Patents by Inventor Steven Ploem

Steven Ploem 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).

  • Publication number: 20210392998
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a strobel stitched to the upper at a series of stitches disposed in stitch holes that extend through the strobel. The strobel and the upper define a foot-receiving cavity with an inner surface of the strobel disposed at the foot-receiving cavity. A midsole is secured to the upper and an outer surface of the strobel is disposed at the midsole. The stitch holes are obstructed such that the stitch holes are not exposed to both the midsole and the foot-receiving cavity. Accordingly, when a flowable polymeric material is injected in a mold cavity to form the midsole with the lower portion of the upper and the strobel in the mold cavity, the stitch holes will not provide a path for entry of the flowable polymeric material into the foot-receiving cavity. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2021
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan M. Calle, Steven Ploem
  • Patent number: 11129441
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a strobel stitched to the upper at a series of stitches disposed in stitch holes that extend through the strobel. The strobel and the upper define a foot-receiving cavity with an inner surface of the strobel disposed at the foot-receiving cavity. A midsole is secured to the upper and an outer surface of the strobel is disposed at the midsole. The stitch holes are obstructed such that the stitch holes are not exposed to both the midsole and the foot-receiving cavity. Accordingly, when a flowable polymeric material is injected in a mold cavity to form the midsole with the lower portion of the upper and the strobel in the mold cavity, the stitch holes will not provide a path for entry of the flowable polymeric material into the foot-receiving cavity. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan M. Calle, Steven Ploem
  • Patent number: 10646001
    Abstract: Construction of a shoe relies on application of pressure to form the shoe portions to a desired shape and configuration. The application of pressure is accomplished with an adjustable width roller that conforms to different sizes of shoes while still contacting the shoe portion to conform the shape. Additionally, vibrational energy may be transmitted from the roller to the shoe portion to aid in the forming and shaping process of the shoe portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Darryl Keith Dinel, Anh Tu Hoang, Steven Ploem
  • Publication number: 20190365046
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a strobel stitched to the upper at a series of stitches disposed in stitch holes that extend through the strobel. The strobel and the upper define a foot-receiving cavity with an inner surface of the strobel disposed at the foot-receiving cavity. A midsole is secured to the upper and an outer surface of the strobel is disposed at the midsole. The stitch holes are obstructed such that the stitch holes are not exposed to both the midsole and the foot-receiving cavity. Accordingly, when a flowable polymeric material is injected in a mold cavity to form the midsole with the lower portion of the upper and the strobel in the mold cavity, the stitch holes will not provide a path for entry of the flowable polymeric material into the foot-receiving cavity. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan M. Calle, Steven Ploem
  • Publication number: 20180368530
    Abstract: Construction of a shoe relies on application of pressure to form the shoe portions to a desired shape and configuration. The application of pressure is accomplished with an adjustable width roller that conforms to different sizes of shoes while still contacting the shoe portion to conform the shape. Additionally, vibrational energy may be transmitted from the roller to the shoe portion to aid in the forming and shaping process of the shoe portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Darryl Keith Dinel, Anh Tu Hoang, Steven Ploem
  • Patent number: 10064451
    Abstract: Construction of a shoe relies on application of pressure to form the shoe portions to a desired shape and configuration. The application of pressure is accomplished with an adjustable width roller that conforms to different sizes of shoes while still contacting the shoe portion to conform the shape. Additionally, vibrational energy may be transmitted from the roller to the shoe portion to aid in the forming and shaping process of the shoe portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl Keith Dinel, Anh Tu Hoang, Steven Ploem
  • Publication number: 20160353844
    Abstract: Construction of a shoe relies on application of pressure to form the shoe portions to a desired shape and configuration. The application of pressure is accomplished with an adjustable width roller that conforms to different sizes of shoes while still contacting the shoe portion to conform the shape. Additionally, vibrational energy may be transmitted from the roller to the shoe portion to aid in the forming and shaping process of the shoe portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Darryl Keith Dinel, Anh Tu Hoang, Steven Ploem