Patents by Inventor Steven H Walker

Steven H Walker 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: 20230321562
    Abstract: A system may include an output manifold that may be in fluid communication with a reservoir and that may include multiple discharge ports. Each of the discharge ports may be configured to discharge electrorheological fluid into a housing. A recovery manifold may be in fluid communication with the reservoir and include multiple recovery ports. Each of the recovery ports may be configured to receive the electrorheological fluid from a housing. A gas remover may be positioned to extract gas from the electrorheological fluid received from the recovery ports. A housing may be connected to the system, and electrorheological fluid from the system may be pumped through the housing and the gas remover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2023
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Katherine Stegner
  • Patent number: 11771151
    Abstract: Systems and methods for integrating and using sensor system in articles of apparel are provided. The system may include an apparel piece sized and dimensioned to be worn on a user and a sensor system integrated with the apparel piece. The sensor system may include at least one stretchable capacitive sensor positioned on the apparel piece so as to measure a biometric parameter of the user when the apparel piece is worn, an illumination system configured to provide illumination in a specified illumination area based on the measured biometric parameter of the user, and a control module to control one or more settings of the illumination system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Patent number: 11766095
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. Information about the sensed proximity can be used to determine a foot velocity characteristic, which in turn can be used to update an automated footwear function, such as an automatic lacing function, or can be used to determine a step count, foot strike force, a rate of travel, or other information about a foot, about an activity, or about the footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Patent number: 11751635
    Abstract: An article of footwear can include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. An automated tensioning system can be configured to provide and perform a variety of functions associated with the fastening of the article of footwear. The automated tensioning system may tighten and loosen the article of footwear through the operation of a motor. The automated tensioning system may also be able to store and recall a preset tension level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Holli Pheil, Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings, Ryan Frederick, Austin Palmer, Michael Ciuffo, Steven H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20230263266
    Abstract: A sole structure may include chambers and a transfer channel containing an electrorheological fluid. Electrodes may be positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the electrorheological fluid in the transfer channel. The sole structure may further include a controller including a processor and memory. At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions executable by the processor to perform operations that include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-inhibiting levels at which flow of the electrorheological fluid the through the transfer channel is blocked, and that further include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-enabling levels permitting flow of the electrorheological fluid through the transfer channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Rolando Pausal
  • Patent number: 11712640
    Abstract: A system may include an output manifold that may be in fluid communication with a reservoir and that may include multiple discharge ports. Each of the discharge ports may be configured to discharge electrorheological fluid into a housing. A recovery manifold may be in fluid communication with the reservoir and include multiple recovery ports. Each of the recovery ports may be configured to receive the electrorheological fluid from a housing. A gas remover may be positioned to extract gas from the electrorheological fluid received from the recovery ports. A housing may be connected to the system, and electrorheological fluid from the system may be pumped through the housing and the gas remover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Katherine Stegner
  • Patent number: 11684111
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a motorized tensioning system, sensors, and a gesture control system. Based on information received from one or more sensors the gesture control system may detect a prompting gesture and enters an armed mode for receiving further instructions. In the armed mode the system may detect a variety of different control gestures that correspond to different tensioning commands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany B. Henrichot, Steven H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20230172311
    Abstract: An article may include a first polymeric material layer having a surface. A first conductive trace may form at least a portion of the first layer surface. The article may further include a second polymeric material layer. The second layer may have a first surface, a portion of the second layer first surface being bonded to a portion of the first layer surface. The second layer may have a portion of a channel defined therein, the channel at least partially coinciding with a portion of the first conductive trace. The article may also include a first patch interposed between the first layer surface and the second layer first surface. The first patch may span the channel and cover a portion of the first conductive trace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2023
    Publication date: June 8, 2023
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Chin-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11666116
    Abstract: A sole structure may include chambers and a transfer channel containing an electrorheological fluid. Electrodes may be positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the electrorheological fluid in the transfer channel. The sole structure may further include a controller including a processor and memory. At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions executable by the processor to perform operations that include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-inhibiting levels at which flow of the electrorheological fluid the through the transfer channel is blocked, and that further include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-enabling levels permitting flow of the electrorheological fluid through the transfer channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Rolando Pausal
  • Publication number: 20230148905
    Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adriana Guerrero, Steven H. Walker, Aaron B. Weast
  • Publication number: 20230087070
    Abstract: A sole structure may include chambers and a transfer channel containing an electrorheological fluid. Electrodes may be positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the electrorheological fluid in the transfer channel. The sole structure may further include a controller including a processor and memory. At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions executable by the processor to perform operations that include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-inhibiting levels at which flow of the electrorheological fluid the through the transfer channel is blocked, and that further include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-enabling levels permitting flow of the electrorheological fluid through the transfer channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Rolando Pausal
  • Patent number: 11596200
    Abstract: An article may include a first polymeric material layer having a surface. A first conductive trace may form at least a portion of the first layer surface. The article may further include a second polymeric material layer. The second layer may have a first surface, a portion of the second layer first surface being bonded to a portion of the first layer surface. The second layer may have a portion of a channel defined therein, the channel at least partially coinciding with a portion of the first conductive trace. The article may also include a first patch interposed between the first layer surface and the second layer first surface. The first patch may span the channel and cover a portion of the first conductive trace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Chin-yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11576464
    Abstract: A sole structure may include chambers and a transfer channel containing an electrorheological fluid. Electrodes may be positioned to create, in response to a voltage across the electrodes, an electrical field in at least a portion of the electrorheological fluid in the transfer channel. The sole structure may further include a controller including a processor and memory. At least one of the processor and memory may store instructions executable by the processor to perform operations that include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-inhibiting levels at which flow of the electrorheological fluid the through the transfer channel is blocked, and that further include maintaining the voltage across the electrodes at one or more flow-enabling levels permitting flow of the electrorheological fluid through the transfer channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Raymond L. Nicoli, Rolando Pausal
  • Publication number: 20230042337
    Abstract: An illumination source may be configured to illuminate the skin of the user. An illumination detector may detect electromagnetic radiation reflected of the skin of the user. A compensation module may be configured to determine the position of the skin of the user relative to the illumination detector. A processor may be configured to determine a heart rate of the user by analyzing information corresponding to an amount of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the illumination detector. The processor may also determine the heart rate of the user by compensating for the position of the skin of the user as determined by the compensation module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Patent number: 11564597
    Abstract: Systems and methods for prompting a user to perform an exercise and monitoring the exercise are provided. Multiple independent sensors or sensor systems may be used to calculate energy expenditure. Various criteria may be used to manually or automatically select the independent sensor or sensor system or combination that will be used with the energy expenditure calculations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adriana Guerrero, Steven H. Walker, Aaron B. Weast
  • Patent number: 11478156
    Abstract: An illumination source may be configured to illuminate the skin of the user. An illumination detector may detect electromagnetic radiation reflected of the skin of the user. A compensation module may be configured to determine the position of the skin of the user relative to the illumination detector. A processor may be configured to determine a heart rate of the user by analyzing information corresponding to an amount of the electromagnetic radiation detected by the illumination detector. The processor may also determine the heart rate of the user by compensating for the position of the skin of the user as determined by the compensation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven H. Walker
  • Publication number: 20220279899
    Abstract: A foot presence sensor system for an active article of footwear can include a sensor housing configured to be disposed at or in an insole of the article, and a controller circuit, disposed within the sensor housing, configured to trigger one or more automated functions of the footwear based on a foot presence indication. In an example, the sensor system includes a capacitive sensor, and the sensor is configured to sense changes in a foot proximity to the sensor in footwear. A baseline or reference condition for the capacitive sensor can be updated to accommodate different use conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Phillip Meneau
  • Publication number: 20220202121
    Abstract: An article of apparel can include an aperture. An electroadhesive clutch device can be coupled to, or integrated with, the article of apparel, and the clutch device can be configured to selectively open and close the aperture. An electric signal generator can be coupled to the clutch device and configured to provide one or more signals to the clutch device to thereby open or close the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Iustinia Koshkaroff, Daniel Stuart, Eun Kyung Lee, Christopher Andon
  • Publication number: 20220209690
    Abstract: An article of apparel can include or use an electroadhesive clutch device. The device can include an elongate encasing for a first electrode assembly and a second electrode assembly each having a respective first and second electrode. The first and second electrodes can be at least partially overlapping and configured to slide or move relative to each other. The device can include an electrical signal generator configured to provide first and second signals to the first and second electrode assemblies, respectively, wherein the first electrode assembly is configured to slide laterally relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are not applied, and is configured to remain static relative to the second electrode assembly when the first and second signals are applied. The apparel can include a textile material to which the encasing is attached at least at a first end of the encasing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Iustinia Koshkaroff, Daniel Stuart, Eun Kyung Lee, Christopher Andon
  • Publication number: 20220202104
    Abstract: An adaptive article of apparel can include a textile with an opening that is configured to admit a body part of a wearer, and an electroadhesive clutch secured to the textile and extending around at least a portion of the opening. The electroadhesive clutch can be configured to permit or inhibit changing a size of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Steven H. Walker, Iustinia Koshkaroff, Daniel Stuart, Eun Kyung Lee, Christopher Andon