Patents by Inventor Alison Sheets-Singer
Alison Sheets-Singer 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: 11910878Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear. The sole structure includes at least one support plate located on an underside of a midsole on a medial forefoot side of the midsole and extending from a medial edge of the midsole to at least a longitudinal center line of the midsole, wherein a lateral edge of the plate is located medially of the lateral edge of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one sipe or groove extending laterally across the midsole to provide flexibility in a forefoot-to-heel direction of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one rail.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2023Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Bruce Alan Barney, Rachel M. Savage, Alison Sheets-Singer
-
Publication number: 20230232936Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear. The sole structure includes at least one support plate located on an underside of a midsole on a medial forefoot side of the midsole and extending from a medial edge of the midsole to at least a longitudinal center line of the midsole, wherein a lateral edge of the plate is located medially of the lateral edge of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one sipe or groove extending laterally across the midsole to provide flexibility in a forefoot-to-heel direction of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2023Publication date: July 27, 2023Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Bruce Alan Barney, Rachel M. Savage, Alison Sheets-Singer
-
Patent number: 11641906Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear. The sole structure includes at least one support plate located on an underside of a midsole on a medial forefoot side of the midsole and extending from a medial edge of the midsole to at least a longitudinal center line of the midsole, wherein a lateral edge of the plate is located medially of the lateral edge of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one sipe or groove extending laterally across the midsole to provide flexibility in a forefoot-to-heel direction of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one rail.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Bruce Alan Barney, Rachel M. Savage, Alison Sheets-Singer
-
Patent number: 11576463Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2021Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Patent number: 11297895Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate with a foot-facing surface with a recess disposed in the foot-facing surface. An insert plate is disposed in the recess. A length of the insert plate between anterior and posterior ends of the insert plate is less than a length of the recess. The insert plate flexes free of compressive loading by the sole plate when a forefoot portion of the sole assembly is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and operatively engages with the sole plate when the forefoot portion is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range. The sole assembly is dorsiflexed, for example, when the forefoot portion is flexed in accordance with toes bending toward the top of the foot.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Patent number: 11266202Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot region, and a stiffness enhancing assembly disposed in the forefoot region of the sole plate. The stiffness enhancing assembly further comprises a compression member disposed at a foot-facing side of the sole plate, and a tensile member disposed at an opposite side of the sole plate from the compression member. The tensile member is spaced apart from the compression member by a first distance in a first portion of a flexion range during dorsiflexion of the sole structure, and interferes with the compression member during a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2019Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Publication number: 20210267304Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear. The sole structure includes at least one support plate located on an underside of a midsole on a medial forefoot side of the midsole and extending from a medial edge of the midsole to at least a longitudinal center line of the midsole, wherein a lateral edge of the plate is located medially of the lateral edge of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one sipe or groove extending laterally across the midsole to provide flexibility in a forefoot-to-heel direction of the midsole. The support plate may contain at least one rail.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Bruce Alan Barney, Rachel M. Savage, Alison Sheets-Singer
-
Publication number: 20210204647Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2021Publication date: July 8, 2021Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Patent number: 10986893Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot portion with a foot-facing surface. The sole plate has at least one groove extending at least partially transversely in the foot-facing surface. The at least one groove is open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Patent number: 10750819Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-facing surface. The sole plate has a plurality of grooves extending at least partially transversely relative to the sole plate in the forefoot portion of the foot-facing surface, and a plurality of ribs protruding at the ground-facing surface, extending at least partially transversely relative to the sole plate, and underlying the plurality of grooves. At least some grooves of the plurality of grooves are configured to be open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: August 25, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Alison Sheets-Singer, Austin Orand
-
Patent number: 10674787Abstract: A footbed having the ability to fixedly secure the forefoot portion of the foot while allowing the heel portion to laterally move during activity is provided. The footbed can include a sock liner positioned thereon wherein the sock liner is more firmly secured to the footbed in the forefront region than in the heel region to allow lateral movement.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2016Date of Patent: June 9, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Sam Amis, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Alison Sheets-Singer, Timothy J. Smith, Scott R. Berggren
-
Patent number: 10660400Abstract: A sole structure includes a sole plate having a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-facing surface. The sole plate includes a plurality of grooves extending transversely relative to a longitudinal axis of the sole plate, in the forefoot region of the foot-facing surface. A flex control insert includes an upper surface, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface. The flex control insert includes a plurality of ribs protruding from the lower surface of the flex control insert, which extend transversely relative to the longitudinal axis of the sole plate. Each one of ribs is disposed within a different respective one of the grooves. The ribs are strong in compression, and maintain their volume to resist compression by the grooves as the sole plate flexes in a longitudinal direction to increase the bending stiffness of the sole plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 14, 2017Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jim Baucom, Bryan N. Farris, Alison Sheets-Singer
-
Publication number: 20200100564Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate with a foot-facing surface with a recess disposed in the foot-facing surface. An insert plate is disposed in the recess. A length of the insert plate between anterior and posterior ends of the insert plate is less than a length of the recess. The insert plate flexes free of compressive loading by the sole plate when a forefoot portion of the sole assembly is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and operatively engages with the sole plate when the forefoot portion is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range. The sole assembly is dorsiflexed, for example, when the forefoot portion is flexed in accordance with toes bending toward the top of the foot.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Publication number: 20200085123Abstract: An elongate elastic member for assisting an athletic motion and a lower-body garment incorporating the elongate elastic member are provided herein. The elongate elastic member may have various configurations that permit it to be attached to a foot or shoe of a wearer and a torso of the wearer. The structure and as-worn configuration of the elongate elastic member and associated lower-body garment augment or inhibit joint moments during an athletic motion, improving the actual or perceived amount of energy expended to complete the athletic motion.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2019Publication date: March 19, 2020Inventors: Amie J. Achtymichuk, Oksana Anilionyte, Baron C. Brandt, Joseph L. Helseth, Alison Sheets-Singer, Alexander S. Siegel
-
Publication number: 20200008519Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot region, and a stiffness enhancing assembly disposed in the forefoot region of the sole plate. The stiffness enhancing assembly further comprises a compression member disposed at a foot-facing side of the sole plate, and a tensile member disposed at an opposite side of the sole plate from the compression member. The tensile member is spaced apart from the compression member by a first distance in a first portion of a flexion range during dorsiflexion of the sole structure, and interferes with the compression member during a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 18, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Patent number: 10524536Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate with a foot-facing surface with a recess disposed in the foot-facing surface. An insert plate is disposed in the recess. A length of the insert plate between anterior and posterior ends of the insert plate is less than a length of the recess. The insert plate flexes free of compressive loading by the sole plate when a forefoot portion of the sole assembly is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and operatively engages with the sole plate when the forefoot portion is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range. The sole assembly is dorsiflexed, for example, when the forefoot portion is flexed in accordance with toes bending toward the top of the foot.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Patent number: 10485295Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that includes a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-receiving surface. A tension member is operatively secured to the ground-facing surface and has a portion configured to move relative to the sole plate during dorsiflexion of the sole structure in a first portion of a flexion range, and interfere with the sole plate during dorsiflexion of the sole structure in a second portion of the flexion range greater than the first portion altering the rate of the resultant torque.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2017Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Summer L. Schneider, Alison Sheets-Singer, Steven H. Walker
-
Patent number: 10448701Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a forefoot region, and a stiffness enhancing assembly disposed in the forefoot region of the sole plate. The stiffness enhancing assembly further comprises a compression member disposed at a foot-facing side of the sole plate, and a tensile member disposed at an opposite side of the sole plate from the compression member. The tensile member is spaced apart from the compression member by a first distance in a first portion of a flexion range during dorsiflexion of the sole structure, and interferes with the compression member during a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast
-
Publication number: 20190082782Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate that has a foot-facing surface with a forefoot portion, and a ground-facing surface opposite from the foot-facing surface. The sole plate has a plurality of grooves extending at least partially transversely relative to the sole plate in the forefoot portion of the foot-facing surface, and a plurality of ribs protruding at the ground-facing surface, extending at least partially transversely relative to the sole plate, and underlying the plurality of grooves. At least some grooves of the plurality of grooves are configured to be open when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a first portion of a flexion range, and closed when the sole structure is dorsiflexed in a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2018Publication date: March 21, 2019Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dennis D. Bunnell, Bryan N. Farris, Alison Sheets-Singer, Austin Orand
-
Patent number: 10226097Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a first plate and a second plate. The first plate overlies at least a portion of a forefoot region of the second plate. The first plate and the second plate are fixed to one another rearward of the forefoot region. The first plate is configured to slide longitudinally relative to the forefoot region of the second plate in a first portion of a flexion range during dorsiflexion of the sole structure, and to interfere with the second plate during a second portion of the flexion range that includes flex angles greater than in the first portion of the flexion range.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2016Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Austin Orand, Alison Sheets-Singer, Aaron B. Weast