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Patent 2779900 Summary

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2779900
(54) English Title: FOOTWEAR TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS
(54) French Title: PROCEDE ET APPAREIL DE COMMANDE DE TEMPERATURE D'ARTICLE CHAUSSANT
Status: Dead
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • A43B 7/04 (2006.01)
  • A43B 7/02 (2006.01)
  • A43B 17/00 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • CRIST, DANIEL W. (United States of America)
  • COBB, LANE C. (United States of America)
(73) Owners :
  • COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC. (United States of America)
(71) Applicants :
  • COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC. (United States of America)
(74) Agent: BORDEN LADNER GERVAIS LLP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(86) PCT Filing Date: 2010-11-05
(87) Open to Public Inspection: 2011-05-12
Examination requested: 2012-05-03
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): Yes
(86) PCT Filing Number: PCT/US2010/055725
(87) International Publication Number: WO2011/057142
(85) National Entry: 2012-05-03

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
61/258,554 United States of America 2009-11-05

Abstracts

English Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to footwear, such as a boots and shoes, and in particular to footwear having a removable element, such as a liner, that includes temperature control elements for controllably regulating and/or altering the temperature of the footwear and thus the wearer's foot. Various embodiments also include an electrical contact in the foot bed adapted to couple to the temperature control element in the liner, and a power source, controller, and actuator coupled to the footwear upper.


French Abstract

Les présents modes de réalisation se rapportent à un article chaussant, tel que des bottes et des chaussures, et en particulier à un article chaussant comportant un élément amovible, tel qu'une doublure, qui comprend des éléments de commande de température destinés à réguler et/ou modifier de façon commandée la température de l'article chaussant et ainsi le pied de l'utilisateur. Différents modes de réalisation comprennent également un contact électrique dans la semelle conçu pour être couplé à l'élément de commande de température dans la doublure, et une source d'alimentation, un dispositif de commande et un actionneur couplés à l'empeigne de l'article chaussant.

Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.




Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A temperature control system for footwear comprising:
a removable liner comprising a temperature control element adapted to alter
the temperature of the footwear, wherein the removable liner comprises a first

electrical contact;
a foot bed comprising a second electrical contact, wherein the first and
second electrical contacts are adapted to couple to one another;
a power source adapted to provide power to the second electrical contact;
and
a controller adapted to couple to the power source and control the
temperature control element.

2. The temperature control system of claim 1, further comprising an actuator
adapted to couple to the controller and activate the temperature control
system.
3. The temperature control system of claim 2, wherein the power source,
controller, and/or actuator are removably coupled to the footwear.

4. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the temperature control
system comprises a heating and/or cooling element and a substrate.

5. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the heating and/or
cooling
element comprises a metallic conductor.

6. The temperature control system of claim 5, wherein the metallic conductor
comprises a FeCrAl alloy.

7. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the heating and/or
cooling
element comprises a piezoelectric or thermoelectric heater and/or cooler.

8. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the heating and/or
cooling
element is positioned in a toe region of the removable liner.





9. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the heating and/or
cooling
element is positioned in both a heel region and a toe region of the removable
liner.
10. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the heating and/or
cooling
element is positioned to cover substantially all of a surface of the removable
liner.

11. The temperature control system of claim 4, wherein the substrate comprises

cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) or polyimide (PI).

12. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the first electrical
contact
comprises a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal, and wherein
the
second electrical contact comprises a second positive terminal and a second
negative terminal.

13. The temperature control system of claim 12, wherein the second positive
terminal and second negative terminal each has an area of at least 0.5
inches2.
14. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second
electrical contacts comprise magnetic elements.

15. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the first and second
electrical contacts comprise male and female coupling elements.

16. The temperature control system of claim 15, wherein the first electrical
contact
comprises a male coupling element and the second electrical contact comprises
a
female coupling element.

17. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the controller
comprises
an integrated circuit based system, wherein the controller is configured to
regulate
the current provided to the temperature control element by the power source.


