Patents by Inventor Elizabeth A. Kilgore
Elizabeth A. Kilgore 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).
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Publication number: 20210368945Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper having an enclosure including an adjustment region extending from a first edge to a second edge formed on an opposite side of the adjustment region from the first edge. The upper further includes a cable tensioning guide attached to the enclosure adjacent to the first edge of the adjustment region. The cable tensioning guide includes a first conduit and a second conduit. A cable of the upper includes a tensioning element having a first tensioning segment extending across the adjustment region from the first conduit and a second tensioning segment extending across the adjustment region from the second conduit. The cable further includes a control element having a first control segment connected to the first tensioning segment at the first conduit, and a second control segment connected to the second tensioning segment at the second conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Andrew A. Owings, Brandon J. Wilen
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Patent number: 11006735Abstract: A strap for a bag provides and includes a main body having a first end attached to a first attachment location of the bag and a second end attached to a second attachment location of the bag. The strap also includes a tension element that extends between the first end and the second end. The tension element is movable between a tightened state and a relaxed state. The tension element also applies a force on the first end and the second end in the tightened state to change the relative position of the first end and the second end.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2019Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Pierre A. Pactanac, Matthew C. Palmer
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Publication number: 20200297076Abstract: A footwear article includes an upper defining apertures spaced apart from one another in a first arrangement. A heel structure has a deformable element attached to a base. The deformable element has pegs spaced apart from one another in the first arrangement and extending through the apertures in the upper. A method of manufacturing a footwear article includes placing a deformable element between an inner layer and an outer layer of an upper and attaching the deformable element to a rigid base. The deformable element includes at least one peg extending outward toward the outer layer. The method includes inserting the peg through the outer layer so that the peg extends through the outer layer and is exposed at an exterior surface of the outer layer. After inserting the peg of the footwear element through the outer layer of the upper, the peg is secured at the exterior surface of the outer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2020Publication date: September 24, 2020Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Publication number: 20200253334Abstract: An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Publication number: 20200253333Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 24, 2020Publication date: August 13, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Austin Orand, Andrew A. Owings
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Patent number: 10721994Abstract: A footwear article includes an upper defining apertures spaced apart from one another in a first arrangement. A heel structure has a deformable element attached to a base. The deformable element has pegs spaced apart from one another in the first arrangement and extending through the apertures in the upper. A method of manufacturing a footwear article includes placing a deformable element between an inner layer and an outer layer of an upper and attaching the deformable element to a rigid base. The deformable element includes at least one peg extending outward toward the outer layer. The method includes inserting the peg through the outer layer so that the peg extends through the outer layer and is exposed at an exterior surface of the outer layer. After inserting the peg of the footwear element through the outer layer of the upper, the peg is secured at the exterior surface of the outer layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2018Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Publication number: 20200214395Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Travis J. Berrian, Fanny Yung HO, Eric P. Avar, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Katelyn Ricciardi
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Publication number: 20200205516Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper defining apertures spaced apart from one another in a first arrangement. A footwear element has pegs spaced apart from one another in the first arrangement and extending through the apertures in the upper. The pegs are secured at a surface of the upper. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes placing a footwear element between an inner layer of an upper and an outer layer of the upper. The footwear element includes at least one peg extending outward toward the outer layer. The method includes inserting the peg through the outer layer so that the peg extends through the outer layer and is exposed at an exterior surface of the outer layer. After inserting the peg of the footwear element through the outer layer of the upper, the peg is secured at the exterior surface of the outer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2019Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Publication number: 20200205520Abstract: A footwear article includes an upper defining apertures spaced apart from one another in a first arrangement. A heel structure has a deformable element attached to a base. The deformable element has pegs spaced apart from one another in the first arrangement and extending through the apertures in the upper. A method of manufacturing a footwear article includes placing a deformable element between an inner layer and an outer layer of an upper and attaching the deformable element to a rigid base. The deformable element includes at least one peg extending outward toward the outer layer. The method includes inserting the peg through the outer layer so that the peg extends through the outer layer and is exposed at an exterior surface of the outer layer. After inserting the peg of the footwear element through the outer layer of the upper, the peg is secured at the exterior surface of the outer layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2018Publication date: July 2, 2020Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Publication number: 20200187597Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 10667579Abstract: An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2017Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Publication number: 20200037708Abstract: A lace-receiving assembly includes a substrate, a first sheet, and a lace guide. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first sheet includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface is bonded to the first surface to define a channel extending between the substrate and the first sheet. The lace guide is disposed within the channel.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2019Publication date: February 6, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Katelyn Bruce, Piero Fenato, Kevin W. Hoffer, Daniel A. Johnson, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Peter Lam, Jeffrey C. Spanks
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Patent number: 10537155Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 14, 2017Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.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
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Publication number: 20190281958Abstract: A strap for a bag provides and includes a main body having a first end attached to a first attachment location of the bag and a second end attached to a second attachment location of the bag. The strap also includes a tension element that extends between the first end and the second end. The tension element is movable between a tightened state and a relaxed state. The tension element also applies a force on the first end and the second end in the tightened state to change the relative position of the first end and the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2019Publication date: September 19, 2019Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Pierre A. Pactanac, Matthew C. Palmer
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Patent number: 10349727Abstract: A strap for a bag provides and includes a main body having a first end attached to a first attachment location of the bag and a second end attached to a second attachment location of the bag. The strap also includes a tension element that extends between the first end and the second end. The tension element is movable between a tightened state and a relaxed state. The tension element also applies a force on the first end and the second end in the tightened state to change the relative position of the first end and the second end.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2018Date of Patent: July 16, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Pierre A. Pactanac, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Matthew C. Palmer
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Patent number: 10264848Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper with a heel region that extends posteriorly about the heel, a medial side, and a lateral side. The article of footwear also includes a sole structure. Moreover, the article includes a longitudinal strand that extends along at least one of the medial side and the lateral side. Also, the article includes an underfoot strand that is coupled to the longitudinal strand and that extends across the sole structure to extend between the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. Furthermore, the article includes a closure strand that is coupled to the longitudinal strand. The closure strand is configured to couple to the closure element such that tensioning of the closure element tensions the longitudinal strand, the underfoot strand, and the closure strand to selectively secure the article of footwear to the foot.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2015Date of Patent: April 23, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth Kilgore
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Publication number: 20180146768Abstract: A strap for a bag provides and includes a main body having a first end attached to a first attachment location of the bag and a second end attached to a second attachment location of the bag. The strap also includes a tension element that extends between the first end and the second end. The tension element is movable between a tightened state and a relaxed state. The tension element also applies a force on the first end and the second end in the tightened state to change the relative position of the first end and the second end.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2018Publication date: May 31, 2018Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Pierre A. Pactanac, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Matthew C. Palmer
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Publication number: 20180110294Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Travis Berrian, Fanny Yung Ho, Eric P. Avar, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Katelyn Bruce
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Publication number: 20180110298Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 9901163Abstract: A strap for a bag provides and includes a main body having a first end attached to a first attachment location of the bag and a second end attached to a second attachment location of the bag. The strap also includes a tension element that extends between the first end and the second end. The tension element is movable between a tightened state and a relaxed state. The tension element also applies a force on the first end and the second end in the tightened state to change the relative position of the first end and the second end.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2015Date of Patent: February 27, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Pierre A. Pactanac, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Matthew C. Palmer