Patents Examined by Ted Kavanaugh
  • Laceless shoe
    Patent number: 11297902
    Abstract: Described is a shoe upper for a shoe, in particular an athletic shoe, wherein the shoe upper is laceless and comprises: (a.) a lateral portion; (b.) a medial portion; and (c.) at least an elastic intermediate portion between the lateral portion and the medial portion, wherein the stiffness of at least one of the lateral portion and the medial portion is at least 2 times higher than the stiffness of the elastic intermediate portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Fu Wen Lee, LuLu Chen, Sam Forester
  • Peditrack
    Patent number: 11284665
    Abstract: A footwear includes a base, a one-inch cushiony toe separator, and a strap. The base has a first end and a second end, and the one-inch cushiony toe separator is disposed proximate to the first end. The one-inch cushiony toe separator is adapted to dispose between a big toe of the foot and a second toe of the foot to facilitate a separation of the big toe from the second toe. Further, the one-inch cushiony toe separator includes a width of one inch. Moreover, the strap includes a lateral strap portion and a longitudinal strap portion extending from the lateral strap portion to the one-inch cushiony toe separator. The lateral strap portion and the longitudinal strap portion together are adapted to enclose at least a second bone of the big toe to facilitate an alignment of the second bone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Angela A. Hatzis
  • Tactical impact mitigation footwear cover
    Patent number: 11284666
    Abstract: A footwear cover that includes a sole portion that includes an inner layer and an outer layer that cooperate to define at least a first interior space therebetween, at least a first bladder member disposed in the first interior space, and an upper connected to the sole portion. The first bladder member defines a bladder interior that includes a non-Newtonian fluid disposed therein. The upper includes at least a first securement strap for securing the footwear cover in a closed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: TATE TECHNOLOGY, LLC
    Inventors: Jenny T. Morgan, Gerard E. Morgan, III, Cody N. Gifford
  • Co-molded 3D elements
    Patent number: 11284669
    Abstract: Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Stuart David Reinhardt, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, James Tarrier, Robert Leimer, Tru Huu Minh Le, Angus Wardlaw, Warren Freeman, Heiko Schlarb, Christopher Edward Holmes, John Whiteman, Sabrina Kerling
  • Ballet pointe shoe having toe platform with malleable bumper
    Patent number: 11278080
    Abstract: A ballet pointe shoe may include a toe box with a malleable bumper attached to a bottom portion of a front wall of the toe box. In some embodiments, the toe box may be part of a monolithic foot-supporting structure which may also include a shank body extending longitudinally rearward from a base of the toe box. In some embodiments, the shank may be penetrated by a longitudinal tunnel which has a mouth on the shank body and some embodiments may include a removable shank insert which can be inserted into the tunnel by way of the mouth and removed from the tunnel by way of the mouth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Inventor: Lisias Ransan
  • Sole structure including cantilevered outsole elements
    Patent number: 11272760
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear is provided and includes a first sole plate formed at least in part from a first material having a first stiffness and including a first ground-engaging portion and a second ground-engaging portion, the first ground-engaging portion defining a first aperture extending around the second ground-engaging portion. The sole structure further including a membrane coupled to the first ground-engaging portion and the second ground-engaging portion and at least partially exposed by the first aperture, the membrane formed at least in part from a second material having a second stiffness that is less than the first stiffness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Footwear construction
    Patent number: 11266203
    Abstract: A sole assembly is provided including multiple compression units entrapped in a midsole and adjacent an outsole to efficiently distribute forces and to assist in correct foot motion during a gait cycle. The multiple compression units can be linked to one another to assist the foot in moving through an appropriate foot motion during a gait cycle. A heel compression unit can be linked to an arch compression unit, which can be linked to one or more forefoot compression units, which can be linked to a toe compression unit. The linking of the heel compression unit, the arch compression unit, and the forefoot compression unit to one another can resist torsional movement of the units between one another, thereby providing a more stable foot support, while still providing impact-attenuation and force distribution through the sole assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Wolverine Outdoors, Inc.
