Patents by Inventor Susan L. Sokolowski
Susan L. Sokolowski 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).
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Patent number: 8505216Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the footwear are disclosed. The footwear has an upper and a sole structure. The upper is secured to sole structure and the upper is formed from three layers: a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The second layer is formed from a polymer material and molded to the first layer, but the second layer may alternately be molded to the third layer. The third layer is joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 2012Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Susanne Amalie Wolf-Hochdoerffer
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Patent number: 8480452Abstract: A seamless athletic bra includes different regions with different levels of support. The bra is formed from layers of material adhered together. Altering the types of materials comprising the layers in a region changes the level of support in that region as compared with other regions of the bra. A first region having the lowest level of support is found in a back panel and in the molded cups. A second region having a medium level of support is found in the front portion of the strap. A third region having a high level of support is found in a framework that follows the contours of the molded cups and in a back portion of the strap.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2012Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dana Reinisch, Susan L. Sokolowski
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Patent number: 8468720Abstract: An article of footwear is disclosed that includes an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a midsole element that defines a void, and the void may extend substantially vertically through a central area of the midsole element. The void may also extend between an upper surface and a lower surface of the midsole element to define an interior surface. A plurality of bores are also defined in the midsole element. The bores may extend substantially horizontally through the midsole element, and the bores may extend between an exterior surface of the midsole element and the void.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2011Date of Patent: June 25, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Susanne Amalie Wolf-Hochdoerffer, Lorrie Vogel
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Patent number: 8439721Abstract: Sport bras having one or more support grooves for lifting, separating, shaping a supporting a wearer's breasts and methods for fabricating these sport bra are described. The support grooves may be pressed into a layer of compressible material such that the support grooves extend from a central region along the wearer's sternum, curve underneath the breasts and extend upwardly towards the underarm region.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2010Date of Patent: May 14, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Andrea J. Staub
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Patent number: 8336118Abstract: Articles of apparel include: (a) a garment structure having one or more fabric elements structured and arranged to provide a close fit to at least one predetermined portion of a body (e.g., area(s) of the body for which enhanced position sensing and/or feedback are desired); and (b) a body position feedback system engaged with or integrally formed as part of the garment structure. The body position feedback system may apply higher tensile or constricting (compressive) forces to selected portions of the wearer's body and/or stretch resistance, which can help stimulate or interact with nerves and deep tissue receptors located in various portions of the body. The increased forces at selected locations of the body give the wearer sensory feedback regarding the position or orientation of these parts of the body and can improve or accelerate development of “muscle memory.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 2008Date of Patent: December 25, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Matthew D. Nordstrom, Susan L. Sokolowski
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Publication number: 20120291314Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the footwear are disclosed. The footwear has an upper and a sole structure. The upper is secured to sole structure and the upper is formed from three layers: a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The second layer is formed from a polymer material and molded to the first layer, but the second layer may alternately be molded to the third layer. The third layer is joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 6, 2012Publication date: November 22, 2012Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Susanne Amalie Wolf-Hochdoerffer
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Publication number: 20120240429Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper with a knitted element formed through a flat knitting process. In one configuration, the knitted element has an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer. The first layer is formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer is joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer. In another configuration, a knitted element for footwear includes a foot-receiving portion and one or more straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion. The foot-receiving portion defines a void for receiving the foot, and the strap(s) extend outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2012Publication date: September 27, 2012Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Bhupesh Dua, Edward Nathaniel Thomas
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Patent number: 8262432Abstract: A lightweight enhanced modesty sports bra is provided. The sports bra comprises an interior liner layer having two faces and an exterior shell layer having two faces and a printed obscuration pattern in between the interior liner layer and the exterior shell layer. The interior liner layer and the exterior shell layer with the printed obscuration pattern are assembled in a way that provides modesty and the printed pattern is not visible from the outside. An optional layer called the intermediate liner layer may be placed in between the exterior shell layer and the interior liner layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Susan L. Sokolowski
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Publication number: 20120222189Abstract: A garment, such as a sports uniform, may provide visibility zones and/or flicker zones to enhance the ability of teammates to perceive the wearer. Different zones on a garment may have different sets of visual properties that may contrast with one another and/or a visual background. A denier differential between layers of a garment may facilitate moisture transport across the layers of the garment. Flicker zones may be discrete from or combined with visibility zones. One or more zones of a garment may also be substantially non-reflective at wavelengths associated with the visual background encountered while wearing the garment.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 2, 2012Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Kirk M. Mayer, Amir H. Morgan, Alan W. Reichow, Andrea J. Staub, Stephanie J. Scott
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Patent number: 8225530Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper with a knitted element formed through a flat knitting process. In one configuration, the knitted element has an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer. The first layer is formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer is joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer. In another configuration, a knitted element for footwear includes a foot-receiving portion and one or more straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion. The foot-receiving portion defines a void for receiving the foot, and the strap(s) extend outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Bhupesh Dua, Edward Nathaniel Thomas
