Patents by Inventor Daniel W. Crist

Daniel W. Crist 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: 20140000130
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are temperature control elements for controllably regulating and/or altering the temperature of the footwear and thus the wearer's foot. In various embodiments, a temperature control element (TCE) may be housed in the vamp liner of the footwear, and a control unit may be housed in the footwear tongue. In some embodiments, the control unit may include or be coupled to a user interface, which also may be housed in the footwear tongue. In some embodiments, a pocket may be provided in the footwear tongue for receiving a power source configured to power the system, and in various embodiments the pocket also may be used for routing electrical conduits between the various components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel W. Crist, John Swigart
  • Publication number: 20120074128
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to the field of outerwear, and more particularly to a heat management system configured to provide heat to one or more predetermined regions or zones, such as the upper or lower body, torso, chest, back, neck, arms, shoulders, wrists/cuffs, hands, fingers, feet, toes, and the like. In various embodiments, these heating zones may be controlled by an actuator switch and control electronics that may allow individual heating zones to be actuated alone or in combination, and in some embodiments, in a predetermined sequence. Some embodiments of the actuator switch may include color-coded lighting elements that may indicate the current temperature, zone activation, heating program, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Lane Cobb, Jeffrey Mergy, Anya Gorson, Daniel W. Crist
  • Publication number: 20110107771
    Abstract: Embodiments herein relate to footwear, such as a boots and shoes, and in particular to footwear having a removable element, such as a liner, that includes temperature control elements for controllably regulating and/or altering the temperature of the footwear and thus the wearer's foot. Various embodiments also include an electrical contact in the foot bed adapted to couple to the temperature control element in the liner, and a power source, controller, and actuator coupled to the footwear upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel W. Crist, Lane C. Cobb