Patents by Inventor Daniel A. Johnson

Daniel A. Johnson 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).

  • Lacing engine for automated footwear platform
    Patent number: 9961963
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine for automated lace tightening. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine for automated lace tightening. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Daniel A. Johnson
  • DEFORMABLE LACE GUIDES FOR AUTOMATED FOOTWEAR PLATFORM
    Publication number: 20180110294
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the lace guide is deformable to assist in facilitating automated lace tightening. The lace guide can include a middle section, a first extension and a second extension. In this example, the lace guide can be configured to define a first route for a lace cable, the first route including receiving the lace cable along the first incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along the first outgoing lace axis. In this example, the lace guide can also deflect, in response to tension on the lace cable, resulting in defining a second route for the lace cable, the second route including receiving the lace cable along a second incoming lace axis and expelling the lace cable along a second outgoing lace axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Travis Berrian, Fanny Yung Ho, Eric P. Avar, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Katelyn Bruce
  • LACING ARCHITECTURE FOR AUTOMATED FOOTWEAR PLATFORM
    Publication number: 20180110298
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In this example, the footwear assembly can include a footwear upper and a lace cable running through a plurality of lace guides. The plurality of lace guides can be distributed along the medial side and the lateral side, and each lace guide of the plurality of lace guides can be adapted to receive a length of the lace cable. The lace cable can extend through each of the plurality of lace guides to form a pattern along each of the medial side and lateral side of the footwear upper. The footwear assembly can also include a medial proximal lace guide routing the lace cable into a lacing engine disposed within a mid-sole portion. Finally, the footwear assembly includes a lateral proximal lace guide to route the lace cable out of the lacing engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Travis J. Berrian, Fanny Yung Ho, Eric P. Avar, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Katelyn Bruce
  • Fabrication system and method of using the same
    Patent number: 9950400
    Abstract: A fabrication system may generally comprise an x-y positioning assembly, a clamping head to receive an end effector, wherein the clamping head is coupled to the x-y positioning assembly, a z positioning assembly, a platform including a surface that is rigid and substantially planar, wherein the platform is coupled to the z positioning assembly, and a controller operably coupled to the x-y positioning assembly, end effector, z positioning assembly, and platform. Methods of using the fabrication system are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Kinetigear, LLC
    Inventors: Joel David Johnson, Justin Daniel Johnson
  • ENTERPRISE DATA MARKETPLACE SYSTEM AND METHOD
    Publication number: 20180025413
    Abstract: A system and method for a centralized data asset marketplace including a single network or cloud platform environment for the sharing and distribution of data assets, wherein the platform is public or private; multiple user interfaces, wherein the user interfaces include a home page, a data asset detail interface, a shopping cart interface, a user data section interface and an administrative section interface; and data assets, wherein the data assets are at least one of a report, a file download, a data service, a micro service or an applet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
    Inventors: Alex Rosenthal, Daniel Johnson, Jennifer Dieter, Wang Cheung, Ashutosh Khandekar, Prathamesh Jagtap
  • CENTER DECK ASSEMBLY FOR TIRE BUILDING DRUM
    Publication number: 20180022048
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a center deck assembly for a tire building drum. The tire building drum is rotatably mounted on a central drive shaft and includes a center section. The center deck assembly is disposed in the center section of the drum and includes a hub that seats on and is secured to the central drive shaft. At least one piston extends circumferentially in the tire building drum about the hub and a plurality of segment bars are disposed about the circumference of the center deck assembly. The at least one piston is operably connected to the segment bars by a plurality of linkages, in which each of the linkages includes a scissor-lever mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2016
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis Alan Lundell, Douglas Raymond Weaver, Mark John Montgomery, Kenneth Dean Conger, Kristian Daniel Johnson
  • Articles of footwear with tensile strand elements
    Patent number: 9872538
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may have material layers and a plurality of strand segments. The material layers are located adjacent to each other and in an overlapping configuration, and the material layers are located in a lace region and a lower region of the upper. The strand segments extend from the lace region to the lower region. The strand segments may be located and secured between the material layers in the lace region and the lower region. The strand segments may form both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in an area between the lace region and the lower region. The material layers may define an opening between the lace region and the lower region, and the strand segments extend across the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Shane S. Kohatsu, Chin-Chen Huang, Daniel A. Johnson