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Publication number: 20120178343Abstract: A moisture management fabric using denier differential to facilitate the movement of sweat away from the wearer's body is presented. An exemplary moisture management support garment constructed from an exemplary moisture management fabric is presented. An exemplary moisture management support garment is a moisture transporting sport bra. A denier differential is employed to provide superior moisture transporting and evaporation of perspiration from a wearer during exertion. The denier differential relies upon a facing layer and a back layer with substantially different yarn thickness and fabric porosity to achieve fluid transport.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2011Publication date: July 12, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Rebecca P. Hurd, Susan L. Sokolowski
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Patent number: 8215032Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the footwear are disclosed. The footwear has an upper and a sole structure. The upper is secured to sole structure and the upper is formed from three layers: a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The second layer is formed from a polymer material and molded to the first layer, but the second layer may alternately be molded to the third layer. The third layer is joined with at least one of the first layer and the second layer such that the second layer is positioned between the first layer and the third layer.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2010Date of Patent: July 10, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Susanne A. Wolf-Hochdoerffler
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Publication number: 20120159809Abstract: An article of footwear configured for use as a dance shoe is provided. The article of footwear can include an upper and a two-piece sole connected to the upper. The article can also include a cage support that surrounds a portion of the upper and aids in flexibility of the shoe. The article can also include a single piece liner with an integrated toe box. In addition, the shoe can include an offset lacing system. In another arrangement, the shoe can include an elastic wrap, connected to the bottom of the shoe on the inside of the upper. The wrap can act as a tongue to minimize contact between the offset lacing system and the dancer's foot. In yet another arrangement, the shoe can include different types of outsole supports.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 1, 2012Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: Susan L. Sokolowski
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Publication number: 20120122371Abstract: A seamless athletic bra includes different regions with different levels of support. The bra is formed from layers of material adhered together. Altering the types of materials comprising the layers in a region changes the level of support in that region as compared with other regions of the bra. A first region having the lowest level of support is found in a back panel and in the molded cups. A second region having a medium level of support is found in the front portion of the strap. A third region having a high level of support is found in a framework that follows the contours of the molded cups and in a back portion of the strap.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2012Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Dana Reinisch, Susan L. Sokolowski
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Publication number: 20120094575Abstract: Sport bras having one or more support grooves for lifting, separating, shaping a supporting a wearer's breasts and methods for fabricating these sport bra are described. The support grooves may be pressed into a layer of compressible material such that the support grooves extend from a central region along the wearer's sternum, curve underneath the breasts and extend upwardly towards the underarm region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2010Publication date: April 19, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Andrea J. Staub
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Patent number: 8151490Abstract: An article of footwear configured for use as a dance shoe is provided. The article of footwear can include an upper and a two-piece sole connected to the upper. The article can also include a cage support that surrounds a portion of the upper and aids in flexibility of the shoe. The article can also include a single piece liner with an integrated toe box. In addition, the shoe can include an offset lacing system. In another arrangement, the shoe can include an elastic wrap, connected to the bottom of the shoe on the inside of the upper. The wrap can act as a tongue to minimize contact between the offset lacing system and the dancer's foot. In yet another arrangement, the shoe can include different types of outsole supports.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Susan L. Sokolowski
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Patent number: 8146273Abstract: An article of footwear configured for use as a dance shoe is provided. The article of footwear can include an upper and a two-piece sole connected to the upper. The article can also include a cage support that surrounds a portion of the upper and aids in flexibility of the shoe. The article can also include a single piece liner with an integrated toe box. In addition, the shoe can include an offset lacing system. In another arrangement, the shoe can include an elastic wrap, connected to the bottom of the shoe on the inside of the upper. The wrap can act as a tongue to minimize contact between the offset lacing system and the dancer's foot. In yet another arrangement, the shoe can include different types of outsole supports.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Susan L. Sokolowski
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Patent number: 8128457Abstract: A seamless athletic bra includes different regions with different levels of support. The bra is formed from layers of material adhered together. Altering the types of materials comprising the layers in a region changes the level of support in that region as compared with other regions of the bra. A first region having the lowest level of support is found in a back panel and in the molded cups. A second region having a medium level of support is found in the front portion of the strap. A third region having a high level of support is found in a framework that follows the contours of the molded cups and in a back portion of the strap.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2008Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dana Reinisch, Susan L. Sokolowski
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Publication number: 20110302727Abstract: Articles of footwear include a textile upper member with an exterior constructed from knitted textile material, the exterior including a region with stability ribs and a second unribbed region. The region(s) having stability ribs may be located, for example: along a lateral midfoot side of the upper member; along a forefoot portion of the upper member; and/or along a medial midfoot side of the upper member. Other articles of footwear include an upper member having exterior and interior textile elements joined together in a stitchless manner at the foot-receiving opening of the upper member. The exterior surface of this upper member also may include one or more regions with stability structures. The stitchless textile engagement techniques can provide a smooth, non-bulky, and breathable joint that does not require thick layers of textile material in contact with or adjacent the wearer's foot.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2011Publication date: December 15, 2011Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Susanne Amalie Wolf-Hochdoerffer
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Publication number: 20110277206Abstract: Global Positioning System (GPS) optimizing garments and methods for performing athletic training using a GPS signal optimizing garment are described. The garment may have a three-dimensional pocket positioned to promote a GPS receiver obtaining an optimal GPS signal. The pocket may also be positioned on the garment to prevent interference with the movement of the wearer of the garment. The garment may also include heart rate monitor tabs for retaining a heart rate monitor device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2010Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventor: SUSAN L. SOKOLOWSKI