Patents Examined by Nathan E Durham
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Patent number: 11753756Abstract: A dual plate mount system with adjustment brackets, a hook, and fabric spaces is used to improve hem sewing speed and consistency. The target fabric is threaded around and through the hook end and loop, the apparatus adjusting to the desired width and overhang. The apparatus can be used in connection with a sewing machine or manually. The apparatus aligns the fabric hem that is pushed or pulled through toward the sewing machine needle plate.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Inventor: Adelite Silva
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Patent number: 11748525Abstract: Systems and methods generating textiles with repeating design elements based at least in part on Voronoi diagrams are provided. In one example implementation, the method can include generating a plurality of seed points in a graphic area. The seed points are utilized to create a Voronoi diagram. A Voronoi diagram is thereafter propagated within the graphic area based upon the seed points. The method also includes receiving a first user input defining a design area. The design area includes a plurality of boundaries within the graphic area. The design area is then correlated to a textile segment and a textile design is generated by replicating the cells in the design area. The cells that intersect the boundaries of the design area are replicated with identical instances placed at the adjacent sides of the design area and the corners of the design area.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: Scott R. Parry, Lisa R. Bailey, Ellis C. Blanton, Kristin M. Gruenefeld
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Patent number: 11746453Abstract: An attachment (24) for a sewing machine (10) to provide simultaneous sewing and sealing of a seam comprises a reel (23) for dispensing a strip of adhesive thermoplastic polymer (25) between fabric members (7,9) to be sewn. A plurality of heated driven rollers (40, 42, 44) opposed to heated idler rollers (50) having a continuous belt (52) thereover collectively exert heat and pressure on the seam, melting the polymer strip (25) so as to seal the seam. Thread (17) having been treated with adhesive thermoplastic polymer may be employed to seal the punctures in the fabric made by the sewing machine's needle (19). The driven rollers are driven in synchronization with the operation of the sewing machine and are engaged with and withdrawn from the seam responsive to operator command.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2022Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: Seco Systems, LLCInventors: John Tallmadge, William Vahle, Lukas Scheurer, Roxanne Ferreiro, Manuel Avila
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Patent number: 11739453Abstract: Provided is a method for preparing sewing guide patterns suitable for constructing groups of patchwork components used in quilting. A rectangular sewing guide outer perimeter exactly includes either two or four congruent instances of rectangular, right-angle triangle or isosceles triangle patchwork components. A nested series of additional sewing guide elements are placed inside the rectangle where the points of each element are placed at the midpoints of the sides of the previous element. The number of elements is selected in consideration of aesthetic objectives. Final sewing guide patterns are prepared by adding a space equal to two times a seam allowance between each of the shared sides of the contiguous instances of the patchwork components in the rectangle and added elements. The pattern is suitable for assembling a plurality of patchwork components by methods known in the art as foundation piecing. The components are released by cutting between the added spaces.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 29, 2023Inventor: Linda Susan Miksch
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Patent number: 11732390Abstract: Provided is a sewing machine threading device that is compactly configured, and that is capable of preventing a thread hooking claw from disturbing sewing work. When an up-and-down movement operation lever 9 is raised, a thread hooking claw 10 is located above a sewing needle not to disturb sewing work. When the up-and-down movement operation lever 9 is lowered, a sliding member 15 slides along a thread hooking guide shaft 16 to cause the thread hooking claw 10 to be lowered together with a thread hooking support rod 13, rotating unit 23 rotates the thread hooking claw 10 from behind the sewing needle toward an eye of the sewing needle in connection with lowering of the thread hooking support rod 13, and the thread hooking claw 10 is inserted into the eye of the sewing needle.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 22, 2023Assignee: SUZUKI MANUFACTURING, LTD.Inventor: Masato Ishikawa
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Patent number: 11725318Abstract: A machine for forming an annular textile preform includes: a horizontal sheet-forming turntable for forming a helical fiber; a horizontal intermediate turntable positioned under the sheet-forming turntable; a horizontal intermediate unwinder positioned on the intermediate; a final horizontal unwinder positioned under the intermediate unwinder; and a horizontal preform-forming turntable positioned under the final unwinder.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2021Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: SAFRAN LANDING SYSTEMSInventor: Hugues Leroy
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Patent number: 11725319Abstract: Embodiments herein describe mapping user drawn lines into an embroidery machine file. For example, a user can use a stylus or her finger to draw an embroidery design on a touch screen of a user device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc.). An embroidery application executing on the user device can convert the user movements into needle point paths. The application can then convert the needle point paths into the embroidery machine file.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: CreateMe Technologies LLCInventors: Ursula C. Wolz, Christopher W. Dunne
