or more circuit substrates, which may be formed of a flexible material capable of withstanding elevated temperatures that may result from the bonding and curing process of the helmet components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Wilcox Industries Corp.
    Inventors: James W. Teetzel, John P. Bousquet, Gary M. Lemire
  • Patent number: 11596196
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between. The upper defines a throat opening sized to receive a foot. The upper includes a main upper body and a strap coupled to the main upper body, wherein the strap extends from the midfoot region of the upper at the throat opening, down toward the heel region of the upper, wherein the strap is configured to provide stability, and the strap is configured to keep a wearer's heel contained down and back in the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo S. Chang, Derek Houng
  • Patent number: 11589635
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an intermediate covering portion with an adjustable volume. The intermediate covering portion is closed around the instep of the foot. The article also includes a tensioning system that can be used to change the volume of the intermediate covering portion. The tensioning system includes a tension balancing member to balance loads across different portions of the intermediate covering portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Nathan T. Gilbreath
  • Patent number: 11589631
    Abstract: A helmet body includes an outer shell and an energy management liner with an outer shell lower edge extending between the inner surface and the outer surface of the outer shell. At least two shoulder pad recesses are positioned at a lower edge of the outer shell on a respective left and right sides of the helmet. The energy management liner is adjacent to the inner surface of the outer shell and includes at least two shoulder pads formed of a foamed energy management material. Each of the at least two shoulder pads is received into one of the at least two shoulder pad recesses on the respective left or right side of the helmet, each shoulder pad extending from inside of the outer shell to across at least a majority of a width of the lower edge of the outer shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Bell Sports, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott S. Whitesell, Scott R. Allen, Christopher T. Pietrzak, Allen Bischofberger, Julio Valencia
  • Patent number: 11583029
    Abstract: A sole for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has longitudinal ribs and a midsole that is disposed above the outsole and that defines notches. The longitudinal ribs are disposed in the notches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Michel Reginald Lussier, Matteo Edmond Padovani, George Alan Robusti, Alexander Mark Brill, Christopher Nelson Padilla
  • Patent number: 11578439
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a wet-laid nonwoven web includes the following steps: feeding a pulp suspension onto a forming screen for depositing a fibrous web thereon, wherein the pulp suspension has industrially produced, inorganic fibers or fibers of synthetically produced polymers and the pulp suspension is substantially free from binders, such as chemical binders, and hydraulic consolidation of the fibrous web to generate the nonwoven web through water jet needling of the fibrous web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: Voith Patent GmbH, Truetzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Weigert, Kai Poehler, Ralf Schroeder
  • Patent number: 11578434
    Abstract: Nozzle (1) for manufacturing knotted yarn (11), having a yarn duct (2) in which knots are producible with the aid of air entanglement. The nozzle includes at least one air bore (3) having a longitudinal axis (A), which merges with the yarn duct (2) in a merging opening (4). Air is introducible into the yarn duct (2) through the air bore. The longitudinal axis (A) of the air bore (3) is disposed at an angle of less than 90°, preferably 65-85°, particularly preferably 78° in relation to a conveying direction (B) of the knotted yarn (11). A baffle face (5) is configured on the opposite side of the merging opening (4) of the air bore (3) in the yarn duct (2), so as to be substantially perpendicular in relation to the longitudinal axis (A) of the air bore (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: HEBERLEIN AG
    Inventor: Patrick Buchmüller
  • Patent number: 11553741
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to athletic shorts, such as those that can be worn while playing tennis, with moisture protection features and including readily accessible pockets, such as pockets that hold tennis balls in a manner that makes those balls readily accessible during a tennis match. An example pair of shorts includes a pocket accessible via an opening, and a rib biased toward a centerline of the opening and configured to direct fluid away from the opening. This disclosure also relates to a corresponding method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Jonathan Malchi
  • Patent number: 11547162
    Abstract: This invention is directed toward a garment that is comfortable to wear and can safely, with easy accessibility, securely store a cell phone and other important items. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a pair of shorts, with an elasticized waistband that can be tightened by a non-elasticized drawstring cord. There is a seamless, knitted inner layer similar to “boy short” style underwear. This seamless, knitted “boy short” style underwear inner layer provides comfort to the user. Two vertical side hip interior pockets are sewn to the inner layer at the outside of the seamless, knitted “boy short” underwear at the hips of the user, making it comfortable for a user to carry a cell phone and/or other items. The shorts have a thin line of reflective fabric on the seams and hem of the shorts, providing safety for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventor: Cynthia Bolker
  • Patent number: 11547171
