Patents by Inventor Brian Linkfield

Brian Linkfield 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: 12239183
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning element having a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the cushioning element from the top surface, a ramp surface spaced apart from the bottom surface in a heel region of the cushioning element, a heel pocket extending through the cushioning element from the top surface to the ramp surface, and a plurality of pillars extending from the ramp surface and surrounding the pocket. The sole structure additionally includes a plurality of cushioning particles disposed within the pocket, an outsole attached to the cushioning element and enclosing a first end of the pocket, and an upper barrier layer attached to the top surface of the cushioning element and covering a second end of the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Brian Linkfield
  • Patent number: 12011061
    Abstract: Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews
  • Publication number: 20230210216
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel having an interior surface and an exterior surface formed on an opposite side from the interior surface, the strobel defining a footbed and a peripheral wall extending transversely from the footbed to a terminal edge. The article of footwear additionally includes an upper attached to the terminal edge of the strobel along a peripheral seam to define an interior void for receiving a foot, the peripheral seam configured to extend along a side of the interior void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2023
    Publication date: July 6, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Brian Linkfield
  • Publication number: 20230200490
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning element having a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the cushioning element from the top surface, a ramp surface spaced apart from the bottom surface in a heel region of the cushioning element, a heel pocket extending through the cushioning element from the top surface to the ramp surface, and a plurality of pillars extending from the ramp surface and surrounding the pocket. The sole structure additionally includes a plurality of cushioning particles disposed within the pocket, an outsole attached to the cushioning element and enclosing a first end of the pocket, and an upper barrier layer attached to the top surface of the cushioning element and covering a second end of the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Brian Linkfield
  • Publication number: 20230148707
    Abstract: Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews
  • Patent number: 11622600
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel having an interior surface and an exterior surface formed on an opposite side from the interior surface, the strobel defining a footbed and a peripheral wall extending transversely from the footbed to a terminal edge. The article of footwear additionally includes an upper attached to the terminal edge of the strobel along a peripheral seam to define an interior void for receiving a foot, the peripheral seam configured to extend along a side of the interior void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Brian Linkfield
  • Patent number: 11607009
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning element having a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the cushioning element from the top surface, a ramp surface spaced apart from the bottom surface in a heel region of the cushioning element, a heel pocket extending through the cushioning element from the top surface to the ramp surface, and a plurality of pillars extending from the ramp surface and surrounding the pocket. The sole structure additionally includes a plurality of cushioning particles disposed within the pocket, an outsole attached to the cushioning element and enclosing a first end of the pocket, and an upper barrier layer attached to the top surface of the cushioning element and covering a second end of the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Brian Linkfield
  • Patent number: 11576467
    Abstract: Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews
  • Publication number: 20210076774
    Abstract: Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews
  • Patent number: 10918158
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is coupled to the sole structure to at least partially defining an internal volume that is operative to receive a foot of the wearer. The upper includes an enlarged throat opening that is in communication with the internal volume and a forwardly extending flap section that defines a portion of the enlarged throat opening. The flap section is operative to fold laterally across an instep portion of the upper to reduce the size of the throat opening. Additionally, a plurality of perforations extend through a portion of the upper on a first side of the flap section. Folding the flap section laterally in a first direction covers the plurality of perforations to provide selective water resistance. Conversely, folding the flap section laterally in a second direction exposes the plurality of perforations to provide ventilation to the interior volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews
  • Publication number: 20210022438
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel having an interior surface and an exterior surface formed on an opposite side from the interior surface, the strobel defining a footbed and a peripheral wall extending transversely from the footbed to a terminal edge. The article of footwear additionally includes an upper attached to the terminal edge of the strobel along a peripheral seam to define an interior void for receiving a foot, the peripheral seam configured to extend along a side of the interior void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Brian Linkfield
  • Publication number: 20210022443
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a cushioning element having a top surface, a bottom surface formed on an opposite side of the cushioning element from the top surface, a ramp surface spaced apart from the bottom surface in a heel region of the cushioning element, a heel pocket extending through the cushioning element from the top surface to the ramp surface, and a plurality of pillars extending from the ramp surface and surrounding the pocket. The sole structure additionally includes a plurality of cushioning particles disposed within the pocket, an outsole attached to the cushioning element and enclosing a first end of the pocket, and an upper barrier layer attached to the top surface of the cushioning element and covering a second end of the pocket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Brian Linkfield
  • Patent number: 10874169
    Abstract: Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews
  • Publication number: 20200275739
    Abstract: Presented are footwear sole structures with foot-cushioning insoles movably mounted onto impact-attenuating midsoles, methods for making/using such sole structures, and footwear fabricated with such sole structures. A multilayered sole structure assembly includes an insole movably mounted on a midsole. The midsole is formed with a first compressible material and includes opposing upper and lower midsole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the upper midsole surface, and multiple pockets recessed into the upper midsole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions. The insole, which is formed with a second compressible material distinct from the first compressible material, includes opposing upper and lower insole surfaces, multiple protrusions projecting from the lower insole surface and interleaved with the midsole protrusions, and multiple pockets recessed into the lower insole surface and interleaved with the insole protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: September 3, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews
  • Publication number: 20190365022
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is coupled to the sole structure to at least partially defining an internal volume that is operative to receive a foot of the wearer. The upper includes an enlarged throat opening that is in communication with the internal volume and a forwardly extending flap section that defines a portion of the enlarged throat opening. The flap section is operative to fold laterally across an instep portion of the upper to reduce the size of the throat opening. Additionally, a plurality of perforations extend through a portion of the upper on a first side of the flap section. Folding the flap section laterally in a first direction covers the plurality of perforations to provide selective water resistance. Conversely, folding the flap section laterally in a second direction exposes the plurality of perforations to provide ventilation to the interior volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Linkfield, Darryl Matthews