Patents by Inventor Keith M. Duffy

Keith M. Duffy 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: 20250049173
    Abstract: A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly comprises an outsole comprising an outsole zone with a wave-like configuration. The outsole zone includes a plurality of directional traction elements with sidewalls extending from a lower surface of the outsole. The directional traction elements may be arranged along different sections of the outsole zone according to an angular orientation of the sidewalls of the directional traction elements. The directional traction elements may include (i) a first set of directional traction elements arranged along a first section of the outsole zone and (ii) a second set of directional traction elements arranged along a second section of the outsole zone. The first and/or second set(s) of directional traction elements may include a plurality of directionally aligned traction elements with sidewalls that are oriented in a same direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart, Robert S. Bento, Keith M. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20240350878
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a recyclable article. The recyclable article may comprise a recyclable shoe, recycle apparel, recyclable gear, a recyclable bag, a recyclable club, and/or a recyclable ball. The recyclable article may be processed into one or more source materials that can be used to produce one or more other articles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, Keith M. Duffy, Robert S. Bento
  • Publication number: 20240349842
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a recyclable golf shoe. The shoe may comprise an upper and a sole assembly. The upper may comprise: a membrane layer configured to at least partially surround or enclose a foot of a subject wearing the golf shoe; an internal A-shaped frame structure attached or coupled to the membrane layer to structurally support or stiffen the upper; a mesh layer comprising a first side and a second side, the first side attached or coupled to the membrane layer and the internal A-shaped frame structure; and a saddle connected to the second side of the mesh layer. The membrane layer, the internal A-shaped frame structure, the mesh layer, and the saddle may comprise one or more recyclable thermoplastic urethane (TPU) materials that can be processable into another article or component comprising at least one recycled or recyclable TPU material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Publication date: October 24, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, Chao-Wei Lin, Robert S. Bento, Keith M. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20240341397
    Abstract: A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly includes a midsole and an outsole. The outsole includes one or more traction elements for engaging with a plurality of different ground surfaces. In some embodiments, the traction elements comprise a first feature for mechanically interlocking with a deformable ground surface and a second feature for frictionally engaging with the deformable ground surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2023
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: John F. Swigart, Robert S. Bento, Jean-Marie Bidal, Keith M. Duffy, Jacob E. Vollmar
  • Publication number: 20240268510
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The upper may be made of a soft, breathable leather material. The midsole includes an upper region formed from a first material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); and a lower region formed from a second material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the materials have different hardness levels. A fiber-reinforced composite plate such as, for example, a carbon fiber plate is disposed in the midsole. The composite plate has a molded three-dimensional shape to provide additional stiffness to the golf shoe, particularly in the rear foot region of the shoe. The outsole contains different traction members arranged in a precise geometric structure that helps provide improved stability and traction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2024
    Publication date: August 15, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Duffy, Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart
  • Publication number: 20240225183
    Abstract: A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly may include a midsole and an outsole. In some cases, a custom insert may be integrated with or embedded in the sole assembly. In some cases, the custom insert may include an elastic member configured as a spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2023
    Publication date: July 11, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Duffy, Robert S. Bento, Jean-Marie Bidal
  • Publication number: 20240197033
    Abstract: An article of footwear comprising an upper component; a footbed provided within the upper component; an insole component extending under the upper component; a midsole component comprising a midsole material; and an outsole component. The insole component and/or the outsole component may comprise one or more surface features configured to mechanically interlock the insole component and/or the outsole component with the midsole component. The midsole material may be configured to extend through the one or more surface features to interlace a portion of the midsole component with the insole component and/or the outsole component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, Keith M. Duffy, Robert S. Bento
  • Publication number: 20240197031
    Abstract: An article of footwear comprising: an upper; a sole assembly comprising a midsole and an outsole; an insole component; a support system, and a securement system. The support system comprises a medial support extending under and along an inner midfoot region of the upper, the medial support including an elongated section that resists stretching in one or more directions and a plurality of stretchable sections positioned along the elongated section, and a lateral support extending under the insole component and over the inner midfoot region of the upper. The securement system comprises (i) a first cable configured to (a) pull the insole component up against a plantar surface of the foot and (b) draw the foot towards the lateral side, and (ii) a second cable configured to (a) adjustably secure the upper around the foot and (b) pull the foot down and back towards the heel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart, Paul O. Teeter, Keith M. Duffy
  • Publication number: 20240130466
    Abstract: A golf shoe with an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly may include a midsole and an outsole. In some cases, a custom insert may be integrated with or embedded in the sole assembly. In some cases, the custom insert may include an elastic member configured as a spring element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2023
    Publication date: April 25, 2024
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Duffy, Robert S. Bento, Jean-Marie Bidal
  • Patent number: 11963582
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The upper may be made of a soft, breathable leather material. The midsole includes an upper region formed from a first material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); and a lower region formed from a second material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the materials have different hardness levels. A fiber-reinforced composite plate such as, for example, a carbon fiber plate is disposed in the midsole. The composite plate has a molded three-dimensional shape to provide additional stiffness to the golf shoe, particularly in the rear foot region of the shoe. The outsole contains different traction members arranged in a precise geometric structure that helps provide improved stability and traction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Duffy, Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart
  • Publication number: 20210392992
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The upper may be made of a soft, breathable leather material. The midsole includes an upper region formed from a first material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); and a lower region formed from a second material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the materials have different hardness levels. A fiber-reinforced composite plate such as, for example, a carbon fiber plate is disposed in the midsole. The composite plate has a molded three-dimensional shape to provide additional stiffness to the golf shoe, particularly in the rear foot region of the shoe. The outsole contains different traction members arranged in a precise geometric structure that helps provide improved stability and traction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Keith M. Duffy, Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart