Patents by Inventor Eric Whewell
Eric Whewell 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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Patent number: 11903451Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing, a tension member, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a tightening component that is positioned axially above the spool and that is operably coupled therewith so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the housing to wind the tension member about the spool. The reel based closure device also includes a coupling component that is separate from the tension member and that frictionally engages with a distal end of the tension member so that the coupling component is removably fixed to the tension member. The spool component includes a coupling feature within which the coupling component is positioned to attach the tension member to the spool.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2022Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: BOA Technology, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Pollack, Eric Whewell, Randon Kruse, Mark Clementi, Josef Duller, Brendan Hoskens, David Roland, Mark Soderberg
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Publication number: 20230398720Abstract: A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured to rotate the spool in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2023Publication date: December 14, 2023Applicant: BOA Technology, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hipwood, Eric Irwin, Thomas Trudel, Mark Soderberg, Michael Nickel, Oronde Armstrong, Cody Henderson, Greg Langley, William Roushey, Thomas Pollack, Ashley Pickens, Ilya Minkin, Eric Whewell
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Patent number: 11707870Abstract: A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured to rotate the spool in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2021Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: BOA TECHNOLOGY, INC.Inventors: Daniel Hipwood, Eric Irwin, Thomas Trudel, Mark Soderberg, Michael Nickel, Oronde Armstrong, Cody Henderson, Greg Langley, William Roushey, Thomas Pollack, Ashley Pickens, Ilya Minkin, Eric Whewell
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Publication number: 20230172317Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing, a tension member, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a tightening component that is positioned axially above the spool and that is operably coupled therewith so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the housing to wind the tension member about the spool. The reel based closure device also includes a coupling component that is separate from the tension member and that frictionally engages with a distal end of the tension member so that the coupling component is removably fixed to the tension member. The spool component includes a coupling feature within which the coupling component is positioned to attach the tension member to the spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2022Publication date: June 8, 2023Applicant: Boa Technology, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Pollack, Eric Whewell, Randon Kruse, Mark Clementi, Josef Duller, Brendan Hoskens, David Roland, Mark Soderberg
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Patent number: 11419389Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing, a tension member, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a tightening component that is positioned axially above the spool and that is operably coupled therewith so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the housing to wind the tension member about the spool. The reel based closure device also includes a coupling component that is separate from the tension member and that frictionally engages with a distal end of the tension member so that the coupling component is removably fixed to the tension member. The spool component includes a coupling feature within which the coupling component is positioned to attach the tension member to the spool.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Pollack, Eric Whewell, Randon Kruse, Mark Clementi, Josef Duller, Brendan Hoskens, David Roland, Mark Soderberg
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Publication number: 20220175089Abstract: A boot, such as a ski boot, may include a lower portion or shell that is configured to accommodate a foot and an upper portion or cuff that extends upward from the lower portion and that is configured to accommodate a lower leg of a wearer. The boot may also include a tightening system that is coupled with the lower portion of the boot in order to close and tighten the lower portion about the foot. The tightening system includes a reel based closure device and a tension member that is operably coupled with the reel based closure device so that an operation of the reel based closure device effects tensioning of the tension member. The tightening system also includes a plurality of guide members that route or direct the tension member along a path and a terminal member that is fixedly coupled with the tension member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2021Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Pollack, Randon Kruse, Eric Irwin, Daniel Hipwood, Mark Clementi, Brendan Hoskens, Erik Suomi, Charles Clay Corbett, Geoff Gloceri, Ryan Wesson, Eric Whewell, Jeffrey Gay, Taylor James DiTallo, Cody Henderson, Erik Anders Swanson
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Publication number: 20220055271Abstract: A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured to rotate the spool in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 8, 2021Publication date: February 24, 2022Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hipwood, Eric Irwin, Thomas Trudel, Mark Soderberg, Michael Nickel, Oronde Armstrong, Cody Henderson, Greg Langley, William Roushey, Thomas Pollack, Ashley Pickens, Ilya Minkin, Eric Whewell
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Patent number: 11220030Abstract: A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured to rotate the spool in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hipwood, Eric Irwin, Thomas Trudel, Mark Soderberg, Michael Nickel, Oronde Armstrong, Cody Henderson, Greg Langley, William Roushey, Thomas Pollack, Ashley Pickens, Ilya Minkin, Eric Whewell
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Publication number: 20210177098Abstract: A reel for tightening an article includes a housing and a spool positioned within the housing. A knob is coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about a central post of the spool. A load holding mechanism is coupled with the spool and the housing and includes a first friction element and a second friction element that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post. Rotation of the knob in a first direction reduces frictional engagement of the friction elements to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction which increases the frictional engagement of the friction elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2021Publication date: June 17, 2021Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Trudel, Eric Craig Irwin, Eric Whewell
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Patent number: 10952503Abstract: A reel for tightening an article includes a housing and a spool positioned within the housing. A knob is coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about a central post of the spool. A load holding mechanism is coupled with the spool and the housing and includes a first friction element and a second friction element that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post. Rotation of the knob in a first direction reduces frictional engagement of the friction elements to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction which increases the frictional engagement of the friction elements.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2017Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Trudel, Eric Craig Irwin, Eric Whewell
