NIKE, Inc.

Footwear systems designed with interchangeable or reconfigurable components, such as soles, uppers, or footbeds, to allow for customization, repair, or adaptation to different uses.

Utilization of knitted components, often with multi-layer structures or integrated thermoplastic yarns, and other advanced materials like specialized foams or structural color elements, for footwear uppers and other components.

Engineering of footwear sole components, including midsoles, outsoles, and integrated plates or shanks, to optimize cushioning, stability, energy return, and biomechanical support for specific activities.

Novel mechanisms for securing footwear to the foot, moving beyond traditional laces to include reel-based cables, vacuum-actuated bladders, or integrated frames for enhanced fit and ease of use.

Integration of electronic sensors and feedback mechanisms into footwear for monitoring physiological parameters, providing navigation assistance, or detecting health conditions.

Development and application of textile materials with engineered properties such as waterproofing, thermal regulation, anti-cling, structural coloration, or enhanced filtration capabilities for specific performance needs.

Techniques for combining multiple materials or layers, often with specialized surface treatments, coatings, or assembly methods, to create functional or aesthetically enhanced plastic articles, including consumer goods and encapsulated electronics.

Design principles and features in apparel that allow for adjustability, customization, easy replacement of components, or specific fit to accommodate diverse body shapes, activities, or medical requirements.

Apparel or accessories that incorporate electronic components such as sensors, communication modules, haptic feedback devices, or processing units for enhanced functionality and interaction.

Systems using artificial intelligence and machine learning to monitor athlete performance, provide personalized training plans, predict physiological responses, or create virtual representations for feedback and analysis.

Specialized manufacturing processes and material compositions for producing various components of tires, focusing on properties such as weight reduction, self-sealing capabilities, or structural reinforcement, often involving winding or layering techniques.

Development and application of polymer compositions designed for reprocessability, recyclability, or incorporating sustainable additives, often featuring reversible bonds or bio-based components.

Protective equipment, such as mouthguards or helmets, designed with enhanced structural integrity, ergonomic fit, and sometimes integrated sensors for performance or safety monitoring.

Integration of power generation, storage, and distribution technologies directly into garments or wearable accessories, often utilizing flexible or compact energy sources like solar panels and batteries.

Techniques for building three-dimensional metal objects layer-by-layer using metal powders, including powder bed fusion, binder jetting, and directed energy deposition. This theme encompasses process mechanics, equipment design, and operational control for AM systems.

Processes involving the application of heat and pressure to shape thermoplastic or elastomeric materials, often using molds or presses, to achieve specific forms or material properties.

Innovations in golf club heads, shafts, and balls focusing on material science, aerodynamic properties, weight distribution, and impact response to improve player performance and product durability.

Designing user interfaces and interaction methods specifically for mobile or wearable devices, enabling control of external systems, monitoring user states, or facilitating real-world transactions.

Multi-layered materials incorporating fiber layers (e.g., carbon, non-carbon, fabric, mesh) within a polymer or ceramic matrix to achieve enhanced mechanical properties such as strength, stiffness, impact resistance, or tailored hardness for demanding structural applications.

Garments and accessories engineered to provide protection against physical impacts, environmental hazards (e.g., moisture, pathogens), or to enhance personal safety through features like airbags or specialized masks.

Design improvements in exercise equipment focusing on user comfort, safety, adjustability, and space-saving features like folding mechanisms or modular components for home or gym use.

Apparatuses and systems designed for handling, storing, practicing with, or maintaining equipment used in ball and net sports, such as pickleball, baseball, or basketball.

Methods for forming complex and lightweight structures from composite materials, typically involving fibrous reinforcement (e.g., carbon fiber) embedded in a resin matrix, for applications requiring high strength-to-weight ratios like aerospace or wind energy.

Systems that process data to provide personalized recommendations, predict events, or automate decision-making processes based on learned patterns, user behavior, or environmental factors.

Methods and equipment for continuously shaping plastic materials by forcing them through a die, often involving screw extruders, heating elements, and downstream calibration.

Multi-layer polymer films engineered to provide superior barrier properties against gases (e.g., oxygen), moisture, or aromas, often incorporating heat-sealing or resealing mechanisms for food and product preservation.

Manufacturing methods for optical components such as lenses, waveguides, films, and filters, requiring high precision in molding, surface treatment, or material composition to achieve specific optical properties like refractive index, microstructures, or tinting.