Patents by Inventor Michael J Nickels
Michael J Nickels 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: 20240103946Abstract: Techniques for identifying faults in a collaborative computing system including a plurality of disparate, geographically separated computing systems are described herein. An intelligent monitoring (IM) server computing system may receive data from the plurality of computing devices and may monitor the health of the collaborative computing system. The IM server computing system may analyze the data and identify one or more faults associated with a portion of the collaborative system (e.g., an associated computing device, platform, network, etc.). In some examples, the IM server computing system may be configured to identify potential future faults associated with the portion of the collaborative system. Based on the fault, the IM server computing device may determine an action to take to remedy the fault and/or prevent the potential future fault. The IM server computing device may either automatically perform the action or send a notification to the associated computing system to perform the action.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2023Publication date: March 28, 2024Inventors: Michael Shawn Jacob, Benjamin D. Schappaugh, William Guthrie, Frank Matthew McCully, Timothy J. Nickel, Brian W. Batronis, Robert D. Rariden
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Publication number: 20240008694Abstract: An outdoor bathroom system for disposing of human waste. The outdoor bathroom system includes a shovel for digging a hole, at least one tablet for breaking down the human waste, and at least one wipe. The human waste, the at least one wipe, and the at least one tablet are disposed of in the hole and the at least one tablet breaks down the human waste and the at least one wipe.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2022Publication date: January 11, 2024Applicant: PACT Outdoors LLCInventors: Noah SCHUM, Christopher THOMAS, Michael J. NICKEL, Kimberly INMAN
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Publication number: 20230413950Abstract: According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: BOA Technology, Inc.Inventors: Kristopher C. Lovett, Christopher H. Converse, Clark Morgan, Michael J. Nickel
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Publication number: 20230371654Abstract: This disclosure relates to articles that include a tightening mechanism, such as reel-based lace tightening mechanism, configured to tighten the article by rotation of a knob. The articles can include a concealing portion that is configured to conceal or protect at least a portion of the tightening mechanism, such as the knob. The concealing portion can be configured to prevent unintentional actuation of the tightening mechanism, such as during contact sports. The concealing portion can be configured to hide the tightening mechanism from view to improve the visual appearance of the article. The concealing portion can be collapsible such that a user can press the concealing portion down to expose the knob of the tightening mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2023Publication date: November 23, 2023Applicant: BOA Technology, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burns, Gary R. Hammerslag, Eric C. Irwin, Kristopher C. Lovett, Michael J. Nickel, Mark S. Soderberg
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Patent number: 11684122Abstract: A reel based closure device includes a housing, a spool positioned within the housing, and a knob that is operably coupled with the spool so that an operation of the knob causes the spool to rotate in a first direction within the housing. The spool has an upper flange, a lower flange, and a cylindrical wall disposed between the upper flange and the lower flange. The spool is rotatable in the first direction to wind a tension member about the spool's cylindrical wall when the spool is rotated in the first direction. The tension member has a first end and a second end positioned opposite the first end. The cylindrical wall has three holes through which the first end of the tension member is inserted to secure the first end of the tension member to the spool.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2021Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: BOA Technology, Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burns, Gary R. Hammerslag, Eric C. Irwin, Kristopher C. Lovett, Michael J. Nickel, Mark S. Soderberg
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Publication number: 20220346502Abstract: A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel that includes a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 21, 2022Publication date: November 3, 2022Applicant: Boa Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Soderberg, Michael J. Nickel, Sean Cavanagh
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Patent number: 11297903Abstract: A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel that includes a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2019Date of Patent: April 12, 2022Assignee: Boa Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Soderberg, Michael J. Nickel, Sean Cavanagh
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Publication number: 20210227938Abstract: This disclosure relates to articles that include a tightening mechanism, such as reel-based lace tightening mechanism, configured to tighten the article by rotation of a knob. The articles can include a concealing portion that is configured to conceal or protect at least a portion of the tightening mechanism, such as the knob. The concealing portion can be configured to prevent unintentional actuation of the tightening mechanism, such as during contact sports. The concealing portion can be configured to hide the tightening mechanism from view to improve the visual appearance of the article. The concealing portion can be collapsible such that a user can press the concealing portion down to expose the knob of the tightening mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2021Publication date: July 29, 2021Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burns, Gary R. Hammerslag, Eric C. Irwin, Kristopher C. Lovett, Michael J. Nickel, Mark S. Soderberg
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Patent number: 10888139Abstract: This disclosure relates to articles that include a tightening mechanism, such as reel-based lace tightening mechanism, configured to tighten the article by rotation of a knob. The articles can include a concealing portion that is configured to conceal or protect at least a portion of the tightening mechanism, such as the knob. The concealing portion can be configured to prevent unintentional actuation of the tightening mechanism, such as during contact sports. The concealing portion can be configured to hide the tightening mechanism from view to improve the visual appearance of the article. The concealing portion can be collapsible such that a user can press the concealing portion down to expose the knob of the tightening mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2018Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burns, Gary R. Hammerslag, Eric C. Irwin, Kristopher C. Lovett, Michael J. Nickel, Mark S. Soderberg
