Patents Examined by Marie D Bays
  • Patent number: 11889887
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11889892
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a peripheral surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. The bottom surface includes a recess defining a first opening in the peripheral surface. The sole structure for an article of footwear also includes an insert disposed within the recess and including a first material having a first gloss unit value and a second material disposed on an outer surface of the first material and having a second gloss unit value. The second material is at least partially disposed within the first opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Jones, Michael F. Joubert, Derek Kuo, Yong S. Lee, Thea Moshofsky, Randall S. Wolfe
  • Patent number: 11889891
    Abstract: A shoe including a pliable layer conformably peelably adhered in generally matched engagement with the outsole periphery of the ground engageable surface of the outsole of the shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: S9, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Ochipa, John M. Chenciner
  • Patent number: 11889897
    Abstract: A footwear structure includes an upper provided with a mouth, a tip end and a front portion that is between the mouth and the tip end, a first lining housed inside the footwear structure, and a first through opening arranged on the front portion of the upper, and a first appendage externally arranged on the first lining at a position substantially corresponding to the first through opening, wherein the first appendage engages the first through opening and wherein the first appendage is accessible from the outside of the footwear structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: GEOX S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Moretti Polegato, Livio Poloni
  • Patent number: 11877620
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a chassis and a cushioning arrangement. The chassis includes a recess formed between a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface. The cushioning arrangement includes a first cushioning element protruding from the first surface and including a first plurality of lobes and a second cushioning element protruding from the second surface and including a second plurality of lobes contacting the first plurality of lobes. At least one of the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element may include a fluid-filled bladder. A first side of each cushioning element includes a substantially planar base and a second side of each cushioning element includes the lobes formed on an opposite side from the base. The base of each cushioning element is attached to a respective one of the surfaces of the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Zachary M. Elder, Jordyn Klumpp, Eric Y. Lee, Fiona L Lesecq, Damian R. Manspeaker, Roger Paul Murphy, Sebastian Tesche
  • Patent number: 11871812
    Abstract: A cushioning element for an article of footwear includes a bladder having a first barrier layer and a second barrier layer joined together along a seam to define a chamber and a support element disposed within the chamber and having a support member and a plurality of flexible support legs each extending from a first end attached to the support member to a second end disposed between the first barrier layer and the second barrier layer within the seam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Lee D. Peyton
  • Patent number: 11871813
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper including a ribbon structure is disclosed. The ribbon structure comprises ribbon sections running in at least two different directions. Ribbon sections are connected at nodes that may move substantially independently of other nodes. The ribbon structure can provide strength along one of the directions and may simultaneously remain slack in the other direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Luedecke
  • Patent number: 11864626
    Abstract: This invention relates to a shoe insole comprising an inner sole having one or more of a support portion in the rearfoot exterior quadrant, a cushioning portion in the forefoot interior quadrant, a cushioning portion that extends from the forefoot interior quadrant to the forefoot exterior quadrant, and a cushioning portion in the rearfoot interior quadrant and the rearfoot exterior quadrant. Methods of making, using, and positioning the disclosed shoe insole and the components thereof are also described. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: William Gilmore
  • Patent number: 11864629
    Abstract: The present application provides for a shoe cover for protecting cleated shoes from contact with the ground while also allowing the wearer to run or engage in sporting activities while wearing the product, as well as kits that include the shoe cover and methods for the use and manufacturing of the shoe cover. A shoe cover as provided herein includes a sole, a first cover, a second cover, a first fastener, and a second fastener. Another shoe cover as provided herein includes a sole, a cover, and a fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Inventor: Max Zieger
  • Patent number: 11864624
    Abstract: A sole for footwear includes an elongate body and a plurality of discrete, flexible and inserts configured to be secured to the elongate body. The insert has an elongate main portion fabricated from an elastic material and having a first end portion and a second end portion, a first anchor attached to the first end portion of the elongate main portion and configured to detachably engage a sole and a second anchor attached to the second end portion of the elongate main portion and configured to detachably engage a sole. The anchors can be secured in notches in a cavity of the sole to securely attach the insert to the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Bionic Muscle LLC
    Inventors: Christopher D. Smith, Anthony Loconte, Evan R. Jones, Allan Katz, Lawrence Rabinowitz
  • Patent number: 11864630
    Abstract: A motion-assist shoe having a force translator with a dynamic portion comprised of a resiliently deformable material and configured to bias a rearward portion of a sole portion of the shoe upward relative to a forward portion of the sole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FAST IP, LLC