    Inventor: Martin W. F. Dean
  • Midsole system with graded response
    Patent number: 11259596
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole system with a plurality of cushioning units, each having multiple cushioning layers configured to work together as a system to absorb a compressive load, such as a dynamic compressive load due to impact with the ground, in stages of progressive cushioning according to the relative stiffness values of the layers. Various midsole systems disclosed include isolated cushioning units, linked cushioning units, sole layers having stanchions interfacing with the midsole system, midsole systems with sole layers having keyed and unkeyed portions overlying a bladder, and midsole systems with vertically-stacked cushioning units disposed in inverted relationship to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton
  • Heated boot cover
    Patent number: 11259590
    Abstract: A heated boot cover is disclosed. The heated boot cover comprises a layered material formed into an upper which is attached to a sole. The heated boot cover contains a layer of woven material having an electrically conductive yarn threaded throughout. The heating layer is disposed between a layer of fabric in the internal space of the boot cover and a thermal insulating layer. The outermost layer of material is a water resistant material. The boot cover has a fastener, such as a zipper, which has electrical connections so that the heating element of the boot cover can only be activated when the fastener is secured. The boot cover may have a transceiver which allows the operations of the boot cover to be controlled by a smart phone or other computerized device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Boiler Room Outdoors, LLC
    Inventors: Derek Wright, Brian Schrock
  • “X” stitching method for mounting uppers by means of the string-lasting system
    Patent number: 11253031
    Abstract: This is a patent application for an X stitching method, specifically intended for the assembly of uppers by the system known as tied string—stringlaster, with particular application in the footwear segment. The invention includes application to an upper (1), for full assembly of shoes, using string traction (2) as the responsible element for closing the edges of this upper (1), against the mold (3); with the overlock type stitching hereby used as an example of realization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: INDUSTRY AND TECHNOLOGY LTDA
    Inventor: Silvano Baptista De Souza
  • Upper component for an article of footwear
    Patent number: 11253023
    Abstract: An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Ami Davis, John T. Dimoff, Nadia M. Panian, Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Skate
    Patent number: 11234481
    Abstract: A skate (e.g., an ice skate) for a user (e.g., a hockey player). The skate comprises a skate boot for receiving a foot of the user and a skating device (e.g., a blade and a blade holder) disposed beneath the skate boot to engage a skating surface. The skate boot may be designed to better fit the user's foot and/or enhance skating performance of the user, such as by being shaped in accordance with anatomy of toes of the user's foot and/or enhancing integrity of the skate boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BAUER HOCKEY LLC
    Inventors: Alexis Seguin, Jason Clarke, Raymond Boissonneault
  • Footwear manufacturing with a nested flat pattern upper
    Patent number: 11234492
    Abstract: An article of footwear flat pattern upper having an upper portion and a footbed portion is provided. The upper portion and the footbed portion are integrally continuous, such that the upper portion lateral side converges with the footbed lateral side. The flat pattern includes nested same-sided article of footwear with a reduced surplus portion there between. The articles of footwear include the following continuous portions: the first medial side with a toe end, the toe end with a lateral side, the lateral side with a heel end, and the heel end with the second medial side. The first medial side and the second medial side are joined to form a dimensional article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce J. Kilgore
  • Spike and key system and method
    Patent number: 11234491
    Abstract: A spike and key system is provided that includes a spike having a conical tip with a hole extending therethrough, and a key member including a first key having a racetrack shaped opening, and a second key having a rotatable key member designed to interact with the hole in the spike.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Inventor: Orville R. Sweeney
  • Skate with injected boot form
    Patent number: 11235225
    Abstract: A boot form for a hockey skate is made of multiple plastic materials having different hardness properties, or different flexural moduli, and is formed via an injection-molding process or another similar process. One or more of the plastic materials may be reinforced with fibers of glass, carbon, aramid, or another stiffening material to strengthen one or more regions of the boot form. For example, pellets of a first plastic material having a flexural modulus of approximately 190 MPa (e.g., a polyamide elastomer block amide) may be injected into a mold to form a softer upper region of the boot form. And pellets of a second plastic having a flexural modulus of approximately 20,000 MPa (e.g., a Nylon 12 with long glass fibers) may be injected into the mold to form a stiffer lower region of the boot form. Additional skate components may then be attached to the boot form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: BAUER HOCKEY LLC
    Inventors: Marc Andre Lefebvre, Aky Hung, Dmitry Rusakov
  • Convertible high heel and flat shoe and method of use
    Patent number: 11213099
    Abstract: A convertible high heel and flat shoe, comprising a sole including a heel section; and a high heel piece positionable between a high heel mode where the high heel piece supports the heel section and a flat shoe mode where the high heel piece is received within the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Viceversa Lab, Inc.
    Inventors: Alanna Elise Fusaro, Jack Moldave
  • Footwear bladder system
    Patent number: 11213094
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole with a bladder system having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The bladder system defines a first sealed chamber retaining fluid as a first cushioning layer, the first sealed chamber extending over the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region. The bladder system further defines multiple discreet sealed chambers retaining fluid in isolation from one another, each of the multiple discreet chambers disposed at one side of the first sealed chamber, and fluidly isolated from the first sealed chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Lee D. Peyton
  • Cleat assembly
    Patent number: 11213101
    Abstract: A cleat assembly for a shoe comprising an anchor for anchoring to the shoe, a cleat, a first biasing member circumscribing the anchor and engaged with the cleat, and a second biasing member biasing the first biasing member. The second biasing member can directly engage the first biasing member or a bushing that circumscribes the anchor. So constructed, the cleat assembly provides multiple degrees of freedom. That is, the cleat assembly provides effective axial shock absorbance coupled with 360° tilting of the cleat for enhancing a user's ability to suddenly change direction when wearing a shoe equipped with the cleat assembly, thereby minimizing stress and impact on muscles, joints and ligaments and enhancing the performance of athletes wearing such shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hospital for Special Surgery
    Inventors: Hernan Sanchez, Laurence Piturro, Bo Li, Howard Hillstrom, Andrew Kraszewski, Mark Drakos
  • Cushioning element for sports apparel
    Patent number: 11213093
    Abstract: Improved cushioning elements for sports apparel, in particular for soles for sports shoes, are described. A cushioning element for sports apparel with a first deformation element is provided. The deformation element includes a plurality of randomly arranged particles of an expanded material, wherein there are first voids within the particles and/or between the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, Stuart David Reinhardt, Christopher Edward Holmes, Tru Huu Minh Le
  • Sole board
    Patent number: 11197515
    Abstract: A sole board for an article of footwear includes a plate that has a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The sole board includes a channel disposed in a top surface of the plate in the forefoot region. The channel extends from a lateral edge of the plate to a medial edge of the plate. A characteristic of the channel at the lateral and medial edges of the plate is different than the characteristic of the channel at a middle of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Aric Armon, Jeremy Determan, Frances Huang, Derek Luther, Nick Martushev, Kevin Murphy