Patents by Inventor Matthew J. Holmes
Matthew J. Holmes 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: 20230263269Abstract: An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2023Publication date: August 24, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 11666120Abstract: An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2019Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 11641909Abstract: An article of footwear has a tubular structure. The tubular structure may include tab portions that extend away from a tunnel portion of the tubular structure. The tab portions may engage parts of the article of footwear. The tab portions may engage an upper or sole structure along a bite line. The tab portions may be attached to a heel counter, eyestay, or other structure on the article of footwear.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 11033077Abstract: Collapsible tunnel systems or segmented tubular structures may be printed on or otherwise attached to base layers on articles of apparel, articles of footwear, or other articles of manufacture. The collapsible tunnel systems have two or more tubular structures attached to the base layer, with tunnels extending through the tubular structures. A tensile strand may be laced through the tunnels in the tubular structure such that when tension is applied to the tensile strand, the tunnels may collapse into a structure with a continuous tunnel through two or more tubular structures. In some embodiments, two or more segmented tubular structures each have two spaced-apart tubular structures joined by a connecting portion, and a tensile strand extending through tunnels in the tubular structures.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2019Date of Patent: June 15, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 10932520Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include a relatively soft and lightweight foam midsole component partially covered by at least one more rigid and/or dense cage (protective) component(s) and/or other protective component(s).Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2016Date of Patent: March 2, 2021Assignee: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Matthew J. Holmes, Troy C. Lindner, Benjamin Nethongkome, Dolores S. Thompson
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Patent number: 10925346Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper and an outsole bonded to the upper. The outsole may include multiple discrete lugs distributed across a bottom exterior surface of the outsole. The article may further include a compressible foam midsole contained within the upper. The midsole may be non-destructively removable from the upper.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Holmes, Eric P. Avar, Jeongwoo Lee, Fanny Yung Ho, Bryant Russell Klug
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Patent number: 10813410Abstract: A tunnel spring structure three-dimensionally printed on a base layer. The tunnel spring structure includes three tubular structures and two connecting portions. A connecting portion is disposed between two tubular structures. A tensile strand extends through the tubular structures. Tension applied to the tensile strand forces the tubular structures to adjoin due to the flexibility of the connection portions.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2018Date of Patent: October 27, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Publication number: 20200113289Abstract: Collapsible tunnel systems or segmented tubular structures may be printed on or otherwise attached to base layers on articles of apparel, articles of footwear, or other articles of manufacture. The collapsible tunnel systems have two or more tubular structures attached to the base layer, with tunnels extending through the tubular structures. A tensile strand may be laced through the tunnels in the tubular structure such that when tension is applied to the tensile strand, the tunnels may collapse into a structure with a continuous tunnel through two or more tubular structures. In some embodiments, two or more segmented tubular structures each have two spaced-apart tubular structures joined by a connecting portion, and a tensile strand extending through tunnels in the tubular structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2019Publication date: April 16, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 10609984Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (a) a lightweight foam midsole component for supporting the foot; and (b) a plurality of heavier and/or denser cage components covering selected areas of the midsole component. Spaces are provided between the cage components. These spaces may be sized, shaped, and oriented to define and/or correspond to flexion lines of the foot and/or to produce a more natural flex motion to the sole. The soles additionally may include one or more outsole components, e.g., on bottom surface(s) of the cage component(s) and/or the foam midsole. These sole structures may be engaged with an upper to form a shoe. The uppers may include one or more lace receiving openings supported by elongated wire or textile components. Methods of making footwear including such uppers and/or sole structures also are described.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Simidele A. Adeagbo, Chad C. Grover, Kevin W. Hoffer, Matthew J. Holmes, Tamimu A. Shyllon
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Publication number: 20200077747Abstract: An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 10517354Abstract: Collapsible tunnel systems or segmented tubular structures may be printed on or otherwise attached to base layers on articles of apparel, articles of footwear, or other articles of manufacture. The collapsible tunnel systems have two or more tubular structures attached to the base layer, with tunnels extending through the tubular structures. A tensile strand may be laced through the tunnels in the tubular structure such that when tension is applied to the tensile strand, the tunnels may collapse into a structure with a continuous tunnel through two or more tubular structures. In some embodiments, two or more segmented tubular structures each have two spaced-apart tubular structures joined by a connecting portion, and a tensile strand extending through tunnels in the tubular structures.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2018Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 10492566Abstract: An article of footwear has a tubular structure that may conform to various anatomical features of a foot. The tubular structure has a tunnel, and a tensile strand runs through the tunnel. Applying tension along the tensile strand may cause the tubular structure to conform more closely to one or more anatomical features. The geometry, or path, of the tubular structure on the article may be customized.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 3, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Publication number: 20190133257Abstract: An article of footwear having a self-cleaning surface and a method of making an article of footwear are disclosed. The article of footwear may generally include a sole plate having cleats associated with resilient members. The resilient members may be disposed on a bottom surface of the sole plate in an area near the cleats. For example, a resilient member may be disposed in on the bottom surface of the sole plate in the peripheral area of a cleat. The resilient members may prevent mud from accumulating on the cleats and/or a bottom surface of the sole plate by compressing against a surface of the ground and then springing back, preventing mud from sticking to the resilient member.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2018Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Koosha Aslani, Matthew J. Holmes, Ruzica Krstic, Myron Maurer, Tetsuya T. Minami, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Denis Schiller, Timothy J. Smith
