Patents by Inventor Kevin J. Rucier
Kevin J. Rucier 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: 20230276892Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 15, 2023Publication date: September 7, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
-
Patent number: 11684109Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
-
Publication number: 20220031010Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
-
Patent number: 11172727Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: November 16, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
-
Publication number: 20210137212Abstract: Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include: (a) a medial side member having one or more medial side supports (e.g., ribs); (b) a lateral side member having one or more lateral side supports (e.g., ribs); and (c) structure (such as a hinge system) configured to move the foot support system (e.g., the medial side support(s) with respect to the lateral side support(s)) between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration. In moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, the foot support system can be changed between an open condition and a closed condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2021Publication date: May 13, 2021Inventors: Andrew A. Owings, Kevin J. Rucier, Phillip Anthony Meneau, Wilson W. Smith, III
-
Patent number: 10912348Abstract: Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include: (a) a medial side member having one or more medial side supports (e.g., ribs); (b) a lateral side member having one or more lateral side supports (e.g., ribs); and (c) structure (such as a hinge system) configured to move the foot support system (e.g., the medial side support(s) with respect to the lateral side support(s)) between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration. In moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, the foot support system can be changed between an open condition and a closed condition.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2017Date of Patent: February 9, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Andrew A. Owings, Kevin J. Rucier, Phillip Anthony Meneau, Wilson W. Smith, III
-
Publication number: 20180338562Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and an upper including a front section and a rear section. The front section is fixed to a forefoot region of the sole structure and partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The rear section is operatively secured to the sole structure at least partially rearward of the front section, and includes medial and lateral wings. A medial set of magnets includes at least one front medial magnet secured to a medial side of the front section and at least one rear medial magnet secured to the medial wing. A lateral set of magnets includes at least one front lateral magnet secured to a lateral side of the front section and at least one rear lateral magnet secured to the lateral wing. The rear section is movable relative to the front section between an access position and a use position.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2018Publication date: November 29, 2018Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Kevin J. Rucier
-
Publication number: 20180110289Abstract: Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include: (a) a medial side member having one or more medial side supports (e.g., ribs); (b) a lateral side member having one or more lateral side supports (e.g., ribs); and (c) structure (such as a hinge system) configured to move the foot support system (e.g., the medial side support(s) with respect to the lateral side support(s)) between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration. In moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, the foot support system can be changed between an open condition and a closed condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2017Publication date: April 26, 2018Inventors: Andrew A. Owings, Kevin J. Rucier, Phillip Anthony Meneau, Wilson W. Smith, III
-
Patent number: 9907362Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (A) an upper; (B) a rear heel strap member engaged with or integrally formed with the upper and including: (i) a rear heel element, (ii) a lateral side strap element, and (iii) a medial side strap element; (C) a first strap member extending along the medial side of the upper, wherein the first strap member includes at least one structure for engaging a lace; (D) a second strap member extending along the lateral side of the upper, wherein the second strap member includes at least two structures for engaging the lace; (E) a tensioning system for engaging the medial side strap element with the first strap member; (F) another tensioning system for engaging the lateral side strap element with the second strap member; and (G) a sole structure.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2016Date of Patent: March 6, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas Berend, Kevin J. Rucier, Patricia L. Smaldone, Chun-Chuan Lai
-
Patent number: 9526296Abstract: An article of footwear in which certain regions of the upper may be slippery, such that it is more difficult for a person to firmly grasp the article of footwear. The eyestays in the article of footwear are biased towards the lateral side of the footwear. The article of footwear also has an outer sole with ridges at, for example, the back of the heel, the ball-of-the foot regions on the lateral and medial sides, respectively, of the article of footwear, and at the toe region. The ridges are angled downward, such that the wearer of the footwear may have increased traction by digging the ridges into the ground or into a playing surface.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2014Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Bryant Russell Klug, Nadia M. Panian, Nathan G. Schultze, Matthew C. Palmer, Kevin J. Rucier, Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Aaron K. Seid
-
Publication number: 20160166009Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (A) an upper; (B) a rear heel strap member engaged with or integrally formed with the upper and including: (i) a rear heel element, (ii) a lateral side strap element, and (iii) a medial side strap element; (C) a first strap member extending along the medial side of the upper, wherein the first strap member includes at least one structure for engaging a lace; (D) a second strap member extending along the lateral side of the upper, wherein the second strap member includes at least two structures for engaging the lace; (E) a tensioning system for engaging the medial side strap element with the first strap member; (F) another tensioning system for engaging the lateral side strap element with the second strap member; and (G) a sole structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2016Publication date: June 16, 2016Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas Berend, Kevin J. Rucier, Patricia L. Smaldone, Chun-Chuan Lai
-
Patent number: 9295304Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include cleat structures, strapping systems, sole structures, and/or improved natural motion characteristics are described. Also, methods for making such articles of footwear (and particularly sole structures for articles of footwear) are described.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2012Date of Patent: March 29, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas Berend, Kevin J. Rucier, Patricia L. Smaldone, Chun-Chuan Lai
-
Publication number: 20150257475Abstract: An article of footwear in which certain regions of the upper may be slippery, such that it is more difficult for a person to firmly grasp the article of footwear. The eyestays in the article of footwear are biased towards the lateral side of the footwear. The article of footwear also has an outer sole with ridges at, for example, the back of the heel, the ball-of-the foot regions on the lateral and medial sides, respectively, of the article of footwear, and at the toe region. The ridges are angle downward, such that the wearer of the footwear may have increased traction by digging the ridges into the ground or into a playing surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2014Publication date: September 17, 2015Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Bryant Russell Klug, Nadia M. Panian, Nathan G. Schultze, Matthew C. Palmer, Kevin J. Rucier, Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Aaron K. Seid