11



18. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the power source is a
battery.

19. The temperature control system of claim 18, wherein the battery is
rechargeable.

20. The temperature control system of claim 18, wherein the controller is
adapted
to house the battery.

21. The temperature control system of claim 1, wherein the controller is
programmable.

22. The temperature control system of claim 21, wherein the controller
comprises
a USB port or micro USB port.

23. A temperature control system for footwear comprising:
a removable liner comprising a temperature control element adapted to alter
the temperature of the footwear, wherein the removable liner comprises a first

electrical contact;
a foot bed comprising a second electrical contact, wherein the first and
second electrical contacts are adapted to couple to one another, and wherein
the
first and second electrical contacts comprise magnetic elements;
a power source adapted to provide power to the second electrical contact;
a controller adapted to couple to the power source and control the
temperature control element; and
an actuator adapted to couple to the controller and activate the temperature
control system, wherein the power source, controller, and actuator are
removably
coupled to the footwear upper.


12

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
FOOTWEAR TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS

Cross-Reference to Related Application
[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 61/258,554, filed November 5, 2009, entitled FOOTWEAR
TEMPERATURE CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS, the disclosure of which
is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field
[0002] Embodiments herein relate to footwear, such as a boots and shoes,
and in particular to footwear having a removable element, such as a liner,
bootie, or
insole, that includes temperature control elements for controllably regulating
and/or
altering the temperature of the footwear and thus the wearer's foot.

Background
[0003] Footwear often is worn in conditions where temperature fluctuations
can have a significant impact on the comfort and safety of the wearer. To help
keep
the wearer's foot warm in cold environments, footwear typically includes
various
insulating materials. While somewhat effective, insulation alone may not be
sufficient to maintain a safe, much less comfortable, foot temperature in
severe cold
environments. Further, insulated footwear can be problematic in warmer
environments or in situations where the wearer is exerting a great deal of
energy, as
it traps heat and moisture and may cause overheating of the foot.
Additionally,
individuals with circulatory problems such as peripheral artery disease or
Raynaud's
phenomenon may have difficulty regulating foot temperature, particularly in
cold
environments.
[0004] Systems have been developed wherein electrical heating systems are
integrated into the body of the footwear and powered by a portable power
supply.
However, these heating systems are highly susceptible to failure. For example,
the
heating elements can be fragile and may break easily. When the conductive path
is
broken, heated footwear is rendered inoperable. Due to the integrated nature
of the
heating components in the footwear, once broken, these systems are either not
repairable or are too costly to repair. Further, integrating the heating
elements in the
footwear presents significant manufacturing difficulties, as placement of the
elements
1


WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
in the footwear's upper, midsole, or outsole is labor intensive and requires
precision
stitching to avoid damage to the conductors.

Brief Description of the Drawings
[0005] Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed
description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are
illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of
the
accompanying drawings.
[0006] Figures 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate top (Figure 1A), bottom (Figure 1B),
and side (Figure 1C) views of a removable liner for use in footwear, in
accordance
with various embodiments;
[0007] Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a removable liner and foot
bed, in accordance with various embodiments;
[0008] Figures 3A and 3B illustrate views of an electrical coupling mechanism
for use with a removable liner, in accordance with various embodiments;
[0009] Figures 4A - 4D illustrate exploded (Figure 4A), top (Figure 4B), side
(Figure 4C), and bottom (Figure 4D) views of a removable liner, in accordance
with
various embodiments;
[0010] Figures 5A-5D illustrate an exploded view of an electrical coupling
mechanism (Figure 5A), and a top view (Figure 5B), a bottom view (Figure 5C),
and a side view (Figure 5D) of a removable liner with an electrical coupling
mechanism, in accordance with various embodiments;
[0011] Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of several of the components
of an exemplary footwear temperature control system, in accordance with
various
embodiments; and
[0012] Figures 7A-7C illustrate a left lateral view (Figure 7A), right lateral
view (Figure 7B), and rear view (Figure 7C) of an example of footwear that
includes
an embodiment of a temperature control element.

