Charles J Case

US Patent:

20060136173, Jun 22, 2006

Filed:

Dec 17, 2004

Appl. No.:

11/014241

Inventors:

Charles Case - Lake Oswego OR, US
Jason Martin - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G06F 15/00
G06F 11/30

US Classification:

702182000

Abstract:

Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.

US Patent:

20070006489, Jan 11, 2007

Filed:

Jul 11, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/177489

Inventors:

Charles Case - Lake Oswego OR, US
Albert Shum - Portland OR, US
Allan Schrock - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A43B 5/00

US Classification:

036132000

Abstract:

Foot-receiving devices, such as articles of footwear, include: (a) a sensing device that senses a characteristic of an interaction between a user's foot and a foot-receiving device; (b) a control system that receives output from the sensing device and controls a characteristic of the foot-receiving device based on this output; and (c) a monitoring system for detecting and/or storing data indicating speed or distance information associated with use of the foot-receiving device. The monitoring system may receive input from the same sensing device used for providing data to the control system. The control system may alter the impact attenuation characteristics, the traction characteristics, the flexibility characteristics, the fit characteristics, or the like of the article of footwear. Methods of making and using such foot-receiving devices also are described.

US Patent:

20070011919, Jan 18, 2007

Filed:

Jun 27, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/166351

Inventors:

Charles Case - Lake Oswego OR, US

International Classification:

A43B 5/00
A43B 23/00

US Classification:

036132000, 036136000

Abstract:

Articles of footwear and footwear systems include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of footwear for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and footwear are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for the module for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.

US Patent:

20070159926, Jul 12, 2007

Filed:

Mar 23, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/690766

Inventors:

Michael Prstojevich - Portland OR, US
Christopher Robinette - Lake Oswego OR, US
Theodore Helprin - Portland OR, US
Charles Case - Lake Oswego OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G04B 47/00

US Classification:

368010000

Abstract:

A watch or other type of portable electronic console that employs a number of different functions in order to improve its usability. The watch may, for example, allow a user to connect the watch to one or more remote electronic devices, such as an electronic performance sensor or MP3 player. The watch then displays information related to the connected electronic devices. Still further, the watch may allow a user to control the operation of one or more connected remote electronic devices. Thus, if the watch is connected to a remote speed/distance monitor employing a calibration variable, then the watch may allow the user to adjust the calibration variable. The watch also provides a multi-tiered menu for accessing its various functions. Each operational mode in the first tier relates to a broad category of different functions of the watch, and contains one or more operational submodes in a second tier. The submodes in the second tier are for performing specific functions related to the generic category of functions identified by the first-tier operational mode. Still further, the watch allows a user to conveniently select how the information provided by the watch is displayed. Moreover, the watch includes a power save function that reduces the power consumption of the watch when it is not in use.

US Patent:

20070247306, Oct 25, 2007

Filed:

Apr 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/407353

Inventors:

Charles Case - Lake Oswego OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G08B 1/08

US Classification:

340539110

Abstract:

Footwear systems include an article of footwear and a data transmission system engaged with the article of footwear. The transmission system transmits data to a remote system, such as a display system, another data transmission system, a processing system, etc. Such footwear systems further may include activation systems for activating the transmission and/or display systems. The transmitted data may be used for various purposes, such as: (a) identifying a user of the article of footwear; (b) activating targeted advertising or product information; (c) confirming the user's presence at a specific location and/or at a specific time; (d) determining start, finish, and/or intermediate split times for specific user; (e) confirming athletic equipment usage; (f) providing data for a game or reward program; (g) registering the user for an event or competition; or the like.

US Patent:

20070260421, Nov 8, 2007

Filed:

May 3, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/416458

Inventors:

William Berner - Portland OR, US
Albert Shum - Portland OR, US
Charles Case - Lake Oswego OR, US
Allan Schrock - Portland OR, US
James Niegowski - Portland OR, US
William Rauchholz - Alexandria VA, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

G01C 22/00
G08C 19/16
G06F 19/00
G06F 17/40

US Classification:

702160000, 036001000, 340870010, 340870070, 340870160, 340870280, 702127000, 702155000

Abstract:

Articles of footwear and other devices include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the footwear or other devices. Such devices include: (a) a housing, optionally an asymmetrical housing, for receiving an electronic module; (b) release mechanisms for removably mounting the module in the housing; and/or (c) activation/authentication systems for selectively activating the module. Additionally, methods of making articles of footwear or other structures that include such housings, electronic modules, release systems, activation systems, authentication systems, etc. are described. Performance sensing systems and methods of using the above devices for sensing performance characteristics also are described.

US Patent:

20070287596, Dec 13, 2007

Filed:

Jun 27, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/769545

Inventors:

Charles Case - Lake Oswego OR, US
Jason Martin - Lake Oswego OR, US

Assignee:

NIKE, INC. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A63B 69/00

US Classification:

482008000

Abstract:

Athletic performance monitoring systems and methods, many of which utilize, in some manner, global positioning satellite (“GPS”) data, provide data and information to athletes and/or to equipment used by athletes during an athletic event. Such systems and methods may provide route information to athletes and/or their trainers, e.g., for pre-event planning, goal setting, and calibration purposes. Such systems and methods optionally may provide real time information to the athlete while the event takes place, e.g., to assist in reaching the pre-set goals. Additionally, data and information collected by such systems and methods may assist in post-event analysis for athletes and their trainers, e.g., to evaluate past performances and to assist in improving future performances.

US Patent:

20080125288, May 29, 2008

Filed:

Apr 20, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/407328

Inventors:

Charles Whipple Case - Lake Oswego OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A63B 71/00
A61B 5/00
A41D 1/00

US Classification:

482 1, 600300, 2 69

Abstract:

Articles of clothing or pieces of athletic equipment include modules, e.g., for sensing physical and/or physiological characteristics associated with use of the clothing or athletic equipment or for performing other functions. Such systems and methods may use physical or other interaction(s) between the module and the article of clothing or piece of athletic equipment for activating and/or deactivating the module and/or sensing devices included with the module, for confirming whether the module and clothing or piece of athletic equipment are authorized for use with one another, and/or for automatic data algorithm selection methods. Additionally, such systems and methods also may use the activation and/or authentication systems for data input to the module. Some examples of such systems and methods may utilize magnets and magnetic sensing systems and/or light (or other radiation) sources and sensing systems for activation, authentication, data input, and/or algorithm selection.