Patents by Inventor Adrian Meir

Adrian Meir 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: 11969047
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include a knitted component that at least partially forms an upper. The knitted component may include a first knit layer and a second knit layer, the first knit layer being separable from the second knit layer such that a pocket is located between the first knit layer and the second knit layer. A cable may be located at least partially within the channel. A cable guide may additionally be located at least partially within the channel, where the cable guide includes at least one curved surface for contacting the cable. The cable may extend around the at least one curved surface such that the cable changes directions within the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Meir, James Molyneux
  • Patent number: 11885050
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an article. The article may include a first tubular rib structure and a second tubular rib structure. A webbed area may be located between the first tubular rib structure and the second tubular rib structure. The webbed area may have a first portion with a first width and a second portion with a second width, where the first width may be larger than the second width. The webbed area may be at least partially formed from a first yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Publication number: 20230366136
    Abstract: A method may include one or more of the following steps: knitting a first knit layer and a second knit layer on a knitting machine, where the first knit layer and the second knit layer each include a plurality of intermeshed loops, and where at least one loop of the first knit layer is intermeshed with at least one loop of the second knit layer; inlaying an inlaid strand between the first knit layer and the second knit layer during the knitting of the first knit layer and the second knit layer, where the inlaid strand includes a thermoplastic material having a melting point; and applying heat to at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the inlaid strand such that the portion of the thermoplastic material rises to a temperature at or above the melting point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2023
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Patent number: 11814758
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include a knitted component that includes a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone. Each of the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone may extend toward a collar area of the upper at least partially in a heel area of the upper. The second zone is located between the first zone and the third zone such that the second zone is located in a substantially central portion of the heel area. The second zone may include an elasticity that is greater than an elasticity of the first zone and also greater than an elasticity of the third zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis J. Berrian, Bryan N. Farris, Adrian Meir, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz
  • Patent number: 11739448
    Abstract: A method may include one or more of the following steps: knitting a first knit layer and a second knit layer on a knitting machine, where the first knit layer and the second knit layer each include a plurality of intermeshed loops, and where at least one loop of the first knit layer is intermeshed with at least one loop of the second knit layer; inlaying an inlaid strand between the first knit layer and the second knit layer during the knitting of the first knit layer and the second knit layer, where the inlaid strand includes a thermoplastic material having a melting point; and applying heat to at least a portion of the thermoplastic material of the inlaid strand such that the portion of the thermoplastic material rises to a temperature at or above the melting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Patent number: 11725312
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knit element formed with a plurality of courses and a plurality of wales, where the plurality of courses include a first course and the plurality of wales include a first wale and a second wale. A set of inlaid strands including at least a first inlaid strand and a second inlaid strand may be included. A first area and a second area may be included, where in the first area, each inlaid strand of the set of inlaid strands extends through at least a portion of the first course, and where in the second area, the first inlaid strand extends through the first wale and the second inlaid strand extends through the second wale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Publication number: 20230250565
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knitted base portion located between a first non-planar structure and a second non-planar structure. The knitted base portion may include a first area located adjacent to the first non-planar structure, and the first area may include at least one course of a first base yarn. The knitted base portion may include a second area located adjacent to the second non-planar structure, and the second area may include at least one course of a second base yarn. The first base yarn may have a first color and the second base yarn may have a second color different from the first color.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2023
    Publication date: August 10, 2023
    Inventors: Adrian Meir, Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 11674244
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knitted base portion located between a first non-planar structure and a second non-planar structure. The knitted base portion may include a first area located adjacent to the first non-planar structure, and the first area may include at least one course of a first base yarn. The knitted base portion may include a second area located adjacent to the second non-planar structure, and the second area may include at least one course of a second base yarn. The first base yarn may have a first color and the second base yarn may have a second color different from the first color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Meir, Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Publication number: 20230066102
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method. The method may include placing an upper on a last, where the upper includes a lower perimeter edge secured to a lasting element, and where the last includes an opening for receiving the lasting element. The method may further include feeding the lasting element at least partially through an opening of the last and tensioning the lasting element to tighten the upper around the last by pulling the tensioning element at least partially through the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Adrian Meir, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz
  • Publication number: 20230051338
