Patents by Inventor Zachary M. Elder
Zachary M. Elder 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: 11974631Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bladder defining a peripheral chamber and a heel chamber fluidly isolated from the peripheral chamber. The peripheral chamber is configured as an elongated tube, and has a heel portion establishing a rear periphery of the bladder, a lateral arm portion extending from the heel portion and establishing a lateral periphery of the bladder, and a medial arm portion extending from the heel portion and establishing a medial periphery of the bladder. The bladder includes webbing connecting the heel chamber to the peripheral chamber, with the heel chamber disposed between the medial arm portion and the lateral arm portion and forward of the peripheral chamber in a heel region of the bladder. The bladder may include additional forefoot and midfoot chambers having specific shapes.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2021Date of Patent: May 7, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Zachary M. Elder, Jeffery C. Gagatko, II, Roger Paul Murphy, ChunHong Wang, Doug D. Wilken
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Publication number: 20240130473Abstract: An article of footwear having a heel region including a posterior end, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end. The article of footwear having an upper extending from the heel region to the forefoot region and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure further has a first cushioning element having a first tube, a second tube, a third tube, and a fourth tube, and an outsole layer extending from the posterior end to the anterior end. The outsole layer is configured to directly receive a portion of the first cushioning element, and the outsole layer forms a ground-contacting surface of the article of footwear.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Shawn G. Carboy, Zachary M. Elder, Jonathan Kosenick, Roger Paul Murphy, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Jessica Small, Matthew W. Thornton
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Publication number: 20240130472Abstract: An article of footwear having a heel region including a posterior end, a mid-foot region, and a forefoot region including an anterior end. The article of footwear having a lateral side, and a medial side opposite the lateral side; an upper; and a sole structure coupled to the upper. The sole structure has a first cushioning element, having a plurality of first tubes and a plurality of first web areas. Adjacent first tubes are connected to one another by a respective first web area of the plurality of first web areas. The sole structure also having a second cushioning element, having a plurality of second tubes and a plurality of second web areas. Adjacent second tubes are connected to one another by a respective web area of the second plurality of web areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 18, 2023Publication date: April 25, 2024Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Shawn G. Carboy, Zachary M. Elder, Jonathan Kosenick, Roger Paul Murphy, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Jessica Small, Matthew W. Thornton
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Publication number: 20240081478Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a chassis and a cushioning arrangement. The chassis includes a recess formed between a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface. The cushioning arrangement includes a first cushioning element protruding from the first surface and including a first plurality of lobes and a second cushioning element protruding from the second surface and including a second plurality of lobes contacting the first plurality of lobes. At least one of the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element may include a fluid-filled bladder. A first side of each cushioning element includes a substantially planar base and a second side of each cushioning element includes the lobes formed on an opposite side from the base. The base of each cushioning element is attached to a respective one of the surfaces of the recess.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Zachary M. Elder, Jordyn Klumpp, Eric Y. Lee, Fiona L. Lesecq, Damian R. Manspeaker, Roger Paul Murphy, Sebastian Tesche
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Patent number: 11918078Abstract: Foot support members, e.g., sole structures for articles of footwear, include dynamically transformable portions, e.g., to change a dimension and/or apply a tensile or compressive force to some portion of an article of footwear or other foot-receiving device. Such foot support members may include a flexible support member having a wave shaped portion that flexes under an applied force. Flexing of this wave shaped portion under weight of a wearer produces: (a) a change in at least one of a longitudinal or transverse dimension of the foot support member, (b) application of a compressive or tensile force to the plantar support component and/or another part of the foot support member, article of footwear, or other foot-receiving device, (c) flattening of the wave shaped portion, and/or (d) compressing the wave shaped portion together (e.g., to fold up, decrease in overall height, etc.).Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2020Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: 11918074Abstract: A bladder for an article of footwear includes a plate, a first tensile layer disposed adjacent to a first side of the plate, and a second tensile layer disposed on an opposite side of the plate from the first tensile layer, the second tensile layer joined to the first tensile layer through the plate by a plurality of inner bonds. The bladder additionally includes a first barrier layer disposed adjacent to the first tensile layer and joined to the first tensile layer by a plurality of first outer bonds to form a first chamber, one or more of the first outer bonds interposed between adjacent ones of the inner bonds.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2021Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Roger Paul Murphy, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: 11903443Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole with a bladder system having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The bladder system defines a first sealed chamber retaining fluid as a first cushioning layer, the first sealed chamber extending over the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region. The bladder system further defines multiple discreet sealed chambers retaining fluid in isolation from one another, each of the multiple discreet chambers disposed at one side of the first sealed chamber, and fluidly isolated from the first sealed chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: 11877620Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a chassis and a cushioning arrangement. The chassis includes a recess formed between a first surface and a second surface facing the first surface. The cushioning arrangement includes a first cushioning element protruding from the first surface and including a first plurality of lobes and a second cushioning element protruding from the second surface and including a second plurality of lobes contacting the first plurality of lobes. At least one of the first cushioning element and the second cushioning element may include a fluid-filled bladder. A first side of each cushioning element includes a substantially planar base and a second side of each cushioning element includes the lobes formed on an opposite side from the base. The base of each cushioning element is attached to a respective one of the surfaces of the recess.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Zachary M. Elder, Jordyn Klumpp, Eric Y. Lee, Fiona L Lesecq, Damian R. Manspeaker, Roger Paul Murphy, Sebastian Tesche
