Patents by Inventor Keith A. Folske
Keith A. Folske 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: 20240114978Abstract: A system includes a wearable article and a housing assembly including a receptacle defining a chamber and having an access opening providing access to the chamber to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber. The housing assembly further includes an interface having first and second electrical contacts exposed to the chamber. First and second conductive leads are connected to the electrical contacts through the bottom side of the receptacle to place the leads in electronic communication with the contacts. The housing assembly is bonded between top and bottom layers of material forming a portion of the wearable article, such that the layers are bonded to the receptacle by a bonding material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2023Publication date: April 11, 2024Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian Kash, Kevin Steward
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Publication number: 20240065368Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2023Publication date: February 29, 2024Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Publication number: 20230389627Abstract: A system includes an electronic module containing an electronic component and a connector in communication with the electronic component, and a housing defining a chamber and having an opening providing access to the chamber to receive the electronic module. The housing has an interface for removable electronic connection to the connector of the module when the module is received in the chamber, and the housing further has a magnet connected to the housing. The module includes a sensor configured to sense the magnet when the module is received in the chamber, and the module is configured to deactivate the connector when the sensor does not sense the magnet and to activate the connector when the sensor does sense the magnet. The sensor may be a Hall effect sensor and/or the connector may be configured for connection to a USB port in various configurations.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2023Publication date: December 7, 2023Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian L. Kash, Kevin Steward
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Publication number: 20230284729Abstract: A wearable article, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage, a data translator, coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to output electronic data based on the voltage, and an electronic data storage, coupled to the data translator, configured to store the electronic data from the data translator.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2023Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Patent number: 11751626Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 2022Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Patent number: 11690413Abstract: A system includes a wearable article and a housing assembly including a receptacle defining a chamber and having an access opening providing access to the chamber to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber. The housing assembly further includes an interface having first and second electrical contacts exposed to the chamber. First and second conductive leads are connected to the electrical contacts through the bottom side of the receptacle to place the leads in electronic communication with the contacts. The housing assembly is bonded between top and bottom layers of material forming a portion of the wearable article, such that the layers are bonded to the receptacle by a bonding material.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian Kash, Kevin Steward
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Patent number: 11672302Abstract: A wearable article, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage, a data translator, coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to output electronic data based on the voltage, and an electronic data storage, coupled to the data translator, configured to store the electronic data from the data translator.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2020Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Patent number: 11666105Abstract: A system includes an electronic module containing an electronic component and a connector in communication with the electronic component, and a housing defining a chamber and having an opening providing access to the chamber to receive the electronic module. The housing has an interface for removable electronic connection to the connector of the module when the module is received in the chamber, and the housing further has a magnet connected to the housing. The module includes a sensor configured to sense the magnet when the module is received in the chamber, and the module is configured to deactivate the connector when the sensor does not sense the magnet and to activate the connector when the sensor does sense the magnet. The sensor may be a Hall effect sensor and/or the connector may be configured for connection to a USB port in various configurations.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2018Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian L. Kash, Kevin Steward
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Publication number: 20220354212Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 6, 2022Publication date: November 10, 2022Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Publication number: 20220240599Abstract: A system includes a wearable article and a housing assembly including a receptacle defining a chamber and having an access opening providing access to the chamber to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber. The housing assembly further includes an interface having first and second electrical contacts exposed to the chamber. First and second conductive leads are connected to the electrical contacts through the bottom side of the receptacle to place the leads in electronic communication with the contacts. The housing assembly is bonded between top and bottom layers of material forming a portion of the wearable article, such that the layers are bonded to the receptacle by a bonding material.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2022Publication date: August 4, 2022Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian Kash, Kevin Steward
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Patent number: 11350693Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2020Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Patent number: 11297883Abstract: A system includes a wearable article and a housing assembly including a receptacle defining a chamber and having an access opening providing access to the chamber to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber. The housing assembly further includes first and second contact members each having a contact pad positioned outside the chamber and an arm extending from the contact pad into the chamber to form electrical contacts of an interface exposed to the chamber. Conductive leads are connected to the contact pads to place the leads in electronic communication with the contacts, and bonding the housing assembly to a wearable article. The housing assembly is bonded between top and bottom layers of material forming a portion of the wearable article, such that the layers are bonded to the receptacle by a bonding material. The article has an electrically-powered component, and the leads are connected to the component.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian L. Kash, Kevin Steward
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Publication number: 20200315267Abstract: A manufacturing method a housing assembly including a receptacle defining a chamber and having an access opening providing access to the chamber to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber. The housing assembly further includes first and second contact members each having a contact pad positioned outside the chamber and an arm extending from the contact pad into the chamber to form electrical contacts of an interface exposed to the chamber. The method includes connecting conductive leads to the contact pads to place the leads in electronic communication with the contacts, and bonding the housing assembly to a wearable article. The housing assembly is bonded between top and bottom layers of material forming a portion of the wearable article, such that the top and bottom layers are bonded to the receptacle by a bonding material. The article has an electrically-powered component, and the leads are connected to the component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2020Publication date: October 8, 2020Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian L. Kash, Kevin Steward
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Publication number: 20200281305Abstract: A wearable article, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage, a data translator, coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to output electronic data based on the voltage, and an electronic data storage, coupled to the data translator, configured to store the electronic data from the data translator.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 18, 2020Publication date: September 10, 2020Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Publication number: 20200214386Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezo-electric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over tune.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2020Publication date: July 9, 2020Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Patent number: 10687562Abstract: A manufacturing method a housing assembly including a receptacle defining a chamber and having an access opening providing access to the chamber to removably receive an electronic module within the chamber. The housing assembly further includes first and second contact members each having a contact pad positioned outside the chamber and an arm extending from the contact pad into the chamber to form electrical contacts of an interface exposed to the chamber. The method includes connecting conductive leads to the contact pads to place the leads in electronic communication with the contacts, and bonding the housing assembly to a wearable article. The housing assembly is bonded between top and bottom layers of material forming a portion of the wearable article, such that the top and bottom layers are bonded to the receptacle by a bonding material. The article has an electrically-powered component, and the leads are connected to the component.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2018Date of Patent: June 23, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Brendan Donohoe, Keith Folske, Brian L. Kash, Kevin Steward
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Patent number: 10624411Abstract: A wearable article, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the wearable article to the worn on a body, a piezoelectric generator, positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to output a voltage, a data translator, coupled to the piezoelectric generator, configured to output electronic data based on the voltage, and an electronic data storage, coupled to the data translator, configured to store the electronic data from the data translator.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: April 21, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Patent number: 10595583Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2019Date of Patent: March 24, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Publication number: 20190223542Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezo-electric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information overtime. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider
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Patent number: 10321732Abstract: An article of apparel, a system, and methods include a structural material configured to enable the article of footwear to the worn on a body. A wireless transmission circuit is included and a piezoelectric generator is positioned with respect to the structural material in a configuration to be flexed to induce a voltage signal output. A voltage sensor is configured to sense the voltage profile and output a sensor signal indicative of the voltage profile. An electronic data storage, coupled to the voltage sensor, is configured to store voltage profile information based on the sensor data. A comparator, coupled to the electronic data storage, is configured to identify a change in the voltage profile information over time. The wireless transmission circuit is configured to transmit data indicative of a physical status of the article of footwear based on the change in the voltage profile information over time.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2016Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Keith A. Folske, Vikram Malhotra, Holli Pheil, Summer L. Schneider