Patents by Inventor Kevin W. Hoffer

Kevin W. Hoffer 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: 20220262491
    Abstract: Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond W. Riley, Kevin W. Hoffer, William E. Berner, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
  • Publication number: 20220262489
    Abstract: Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond W. Riley, Kevin W. Hoffer, William E. Berner, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
  • Publication number: 20220262488
    Abstract: Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond W. Riley, Kevin W. Hoffer, William E. Berner, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
  • Publication number: 20220262490
    Abstract: Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond W. Riley, Kevin W. Hoffer, William E. Berner, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
  • Publication number: 20220262480
    Abstract: Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Inventors: Raymond W. Riley, Kevin W. Hoffer, William E. Berner, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
  • Publication number: 20220240622
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole attached to the upper, and an outsole. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed. The outsole has a ground-engaging surface, an inner surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface, and a wall extending from the ground-engaging surface and surrounding the outsole. The article of footwear also includes at least two casings each containing particulate matter and having a thickness extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outsole. The at least two casings are arranged in a layered configuration and received within a cavity bounded by the wall of the outsole and between the bottom surface and the inner surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long
  • Publication number: 20220240621
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, an outsole, and a midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole. The outsole is attached to the upper and has a ground-engaging surface. The midsole has a series of walls that define a series of channels extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the midsole and along an entire length of the midsole. The series of channels are isolated from one another and each channel receives a quantity of particulate matter therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2022
    Publication date: August 4, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Scott C. Holt, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11324281
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole attached to the upper, and an outsole. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed. The outsole has a ground-engaging surface, an inner surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface, and a wall extending from the ground-engaging surface and surrounding the outsole. The article of footwear also includes at least two casings each containing particulate matter and having a thickness extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the outsole. The at least two casings are arranged in a layered configuration and received within a cavity bounded by the wall of the outsole and between the bottom surface and the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long
  • Patent number: 11317675
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, a midsole attached to the upper, and an outsole. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed. The outsole has a ground-engaging surface, an inner surface disposed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface, and a wall extending from the ground-engaging surface and surrounding the outsole. The article of footwear also includes a casing containing particulate matter and having a length that is greater than a length of the outsole. The casing includes a first fold at a predetermined location along its length. The casing is received within a cavity bounded by the wall of the outsole and between the bottom surface and the inner surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Scott C. Holt, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11304475
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, an outsole, and a midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole. The outsole is attached to the upper and has a ground-engaging surface. The midsole has a series of walls that define a series of channels extending substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the midsole and along an entire length of the midsole. The series of channels are isolated from one another and each channel receives a quantity of particulate matter therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Scott C. Holt, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 11297901
    Abstract: Articles of footwear may include uppers having one or more skin layers attached to a base layer, wherein at least one of the skin layers is at least partially transparent or translucent. The transparent or translucent skin layer may be applied over other elements of the upper (e.g., other skin layers, base layers, reinforcing layers, etc.) to provide interesting color change options and color palettes for the upper. Additional aspects of this invention relate to production of curved tongue composite structures and/or footwear having a bonded (hot melt) side seam for forming the upper (and optionally do not include a rear heel seam).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin A. Shaffer, Kevin W. Hoffer, Tony H. Le, YunMi Kang
  • Patent number: 11259599
    Abstract: A lace-receiving assembly includes a substrate, a first sheet, and a lace guide. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first sheet includes a third surface and a fourth surface opposite the third surface. The third surface is bonded to the first surface to define a channel extending between the substrate and the first sheet. The lace guide is disposed within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Katelyn Bruce, Piero Fenato, Kevin W. Hoffer, Daniel A. Johnson, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Peter Lam, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Patent number: 11096444
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole disposed between the upper and the outsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface, an inner surface formed on an opposite side of the outsole than the ground-engaging surface, and a wall surrounding a perimeter of the outsole. The wall cooperates with the inner surface to define a cavity. The midsole includes a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed and opposing the inner surface of the outsole. The article of footwear also includes fibers received within the cavity. The fibers cooperate with one another to form a mesh that at least partially fills the cavity. The article of footwear also includes particulate matter disposed within the cavity and received within interstitial spaces of the mesh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long
  • Patent number: 11089840
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include one or more of: (a) an upper; (b) a sole structure including a midsole and an outsole, the outsole having a plurality of polygonal lugs arranged about a base surface of the outsole. The outsole may include one or more regions wherein the characteristics of a portion of the lugs within a region differ from the characteristics of a portion of the lugs in another region. The lugs may differ, for example based on size, construction and/or spacing between the lugs. Methods of manufacturing such articles of footwear also are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric P. Avar, Kevin W. Hoffer, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20210204650
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole structure attached to an upper defining an internal void configured to receive a foot of a wearer is described. The sole structure includes a sole body portion having a central ridge element located in an aperture in the sole body portion and the central ridge element is configured to contact the ground and move relative to the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Publication date: July 8, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Meschter, Kevin W. Hoffer
  • Publication number: 20210142881
    Abstract: Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Raymond W. Riley, Kevin W. Hoffer, William E. Berner, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz
  • Patent number: 10986894
    Abstract: A material that includes at least one layer made of an auxetic structure and articles of footwear having soles comprising the materials. When the material is under tension, it expands in both the direction under tension and in the direction orthogonal to the direction under tension. The articles of footwear have soles that have at least one layer made of a material that has a pattern of apertures to provide the auxetic structure. The apertures are surrounded by sole portions that can rotate or pivot to change the size of the apertures. An outer covering can be mated with an outsole structure formed by the auxetic structure. The outer covering includes features that mate with the apertures in the outsole structure. The outer covering is elastic and can stretch to accommodate expansion of the auxetic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tory M. Cross, Kevin W. Hoffer, David P. Jones, Patrick B. Kirschner, Elizabeth Langvin, James C. Meschter
  • Patent number: 10980313
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a sole structure attached to an upper defining an internal void configured to receive a foot of a wearer is described. The sole structure includes a sole body portion having a central ridge element located in an aperture in the sole body portion. The central ridge element has a bottom surface configured to contact the ground and move vertically within the aperture. The movement of the central ridge element pushes a top surface of the ridge element attached to a portion of the upper against the foot of the wearer. The central ridge element is arranged approximately centrally between lateral and medial sides in the forefoot region of the sole structure. The central ridge element provide sensory feedback about lateral movement and to the foot of the wearer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Meschter, Kevin W. Hoffer
  • Publication number: 20210045493
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a sole system includes a sole member and a protruding member assembly. The sole system provides tactile sensation. Protruding members of the protruding member assembly can translate through holes in the sole member to facilitate tactile sensation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. Meschter, Tetsuya T. Minami, Kevin W. Hoffer
  • Patent number: 10923225
    Abstract: Athletic performance sensing and/or tracking systems include components for measuring or sensing athletic performance data and/or for storing and/or displaying desired information associated with the athletic performance to the user (or others). Such systems can allow users a wide variety of options in creating workouts, selecting and presenting media content during the athletic performance, etc., e.g., to help keep users entertained and motivated. In some instances, user feedback may be used, optionally in combination with objective data relating to a workout, to control features of the workout routine, to control the music or other media content selected and/or presented, and/or to control features of future workout routines and/or the presented media content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond W. Riley, Kevin W. Hoffer, William E. Berner, Allan M. Schrock, James A. Niegowski, William F. Rauchholz