Patents by Inventor Benjamin A. Shaffer

Benjamin A. Shaffer 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: 12622493
    Abstract: A band includes a latch body that is movable by pulling a tab. The latch body extends through an opening of the band and secures with a pin located on a head-mountable device. The band can detach from the head-mountable device by pulling the tab, which actuates the latch body and removes the latch body from the pin. A spring (or springs) can bias the latch body toward the opening, causing the latch body to enter the pin. An applied force to the tab can overcome the biasing force provided by the spring(s), and move the latch body away from, and out of, the pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2026
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Yiwei Tao, Aiden D. Mossop, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Lauren D. Gerardi, Nicolas Lylyk, Paul J. Thompson, Richard P. Howarth, Robert V. Tang, Toria F. Yan, Wei-Ling Chang, Zebinah P. Masse
  • Publication number: 20260125832
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper formed from a textile element having a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn. The fusible yarn comprises a sheath-core structure with a fusible portion peripherally surrounding a non-fusible core. In some configurations, the fusible yarn includes filaments with fusible and non-fusible portions having different melting temperatures. The fusible yarn may be located at a bonding surface of the textile element and enables thermal bonding to a bonded component such as a toe guard, heel counter, or indicia. The textile element may define bonding zones with targeted fusible yarn placement. The bonded component may be secured to the upper via heat and pressure. The sole structure is secured to the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2025
    Publication date: May 7, 2026
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20260071359
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include 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. An inlaid strand may extend through the knit element, and a tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn at least at a forward portion of the tongue, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2025
    Publication date: March 12, 2026
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Daren P. Tatler, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 12522960
    Abstract: An article may include first and second components comprising non-woven textiles and a third component positioned between the first two components. A first surface of the third component that is adjacent the first component comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, and the third component is fused with a first region of the first component and unfused with a second region of the first component. A method of manufacturing the article, which may be an article of wear, includes arranging the components to form a stacked configuration so that the third component is positioned between the first and second components. Heat and compression may be applied to at least a first region of the first component to fuse the first region with the third component, whereas a second region of the first component may remain unfused to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2026
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20260010202
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted housing containing rear-facing displays that display images for a user when the head-mounted housing is worn by the user. The head-mounted device housing may have housing structures such as elongated housing members with protruding posts. A headband may be removably coupled to the head-mounted device housing. The headband may have a strap with openings configured to receive the posts. Releasable latches may be provided to allow selective engagement and disengagement between the headband and the housing. The latches may contain movable latch members that are biased using magnetic biasing mechanisms, spring-based biasing mechanisms, or other biasing mechanisms. To release each latch, a tab, button, toggle lever, slider, or other release mechanisms may be actuated by a user. This moves the movable latch member from a closed latch position to an open latch position that releases the headband from the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2025
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: Toria F. Yan, Ryan M. David, Ryan Fernandez, Tingqing Liao, Yunhe Huang, Bingda Liu, Hao Zhu, Lauren D. Gerardi, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Robert V. Tang, Richard P. Howarth, Nicolas Lylyk, Thomas Richard Routh, Alex Warburton, Uwe Michael Homm, James Russell Griffin, Michael Scott Pritchett, Kathryn Lorraine Pritchett, Sion Gwynn
  • Patent number: 12486600
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include 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. An inlaid strand may extend through the knit element, and a tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn at least at a forward portion of the tongue, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Daren P Tatler, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 12449841
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted housing containing rear-facing displays that display images for a user when the head-mounted housing is worn by the user. The head-mounted device housing may have housing structures such as elongated housing members with protruding posts. A headband may be removably coupled to the head-mounted device housing. The headband may have a strap with openings configured to receive the posts. Releasable latches may be provided to allow selective engagement and disengagement between the headband and the housing. The latches may contain movable latch members that are biased using magnetic biasing mechanisms, spring-based biasing mechanisms, or other biasing mechanisms. To release each latch, a tab, button, toggle lever, slider, or other release mechanisms may be actuated by a user. This moves the movable latch member from a closed latch position to an open latch position that releases the headband from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2025
