Patents Examined by Jenna L Johnson
  • Patent number: 11963324
    Abstract: Electronic equipment may include structured fabric. Structured fabric may be used as a protective case or cosmetic cover for an electronic device, may be used to form a band that holds an electronic device against a user's body, or may be used to cover one or more openings in an electronic device. Structured fabrics may be soft and pliable while maintaining the ability to hold a given shape without added support. Structured fabric may be formed by laminating fabric such as warp-knit fabric with a stiffener such as polymer film. Structured fabrics may include openings through which signals such as optical or audio signals pass. To maintain the geometry and shape of the openings in the structured fabric without covering the openings, the stiffener and adhesive that are attached to the fabric may be cut to form a pattern of openings that align with the openings in the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yohji Hamada, John J. Baker, Peter F. Coxeter, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Joseph B. Walker
  • Patent number: 11873587
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to flame resistant fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers that provide the requisite thermal and arc protection, that have improved comfort, and that, in some embodiments, are less expensive than other fabrics formed with inherently flame resistant fibers. Improved comfort and lower cost can be achieved by predominantly locating the inherently flame resistant fibers on the front face of the fabric to impart the requisite thermal and arc protection and predominantly locating the more comfortable (and less expensive) fibers on the back face of the fabric positioned next to the wearer. In this way, overall protection of the fabric is maintained while improving comfort. Some embodiments of such fabrics may also achieve NFPA 70E PPE Category 2 protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Southern Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Dominique Janay Adams, Charles S. Dunn, Elijah Dufty, Michael T. Stanhope
  • Patent number: 11779963
    Abstract: A sorptive wiper for cleaning is disclosed, the wipe comprising a cleaned and dried sorptive material having fewer than 150 contaminant fibers per square meter that are greater than 100 ?m in length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: H. Dennis Blaiss, Laurent H. Sene, Gregory T. Hall, Randy H. Whittington
  • Patent number: 11723782
    Abstract: A knitted interface comprises a knitted structure formed from a plurality of elastomeric polymer filaments having a plurality of interstices permitting a transfer of air therethrough. The elastomeric polymer filaments may have a solid or hollow cross-section. The interstices vary in shape and size according to a knit density of the knitted structure upon movement or radial distension of the knitted interface. The elastomeric polymer filaments may be made from silicone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: OSSUR ICELAND EHF
    Inventors: Andrew Bache, Christophe Valois, Magnus Oddsson
  • Patent number: 11725310
    Abstract: An improved insulating performance fabric has a double-knit body, formed with traditional, relatively smooth, outer surfaces, and an inner surface with the form of multiple fabric “bubbles” separated, e.g., by a grid pattern of intersecting grooves. An insulating, double-knit performance fabric of this disclosure may also be found in the form of a garment comprising the insulating, double knit performance fabric, or in the form of fabric article comprising the insulating, double knit performance fabric, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: MMI-IPCO, LLC
    Inventors: William Michael Rose, Gary S. Smith, Marina Kozera, William Patz, Gadalia Vainer
  • Patent number: 11667101
    Abstract: Provided is a laminated body, said laminated body being a laminated cloth the back surface of which has excellent properties against tangling and abrasion and good separability from the skin and which has a good texture and a favorable appearance and is comfortable to wear when made into clothing. The laminated cloth includes a front surface layer, a middle layer and a back surface layer, said layers being stacked one on another, wherein: the front surface layer comprises one member selected from the group consisting of a woven fabric, a knitted fabric and a non-woven fabric; the middle layer comprises a resin film or a non-woven fabric; and the back surface layer comprises a circular knitted fabric in which filament yarn of 60 dtex or less is used at least in part thereof and which is configured from knitting stitches and tack stitches, 9 to 72 said tack stitches being disposed per area of 12 wales×12 courses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates G.K.
