Patents by Inventor Michael R. Friton

Michael R. Friton 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: 20160128429
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, may include: (a) an upper including an opening through which a leg of a wearer extends, wherein the upper includes a foot insertion opening extending rearwardly and downwardly from a front portion of the leg opening at least to a heel area of the upper; (b) a closure system for releasably closing the foot insertion opening and optionally tightening the shoe on the foot; and (c) a sole structure engaged with the upper. The foot insertion opening widely opens the side and/or rear area of the shoe to allow for easy insertion and removal of a foot. Such uppers can be particularly useful for hightop athletic footwear, boots, or other footwear that extends up to or at least partially over a wearer's ankles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 9307804
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 9265305
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, may include: (a) an upper including an opening through which a leg of a wearer extends, wherein the upper includes a foot insertion opening extending rearwardly and downwardly from a front portion of the leg opening at least to a heel area of the upper; (b) a closure system for releasably closing the foot insertion opening and optionally tightening the shoe on the foot; and (c) a sole structure engaged with the upper. The foot insertion opening widely opens the side and/or rear area of the shoe to allow for easy insertion and removal of a foot. Such uppers can be particularly useful for hightop athletic footwear, boots, or other footwear that extends up to or at least partially over a wearer's ankles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Incorporated
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Michael R. Friton
  • Publication number: 20150223559
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
  • Publication number: 20150157084
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 9044058
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 9038287
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
  • Publication number: 20140360047
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20140317960
    Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes upper and a sole structure. The upper defines an interior void that is configured to receive the sole structure and a foot. A lower surface of the upper defines a plurality of apertures, and the sole structure includes a plurality of projections that extend through the apertures to form a ground-engaging surface. The projections are connected to a foot-supporting member that remains within the upper. A locking system is incorporated into the upper and sole structure to secure the sole structure to the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: James A. Grove, Eric P. Avar, Bruce J. Kilgore, Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 8813387
    Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes upper and a sole structure. The upper defines an interior void that is configured to receive the sole structure and a foot. A lower surface of the upper defines a plurality of apertures, and the sole structure includes a plurality of projections that extend through the apertures to form a ground-engaging surface. The projections are connected to a foot-supporting member that remains within the upper. A locking system is incorporated into the upper and sole structure to secure the sole structure to the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Grove, Eric P. Avar, Bruce J. Kilgore, Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 8793904
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a dual lacing system is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a first lace and a second lace. The first lace and the second lace include portions that are interdigitated, these portions being disposed towards an entry hole of the upper. The laces also include provisions for releasably fastening to the sides of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael R. Friton
  • Publication number: 20140196313
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, may include: (a) an upper including an opening through which a leg of a wearer extends, wherein the upper includes a foot insertion opening extending rearwardly and downwardly from a front portion of the leg opening at least to a heel area of the upper; (b) a closure system for releasably closing the foot insertion opening and optionally tightening the shoe on the foot; and (c) a sole structure engaged with the upper. The foot insertion opening widely opens the side and/or rear area of the shoe to allow for easy insertion and removal of a foot. Such uppers can be particularly useful for hightop athletic footwear, boots, or other footwear that extends up to or at least partially over a wearer's ankles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 8769844
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Publication number: 20140026440
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 8635791
    Abstract: An article of footwear including heel portion movable relative to the forefoot portion from a first articulated configuration to a second articulated configuration is provided. An articulation assembly having a forefoot articulation member and a heel articulation member is also provided. The articulation assembly couples the forefoot portion to the heel portion and includes a hinge mechanism and a cam mechanism. The hinge mechanism may include a pin located within a socket. The cam mechanism may include a cam surface and a protrusion configured to ride on the cam surface. The article of footwear may include a locking mechanism having a first locking element that engages a second locking element in the first articulated configuration. The first locking element may be a first concavity formed in a surface and the second locking element may be a protrusion configured to extend into the first concavity in the first articulated configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre Baudouin, Michael R. Friton, John Hurd, Casey Lee Smith
  • Publication number: 20130291402
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
  • Publication number: 20130291403
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
  • Patent number: 8535390
    Abstract: A traction device for a prosthetic running foot having a curved profile and mechanisms for attaching the traction device to the prosthetic running foot are provided. The traction device includes a sole portion for traction and a midsole for improved rollover. The traction device has fasteners (e.g., clamps) that attach to the top of the prosthetic running foot or a cavity that removably receives the toe of the prosthetic running foot. The traction device also has a strap that removably couples to a clip permanently or removably attached to the top surface of the prosthetic running foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Ă–ssur hf
    Inventors: Christophe Lecomte, Sindri P. Sigurdsson, Larus Gunnsteinsson, Michael R. Friton, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 8528235
    Abstract: An article of footwear with a lighting system is disclosed. The lighting system includes three lighting devices disposed on the article of footwear. The lighting system is also associated with an automatic fastening system. The lighting system is configured to control a lighting device based on information received from the automatic fastening system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield
  • Patent number: 8522456
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an automatic lacing system is disclosed. The automatic lacing system provides a set of straps that can be automatically opened and closed to switch between a loosened and tightened position of the upper. The article further includes an automatic ankle cinching system that is configured to automatically adjust an ankle portion of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Michael R. Friton, Tinker L. Hatfield