    Inventor: Craig Cheney
  • Patent number: 11864620
    Abstract: A rapid-entry shoe with a sole portion and a footbed that slide, pivot or translate relative to each other to provide both an open configuration (for ease of donning or doffing by a foot) and a closed configuration (for securement of a foot).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FAST IP, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Cheney, Seth Munger, Bradley Johnson
  • Patent number: 11864622
    Abstract: Ground-engaging components for articles of footwear include: (a) an outer perimeter boundary rim that at least partially defines an outer perimeter of the ground-engaging component, wherein the outer perimeter boundary rim defines an open space at least at a forefoot support area of the ground-engaging component; and (b) a matrix structure extending at least partially across the open space at least at the forefoot support area to define an open cellular construction with plural open cells in the open space at least at the forefoot support area. A plurality of these open cells of the open cellular construction have openings with curved perimeters and no distinct corners. Additional aspects of this invention relate to ground-engaging components that are very lightweight yet very stiff, particularly in the forefoot support area. Two or more sizes of the ground-engaging components may be provided with substantially constant forefoot stiffness (optionally substantially constant over a size run).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael S. Amos, Lysandre Follet, Thomas Foxen, John Hurd, Shane S. Kohatsu, Troy C. Lindner, Jonathan Rasca, Andrea Vinet
  • Patent number: 11849797
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a heel structure that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole, an upper having an ankle region and a heel region, and a heel structure. The heel structure is a coupled with the upper in the ankle region and the heel region between an exterior layer of the upper and an inner lining of the upper. The heel structure is formed from a material having a greater stiffness than the upper in at least the heel region and the heel structure has a curved profile in a medial to lateral direction of the footwear article in the heel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
  • Patent number: 11849808
    Abstract: An orthotic support assembly includes a first orthotic support that is attachable to a sole of a shoe to abut a support surface upon which a user is walking. The first orthotic support has a rounded profile thereby facilitating the sole of the shoe to roll on the first orthotic support when the user walks. A second orthotic support is attachable to the sole of the shoe and the second orthotic support has a rectilinear profile to inhibiting the sole of the shoe from rocking on the first orthotic support when the user walks. A third orthotic support is attachable to the sole of the shoe and the third orthotic support has a trapezoidal profile. In this way the sole of the shoe is oriented level on the ground to facilitate a user with an unstable foot to walk in a level orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Patricia Archuleta
  • Patent number: 11849795
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the upper for an article of footwear are disclosed. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The joined edges form a plurality of seams within the textile element, including a longitudinal seam extending on the lower region of the upper from a heel region to a forefoot region. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward Nathaniel Thomas
  • Patent number: 11849800
    Abstract: The present invention regards a sole for a sport shoe, work shoe or leisure shoe including a main body having a lower layer delimiting a surface, lower during use, set to come into contact with the ground and an upper layer set to come into contact with a foot of a user or to support from the bottom, during use, an insole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: LTWHP, LLC
    Inventor: Angelo Mason
  • Patent number: 11849798
    Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole; an upper having a heel region; and a collar elevator coupled with the upper in the heel region. The footwear also includes a base affixed to the sole. The collar elevator is attached to the base and the base is an outsole, a midsole, an insole, or a strobel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
  • Patent number: 11849806
    Abstract: A shoe comprises a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a top member having an outer surface and an inner surface and mounted on the sole. The top member and sole to together define a space for receiving a foot, and the top member further comprises an opening. A fastener is provided in the top member and extends from the opening and continues over the top member such that a portion of the top member is movable between a first position in which the space is substantially closed and a second position in which a portion of the top member is folded back from the sole to provide access to the space, and further comprising areas with controllable expansion to accommodate an ankle or foot brace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Scott Baker
  • Patent number: 11849807
    Abstract: Each of a first footwear and a second footwear may comprise a toe loop and a first strap. The first strap may be affixed to: a lateral heel portion with a first rotatable connector; and a medial heel portion with a second rotatable connector. The first strap of the first footwear and second footwear may be rotated about: the first rotatable connector, and the second rotatable connector. A ground side of the first footwear may be placed next to a ground side of the second footwear. The first footwear and the second footwear may be folded such that the second footwear is facing outward. A second strap of the second footwear may be rotated about the third rotatable connector and connected to a first fastener on the opposite side of the folded second footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: Camilia Smith