NIKE, Inc. patent applications published on November 30th, 2023

Summary of the patent applications from NIKE, Inc. on November 30th, 2023

NIKE, Inc. has recently filed several patents for innovative footwear designs and technologies. These patents cover a range of features and functionalities, including intelligent electronic footwear, image processing systems, knit textiles with thermal resistance, foamed articles, S-shaped cleats, unique shoe sole structures, footwear with pressurized fluid chambers, collar elevators, and devices to assist with putting on footwear.

The intelligent electronic footwear patent application describes footwear with automated features and control systems. It includes a collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller. The footwear can warn the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.

The image processing system patent application focuses on using a mobile device to process images. It calculates the height and scale of objects in the image using depth measurements from a depth sensor. It also segments pixels to measure and generate model data for the object.

The patent application for knit textiles with thermal resistance describes textiles with different thermal properties in different areas. These textiles can be used to make garments.

The foamed article patent application outlines a method for making foamed components for footwear using a thermoplastic polymer. The process involves infusing the article with an inert gas under pressure to create foam, with a partial mold used to control the expansion.

The S-shaped cleats patent application introduces a unique cleat structure for footwear. It includes a mounting base, a center wall, and sidewalls with angled edges. The structure can provide improved traction and stability.

The shoe sole structure patent application presents a four-layered sole made of polymeric sheets. The layers form cushioning chambers and are arranged in a specific bonding pattern for optimal comfort and support.

The pressurized fluid chamber footwear patent application describes footwear with a chamber for holding pressurized fluid. The chamber is made up of a tensile member and barrier layers, providing potential benefits for comfort and support.

The collar elevator patent application introduces a feature that raises the ankle collar of footwear for ease of use during foot entry and removal.

The device for putting on footwear patent application presents a device with a control bar and anchor arms to assist with foot entry into footwear.

- Intelligent electronic footwear with collision threat warning system. - Image processing system using a mobile device for object measurement. - Knit textiles with different thermal properties for garments. - Method for making foamed components for footwear using a thermoplastic polymer. - Unique S-shaped cleats for improved traction and stability. - Shoe sole structure with four layers for cushioning and support. - Footwear with pressurized fluid chamber for comfort and support. - Collar elevator for easy foot entry and removal. - Device to assist with putting on footwear for support and flexibility.

Patent applications for NIKE, Inc. on November 30th, 2023

ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH DEVICE FOR EASE OF ENTRY (18176817)

Main Inventor

Stefan B. Cristobal

FOOTWEAR ARTICLE WITH COLLAR ELEVATOR (18233578)

Main Inventor

Timothy P. Hopkins

FLEXIBLE FLUID-FILLED CHAMBER WITH TENSILE MEMBER (18302829)

Main Inventor

John Hurd

Brief explanation

The abstract describes a new type of footwear that has a sole structure with a chamber for holding pressurized fluid. The article also explains a method for making this footwear.

• The footwear has a chamber that can hold pressurized fluid.
• The chamber is made up of a tensile member that extends between two barrier layers.
• The tensile member consists of two layers bonded to the barrier layers and connected by tethers.
• The second layer of the tensile member has two separate sections.
• A portion of the second barrier layer extends towards the first layer of the tensile member between the two sections.
• This portion is joined to the first layer of the tensile member.

Overall, this patent application describes a unique design for footwear that incorporates a chamber for pressurized fluid, providing potential benefits for comfort and support.

Abstract

An article of footwear having a sole structure including a chamber for receiving a pressurized fluid is described, along with a method of making the article. The chamber may include a tensile member extending between a first chamber barrier layer and a second chamber barrier layer. The tensile member may include a first tensile member layer bonded to the first chamber barrier layer, a second tensile member layer bonded to the second chamber barrier layer, and a plurality of tethers connecting the first tensile member layer to the second tensile member layer. The second tensile member layer may include a first section and a second section separate from the first section. In addition, a portion of the second chamber barrier layer may extend toward the first tensile member layer between the first section and the second section, the portion being joined to the first tensile member layer.

MIDSOLE WITH GRADED RESPONSE (18366164)

Main Inventor

Patrick Case

Brief explanation

The abstract describes a unique structure for a shoe sole made up of four layers of polymeric sheets bonded together.

• The layers form three cushioning layers, each with a sealed chamber that holds gas separately from the other chambers.
• The bonds between the sheets are arranged in a way that the third cushioning layer is directly above the first layer, with the second layer bordering both.
• The second cushioning layer has elongated segments that run across the midsole at an angle to the longitudinal midline.

Abstract

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.

S-SHAPED CLEAT STRUCTURES AND INTERMIXED CLEAT PATTERNS FOR ARTICLES OF FOOTWEAR (18446414)

Main Inventor

Jim Baucom

Brief explanation

- The patent application describes S-shaped cleats for footwear and methods for making and using them.

- The cleat structure includes a mounting base that attaches to the sole of the footwear. - A center wall projects downwardly from the mounting base, with opposing lateral sides and a distal end. - Two sidewalls also project downwardly from the base and adjoin the lateral sides of the center wall. - Each sidewall has an angled edge that extends at an oblique angle from the distal end of the center wall. - The sidewalls are located on opposing sides of the center wall and may be parallel or extend in opposite directions. - The center wall and sidewalls may have flat panels with multiple polygonal faces or arcuate sides.

• S-shaped cleats for footwear
• Mounting base attaches to the sole of the footwear
• Center wall projects downwardly from the mounting base with opposing lateral sides and a distal end
• Sidewalls also project downwardly from the base and adjoin the lateral sides of the center wall
• Each sidewall has an angled edge extending at an oblique angle from the distal end of the center wall
• Sidewalls are located on opposing sides of the center wall and may be parallel or extend in opposite directions
• Center wall and sidewalls may have flat panels with multiple polygonal faces or arcuate sides.

Abstract

Presented are S-shaped cleats for footwear, methods for making/using S-shaped cleats, and footwear fabricated with S-shaped cleats. A cleat structure for an article of footwear includes a mounting base, such as a pair of coplanar mounting plates, that attaches to the footwear's sole structure. A center wall projects downwardly from the mounting base and has opposing lateral sides with a distal end extending therebetween. A pair of sidewalls each projects downwardly from the base and adjoins a respective lateral side of the center wall. Each sidewall has a respective angled edge that projects at an oblique angle from the distal end of the center wall. The two sidewalls are located on opposing sides of the center wall; the sidewalls may be parallel to and extend in opposite directions of each other. The center wall and sidewalls may be substantially flat panels with multiple polygonal faces or may have arcuate sides.

Method of Making Foams Using Partial Molds (18450158)

Main Inventor

Bryan N. Farris

Brief explanation

- The patent application describes a method of making a foamed article, such as a component for footwear, using a thermoplastic polymer.

- The process involves heating the unfoamed article to soften it and then infusing it with an inert gas at a higher pressure than atmospheric pressure. - The higher pressure causes the gas to permeate into the softened article. - The pressure is then reduced to a lower level, causing the article to partially foam. - A partial mold is used to limit the expansion of the foam in certain directions. - The article or a part of it can be made from interconnected, unfoamed thermoplastic polymeric members that create openings between them.

Abstract

A method of making a foamed article, for example a foamed component for an article of footwear, includes forming an unfoamed, thermoplastic polymer into an unfoamed article; heating the article to soften the article and infusing the softened article with at least one inert gas at a first pressure greater than atmospheric pressure that is sufficient to cause the at least one inert gas to permeate into the softened article; and reducing the pressure to second pressure below the first pressure with the unfoamed article softened to at least partially foam the article. A surface of a partial mold limits foam expansion in at least one direction but less than all directions. The article or a part of the article may be formed from an unfoamed structure of interconnected, unfoamed, thermoplastic polymeric members spaced to define openings between the thermoplastic polymeric members.

KNITTED GARMENT (18231630)

Main Inventor

Daniel Morgan

Brief explanation

- The patent application is about knit textiles with thermal resistance.

- The knit textiles can have different thermal properties in different areas. - The application also describes garments made with these knit textiles.

Abstract

The subject matter of this disclosure includes knit textiles, such as knitted components, that have one or more amounts of thermal resistance. In addition, this disclosure describes a knit textile panel having varied amounts of thermal properties among different zones or regions of the knit textile panel. Further the disclosure describes zoned garments comprising the knit textile described.

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING CAPTURED IMAGES (18232519)

Main Inventor

David Alexander Bleicher

Brief explanation

The patent application describes a system for image processing using a mobile device.

• The system can display an image of an object that is perpendicular to a reference object.
• It calculates the predicted height of the mobile device when the image was captured using depth measurements from a depth sensor.
• Scale data for the image is calculated based on the predicted height.
• A reference line is determined to identify the location of the object and the reference object in the image.
• Pixels in the object are segmented from pixels outside the object in the image.
• The object is measured using the segmented pixels and the scale data.
• Model data is generated, which includes the object, the scale data, and the measurements.

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatuses described herein may provide image processing, including displaying, by a mobile device, an image of an object located perpendicular to a reference object, calculating, based on at least one depth measurement determined using a depth sensor in the mobile device, the predicted height of the mobile device when the image was captured, calculating scale data for the image based on the predicted height, determining a reference line identifying the location of the object and the reference object in the image, segmenting pixels in the object in the image from pixels in the image outside the object, measuring the object based on the pixels in the object and the scale data, and generating model data comprising the object, the scale data, and the measurements.

INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC FOOTWEAR AND CONTROL LOGIC FOR AUTOMATED PEDESTRIAN COLLISION AVOIDANCE (18447082)

Main Inventor

Christopher Andon

Brief explanation

The patent application describes intelligent electronic footwear with automated features and control systems for executing these features. 

• The footwear includes an upper that attaches to the user's foot and a sole structure for supporting the foot.
• The footwear is equipped with a collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller.
• The detection tag receives a prompt signal and transmits a response signal to a transmitter-detector module.
• The footwear controller receives a pedestrian collision warning signal from a remote computing node through the wireless communications device.
• In response to the warning signal, the footwear controller sends a command signal to the collision threat warning system.
• The collision threat warning system generates a visible, audible, or tactile alert to warn the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.

Abstract

Presented are intelligent electronic footwear with controller automated features, methods for making/using such footwear, and control systems for executing automated features of intelligent electronic footwear. An intelligent electronic shoe includes an upper that attaches to a user's foot, and a sole structure attached to the upper for supporting thereon the user's foot. A collision threat warning system, a detection tag, a wireless communications device, and a footwear controller are all mounted to the sole structure/upper. The detection tag receives a prompt signal from a transmitter-detector module and responsively transmits thereto a response signal. The footwear controller receives, through the wireless communications device, a pedestrian collision warning signal generated by the remote computing node responsive to the response signal. Responsively, the footwear controller transmits a command signal to the collision threat warning system to generate a visible, audible and/or tactile alert warning the user of an impending collision with a vehicle.