    Abstract: Present aspects are directed to an interlocking braided shoe and midsole system comprising a midsole insert having a plurality of protruding studs and a braided upper comprising a tubular containment structure. The tubular containment structure has a first zone comprising a first braid density and first braid configuration defining a plurality of apertures located on a top surface of the braided upper and a second zone having a second braid density and a second braid configuration defining a plurality of apertures located on the bottom surface of the braided upper. The plurality of apertures of the second braid configuration correspond to the plurality of protruding studs such that the plurality of protruding studs extend below an exterior surface of the braided upper through the plurality of apertures of the second braided configuration, coupling the bottom surface of the midsole insert with the braided upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Eun Kyung Lee
  • Patent number: 11547165
    Abstract: Implementations of a hair cap are provided. In some implementations, a hair cap may be used to protect the hair of a wearer while they sleep and/or shower. In some implementations, a hair cap comprises a head portion, a pocket portion, and an opening. In some implementations, there may be an elastic band located about the periphery of the opening. In this way, the material about the opening of the head portion may be pulled against a wearer's scalp to potentially prevent water or other liquids from entering the interior of the hair cap. In some implementations, a fastener may be provided on the head portion and another fastener on the pocket portion of a hair cap. In this way the distal end of the pocket portion may be attached to the head portion thereby holding a wearer's hair off of their shoulders and back. In some implementations, silk may be used to manufacture the hair cap. In this way, the wearer's hair is protected from breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Inventors: Leondra Martin, Bianca Rush
  • Patent number: 11528948
    Abstract: One or more embodiments of the disclosure include a medical garment for exposing a person's upper torso and a method of making the garment. The garment can resemble a shirt, in that sleeves may extend to about the elbows or wrists, the garment may extend down to the waist, and other than one or more flaps configured to open to expose an upper torso the medical garment is substantially free of openings. The garment may include a body with a front portion attached to a back portion by non-partable seams. The sleeves can be coupled to the front and back portions. The flap(s) may include a partable seam that extends from a top portion of the body toward but not substantially beyond a bottom part of the sleeves where they attach to the body. The flap(s) may also include a fastener to hold the partable seam in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Emilio Nares Foundation
    Inventors: Luz A. Quiroga, Corina Elizabeth Quiroga Banzer
  • Patent number: 11523659
    Abstract: A high heel footwear including a heel tip assembly and a heel assembly. The heel tip assembly includes a top lift abutting against the heel, a rigid shaft member having a threaded portion, and a first wedge-lock feature configured to prevent the top lift from rotating. The heel assembly includes a threaded insert, a spring, a hollow insert, and a second wedge-lock feature. The threaded insert is received inside an opening formed in the heel to receive the threaded portion of the rigid shaft member. The spring is also received inside the opening and abuts against the threaded insert. The hollow insert abuts against the spring. The rigid shaft member passes through the threaded insert, the spring, and the hollow insert. The second wedge-lock feature locks with the first wedge-lock feature to retain the top lift on the end of the heel. A cutout feature in the heel tip cooperates with the shaft member to lock the two together and allow the heel tip to be replaced without removing the shaft member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Inventor: Angela M. Yangas
  • Patent number: 11517062
    Abstract: A helmet features an inner shell, a non-rigid outer shell surrounding the inner shell in outwardly spaced relation therefrom, and a plurality of impact absorbing layers disposed between the shells. Each impact absorbing layer features an envelope, and a plurality of impact absorbing members disposed internally within said envelope. At least one adjacent pair of impact absorbing layers are displaceable relative to one another to enable impact-driven shifting between the adjacent pair, whereby impact energy is absorbed by the impact absorbing members within the impact absorbing layers, and absorbed and/or redirected by the impact-driven shifting between the adjacent absorbing layers. Resiliently stretchable material is attached to the adjacent layers at discrete locations such that, after being stretched by the relative shifting, the material returns to a relaxed state to reset the shifted layers back into a default positional relationship, in which ventilation passages in the absorbing layers are aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Inventor: Brian Timlick
  • Patent number: 11510452
    Abstract: A helmet includes a shell having an interior surface, a padding disposed along the interior surface of the shell, and a chinbar. The padding defines a first engagement surface positioned at a first lateral side of the padding and a second engagement surface positioned at an opposing second lateral side of the padding. The chinbar includes a cage, a first flange, and a second flange. The cage includes a first end defining a third engagement surface and a second end defining a fourth engagement surface. The third engagement surface interfaces with the first engagement surface and the fourth engagement surface interfaces with the second engagement surface. The first flange extends from the first end of the cage. The second flange extends from the second end of the cage. The first flange and the second flange of the chinbar are embedded within the padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Fox Head, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Durham, Dennis Tan
  • Patent number: 11503877
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole structure attached to an upper defining an internal void configured to receive a foot of a wearer is described. The sole structure includes a sole body portion having a central ridge element located in an aperture in the sole body portion and the central ridge element is configured to contact the ground and move relative to the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Meschter, Kevin W. Hoffer