Patents Examined by Sharon M Prange
  • Patent number: 11452329
    Abstract: An orthopedic shoe appliance includes a pad for providing support for midfoot arches, the second metatarsal, and the third metatarsal of a foot, wherein the pad does not provide substantial support under a heel of the foot or under the first metatarsal, the fourth metatarsal, and the fifth metatarsal. A method for manufacturing an orthopedic appliance includes obtaining a pad; and shaping the pad to provide support for midfoot arches, the second metatarsal, and the third metatarsal of a foot, but not provide substantial support under a heel of the foot or under the first metatarsal, the fourth metatarsal, and the fifth metatarsal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Cluffy, LLC
    Inventor: James Clough
  • Patent number: 11452338
    Abstract: An article of footwear formed from a flat pattern. The article of footwear has a reduced seam construction to reduce manufacturing operations. A toe-end seam extending from a throat on a medial side of the article of footwear provides a seaming option. An acute-angle indentation on a lateral side of the throat allows the article of footwear to conform to a wearer's traditional foot. A heel-end seam having adjacent inner surfaces of medial and lateral portions of the upper may also be included to convert the flat pattern upper to a dimensional article of footwear that conforms to the wearer's traditional foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce J. Kilgore, Matthew Kilgore, Sara Kilgore
  • Patent number: 11445781
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin Orand, Haley Toelle
  • Patent number: 11439201
    Abstract: A pair of shoes may be asymmetric between one another in various respects. For example, the left shoe may include a left-shoe wrapping panel non-releasably coupled to a left-shoe medial side and extending towards a left-shoe lateral side while the right shoe may include a wrapping panel non-releasably coupled to a right-shoe lateral side and extending towards a right-shoe medial side. The left-shoe wrapping panel may releasably couple to the left-shoe lateral side and the right-shoe wrapping panel may releasably couple to the right-shoe medial side. The left shoe and the right shoe may respectively include a left-shoe heel strap and a right-shoe heel strap. The left-shoe heel strap and a right-shoe heel strap each respectively wrap around, at least in part, a heel region of the left shoe and the right shoe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 11439197
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin Orand, Haley Toelle
  • Patent number: 11425958
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The upper may be made of a soft, breathable leather material. The midsole includes an upper region formed from a first material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); and a lower region formed from a second material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the materials have different hardness levels. A fiber-reinforced composite plate may be disposed in the midsole. The outsole contains different traction members arranged in a precise geometric structure that helps provide improved stability and traction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart
  • Patent number: 11425959
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The upper may be made of a soft, breathable leather material. The midsole includes an upper region formed from a first material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); and a lower region formed from a second material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the materials have different hardness levels. A fiber-reinforced composite plate such as, for example, a carbon fiber plate is disposed in the midsole. The outsole contains different traction members arranged in a precise geometric structure that helps provide improved stability and traction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart
  • Patent number: 11425967
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the production of a shoe (1), especially of a sports shoe. To provide an effective and cost-efficient method for the shoe production, the invention comprises the steps: a) Production of a shoe upper (2) and of a shoe sole (3); b) Joining of the shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) and inserting the joined shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) into a flexible container element (4) which can be closed in an air-tight manner; c) Air-tight closing of the container element (4) and evacuating of the container element (4), so that the container element (4) presses together the joined shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) within the container element (4); d) Connecting the shoe upper (2) and the shoe sole (3) within the container element (4) with another; e) Venting of the container element (4) and taking out the connected shoe upper (2) and shoe sole (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: PUMA SE
    Inventor: Liu Hsien-Teng
  • Patent number: 11395523
    Abstract: Provided in the present invention is an outsole including a sheet body which includes a substrate sheet and a continuous body secured to the substrate sheet, and a shoe that has the continuous body having a certain shape and thereby being excellent in functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: ASICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Nishiura, Junichiro Tateishi
  • Patent number: 11395524
    Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes a strobel having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The strobel may define a forefoot through hole in the forefoot region and a heel through hole in the heel region. The shape, the position, or both the shape and the position of the forefoot through hole and the heel through hole may be based on a foot pressure map. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear comprises securing a midsole to a strobel, wherein the strobel has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the strobel defines a forefoot through hole in the forefoot region and a heel through hole in the heel region, and the shape and/or position of the forefoot through hole and the heel through hole are based on a foot pressure map.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest E. Kim, Fabricio da Costa Pereira Machado, Jeffrey S. To
  • Patent number: 11382384
    Abstract: A closable drainage system for a sole of a shoe, the closable drainage system including a drain configured to communicate between sole top and bottom surfaces of the sole, the drain having opposing drain upper and lower faces; at least one drainage aperture element disposed within the drain, the drainage aperture element defining a drainage channel which communicates between the drain upper and lower faces; and a movable member overlaying the drain upper face, the movable member movable over the drain upper face to provide open and closed conditions of the drainage channel; whereby in the open condition, the movable member disposes to allow passage through the drainage channel and correspondingly, between the sole top and bottom surfaces; and whereby in the closed condition, the movable member disposes to preclude passage through the drainage channel and correspondingly, between the sole top and bottom surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: S9, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Ochipa
