Patents by Inventor Eric P. Avar

Eric P. Avar 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: 11083248
    Abstract: A footwear assembly can comprise, an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner can comprise an elastic member extending between two lace guides of the plurality of lace guides, an elastic member extending between first and second portions of the upper, an elastic member extending between a portion of the upper and a lace guide of the plurality of lace guides, a heel channel connected to a heel portion of the upper and configured to facilitate access to an interior space, an elastic member coupled to the footwear assembly that functions to smooth out a torque versus lace displacement curve during tightening of the lace cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Christopher Andon
  • Patent number: 11071353
    Abstract: A footwear assembly includes an upper, a lace cable, a plurality of lace guides and a tensioner. The tensioner includes a tensioning member secured to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable, and a floating overlay attached to a side of the upper proximate a toe box and the lace cable. The tensioning members include an elastic member. The tensioning members can be configured to provide a stiff lockout zone and an elastic stretch zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Summer L. Schneider, Narissa Chang, Eric P. Avar, Thomas G. Bell, Christopher Andon
  • Publication number: 20210177070
    Abstract: A footwear system may include a first article of footwear including a first sole structure and a first upper secured to the first sole structure, the first upper defining a first opening configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The first upper may include a first indicia portion disposed adjacent to the first opening. In addition, the system may include a sock including a second indicia portion, wherein, when the sock is worn by the wearer on a foot received within the upper, one or more features of the second indicia portion are substantially aligned with one or more features of the first indicia portion on the upper to form a first indicia.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Publication date: June 17, 2021
    Inventors: Jeffrey C. Spanks, Nadia M. Panian, Eric P. Avar
  • Publication number: 20210127789
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar
  • Publication number: 20210120917
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an Lacing architectures for automated footwear assemblies are discussed. In an example, a footwear assembly can include a floating tongue within an upper assembly. The lacing architecture can include a first plurality or lace guides forming a first lacing zone and a second plurality of lace guides forming a second lacing zone. The lacing architecture can also include a tongue lace guide assembly secure to a proximal portion of the floating tongue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: April 29, 2021
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Summer L. Schneider
  • Patent number: 10932526
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar
  • Patent number: 10925346
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper and an outsole bonded to the upper. The outsole may include multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole. The article may further include a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper. The midsole may be non-destructively removable from the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Holmes, Eric P. Avar, Jeongwoo Lee, Fanny Yung Ho, Bryant Russell Klug
  • Publication number: 20210022449
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first and a second section and partially define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure and the second section may articulate between an access position and a use position. The foot-receiving cavity may be more exposed in the access position to allow easier foot entry. A strap may extend from one of the first and the second section. A looped handle may extend from the strap and may at least partially form a loop. The strap may extend across the second section of the upper when the second section is in the use position. The strap may have a distal portion configured to releasably secure to one of the first section or the second section with the looped handle exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Publication date: January 28, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Patent number: 10874165
    Abstract: An insert system for an article of footwear includes an outer assembly, a first insert assembly and a second insert assembly. The outer assembly is configured to interchangeably receive the first insert assembly and the second insert assembly. The first insert assembly includes a first sleeve member and a first midsole configured to provide enhanced cushioning and support. The first sleeve member includes a tongue and a fastening member that wraps around the tongue. The second insert assembly includes a second sleeve member and a second midsole configured to enhance speed. The second sleeve member is open at a forefoot portion and at a heel portion. The outer assembly includes an aperture on a sidewall of an outer sole portion, where the midsole inserted within the outer assembly is visible through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Olivier Henrichot, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Patent number: 10856618
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including an actuator assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, an Lacing architectures for automated footwear assemblies are discussed. In an example, a footwear assembly can include a floating tongue within an upper assembly. The lacing architecture can include a first plurality or lace guides forming a first lacing zone and a second plurality of lace guides forming a second lacing zone. The lacing architecture can also include a tongue lace guide assembly secure to a proximal portion of the floating tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Daniel A. Johnson, Peter R. Savage, Summer L. Schneider
  • 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
  • Patent number: D889098
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D891056
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D900441
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D901854
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D903289
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D903997
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D903998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Fanny Yung Ho, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D904000
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein
  • Patent number: D904001
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein