Patents by Inventor Nick S. Frank

Nick S. Frank 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).

  • Patent number: 11903442
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick S Frank, Dolores S. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20230320461
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure including a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole structure further includes a chassis plate, an outsole plate extending from the forefoot region to the heel region, the outsole plate including a recess disposed in a top surface, wherein the outsole plate is disposed below the chassis plate, and a cushioning element disposed within the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. BERRIAN, Matthew CHUA, Neil CRUMBLEHOLME, Nick S. FRANK, Daniel A. JOHNSON, Peter LAM, Stuart D. REINHARDT, Timothy J. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20230276904
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure including a forefoot region and a heel region. The sole structure further includes a chassis plate, an outsole plate extending from the forefoot region to the heel region, the outsole plate including a recess disposed in a top surface, wherein the outsole plate is disposed below the chassis plate, and a cushioning element disposed within the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2023
    Publication date: September 7, 2023
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. BERRIAN, Matthew CHUA, Neil CRUMBLEHOLME, Nick S. FRANK, Daniel A. JOHNSON, Peter LAM, Stuart D. REINHARDT, Timothy J. SMITH
  • Publication number: 20230172308
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure includes a plate that has a heel portion, a midfoot portion, a forefoot portion, and an extension portion. The extension portion extends forward of the forefoot portion and forward of a foremost extent of upper. The plate includes a first plate layer establishing an outer surface of the plate and extending in each of the heel portion, the midfoot portion, the forefoot portion, and the extension portion, and a second plate layer interfacing with the first plate layer and extending in the forefoot portion and the extension portion. A bending stiffness of the second plate layer is greater than a bending stiffness of the first plate layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2022
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick S. Frank, Robert Mervar, Kort W. Neumann, IV, Rachel M. Savage, Matthew Tegenkamp, Jenni Westphal, Bryan K. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20230098712
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2022
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick S. Frank, Dolores S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 11528960
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick S. Frank, Dolores S. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20220160077
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole having a footbed extending from a first end to a second end disposed at an opposite end of the midsole than the first end, a first flange extending in a first direction from the first end of the footbed to a first distal end and a second flange extending in a second direction from the second end of the footbed to a second distal end, and an outsole disposed on an opposite side of the midsole than the footbed and extending from the first distal end through a mid-foot region, the outsole including a greater rigidity than the midsole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo S. Chang, Jeremy L. Connell, Nick S. Frank, Rachel M. Savage
  • Publication number: 20210337928
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2021
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick S. FRANK, Dolores S. THOMPSON
  • Patent number: 11071349
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick S Frank, Dolores S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 10952498
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes an outsole defining a first aperture, a cushioning member disposed on the outsole and defining a second aperture, and a plate disposed between the cushioning member and the upper. The plate includes an anterior-most point disposed in a forefoot region, a posterior-most point disposed closer to a heel region than the anterior-most point, a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point disposed between the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point, and an anterior curved region having a radius of curvature extending through the forefoot region and a mid-foot region and including a forefoot curved portion extending from the MTP point to the anterior-most point and a mid-foot curved portion extending from the MTP point toward the posterior-most point. Overlapping portions of the first aperture and the second aperture expose a region of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Bryan P. Conrad, Nick S. Frank, Troy C. Lindner, Rachel M. Savage, James Y. Yoo, Bryan K. Youngs
  • Publication number: 20200037705
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a foam element having a top surface and a bottom surface. The foam element includes a recess (i) formed in one of the top surface or the bottom surface, (ii) extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a mid-foot region of the sole structure, (iii) having a first edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed proximate to a peripheral region of the sole structure, and (iv) a second edge extending between the first end and the second end and disposed at an interior region of the sole structure. A cushioning arrangement is disposed within the recess and includes an outer surface that is substantially flush with the one of the top surface or the bottom surface of the foam element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Nick S Frank, Dolores S. Thompson
  • Publication number: 20180132564
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes an outsole defining a first aperture, a cushioning member disposed on the outsole and defining a second aperture, and a plate disposed between the cushioning member and the upper. The plate includes an anterior-most point disposed in a forefoot region, a posterior-most point disposed closer to a heel region than the anterior-most point, a metatarsophalangeal (MTP) point disposed between the anterior-most point and the posterior-most point, and an anterior curved region having a radius of curvature extending through the forefoot region and a mid-foot region and including a forefoot curved portion extending from the MTP point to the anterior-most point and a mid-foot curved portion extending from the MTP point toward the posterior-most point. Overlapping portions of the first aperture and the second aperture expose a region of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 17, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Bruce, Bryan P. Conrad, Nick S. Frank, Troy C. Lindner, Rachel M. Savage, James Y. Yoo, Bryan K. Youngs