Patents by Inventor Clifford B. Gerber

Clifford B. Gerber 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: 9894956
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an insert system is disclosed. The insert system can include an insert that may be introduced to a side portion of the upper. The insert is configured to adjust properties of a side portion of an upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, Clifford B. Gerber, James A. Grove
  • Patent number: 9844242
    Abstract: An inner sole board having varying regions of flexibility is provided for use in an article of footwear. The inner sole board may include different materials along its length at different locations that vary its flexibility. An inner sole board is manufactured in an injection molding process requiring only one mold. The process includes a first step of providing a mold, a second step of providing an injection molding assembly, a third step of preparing an injection molding assembly and mold, a fourth step of injecting material into the mold, and a fifth step of establishing the dimensions of a first portion. During the injection molding process, the flow rate of at least one material may be controlled by a nozzle gate to control the shape and size of the flex zone it creates. In this manner, the inner sole board may be customized for a specific sport or individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, Clifford B. Gerber
  • Patent number: 9808046
    Abstract: An inner sole board having varying regions of flexibility is provided for use in an article of footwear. The inner sole board may include different materials along its length at different locations that vary its flexibility. An inner sole board is manufactured in an injection molding process requiring only one mold. The process includes a first step of providing a mold, a second step of providing an injection molding assembly, a third step of preparing an injection molding assembly and mold, a fourth step of injecting material into the mold, and a fifth step of establishing the dimensions of a first portion. During the injection molding process, the flow rate of at least one material may be controlled by a nozzle gate to control the shape and size of the flex zone it creates. In this manner, the inner sole board may be customized for a specific sport or individual.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, Clifford B. Gerber
  • Patent number: 9615623
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to an ankle and foot support system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a covering having a cable tightening mechanism may be associated with a cable that is slidably engaged with the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may be slidably engaged with a tube guide that is attached to the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may form an exposed loop that associates with a loop receiving member. In some embodiments, the loop receiving member may be attached to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hurd, Clifford B. Gerber
  • Patent number: 9565894
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to an ankle and foot support system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a covering having a cable tightening mechanism may be associated with a cable that is slidably engaged with the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may be slidably engaged with a tube guide that is attached to the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may form an exposed loop that associates with a loop receiving member. In some embodiments, the loop receiving member may be attached to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hurd, Clifford B. Gerber
  • Patent number: 9565893
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to an ankle and foot support system are disclosed. In some embodiments, a covering having a cable tightening mechanism may be associated with a cable that is slidably engaged with the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may be slidably engaged with a tube guide that is attached to the cover. In some embodiments, the cable may form an exposed loop that associates with a loop receiving member. In some embodiments, the loop receiving member may be attached to the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hurd, Clifford B. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20160278482
    Abstract: An inner sole board having varying regions of flexibility is provided for use in an article of footwear. The inner sole board may include different materials along its length at different locations that vary its flexibility. An inner sole board is manufactured in an injection molding process requiring only one mold. The process includes a first step of providing a mold, a second step of providing an injection molding assembly, a third step of preparing an injection molding assembly and mold, a fourth step of injecting material into the mold, and a fifth step of establishing the dimensions of a first portion. During the injection molding process, the flow rate of at least one material may be controlled by a nozzle gate to control the shape and size of the flex zone it creates. In this manner, the inner sole board may be customized for a specific sport or individual.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, Clifford B. Gerber
  • Patent number: 9451804
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure may include an outsole including ground engaging members and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member may extend between (1) a first mounting member located in a forefoot region of the outsole and configured to connect the reinforcement member to the outsole, and (2) a second mounting member located in a heel region of the outsole and configured to connect the reinforcement member to the outsole. The first mounting member may be located adjacent to a ground engaging member in the forefoot region of the outsole and the second mounting member is located adjacent to a ground engaging member in the heel region of the outsole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, David J. Dirsa, Clifford B. Gerber, Joseph Howley
  • Patent number: 9259057
    Abstract: A cleat member for an article of footwear is configured to associate with a raised base on a sole of the article of footwear. The raised base includes an angled face with a plurality of protruding portions extending outwards from the angled face. An underside of the cleat member has an indentation that corresponds to the angled face of the raised base. A plurality of recessed portions are disposed along the indentation on the underside of the cleat member and are configured to associate with the plurality of protruding portions on the angled face of the raised base. The plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have coincident shapes so that the protruding portions fit with the recessed portions. With this configuration, the cleat member and sole are configured with an interlocking arrangement that resists loosening when the article of footwear is used on a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford B. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20150374526
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to an ankle and foot support system are disclosed. Some embodiments may include a covering having a cable tightening mechanism and a cable forming an exposed loop. The exposed loop may be attached to a loop receiving member located on the covering. The exposed loop may also be attached to a footwear loop anchor located on an article of footwear. In some embodiments, the covering may include more than one exposed loop for attaching to more than one loop receiving member located on the covering, as well as more than one footwear loop anchor located on an article of footwear. In some embodiments, adjusting the cable tightening mechanism may secure the covering to the article of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2015
    Publication date: December 31, 2015
