Patents by Inventor Patrick Y. Choe

Patrick Y. Choe 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: 20190053571
    Abstract: The invention relates to shoes including sole elements having a cambered profile. An example sole element includes a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion including a longitudinal arch including a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: New Balance Athletics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Bjornson, Marya Lourdes Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, Bernard Jankowski, Sean B. Murphy
  • Patent number: 9867424
    Abstract: The invention relates to parts having a foamed polymeric material attached to a fabric, and systems and methods for forming same. An example method of attaching foamed polymeric material to a fabric layer includes providing a mold having at least one cavity and at least one material injection channel in fluid communication with the cavity, disposing a fabric over the at least one cavity, closing the mold, injecting unfoamed polymeric material into the at least one cavity through the material injection channel, wherein the unfoamed polymeric material penetrates at least a portion of the fabric proximate the at least one cavity to attach the polymeric material to the fabric layer, and foaming the unfoamed polymeric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: New Balance Athletics, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wawrousek, Sean B. Murphy, Matthew Dunbar, Patrick Y. Choe
  • Patent number: 9750303
    Abstract: The invention relates to shoes including sole elements having a cambered profile. An example sole element includes a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion including a longitudinal arch including a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: New Balance Athletics, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew A. Bjornson, Marya Lourdes Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, Bernard Jankowski, Sean B. Murphy
  • Patent number: 9708456
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for creating a foamed part. An example method includes providing a polymer processing system, providing a mold having at least one expandable mold cavity in fluid communication with the polymer processing system, mixing polymeric material and blowing agent within the polymer processing system to produce a unfoamed mixture, injecting a volume of the mixture of polymeric material and blowing agent from the polymer processing system and into the expandable mold cavity, and expanding the mold cavity to expand the unfoamed mixture within the mold cavity and form the foamed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: New Balance Athletics, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick Y. Choe, Sean B. Murphy, Levi A. Kishbaugh
  • Publication number: 20140259769
    Abstract: The invention relates to shoes including sole elements having a cambered profile. An example sole element includes a midsole having a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, the midfoot portion including a longitudinal arch including a medial longitudinal arch portion and a lateral longitudinal arch portion, wherein the longitudinal arch is at least partially elevated above a ground surface in an unloaded condition and deforms towards a ground surface and elongates longitudinally in a loaded condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Andrew A. Bjornson, Marya Lourdes Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, Bernard Jankowski, Sean B. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20130276333
    Abstract: The invention relates to parts having a foamed polymeric material attached to a fabric, and systems and methods for forming same. An example method of attaching foamed polymeric material to a fabric layer includes providing a mold having at least one cavity and at least one material injection channel in fluid communication with the cavity, disposing a fabric over the at least one cavity, closing the mold, injecting unfoamed polymeric material into the at least one cavity through the material injection channel, wherein the unfoamed polymeric material penetrates at least a portion of the fabric proximate the at least one cavity to attach the polymeric material to the fabric layer, and foaming the unfoamed polymeric material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wawrousek, Sean B. Murphy, Matthew Dunbar, Patrick Y. Choe
  • Patent number: 8387280
    Abstract: A midsole element is adapted for positioning on a medial or lateral side of a shoe. The midsole element, having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a compression element, which has at least two first strut members and at least two second strut members disposed between the top and bottom portions and supporting the top portion a distance away from the bottom portion. The at least two first strut members being separated by a first longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction. The at least two second strut members being separated by a second longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction and each of said first and second transversely disposed two strut members are oriented and adapted to preferentially deflect in the same direction in response to a force imparted on the midsole element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Grote, Patrick Y. Choe, Sean Murphy
  • Patent number: 8387279
    Abstract: A shoe sole and shoe are provided for offsetting a wearer's side-to-side balance to encourage a wearer's conditioning and toning. The shoe sole includes a midsole width that underlies and supports a wearer's foot, and an upper midsole portion undercut at its peripheral sidewall around the heel to define a horizontal indentation. A lower midsole portion has a corresponding “undercut” in its upper surface that angles downward and outward from the indentation. The depth of the indentation forms a balancing portion between the medially and laterally placed indentations that is narrower than the midsole width, thereby forcing the wearer to adjust one's walking gait to maintain balance over the balancing portion. A structure with a base portion can be disposed along the indentation with upward and or downward extending extensions disposed along the peripheral sidewall. The structure can include leaf springs extending transversely over a central midsole portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Pauk, Andrew W. Spieth, Patrick Y. Choe, Timothy Downing, Sean Murphy
  • Publication number: 20120196115
    Abstract: The invention relates to systems and methods for creating a foamed part. An example method includes providing a polymer processing system, providing a mold having at least one expandable mold cavity in fluid communication with the polymer processing system, mixing polymeric material and blowing agent within the polymer processing system to produce a unfoamed mixture, injecting a volume of the mixture of polymeric material and blowing agent from the polymer processing system and into the expandable mold cavity, and expanding the mold cavity to expand the unfoamed mixture within the mold cavity and form the foamed part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Patrick Y. Choe, Sean B. Murphy, Levi A. Kishbaugh
  • Publication number: 20100236096
    Abstract: A shoe sole and shoe are provided for offsetting a wearer's side-to-side balance to encourage a wearer's conditioning and toning. The shoe sole includes a midsole width that underlies and supports a wearer's foot, and an upper midsole portion undercut at its peripheral sidewall around the heel to define a horizontal indentation. A lower midsole portion has a corresponding “undercut” in its upper surface that angles downward and outward from the indentation. The depth of the indentation forms a balancing portion between the medially and laterally placed indentations that is narrower than the midsole width, thereby forcing the wearer to adjust one's walking gait to maintain balance over the balancing portion. A structure with a base portion can be disposed along the indentation with upward and or downward extending extensions disposed along the peripheral sidewall. The structure can include leaf springs extending transversely over a central midsole portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew R. Pauk, Andrew W. Spieth, Patrick Y. Choe, Timothy Downing, Sean Murphy
  • Patent number: 7793432
    Abstract: An element forming at least part of a midsole for footwear includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least two strut members disposed between the top and bottom plates for supporting the top plate a distance away from the bottom plate. The top, bottom and struts may be formed of different materials. Adjacent strut members have a C shaped cross-section facing in the same direction when the midsole resting its top or bottom portion is viewed from the side. The midsole element may further comprise a heel cleft to increase the flexibility of the sole. In a preferred embodiment, the strut members on the medial side are arranged at an angle to the strut members on the lateral side of the sole. The directional design provides flexibility and stiffness anisotropically to the sole in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the sole respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
    Inventors: Marya L. Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, David J. Dirsa, Edith Harmon-Weiss, Sean B. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20100126040
    Abstract: A midsole element is adapted for positioning on a medial or lateral side of a shoe. The midsole element, having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction, includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and a compression element, which has at least two first strut members and at least two second strut members disposed between the top and bottom portions and supporting the top portion a distance away from the bottom portion. The at least two first strut members being separated by a first longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction. The at least two second strut members being separated by a second longitudinal distance in the longitudinal direction and each of said first and second transversely disposed two strut members are oriented and adapted to preferentially deflect in the same direction in response to a force imparted on the midsole element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul S. Grote, Patrick Y. Choe, Sean Murphy
  • Publication number: 20090013559
    Abstract: An element forming at least part of a midsole for footwear includes a top portion, a bottom portion, and at least two strut members disposed between the top and bottom plates for supporting the top plate a distance away from the bottom plate. The top, bottom and struts may be formed of different materials. Adjacent strut members have a C shaped cross-section facing in the same direction when the midsole resting its top or bottom portion is viewed from the side. The midsole element may further comprise a heel cleft to increase the flexibility of the sole. In a preferred embodiment, the strut members on the medial side are arranged at an angle to the strut members on the lateral side of the sole. The directional design provides flexibility and stiffness anisotropically to the sole in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the sole respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
    Inventors: Marya L. Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, David J. Dirsa, Edith Harmon-Weiss, Sean B. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7383647
    Abstract: A midsole for footwear comprising a midsole element, which comprises a top plate, a bottom plate, and a plurality of strut members disposed between the top and bottom plates for supporting the top plate a distance away from the bottom plate. Adjacent strut members have a C shaped cross-section facing in the same direction. The midsole element may further comprise a heel cleft to increase the flexibility of the sole. In a preferred embodiment, the strut members on the medial side are arranged at an angle to the strut members on the lateral side of the sole. The directional design provides flexibility and stiffness anisotropically to the sole in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the sole respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc
    Inventors: Marya L. Chan, Patrick Y. Choe, David J. Dirsa, Edith Harmon-Weiss, Sean B. Murphy
  • Patent number: 7293370
    Abstract: An object of footwear for children which allows adults to visually determine whether the shoe proper fits the child and can be adjusted in its effective size when it is determined that the shoe has become too small. The article of footwear comprises a fitting system comprising: (1) a substantially transparent window disposed in a predetermined location in the vamp so that when a wearer who has a foot that properly fits in the article of footwear puts on the article of footwear, a portion of a toe of the wearer can be seen through the window, and (2) a sizing member attached to the upper, the sizing member being placed within the opening against the heel portion to create a first effective size of the article of footwear, the sizing member being removable to create a second effective size of the article of footwear. The present invention also provides a method of determining when to adjust the effective size of an article of footwear and adjusting the effective size of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua G. Kaplan, Patrick Y. Choe, Sean B. Murphy