Detailed Description of Embodiments
[0013] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way
of
illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that
other
embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made
without
2


WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not
to be
taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the
appended
claims and their equivalents.
[0014] Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in
turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however,
the
order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations
are order
dependent.
[0015] For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form "A/B" or in
the
form "A and/or B" means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the
description,
a phrase in the form "at least one of A, B, and C" means (A), (B), (C), (A and
B), (A
and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a
phrase in
the form "(A)B" means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
[0016] The description may use the terms "embodiment" or "embodiments,"
which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments.
Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and the like, as
used with
respect to embodiments, are synonymous.
[0017] In various embodiments temperature controlled footwear is provided,
wherein a removable liner, such as a sock liner, foot bed, insole, bootie,
etc., may
include a temperature control element (referred to herein as a "TCE") disposed
therein. When coupled to a portable power supply (e.g., a battery or power
cell,
etc.), the TCE may be adapted to raise and/or lower the temperature of the
liner,
thus raising and/or lowering the temperature of the footwear as perceived by a
wearer's foot. In some embodiments, electrical contact elements may be
disposed
in or on an exterior portion of the liner and may be configured to contact
corresponding electrical contact elements positioned in or on the body of the
footwear, for example on an upper portion of the foot bed or on the midsole,
outsole,
etc., to facilitate electrical coupling and control of a portable power supply
and the
TCE.
[0018] The TCE may include heating elements, cooling elements, or a
combination thereof. In some embodiments, the heating elements may be metallic
based conductors that are inlaid, etched, or printed on a substrate that is
coupled to
the liner. In some embodiments, the heating and/or cooling elements may
include
one or more piezoelectric and/or thermoelectric heaters and/or coolers that
may
control the temperature of the liner.

3


WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
[0019] In various embodiments, a controller, a power source, an actuator,
and/or a temperature regulator may be electrically coupled to the TCE and
adapted
to regulate the power supply so as to control the temperature of the liner as
desired.
The temperature regulator and power source may be disposed on the footwear
such
that the liner temperature may be controlled by the wearer by manipulating a
setting,
for instance on the controller, or it may be remotely controlled, for instance
using a
wired or wireless interface. In other embodiments, the liner temperature may
be
controlled automatically using a thermostat.
[0020] Figures 1A, 1 B, and 1 C illustrate an example of a footwear liner and
TCE in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, liner 10
may be sized to removably engage with footwear having a variety of shapes and
configurations. As illustrated, liner 10 may include a TCE 20 disposed therein
and
configured to provide a heat source and/or cooling source. In various
embodiments,
TCE 20 may include one or more conductors 22 that may be strategically
patterned
about at least a portion of liner 10. As illustrated in Figure 1A, in some
embodiments, the distribution of conductor 22 may be concentrated in a forward
or
ball/toe portion of the liner. This may be an advantageous configuration, as
the toes
and/or forefoot typically are the portions of the foot that become cold or
overheated
due to reduced circulation. In other embodiments, conductor 22 may
substantially
cover the entire surface of liner 10, providing heating or cooling to the
entire foot, or
may be positioned in both the heel and toe regions of liner 22 or in other
zones or
patterns, as desired. In embodiments having both heating and cooling elements,
heating and cooling conductors 22 may be interlaced, alternating, adjacent, or
positioned in different regions of liner 10.
[0021] In various embodiments, conductor 22 may be carried by a substrate,
such as cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl chloride
(PVC),
chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), polyolefins (such as polyethylene),
thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic urethanes (TPU), ethyl vinyl
acetate
(EVA), or another substrate that is generally thin, flexible, and generally
not
susceptible to temperature fluctuations. Conductor 22 may include, for
example,
metal wires or metallic based traces that may be deposited, etched, printed,
and/or
molded into the substrate. In some embodiments, other conductive materials may
be used, such as conductive fabrics having, for example, silver ion or copper
threads. In various embodiments, conductor 22 may extend to and/or terminate
at a
4


WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
contact group 28 that may include contacts 24 and 26 that may be, for example,
positive and negative electrical terminals.
[0022] As illustrated in Figures 1A and 1 B, in some embodiments, TCE 20
may be positioned on an upper surface 13 of liner 10, and contact group 28 may
be
disposed on a lower or bottom surface 15 of liner 10. Thus, as shown in Figure
1C,
TCE 20 may pass through liner 10 from upper surface 13 to lower surface 15,
for
instance via slot 21. As further illustrated in Figures 2A and 2B, in various
embodiments, contact group 28 may be disposed on lower surface 15 of liner 10
and
may be further adapted to engage corresponding contact group 38, which may be
coupled to the body of the footwear, for instance, in foot bed 30 (see also
Figures 3-
4), thereby providing an electrical coupling. In some embodiments, contact
group 38
may include corresponding positive and negative electrical contacts 34 and 36,
and
may be located on any part of the footwear interior that may contact lower
surface 15
of liner 10, such as, for instance, the outsole or midsole, or footwear
lining. In other
embodiments, contacts 34 and 36 or contact group 38 may be disposed about
other
portions of the footwear interior, such as on the sides or on a rear portion
of the
footwear, such as near the heel. Additionally, in some embodiments, an
electrical
conduit 31 and an optional quick-release electrical coupling 33 may be
provided in
order to couple electrical contacts 34 and 36 with a power source, controller,
actuator, or other component.
[0023] In various embodiments, electrical contacts 24, 26, 34, and 36 may be
made of any suitable metallic or non-metallic, yet conductive material. In
some
embodiments, contacts 24, 26, 34, and 36 and/or contact groups 28 and 38 may
be
flexible so as to conform to the bending and flexing of liner 10 and/or the
body of the
footwear, as well as to accommodate different liner or footwear topography. In
various embodiments, contacts 24 and 26 may be adapted to releasably couple to
contacts 34 and 36 to each other so as to help resist relative movement and/or
separation between corresponding contacts, which may tend to disrupt the
electrical
conductivity. In one embodiment, for example, a conductive hook-and-loop-type
material, such as conductive VelcroTM, may be used to make the contact between
contacts 24 and 26 on liner 10 and corresponding contacts 34 and 36 on the
body of
the footwear. In another embodiment, one of contact groups 28 and 38 may be
recessed and the other contact groups 28 and 38 protruded to engage the
recessed
contact group.



WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
[0024] In other embodiments, contacts 24, 26, 34, and 36 may be conductive
magnetic contacts as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B. For example, contacts
24,
26, 34, and/or 36 may be magnetic, such that they couple to each other in a
way that
resists unintended decoupling. In various embodiments, contacts 24, 26, 34,
and 36
may have corresponding male 19 and female 17 locating features that may help
ensure a viable electrical coupling is made between the contacts.
[0025] Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D illustrate respective exploded (Figure 4A),
top (Figure 4B), side (Figure 4C), and bottom (Figure 4D) views of an
exemplary
TCE 20 in accordance with various embodiments, and Figures 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D
illustrate respective exploded (Figure 5A), top (Figure 5B), bottom (Figure
5C), and
side (Figure 5D) views of an example of the corresponding foot bed 30 portion
of
footwear. As illustrated in Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D, in some embodiments,
contacts 24 and 26 may be disposed about a rear portion of TCE 20. As shown in
the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4A, conductor 22 may comprise a metallic
element, for instance a FeCrAl alloy such as AludiromeTM, and may be
sandwiched
between layers of substrate 23 such as PEX or PI film, to form TCE 20.
Contacts 24
and 26 may include magnetic buttons 25 that may couple to an upper side of
conductor 22, for instance with an adhesive film 27. Corresponding metal
buttons 29
may couple to a lower side of conductor 22, and may be adapted to interface
with
contacts 34, 36 of foot bed 30.
[0026] As illustrated in Figures 5A, 5113, 5C and 5D, in various embodiments,
foot bed 30 of the footwear may have corresponding electrical contacts 34 and
36
disposed on upper surface 42 such that the when liner 10 is placed in the
footwear, a
contact interface is made between liner contacts 24 and 26 and foot bed
contacts 34
and 36, thereby completing an electrical coupling. Once an electrical
interface is
made, power supplied by a power source (not shown) may energize conductors 22
of TCE 20 (not shown) to provide an increase and/or decrease in liner
temperature,
thereby altering the temperature of the footwear. As shown in Figure 5A,
electrical
contacts 34 and 36 may comprise a metallic conductor 33, for instance a FeCrAl
alloy such as AludiromeTM, and may be sandwiched between layers of substrate
35,
such as PEX or PI film. In some embodiments, additional metallic buttons 37
and/or
adhesive 39 elements may be positioned under contacts 34 and 36, for instance
to
act as support members or spacers.