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Publication number: 20200054097Abstract: A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel that includes a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2019Publication date: February 20, 2020Applicant: Boa Technology, Inc.Inventors: Mark S. Soderberg, Michael J. Nickel, Sean Cavanagh
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Publication number: 20200008534Abstract: According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Kristopher C. Lovett, Christopher H. Converse, Clark Morgan, Michael J. Nickel
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Patent number: 10413019Abstract: A lacing system configured to selectively adjust the size of an opening on an object and allow for the incremental release of the lace within the lacing system. The lacing system can have a reel that includes a housing, a spool supported by the housing, and a knob supported by the housing. The reel can be configured so that cable is gathered in the channel formed in the spool when the spool is rotated in a first direction relative to the housing, and so that cable can be incrementally released from the spool when the spool is rotated in a second direction relative to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2015Date of Patent: September 17, 2019Assignee: BOA TECHNOLOGY INCInventors: Mark S. Soderberg, Michael J. Nickel, Sean Cavanagh
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Patent number: 10342294Abstract: According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2016Date of Patent: July 9, 2019Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Kristopher C. Lovett, Christopher H. Converse, Clark Morgan, Michael J. Nickel
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Publication number: 20190000189Abstract: This disclosure relates to articles that include a tightening mechanism, such as reel-based lace tightening mechanism, configured to tighten the article by rotation of a knob. The articles can include a concealing portion that is configured to conceal or protect at least a portion of the tightening mechanism, such as the knob. The concealing portion can be configured to prevent unintentional actuation of the tightening mechanism, such as during contact sports. The concealing portion can be configured to hide the tightening mechanism from view to improve the visual appearance of the article. The concealing portion can be collapsible such that a user can press the concealing portion down to expose the knob of the tightening mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burns, Gary R. Hammerslag, Eric C. Irwin, Kristopher C. Lovett, Michael J. Nickel, Mark S. Soderberg
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Patent number: 10070695Abstract: This disclosure relates to articles that include a tightening mechanism, such as reel-based lace tightening mechanism, configured to tighten the article by rotation of a knob. The articles can include a concealing portion that is configured to conceal or protect at least a portion of the tightening mechanism, such as the knob. The concealing portion can be configured to prevent unintentional actuation of the tightening mechanism, such as during contact sports. The concealing portion can be configured to hide the tightening mechanism from view to improve the visual appearance of the article. The concealing portion can be collapsible such that a user can press the concealing portion down to expose the knob of the tightening mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2016Date of Patent: September 11, 2018Assignee: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burns, Gary R. Hammerslag, Eric C. Irwin, Kristopher C. Lovett, Michael J. Nickel, Mark S. Soderberg
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Patent number: 9918865Abstract: The disclosure relates to medical braces having lacing systems for tightening of the medical braces. Some embodiments include multiple components of the lacing system integrated into a single housing piece. For example, multiple reels can be used to tighten different portions of the lacing system, and the multiple reels can be mounted onto a single housing. Also, multiple lace guides can be integrated into, or attached to, a single housing piece.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: March 20, 2018Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventors: Michael J. Nickel, Sean T. Cavanagh, Robert E. Burns, Mark Kerns, Edward L. Weaver, II, Sherry A. Hinds, Beth E. Gramza
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Publication number: 20170202316Abstract: According to one embodiment, a removable tightening device is described. The tensioning mechanism is removably coupleable with an article without damaging the article so that upon removal, the coupling of the tensioning mechanism with the article is unrecognizable or not readily detectable. The tensioning mechanism is operable with a tension member to maintain a tension of the tension member and thereby maintain a tightness of the article. The tension member is guided along a path about the article, via one or more guide members, and is tensionable, via the tensioning mechanism, to tighten the article.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2016Publication date: July 20, 2017Applicant: Boa Technology inc.Inventors: Kristopher C. Lovett, Christopher H. Converse, Clark Morgan, Michael J. Nickel
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Publication number: 20170027287Abstract: This disclosure relates to articles that include a tightening mechanism, such as reel-based lace tightening mechanism, configured to tighten the article by rotation of a knob. The articles can include a concealing portion that is configured to conceal or protect at least a portion of the tightening mechanism, such as the knob. The concealing portion can be configured to prevent unintentional actuation of the tightening mechanism, such as during contact sports. The concealing portion can be configured to hide the tightening mechanism from view to improve the visual appearance of the article. The concealing portion can be collapsible such that a user can press the concealing portion down to expose the knob of the tightening mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2016Publication date: February 2, 2017Applicant: Boa Technology Inc.Inventors: Robert E. Burns, Gary R. Hammerslag, Eric C. Irwin, Kristopher C. Lovett, Michael J. Nickel, Mark S. Soderberg
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Patent number: D897661Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: BOA TECHNOLOGY INC.Inventor: Michael J. Nickel
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Patent number: D912605Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2018Date of Patent: March 9, 2021Assignee: TOURIG, LLCInventors: Eric Miller, Michael J. Nickel