Patents by Inventor Bret Schoolmeester

Bret Schoolmeester 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).

  • Publication number: 20240135419
    Abstract: Systems and methods of manufacturing articles of footwear include providing articles to a customer, receiving evaluations of one or more structural characteristics of the articles, and making new customized articles for the customer based on the evaluations of one or more structural characteristics. The methods can be conducted as a cycle that is repeated each time the customer buys a new pair of footwear. Systems for manufacturing customized articles of footwear include: a computing system that receives input including a customer-selected evaluation of one or more structural characteristics of an article of footwear, wherein the article of footwear includes a first sole member with a first structural characteristic having a first value. A surface of a second sole member may be modified to include a first pattern of apertures and/or incisions based on the customer-selected evaluation of the first structural characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2024
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20240114999
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11900432
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear include providing articles to a customer, receiving evaluations of one or more structural characteristics of the articles, and making new customized articles for the customer based on the evaluations of one or more structural characteristics. The method can be conducted as a cycle that is repeated each time the customer buys a new pair of footwear. Systems for manufacturing customized articles of footwear include: a computing system that receives input including a customer-selected evaluation of one or more structural characteristics of an article of footwear, wherein the article of footwear includes a first sole member with a first structural characteristic having a first value; and a second sole member for a second article of footwear, wherein a surface of the second sole member is modified to include a first pattern of apertures and/or incisions based on the customer-selected evaluation of the first structural characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11889887
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20240029129
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the heel cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the heel cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2023
    Publication date: January 25, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11810172
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the heel cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the heel cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20230122676
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Christopher S. Cook, Bret Schoolmeester
  • Publication number: 20230018180
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11553756
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Christopher S. Cook, Bret Schoolmeester
  • Publication number: 20220369766
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member. The sole member can include a set of pinpoint apertures that are formed along the outer surface of the sole member to form at least a first distribution of apertures associated with a first density and a second distribution of apertures associated with a second density, wherein the first density is greater than the second density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 24, 2022
    Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Christopher S. Cook, Bret Schoolmeester
  • Patent number: 11484093
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the forefoot cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the forefoot cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures or incisions that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11432617
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member. The sole member can include a column of apertures that are formed along the outer surface of the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Christopher S. Cook, Bret Schoolmeester
  • Publication number: 20220172268
    Abstract: The disclosed systems provide ways to manufacture a style of an article of footwear in bulk, while providing customization for heel stability for individual customers. Moreover, the disclosed systems provide ways to customize articles of footwear for a customer on an ongoing basis, such that the heel stability of the articles of footwear is refined until a tailored fit is achieved for the same customer. Generally, the process may include providing a user/customer with an article of footwear, getting evaluation information about the stability of the article of footwear from a survey (e.g., asking the user to rate the stability of the article of footwear in a smartphone app), modifying the next article of footwear provided to the user/customer according to the evaluation information, and iterating through this process to give the user an article optimized for stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11288724
    Abstract: The disclosed method provides a way to manufacture a style of an article of footwear in bulk, while providing customization for heel stability for individual customers. Moreover, the disclosed method provides a way to customize articles of footwear for a customer on an ongoing basis, such that the heel stability of the articles of footwear is refined until a tailored fit is achieved for the same customer. Generally, the method may include providing a user/customer with an article of footwear, getting evaluation information about the stability of the article of footwear from a survey (e.g., asking the user to rate the stability of the article of footwear in a smartphone app), modifying the next article of footwear provided to the user/customer according to the evaluation information, and iterating through this process to give the user an article optimized for stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20210342910
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing articles of footwear include providing articles to a customer, receiving evaluations of one or more structural characteristics of the articles, and making new customized articles for the customer based on the evaluations of one or more structural characteristics. The method can be conducted as a cycle that is repeated each time the customer buys a new pair of footwear. Systems for manufacturing customized articles of footwear include: a computing system that receives input including a customer-selected evaluation of one or more structural characteristics of an article of footwear, wherein the article of footwear includes a first sole member with a first structural characteristic having a first value; and a second sole member for a second article of footwear, wherein a surface of the second sole member is modified to include a first pattern of apertures and/or incisions based on the customer-selected evaluation of the first structural characteristic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 11093989
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing articles of footwear that includes steps of providing articles to a customer, receiving evaluations of one or more structural characteristics of the articles and making new customized articles for the customer based on the evaluations of one or more structural characteristics. The method can be conducted as a cycle that is repeated each time the customer buys a new pair of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Publication number: 20210195997
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Christopher S. Cook, Bret Schoolmeester
  • Publication number: 20210192593
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the heel cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the heel cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Publication date: June 24, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 10977705
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a system that modifies the heel cushioning of the sole member over a series of footwear purchases. The modifications can be configured to correspond to a customer's evaluation of the heel cushioning previously purchased. The sole member can include a set of apertures that are formed along various surfaces of the sole member to adjust the cushioning characteristics of the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher S. Cook, Shane S. Kohatsu, Bret Schoolmeester, Daniel T. Rowe
  • Patent number: 10973280
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure with a sole member. The sole member can include a set of apertures that is formed along various surfaces of the sole member. The sole member can be manufactured using a customized cushioning sole system, forming generally circular patterns throughout the sole member. A user's foot morphology and/or preferences may be used to design the sole member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shane S. Kohatsu, Christopher S. Cook, Bret Schoolmeester