Patents by Inventor Nicholas R. Long

Nicholas R. Long 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: 20250092869
    Abstract: A pump includes a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state. A coil is disposed within the conduit and includes an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state. A manifold is in fluid communication with the inner volume and is operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Todd W. Miller, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Austin J. Orand, Richard Kristian Hansen, Kimberly A. Sokol
  • Publication number: 20250024915
    Abstract: A vacuum system for a wearable article includes an adjustable element operable to form at least a portion of the wearable article. The adjustable element includes a bladder that defines an exterior surface and an interior void and a port disposed on the exterior surface of the bladder. The port is operable to provide selective communication with the interior void of the bladder. The vacuum system also includes a pump operable to automatically draw a predetermined volume of fluid out of the interior void upon engagement with the port to move the adjustable element from a relaxed state to a constricted state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2024
    Publication date: January 23, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Bishop, Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Nadia M. Panian, Aaron K. Seid, Jeffrey C. Spanks
  • Patent number: 12188466
    Abstract: A pump includes a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state. A coil is disposed within the conduit and includes an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state. A manifold is in fluid communication with the inner volume and is operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Todd W. Miller, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Austin J. Orand, Richard Kristian Hansen, Kimberly A. Sokol
  • Patent number: 12137768
    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: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long
  • Publication number: 20240365931
    Abstract: A locking structure for an article includes a bladder including a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber having an interior void. A locking system includes locking elements that each attach to at least one elastic element. The locking elements each include at least one interface surface. The interior void of the bladder operable between a first pressure to move the locking system to a locked state and a second pressure to move the locking system to an unlocked state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Case, Timothy P. Hopkins, Viviane Labelle, Nicholas R. Long, Todd W. Miller, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Richard Kristian Hansen
  • Patent number: 12082644
    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: April 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Scott C. Holt, Jeffrey L. Johnson, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Matthew C. Palmer
  • Patent number: 12053047
    Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface and an inner surface disposed on opposite sides. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on opposite sides. The bottom surface opposes the inner surface to define a cavity therebetween. The article of footwear also includes a first series of projections extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in a first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a second series of projection extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in the first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a quantity of particulate matter disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Aaron K. Seid
  • Publication number: 20240115001
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper including a chamber, a compressible component disposed within the chamber and operable between a relaxed state and a constricted state, a sole structure including a recess forming a cavity, and a pump device disposed within the cavity and fluidly coupled to the chamber, the pump device operable to transition the compressible component from the relaxed state to the constricted state by removing fluid from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Bishop, Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Nadia M. Panian, Aaron K. Seid, Richard Kristian Hansen
  • Publication number: 20240115006
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an adjustable element. The adjustable element includes a bladder that defines an interior void. A compressible component that is disposed within the interior void and is operable between an expanded state and a contracted state. The adjustable element also includes a lock strip including a first end anchored at a first location within the bladder and a second end disposed at an opposite end of the lock strip than the first end. A lock receives the lock strip and is operable between a locked state restricting movement of the lock strip relative to the bladder and an unlocked state permitting movement of the lock strip relative to the bladder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. Long, Todd W. Miller, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Richard Kristian Hansen
  • Publication number: 20230346074
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper having a chamber, a sole structure including a recess forming a cavity, and a pump device disposed within the cavity, in fluid communication with the chamber, and operable to move the upper from a relaxed state to a constricted state by selectively evacuating fluid from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: November 2, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Bishop, Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Todd W. Miller, Nadia M. Panian, Aaron K. Seid
  • Publication number: 20230225453
    Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear is provided and includes a first barrier member defining a first compartment and a second compartment and being formed from a first material. A second barrier member is attached to the first barrier member, covers the first compartment to define a first interior void, and covers the second compartment to define a second interior void. The second barrier is formed from a second material different than the first material. The cushioning member also includes a first quantity of particulate matter disposed within the first interior void and a second quantity of particulate matter disposed within the second interior void.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hurd, Joël Ryp Greenspan, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Tetsuya T. Minami
  • Publication number: 20230189907
    Abstract: A locking structure for an article includes a bladder having a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber including an interior void and a plurality of locking elements disposed within the interior void and each attached to at least one of the first barrier element and the second barrier element, each of the locking elements including an interface surface operable to selectively engage an interface surface of another one of the locking elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: June 22, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Bishop, Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Todd W. Miller, Nadia M. Panian, Aaron K. Seid
  • Patent number: 11627778
    Abstract: A cushioning member for an article of footwear is provided and includes a first barrier member defining a first compartment and a second compartment and being formed from a first material. A second barrier member is attached to the first barrier member, covers the first compartment to define a first interior void, and covers the second compartment to define a second interior void. The second barrier is formed from a second material different than the first material. The cushioning member also includes a first quantity of particulate matter disposed within the first interior void and a second quantity of particulate matter disposed within the second interior void.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Hurd, Joel R. Greenspan, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Tetsuya T. Minami
  • Publication number: 20230096885
    Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface and an inner surface disposed on opposite sides. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on opposite sides. The bottom surface opposes the inner surface to define a cavity therebetween. The article of footwear also includes a first series of projections extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in a first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a second series of projection extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in the first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a quantity of particulate matter disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Aaron K. Seid
  • Publication number: 20230033238
    Abstract: A pump includes a conduit defining an inner volume and formed from a flexible material, the conduit movable between an expanded state and a relaxed state. A coil is disposed within the conduit and includes an outer diameter that is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the conduit, the coil substantially maintaining its outer diameter when the conduit is moved between the relaxed state and the expanded state. A manifold is in fluid communication with the inner volume and is operable to permit fluid to enter the inner volume in a first mode and expel fluid from the inner volume in a second mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2022
    Publication date: February 2, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Austin J. Orand, Richard Kristian Hansen, Kimberly A. Sokol
  • Patent number: 11490681
    Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper, an outsole attached to the upper, and a midsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface and an inner surface disposed on opposite sides. The midsole has a footbed and a bottom surface disposed on opposite sides. The bottom surface opposes the inner surface to define a cavity therebetween. The article of footwear also includes a first series of projections extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in a first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a second series of projection extending into the cavity from one of the inner surface and the bottom surface in the first direction toward the other of the inner surface and the bottom surface. The article of footwear also includes a quantity of particulate matter disposed within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Hoffer, Cassidy R. Levy, Nicholas R. Long, Aaron K. Seid
  • Publication number: 20220330657
    Abstract: An adjustment element for an article of footwear includes a bladder having a barrier layer defining an interior void and a compressible component disposed within the interior void and including a lattice structure defining a plurality of reliefs formed in the lattice structure, the compressible component operable between an expanded state when the interior void includes a first pressure and a contracted state when the interior void includes a second pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Bishop, Timothy P. Hopkins, Nicholas R. Long, Todd W. Miller, Nadia M. Panian, Aaron K. Seid
  • 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