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Patent number: 11718936Abstract: Presented are automated manufacturing systems for fabricating engineered textiles, footwear and apparel formed with such engineered textiles, methods for making such engineered textiles, and memory-stored, processor-executable instructions for operating such manufacturing systems. An automated manufacturing system constructs engineered textiles from workpieces composed of superposed, unwoven wires. The system includes a movable end effector bearing a stitching head and an image capture device. The stitching head has a thread feeder and sewing needle to generate stitches. The image capture device captures images of the workpiece and outputs data indicative thereof. A system controller receives this image capture device data and locates, from the captured image of the workpiece, gaps defined between quadrangles of the superposed wires.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2022Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventor: Matthew D. Nordstrom
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Patent number: 11707099Abstract: Various examples are provided related to attachment of tape or strips of material along a seam of a garment or other material. In one example, among others, a robotic system includes a joining device that can attach a tape or strip of material across a seam, a loading system that can position material with the seam for attachment of the tape or strip of material, a seam feed system that can adjust positioning of the material for attachment, and a tape handling system that can supply the tape or strip of material to the joining head of the joining device for attachment across the seam. A tape handling system can include a tape joining assembly that can receive tape or strip of material from a current tape cartridge and bond it to the tape or strip of material clamped by the tape joining assembly.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2022Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: SOFTWEAR AUTOMATION, INC.Inventors: Edgar Aguilar, Michael J. Baker, Scott Coleman, John Casey Edgerton, Jason Franklin, Luther R. Lloyd, III, Louis Marion Mieszkowski, Jorge Augusto Parra
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Patent number: 11707105Abstract: An article of footwear with a knitted component including an upper and an integral knit ankle cuff is provided. The upper and the ankle cuff are formed as a one-piece knit element. The knit element forms a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface forming a void for receiving a foot. The ankle cuff is formed of unitary knit construction with the upper as a one-piece knit element and extends above a throat area of the upper. The ankle cuff includes malleolus zones on medial and lateral sides to correspond with the ankle bones of a wearer. The knit component further incorporates features to assist with providing entry for a foot of a wear, providing comfort to a wearer, and to assist with orientation of the upper of the article of footwear when being worn.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2020Date of Patent: July 25, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Denis Dekovic, John Droege, Windra Fahmi, Jeongwoo Lee, Daniel A. Podhajny, Karl Seamarks, Doug D. Wilken
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Patent number: 11700961Abstract: A garment hanger comprising a rail engaging portion and garment supporting means in the form of a deformable elongate member. The end of the elongate member distal from the rail engaging portion comprises a first part of a connection mechanism such that the elongate member can be deformed back upon itself and connected to a second part of the connection mechanism of the hanger to form a closed loop. The hanger further comprises an aperture for attaching the hanger to the garment.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: THE JANGER LIMITEDInventor: Guy Taylor
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Patent number: 11700899Abstract: An artificially-intelligent body size and body shape identification system is provided. The system may include a graphical user interface (“GUI”). The GUI may display a plurality of body shapes. The GUI may also receive a selection of one of a plurality of body shapes. The selection may indicate that a body corresponds to the selected body shape. The GUI may receive measurement information including: a height measurement, a weight measurement, a bra cup size, a bra length size relating to the body. The system may include an artificially-intelligent, sizing application. The application may receive the measurement information and the selected body shape. The application may identify one or more combinations of one or more body shapes and one or more body sizes that correspond to the body. The GUI may display the one or more combinations. The GUI may receive a selection of one of the combinations.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2022Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Pari Passu New York, LLCInventor: Shanna Goldstone
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Patent number: 11690422Abstract: A garment assembly system including a fixture including an opening, an abutment surface formed in either the fixture or a housing disposable on the fixture, and a carrier. The carrier is disposable in the opening. The carrier is moveable between a retracted position and an extended position. In the extended position, the carrier is configured to press an open first joint of a tubular component disposed on the carrier and an open second joint of a base component disposed on the fixture together against the abutment surface.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2022Date of Patent: July 4, 2023Assignee: CreateMe Technologies LLCInventors: Nicholas Chope, Gaston MacMillan