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Patent number: 10188174Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include a sole structure having a relatively soft and lightweight foam midsole component partially covered by at least one more rigid and/or dense cage (protective) component(s) and/or other protective component(s). The sole structures may include a first portion configured to support at least a heel and midfoot area of a wearer's foot, and an exposed outer edge of this first portion may include a billows structure that extends continuously from a medical midfoot or forefoot area of the sole structure to a lateral midfoot or forefoot area. This billows structure may include fewer than five billow outer ridges connected by billow interstitial areas located between adjacent billow outer ridges. Billow thickness at a rear end of the first portion may be larger than the thickness at a front end of the first portion.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2016Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Frederick J. Dojan, Matthew J. Holmes, Troy C. Lindner, Benjamin Nethongkome, Dolores S. Thompson
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Patent number: 10144173Abstract: Collapsible tunnel systems or segmented tubular structures may be printed on or otherwise attached to base layers on articles of apparel, articles of footwear, or other articles of manufacture. The collapsible tunnel systems have two or more tubular structures attached to the base layer, with tunnels extending through the tubular structures. A tensile strand may be laced through the tunnels in the tubular structure such that when tension is applied to the tensile strand, the tunnels may collapse into a structure with a continuous tunnel through two or more tubular structures. In some embodiments, two or more segmented tubular structures each have two spaced-apart tubular structures joined by a connecting portion, and a tensile strand extending through tunnels in the tubular structures.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: December 4, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Publication number: 20180326652Abstract: Collapsible tunnel systems or segmented tubular structures may be printed on or otherwise attached to base layers on articles of apparel, articles of footwear, or other articles of manufacture. The collapsible tunnel systems have two or more tubular structures attached to the base layer, with tunnels extending through the tubular structures. A tensile strand may be laced through the tunnels in the tubular structure such that when tension is applied to the tensile strand, the tunnels may collapse into a structure with a continuous tunnel through two or more tubular structures. In some embodiments, two or more segmented tubular structures each have two spaced-apart tubular structures joined by a connecting portion, and a tensile strand extending through tunnels in the tubular structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 5, 2018Publication date: November 15, 2018Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Publication number: 20180263333Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (a) a lightweight foam midsole component for supporting the foot; and (b) a plurality of heavier and/or denser cage components covering selected areas of the midsole component. Spaces are provided between the cage components. These spaces may be sized, shaped, and oriented to define and/or correspond to flexion lines of the foot and/or to produce a more natural flex motion to the sole. The soles additionally may include one or more outsole components, e.g., on bottom surface(s) of the cage component(s) and/or the foam midsole. These sole structures may be engaged with an upper to form a shoe. The uppers may include one or more lace receiving openings supported by elongated wire or textile components. Methods of making footwear including such uppers and/or sole structures also are described.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2018Publication date: September 20, 2018Inventors: Simidele A. Adeagbo, Chad C. Grover, Kevin W. Hoffer, Matthew J. Holmes, Tamimu A. Shyllon
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Publication number: 20180257296Abstract: A tunnel spring structure three-dimensionally printed on a base layer. The tunnel spring structure includes three tubular structures and two connecting portions. A connecting portion is disposed between two tubular structures. A tensile strand extends through the tubular structures. Tension applied to the tensile strand forces the tubular structures to adjoin due to the flexibility of the connection portions.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2018Publication date: September 13, 2018Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 10065369Abstract: A tunnel spring structure three-dimensionally printed on a base layer. The tunnel spring structure includes three tubular structures and two connecting portions. A connecting portion is disposed between two tubular structures. A tensile strand extends through the tubular structures. Tension applied to the tensile strand forces the tubular structures to adjoin due to the flexibility of the connection portions.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2016Date of Patent: September 4, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Stefan E. Guest, Matthew J. Holmes, Yoav Sterman
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Patent number: 9999276Abstract: Sole structures for articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (a) a lightweight foam midsole component for supporting the foot; and (b) a plurality of heavier and/or denser cage components covering selected areas of the midsole component. Spaces are provided between the cage components. These spaces may be sized, shaped, and oriented to define and/or correspond to flexion lines of the foot and/or to produce a more natural flex motion to the sole. The soles additionally may include one or more outsole components, e.g., on bottom surface(s) of the cage component(s) and/or the foam midsole. These sole structures may be engaged with an upper to form a shoe. The uppers may include one or more lace receiving openings supported by elongated wire or textile components. Methods of making footwear including such uppers and/or sole structures also are described.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2016Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Simidele A. Adeagbo, Chad C. Grover, Kevin W. Hoffer, Matthew J. Holmes, Tamimu A. Shyllon