Patents by Inventor Charles W. Case, Jr.

Charles W. Case, Jr. 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: 20170087413
    Abstract: Articles of clothing or pieces of athletic equipment include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or athletic equipment or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing or piece of athletic equipment for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and clothing or piece of athletic equipment are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventor: Charles W. Case, JR.
  • Publication number: 20170085967
    Abstract: Footwear systems include an article of footwear and a data transmission system engaged with the article of footwear. The transmission system transmits data to a remote system, such as a display system, another data transmission system, a processing system, etc. Such footwear systems further may include activation systems for activating the transmission and/or display systems. The transmitted data may be used for various purposes, such as: (a) identifying a user of the article of footwear; (b) activating targeted advertising or product information; (c) confirming the user's presence at a specific location and/or at a specific time; (d) determining start, finish, and/or intermediate split times for specific user; (e) confirming athletic equipment usage; (f) providing data for a game or reward program; (g) registering the user for an event or competition; or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventor: Charles W. Case, JR.
  • Patent number: 9555285
    Abstract: Articles of clothing or pieces of athletic equipment include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or athletic equipment or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing or piece of athletic equipment for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and clothing or piece of athletic equipment are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Case, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9542706
    Abstract: Footwear systems include an article of footwear and a data transmission system engaged with the article of footwear. The transmission system transmits data to a remote system, such as a display system, another data transmission system, a processing system, etc. Such footwear systems further may include activation systems for activating the transmission and/or display systems. The transmitted data may be used for various purposes, such as: (a) identifying a user of the article of footwear; (b) activating targeted advertising or product information; (c) confirming the user's presence at a specific location and/or at a specific time; (d) determining start, finish, and/or intermediate split times for specific user; (e) confirming athletic equipment usage; (f) providing data for a game or reward program; (g) registering the user for an event or competition; or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Case, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20160325144
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, JR., Jason P. Martin
  • Patent number: 9443380
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, sensor data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide real time information to the athlete via media playback devices that use input provided from one or more types of monitors to, at least in part, determine the content of printed, audio, and/or video output provided to the user during an athletic performance. In some embodiments, sensor outputs and/or user actions may be relied upon to control or modify audio and/or video output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Jr., Jason P. Martin
  • Patent number: 9418509
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Jr., Jason P. Martin
  • Publication number: 20160121163
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, JR., Jason P. Martin
  • Publication number: 20160114212
    Abstract: Articles of clothing or pieces of athletic equipment include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or athletic equipment or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing or piece of athletic equipment for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and clothing or piece of athletic equipment are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Publication date: April 28, 2016
    Inventor: Charles W. Case, JR.
  • Publication number: 20160107030
    Abstract: An athletic device is worn by a participant during an athletic event (e.g., a race). In one example, a race course is provided with a plurality of mats or signal devices along the race course. The mats may have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The device may include a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the participant progress along the course, the tag is triggered at each mat and race data may be displayed on the device. Data relating to a location of the participant may also be provided to the participant during the athletic event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Edward L. Boyd, Charles W. Case, JR.
  • Patent number: 9259613
    Abstract: Articles of clothing or pieces of athletic equipment include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or athletic equipment or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing or piece of athletic equipment for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and clothing or piece of athletic equipment are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Case, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9250611
    Abstract: An athletic device is worn by a participant during an athletic event (e.g., a race). In one example, a race course is provided with a plurality of mats or signal devices along the race course. The mats may have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The device may include a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the participant progress along the course, the tag is triggered at each mat and race data may be displayed on the device. Data relating to a location of the participant may also be provided to the participant during the athletic event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Boyd, Charles W. Case, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20150065898
    Abstract: A watch or other type of portable electronic console that employs a number of different functions in order to improve its usability. The watch may, for example, allow a user to connect the watch to one or more remote electronic devices, such as an electronic performance sensor or MP3 player. The watch then displays information related to the connected electronic devices. Still further, the watch may allow a user to control the operation of one or more connected remote electronic devices. Thus, if the watch is connected to a remote speed/distance monitor employing a calibration variable, then the watch may allow the user to adjust the calibration variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Michael D. Prstojevich, Christopher A. Robinette, Theodore H. Helprin, Charles W. Case, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140330409
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, JR., Jason P. Martin
  • Patent number: 8857078
    Abstract: Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices may include an authentication or activation system for providing power or otherwise determining the connection of a sensor in the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: William E. Berner, Jr., Albert Shum, Charles W. Case, Jr., Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
  • Patent number: 8854214
    Abstract: An athletic device is worn by a participant during an athletic event (e.g., a race). In one example, a race course is provided with a plurality of mats or signal devices along the race course. The mats may have antennas and generate a magnetic field. The device may include a chip system having an RFID tag and a display. As the participant progress along the course, the tag is triggered at each mat and race data may be displayed on the device. Data relating to a location of the participant may also be provided to the participant during the athletic event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward L. Boyd, Charles W. Case, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140244395
    Abstract: Footwear systems include an article of footwear and a data transmission system engaged with the article of footwear. The transmission system transmits data to a remote system, such as a display system, another data transmission system, a processing system, etc. Such footwear systems further may include activation systems for activating the transmission and/or display systems. The transmitted data may be used for various purposes, such as: (a) identifying a user of the article of footwear; (b) activating targeted advertising or product information; (c) confirming the user's presence at a specific location and/or at a specific time; (d) determining start, finish, and/or intermediate split times for specific user; (e) confirming athletic equipment usage; (f) providing data for a game or reward program; (g) registering the user for an event or competition; or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles W. Case, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140228986
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, JR., Jason P. Martin
  • Publication number: 20140228987
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, JR., Jason P. Martin
  • Patent number: 8777815
    Abstract: Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Case, Jr., Jason P. Martin