Nike, Inc.

Andrew A Owings

Tiffany A Beers

Allan M Schrock

Michael S Amos

James C Meschter

Steven H Walker

Mark Stanley Soderberg

Bradley W Wilkins

James Alan Capra

Cody Collier Henderson

Daniel Hipwood

Sean D Hartford

Austin J Orand

Sharna M Donovan

Aaron B Weast

James Molyneux

Ryan Frederick

Jordan M Rice

Elizabeth A Kilgore

Matthew Anthony Nurse

Jeffrey C Pisciotta

Anthony Carl Dean

Martine W Stillman

Mike A Chamblin

Jeffrey J Hebert

Dane Weitmann

Vikram Malhotra

Holli Pheil

Mark Alan Tempel

Austin Palmer

Michelle L Kvernmo

Michelle L Mishler

Michael Ciuffo

Thomas G Bell

Andreas Heinrich Steier

Ndikum Protus Atang

Tinker L Hatfield

Jeffrey C Spanks

Timothy P Hopkins

Haley L Toelle

Risha Dupre

Rory S Blanche

Clayton J Lindsay

Kaigin Olafson

Joseph B Horrell

Jonathan Bing Knight

Adam M Whiton

Caitlin Vultaggio

Christopher Mellick

Nicholas Buck

Frederick J Dojan

Wilson W Smith, Iii

Tobie D Hatfield

Mark J Smith

Kyle Schepke

Daniel Akey Johnson

Phillip Meneau

Kevin J Rucier

Andrew Owenson

Clayton Lindsay

Michelle L Kvemmo

Brandon J Wilen

Shama M Donovan

An article of footwear including an adaptive support system includes a plurality of support members. Each support member includes an outer chamber and an inner chamber, the inner chamber being filled with a magnetorheological fluid. An electromagnet is disposed adjacent to the inner chamber and can be used to vary the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid.

Support members with variable viscosity fluid for footwear

A position sensing assembly for a tensioning system designed to provide tension to a lace, cord, or other type of strand is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a reel member configured to rotate about a central axis and the position sensing assembly. The position sensing assembly includes a shaft, an indicator tab, and an optical sensing unit. The position sensing assembly assists in controlling the degree to which the strand is tightened and loosened. The position sensing assembly prevents tightening of the strand when the strand is meant to be loosened.

Position sensing assembly for a tensioning system

An article of footwear or an article of apparel can include provisions for facilitating the installation of a control device. The control device can include a panel comprising a plurality of buttons that can provide manual control to a user. The control device can be installed in a compartment within the article after initial manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the control device can be used to perform different functions in a motorized tensioning system.

Control device for an article of footwear

An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.

Footwear heel support device

An article with a color change portion and a method of changing color. The article includes at least one color change portion capable of changing colors. The color change portion includes composite material including a photonic lattice. The color change portion can change colors according to one or more performance parameters. The article can be connected to a computer and the color change portion can be controlled using the computer.

Article of footwear with color change portion and method of changing color

A charging system can include provisions for providing power to various systems or components associated with the article of footwear. A charging system may include a charging device dimensioned to be used with one or more articles of footwear, where the articles of footwear can include different sizes. In some cases, the charging system can be used to facilitate the transfer of power to components in a motorized tensioning system.

Article of footwear and a charging system for an article of footwear

A tensioning system for articles of footwear and articles of apparel is disclosed. The tensioning system includes a spool system that can be engaged or disengaged from a driveshaft through the use of a cam device. The motorized tensioning device includes a torque transmitting system that allows for incremental tightening, incremental loosening and full loosening of the tensile element.

Compact motorized tensioning device for footwear

This disclosure relates to a fastener that can be used with various apparel and that can be easier to operate and can be less likely to create discomfort to a wearer. In at least some examples, the fastener includes a hook, which can be connected to a first portion of the article, and a receiver, which can be connected to a second portion of the article. The hook can be releasably connected to the receiver to selectively secure the first portion of the article to the second portion of the article. The receiver can include various elements, and in one example, the receiver includes a slot that can receive, at various angles and orientations, a bend of the hook. In addition, receiver can include a cross bar (e.g., anchor bar) that mates with the bend of the hook to retain the hook in a secure position.

Apparel fastener

An article with an automatic tensioning system includes a lace guide assembly. The lace guide assembly includes a lower guide member and two upper guide members that include channels for routing a tensioning member. Straps of the upper are attached to the two upper guide members. As the tensioning member is pulled into a tensioning device, the two upper guide members are pulled toward the lower guide member. This pulls on the straps and acts to tighten the upper around a foot.

Article of footwear with a tensioning system including a guide assembly

An article of footwear can include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. A control device included in the article can be configured to allow manual control of a system by a user. A lockout feature that can disable manual control may be included. During periods of competitive activity, the manual controls may be disabled to allow a user wearing the article to engage in different activities without inadvertent activation of a system. In some cases, the control device and lockout feature can be used in conjunction with a motorized tensioning system.

Lockout feature for a control device

A shoe has a sensor system operably connected to a communication port. Performance data is collected by the system and can be transferred for further use via the communication port. The shoe may contain an electronic module configured to gather data from the sensors. The module may also transmit the data to an external device for further processing. Users can use the collected data for a variety of different uses or applications.

Footwear having sensor system

A lace routing pattern for a lacing system for an article of footwear is described. The lacing system is moved between opened and closed positions by applying tension to segments of a lace connected to a tensioning assembly of a tensioning system. Each of the lace segments are arranged to extend between opposite sides of a lacing area according to a different lace routing pattern. The lace routing patterns have equal total closure distances for each of the lace segments so that tension applied by the tensioning system will be uniformly distributed through the lacing system and the article of footwear.

Lace routing pattern of a lacing system for an article of footwear

An article of footwear can. Include provisions for improving the operation and use of various systems associated with the article. An automated tensioning system can be configured to provide and perform a variety of functions associated with the fastening of the article of footwear. The automated tensioning system may tighten and loosen the article of footwear through the operation of a motor. The automated tensioning system may also be able to store and recall a preset tension level.

Automated tensioning system for an article of footwear

An article of footwear can include provisions for facilitating the installation of various components such as a lighting apparatus. During manufacture of the article of footwear, the upper and/or sole structure can include a chamber designed to receive the lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus can be installed in the chamber after manufacture of the article of footwear. In some cases, the lighting apparatus can include provisions for facilitating the installation of the lighting apparatus in the chamber, including a removable handle portion that can help guide the lighting apparatus within the chamber.

Lighting assembly for articles of footwear

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Andrew A Owings