    Inventors: Yuichiro Nozaki, Satoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11655568
    Abstract: The invention related to an insulating, double-knit fabric having a width and a length and comprising a first knit layer and a second knit layer coupled with the first knit layer forming a plurality of rows of lofted fibers separated by rows of air spaces. The air spaces extend along the length of the insulating, double-knit fabric for the entire length of the fabric and the lofted fibers extend in a direction having an orthogonal component with respect to the at least one of the first knit layer and the second knit layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MMI-IPCO, LLC
    Inventors: William Michael Rose, Gary S. Smith, Marina Kozera, William Patz, Gadalia Vainer
  • Patent number: 11606632
    Abstract: This document describes textile assemblies for speakers, including textile assemblies with inlaid tensioning yarns, and associated apparatuses and methods. The textile assembly includes a textile body (106) with inlaid tensioning yarns (302, 304). The textile assembly (102) may be a fully-fashioned textile swatch. The tensioning yarns are inlaid at intervals in the textile body but can slide within or be pulled through the textile body. Further, the tensioning yarns have ends (306, 308, 402, 404) that are accessible near the edges of the textile body for various reasons. First, pulling on them while the textile assembly is on an acoustic device (104) tensions the tensioning yarns such that they limit movement of the textile assembly and break up vibration modes. Second, their ends can be tied directly to, formed into loops to hook over, or wound around, features (208) on the acoustic device to removably secure the textile assembly to the acoustic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Laura Charlotte Shumaker, Siddhartha Hegde, Anuja Bagul, Darren Torrie, Myrrhia R. Resneck, Adam Duckworth Mittleman, Aditya Narayanan
  • Patent number: 11464289
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a knitted component, the knitted component with a knit element that forms at least a portion of an upper for an article of footwear and defines an interior void for receiving a foot. A lower perimeter edge of the knit element may extend between a lateral side and a medial side of the upper. At least one strand of the knitted component may extend through the lower perimeter edge on opposite sides of the knitted component so as to extend between the lateral side and the medial side of the upper. The knitted component may be formed on a knitting machine, and the at least one strand may be configured to be tensioned to tighten the upper around a last.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Bryan N. Farris
  • Patent number: 11401632
    Abstract: Examples are disclosed herein that relate to electronically functional textile articles. One example provides a knitted textile article comprising a first conductive thread and a second conductive thread knit into the article in such a manner as to form a conductive junction separated by a gap. The knitted textile article further comprises a knitted surface texture feature formed at a location that defines an opening over the gap, and an electronic component connecting the gap to form a circuit with the first conductive thread and the second conductive thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Kelly Marie Bogan, James David Holbery, Siyuan Ma, Benjamin Sullivan, Don Pasindu Vijai Lugoda
  • Patent number: 11344230
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are directed to articles of clothing that allow for monitoring of different analytes (e.g., electrolytes and molecules) in human sweat during fitness activity, while training, or simply in everyday life. The clothing includes a sensor system completely integrated in textile such that every sensing part is made of textile fibers. The clothing is able to control, collect, analyze, and expel the sweat over time. The textile sensor allows a spontaneous absorption of body sweat directly from the skin, while it is produced, using the hydrophilic natural properties of the textile. Then, once adsorbed, the flux of sweat is controlled and guided through the textile using a gradient of the textile's hydrophilic properties. The sweat guided through the textile is analyzed through an electrochemical sensor woven into the textile. Finally, the sweat is collected in a reservoir and expelled for evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: HFT Smart Sensors, Incorporated
    Inventors: Nicola Coppedè, Andrea Zappettini
  • Patent number: 11324645
    Abstract: An absorbent article including a liquid permeable topsheet on a wearer-facing side of the absorbent article and a garment-facing laminate on a garment-facing side of the absorbent article is disclosed. The garment-facing laminate includes a backsheet film and a nonwoven layer joined to the backsheet film. The nonwoven layer defines a plurality of apertures. At least 3 of the plurality of apertures in a repeat unit have a different Effective Aperture Area, according to the Aperture Test herein, a different shape, and a different Absolute Feret Angle, according to the Aperture Test herein. The absorbent article includes an absorbent core disposed at least partially intermediate the liquid permeable topsheet and the garment-facing laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventors: Sara Lyn Giovanni, Donald Carroll Roe, John Lee Hammons, Kelyn Anne Arora, Timothy Ian Mullane, Matthew Steven Ritter, Jill Marlene Orr, Jennifer Schutte, John Brian Strube, Ann Cecilia Tapp, Rachael Eden Walther, Amanda Margaret Bicking, Jennifer Lynn Dusold, Margaret Elizabeth Porter
  • Patent number: 11291167
    Abstract: The agricultural greenhouse of the invention and the plant cultivation method using the same can cultivate plants economically and efficiently with less energy per crop yield, as it is provided with a CO2 supply means, a heat-ray shielding means, and a dehumidification and cooling means, the heat-ray shielding means is formed of using a heat-ray reflecting film, and plural through holes are formed in the heat-ray shielding means. The heat-ray reflecting film structure can cultivate plants by the agricultural greenhouse utilizing sunlight economically and efficiently as it has a structure that narrow band-shaped tapes obtained by cutting a multi-layer laminated film made by laminating at least two kinds of resin layers with different refractive indices alternately and having an average transmittance at 80% or more for visible light and an average reflectance at 70% or more for heat-ray is woven or knitted as a warp or a weft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: TOYOBO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hisao Okumura, Yutaka Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11250969
