Patents by Inventor Bert Appleton Spiller
Bert Appleton Spiller 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: 10219582Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one instance, the device is an external metatarsal protection device for a shoe or boot, having a sole with a first surface for supporting a wearer's foot and a second surface for contacting a ground area, an upper affixed to the sole, and an integral toe cap. An interior surface of the upper and the first surface of the sole define a receptacle for receiving the wearer's foot. The external protection device is incorporated along an exterior surface of the upper and is positioned to protect at least a metatarsal region of the wearer's foot. In an instance, the external protection device has injection-molded first and second layers of material, with the cushioning elements formed on a surface of the first layer and a plurality of grooves defined on a surface of the second layer.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2016Date of Patent: March 5, 2019Assignee: TBL Licensing LLCInventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen Douglas Ammon, Brian Lee Strother, Thomas Yeh
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Patent number: 10178892Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: TBL Licensing LLCInventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen Douglas Ammon
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Publication number: 20170215520Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one instance, the device is an external metatarsal protection device for a shoe or boot, having a sole with a first surface for supporting a wearer's foot and a second surface for contacting a ground area, an upper affixed to the sole, and an integral toe cap. An interior surface of the upper and the first surface of the sole define a receptacle for receiving the wearer's foot. The external protection device is incorporated along an exterior surface of the upper and is positioned to protect at least a metatarsal region of the wearer's foot. In an instance, the external protection device has injection-molded first and second layers of material, with the cushioning elements formed on a surface of the first layer and a plurality of grooves defined on a surface of the second layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Applicant: TBL Licensing LLCInventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen Douglas Ammon, Brian Lee Strother, Thomas Yeh
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Publication number: 20170215521Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2016Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen Douglas Ammon
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Publication number: 20170188658Abstract: A method of constructing footwear includes providing a mold having an inner cavity, injecting an expandable material into the inner cavity, removing the expandable material from the inner cavity such that the material expands to form a footwear-shaped shell having an inner cavity and at least one recessed area offset from an inner surface of the shell, and inserting a chassis within the inner cavity of the expanded shell. The chassis has one or more components adapted to protect a user's foot from injury. The insertion of the chassis within the shell permanently affixes the one or more components within the at least one recessed area of the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 20, 2017Publication date: July 6, 2017Applicant: TBL Licensing LLCInventor: Bert Appleton Spiller
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Patent number: 9635902Abstract: A footwear system is disclosed, which includes a shell having an inner cavity and at least one recessed area offset from an inner surface of the shell, and a chassis having one or more components adapted to protect a user's foot from injury. In one embodiment, the chassis is insertable into the inner cavity of the shell, such that the one or more components of the chassis are securely retained (e.g., permanently affixed) within the at least one recessed area of the shell. Methods of forming the aforementioned footwear system using expandable materials are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: May 2, 2017Assignee: TBL Licensing LLCInventor: Bert Appleton Spiller
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Patent number: 9554617Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc).Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2014Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: TBL Licensing LLCInventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen D. Ammon
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Patent number: 8943708Abstract: An improved welt construction for use in a welted shoe is disclosed, in which the construction contains a number of components, including: (1) an anti-fatigue layer with tapered recesses for providing cushioning; (2) a rigid shock diffusion welt-frame back part; (3) a flexible forepart welt-frame; (4) a torsional shank; and (5) a flexible ply rib, which may surround a periphery of the support system. Methods of: (1) constructing a shoe utilizing the aforementioned welt construction; and (2) manufacturing the aforementioned welt construction through the use of a mold(s) are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: February 3, 2015Assignee: TBL Licsensing LLCInventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen D. Ammon
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Publication number: 20140259768Abstract: A footwear system is disclosed, which includes a shell having an inner cavity and at least one recessed area offset from an inner surface of the shell, and a chassis having one or more components adapted to protect a user's foot from injury. In one embodiment, the chassis is insertable into the inner cavity of the shell, such that the one or more components of the chassis are securely retained (e.g., permanently affixed) within the at least one recessed area of the shell. Methods of forming the aforementioned footwear system using expandable materials are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: TBL LICENSING LLCInventor: Bert Appleton Spiller
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Publication number: 20140130371Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2014Publication date: May 15, 2014Applicant: TBL LICENSING LLCInventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen D. Ammon
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Patent number: 8635789Abstract: A variety of devices for protecting a user's foot from injury are disclosed. In one embodiment, the device may be a metatarsal protection device, which may include a first layer of material having top and bottom surfaces, with at least one of such surfaces including a series of cones or a pattern of hexagons thereon. The metatarsal protection device may also include a second relatively rigid layer of material overlying the first layer, and the first layer may be shaped to conform to the metatarsal region of the user's foot, such that the device is configured to protect the metatarsal region against injury. Other configurations and variations of a metatarsal protection device are also disclosed, as are other uses for the principles of the invention(s) disclosed herein (e.g., protection devices for other areas of the foot, etc.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2012Date of Patent: January 28, 2014Assignee: TBL Licensing LLCInventors: Bert Appleton Spiller, Denis W. Norton, Stephen D. Ammon
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Publication number: 20020088145Abstract: A shoe has a bottom including an expansion mechanism for expanding the bottom laterally underlying the metatarsals. An upper is carried by the bottom. A chassis is carried by the bottom for underlying the foot. In one embodiment, the expansion mechanism of the bottom includes a base portion and an expansion portion, the base portion having a plurality of slots extending generally longitudinally in the mid-foot region defining the expansion portion, the expansion portion formed of a material allowing lateral expansion of the bottom. In one embodiment, the upper has an expanding and contracting mechanism for expanding and contracting the upper therein stabilizing holding the foot as the foot moves. In one embodiment, the expanding and contracting mechanism is an elastic omega seam interposed between two pieces of leather at a seam wherein the omega opens and closes.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2001Publication date: July 11, 2002Applicant: The Timberland CompanyInventors: Douglas E. Clark, Stephen D. Opie, Bert Appleton Spiller, David E. Miller