Nike, Inc.

Brian D Baker

Alexandre Baudouin

William Michael Dieter

Erez Morag

James Molyneux

Blake Rhulen

Daniel William Peter

Morgan Stauffer

John Hurd

Kevin Patrick Fallon

Doug D Wilken

Michael S Amos

John Droege

Nicola Jane Reynolds

Martine I V Mientjes

Neil Crumbleholme

Thomas G Bell

Perry W Auger

Andrew Caine

Vernon J Hentz, Iii

Tetsuya T Minami

Sergio Cavaliere

Jeremy L Connell

Timothy J Smith

Peter A Hudson

Elizabeth Barnes

Akexandre Baudouin

Thomas W Jackson

A footwear customization kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes one or more customizable portions that can be deformed when heated, including an upper and a customizable insert. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear and the customizable portions in a steam environment. The customizable portions can be modified by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and can permanently retain the shape upon cooling.

Footwear customization kit

A footwear customization kit includes a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes one or more customizable portions that can be deformed when heated, including an upper and a customizable insert. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear and the customizable portions in a steam environment. The customizable portions can be modified by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and can permanently retain the shape upon cooling.

Articles of footwear may include selectively engageable traction elements that engage with a surface or the ground during certain activities and do not engage with the surface or the ground during other activities. The selectively engageable traction elements are caused to engage with the ground or surface when a portion of the footwear is flexed. When the footwear is in its unflexed position, the selectively engageable traction elements may not engage with the ground or surface. Selectively engageable traction elements may be desired or may be useful during particular, targeted movements such as sharp turns, pivoting, sudden or abrupt starting and stopping motions, and the like and in changing environmental conditions, such as on various surfaces having different characteristics. Wearers of such footwear may benefit from the extra traction provided by the selectively engageable traction elements when performing the targeted movements and/or when wearing the footwear on surfaces with varying conditions.

Rigid cantilevered stud

A method and kit for custom fitting an article of footwear is disclosed. A container holding the article of footwear includes a steaming apparatus that allows a customer to subject the article of footwear to steam. The article of footwear is placed within the steaming apparatus to subject the article of footwear to steam. The method can include cooling the article of footwear on the customer's foot to custom fit the article of footwear.

Method of custom fitting an article of footwear and apparatus including a container

An article of footwear that includes an upper that secures the article of footwear to a wearer. The footwear also includes a sole assembly that is operably coupled to the upper. The sole assembly includes an outsole having a plurality of cleats and a groove. The groove includes a first internal surface and a second internal surface. The first and second internal surfaces move away from each other as the sole assembly flexes in a first direction, and the first and second internal surfaces abut each other to limit movement of the sole assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction.

Footwear with power kick plate

A tightening system for an article of footwear includes a cable disposed between an upper and a sole plate. The upper includes a flexible main body and an exoskeleton covering a portion of the flexible main body in an instep region. The cable is attached to the exoskeleton so that the exoskeleton is tightened to a wearer's foot when the cable length is effectively shortened and/or if the cable tension is increased. The instep region is devoid of the tightening system so that a smooth instep region is provided.

Cable tightening system for an article of footwear

A footwear customization kit is disclosed. The kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes a customizable portion that can be deformed when heated. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear in a steam environment. The steaming bag includes a central portion and a peripheral portion. The central portion of the steaming bag defines an interior cavity for receiving the article of footwear. The peripheral portion can include grasping holes for grabbing the steaming bag in the steam environment. The steaming bag can expand from a flattened configuration when filled with the article of footwear in the steam environment.

Steaming bag for footwear customization

A footwear customization kit includes a stand for supporting an article of footwear that has a customizable portion that can be deformed when heated, and a steaming bag. The stand may include first and second members that can be assembled to support the article of footwear in the steaming bag over a steam environment by engaging an outer periphery of a steaming vessel. The first member may include a first center projection, a first lower central surface, and engaging slots formed in the first lower central surface. The second member may include a second center projection, a second lower central surface, a pair of second shoulders, third and fourth arms disposed above the second lower central surface, and receiving slots formed in upper surfaces of the second shoulders. The first and second members may be attached by interlocking engagement of the engaging slots and the receiving slots.

Embodiments provide an insole having a multilayered construction with openings and ribs sized, shaped, and positioned to provide desired areas of stiffness and flexibility. The multi-layered construction may include a chassis defining a support member opening and a support member covering the opening and positioned between the chassis and a cushioning layer. The chassis may define a plurality of apertures in the forefoot portion, which, in a direction from the forefoot end to the heel end, progressively increase in size to a point at which maximum flexibility is desired in the forefoot portion. The bottom of the support member may include protruding ribs that extend generally in a longitudinal direction from the midfoot to the heel, and include a straight middle rib, a medial side rib convex with respect to the middle rib, and a lateral side rib convex with respect to the middle rib.

Footwear insole

A method of proprioceptive training using an article of athletic equipment having an article of footwear, a knee coupling member, and a biasing member is disclosed. The method includes securing the article of footwear to a foot and securing the knee coupling member to a leg superiorly and inferiorly about a knee joint thereof. Moreover, the method includes biasing the article of footwear relative to the knee coupling member using the biasing member to bias the foot toward plantarflexion relative to the leg to increase proprioception of the foot relative to the leg.

Article of footwear for proprioceptive training

A sizing system for an article of footwear includes an insert attachable to the upper of the article of footwear. The insert is positioned within a pocket formed between the lining of the upper and the exterior shell of the upper. When attached to the upper, the insert forms a part of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. When the insert is removed, part of the pocket forms a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear or a flap is extended over the pocket to form a portion of the exterior surface of the article of footwear. The insert may be secured within the pocket using a mechanical fastener.

Article of footwear with a removable heel member

Articles of footwear may include selectively engageable traction elements that engage with a surface or the ground during certain activities and do not engage with the surface or the ground during other activities. The selectively engageable traction elements are caused to engage with the ground or surface when a portion of the footwear is flexed. When the footwear is in its unflexed position, the selectively engageable traction elements may not engage with the ground or surface. Selectively engageable fraction elements may be desired or may be useful during particular, targeted movements such as sharp turns, pivoting, sudden or abrupt starting and stopping motions, and the like and in changing environmental conditions, such as on various surfaces having different characteristics. Wearers of such footwear may benefit from the extra traction provided by the selectively engageable traction elements when performing the targeted movements and/or when wearing the footwear on surfaces with varying conditions.

Growing community of inventors

Portland, OR, United States of America

Brian D Baker