  • FOOTWEAR INCORPORATING A TENSILE ELEMENT WITH A DEPOSITION LAYER
    Publication number: 20180014608
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a base layer, a plurality of strand segments, and a deposition layer. The base layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The strand segments are located adjacent to the first surface and extend substantially parallel to the first surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The deposition layer is deposited upon the first surface and the strand segments, and the deposition layer is joined with the first surface and the strand segments. The deposition layer is applied using a screen printing process. Different inks can be used during the screen printing process to form the deposition layer and an indicia layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Chin-Chen Huang, Daniel A. Johnson
  • Lacing engine for automated footwear platform
    Patent number: 9861165
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine for automated lace tightening. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus includes an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine for automated lace tightening. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Daniel A. Johnson
  • Headset-based telecommunications platform
    Patent number: 9860352
    Abstract: A hands-free wireless wearable GPS enabled video camera and audio-video communications headset, mobile phone and personal media player, capable of real-time two-way and multi-feed wireless voice, data and audio-video streaming, telecommunications, and teleconferencing, coordinated applications, and shared functionality between one or more wirelessly networked headsets or other paired or networked wired or wireless devices and optimized device and data management over multiple wired and wireless network connections. The headset can operate in concert with one or more wired or wireless devices as a paired accessory, as an autonomous hands-free wide area, metro or local area and personal area wireless audio-video communications and multimedia device and/or as a wearable docking station, hot spot and wireless router supporting direct connect multi-device ad-hoc virtual private networking (VPN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: eyeCam, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Eugene Fisher, Bryan Jonathan Davis, Bradley Brian Bushard, Mark Joseph Meyer, James Fisher, Nitin Patil, Ben Young, Daniel Johnson
  • Footwear incorporating a tensile element with a deposition layer
    Patent number: 9801430
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The upper includes a base layer, a plurality of strand segments, and a deposition layer. The base layer has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The strand segments are located adjacent to the first surface and extend substantially parallel to the first surface for a distance of at least five centimeters. The deposition layer is deposited upon the first surface and the strand segments, and the deposition layer is joined with the first surface and the strand segments. The deposition layer is applied using a screen printing process. Different inks can be used during the screen printing process to form the deposition layer and an indicia layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Chin-Chen Huang, Daniel A. Johnson
  • LACING ENGINE FOR AUTOMATED FOOTWEAR PLATFORM
    Publication number: 20170265593
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine is described. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Daniel A. Johnson
  • LACING ENGINE FOR AUTOMATED FOOTWEAR PLATFORM
    Publication number: 20170265579
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to footwear including a modular lacing engine are discussed. In an example, a modular footwear apparatus including an upper portion, a lower portion, and a lacing engine is described. The upper portion can include a lace to adjust fit of the upper portion against a foot, the lace adjustable between a first position and a second position based at least in part on manipulation of an effective length of the lace. The lower portion can include a mid-sole and an out-sole, and the lower portion can be coupled to the upper portion at the mid-sole. The lacing engine can include a top-loading lace spool to engage a loop of the lace to enable manipulation of the effective length of the lace through rotation of the lace spool, the lacing engine received within a cavity in the lower portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: SUMMER L. SCHNEIDER, DANIEL A. JOHNSON
  • Methods to repair worn or eroded PDC cutters, cutters so repaired, and use of repaired PDC cutters in drill bits or other tools
    Patent number: 9708858
    Abstract: A repaired polycrystalline diamond cutter and method for fabricating the same. The cutter includes a damaged substrate that includes at least one void therein, a polycrystalline diamond table coupled to the damaged substrate, and a build-up compound disposed within the voids formed about the damaged substrate. The damaged substrate and the build-up compound collectively form a full circumference. The method includes obtaining a damaged cutter that includes a polycrystalline diamond table coupled to a damaged substrate having at least one void formed therein, bonding a build-up compound within the at least one void and forming a processed PDC cutter, and removing a portion of the build-up compound from the processed PDC cutter and forming the repaired cutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: VAREL INTERNATIONAL IND., L.P.
