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).

  • Publication number: 20210368945
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Andrew A. Owings, Brandon J. Wilen
  • Patent number: 11006735
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Pierre A. Pactanac, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20200297076
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
  • Publication number: 20200253334
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth A. Kilgore
  • Publication number: 20200253333
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Publication date: August 13, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Austin Orand, Andrew A. Owings
  • Patent number: 10721994
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
  • Publication number: 20200214395
    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 16, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    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 Ricciardi
  • Publication number: 20200205516
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
  • Publication number: 20200205520
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventor: Elizabeth A. Kilgore
  • Publication number: 20200187597
    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: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: June 18, 2020
    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
  • Patent number: 10667579
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth A. Kilgore
  • Publication number: 20200037708
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Katelyn Bruce, Piero Fenato, Kevin W. Hoffer, Daniel A. Johnson, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Peter Lam, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Patent number: 10537155
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20190281958
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Pierre A. Pactanac, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 10349727
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre A. Pactanac, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 10264848
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth Kilgore
  • Publication number: 20180146768
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2018
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre A. Pactanac, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Matthew C. Palmer
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9901163
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre A. Pactanac, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Matthew C. Palmer