Patents by Inventor Tiffany A. Beers

Tiffany A. Beers 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).

  • ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR AND CHARGING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200037694
    Abstract: A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging unit with one or more components configured for use with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. The components can be magnetically joined to the article in some cases. Upon connection with a power source, the article may be configured to unlace automatically. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in an automated tensioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventor: Tiffany A. Beers
  • ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR COMPRISING MOTORIZED TENSIONING DEVICE WITH SPLIT SPOOL SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20200000179
    Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Publication date: January 2, 2020
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Footwear upper with lace-engaged zipper system
    Patent number: 10512298
    Abstract: A footwear upper comprises a front section and a rear section. The front section is at least partially forward of the rear section and at least partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. The front section has a medial edge and a lateral edge partially defining a foot entry opening. A zipper system includes a medial slider movable along the medial edge of the front section to zip the rear section to the medial edge, a medial zipper pull engaged with the medial slider, a lateral slider movable along the lateral edge of the front section to zip the rear section to the lateral edge, and a lateral zipper pull engaged with the lateral slider. A tightening system includes a lace-receiving feature on the front section forward of the zipper system, and a lace extending through the lace-receiving feature, through the medial zipper pull, and through the lateral zipper pull.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Jared M. Kilmer, Ami M. Davis
  • ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR AND CHARGING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190365015
    Abstract: A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging unit with one or more components configured for use with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. The components can be magnetically joined to the article in some cases. Upon connection with a power source, the article may be configured to unlace automatically. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in an automated tensioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventor: Tiffany A. Beers
  • Article of footwear and charging system
    Patent number: 10477911
    Abstract: A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging unit with one or more components configured for use with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. The components can be magnetically joined to the article in some cases. Upon connection with a power source, the article may be configured to unlace automatically. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in an automated tensioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Tiffany A. Beers
  • LIGHTING ASSEMBLY FOR ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190328076
    Abstract: An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components such as a lighting apparatus. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include a chamber designed to receive the lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus can be installed in the chamber after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the lighting apparatus can include provisions for facilitating the installation of the lighting apparatus in the chamber, including a removable handle portion that can help guide the lighting apparatus within the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2019
    Publication date: October 31, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Motorized tensioning system
    Patent number: 10413020
    Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings, Cody Collier Henderson, James Alan Capra, Mark Stanley Soderberg, Daniel Hipwood
  • Article of footwear comprising motorized tensioning device with split spool system
    Patent number: 10405610
    Abstract: A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a tensioning member that is tightened or loosened using a motorized tensioning device for winding and unwinding the tensioning member on a spool. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensioning member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR AND A CHARGING SYSTEM FOR AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190261725
    Abstract: A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging device dimensioned to be used with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in a motorized tensioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: August 29, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • LACE ROUTING PATTERN OF A LACING SYSTEM FOR AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190254383
    Abstract: A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2019
    Publication date: August 22, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Lighting assembly for articles of footwear
    Patent number: 10383389
    Abstract: An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components such as a lighting apparatus. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include a chamber designed to receive the lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus can be installed in the chamber after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the lighting apparatus can include provisions for facilitating the installation of the lighting apparatus in the chamber, including a removable handle portion that can help guide the lighting apparatus within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Footwear having motorized adjustment system and elastic upper
    Patent number: 10376018
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers
  • ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH A TENSIONING SYSTEM INCLUDING A GUIDE ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20190208864
    Abstract: An article with an automatic tensioning system includes a lace guide assembly. The lace guide assembly includes a lower guide member and two upper guide members that include channels for routing a tensioning member. Straps of the upper are attached to the two upper guide members. As the tensioning member is pulled into a tensioning device, the two upper guide members are pulled toward the lower guide member. This pulls on the straps and acts to tighten the upper around a foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2018
    Publication date: July 11, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Method of forming an aperture in a reel member of a tensioning system for an article of footwear
    Patent number: 10342293
    Abstract: A method of chamfering an aperture in a reel member of a tensioning system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis. The reel member includes a shaft and at least one flange disposed along the shaft. The flange includes an aperture extending through the flange. The aperture is configured to receive a lace. The reel member can tighten the tensioning system by winding the lace around portions of the shaft disposed on both sides of the at least one flange. The method of chamfering the aperture includes drilling through an end flange of the reel member to reach the center flange of the reel member in order to chamfer the aperture. The chamfered aperture can assist with sliding the lace through the aperture and distributing tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • POSITION SENSING ASSEMBLY FOR A TENSIONING SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20190174870
    Abstract: A position sensing assembly for a tensioning system designed to provide tension to a lace, cord, or other type of strand is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis and the position sensing assembly. The position sensing assembly includes a shaft, an indicator tab, and an optical sensing unit. The position sensing assembly assists in controlling the degree to which the strand is tightened and loosened. The position sensing assembly prevents tightening of the strand when the strand is meant to be loosened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Sole plate for an article of footwear
    Patent number: 10292451
    Abstract: An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components. A sole plate can include one or more specialized compartments designed to receive a component. The sole plate can be configured to provide greater stability to a sole structure. In some cases, the sole plate can be used to receive a component that can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system. Tabs within the sole plate can assist with retaining components within the sole plate and provide additional surface area for mounting the sole plate to other components of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • SENSOR FOR AN ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190104802
    Abstract: An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the use of a sensor device and protecting the sensor device from external particles or fluid. The sensor device can include a conduit for moving air through the sensor device from one portion of the sensor device to another portion of the sensor device. An elastic membrane can be attached to an opening formed in the sensor device. The elastic membrane can deform in response to changes in air pressure within the sensor device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • TENSIONING SYSTEM AND REEL MEMBER FOR FOOTWEAR
    Publication number: 20190098963
    Abstract: A tensioning system for an article of footwear includes a motor, a reel member in communication with the motor, and a lace, the reel member comprising a shaft including a central axis running from a first end to a second end and at least three flanges disposed along the shaft. A center flange of the at least three flanges includes an aperture extending through the center flange from a first face to a second face of the center flange, the aperture aligned with the central axis. A portion of the lace extends through the aperture in the center flange to interconnect the lace with the reel member and the lace is configured to be wound around portions of the shaft disposed on opposite sides of the center flange when the tensioning system is in a tightened condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2017
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • Lace routing pattern of a lacing system for an article of footwear
    Patent number: 10244822
    Abstract: A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, Andrew A. Owings
  • FOOTWEAR HAVING MOTORIZED ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND REMOVABLE MIDSOLE
    Publication number: 20190090589
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer and a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper, the sole structure including a ground-contacting outer member and a removable midsole. The footwear may further include a motorized tensioning system including a power source, a control unit, a tensile member, and a motorized tightening device, the motorized tightening device being attached to an outer surface of the upper, and the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear. In addition, the power source and the control unit of the tensioning system may be configured to be removably disposed in the removable midsole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers