Patents by Inventor Austin J. Orand
Austin J. Orand 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).
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Patent number: 11903441Abstract: This disclosure is directed to articles of footwear with adjustable dimensions. More specifically, the articles of footwear disclosed herein include sole structures with adjustable dimensions. In some instances, an article of footwear includes one or more removable insert members configured for adjusting the dimensions of a foot-receiving cavity of the article of footwear. Additionally or alternatively, a sole structure can include one or more flexible portions that can move between compressed and expanded states to accommodate feet of various dimensions. To accommodate the adjustable dimensions of the sole structures, an upper of the article of footwear can be stretchable.Type: GrantFiled: January 6, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Ami M. Davis, Daniel J. Gearhardt, Michelle Haines, George S. Kim, Ryan J. Maddox, Austin J. Orand, Richard S. Ramsay, Sarah E. Sowers, Peter P. Williams, II, Patrick D. Boyd
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Publication number: 20240041157Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator includes a lever arm. The lever arm may be deformable and biased towards the raised state. The lever arm may be articulated with a biasing force urging the lever arm to the raised state. The lever arm may have a variety of cross sections as well. The lever arm extends from a base, which may a sole portion of the footwear article. The lever arm and the base may be monolithic, permanently joined, removably joined, or otherwise connected.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Publication number: 20240032635Abstract: Aspects herein relate to articles of apparel having anchoring devices that engage face masks in a convenient and accessible way. For example, the anchoring devices in accordance with aspects herein can be concealed in a hidden state when not in use, and can be in an anchoring state when in use.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: George S. Kim, Austin J. Orand
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Patent number: 11882901Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining an interior void and a first cable movable in a tightening direction to move the upper into a tightened state and movable in a loosening direction to move the upper into a loosened state. The article of footwear also includes a tightening grip operable to be moved away from the upper in a first direction to move the first cable in the tightening direction and a cable lock operable in a locked state to restrict movement of the first cable in the loosening direction and operable in an unlocked state to permit movement of the first cable in the loosening direction. A release grip is operable to be moved away from the upper in a second direction to move the cable lock from the locked state to the unlocked state, whereby the release grip is separate from the tightening grip.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Caleb W. Dyer, Peter Lam, Austin J. Orand, Andrea M. Vinet, Peter Williams, Samantha Young
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Patent number: 11849797Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Patent number: 11849798Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Patent number: 11844402Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a spool system that can be engaged or disengaged from a driveshaft through the use of a cam device. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensile element.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2021Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Ryan Frederick, Clayton Lindsay, Austin J. Orand, Andrew A. Owings
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Patent number: 11825902Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator includes a lever arm. The lever arm may be deformable and biased towards the raised state. The lever arm may be articulated with a biasing force urging the lever arm to the raised state. The lever arm may have a variety of cross sections as well. The lever arm extends from a base, which may a sole portion of the footwear article. The lever arm and the base may be monolithic, permanently joined, removably joined, or otherwise connected.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2022Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Publication number: 20230309659Abstract: An article of footwear comprises an upper defining an interior void, a sole structure attached to the upper, a cable attached to the upper and moveable in a tightening direction to decrease a volume of the interior void of the upper and in a loosening direction to increase a volume of the interior void of the upper, and a locking device operable between a locked state to prevent movement of the cable and an unlocked state to permit movement of the cable, the locking having a housing attached to one of the upper and the sole structure and receiving the cable therethrough. The housing includes a pulley rotatably disposed therein, whereby the pulley is engaged by the cable and configured cooperate with the housing to provide audible or tactile feedback when the pulley is rotated by cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Caleb W. Dyer, Austin J. Orand
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Patent number: 11744320Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar slide 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 including a ground-contacting surface and a foot-facing surface and an upper having a heel region. The footwear article also includes a strobel, the strobel affixed to the foot-facing surface of the sole and a collar elevator comprising a heel structure, the collar elevator connected with the strobel and coupled with the upper in the heel region. The collar elevator includes a collar slide forming a ramp interface during a donning operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Publication number: 20230270202Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: August 31, 2023Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams
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Patent number: 11678723Abstract: An article of footwear comprises an upper defining an interior void, a sole structure attached to the upper, a cable attached to the upper and moveable in a tightening direction to decrease a volume of the interior void of the upper and in a loosening direction to increase a volume of the interior void of the upper, and a locking device operable between a locked state to prevent movement of the cable and an unlocked state to permit movement of the cable, the locking having a housing attached to one of the upper and the sole structure and receiving the cable therethrough. The housing includes a pulley rotatably disposed therein, whereby the pulley is engaged by the cable and configured cooperate with the housing to provide audible or tactile feedback when the pulley is rotated by cable.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Caleb W. Dyer, Austin J. Orand
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Publication number: 20230180895Abstract: A tensioning system for use with an article of footwear includes a pulley assembly. The pulley assembly may include a first disc and a second disc connected by a central shaft. A tensioning element can be engaged around the central shaft. A ring element can be used to prevent the tensioning element from disengaging the pulley when there is slack in the tensioning element. The pulley assembly can include a guide portion that guides a tensioning member so as to restrict the entry angle of segments of the tensioning member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2023Publication date: June 15, 2023Inventors: Austin J. Orand, Timothy P. Hopkins
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Publication number: 20230165339Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator may be arranged at various positions among the footwear article, such as above or below a strobel. The collar elevator may be coupled to the footwear article using various connectors. The footwear article may have other features, such as an ankle collar, that are configured in a manner to work together with the collar elevator.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 12, 2023Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams II
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Patent number: 11633016Abstract: A footwear article includes a tongue and a tongue reinforcer, which helps the tongue maintain a shape and position when the tongue is subjected to forces or adjustments, such as from other footwear-article elements or from a wearer. For example, the tongue reinforcer may help the tongue maintain a shape and position when a wearer is inserting his or her foot into the footwear article or when medial and/or lateral quarters press inward on the tongue.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Austin J. Orand, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Publication number: 20230032939Abstract: An article of apparel includes a bladder including an interior void, a compressible component disposed within the interior void and including a first zone, the first zone operable between a contracted state and a relaxed state, and a port fluidly coupled to the bladder and operable to selectively permit fluid communication with the interior void.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tina M. Casillas, Risha Dupre, Sam Lacey, Austin J. Orand, Nadia M. Panian, Adam Parkinson, Simon Quay, Victoria Rind, Kimberly A. Sokol, Jeffrey C. Spanks
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Publication number: 20230033238Abstract: A pump includes a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state. A coil is disposed within the conduit and includes an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state. A manifold is in fluid communication with the inner volume and is operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Austin J. Orand, Richard Kristian Hansen, Kimberly A. Sokol
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Publication number: 20230015921Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Publication number: 20230012918Abstract: 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 includes a sole and an upper having a heel region. The upper includes an inner material layer and an outer material layer. The footwear article also includes a collar elevator positioned between the inner material layer and the outer material layer in the heel region. The collar elevator, in an example, comprises a strand-receiving aperture through which a stitch extends attaching the collar elevator to the upper.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II
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Publication number: 20230016825Abstract: A footwear article includes a collar slide 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 including a ground-contacting surface and a foot-facing surface and an upper having a heel region. The footwear article also includes a strobel, the strobel affixed to the foot-facing surface of the sole and a collar elevator comprising a heel structure, the collar elevator connected with the strobel and coupled with the upper in the heel region. The collar elevator includes a collar slide forming a ramp interface during a donning operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2022Publication date: January 19, 2023Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Austin J. Orand, Wade Flanagan, Aaron B. Weast, Peter P. Williams, II