    Abstract: An all-wire weft-knit tubular sleeve can be knit from a plurality of electrically conductive wire filaments. Further, an electrically conductive bus wire can be interlaced in the weft knit pattern of the tubular sleeve to provide improved electrical contact along the entire length of the gasket. The exemplary weft-knit sleeve can allow for at least a 15% axial stretch without breaking the bus wire. The conductive wire filaments can be a copper/nickel alloy having a wire diameter of between about 0.075 mm and about 0.1 mm, a tensile strength of between about 70-125 KSI and an elongation of at least 12%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: ACS Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: George Greenwood
  • Patent number: 11174577
    Abstract: A brushed circular knitted fabric has double loops stacked with at least two kinds of synthetic fiber multifilaments, wherein at least one surface of the circular knitted fabric has undergone brush processing, and the FT index represented by the equation (T2/T1) [T1: thickness (of one layer) according to a method prescribed by JIS, T2: thickness according to the same method prescribed by JIS at a state where the fabric is folded in two] is 2.1 or greater. The brushed circular knitted fabric has resiliency feeling and stretchability suitable for use in a coat or jacket, and is excellent in physical properties such as pilling resistance and changes in dimensions with washing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: Mitsukawa & Co., Ltd., Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeto Matsumoto, Hiroshi Tanaka, Masanobu Sato, Takashi Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 11041263
    Abstract: A warp-knitted spacer fabric has a first and a second planar warp-knit layer that are joined together by spacer yarns. The first warp-knit layer is formed by a first yarn system having a first pattern and a second yarn system having a second pattern. The first pattern is a modified pillar-stitch in which the yarns of the first yarn system form pillar stitches in alternating sequence in the working direction and are guided without formation of stitches, and the yarns of the second yarn system are each guided over at least two adjacent stitch wales and running in the working direction. The second warp-knit layer has openings formed by a plurality of stitches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: MUELLER TEXTIL GMBH
    Inventors: Frank Mueller, Stefan Mueller
  • Patent number: 10993491
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a water-absorbent quick-drying knitted fabric and application thereof. The fabric is a single-sided knitted fabric, the reverse side having a concave-convex structure, the height of the convex parts of the concave-convex structure being 40-150 ?m, and the fiber forming the convex parts being a polyester elastic fiber. The present knitted fabric has excellent water-absorbing and quick-drying properties, improving the comfort of wear and being suitable for use in manufacturing T-shirts, polo shirts, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: TORAY FIBERS & TEXTILES RESEARCH LABORATORIES (CHINA) CO., LTD., TORAY SAKAI WEAVING & DYEING (NANTONG) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongxia Xia, Kenji Akizuki, Chunyan Huang, Jianlin Lu, Naoki Oda
  • Patent number: 10982358
    Abstract: The knitted textiles include a knitted structure including a plurality of hollow yarns. Each hollow yarn includes a yarn body and defines a yarn hole extending through the yarn body to allow expansion of the yarn body upon inflation of each hollow yarn through the yarn hole. The knitted structure is configured to transition from an unexpanded state to an expanded state in response to the inflation of the hollow yarns through the yarn hole. The knitted structure has a first porosity in the unexpanded state, and the knitted structure has a second porosity in the expanded state. The second porosity is less than the first porosity such that a visibility through the knitted structure is greater when the knitted structure is in the unexpanded state than when the knitted structure is in the expanded state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Paul W. Alexander, Nancy L. Johnson, Anthony L. Smith, Christopher P. Henry
  • Patent number: 10966332
    Abstract: Electronic equipment may include structured fabric. Structured fabric may be used as a protective case or cosmetic cover for an electronic device, may be used to form a band that holds an electronic device against a user's body, or may be used to cover one or more openings in an electronic device. Structured fabrics may be soft and pliable while maintaining the ability to hold a given shape without added support. Structured fabric may be formed by laminating fabric such as warp-knit fabric with a stiffener such as polymer film. Structured fabrics may include openings through which signals such as optical or audio signals pass. To maintain the geometry and shape of the openings in the structured fabric without covering the openings, the stiffener and adhesive that are attached to the fabric may be cut to form a pattern of openings that align with the openings in the fabric.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yohji Hamada, John J. Baker, Peter F. Coxeter, Benjamin M. Rappoport, Joseph B. Walker
  • Patent number: 10925339
    Abstract: An object is to provide a cloth having excellent air permeability changing function due to wetness and dimensional stability and a fibrous product, and means for achieving the object is to obtain a cloth using a conjugate fiber having two components conjugated side by side and a crimped fiber having a torque of 30 T/m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: TEIJIN FRONTIER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Nobuaki Ogata