  • Patent number: 11375774
    Abstract: A knitted component may include an adjustable tensioning cable, may form at least a portion of an exterior surface of an upper, and may include at least one knit anchor having a channel for receiving the tensioning cable, where the tensioning cable extends through the channel, and where the channel of the at least one anchor extends along an arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dalton T. Durrell, Chaokun Huangfu
  • Patent number: 11369083
    Abstract: A canine trail boot has a molded sole having raised lugs that conform to the pad shape of a dog's foot. These lugs divide the sole into individual pad cups, each that receive a single pad from the dog foot. Features are provided that allow some independent movement between adjacent pad cups that better replicates a dog's pad movement. The molded sole may include a toe having unidirectional treads, and may also include a tail having a combination of treads that also receive and retain straps, and a raised protrusion that engages with an indentation on a dog's paw to retain a boot securely. The sole interior may be layered with one or more insoles that provide the selection of puncture resistance, heat isolation or reflection, and other custom interior features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: COSMIC PET BRANDS LLC
    Inventors: Stephen E. Paxton, Lisa M. Lugo-Paxton
  • Patent number: 11369162
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a closure mechanism. The upper has an opening at least partially located between a first and second portions of the upper. The opening is adjustable between open and closed configurations. The closure mechanism is moveable between unlocked and locked positions and includes a locking element coupled to the first portion of the upper and a projection coupled to the second portion of the upper. The projection is moveable in a first direction relative to the locking element to engage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the locked position and moving the upper to the closed configuration. The projection is moveable in the first direction relative to the locking element to disengage with the locking element, thereby moving the closure mechanism to the unlocked position and allowing the upper to return to the open configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Wesley K. Chan, Ryan J. Maddox
  • Patent number: 11363854
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may be at least partially formed with a knitted component. The knitted component may include a first knitted portion and a second knitted portion, where the first knitted portion at least partially forms at least one of a medial side, a lateral side, and a toe area of the upper, and where the second knitted portion forms a tongue area of the upper. The second knitted portion may include a first end and a second end where one of the first end is secured to the first knitted portion via a common knit structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Inventor: Kenneth T. Craig
  • Patent number: 11357283
    Abstract: Provided is a ventilated shoe. The shoe includes an upper. An outsole has an upper edge end provided on an upper sole part, an air chamber provided inside the upper edge end, and an ascending and descending edge surface provided on an outer edge of a lower sole part in such a way as to be inclined outwards and upwards from a bottom surface, the outer edge of the lower sole part being provided under the upper edge end to be opposite thereto. An insole is secured to the upper edge end to cover a top of the air chamber, with a plurality of ventilation holes being formed in a front portion thereof. A backflow prevention valve prevents outside air supplied to the air chamber from flowing backwards. An air inlet pipe supplies the outside air to the backflow prevention valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Inventors: Chang-Won Jang, Jun-Yun Won
  • Patent number: 11344078
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a component including a first bundle of fibers affixed to a substrate, a ground-engaging assembly including a first traction element, a second traction element, and a connecting member extending between and connecting the first traction element and the second traction element, and a resin consolidating the first bundle of fibers and entrapping the connecting member to fix a position of the first traction element, the second traction element, and the connecting member relative to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron Bartel, Sam Lacey, Adam Thuss
  • Patent number: 11330867
    Abstract: A shoe lace replacement overlay system, including a shoe, wherein the shoe includes a shoe base, a shoe lace region, a notch area such that the notch area includes an elastic member, and first shoe replacement overlay attachments; and a shoe lace replacement overlay having a top side and a bottom side, wherein the top side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes a shoe lace replacement overlay base having a first edge and a second edge, a plurality of eyelet strips, a plurality of eyelets, an elastic member located substantially between the plurality of eyelet strips, and wherein the bottom side of the shoe lace replacement overlay includes second shoe replacement overlay attachments such that the first shoe replacement overlay attachments and the second shoe replacement overlay attachments interact with each other in order to retain the shoe lace replacement overlay on the shoe lace region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Inventor: William I. Craven, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11317675
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole attached to the upper, and an outsole. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed. The outsole has a ground-engaging surface, an inner surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface, and a wall extending from the ground-engaging surface and surrounding the outsole. The article of footwear also includes a casing containing particulate matter and having a length that is greater than a length of the outsole. The casing includes a first fold at a predetermined location along its length. The casing is received within a cavity bounded by the wall of the outsole and between the bottom surface and the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Scott C. Holt, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11311072
    Abstract: An article of footwear having a removable outsole, midsole, and upper is provided. A portion of the upper may have a perimeter lip that may be coupled to a perimeter channel in an upper surface or side of the outsole. The midsole may be securely placed into the upper to further secure the upper to the outsole. The fit of the outsole, upper, and midsole generates a securely assembled article of footwear ready for user wear. In aspects, the removable outsole, midsole, and upper may be changed to customize the article footwear for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Johnson