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Patent number: 11686027Abstract: A shiftable backing feed is utilized with a tufting machine having reciprocating needles and gauge parts for seizing yarns at a plurality of fixed heights, wherein fabric support apparatus reciprocates in synchronization with the cycles of the needle bar to support the backing during penetration of the backing fabric yet allow backing shifts between stitches.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2020Date of Patent: June 27, 2023Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Jason Daniel Detty, Robert A. Padgett, Jeffrey D. Smith, Paul E. Beatty, Steven L. Frost
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Patent number: 11681421Abstract: A tool allows a user to create new designs for apparel and preview these designs before manufacture. Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. Based on a laser input file with a pattern, a laser will burn the pattern onto apparel. With the tool, the user will be able to create, make changes, and view images of a design, in real time, before burning by a laser. Input to the tool includes fabric template images, laser input files, and damage input. The tool allows adding of tinting and adjusting of intensity and bright point. The user can also move, rotate, scale, and warp the image input.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2021Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: Levi Strauss & Co.Inventors: Christopher Schultz, Jennifer Schultz, Debdulal Mahanty, Ozgur Taylan Kuzucu, James Barton Sights, Benjamin Bell
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Patent number: 11679057Abstract: A Goggle is provided which enables an improvement in skiing skills and techniques. A goggle 1 of the present invention comprises a lens body 11, a lens body supporting part 12 configured to support the lens body 11, a face plate part 13 positioned on a peripheral edge part behind the lens body supporting part 12, having flexibility and capable of coming into contact with a face of a wearer, and a gaze correcting part 14 provided in a center of the face plate part, having a rectangular column shape and enabling correction of a gaze of the wearer, the gaze correcting part 14 having mutually different colors on a facing surface 14a facing the wearer, a right side surface 14b located to the right of the facing surface 14a and a left side surface 14c located to the left of the facing surface 14a and dividing a field of view of the wearer into a right field of view and a left field of view.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2019Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Inventor: Kosuke Higashide
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Patent number: 11680365Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for autonomously folding a deformable laundry article are described. A folding device includes a rotatable platform configured to receive the article. A rotatable blade is suspended above the surface and a clamp rod is disposed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the blade. The clamp rod is configured to raise and lower from a surface of the rotatable platform, slidably move parallel to the surface, and clamp the deformable article to the surface in a lowered position. The blade is configured to raise and lower from the surface of the rotatable platform, slidably move parallel to the surface, slide under an unclamped portion of the article, lift the unclamped portion above the clamp rod, pass the unclamped portion over the clamp rod, and lower the free end to a resting position atop another portion of the article to fold the article.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2022Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: MONOTONY.AI, INC.Inventors: Stuart E. Schechter, Benjamin D. Bixby, Kevin M. LeBlanc, Wilson J. Mefford, Elliot Sinclair Pennington, Laura E. Schwartz, Jesse Sielaff, Madeline R. Hickman, Carter J. Ithier, Samuel Duffley
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Patent number: 11674249Abstract: Provided are: a sewing device provided with a sewing mechanism which performs sewing on a work to be sewn using a sewing-machine needle, while holding the work to be sewn in a state of being shaped in a predetermined shape on a plurality of seating portions arranged in a sewing direction; and a sewing method. When the seating portions are withdrawn from the work to be sewn so as to avoid interference between the sewing mechanism and the seating portions, a guiding mechanism enables movement in a first withdrawing direction for avoiding a first undercut portion of the work to be sewn, and movement in a second withdrawing direction for avoiding a second undercut portion of the work to be sewn.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2019Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Toru Takamura, Yosuke Ikadai, Mitsutaka Igaue
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Patent number: 11673419Abstract: Software and lasers are used in finishing apparel to produce a desired wear pattern or other design. A technique includes determining a fabric's response to a laser, capturing an initial image of a wear pattern on a garment, and processing the initial image to obtain a working image in grayscale. The working image is further processed to obtain a difference image by comparing each pixel relative to a dark reference. The difference image is converted to a laser values image by using the previously determined fabric response to the laser.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: Levi Strauss & Co.Inventors: Jennifer Schultz, Christopher Schultz, James Barton Sights
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Patent number: 11661694Abstract: A shiftable backing feed or shiftable needle assembly is utilized with a tufting machine having reciprocating needles and gauge parts for seizing or cutting yarns wherein yarn placement patterns can be utilized to tuft at different gauge densities while maintaining the same pattern sizes and appearance, and gauge parts are adapted for high density stitching.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: Tuftco CorporationInventors: Jason Daniel Detty, Robert A. Padgett