Patents by Inventor Thomas G. Bell

Thomas G. Bell 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).

  • Golf shoe with natural motion structures
    Patent number: 9414638
    Abstract: Golf shoes include one or more of the following: (a) a foot stabilizer system that interacts with a shoe securing system to securely engage and/or wrap around a foot of a wearer; (b) a natural motion sole, optionally including flex grooves that allow a weight transfer from back-to-front and/or from side-to-side; (c) a six cleat configuration (e.g., four cleats in a forefoot region, two cleats in a heel region, and no cleats located directly under a big toe); (d) a forefoot moderator plate positioned to moderate or reduce user feel of the forefoot cleats; (e) a lateral half heel counter extending from a rear heel area to a lateral midfoot or lateral forward heel area of the shoe; and/or (f) one or more medial, forefoot, sidewall traction elements at or near a big toe area of the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas G. Bell, Chip Jones, Brooke P. Rapf, Ricardo Salinas, Jr.
  • Footwear Incorporating Looped Tensile Strand Elements
    Publication number: 20160088902
    Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Kevin W. Hoffer, James C. Meschter, Robert C. Williams, JR.
  • Footwear Incorporating Looped Tensile Strand Elements
    Publication number: 20160088904
    Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Kevin W. Hoffer, James C. Meschter, Robert C. Williams, JR.
  • Decoupled Foot Stabilizer System
    Publication number: 20160051008
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extends underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members is configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2015
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Olivier Henrichot
  • Decoupled Foot Stabilizer System
    Publication number: 20160044989
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Publication date: February 18, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Olivier Henrichot
  • Decoupled foot stabilizer system
    Patent number: 9210966
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Olivier Henrichot
  • Method Of Making An Article Of Footwear Including Knitting A Knitted Component Of Warp Knit Construction Forming A Seamless Bootie
    Publication number: 20150342284
    Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a seamless bootie or textile upper formed from a knitted component removed from a knitted textile element of unitary warp knit construction. The knitted component may include a first knitted component portion in the form of a seamless bootie and a second knitted component portion associated with the first knitted component portion. In some embodiments the second knitted component portion may be tucked-in or folded into a pocket of first knitted component portion, such as a knitted dynamic fit component portion or a knitted tongue component portion. In some embodiments the second knitted component portion may be wrapped around at least part of the first knitted component portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Huffman, Amy Lyttle, Thomas G. Bell
  • Method Of Making An Article Of Footwear Including Knitting A Knitted Component Of Warp Knit Construction Forming A Seamless Bootie With Tucked-In Portion
    Publication number: 20150342285
    Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a seamless bootie or textile upper formed from a knitted component removed from a knitted textile element of unitary warp knit construction. The knitted component may include a first knitted component portion in the form of a seamless bootie and a second knitted component portion associated with the first knitted component portion. In some embodiments the second knitted component portion may be tucked-in or folded into a pocket of first knitted component portion, such as a knitted dynamic fit component portion or a knitted tongue component portion. In some embodiments the second kitted component portion may be wrapped around at least part of the first knitted component portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Huffman, Amy Lyttle, Thomas G. Bell
  • Method Of Making An Article Of Footwear Including Knitting A Knitted Component Of Warp Knit Construction Forming A Seamless Bootie With Wrap-Around Portion
    Publication number: 20150342286
    Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a seamless bootie or textile upper formed from a knitted component removed from a knitted textile element of unitary warp knit construction. The knitted component may include a first knitted component portion in the form of a seamless bootie and a second knitted component portion associated with the first knitted component portion. In some embodiments the second knitted component portion may be tucked-in or folded into a pocket of first knitted component portion, such as a knitted dynamic fit component portion or a knitted tongue component portion. In some embodiments the second kitted component portion may be wrapped around at least part of the first knitted component portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE. Inc.
    Inventors: Julie A. Huffman, Amy Lyttle, Thomas G. Bell
  • Footwear incorporating looped tensile strand elements
    Patent number: 9179739
    Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Kevin W. Hoffer, James C Meschter, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Method of Knitting a Knitted Component for an Article of Footwear
    Publication number: 20150272261
    Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a textile upper. The upper comprises a knitted component. The knitted component may be warp knitted. The knitted component has an outer side and an inner side that can have different knit configurations. The knitted component can also incorporate portions of a single layer construction and portions of a double layer construction. The double layer construction forms pockets on portions of the knitted component. Inserts can be placed into the pockets to provide support, stability, or other desired properties to the portions of the knitted component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bhupesh Dua, Julie A. Huffman, Amy Lyttle
  • Woven textile bag
    Patent number: 9131749
    Abstract: Woven textile structures constructed using dual-loom technology are provided. Filaments are woven in such a way as to create a first set of different discrete layers of the same fabric in some regions of the textile and a second set of discrete layers of the same fabric at other regions of the same textile. The different layers are used to construct various textile structures such as a woven bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Julia Roether, Thomas G. Bell, Tory M. Cross
  • Article of Footwear with Integral Upper and Sole
    Publication number: 20150223559
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a method of assembling the article of footwear are disclosed. The method includes folding the article of footwear from a flat configuration and attaching top and bottom lateral edges to form the article of footwear. A kit of parts containing an article of footwear with an integral upper and sole and a set of instructions is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Michael R. Friton
  • Method of knitting a knitted component for an article of footwear
    Patent number: 9084449
    Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a textile upper. The upper comprises a knitted component. The knitted component may be warp knitted. The knitted component has an outer side and an inner side that can have different knit configurations. The knitted component can also incorporate portions of a single layer construction and portions of a double layer construction. The double layer construction forms pockets on portions of the knitted component. Inserts can be placed into the pockets to provide support, stability, or other desired properties to the portions of the knitted component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bhupesh Dua, Julie A. Huffman, Amy Lyttle
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D745259
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D746035
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D746571
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D746572
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Shoe upper
    Patent number: D747089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield
  • Shoe outsole
    Patent number: D764781
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield