Patents Issued in April 16, 2024
  • Patent number: 11957173
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heater assembly for generating an inhalable aerosol. The heater assembly comprises an electrically insulating element and an electrical resistive heater. The heater comprises a central heating portion, which is configured to be heated. The heater further comprises electrical contacts, which contact the central heating portion and which are configured to supply electrical energy to the central heating portion. The heater further comprises anchoring legs, which are configured bendable. The anchoring legs are arranged adjacent to the central heating portion and configured to mechanically anchor the electrical resistive heater to the electrically insulating element. The anchoring legs are configured forming a chamfer for guiding insertion of an aerosol-generating article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Benjamin Luke Mazur, Charley Ann Millard, Angelo D'Onofrio
  • Patent number: 11957174
    Abstract: An aerosol generating article includes a first body of aerosol forming material, a first tubular member surrounding the first body of aerosol forming material, a second body of aerosol forming material surrounding the first tubular member and a second tubular member surrounding the second body of aerosol forming material. The first tubular member is inductively heatable in the presence of a time varying electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: JT International S.A.
    Inventor: Mark Gill
  • Patent number: 11957176
    Abstract: A heater assembly includes a heating body that generates heat and includes a first portion and a second portion having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first portion, a first fixing portion that supports the heating body and includes an insertion hole into which the second portion of the heating body is inserted, and a second fixing portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the heating body to form an accommodation space in which a cigarette is accommodated and engaging with the first fixing portion at one side of the second fixing portion, wherein the diameter of the second portion is larger than a diameter of the insertion hole of the first fixing portion before the heating body is inserted into the first fixing portion by interference fit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hwi Kyeong An
  • Patent number: 11957177
    Abstract: A smoking system includes a consumable containing a smokable substance and a device that includes a chamber receiving the consumable and heats and atomizes the smokable substance of the consumable received in the chamber. The chamber includes an opening through which the consumable is inserted and a holding unit that holds the consumable. The holding unit includes a first pressing unit which presses a part of the consumable. The consumable includes a first portion having a first hardness and a second portion having a second hardness, in which the second portion is a different portion from the first portion in the insertion direction of the consumable. When the consumable is positioned at the desired position in the chamber, the consumable is positioned such that at least a part of the first portion is pressed against the first pressing unit, while at the same time, at least a part of the second portion is pressed against the first pressing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Yasunobu Inoue, Tateki Sumii
  • Patent number: 11957178
    Abstract: An aerosol actuator having an operating cap and a base cap, where the operating cap interfaces with the aerosol valve of an aerosol dispenser and is rotatable between a locked position which prohibits dispensing of the aerosol product and an unlocked position that allows dispensing of an aerosol product via tilting action of the operating cap, is presented. The operating cap is equipped with a plurality of fins positionable over a plurality of blocking surfaces and slots in the base cap, where rotation in one direction locks the operating cap and prevents actuation and consequent dispensing of an aerosol product and rotation in an opposite direction allows for operation of the cap and consequently the dispensing of an aerosol product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: APACKAGING GROUP LLC
    Inventor: Armin Arminak
  • Patent number: 11957179
    Abstract: Disclosed is an aerosol generating device including a heater that heats an aerosol generating material and a controller that controls power to be supplied to the heater. The controller calculates a first power amount indicating a power amount used by the heater during a preset first time period after a heating operation of the heater is started, and controls the heating operation of the heater based on whether the first power amount is greater than or equal to a preset reference power amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jae Min Lee
  • Patent number: 11957180
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device includes: a holder configured to generate aerosols; and a cradle which displays, on the display, data obtained from the sensor and an indicator for activating a user interface, outputs through the user interface a plurality of pre-stored temperature profiles in response to a first user input of selecting the indicator, and in response to a second user input of selecting any one of the plurality of the pre-stored temperature profiles, transmits the selected temperature profile to the holder such that the holder controls a temperature profile used to heat an aerosol generating material based on the selected temperature profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung Wook Yoon, Seung Won Lee, Dae Nam Han
  • Patent number: 11957181
    Abstract: An aerosol-generating device is provided for heating an aerosol-forming substrate to generate an inhalable aerosol during a usage session, the aerosol-generating device including: control electronics; and an outer lighting array partially or wholly surrounding an inner lighting array, the control electronics being coupled to the outer and inner lighting arrays and are configured to: i) selectively activate one of the outer and inner lighting arrays to generate a first predetermined light emission conveying first data indicative of a state of the aerosol-generating device, and ii) selectively activate the other of the outer and inner lighting arrays to generate a second predetermined light emission conveying second data indicative of a state of the aerosol-generating device, in which the first data and the second data are different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventors: Enrico Stura, Torsten Richard Mathias Tingström, Ezequiel Valdez Rojas, Valerio Oliana
  • Patent number: 11957182
    Abstract: An aerosol generating device includes a main body and a cartridge detachably coupled to the main body. The main body includes a controller, a battery, and a first wireless communication unit. The cartridge includes a second wireless communication unit. The controller controls output power of the battery to apply a power pattern to the cartridge, and the first wireless communication unit establishes a wireless connection with the second wireless communication unit when power supplied from the battery to the cartridge matches a preset power pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: KT&G CORPORATION
    Inventors: Byung Sung Cho, Won Kyeong Lee, Jong Sub Lee, Dae Nam Han
  • Patent number: 11957183
    Abstract: An underwear with a fly is disclosed. The underwear includes a first panel, a first side panel extending from the first panel, and a second side panel extending the said first panel. The underwear includes a waistband connecting at the top of the first panel, the first side panel, and the second side panel. The underwear includes a first gusset fabric attached to the first panel, the first side panel, the second side panel and the waistband. The first gusset fabric includes a cut-section. The underwear includes a second gusset fabric attached to the first panel and the waistband. The second gusset fabric positions underneath said first gusset fabric and includes second openings at both sides. The cut-section provides access into an interior of the underwear through the second openings in order to allow ambidextrous access for left and right handed users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Linnea Bleiler-Sickels
  • Patent number: 11957184
    Abstract: A garment panel includes a material that is configured to attach to an internal surface of a garment to form the garment panel, and that includes a front surface and a rear surface; and an opening in the material to permit genitalia of a user to be inserted through the opening and remain disposed in a space formed between the internal surface of the garment and the front surface of the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Gregory S. Brown, Sr.
  • Patent number: 11957185
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a new bra assembly that allows for the fashionable fit of two or more bra sized wearers in a single bra sized garment. The present disclosure also provides for a bra assembly that enables wearers with different cup sizes, as well as many different underband sizes, to comfortable fit into the same bra sized garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Global Trademarks, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Waldman, Ruth Gordon, Lisa Butler
  • Patent number: 11957186
    Abstract: A nursing and pumping garment includes a unitary exterior layer and a pumping layer seamlessly connected to the unitary exterior layer. The unitary exterior layer includes first and second breast covers, a central portion, and gathers between both the first breast cover and the central portion and the second breast cover and the central portion. The garment may be in one of: (1) a first state in which the unitary exterior layer is completely covering a central pumping edge and the garment is neither in a pumping or a breast feeding position; (2) a second state in which at least one aperture is formed to facilitate breast pumping; and (3) a third state in which the unitary exterior and pumping layers are both disconnected from a first bra strap or a second bra strap to facilitate breast feeding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: BRAVADO HOLDING AG
    Inventor: Lisa Stanton
  • Patent number: 11957187
    Abstract: In one aspect, a functional garment is provided that includes a front panel having a left lateral end and a right lateral end opposite the left lateral end, the front panel comprising a first breast cup and a second breast cup between the left lateral and the right lateral end; a first side panel attached to the left lateral end at a left intersection; a second side panel attached to the right lateral end at a right intersection; and an elastic member attached at a first lateral end thereof to the front panel at the left intersection and at a second lateral end thereof to the front panel at the right intersection, the elastic member configured to apply mediolateral compressive forces to a wearer's breast when the garment is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Heather DeGregorio
  • Patent number: 11957188
    Abstract: A wearable device includes a sensor device and a clothes to which the sensor device is attached. The clothes includes a clothes body and an insertion and extraction portion that has an opening formed in the clothes body and enables the sensor device to be inserted into or extracted from the clothes body. The sensor device includes a humidity sensor configured to measure humidity in the clothes body and a housing having a first region exposed to an inside of the clothes body and a second region exposed to an outside of the clothes body, while the sensor device is inserted from the insertion and extraction portion into the clothes body. The humidity sensor is accommodated in the first region of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroto Matsuoka, Nobuaki Matsuura, Kei Kuwabara, Yuki Hashimoto, Takako Ishihara
  • Patent number: 11957189
    Abstract: A system for enhancing sterility. The system includes a first surgical glove comprising an upper glove portion and a lower glove portion. A surgical garment comprising at least one surgical garment cuff, and a sealing device comprising a first adhesive. The first adhesive of the sealing device is configured to be affixed between an inside surface of the lower portion of the first surgical glove and an outside surface of the at least one surgical garment cuff so as to provide a fluid seal between the first surgical glove and the at least one surgical garment cuff of the surgical garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: AOD Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Ferro, Austin T. Ferro, Joseph R. Phillips
  • Patent number: 11957190
    Abstract: The invention relates to sports garment (1) for team sports, especially for soccer, football, rugby, handball or basketball, comprising an upper part (2) which covers at least a part of the torso of the wearer and pants (3) which covers at least a part of the abdomen of the wearer, wherein the upper part (2) and the pants (3) are forming a one-piece part. To improve the fit of the sports garment at the body of the wearer and to ensure a high degree of convenience during wearing the invention proposes that the upper part (2) and the pants (3) are made as a unitary knitted design, wherein the garment (1) is made as a seamless textile article without seams around the whole circumference of the garment (1) along at least 40% (h) of the total vertical extension (H) of the garment (1), wherein the seamless section of the garment (1) extends at least along a part of the vertical extension of the upper part (2) and extends at least along a part of the vertical extension of the pants (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: PUMA SE
    Inventor: Charles Johnson
  • Patent number: 11957191
    Abstract: There is provided an open-palmed glove. The glove includes a first layer of material. The glove includes a second layer of material coupled to and extending about peripheral portions of the first layer of the material. There is also provided an open-palmed glove comprising a single material in the form of one of leather, leather suede, synthetic leather, and microfiber, with a lining coupled to said single material and forming an aperture aligned with the back of the glove. There is yet further provided use of an open-palmed glove for rock climbing. The glove consists of a single material on the back thereof. The single material touches both the hand and a rock that is being climbed. There is yet additionally provided a kit comprising a plurality of pairs of rock-climbing gloves of different sizes, each having its own color which corresponds to a color of a camming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: 0950300 B.C. LTD.
    Inventors: Zachary Goldberg-Poch, Nathan Kukathas
  • Patent number: 11957192
    Abstract: A cup for capturing droplets expelled during coughing or sneezing, the cup has a sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface. The sidewall has a lip portion of sufficient size for a snug substantially circumferential location over a nose and mouth of an intended user. The sidewall is configured and sized to be hand-held. An absorbent liner is located against the inner surface of the sidewall, the absorbent liner being sufficiently absorbent to capture and hold the expelled droplets during coughing or sneezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Pierre Lizotte
  • Patent number: 11957193
    Abstract: A load-assisting glove is an apparatus that assists users with the load from a handheld tool such as a shovel. The apparatus may include a work glove and a bracing socket. The work glove maintains the bracing socket at an ergonomic position adjacent to the user's arm. The bracing socket lessens the amount of grip needed to work with the handheld tool. The work glove includes a wrist opening, a palmar portion, and a dorsal portion. The wrist opening enables the user to put on the work glove. The palmar portion protects the palmar area of the hand, while the dorsal portion protects the dorsal area. The bracing socket includes an open socket end and a closed socket end. The open socket end enables the end of the tool handle to be inserted into the bracing socket, while the closed socket end keeps the handle end within the bracing socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Mark Kishineff
  • Patent number: 11957194
    Abstract: Examples of a garment, such as a bra or sports bra, having cup pockets with concealed openings are described. The garment has openings into the cup pockets that are positioned on the side wings of the front portion of the garment. The side wings of the back portion of the garment and the side wings of the front portion of the garment at least partially overlap to conceal or hide the openings into the cup pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LULULEMON ATHLETICA CANADA INC.
    Inventor: Yuliya Victorivna Yaremenko
  • Patent number: 11957195
    Abstract: This invention is directed toward a garment that is comfortable to wear and can safely, with easy accessibility, securely and inconspicuously store a cell phone and other important items. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a pair of shorts, with an elasticized waistband that can be tightened by a non-elasticized drawstring cord. There is a seamless, knitted inner layer similar to “boy short” style underwear. This seamless, knitted “boy short” style underwear inner layer provides comfort to the user. Two vertical side hip interior pockets are sewn onto the inner liner of the seamless, knitted “boy short” underwear at the hips of the user, making it comfortable for a user to carry a cell phone and/or other items. The shorts have a thin line of reflective fabric sewn into the hip seams and on the hem of the shorts, providing safety for the user during times of low visibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Cynthia Bolker
  • Patent number: 11957196
    Abstract: A temperature-regulating garment and air exchange system including a fabric composed of a background yarn (11) which is visible on the rear and a base yarn (12) which is visible on the front of the fabric, and a third yarn (2) which allows the construction of a structure which lends the fabric the desired performance characteristics. In particular, in a zone designed to absorb and expel perspiration and be breathable, the garment features a fabric structure obtained by machining the background yarn and the base yarn with a looser knit with respect to other portions in which such performance is not required, so as to permit good passage of air, and the third yarn is added by inserting the yarn into a portion of row of knitting which is clearly defined in terms of the width thereof and which corresponds to the width of the breathable area to be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: TRERE' INNOVATION S.R.L.
    Inventor: Fabio Giorgini
  • Patent number: 11957197
    Abstract: A composite item of footwear and handwear having a main body to accommodate the hand/foot of a wearer of the item, the main body comprising an outer layer, an inner layer and a waterproof and breathable intermediate layer between the outer and inner layers, and an opening through which a foot/hand can be inserted, the opening defined by a cuff arrangement comprising a cuff region that comprises an end region of each of the inner and intermediate layers and a cuff inner portion of the outer layer that extends beyond the said end regions, the cuff arrangement further comprising a waterproof cuff band fixed to one or both of the cuff inner portion and end region of the inner layer to lie over and be fixed to the outside of the outer layer, the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer is at a distance from the opening that is greater than the distance between the opening and the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the cuff inner portion or end region of the inner l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Shanghai Uniwise International Co Limited
    Inventor: Qian Xu
  • Patent number: 11957198
    Abstract: A convertible hat is disclosed. The convertible hat of the present invention comprises: a band (110) coupled to the head of a user; and a brim (120) provided horizontally in a certain area on the front surface of the band (110) to block sunlight. Furthermore, the convertible hat of the present invention preferably includes a pair of shape transformation crowns (130, 130a) that each have one end coupled to the band (110) and the other end spread out over the band (110), and are positioned in either a cap position in which the crowns cover the head of the user, or a sun cap position in which the crowns extend from the side surface of the brim (120) to increase the sun blocking area of the brim (120). Accordingly, a single convertible hat can be used by transforming into the two forms of a cap and a sun cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Min Sok Kim
  • Patent number: 11957199
    Abstract: The invention is an article of headwear that incorporates a hair compression system and adjustment system for compressing one or more sections of a wearer's hair. The headwear may be formed of a crown, a compression system, and an adjustment system. The compression system includes one or more stretchable materials that form the inner layer of the crown. The compression system may compress along a horizontal, diagonal and/or vertical plane of the head of a wearer. The compression system is attached to an adjustment system often at the back of the headwear which can be attached to the crown. The adjustment system allows a user to manually tighten the compression system to a desired pressure to keep the hair of the user compressed while the user wears the headwear. The desired hair compression is capable of being regulated by the adjustment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NMN Monday, LLC
    Inventors: Micheal L. Binns, Michelle L. Binns
  • Patent number: 11957200
    Abstract: A cheek pad for a helmet, the cheek pad comprising: an outer layer; an inner layer; and a sliding interface between the outer layer and the inner layer; wherein the outer layer and the inner layer are configured to slide relative to each other at the sliding interface, in response to an impact to the helmet, and the inner layer is configured to contact a side of the wearer's face, when the cheek pads are arranged in the helmet and the helmet is worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MIPS AB
    Inventors: Christopher Pietrzak, Peter Halldin
  • Patent number: 11957201
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an article of footwear comprising a forefoot portion with a top layer and a bottom layer, where a void is formed between the top layer and the bottom layer. A heel portion is secured to the bottom layer of the forefoot portion and indirectly secured to the top layer through the bottom layer of the forefoot portion, the heel area forming a first portion of a collar. There is at least one extension extending from the heel portion that is secured to an edge of the top layer of the forefoot portion, and the extension forms at least a second portion of the collar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. Berrian, Rory S. Blanche, Weibing Gong, John S. MacGilbert
  • Patent number: 11957202
    Abstract: Components for articles of footwear and athletic equipment are provided including a high energy return foam having improved abrasion resistance. A variety of foams and foam components and compositions for forming the foams are provided. In some aspects, the foams and components including the foams can have exceptionally high energy return while also having improved durability and softness and an improved abrasion resistance. In particular, midsoles including the foams are provided for use in an article of footwear. Methods of making the compositions and foams are provided, as well as methods of making an article of footwear including one of the foam components. In some aspects, the foams and foam components can be made by injection molding or injection molding followed by compression molding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Aaron Bender, Eric Lee
  • Patent number: 11957203
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fatigue-reducing safety shoe. The shoe according to the present invention is able to offer the user a high degree of protection in case of accidental events, in accordance with current regulations, together with a higher level of comfort perceived by the user due to a specific configuration of the multilayer sole capable of respecting the ergonomics of the user according to the biomechanics of the walk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: U-INVEST S.R.L.
    Inventor: Pier Franco Uzzeni
  • Patent number: 11957204
    Abstract: Golf shoes having improved outsole constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The outsole includes a first set of arc pathways extending along the outsole in one direction. A second set of arc pathways extend along the outsole in a second direction. When the first and second arc pathways are superposed over each other, four-sided tile pieces are formed, and these tiles contain protruding traction members. In one embodiment, the tiles comprise a first protruding traction member, an opposing second protruding traction member, and a non-protruding segment disposed between the first and second traction members. Different traction zones containing different traction members are provided on the outsole. These zones provide improved multi-surface traction. In one embodiment of the outsole, there is no channeling and no trenching of the golf course turf. There is less damage to the golf course for a given amount of traction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Acushnet Company
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Bidal, John F. Swigart, Robert S. Bento
  • Patent number: 11957205
    Abstract: A footwear construction includes a sole assembly having a convoluted lower surface with multiple rolling peaks and valleys, and first and second midsoles having different durometers to provide dynamic stability, cushion and/or traction. The second midsole can include apertures that extend into some peaks so those peaks are compressible and conform well to underfoot terrain. The sole assembly can include certain lateral or medial peaks that transition to a perimeter of the sole assembly, and that are of a truncated shape with a sidewall to provide firmness and/or rigidity to the sole assembly around the perimeter. Other peaks can be disposed inward from the lateral or medial peaks and can be of a lesser firmness so those central peaks can provide cushioning and/or macro traction capabilities. A related method of manufacture also is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SR Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Shannon E. Buono, Sean M. McDowell
  • Patent number: 11957206
    Abstract: Described are soles for a shoe, in particular for a sports shoe, with a midsole. The midsole includes a first sole region, which includes particle foam. The midsole further includes a deformation region within the midsole, wherein the deformation region has a volume greater than that of a single expanded particle and is positioned so that it allows a sideward deformation of the material of the first sole region under a pressure load on the sole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Angus Wardlaw, Dirk Meythaler, Stuart David Reinhardt, Darren Michael Wood, Charles Griffin Wilson, III, Juergen Weidl, Stanislav Goussev, Carl Arnese
  • Patent number: 11957207
    Abstract: Foot support systems include a fluid flow control system that facilitates movement of fluid into, out of, and/or within a sole structure and/or article of footwear, e.g., to change and/or control pressure in fluid filled bladder(s). Aspects of this technology may relate to one or more of: (a) footwear structures in which such systems are incorporated; (b) valve stem based fluid flow transfer systems; (c) solenoid based fluid flow transfer systems; (d) user input button features; (e) air filter features; (f) fluid tube to fluid distributor connection features; (g) fluid distributor to footwear connection features; (h) valve position sensor features; (i) valve transmission features; (j) pressure control algorithm features; (k) electronic communication features; (l) system sealing features; and/or (m) pressure sensor mounting features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Browne, Narissa Y. Chang, Remy Pieron, Stepan Ryabinin, Adam Vollmer, Michael Fairchild, Ethan Vella, Daniel Weeks
  • Patent number: 11957208
    Abstract: Footwear and sole structures include structures and properties, e.g., to support urban dance and urban dance moves. Such dance styles include various dance moves and movements that require contact between side edges of the wearer's shoes and the dance floor surface (e.g., made from concrete, asphalt, wood, etc.). Such dance styles also require transition of the body's center of mass along the edge(s) of the foot. Footwear and sole structures in accordance with this technology provide structures and properties to support to support such dance styles and moves, including one or more of: selected materials and/or selected material properties in various areas to promote sliding or gliding along various surfaces and/or other desired interactions with various surfaces; selected sizing and/or dimensional features of components in various areas; various flexion promoting structures and/or characteristics; etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, Thomas G. Bell, Rory S. Blanche, Risha Dupre, Christopher Mellick, Kaigin Olafson, Andrew A. Owings, Jeffrey C. Spanks, Caitlin Vultaggio
  • Patent number: 11957209
    Abstract: A high heel footwear including a heel tip assembly and a heel assembly. The heel tip assembly includes a top lift abutting against the heel, a rigid shaft member having a threaded portion, and a first wedge-lock feature configured to prevent the top lift from rotating. The heel assembly includes a threaded insert, a spring, a hollow insert, and a second wedge-lock feature. The threaded insert is received inside an opening formed in the heel to receive the threaded portion of the rigid shaft member. The spring is also received inside the opening and abuts against the threaded insert. The hollow insert abuts against the spring. The rigid shaft member passes through the threaded insert, the spring, and the hollow insert. The second wedge-lock feature locks with the first wedge-lock feature to retain the top lift on the end of the heel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: El A. Panda
  • Patent number: 11957210
    Abstract: A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tiffany A. Beers, John T. Dimoff, Wade Flanagan, Austin Orand, George A. Xanthos
  • Patent number: 11957211
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a footwear apparatus for facilitating optimal gaiting, in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, the footwear apparatus includes an upper configured for retaining a foot of a user in the footwear apparatus. Further, the footwear apparatus includes a sole comprising a front portion and a rear portion. Further, the upper is attached to the sole. Further, the rear portion is raised away from a plane defined by the front portion. Further, the rear portion comprises a first attachment component. Further, the footwear apparatus includes a heel configured to be removably attached to the rear portion of the sole. Further, the heel comprises a second attachment component configured for mating with the first attachment component. Further, the removably attaching of the heel with the rear portion is based on the mating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Denis Kutylov
  • Patent number: 11957212
    Abstract: A football shoe or football boot including a sole, an upper, a fastener to fasten the shoe or boot in place, and a layer of material that in situ is disposed between the fastener and an underlying foot or hose. The layer of material includes a ball control region with an outer ball control surface contactable with a football during kicking. The ball control surface lies rearwardly of a foremost region of the layer of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Concave Global Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Volker Peter Steidle
  • Patent number: 11957213
    Abstract: An insole for insertion into footwear includes a base, and an arch support located on an underside of the base layer, the arch support including a frame forming at least a portion of a perimeter of the arch support, and multiple ribs extend from a first side of the frame to a second side of the frame, wherein a first set of the ribs is raised relative to a second set of the ribs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Scholl's Wellness Company LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Fromholtz, Daniel L. Miranda, Harold A. Howlett
  • Patent number: 11957214
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe including an upper that is easily conformed to a shape of a last when it is shaped. The shoe includes an upper made of a fiber sheet that includes: a first layer made of knitted fabric or woven fabric that includes yarns having a heat shrinkability and has inner gaps; and a second layer layered on the first layer and made of nonwoven fabric, knitted fabric or woven fabric, and being integrated with the first layer by needle punching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: ASICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ayu Bessho, Satoru Abe, Norihiko Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 11957215
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus related to an automated footwear platform including a button assembly for controlling a footwear lacing apparatus are discussed. In an example, the button assembly can include a bushing and an actuator. The bushing can include an actuator housing surrounded by an outer flange. The actuator housing can include an exterior side and an interior side relative to the footwear platform. The actuator can include a plurality of actuator bodies disposed within the actuator housing. Each actuator body of the plurality of actuator bodies can include a switch interface adapted to interact with a switch on a lacing engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Narissa Chang
  • Patent number: 11957216
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first annular group of traction elements arranged along a first annular zone and a second annular group of traction elements arranged along a second annular zone concentric with the first annular group. The first and second annular groups of traction elements include a plurality of directional traction elements arranged in a first rotational direction about a common rotation zone. Optionally, the first annular group of traction elements may include an omnidirectional traction element arranged at a location associated with a relatively low degree of alignment between radii of rotation corresponding to different torsional movements of the sole structure during use. The directional traction elements may include unidirectional traction elements or bidirectional traction elements at locations associated with moderate to high degrees of alignment between radii of rotation corresponding to the different torsional movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Chua, Paige Hoffert, Oliver McLachlan
  • Patent number: 11957217
    Abstract: This invention belongs to measurement methods that can be used in light industry, when measuring the shape and size of the human body parts. Disclosed is a method, over the course of which, based on a series of photographs an image of a flat object of known shape and size is identified on each photograph. The body part area is isolated from the background in the image, and the area of an arbitrary body that does not belong to the projection of the human body part is cut out. Also disclosed is a method for searching an image of a flat object of known shape and size, its projection, and the camera location and orientation, over the course of which the predicted image of the flat object is compared to the real on. Here, the particle dynamics technique is used for isolating a human body part from the image background.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY “FITTIN”
    Inventors: Andrej Anatolevich Revkov, Grigorij Vladimirovich Chujko, Ivan Sergeevich Shedrin, Egor Andreevich Revkov, Natalja Demjanovna Grishko, Viktor Valerevich Posmetev, Dmitry Mikhailovich Kanin
  • Patent number: 11957218
    Abstract: A cam buckle features side walls, a bottom wall spanning therebetween at bottom edges thereof, and a mid wall overlying the bottom wall to cooperatively delimit a strap feed channel therebetween. A rear webbing is fed forwardly through the channel, and then rearwardly back over the mid wall. A cam cover pivotably coupled to the side walls above the mid wall is movable into a closed position holding a top run of the rear webbing. The cam cover has a primary cam-grip lobe, and a second grip ridge for improved holding strength. A snap fit relation between the cam cover and protuberances on the side walls resist inadvertent opening of the buckle. A ramped topside of the bottom wall and curved end of the mid wall cooperatively denote an upturned outlet end of the feed channel for easier grasping and routing of the rear webbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventor: Michael Sarazin
  • Patent number: 11957219
    Abstract: A fastener element used to couple one or more items together, including layers of fabrics or other materials. The fastener element includes a top element having a central opening with a closed bottom surface adjoining a ring. On an underside of the ring is a protruding, piercing element that. The fastener element allows for more than two layers to be fastened together in a snap system and for a plurality of layers to be joined together. The fastener element can allow multiple layers to be joined together by coupling a first socket of a snap system to the top element and another socket to an underside of the ring and to the protruding piercing element. The fastener element can be used for multiple applications to secure more than one layer of fabric or another material together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Inventors: Lauren Sahagun, Nicholas Sahagun
  • Patent number: 11957220
    Abstract: An end piece arranged to be detachably fixed to a bar, the end piece including: a groove intended to house the bar; a rotating part able to pivot about an axis parallel to the bar between a locking position, in which the rotating part prevents the bar from leaving the groove, and a release position, in which the rotating part allows the bar to be respectively introduced into or extracted from the groove; and a locking mechanism arranged to block the rotation of the rotating part. This end piece can be handled by the user, who can fix it to a bar and detach it from the bar without requiring any tooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LVMH SWISS MANUFACTURES SA
    Inventor: Laurent Taton
  • Patent number: 11957221
    Abstract: An alert system has a first device configured to be secured to a first person, a second device associated with a second person, and a computing system. The computing system is configured to determine when the first device has breached a first geofence associated with the second device and, upon determining the first device has breached the first geofence, alert the first device, the second device, and a third device. The first device is configured to, upon receiving an alert indicating the first geofence has been breached, emit an alert signal on the first device. The second device is configured to, upon receiving an alert indicating the first geofence has been breached, emit an alert signal on the second device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LEEB Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Leveland Brown, Robert Iovino, Donna Kane, Carl J. Rennard
  • Patent number: 11957222
    Abstract: Jewelry items having at least one rotating ornament to capture a wearer's or viewer's attention are disclosed. The jewelry item may be a ring or pendant having at least one axle. At least one ornament may be coupled about the axle and the ornament may be configured to spin or rotate around the axle as well as slide along the length of the axle. At least one prong may be coupled to the body of the jewelry item to hold a stone in a position above the axle and rotating ornaments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: MAURICE KRAIEM & COMPANY
    Inventors: Dmitry Marmershteyn, Desi Kraiem
  • Patent number: 11957223
    Abstract: An adjustable grip system configured for attachment to a pole which is intended for recreational or ambulatory use. The adjustable grip system provides adjustability of a grip in relation to longitudinal axis wherein the grip is adjustable in up to 3-degrees of freedom in relation to the pole portion and affixable in place once adjusted to the desired configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Hoodco, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen C. Hoodecheck, Scott Noble