Patents by Inventor Bhupesh Dua

Bhupesh Dua has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11944156
    Abstract: An article and method includes a nonwoven textile forming at least part of an upper of an article of footwear and binding fibers entangled with fibers of the folded portion and the major portion, the edge being secured, at least in part, to the major surface. The nonwoven textile is comprised of fibers and has a major portion and a folded portion, the folded portion including an edge of the nonwoven textile folded over to bring the edge in contact, at least in part, with a major surface of the major portion to form a folded edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Pamela S. Greene
  • Publication number: 20240093413
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Bruce Huffa
  • Publication number: 20240081451
    Abstract: A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Carrie L. Davis
  • Patent number: 11859320
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 11849795
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the upper for an article of footwear are disclosed. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The joined edges form a plurality of seams within the textile element, including a longitudinal seam extending on the lower region of the upper from a heel region to a forefoot region. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes, including circular knitting, may be utilized to form the textile element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward Nathaniel Thomas
  • Patent number: 11832681
    Abstract: A fiber bound engineered material is provided that imparts an intended characteristic at an intended relative location. A fiber layer is entangled with additional fibers in a manner to create a non-uniform engineered material. The lack of uniformity of a fiber bound engineered material may be accomplished through manipulation of the fibers and/or through fiber binding a scrim. The fiber layer binds with additional fibers through entanglement such that a mechanical connection between the entangled fibers is provided. This entanglement allows the fibers to bind without supplemental adhesives, interlacing, or connections. Variations in the fibers and/or inclusion of scrim materials prior to entanglement allows for an intended characteristic (e.g., a functional characteristic) at an intended relative location (e.g., a position determined by an article to be formed therefrom).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Pamela S. Greene, Bruce J. Kilgore, Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Patent number: 11779071
    Abstract: A yarn or thread may include a plurality of substantially aligned filaments, with at least ninety-five percent of a material of the filaments being a thermoplastic polymer material. Various woven textiles and knitted textiles may be formed from the yarn or thread. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be thermal bonded to other elements to form seams. A strand that is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material may extend through the seam, and the strand may be thermal bonded at the seam. The woven textiles or knitted textiles may be shaped or molded, incorporated into products, and recycled to form other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Carrie L. Davis
  • Publication number: 20230309656
    Abstract: A variety of plates for footwear are provided including a polyolefin resin. Sole structures and articles of footwear formed therefrom are also provided. Methods of making the polyolefin resin compositions, plates, sole structures, and articles of footwear are also provided. In some aspects, the polyolefin resin composition includes an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier. The effective amount can be an amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex test, and in particular to pass a flex test without significant change in abrasion loss. In some aspects, the resin composition also includes a clarifying agent to improve optical clarity of the plate. In some aspects, the plates include a textile disposed on one or both of a first side and the second side of the plate. The textile can provide for improved bonding of the plate to other components such as a chassis or an upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2023
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Isaac Farr, Devon Frazier, Jeremy D. Walker, Zachary C. Wright
  • Publication number: 20230287608
    Abstract: An article may include first and second components comprising non-woven textiles and a third component positioned between the first two components. A first surface of the third component that is adjacent the first component comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, and the third component is fused with a first region of the first component and unfused with a second region of the first component. A method of manufacturing the article, which may be an article of wear, includes arranging the components to form a stacked configuration so that the third component is positioned between the first and second components. Heat and compression may be applied to at least a first region of the first component to fuse the first region with the third component, whereas a second region of the first component may remain unfused to the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20230265589
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 11692289
    Abstract: An article may include first and second components comprising non-woven textiles and a third component positioned between the first two components. A first surface of the third component that is adjacent the first component comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, and the third component is fused with a first region of the first component and unfused with a second region of the first component. A method of manufacturing the article, which may be an article of wear, includes arranging the components to form a stacked configuration so that the third component is positioned between the first and second components. Heat and compression may be applied to at least a first region of the first component to fuse the first region with the third component, whereas a second region of the first component may remain unfused to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11678721
    Abstract: A variety of plates for footwear are provided including a polyolefin resin. Sole structures and articles of footwear formed therefrom are also provided. Methods of making the polyolefin resin compositions, plates, sole structures, and articles of footwear are also provided. In some aspects, the polyolefin resin composition includes an effective amount of a polymeric resin modifier. The effective amount can be an amount effective to allow the resin composition to pass a flex test, and in particular to pass a flex test without significant change in abrasion loss. In some aspects, the resin composition also includes a clarifying agent to improve optical clarity of the plate. In some aspects, the plates include a textile disposed on one or both of a first side and the second side of the plate. The textile can provide for improved bonding of the plate to other components such as a chassis or an upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Isaac Farr, Devon Frazier, Jeremy D. Walker, Zachary C. Wright
  • Publication number: 20230124221
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. An inlaid strand may extend through the knit element, and a tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn at least at a forward portion of the tongue, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Daren P Tatler, Bruce Huffa
  • Publication number: 20230038383
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2022
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 11566354
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. The interior surface may define a void. A tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper. The tongue may comprise a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a forward portion. At least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue may be unsecured to the knit element. The tongue and the knit element may comprise a common yarn at least at the forward portion of the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Daren P. Tatler, Bruce Huffa
  • Publication number: 20220402236
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for composite textiles that can include a coating layer that is compatible with textiles such as those comprising polyolefins. The coating layer, as well as the precursor coating layer composition, the coating mixture, or resin composition used to form the coating layer, include a mixture of a polyolefin resin and a thermoplastic vulcanizate (TPV). It is believed that the use of the coating layer in the disclosed composite textiles can promote better bonding between other components or materials used in articles, such as articles of footwear or articles of clothing, while resisting or preventing creasing and bagging. This allows the use of cost-effective materials such as polyolefins in the composite textiles that have adequate physical and mechanical properties, while also having sufficient chemical bonding properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Isaac Farr, Zachary C. Wright, Chih-Yin Chou, Chun-Wei Kuo
  • Publication number: 20220380949
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2022
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 11478038
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
  • Publication number: 20220282410
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component with a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void. The knitted component may further include a tongue, where the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper, and where the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge. The knitted component may further include at least one raised element extending a height above the exterior surface of the knit element and extending a length along at least one of the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue, where the tongue and the at least one raised element have a common yarn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Publication date: September 8, 2022
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Adrian Meir, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 11421353
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a knitted component comprising a course with a plurality of loops. An inlaid strand formed of a second yarn may be included in the knitted component. A first portion of the course may be formed with a first yarn and a second portion of the course may be formed with the second yarn. The inlaid strand may be inlaid within the first portion of the course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Bruce Huffa