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Publication number: 20240000188Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole system with a plurality of cushioning units, each having multiple cushioning layers configured to work together as a system to absorb a compressive load, such as a dynamic compressive load due to impact with the ground, in stages of progressive cushioning according to the relative stiffness values of the layers. Various midsole systems disclosed include isolated cushioning units, linked cushioning units, sole layers having stanchions interfacing with the midsole system, midsole systems with sole layers having keyed and unkeyed portions overlying a bladder, and midsole systems with vertically-stacked cushioning units disposed in inverted relationship to one another.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2023Publication date: January 4, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: 11849801Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber includes first subchamber having a substantially U-shape. The fluid-filled chamber also includes a second subchamber having a substantially U-shape and being spaced apart from the first subchamber in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Wesley K. Chan, Zachary M. Elder, Paul Hooper, Elizabeth Langvin, Cassidy R. Levy, Philip Woodman
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Patent number: 11844396Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber includes first subchamber having a substantially U-shape. The fluid-filled chamber also includes a second subchamber having a substantially U-shape and being spaced apart from the first subchamber in a direction extending along a longitudinal axis of the fluid-filled chamber.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: December 19, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Wesley K. Chan, Zachary M. Elder, Paul Hooper, Elizabeth Langvin, Cassidy R. Levy, Philip Woodman
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Publication number: 20230380545Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole having four stacked polymeric sheets bonded to one another to define a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a third cushioning layer. Each cushioning layer comprises a sealed chamber retaining gas in isolation from each other sealed chamber. Bonds between adjacent ones of the sheets are arranged such that the third cushioning layer is stacked directly above the first cushioning layer with the second cushioning layer bordering both the first cushioning layer and the third cushioning layer, and the sealed chamber of the second cushioning layer includes a plurality of elongated segments each extending lengthwise across a longitudinal midline of the midsole at a respective acute angle to the longitudinal midline.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2023Publication date: November 30, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton
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Publication number: 20230363495Abstract: A cushioning structure includes an externally-reinforced bladder, the bladder having a first polymeric sheet and a second polymeric sheet, where each polymeric sheet includes an internal surface and an opposite external surface. A first reinforcing layer is in contact with the external surface of the first polymeric sheet, where the first reinforcing layer has a greater modulus than the first polymeric sheet. A second reinforcing layer is in contact with the external surface of the second polymeric sheet, where the second reinforcing layer has a greater modulus than the second polymeric sheet. The bladder includes an internal volume and a peripheral flange surrounding the internal volume, and the reinforcing layers are only secured to the polymeric sheets at the peripheral flange.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Laura E. Flores Sandoval, Todd W. Miller, Lee D. Peyton
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Publication number: 20230363494Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a fluid filled bladder that is formed from a plurality of coextensive, stacked polymeric sheets. An anti-weld material is disposed between two of the polymeric sheets within a central region of the sheets, the anti-weld material operative to inhibit a first polymeric sheet from being able to thermally fuse with a second polymeric sheet wherever the anti-weld material is present. The first polymeric sheet and the second polymeric sheet are fused together in a peripheral region that surrounds the central region, the peripheral region forming a peripheral flange. At least one of the first polymeric sheet and second polymeric sheet includes a plurality of integrated reinforcing fibers that are operative to increase a modulus of elasticity of the sheet in a direction parallel to the reinforcing fibers.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 10, 2023Publication date: November 16, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Laura E. Flores Sandoval, Todd W. Miller, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: 11793271Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole system with a plurality of cushioning units, each having multiple cushioning layers configured to work together as a system to absorb a compressive load, such as a dynamic compressive load due to impact with the ground, in stages of progressive cushioning according to the relative stiffness values of the layers. Various midsole systems disclosed include isolated cushioning units, linked cushioning units, sole layers having stanchions interfacing with the midsole system, midsole systems with sole layers having keyed and unkeyed portions overlying a bladder, and midsole systems with vertically-stacked cushioning units disposed in inverted relationship to one another.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton
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Publication number: 20230329393Abstract: An article of footwear has a midsole assembly that includes a fluid-filled bladder element having a substantially arc-shaped heel portion and having a lateral arm portion and a medial arm portion spaced from the lateral arm portion. Each of the arm portions extend from the heel portion. The bladder element is configured to be positioned with the heel portion in the heel region of midsole assembly, and the arm portions extending from the heel region to a forefoot region along a peripheral region. A method of manufacturing and a mold assembly for such an article of footwear are provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 19, 2023Publication date: October 19, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Margarita L. Cortez, Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton, Hector R. Quinonez
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Publication number: 20230320458Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a fluid-filled segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure within the heel region, a second fluid-filled segment extending along a lateral side of the sole structure within the heel region, and a web area disposed between and connecting the first fluid-filled segment and the second fluid-filled segment. The first barrier layer is attached to the second barrier layer within the web area.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2023Publication date: October 12, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Nathan A. Jacobsen, Roger Paul Murphy, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: 11758976Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a midsole having four stacked polymeric sheets bonded to one another to define a first cushioning layer, a second cushioning layer, and a third cushioning layer. Each cushioning layer comprises a sealed chamber retaining gas in isolation from each other sealed chamber. Bonds between adjacent ones of the sheets are arranged such that the third cushioning layer is stacked directly above the first cushioning layer with the second cushioning layer bordering both the first cushioning layer and the third cushioning layer, and the sealed chamber of the second cushioning layer includes a plurality of elongated segments each extending lengthwise across a longitudinal midline of the midsole at a respective acute angle to the longitudinal midline.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: D1002167Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Zachary M. Elder
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Patent number: D1007118Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Zachary M. Elder