Patents by Inventor Aaron A.C. Cooper

Aaron A.C. Cooper has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11864621
    Abstract: A sole structure of an article of footwear includes a first outer region, a second outer region, and a third outer region. The first outer region is at least partially disposed a first distance from a longitudinal axis and includes a first hardness. The second outer region is at least partially disposed a second distance from the longitudinal axis and includes a second hardness that is greater than the first hardness. The third outer region is at least partially disposed between the first outer region and the second outer region a third distance from the longitudinal axis and includes a third hardness that is greater than the first hardness and less than the second hardness. The second distance is greater than the first distance, and the third distance is greater than the first distance and less than the second distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron A C Cooper
  • Patent number: 11253029
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, a slotted eyelet, an opening, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion and a lateral portion. The slotted eyelet is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion and has a major axis and a minor axis. A length of the slotted eyelet along the major axis is larger than a width of the slotted eyelet along the minor axis. The opening is formed in the medial portion or the lateral portion, and the opening is spaced apart from the slotted eyelet. The tensile strand has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion extends through the opening and defines an aperture adjacent the slotted eyelet, and the second portion extends from the first portion toward the sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron A C Cooper
  • Patent number: 11006697
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion, a lateral portion, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The tensile strand has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between the first and second portions. The first and second portions are disposed adjacent the interior surface of the upper and have a first cross-sectional profile that is flat. The third portion extends from the exterior surface of the upper and has a second cross-sectional profile that is rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron A C Cooper
  • Patent number: 10820658
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has a body with a lateral side and a medial side, and has a plurality of tread elements extending from the body to establish a ground contact surface. At least some of the tread elements extend between the lateral side and the medial side and each include a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face that connects the front face and the rear face. The bottom face of each of the at least two of the tread elements has a width between the front face and the rear face that varies between the lateral side and the medial side forming different shapes of the tread elements. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear includes forming an outsole with such nonlinear tread elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron A. C. Cooper, Michael H C Hui
  • Patent number: 10477910
    Abstract: A midsole for an article of footwear is strategically incised or scored to produce various straight and arcuate lines. Straight lines are integrated widthwise between edges on an arch side on an outer side. Arcuate lines are integrated into various places at the top of a toe portion, with at least one extending down through a midpoint in a heel portion. The latter arcuate line maintains curvatures that parallel curvatures on the outer side at some places and the arch side at other places. Also crossing at the midpoint in the heel portion are intersecting lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron A C Cooper
  • Patent number: 10231507
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a marking system is disclosed. The marking system is configured to help locate one or more portions of a foot during training of an athlete. The marking system includes markings that extend from a lower surface of a sole system to an outer peripheral portion of a sole system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Aaron A C Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt J. Stockbridge
  • Publication number: 20180168285
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has a body with a lateral side and a medial side, and has a plurality of tread elements extending from the body to establish a ground contact surface. At least some of the tread elements extend between the lateral side and the medial side and each include a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face that connects the front face and the rear face. The bottom face of each of the at least two of the tread elements has a width between the front face and the rear face that varies between the lateral side and the medial side forming different shapes of the tread elements. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear includes forming an outsole with such nonlinear tread elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2018
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron A.C. Cooper, Michael HC Hui
  • Patent number: 9930929
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has a body with a lateral side and a medial side, and has a plurality of tread elements extending from the body to establish a ground contact surface. At least some of the tread elements extend between the lateral side and the medial side and each include a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face that connects the front face and the rear face. At least some of the bottom faces each have a respective width between the front face and the rear face that varies between the lateral side and the medial side at least partially in correspondence with a predetermined wear pattern. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear includes forming an outsole with such nonlinear tread elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron A. C. Cooper, Michael H C Hui
  • Patent number: 9510645