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Publication number: 20210030120Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing, a tension member, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a tightening component that is positioned axially above the spool and that is operably coupled therewith so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the housing to wind the tension member about the spool. The reel based closure device also includes a coupling component that is separate from the tension member and that frictionally engages with a distal end of the tension member so that the coupling component is removably fixed to the tension member. The spool component includes a coupling feature within which the coupling component is positioned to attach the tension member to the spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Pollack, Eric Whewell, Randon Kruse, Mark Clementi, Josef Duller, Brendan Hoskens, David Roland, Mark Soderberg
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Patent number: 10842230Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing, a tension member, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a tightening component that is positioned axially above the spool and that is operably coupled therewith so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the housing to wind the tension member about the spool. The reel based closure device also includes a coupling component that is separate from the tension member and that frictionally engages with a distal end of the tension member so that the coupling component is removably fixed to the tension member. The spool component includes a coupling feature within which the coupling component is positioned to attach the tension member to the spool.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2017Date of Patent: November 24, 2020Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Pollack, Eric Whewell, Randon Kruse, Mark Clementi, Josef Duller, Brendan Hoskens, David Roland, Mark Soderberg
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Patent number: 10772384Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing component, a spool that is rotatably positioned within an interior region of the housing component, and a tightening component that is coupled with the housing component. The tightening component is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing component to wind a tension member about the spool. The housing component is configured so that the tension member is routed axially below the housing component's interior region and to one or more guides that are positioned along a lace path of an article, such as a shoe.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2018Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: BOA TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventors: Eric Whewell, Alessandro Manzato, Kristopher Lovett, Tamara White, Michael Friton, Luke Scotton, Benjamin Sample, Mark Kerns, Robert Dickensheets
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Publication number: 20200189158Abstract: A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured to rotate the spool in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 10, 2019Publication date: June 18, 2020Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hipwood, Eric Irwin, Thomas Trudel, Mark Soderberg, Michael Nickel, Oronde Armstrong, Cody Henderson, Greg Langley, William Roushey, Thomas Pollack, Ashley Pickens, Ilya Minkin, Eric Whewell
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Patent number: 10543630Abstract: A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured to rotate the spool in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2018Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: BOA Technology Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hipwood, Eric Irwin, Thomas Trudel, Mark Soderberg, Michael Nickel, Oronde Armstrong, Cody Henderson, Greg Langley, William Roushey, Thomas Pollack, Ashley Pickens, Ilya Minkin, Eric Whewell
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Publication number: 20190021447Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing component, a spool that is rotatably positioned within an interior region of the housing component, and a tightening component that is coupled with the housing component. The tightening component is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the interior region of the housing component to wind a tension member about the spool. The housing component is configured so that the tension member is routed axially below the housing component's interior region and to one or more guides that are positioned along a lace path of an article, such as a shoe.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2018Publication date: January 24, 2019Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Eric Whewell, Alessandro Manzato, Kristopher Lovett, Tamara White, Michael Friton, Luke Scotton, Benjamin Sample, Mark Kerns, Robert Dickensheets
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Publication number: 20180257276Abstract: A reel based tensioning device includes a housing, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a knob member that is operably coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about the spool. The reel based tensioning device also includes a load holding mechanism that is coupled with the spool and that is configured the spool to rotate in the first direction within the housing and to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from about the spool. The reel based tensioning device further includes an audible component that is configured to produce an audible noise responsive to operation of the knob member to signal an adjustment of the tension member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Daniel Hipwood, Eric Irwin, Thomas Trudel, Mark Soderberg, Michael Nickel, Oronde Armstrong, Cody Henderson, Greg Langley, William Roushey, Thomas Pollack, Ashley Pickens, Ilya Minkin, Eric Whewell
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Publication number: 20180160775Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing, a tension member, a spool that is rotatably positioned within the housing, and a tightening component that is positioned axially above the spool and that is operably coupled therewith so that an operation of the tightening component causes the spool to rotate within the housing to wind the tension member about the spool. The reel based closure device also includes a coupling component that is separate from the tension member and that frictionally engages with a distal end of the tension member so that the coupling component is removably fixed to the tension member. The spool component includes a coupling feature within which the coupling component is positioned to attach the tension member to the spool.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2017Publication date: June 14, 2018Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Pollack, Eric Whewell, Randon Kruse, Mark Clementi, Josef Duller, Brendan Hoskens, David Roland, Mark Soderberg
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Publication number: 20170311682Abstract: A reel for tightening an article includes a housing and a spool positioned within the housing. A knob is coupled with the spool to cause the spool to rotate within the housing and thereby wind a tension member about a central post of the spool. A load holding mechanism is coupled with the spool and the housing and includes a first friction element and a second friction element that are frictionally engageable to prevent rotation of the spool in a second direction to prevent unwinding of the tension member from the spool's central post. Rotation of the knob in a first direction reduces frictional engagement of the friction elements to enable rotation of the spool in the first direction and tension in the tension member biases the spool toward rotation in the second direction which increases the frictional engagement of the friction elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: November 2, 2017Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Thomas Trudel, Eric Craig Irwin, Eric Whewell
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Patent number: D794316Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2015Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc.Inventors: Sven Tulowitzki, Michael Hesterberg, Eric Whewell