Patents by Inventor John Droege
John Droege 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: 12108829Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate including a midfoot region and at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole plate has an undulating profile at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate. The undulating profile includes multiple waves each having a crest and a trough. The sole plate has ridges corresponding with the crest and the trough of each wave and extending longitudinally throughout the midfoot region and the at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2023Date of Patent: October 8, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Publication number: 20240268506Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a lateral side and a medial side. First lace apertures and second lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the medial and lateral sides at first and second locations. A lace extends through an first lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures, from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through a second lace aperture of the plurality of second lace apertures on the medial side. After exiting the second lace aperture, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a third lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures on the lateral side.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20240268505Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a first side and a second side. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the first side and, in some aspects, the second side, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the first side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the first side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the first side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a lace aperture on the second side, which may be an inner lace aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2024Publication date: August 15, 2024Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20240245163Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between lateral and medial sides. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the lateral and medial sides, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the medial side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the medial side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through an inner lace aperture on the lateral side.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2024Publication date: July 25, 2024Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20240180288Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between lateral and medial sides. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the lateral and medial sides, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the medial side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the medial side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through an inner lace aperture on the lateral side.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20240180287Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a lateral side and a medial side. First lace apertures and second lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the medial and lateral sides at first and second locations. A lace extends through an first lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures, from an exterior surface on the medial side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through a second lace aperture of the plurality of second lace apertures on the medial side. After exiting the second lace aperture, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a third lace aperture of the plurality of first lace apertures on the lateral side.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20240180286Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper having a knitted component in an instep region extending between a first side and a second side. Outer lace apertures and inner lace apertures are disposed along the instep area on the first side and, in some aspects, the second side, where inner lace apertures are located more inward towards a middle of the upper than outer lace apertures. A lace extends through an inner lace aperture from an exterior surface on the first side of the upper, along an interior surface of the upper, and then exits the upper through an outer lace aperture on the first side. After exiting the outer lace aperture on the first side, the lace extends across the instep area along the exterior surface of the upper and extends through a lace aperture on the second side, which may be an inner lace aperture.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2024Publication date: June 6, 2024Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Patent number: 11877618Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Publication number: 20230309651Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate including a midfoot region and at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole plate has an undulating profile at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate. The undulating profile includes multiple waves each having a crest and a trough. The sole plate has ridges corresponding with the crest and the trough of each wave and extending longitudinally throughout the midfoot region and the at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Patent number: 11717050Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate including a midfoot region and at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole plate has an undulating profile at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate. The undulating profile includes multiple waves each having a crest and a trough. The sole plate has ridges corresponding with the crest and the trough of each wave and extending longitudinally throughout the midfoot region and the at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Publication number: 20230240409Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 11, 2023Publication date: August 3, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Patent number: 11707105Abstract: An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20230157405Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole including a toe portion and a heel portion, a toe bumper disposed on the toe portion, the toe bumper being configured to contact a ball, and a heel bumper disposed on the heel portion, the heel bumper being configured to contact the ball, wherein at least one of the toe bumper and the heel bumper has an asymmetric shape.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: John Droege, Paul Hooper, Tetsuya T. Minami, Morgan Stauffer
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Patent number: 11653714Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear has a sole plate that may include a midfoot region, and also may include a forefoot region or a heel region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface with ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region or heel region. The sole plate may have a ground-facing surface with grooves extending longitudinally in correspondence with the ridges. A thickness of the sole plate from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface may vary at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate through the ridges, or along a length of at least one of the ridges, or at both the transverse cross-section and along the length of the at least one of the ridges. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2021Date of Patent: May 23, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Publication number: 20230124843Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Patent number: 11589640Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole including a toe portion and a heel portion, a toe bumper disposed on the toe portion, the toe bumper being configured to contact a ball, and a heel bumper disposed on the heel portion, the heel bumper being configured to contact the ball, wherein at least one of the toe bumper and the heel bumper has an asymmetric shape.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2018Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John Droege, Paul Hooper, Tetsuya T. Minami, Morgan Stauffer
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Patent number: 11559104Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear may have a midsole system that includes a sole plate having a forefoot region and a midfoot region. The sole plate may have a foot-facing surface and a ground-facing surface opposite to the foot-facing surface. The sole plate may define a through hole extending from the foot-facing surface to the ground-facing surface in the forefoot region. The through hole may be closer to a medial edge of the sole plate than to a lateral edge of the sole plate. The sole plate may have ridges extending longitudinally in the midfoot region and in the forefoot region. The ridges may have crests at least some of which may extend non-parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction of the sole plate.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 24, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege
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Publication number: 20220256963Abstract: An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20220256962Abstract: An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 29, 2022Publication date: August 18, 2022Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20220117354Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a sole plate including a midfoot region and at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole plate has an undulating profile at a transverse cross-section of the sole plate. The undulating profile includes multiple waves each having a crest and a trough. The sole plate has ridges corresponding with the crest and the trough of each wave and extending longitudinally throughout the midfoot region and the at least one of a forefoot region and a heel region.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2022Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Clayton Chambers, John Droege