Patents by Inventor Tobie D. Hatfield
Tobie D. Hatfield 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: 12232561Abstract: Articles of footwear include upper components and/or sole components. In some examples, the articles of footwear and/or sole structures may include features making them well suited for obstacle course type athletic events (e.g., by providing enhanced traction for various obstacle course events, such as wall climb events, rope climb events, etc.). As some more specific examples, articles of footwear and/or components thereof may include one or more of: (a) a ground-contacting surface having a plurality of large grooves, a plurality of small grooves, and relatively flat and/or smoothly curved base surfaces between the grooves; (b) a medial sidewall having a concave exterior surface, e.g., in the midfoot area; (c) a medial sidewall having enhanced traction features, e.g., in the midfoot area; and/or (d) a medial instep component (e.g., medial eye stay reinforcing component) having enhanced traction features.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2023Date of Patent: February 25, 2025Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Katelyn Ricciardi, George A. Xanthos
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Publication number: 20250031803Abstract: Footwear components apply heat, cooling, and/or pressure to a wearer's foot/leg/ankle. Such footwear includes one or more of: (a) an interior upper layer formed from one or more interior upper component parts; (b) an exterior upper layer formed from one or more exterior upper component parts and engaged with the interior upper layer, wherein the interior and exterior upper layers define an ankle-receiving chamber of the footwear upper; (c) a fluid-filled bladder system including a first fluid chamber located between the interior and exterior upper layers; (d) a heating and/or cooling system having at least a portion engaged with the first fluid chamber; (e) a fluid source component (e.g., pump, compressor, etc.) in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber and configured to supply fluid to the first fluid chamber; (f) a power source; and/or (g) a securing system for releasably securing the footwear upper to a wearer's foot/leg/ankle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2024Publication date: January 30, 2025Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Andrew A. Owings
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Patent number: 12029663Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2022Date of Patent: July 9, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Austin J. Orand, George A. Xanthos, Aron Kristbjorn Albertsson, Bjarni Andresson, Arinbjorn Viggo Clausen, Christophe Guy Lecomte, Sindri Pall Sigurdsson, Maria Gudrun Sveinbjornsdottir
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Patent number: 11910856Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to an upper-body garment that facilitates upright sleeping. The garment includes an inner hood with a mesh elastic panel that is adapted to be positioned across the wearer's forehead helping to anchor the inner hood on to the wearer's head. The inner hood includes a low stretch or no stretch center panel. The center panel extends from the mesh elastic panel, down the center back of the inner hood, and further extends on to a back aspect of a torso portion of the garment where it forms a center portion of the back of the upper-body garment. Because the center panel has low stretch or no stretch, the wearer's head and neck are held in an upright or generally upright position when the inner hood is donned. The upper-body garment further includes a large volume outer hood positioned external to the inner hood.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Gregory Dickson, Tobie D. Hatfield, Hee Ji, Daniel A. Judelson, Peter P. Williams, II
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Patent number: 11839264Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper having an enclosure including an adjustment region extending from a first edge to a second edge formed on an opposite side of the adjustment region from the first edge. The upper further includes a cable tensioning guide attached to the enclosure adjacent to the first edge of the adjustment region. The cable tensioning guide includes a first conduit and a second conduit. A cable of the upper includes a tensioning element having a first tensioning segment extending across the adjustment region from the first conduit and a second tensioning segment extending across the adjustment region from the second conduit. The cable further includes a control element having a first control segment connected to the first tensioning segment at the first conduit, and a second control segment connected to the second tensioning segment at the second conduit.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Andrew A. Owings, Brandon J. Wilen
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Patent number: 11832682Abstract: An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2022Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Ami Davis, John T. Dimoff, Nadia M. Panian, Thomas J. Rushbrook
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Patent number: 11786003Abstract: An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first section and a second section and may define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure, and the second section may articulate relative to the first section between an access position and a use position, the foot-receiving cavity being more exposed when the second section is in the access position. A magnetic coupling includes a first coupling member that may be operatively secured to the second section of the upper and a second coupling member may be operatively secured to the sole structure and positioned so that the first coupling member couples with the second coupling member by magnetic force when the second section is in the access position.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2022Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Koosha Aslani, Jeffrey C. Spanks
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Publication number: 20230292881Abstract: Articles of footwear include upper components and/or sole components. In some examples, the articles of footwear and/or sole structures may include features making them well suited for obstacle course type athletic events (e.g., by providing enhanced traction for various obstacle course events, such as wall climb events, rope climb events, etc.). As some more specific examples, articles of footwear and/or components thereof may include one or more of: (a) a ground-contacting surface having a plurality of large grooves, a plurality of small grooves, and relatively flat and/or smoothly curved base surfaces between the grooves; (b) a medial sidewall having a concave exterior surface, e.g., in the midfoot area; (c) a medial sidewall having enhanced traction features, e.g., in the midfoot area; and/or (d) a medial instep component (e.g., medial eye stay reinforcing component) having enhanced traction features.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 15, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Katelyn Ricciardi, George A. Xanthos
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Patent number: 11647812Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure. The article of footwear further includes a first member that extends away from the sole structure. The first member at least partially defines a medial side and a lateral side of the article of footwear. Moreover, the second member has a body, a first support arm, and a second support arm. The body is attached to the first member such that the first member and the body cooperate to define a void that is configured to receive a foot. The body is also attached to the sole structure. The first support arm is attached to the first member on the medial side, and the second support arm is attached to the first member on the lateral side.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2021Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar
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Publication number: 20230029743Abstract: An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first section and a second section and may define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure, and the second section may articulate relative to the first section between an access position and a use position, the foot-receiving cavity being more exposed when the second section is in the access position. A magnetic coupling includes a first coupling member that may be operatively secured to the second section of the upper and a second coupling member may be operatively secured to the sole structure and positioned so that the first coupling member couples with the second coupling member by magnetic force when the second section is in the access position.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2022Publication date: February 2, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Koosha Aslani, Jeffrey C. Spanks
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Patent number: 11553760Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first and a second section and partially define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure and the second section may articulate between an access position and a use position. The foot-receiving cavity may be more exposed in the access position to allow easier foot entry. A strap may extend from one of the first and the second section. A looped handle may extend from the strap and may at least partially form a loop. The strap may extend across the second section of the upper when the second section is in the use position. The strap may have a distal portion configured to releasably secure to one of the first section or the second section with the looped handle exposed.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Eric P. Avar, Ross Klein, Jeffrey C. Spanks
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Publication number: 20220378587Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2022Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Austin J. Orand, George A. Xanthos, Aron Kristbjorn Albertsson, Bjarni Andresson, Arinbjorn Viggo Clausen, Christophe Guy Lecomte, Sindri Pall Sigurdsson, Maria Gudrun Sveinbjornsdottir
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Patent number: 11490690Abstract: An article of footwear may include a sole structure and an upper. The upper may include a first section and a second section and may define a foot-receiving cavity over the sole structure. The first section may be fixed to the sole structure, and the second section may articulate relative to the first section between an access position and a use position, the foot-receiving cavity being more exposed when the second section is in the access position. A magnetic coupling includes a first coupling member that may be operatively secured to the second section of the upper and a second coupling member may be operatively secured to the sole structure and positioned so that the first coupling member couples with the second coupling member by magnetic force when the second section is in the access position.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Koosha Aslani, Jeffrey C. Spanks
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Patent number: 11446165Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 2021Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Austin J. Orand, George A. Xanthos, Aron Kristbjorn Albertsson, Bjarni Andresson, Arinbjorn Viggo Clausen, Christophe Guy Lecomte, Sindri Pall Sigurdsson, Maria Gudrun Sveinbjornsdottir
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Patent number: 11439201Abstract: A pair of shoes may be asymmetric between one another in various respects. For example, the left shoe may include a left-shoe wrapping panel non-releasably coupled to a left-shoe medial side and extending towards a left-shoe lateral side while the right shoe may include a wrapping panel non-releasably coupled to a right-shoe lateral side and extending towards a right-shoe medial side. The left-shoe wrapping panel may releasably couple to the left-shoe lateral side and the right-shoe wrapping panel may releasably couple to the right-shoe medial side. The left shoe and the right shoe may respectively include a left-shoe heel strap and a right-shoe heel strap. The left-shoe heel strap and a right-shoe heel strap each respectively wrap around, at least in part, a heel region of the left shoe and the right shoe.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Tobie D. Hatfield
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Publication number: 20220132979Abstract: An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2022Publication date: May 5, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Ami Davis, John T. Dimoff, Nadia M. Panian, Thomas J. Rushbrook
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Patent number: 11253023Abstract: An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Ami Davis, John T. Dimoff, Nadia M. Panian, Thomas J. Rushbrook
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Publication number: 20220015465Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to an upper-body garment that facilitates upright sleeping. The garment includes an inner hood with a mesh elastic panel that is adapted to be positioned across the wearer's forehead helping to anchor the inner hood on to the wearer's head. The inner hood includes a low stretch or no stretch center panel. The center panel extends from the mesh elastic panel, down the center back of the inner hood, and further extends on to a back aspect of a torso portion of the garment where it forms a center portion of the back of the upper-body garment. Because the center panel has low stretch or no stretch, the wearer's head and neck are held in an upright or generally upright position when the inner hood is donned. The upper-body garment further includes a large volume outer hood positioned external to the inner hood.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 4, 2021Publication date: January 20, 2022Inventors: Gregory Dickson, Tobie D. Hatfield, Hee Ji, Daniel A. Judelson, Peter P. Williams, II
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Publication number: 20210368945Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper having an enclosure including an adjustment region extending from a first edge to a second edge formed on an opposite side of the adjustment region from the first edge. The upper further includes a cable tensioning guide attached to the enclosure adjacent to the first edge of the adjustment region. The cable tensioning guide includes a first conduit and a second conduit. A cable of the upper includes a tensioning element having a first tensioning segment extending across the adjustment region from the first conduit and a second tensioning segment extending across the adjustment region from the second conduit. The cable further includes a control element having a first control segment connected to the first tensioning segment at the first conduit, and a second control segment connected to the second tensioning segment at the second conduit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Tobie D. Hatfield, Elizabeth A. Kilgore, Andrew A. Owings, Brandon J. Wilen
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Publication number: 20210307935Abstract: A traction system for an ambulatory support such as a prosthetic foot blade or a crutch includes a sole plate, a latch assembly, and a strap. The sole plate is couplable to a distal end of the ambulatory support to extend under a bottom side of the ambulatory support and a latch assembly. The latch assembly includes a front catch and a rear catch both fixable at a top side of the ambulatory support with the front catch nearer to the distal end of the ambulatory support than the rear catch, and a lever having a front end and a rear end, the front end releasably latchable to the front catch and the rear end releasably latchable to the rear catch when the lever is pivoted about the latched front end. The strap is secured to the lever and to the sole plate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2021Publication date: October 7, 2021Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Austin J. Orand, George A. Xanthos, Aron Kristbjorn Albertsson, Bjarni Andresson, Arinbjorn Viggo Clausen, Christophe Guy Lecomte, Sindri Pall Sigurdsson, Maria Gudrun Sveinbjornsdottir