6


WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
[0027] As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, liner contacts 24 and 26 and/or foot
bed contacts 34 and 36 may be large in size so as to ensure that a solid
electrical
coupling is made with the corresponding liner/foot bed contacts, as well as to
ensure
electrical coupling is made and maintained despite shifting of liner 10 or
infiltration of
water and debris encountered during use. In some embodiments, liner contacts
24
and 26 may have a diameter of greater than or equal to about 0.5 int.
[0028] Further, in some embodiments, the positioning of contacts 24 and 26
and/or 34 and 36 may be at generally opposite ends or sides of liner 10 and/or
foot
bed 30. Separating the contacts can help to avoid undesired cross contact and
an
electrical short of the system. In other embodiments, contacts 24 and 26
and/or 34
and 36 may be positioned generally adjacent to or within closer proximity of
one
another, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. In various embodiments, it may be
advantageous for contacts 24 and 26 and/or 34 and 36 to be positioned under
the
heel and/or ball region of the foot, which may bear the bulk of a wearer's
weight
during activity. In some embodiments, this positioning may help insure better
and
more constant contact between the corresponding contacts. Additionally, in
some
embodiments, the size of liner contact 24 and 26 may be smaller than the size
of the
foot bed contact 34 and 36. This size differential may help to ensure that
liner
contact 24 and/or 26 satisfactorily locates and contacts the corresponding
foot bed
contact 34 and/or 36. In other embodiments, foot bed contacts 34 and 36 may be
smaller than liner contacts 24 and 26.
[0029] Figure 6 illustrates a component schematic of various parts of a
temperature regulation system in accordance with various embodiments. In
various
embodiments, TCE 20 may be disposed in a footwear liner (not shown) and may
include exposed contact group 28. Corresponding foot bed contact group 38 may
be
disposed in the footwear (not shown) in a manner that is configured to
electrically
couple to the contacts of contact group 28 when the liner is inserted into the
footwear. The contacts of contact group 38 may be electrically coupled to a
controller 50 and a power source 60 both of which may be disposed on the
footwear
at a desired location. Controller 50 and power source 60 may be separate or
integrated components.
[0030] In some embodiments, controller 50 may be an integrated circuit based
system that is configured to regulate and control the current provided to TCE
20 by
power source 60. An actuator 55 may be electrically coupled to controller 50
and

