Patents by Inventor Timothy J. Smith

Timothy J. Smith 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).

  • Patent number: 12680204
    Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2026
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Jessica Green, Stephen Hipp, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, Christianna Wincek
  • Publication number: 20260157475
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a carcass layer including an interior liner defining an interior void of the upper and an exterior liner joined to the interior liner to define a plurality of resilient pads protruding from an exterior surface of the upper. In some examples, the upper includes an outer shell attached to the exterior liner of the carcass layer and including a plurality of openings each configured to receive a respective one of the resilient pads therethrough. Here, each of the resilient pads includes a distal end surface defining a first portion of a ball control surface and the outer shell defines a second portion of the ball control surface. In some implementations, each of the resilient pads includes a compressible material enclosed between the interior liner and the exterior liner. Optionally, each of the resilient pads includes a tensile element disposed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2026
    Publication date: June 11, 2026
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Jeremy L. Connell, Timothy J. Smith, Thomas Marchesini
  • Patent number: 12588730
    Abstract: Uppers for articles of footwear include an integrated pocket, e.g., accessible from the outside of the upper and/or article of footwear. In at least some examples, the pocket may be formed solely from structural components of the footwear upper, i.e., structural components provided in the upper for purposes other than to form the pocket. As some more specific examples, the footwear upper components forming the pocket may extend beyond the interior chamber of the pocket by at least 25 mm (and in some examples, at least 40 mm, at least 50 mm, at least 75 mm, or even at least 100 mm) in any direction (e.g., forward, rearward, upward, and/or downward from the pocket's interior chamber). The pocket may house an electronic module, such as one or more sensors for measuring features of an athlete's performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2026
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchung K. Chen, Neil Crumbleholme, Roberto De Marchi, Tetsuya T. Minami, Timothy J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20260068990
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an outsole having an outsole proximal surface and an outsole distal surface opposite the outsole proximal surface. The outsole defines a plurality of through-holes. The sole structure further includes a plurality of proprioceptive elements, each centered in and translatable within a different through-hole of the plurality of through-holes to enhance proprioception. The plurality of through-holes are aligned with the plurality of proprioceptive elements such that each of the plurality of proprioceptive elements extends from the different through-hole and is exposed at the outsole distal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver McLachlan, Yuchung K. Chen, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Patent number: 12557879
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear includes a carcass layer including an interior liner defining an interior void of the upper and an exterior liner joined to the interior liner to define a plurality of resilient pads protruding from an exterior surface of the upper. In some examples, the upper includes an outer shell attached to the exterior liner of the carcass layer and including a plurality of openings each configured to receive a respective one of the resilient pads therethrough. Here, each of the resilient pads includes a distal end surface defining a first portion of a ball control surface and the outer shell defines a second portion of the ball control surface. In some implementations, each of the resilient pads includes a compressible material enclosed between the interior liner and the exterior liner. Optionally, each of the resilient pads includes a tensile element disposed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2026
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Jeremy L. Connell, Timothy J. Smith, Thomas Marchesini
  • Publication number: 20260041197
    Abstract: A sole structure includes at least one of a plate shell or a plate chassis extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure and defining a peripheral edge of the sole structure. The sole structure further includes a plurality of first traction elements extending from the at least one of the plate shell or the plate chassis and arranged in an annular pattern in a forefoot region of the sole structure. A first rib extends along the peripheral edge of the sole structure from a first end adjacent to the forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end adjacent to the heel region of the sole structure, and a traction pad attached to the at least one of the plate shell or the plate chassis and surrounded by the plurality of the first traction elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver McLachlan, Colin M. Runkle, Timothy J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20260041203
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an inner frame including a first frame member disposed in a forefoot region and a second frame member formed independently from the first frame member and disposed in a heel region. The sole structure further includes an outer shell attached to and encapsulating each of the first frame member and the second frame member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2025
    Publication date: February 12, 2026
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel G. Lacey, Tetsuya T. Minami, Stuart D. Reinhardt, Colin M. Runkle, Timothy J. Smith
  • Patent number: 12471672
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes perforating a midsole body of a sole structure to form perforations through the midsole body, wherein the midsole body has perforated holes established by the perforations. The method includes disposing each of a plurality of proprioceptive elements of the sole structure in a different one of the perforated holes as an integral portion of the midsole body surrounded by the perforations. Each central axis of the plurality of proprioceptive elements disposed in a medial sidewall portion of the midsole body and a lateral sidewall portion of the midsole body is angled relative to a vertical axis of the midsole body and is configured to align with a direction of a lateral loading force on the midsole body at a location of the respective proprioceptive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchung K. Chen, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20250098815
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes perforating a midsole body of a sole structure to form perforations through the midsole body, wherein the midsole body has perforated holes established by the perforations. The method includes disposing each of a plurality of proprioceptive elements of the sole structure in a different one of the perforated holes as an integral portion of the midsole body surrounded by the perforations. Each central axis of the plurality of proprioceptive elements disposed in a medial sidewall portion of the midsole body and a lateral sidewall portion of the midsole body is angled relative to a vertical axis of the midsole body and is configured to align with a direction of a lateral loading force on the midsole body at a location of the respective proprioceptive element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchung K. Chen, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20250082065
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure. The first plate has a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first plate than the first surface. The sole structure further includes a second plate extending from the forefoot region to the heel region. The second plate has a third surface opposing the second surface of the first plate and a fourth surface disposed on an opposite side of the second plate than the third surface. The third surface is spaced apart from the second surface to define a cavity between the first plate and the second plate that extends from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure between the forefoot region and the heel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joël Ryp Greenspan, Oliver McLachlan, Stuart Reinhardt, Timothy J. Smith, Krissy Yetman
  • Patent number: 12201185
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. Proprioceptive elements may extend in holes in the midsole body. The midsole body has an interior portion having a first density and an outer skin covering the interior portion. The outer skin has a second density that is greater than the first density, extends along each of the holes from the proximal surface to the distal surface, and forms a cylinder around each of the perforated holes. The midsole body has a greater compressive stiffness under loading along each central axis than under loading transverse or oblique to each central axis. A first set of proprioceptive elements have a third density different from a fourth density of a second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchung K. Chen, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Patent number: 12185789
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first plate extending from a forefoot region of the sole structure to a heel region of the sole structure. The first plate has a first surface and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first plate than the first surface. The sole structure further includes a second plate extending from the forefoot region to the heel region. The second plate has a third surface opposing the second surface of the first plate and a fourth surface disposed on an opposite side of the second plate than the third surface. The third surface is spaced apart from the second surface to define a cavity between the first plate and the second plate that extends from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure between the forefoot region and the heel region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Joël Ryp Greenspan, Oliver Mclachlan, Stuart Reinhardt, Timothy J. Smith, Krissy Yetman
  • Publication number: 20240365932
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first sole plate extending from an anterior end of the sole structure to a posterior end of the sole structure. The sole structure further includes a first cleat set disposed in a forefoot region and having a first plurality of traction elements arranged in a first annular pattern about a first axis disposed in the forefoot region. The sole structure also A second cleat set is disposed in a heel region of the sole structure and includes a second plurality of the traction elements arranged in a second annular pattern about a second axis disposed in the heel region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2024
    Publication date: November 7, 2024
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daren Cejna, Matthew Chua, Nicholas S. Frank, Madeline Paige Hoffert, Emily Johnson, Chris Jury, Fiona L. Lesecq, Oliver McLachlan, Timothy J. Smith, Michele Tosello, Kristin Yetman
  • Patent number: 12114727
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole body having a proximal surface and a distal surface. The sole structure includes an outsole having a proximal surface and a distal surface, wherein the proximal surface of the outsole is secured to the distal surface of the midsole body. The outsole includes external flex grooves at the distal surface of the outsole, and the midsole body includes internal flex grooves at the proximal surface of the midsole body. The internal flex grooves overlie and are aligned with the external flex grooves such that the sole structure articulates at the external flex grooves both in dorsiflexion and in plantarflexion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchung K. Chen, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Patent number: 12115747
    Abstract: Processes and systems for thermoforming articles of wear are disclosed. The process can include utilizing a negative pressure generation system to seal an article in a forming material thereby compressing the forming material onto the outer surface of the article. The process can also include exposing the sealed article to an increased temperature followed by exposure to a decrease temperature, while maintaining the compressive force of the forming material on the outer surface of the article. A positive pressure can also be applied to the sealed article while undergoing the heating and/or cooling steps, which can facilitate the removal of bubbles from the article during thermoforming as well as apply additional compressive force to the outer surface of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Meng-Chun Hu, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, I-Hsien Tseng, Mirko Bianconi, Frederico Zecchetto
  • Patent number: 12108828
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes forming a midsole body such that the midsole body has annular holes in a proximal surface of the midsole body, annular recesses in a distal surface of the midsole body, and a plurality of proprioceptive elements. Each annular recess encircles a respective different one of the annular holes from below and extends beyond a lowest extent of the respective different one of the annular holes toward the proximal surface. Each proprioceptive element is centered in a different one of the annular holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuchung K. Chen, Oliver McLachlan, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20240285034
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear with an outsole plate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; a traction element extending from the second surface of the outsole plate; and a cushioning element configured to transition from an uncompressed state to a compressed state. An amount of exposure of the traction element varies based on compression or expansion of the cushioning element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. SMITH
  • Patent number: 12054857
    Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Jessica Green, Stephen Hipp, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, Christianna Wincek
  • Publication number: 20240200242
    Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2024
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Jessica Green, Stephen Hipp, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, Christianna Wincek
  • Patent number: 11939709
    Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Jessica Green, Stephen Hipp, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, Christianna Wincek