Mark C Bruce

US Patent:

20220338558, Oct 27, 2022

Filed:

Apr 21, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/726204

Inventors:

- Beaverton OR, US
Bobby LeGaye - Beaverton OR, US
Mark Bruce - Beaverton OR, US
Peter Williams - Beaverton OR, US
Austin J. Orand - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

A41C 3/00
A41F 15/00
A61B 5/11
A61B 5/00

Abstract:

A control system for use within an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a ratchet mechanism, an actuator, and a control circuit. The lace spool can include a lace groove adapted to accumulate a portion of a lace cable coupled to a support structure within the adaptive support garment. The ratchet mechanism can be configured to control rotation of the lace spool during operation of the control system. The actuator can be adapted to control engagement of the ratchet mechanism. The control circuit electrically can be coupled to the actuator and can be configured to operate the actuator to engage or disengage the ratchet mechanism. In operation, rotation of the lace spool controls an effective length of the lace cable to provide adaptive support.

US Patent:

20220338559, Oct 27, 2022

Filed:

Apr 21, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/726211

Inventors:

- Beaverton OR, US
Joe Gault - Beaverton OR, US
Bobby LeGaye - Beaverton OR, US
Mark Bruce - Beaverton OR, US
Peter Williams - Beaverton OR, US
Austin J. Orand - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

A41C 3/00
A41D 1/00
A41D 13/00
A41C 3/12

Abstract:

A control system for controlling tension applied to a lace cable coupled to a support structure of an adaptive support garment is discussed herein. The control system can include a lace spool, a damper mechanism, and a locking ring. The lace spool can include a lace groove to receive the lace cable and a rotary bias member to apply rotational tension to resist extension of the lace cable out of a housing holding the control system. The damper mechanism is engagable with the lace spool to generate an additional rotational tension resisting extension of the lace cable out of the housing. The locking ring is frictionally coupled to the lace spool, and the locking ring can include a lock wedge adapted to disengage the damper mechanism upon rotation into a pre-determined rotational position relative to the damper mechanism.

US Patent:

20220338562, Oct 27, 2022

Filed:

Apr 21, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/726195

Inventors:

- Beaverton OR, US
Joe Gault - Beaverton OR, US
Bobby LeGaye - Beaverton OR, US
Mark Bruce - Beaverton OR, US
Peter Williams - Beaverton OR, US
Austin J. Orand - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

A41D 1/00
A41C 3/00
A41C 3/12
A41D 13/00

Abstract:

An article of apparel providing dynamic support for an appendage of a person is discussed herein. The article of apparel can include a support garment control device configured to provide dynamic support. The support garment control device can include a control lace coupled to a support portion of the article of apparel. In an example, the support garment control device configured to apply a first tension on the control lace, lock the support garment control device at the first tension to inhibit movement of the control lace in response to detecting a change in movement of the person, and unlock the support garment control device after a pre-determined event subsequent to the change in movement of the person.

US Patent:

20220338581, Oct 27, 2022

Filed:

Apr 21, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/726167

Inventors:

- Beaverton OR, US
Joe Gault - Beaverton OR, US
Bobby LeGaye - Beaverton OR, US
Mark Bruce - Beaverton OR, US
Peter Williams - Beaverton OR, US
Austin J. Orand - Portland OR, US

International Classification:

A41F 15/00

Abstract:

An adaptive support garment integrating directional fabrics to assist in providing adaptive support to select portions of the garment is discussed herein. The adaptive support garment can include a first directional fabric, a second direction fabric, and a tension device. The first directional fabric includes first directional fibers, and the first directional fabric can be coupled to a fixed portion of the adaptive support garment. The second directional fabric includes second directional fibers, and the second directional fabric can be coupled to a movable control structure portion of the adaptive support garment. The tension device can be coupled to the movable control structure and configured to apply a tension in a first direction on the movable control structure. In operation, the first directional fibers can engage with the second directional fibers to resist movement in a second direction opposite the first direction.

US Patent:

20200046074, Feb 13, 2020

Filed:

Aug 8, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/535415

Inventors:

- Beaverton OR, US
Mark S. Bruce - Portland OR, US
Ajay Chadha - Portland OR, US
Stephen J. Hipp - Hillsboro OR, US
Timothy K. Liles - Portland OR, US
John S. MacGilbert - Tigard OR, US
Colin M. Runkle - Portland OR, US
Peter R. Savage - Aloha OR, US
Hirotaka Usui - Portland OR, US
Yang Zhao - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

NIKE, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A43B 23/02
A43B 1/04
D04B 1/10

Abstract:

A lightweight, breathable, translucent and high-strength upper formed from a half-gauge knit, at least in part from a high tenacity yarn and a fusible yarn, is described. The upper may include a knit heel structure. Methods of manufacture, including exposing the upper to steam while in a tensioned state to at least partially melt the fusible yarn to adjacent yarns is also described. Subsequent cooling of the fusible yarn retains the upper in a stretched condition.