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include a knitted component that includes a first zone, a second zone, and a third zone. Each of the first zone, the second zone, and the third zone may extend toward a collar area of the upper at least partially in a heel area of the upper. The second zone is located between the first zone and the third zone such that the second zone is located in a substantially central portion of the heel area. The second zone may include an elasticity that is greater than an elasticity of the first zone and also greater than an elasticity of the third zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Travis J. Berrian, Bryan N. Farris, Adrian Meir, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz
  • Publication number: 20230002941
    Abstract: A method may include knitting a first portion of a knitted component on a first region of a knitting machine, knitting a second portion of the knitted component on a second region of the knitting machine, moving the first portion of the knitted component towards the second portion of the knitted component by moving a first needle bed of the knitting machine relative to a second needle bed of the knitting machine, and knitting at least one course with the knitting machine that connects the first portion of the knitted component to the second portion of the knitted component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Publication number: 20220364279
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knit element formed with a plurality of courses and a plurality of wales, where the plurality of courses include a first course and the plurality of wales include a first wale and a second wale. A set of inlaid strands including at least a first inlaid strand and a second inlaid strand may be included. A first area and a second area may be included, where in the first area, each inlaid strand of the set of inlaid strands extends through at least a portion of the first course, and where in the second area, the first inlaid strand extends through the first wale and the second inlaid strand extends through the second wale.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2022
    Publication date: November 17, 2022
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Patent number: 11478045
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method. The method may include placing an upper on a last, where the upper includes a lower perimeter edge secured to a lasting element, and where the last includes an opening for receiving the lasting element. The method may further include feeding the lasting element at least partially through an opening of the last and tensioning the lasting element to tighten the upper around the last by pulling the tensioning element at least partially through the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryan N. Farris, Adrian Meir, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz
  • Publication number: 20220304422
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component formed of unitary knit construction. The knitted component includes portions having extended floated portions to distribute forces acting on the knitted component and resist stretching of the knitted component when the article of footwear is worn during a sport or athletic activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Patent number: 11447899
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include a knitted component that includes a first knitted zone, a second knitted zone, and a third knitted zone. Each of the first knitted zone, the second knitted zone, and the third knitted zone may extend from a collar area of the upper to a biteline of the upper, where the first knitted zone, the second knitted zone, and the third knitted zone are each located at least partially in a heel area of the upper, and where the second knitted zone is located between the first knitted zone and the third knitted zone such that the second knitted zone is located in a central portion of the heel area. The second knitted zone may include an elasticity that is greater than an elasticity of the first knitted zone and also greater than an elasticity of the third knitted zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis Berrian, Bryan N. Farris, Adrian Meir, Noah Murphy-Reinhertz
  • Patent number: 11441249
    Abstract: A method may include knitting a first portion of a knitted component on a first region of a knitting machine, knitting a second portion of the knitted component on a second region of the knitting machine, moving the first portion of the knitted component towards the second portion of the knitted component by moving a first needle bed of the knitting machine relative to a second needle bed of the knitting machine, and knitting at least one course with the knitting machine that connects the first portion of the knitted component to the second portion of the knitted component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • 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: 11414796
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knit element formed with a plurality of courses and a plurality of wales, where the plurality of courses include a first course and the plurality of wales include a first wale and a second wale. A set of inlaid strands including at least a first inlaid strand and a second inlaid strand may be included. A first area and a second area may be included, where in the first area, each inlaid strand of the set of inlaid strands extends through at least a portion of the first course, and where in the second area, the first inlaid strand extends through the first wale and the second inlaid strand extends through the second wale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Adrian Meir
  • Patent number: 11408105
    Abstract: A feeder for a knitting machine may include: a carrier configured to secure the feeder to a knitting machine such that the feeder is movable along an axis with respect to a rail of the knitting machine; a feeder arm extending from the carrier, the feeder arm including a dispensing area configured for supplying a yarn to a needle bed of the knitting machine; and a cutting device coupled to the feeder arm, where the cutting device includes a cutting edge for cutting the yarn to disengage an upper portion of the yarn from the needle bed of the knitting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart W. Dealey, Adrian Meir, Gagandeep Singh
  • Publication number: 20220225723
    Abstract: A knitted tongue for an article of footwear may include a ridge structure and a channel structure. The ridge structure is biased to curl about a first axis in a first direction toward a compacted position. The channel structure is biased to curl about a second axis in a second direction toward a compacted position. The first direction is opposite the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Publication date: July 21, 2022
    Inventor: Adrian MEIR