Patents by Inventor Carl Darius Bird

Carl Darius Bird 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: 20230038992
    Abstract: A clipless cycling shoe having an upper and a base plate. The base plate has a medial portion, a lateral portion and a medial sidewall. The medial portion has a rigid support structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, a cavity is formed between the top portion and bottom portion, wherein the cavity is filled with a core material. The lateral portion has a lateral plate. The medial sidewall wrap is adjacent the medial portion and extends outward and upward relative to the base plate and the medial sidewall wrap extends a portion of the length of the base plate. The medial portion is desirably thicker than the lateral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Carl Darius Bird, Robert Arthur Laurence Cook
  • Patent number: 11291266
    Abstract: A clipless cycling shoe having an upper and a base plate. The base plate has a medial portion, a lateral portion and a medial sidewall. The medial portion has a rigid support structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, a cavity is formed between the top portion and bottom portion, wherein the cavity is filled with a core material. The lateral portion has a lateral plate. The medial sidewall wrap is adjacent the medial portion and extends outward and upward relative to the base plate and the medial sidewall wrap extends a portion of the length of the base plate. The medial portion is desirably thicker than the lateral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Specialized Bicycle Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Darius Bird, Robert Arthur Laurence Cook
  • Publication number: 20190174865
    Abstract: A clipless cycling shoe having an upper and a base plate. The base plate has a medial portion, a lateral portion and a medial sidewall. The medial portion has a rigid support structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, a cavity is formed between the top portion and bottom portion, wherein the cavity is filled with a core material. The lateral portion has a lateral plate. The medial sidewall wrap is adjacent the medial portion and extends outward and upward relative to the base plate and the medial sidewall wrap extends a portion of the length of the base plate. The medial portion is desirably thicker than the lateral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Carl Darius Bird, Robert A.L. Cook
  • Patent number: 10206451
    Abstract: A clipless cycling shoe having an upper and a base plate. The base plate has a medial portion, a lateral portion and a medial sidewall. The medial portion has a rigid support structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, a cavity is formed between the top portion and bottom portion, wherein the cavity is filled with a core material. The lateral portion has a lateral plate. The medial sidewall wrap is adjacent the medial portion and extends outward and upward relative to the base plate and the medial sidewall wrap extends a portion of the length of the base plate. The medial portion is desirably thicker than the lateral portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Carl Darius Bird, Robert A. L. Cook
  • Patent number: 9237778
    Abstract: A cycling shoe can include a hook that, when used together with another device, such as with a rubber band, can position the shoe on a bicycle in a desired position. The shoes can be clipped into pedals on the bicycle, and the hook and rubber band can be used to position the shoes and crank arms of the bicycle in the position desired by the user. The hook can be on the arch side of the shoe. The hook can be separate from the tightening system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A. L. Cook, Carl Darius Bird
  • Publication number: 20140007463
    Abstract: A clipless cycling shoe having an upper and a base plate. The base plate has a medial portion, a lateral portion and a medial sidewall. The medial portion has a rigid support structure having a top portion and a bottom portion, a cavity is formed between the top portion and bottom portion, wherein the cavity is filled with a core material. The lateral portion has a lateral plate. The medial sidewall wrap is adjacent the medial portion and extends outward and upward relative to the base plate and the medial sidewall wrap extends a portion of the length of the base plate. The medial portion is desirably thicker than the lateral portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Carl Darius Bird, Robert A.L. Cook
  • Publication number: 20140007464
    Abstract: Sporting footwear can include a buckle system to secure the footwear to the user's foot. The footwear may also include additional other types of fastening systems. The buckle system can include a base plate attached to the shoe and a buckle housing attached to the base plate. The buckle housing and base plate can be assembled without tools, such as having a snap fit interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Carl Darius Bird, Robert A.L. Cook
  • Publication number: 20130340292
    Abstract: A cycling shoe can include a hook, or other device on the shoe which can be used together with another device, such as with a rubber band, to position the shoes on a bicycle in a desired position. The shoes can be clipped into pedals on the bicycle, and the hook and rubber band can be used to position the shoes and crank arms of the bicycle in the position desired by the user. The hook can be on the arch side of the shoe. The hook can be separate from the tightening system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Applicant: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Robert A.L. Cook, Carl Darius Bird
  • Publication number: 20130086730
    Abstract: A glove, such as a cycling glove, for use with a capacitive touchscreen device has a back side and a palm side. The glove has an outer shell substantially forming an outer surface of the glove on the back side and the palm side of the glove. An inner liner substantially forms an inner surface of the glove. A waterproof layer can be positioned between the outer shell and the inner liner. A conductive strip can be positioned within the glove with a first end extending from the glove at a fingertip. A second end can contact a user's skin when the glove is on the user's hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: John Wilkening, Carl Darius Bird, John Cordoba
  • Publication number: 20130008057
    Abstract: A shoe including a sole for supporting a foot and an upper coupled to the sole. The upper defines an opening for receiving the foot and includes a first side panel and a second side panel movable in relation to the first side panel. The shoe also includes a closure mechanism that is coupled between the first side panel and the second side panel, and a tightening mechanism that is engaged with the closure mechanism to selectively draw the first side panel and the second side panel closer to each other and to selectively permit the first side panel and the second side panel to move apart from each other. A cover provides access to the tightening mechanism while enclosing the closure mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Carl Darius Bird, John Figueiredo, Robert A.L. Cook
  • Publication number: 20100319216
    Abstract: A shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The upper includes a heel portion movable relative to a mid portion from an open position to a closed position. A securing mechanism (e.g., a lace and a dial for tightening the lace) is coupled between the heel portion and the mid portion. Preferably, the dial is secured near an edge of the mid portion near an instep opening, and the lace is positioned in a passageway in the mid portion. The heel portion can comprise a flexible fabric that acts as a living hinge to facilitate pivotal movement of the heel portion relative to the mid portion at a pivot point positioned above the sole and rearward of the mid portion. Preferably, the heel portion includes a wide portion and a narrow portion (e.g., defining the pivot point) below the wide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory Roger Grenzke, Carl Darius Bird, John Figueiredo