    Inventors: John Hurd, Clifford B. Gerber, Kristopher Carlton Lovett
  • Patent number: 9210967
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear may include a frame member having a continuous opening with portions located in forefoot, midfoot and hindfoot regions. A plurality of primary traction elements may extend outward from the frame member. A compressible midsole may be bonded to upper surfaces of the frame member. A flexible support plate may be bonded to the midsole. The flexible support plate may span substantially all of the frame member opening and have a lower surface exposed in at least a forefoot region. The support plate may be isolated from the frame member by the compressible midsole. A plurality of secondary traction elements may be integral to and extend outward from the exposed lower surface of the support plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford B. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20150331580
    Abstract: A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a customer with a pre-selected set of graphics, allowing a customer to choose a set of input graphics, and generating a set of morphed graphics based on a set of input graphics. The user can select a morphed graphic and apply it to an article. The user may select the characteristics of the morphed graphic with a slider. The method may further include the step of limiting the number of times a customized graphic may be selected and applied to an article. The customized graphic could be shared with other users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: David J. Dirsa, Clifford B. Gerber, Petre Gheorghian, E. Scott Morris
  • Publication number: 20150320144
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure may include an outsole including ground engaging members and a reinforcement member. The reinforcement member may extend between (1) a first mounting member located in a forefoot region of the outsole and configured to connect the reinforcement member to the outsole, and (2) a second mounting member located in a heel region of the outsole and configured to connect the reinforcement member to the outsole. The first mounting member may be located adjacent to a ground engaging member in the forefoot region of the outsole and the second mounting member is located adjacent to a ground engaging member in the heel region of the outsole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, David J. Dirsa, Clifford B. Gerber, Joseph Howley
  • Publication number: 20150237965
    Abstract: A cleat member for an article of footwear is configured to associate with a raised base on a sole of the article of footwear. The raised base includes an angled face with a plurality of protruding portions extending outwards from the angled face. An underside of the cleat member has an indentation that corresponds to the angled face of the raised base. A plurality of recessed portions are disposed along the indentation on the underside of the cleat member and are configured to associate with the plurality of protruding portions on the angled face of the raised base. The plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have coincident shapes so that the protruding portions fit with the recessed portions. With this configuration, the cleat member and sole are configured with an interlocking arrangement that resists loosening when the article of footwear is used on a ground surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2015
    Publication date: August 27, 2015
    Inventor: Clifford B. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20150196098
    Abstract: A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method may include the steps of selecting a family of article types, selecting a customized article type, manufacturing an article of footwear with the customized article type and shipping the article of footwear to a pre-designated shipping address. The customized article type can be configured with a user selected characteristic. The method can also include limiting the number of article types displayed to a user at any time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: David J. Dirsa, Clifford B. Gerber, Petre Gheorghian, E. Scott Morris
  • Publication number: 20150196097
    Abstract: A method for making a cleated plate member for an article of footwear is described. The method includes a number of steps where various molds are used to form different components of the cleated plate member. A collar receptacle is formed using a first molding process. A cleat member is formed from a non-compatible material with a fastener of the cleat member associated with the collar receptacle using another molding process to form a combined cleat assembly. The combined cleat assembly is placed into corresponding receptacles in a mold used to form the cleated plate member. The cleated plate member is formed using another molding process that embeds the collar receptacle into the body of the cleated plate member. The completed cleated plate member includes releasably attached cleat members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Balwant S. Atwal, Clifford B. Gerber, Haim Horesh, Peter Sam, JR.
  • Patent number: 9078490
    Abstract: Methods and systems relating to an ankle and foot support system are disclosed. Some embodiments may include a covering having a cable tightening mechanism and a cable forming an exposed loop. The exposed loop may be attached to a loop receiving member located on the covering. The exposed loop may also be attached to a footwear loop anchor located on an article of footwear. In some embodiments, the covering may include more than one exposed loop for attaching to more than one loop receiving member located on the covering, as well as more than one footwear loop anchor located on an article of footwear. In some embodiments, adjusting the cable tightening mechanism may secure the covering to the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford B. Gerber, John Hurd, Kristopher C. Lovett
  • Publication number: 20150189941
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an insert system is disclosed. The insert system can include an insert that may be introduced to a side portion of the upper. The insert is configured to adjust properties of a side portion of an upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2015
    Publication date: July 9, 2015
    Inventors: Jim Baucom, Clifford B. Gerber, James A. Grove
  • Patent number: 9070160
    Abstract: A method of making an article of footwear is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a customer with a pre-selected set of graphics, allowing a customer to choose a set of input graphics, and generating a set of morphed graphics based on a set of input graphics. The user can select a morphed graphic and apply it to an article. The method may further include the step of limiting the number of times a customized graphic may be selected and applied to an article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Dirsa, Clifford B. Gerber, Petre Gheorghian, E. Scott Morris
  • Patent number: 9044069
    Abstract: A cleat member for an article of footwear is configured to associate with a raised base on a sole of the article of footwear. The raised base includes an angled face with a plurality of protruding portions extending outwards from the angled face. An underside of the cleat member has an indentation that corresponds to the angled face of the raised base. A plurality of recessed portions are disposed along the indentation on the underside of the cleat member and are configured to associate with the plurality of protruding portions on the angled face of the raised base. The plurality of recessed portions and the plurality of protruding portions have coincident shapes so that the protruding portions fit with the recessed portions. With this configuration, the cleat member and sole are configured with an interlocking arrangement that resists loosening when the article of footwear is used on a ground surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Clifford B. Gerber