7


WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
may be configured with, for example, multiple settings (e.g. high, medium,
low, and
off). In various embodiments, actuator 55 may be configured to set an
electronic
thermostat that can regulate the temperature of the liner based on, for
example, the
internal temperature of the footwear or a predetermined setting. In some
embodiments, power source 60 or controller 50 may be adapted to removably
couple
to an AC/DC adapter 80, for example via a USB connector 82, for instance to
recharge power source 60. In various embodiments, TCE 20, controller 50, power
source 60, and actuator 55 may be removably coupled to one another via
electrical
conduits 31 equipped with quick release couplers 33, mini USB adaptors 61, or
other
electrical interfaces or plugs 63 known to those of skill in the art.
[0031] In various embodiments, controller 50 may be programmable to
increase the functionality of the temperature controlled footwear. For
example,
controller 50 may be adapted to couple to a computer or handheld device via a
variety of known interface connections 82, 61 (e.g., USB or micro USB). A
variety of
parameters may then be modified, such as temperature ranges associated with
various settings, light/indicator effects, and/or timing cycles. In various
embodiments, a wireless interface component, such as a transceiver, may be
coupled to or integrated with controller 50, which may allow a remote control
and
manipulation of the controller settings.
[0032] In various embodiments, actuator 55 may be removably coupled to the
footwear by, for example, retainers 58. A variety of different customized
actuators
55 may be used without replacing the footwear. For example, different logos
(e.g.,
college logos, brand names and/or images, sports team logos) may be disposed
on
controller 50 and may be configured to light in a desired color, such as a
color of a
school, team, or brand. In some embodiments, actuator 55 may be removably
coupled to the footwear in a variety of known ways.
[0033] Figures 7A-7C illustrate a left lateral view (Figure 7A), a right
lateral
view (Figure 7B), and a rear view (Figure 7C) of an example of footwear that
includes an embodiment of a TCE 20. As illustrated in Figures 7A-7C, the
footwear
may be equipped with receiving pockets, slots, or channels that may
accommodate
controller 50, power source 60, actuator 55, and electrical connectors and
conduits
therebetween. For instance, in the illustrated example, controller 50 and
power
source 60 may be located on one side of a footwear upper, and actuator 55 may
be
located on the opposite side of the footwear upper. In some embodiments, when

8


WO 2011/057142 PCT/US2010/055725
actuator 55 is activated by a user, controller 50 may deliver power from power
source 60 to TCE 20, and may cause conductor 22 to activate and provide heat
or
cooling to liner 10. In some embodiments, controller 50, power source 60,
actuator
55, liner 10, and/or the electrical connectors and conduits therebetween may
be
removed by a user, for instance for cleaning, repair, or replacement of
broken, worn,
or dirty components. As such, in this embodiment, a single component may be
removed for replacement or repair without necessitating the replacement of the
entire system. Similarly, in some embodiments, components of the system may be
removed from the footwear if the footwear becomes soiled and is in need of
cleaning.
[0034] Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described
herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a
wide variety of
alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to
achieve
the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described
without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily
appreciate
that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This
application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the
embodiments
discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be
limited
only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

9

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date Unavailable
(86) PCT Filing Date 2010-11-05
(87) PCT Publication Date 2011-05-12
(85) National Entry 2012-05-03
Examination Requested 2012-05-03
Dead Application 2015-11-05

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2014-11-05 FAILURE TO PAY APPLICATION MAINTENANCE FEE
2015-02-23 FAILURE TO PAY FINAL FEE

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Request for Examination $800.00 2012-05-03
Application Fee $400.00 2012-05-03
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 2012-11-05 $100.00 2012-07-27
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2012-08-16
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 2013-11-05 $100.00 2013-09-06
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Abstract 2012-05-03 2 80
Claims 2012-05-03 3 100
Drawings 2012-05-03 8 222
Description 2012-05-03 9 478
Representative Drawing 2012-07-23 1 25
Cover Page 2012-07-23 1 55
Claims 2013-09-04 4 98
Description 2013-09-04 9 444
Claims 2014-04-24 4 120
PCT 2012-05-03 10 378
Assignment 2012-05-03 8 177
Assignment 2012-08-16 5 207
Prosecution-Amendment 2013-09-04 15 658
Prosecution-Amendment 2013-03-14 2 67
Prosecution-Amendment 2014-04-24 9 389
Prosecution-Amendment 2013-10-25 3 148