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a multi-directional sole structure including a flex groove system is disclosed. The flex groove system includes a plurality of longitudinal flex grooves and lateral flex grooves that divide the sole structure into a plurality of segments. The flex groove system also includes a plurality of diagonal flex grooves that intersect the corners of the plurality of segments. The flex grooves system can provide enhanced flexibility for the sole structure and can enhance multi-directional flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Aaron A C Cooper, David J. Dirsa, Thomas Foxen, Tom Luedecke
  • Patent number: 9451809
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a marking system is disclosed. The marking system is configured to help locate one or more portions of a foot during training of an athlete. The marking system includes markings that extend from a lower surface of a sole system to an outer peripheral portion of a sole system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Aaron A. C. Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt J. Stockbridge
  • Patent number: 9408432
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a marking system is disclosed. The marking system is configured to help locate one or more portions of a foot during training of an athlete. The marking system includes markings disposed on an upper of an article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Aaron A. C. Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt Stockbridge
  • Publication number: 20150181976
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole that has a body with a lateral side and a medial side, and has a plurality of tread elements extending from the body to establish a ground contact surface. At least some of the tread elements extend between the lateral side and the medial side and each include a front face, a rear face, and a bottom face that connects the front face and the rear face. At least some of the bottom faces each have a respective width between the front face and the rear face that varies between the lateral side and the medial side at least partially in correspondence with a predetermined wear pattern. A method of manufacturing a sole structure for an article of footwear includes forming an outsole with such nonlinear tread elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron A.C. Cooper, Michael HC Hui
  • Patent number: 8505219
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a multi-directional sole structure including a flex groove system is disclosed. The flex groove system includes a plurality of longitudinal flex grooves and lateral flex grooves that divide the sole structure into a plurality of segments. The flex groove system also includes a plurality of diagonal flex grooves that intersect the corners of the plurality of segments. The flex grooves system can provide enhanced flexibility for the sole structure and can enhance multi-directional flexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Aaron A. C. Cooper, David J. Dirsa, Thomas Foxen, Tom Luedecke
  • Patent number: 8505215
    Abstract: An article of footwear with multiple cross sectional profile shapes disposed on an outer peripheral edge of a sole is disclosed. The multiple cross sectional profile shapes on the outer peripheral edge of the sole can help increase the lateral performance and lateral stability of a wearer of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Aaron A. C. Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt J. Stockbridge
  • Publication number: 20130000152
    Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of an upper and a segmented sole structure. The sole structure may include an insole portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements disposed within an outsole unit. The insole is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of flexible regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: NIKE INC.
    Inventors: Aaron A.C. Cooper, Marni L. Gerber, Omar Velazquez
  • Patent number: 8272149
    Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes at least one of an upper and a segmented sole structure. The sole structure may include an insole portion and a plurality of discrete sole elements disposed within an outsole unit. The insole is positioned adjacent the upper and may extend along a longitudinal length of the upper. The sole elements extend from the connecting portion, and the sole elements are separated by a plurality of flexible regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron A. C. Cooper, Marni L. Gerber, Omar Velazquez
  • Patent number: 8230618
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an arch wrap is disclosed. The arch wrap is configured to provide support to a midfoot. The arch wrap can include a plurality of eyelets that are configured to receive a lace of a lacing system of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Aaron A. C. Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt J. Stockbridge
  • Publication number: 20120023787
    Abstract: An article of footwear with multiple cross sectional profile shapes disposed on an outer peripheral edge of a sole is disclosed. The multiple cross sectional profile shapes on the outer peripheral edge of the sole can help increase the lateral performance and lateral stability of a wearer of the article of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Aaron A.C. Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt J. Stockbridge
  • Patent number: 8061059
    Abstract: An article of footwear with multiple cross sectional profile shapes disposed on an outer peripheral edge of a sole is disclosed. The multiple cross sectional profile shapes on the outer peripheral edge of the sole can help increase the lateral performance and lateral stability of a wearer of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Aaron A. C. Cooper, Bo Lupo, Kurt J. Stockbridge
  • Publication number: 20100299965
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a multi-directional sole structure including a flex groove system is disclosed. The flex groove system includes a plurality of longitudinal flex grooves and lateral flex grooves that divide the sole structure into a plurality of segments. The flex groove system also includes a plurality of diagonal flex grooves that intersect the corners of the plurality of segments. The flex grooves system can provide enhanced flexibility for the sole structure and can enhance multi-directional flexing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Aaron A.C. Cooper, David J. Dirsa, Thomas Foxen, Tom Luedecke