    Inventors: William W. King, Gary M. Thigpen, Federico Bellin, Marvin Windsor Amundsen, Charles Daniel Johnson
  • Headset-based telecommunications platform
    Patent number: 9699281
    Abstract: A hands-free wireless wearable GPS enabled video camera and audio-video communications headset, mobile phone and personal media player, capable of real-time two-way and multi-feed wireless voice, data and audio-video streaming, telecommunications, and teleconferencing, coordinated applications, and shared functionality between one or more wirelessly networked headsets or other paired or networked wired or wireless devices and optimized device and data management over multiple wired and wireless network connections. The headset can operate in concert with one or more wired or wireless devices as a paired accessory, as an autonomous hands-free wide area, metro or local area and personal area wireless audio-video communications and multimedia device and/or as a wearable docking station, hot spot and wireless router supporting direct connect multi-device ad-hoc virtual private networking (VPN).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: eyeCam, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald Eugene Fisher, Bryan Jonathan Davis, Bradley Brian Bushard, Mark Joseph Meyer, James Fisher, Nitin Patil, Ben Young, Daniel Johnson
  • System and Method for Forming an Article
    Publication number: 20170164692
    Abstract: A fusing system includes an upper member and a base member. The upper member includes a pressing layer and the base member is associated with a last member. The pressing layer has a contoured portion that approximates the shape of a portion of the last member. The upper member can be associated with the base portion and a vacuum can be applied so that the pressing layer is pulled down onto materials disposed on the last member for purposes of fusing the materials together to form articles, such as articles of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Inventors: Daniel A. Johnson, Yung-Tsung Tseng
  • SHOE WITH COMPOSITE UPPER AND FOAM ELEMENT AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
    Publication number: 20170105483
    Abstract: A bonded mesh composite panel can be used to form a three-dimensional upper shell that includes extensions used for double-lasting and/or to otherwise provide a shelf to support foam padding. The foam padding may be, e.g., a foam midsole. The extensions of the upper shell may be located in a lower portion of the shell and may be bonded to the foam midsole in a heel, midfoot and/or forefoot regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Daniel A. Johnson, Shane S. Kohatsu, Chin-Chen Huang
  • System and method for forming an article
    Patent number: 9585438
    Abstract: A fusing system includes an upper member and a base member. The upper member includes a pressing layer and the base member is associated with a last member. The pressing layer has a contoured portion that approximates the shape of a portion of the last member. The upper member can be associated with the base portion and a vacuum can be applied so that the pressing layer is pulled down onto materials disposed on the last member for purposes of fusing the materials together to form articles, such as articles of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Johnson, Yung-Tsung Tseng
  • Shoe with composite upper and foam element and method of making same
    Patent number: 9572404
    Abstract: A bonded mesh composite panel can be used to form a three-dimensional upper shell that includes extensions used for double-lasting and/or to otherwise provide a shelf to support foam padding. The foam padding may be, e.g., a foam midsole. The extensions of the upper shell may be located in a lower portion of the shell and may be bonded to the foam midsole in a heel, midfoot and/or forefoot regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Daniel A. Johnson, Shane S. Kohatsu, Chin-Chen Huang
  • Solid electrolytic capacitor with integrated fuse assembly
    Patent number: 9576743
    Abstract: A solid electrolytic capacitor with an integrated fuse assembly is provided. The fuse can be secured in a recess formed in a face of the porous anode body of the capacitor. When the fuse is secured in the recess, the fuse can be substantially flush with the face of the porous anode body in which the recess is formed. Further, the equivalent series resistance (ESR) of the fuse is reduced because the length of the connection between the fuse and the porous anode body is reduced. Further, because the fuse is integrated into the porous anode body, the capacitor can be assembled onto a circuit board via standard pick and place equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: AVX Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Burke, Daniel Johnson