Patents by Inventor Gerd Rainer Manz

Gerd Rainer Manz 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: 11945184
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, Gerd Rainer Manz, Tru Huu Minh Le, Warren Freeman
  • Patent number: 11330870
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a shoe, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as a shoe manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a shoe includes providing a three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component and processing the three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component, wherein the processing includes an individually controllable succession of processing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Brian Hoying, Angus Wardlaw, Marco Kormann, Christian Lott
  • Patent number: 11197517
    Abstract: Described are shoe uppers for a sports shoe with a first layer with a first surface and an opposing second surface, a first yarn section with a first diameter, wherein the first yarn section is arranged on the first surface of the first layer, and a second yarn section with a second diameter, wherein the second yarn section is arranged on the first surface of the first layer. The first yarn section and the second yarn section have at least one parallel portion in which the first yarn section is substantially parallel to the second yarn section, and wherein a distance between the first yarn section and the second yarn section is smaller than a larger value of the first diameter and the second diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, Stuart David Reinhardt, Jan Hill, Clemens Paul Dyckmans, Carl Arnese, III, Alexander Taylor, Edward Robinson
  • Publication number: 20210370629
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, Gerd Rainer Manz, Tru Huu Minh Le, Warren Freeman
  • Patent number: 11135797
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, Gerd Rainer Manz, Tru Huu Minh Le, Warren Freeman
  • Publication number: 20200345100
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, sporting goods manufactured by such methods, for example a shoe, as well as a device for performing such methods. The method for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, is provided, wherein the sporting goods has a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface. The method includes activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy without contact, and connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first connection surface and the second connection surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Jan Hill, Clemens Paul Dyckmans, Giridharan Kirupanantham, Gerd Rainer Manz, Dietmar Klaus Drummer
  • Patent number: 10750814
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, sporting goods manufactured by such methods, for example a shoe, as well as a device for performing such methods. The method for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, is provided, wherein the sporting goods has a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface. The method includes activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy without contact, and connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first connection surface and the second connection surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Jan Hill, Clemens Paul Dyckmans, Giridharan Kirupanantham, Gerd Rainer Manz, Dietmar Klaus Drummer
  • Publication number: 20190373987
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a shoe, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as a shoe manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a shoe includes providing a three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component and processing the three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component, wherein the processing includes an individually controllable succession of processing steps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Brian Hoying, Angus Wardlaw, Marco Kormann, Christian Lott
  • Patent number: 10463113
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular shoes, comprising the steps of providing a plurality of components in one of a plurality of predefined shapes, and placing the plurality of components onto a two-dimensional or three-dimensional carrier surface to create the sporting good or a part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Clemens Paul Dyckmans, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, Zachary Clinton Coonrod, Stuart David Reinhardt, Thomas Hoewelmann, Peter Aul, Stefan Kallfass, Thomas Betzitza, Jan Keller, Martin Steyer
  • Patent number: 10463114
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as shoes manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes includes providing a plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes, and moving the plurality of first shoe components with a transport means which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Brian Hoying, Angus Wardlaw, Marco Kormann, Christian Lott
  • Patent number: 10426230
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a shoe, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as a shoe manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a shoe includes providing a three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component and processing the three-dimensionally pre-shaped first shoe component, wherein the processing includes an individually controllable succession of processing steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Brian Hoying, Angus Wardlaw, Marco Kormann, Christian Lott
  • Publication number: 20190291371
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Publication date: September 26, 2019
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, Gerd Rainer Manz, Tru Huu Minh Le, Warren Freeman
  • Patent number: 10269174
    Abstract: An article of sports apparel being customized for a person is provided, and may be manufactured based on a digital model, the digital model built based on received sensor data, the received sensor data obtained by at least one sensor integrated into another article of sports apparel, and the sensor data is obtained while the other article of sports apparel is worn by the person during a sports activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Vesa-Pekka Torvinen, Michael Welker, Christian Lott, Gerd Rainer Manz, Alain Andre Walter, Burkhard Dümler
  • Patent number: 10259183
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, Gerd Rainer Manz, Tru Huu Minh Le, Warren Freeman
  • Patent number: 10143264
    Abstract: The present invention relates to shoe, in particular a sports shoe. The shoe includes a sole plate having in a forefoot area a plurality of leaf spring elements, wherein the sole plate and the plurality of leaf spring elements are manufactured as a single piece. Each of the plurality of leaf spring elements has one free end not connected with the sole plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Timothy David Lucas, Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, John Whiteman
  • Patent number: 10143265
    Abstract: The present invention relates to shoe, in particular a sports shoe. The shoe includes a sole plate having in a forefoot area a plurality of leaf spring elements, wherein the sole plate and the plurality of leaf spring elements are manufactured as a single piece. Each of the plurality of leaf spring elements has one free end not connected with the sole plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Timothy David Lucas, Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, John Whiteman
  • Publication number: 20180295945
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as shoes manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes includes providing a plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes, and moving the plurality of first shoe components with a transport means which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Brian Hoying, Angus Wardlaw, Marco Kormann, Christian Lott
  • Patent number: 10028552
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes, an apparatus to perform such method, as well as shoes manufactured by such method. According to certain examples, the method for the manufacture of a plurality of shoes includes providing a plurality of first shoe components for the manufacture of the plurality of shoes, and moving the plurality of first shoe components with a transport means which is at least partially comprised of the plurality of first shoe components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Brian Hoying, Angus Wardlaw, Marco Kormann, Christian Lott
  • Publication number: 20180093437
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing cushioning elements for sports apparel are described. A method is provided for manufacturing a cushioning element for sports apparel from randomly arranged particles of an expanded material. The method includes positioning a functional element within a mold and loading the mold with the particles of the expanded material, wherein the loading occurs through at least two openings within the mold and/or wherein the loading occurs between different movable parts of the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Inventors: Angus Wardlaw, Gerd Rainer Manz, Tru Huu Minh Le, Warren Freeman
  • Patent number: D869830
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Timothy David Lucas, Gerd Rainer Manz, Jan Hill, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, John Whiteman