Patents by Inventor Patricia L. Smaldone

Patricia L. Smaldone 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: 10905198
    Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Stephen D. Pelletier, Jr., Jeremy L. Connell
  • Publication number: 20190261743
    Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Stephen D. Pelletier, JR., Jeremy L. Connell
  • Patent number: 10292456
    Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Stephen D. Pelletier, Jr., Jeremy L. Connell
  • Patent number: 10285468
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes projection members providing sensory feedback. The projection members are movable relative to an upper of the article of footwear. When the upper encounters a surface of an object, the projection members may be displaced in a direction towards wearer's foot. The projection members may be configured so that they are inserted into apertures located on the upper, and extend above an outer surface of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan S. Van Atta, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Publication number: 20190008229
    Abstract: An indicator for a heated article of footwear that includes an outer shell and a removable inner liner is described. The inner liner includes a heating system with an indicator disposed on a forefoot region of the inner liner. The heating system is integrated within the inner liner and is removable with the inner liner from the outer shell. A viewing window is disposed on the outer shell at a location corresponding to the indicator located on the inner liner. With this arrangement, the status condition of the heating system on the inner liner may be communicated to a wearer of the article through the viewing window from within the interior of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Jaroslav J. Lupinek, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Patent number: 9907362
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (A) an upper; (B) a rear heel strap member engaged with or integrally formed with the upper and including: (i) a rear heel element, (ii) a lateral side strap element, and (iii) a medial side strap element; (C) a first strap member extending along the medial side of the upper, wherein the first strap member includes at least one structure for engaging a lace; (D) a second strap member extending along the lateral side of the upper, wherein the second strap member includes at least two structures for engaging the lace; (E) a tensioning system for engaging the medial side strap element with the first strap member; (F) another tensioning system for engaging the lateral side strap element with the second strap member; and (G) a sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas Berend, Kevin J. Rucier, Patricia L. Smaldone, Chun-Chuan Lai
  • Patent number: 9833039
    Abstract: Sole structures and uppers for articles of footwear are described that includes features to enhance footwear flexibility, dexterity, natural motion feel, and/or tackiness. Such articles of footwear may provide enhanced properties and feel for use in skateboarding and other activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Dylan S. VanAtta
  • Publication number: 20170164683
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes projection members providing sensory feedback. The projection members are movable relative to an upper of the article of footwear. When the upper encounters a surface of an object, the projection members may be displaced in a direction towards wearer's foot. The projection members may be configured so that they are inserted into apertures located on the upper, and extend above an outer surface of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan S. Van Atta, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Patent number: 9585434
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes projection members providing sensory feedback. The projection members are disposed on a base layer which is attached to an upper of an article of footwear. When the upper encounters a surface of an object, the projection members and base layer may be displaced in a direction towards wearer's foot. The projection members may be configured so that they are inserted into apertures located on the upper, and extend above the outer surface of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dylan S. Van Atta, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Publication number: 20170000217
    Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Stephen D. Pelletier, JR., Jeremy L. Connell
  • Patent number: 9474324
    Abstract: An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Stephen D. Pelletier, Jr., Jeremy L. Connell
  • Patent number: 9468261
    Abstract: An article of footwear for snowboarding includes a tongue with adjustable stiffness. The tongue includes a flexible intermediate portion and the flexibility of the intermediate portion can be controlled by a tension control system. As the tension control system applies increased tension to the tongue, the flexibility of the intermediate portion is decreased, which increases the overall stiffness of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Stephen D. Pelletier, Jr., Jeremy L. Connell, Steven C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 9427041
    Abstract: A heated article of footwear that includes an outer shell and a removable inner liner is described. The inner liner includes a heating system with a toe cap heating element. The toe cap heating element is disposed around a perimeter of the forefoot region of the inner liner. The heating system is integrated within the inner liner and is removable with the inner liner from the outer shell. A power source for the heating system is contained within a battery compartment area disposed along a cuff of the inner liner to provide access to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaroslav J. Lupinek, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Publication number: 20160166009
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include: (A) an upper; (B) a rear heel strap member engaged with or integrally formed with the upper and including: (i) a rear heel element, (ii) a lateral side strap element, and (iii) a medial side strap element; (C) a first strap member extending along the medial side of the upper, wherein the first strap member includes at least one structure for engaging a lace; (D) a second strap member extending along the lateral side of the upper, wherein the second strap member includes at least two structures for engaging the lace; (E) a tensioning system for engaging the medial side strap element with the first strap member; (F) another tensioning system for engaging the lateral side strap element with the second strap member; and (G) a sole structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas Berend, Kevin J. Rucier, Patricia L. Smaldone, Chun-Chuan Lai
  • Publication number: 20160150851
    Abstract: An indicator for a heated article of footwear that includes an outer shell and a removable inner liner is described. The inner liner includes a heating system with an indicator disposed on a forefoot region of the inner liner. The heating system is integrated within the inner liner and is removable with the inner liner from the outer shell. A viewing window is disposed on the outer shell at a location corresponding to the indicator located on the inner liner. With this arrangement, the status condition of the heating system on the inner liner may be communicated to a wearer of the article through the viewing window from within the interior of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Jaroslav J. Lupinek, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Publication number: 20160143395
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes projection members providing sensory feedback. The projection members are disposed on a base layer which is attached to an upper of an article of footwear. When the upper encounters a surface of an object, the projection members and base layer may be displaced in a direction towards wearer's foot. The projection members may be configured so that they are inserted into apertures located on the upper, and extend above the outer surface of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Dylan S. Van Atta, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Patent number: 9295304
    Abstract: Articles of footwear, including athletic footwear, include cleat structures, strapping systems, sole structures, and/or improved natural motion characteristics are described. Also, methods for making such articles of footwear (and particularly sole structures for articles of footwear) are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas Berend, Kevin J. Rucier, Patricia L. Smaldone, Chun-Chuan Lai
  • Patent number: 9241536
    Abstract: Sole structures and uppers for articles of footwear are described that includes features to enhance footwear flexibility, dexterity, natural motion feel, and/or tackiness. Such articles of footwear may provide enhanced properties and feel for use in skateboarding and other activities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Dylan S. VanAtta
  • Patent number: 9220315
    Abstract: An indicator for a heated article of footwear that includes an outer shell and a removable inner liner is described. The inner liner includes a heating system with an indicator disposed on a forefoot region of the inner liner. The heating system is integrated within the inner liner and is removable with the inner liner from the outer shell. A viewing window is disposed on the outer shell at a location corresponding to the indicator located on the inner liner. With this arrangement, the status condition of the heating system on the inner liner may be communicated to a wearer of the article through the viewing window from within the interior of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jaroslav J. Lupinek, Patricia L. Smaldone
  • Publication number: 20150089836
    Abstract: Sole structures and uppers for articles of footwear are described that includes features to enhance footwear flexibility, dexterity, natural motion feel, and/or tackiness. Such articles of footwear may provide enhanced properties and feel for use in skateboarding and other activities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patricia L. Smaldone, Dylan S. VanAtta