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Toria F. Yan, Ryan M. David, Ryan Fernandez, Tingqing Liao, Yunhe Huang, Bingda Liu, Hao Zhu, Lauren D. Gerardi, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Robert V. Tang, Richard P. Howarth, Nicolas Lylyk, Thomas Richard Routh, Alex Warburton, Uwe Michael Homm, James Russell Griffin, Michael Scott Pritchett, Kathryn Lorraine Pritchett, Sion Gwynn
  • Publication number: 20250264726
    Abstract: A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted support structure that is configured to be worn on a head of a user. The head-mounted support structure may include a flexible rear portion that at least partially defines a central opening through which the displays in the head-mounted device are viewable. The flexible rear portion may conform to a face of the user when the head-mounted device is worn by the user. A removable cushion may be selectively attached to the flexible rear portion of the head-mounted support structure. The removable cushion may conform to and directly contact the face of the user when the head-mounted device is worn by the user. The removability of the cushion may allow for the cushion to be easily cleaned, easily replaced when worn, and customized to a user's aesthetic and comfort preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2025
    Publication date: August 21, 2025
    Inventors: Erin M. Bosch, Paul X. Wang, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20250237866
    Abstract: A display and vision correction system includes a head-mounted display unit, a glasses frame, and a removable lens assembly. The head-mounted display unit is configured to be worn on a head of a user and includes a display for providing graphical content to the user. The glasses frame is configured to be worn on the head of the user. The removable lens assembly is removably coupleable to the head-mounted display unit and to the glasses frame. The removable lens assembly includes a corrective lens element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2025
    Publication date: July 24, 2025
    Inventors: Ivan S. Maric, Andreas G. Weber, Anna V. Mirabella, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Forrest C. Wang, Jason C. Sauers, Jeremy C. Franklin, Julian Hoenig, Julian Jaede, Kristi E. Bauerly, Stephen E. Dey, Wey-Jiun Lin
  • Patent number: 12360367
    Abstract: A display and vision correction system includes a head-mounted display unit, a glasses frame, and a removable lens assembly. The head-mounted display unit is configured to be worn on a head of a user and includes a display for providing graphical content to the user. The glasses frame is configured to be worn on the head of the user. The removable lens assembly is removably coupleable to the head-mounted display unit and to the glasses frame. The removable lens assembly includes a corrective lens element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Ivan S. Maric, Andreas G. Weber, Anna V. Mirabella, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Forrest C. Wang, Jason C. Sauers, Jeremy C. Franklin, Julian Hoenig, Julian Jaede, Kristi E. Bauerly, Stephen E. Dey, Wey-Jiun Lin
  • Publication number: 20250198061
    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. At least a portion of the knitted component and at least a portion of the tongue have a common yarn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2025
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Adrian Meir, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 12323755
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Lee M. Panecki, Phillip Qian, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene A. Whang, David H. Narajowski, Scott Y. Oshita, Dustin A. Hatfield, Zachary G. Segraves, Sean J. Docherty
  • Patent number: 12264422
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Adrian Meir, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 12262791
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include a knitted component having a knit element and an inlaid strand. The knit element may extend seamlessly from a first side of the upper, through a heel area of the upper, and to a second side of the upper. The inlaid strand may also extend continuously through the knit element from the first side of the upper, through the heel area of the upper, and to the second side of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 12207699
    Abstract: A plurality of fluid-filled chambers may be incorporated into sole structures of articles of footwear. The chambers may be configured to be substantially diamond-shaped. The chambers may lie within cavities formed by a lower surface of the midsole and may extend into apertures in the outsole. The apertures in the outsole may be aligned with the cavities of the midsole. The chambers may be bounded by bounding regions between and at the perimeter of the chambers. The bounding regions may be formed of a polymer foam material of the midsole. The chambers may additionally be connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Dekovic, Bradley S. Long, Brian E. Santa Maria, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Danielle L. Taylor
  • Publication number: 20250024183
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that enhance user comfort and improve user control of the headphones are discussed. Various sensor configurations and electronic component positions are also discussed. User convenience features that include detachable cushions and automatically detecting the donning and doffing of headphones are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2024
    Publication date: January 16, 2025
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Michael B. Minerbi, Eugene Antony Whang, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom
  • Publication number: 20240377638
    Abstract: A head-mountable device can include adaptable components, which move to comfortably engage the face of the user and to exclude light from an external environment. A head-mountable device can include a light seal that includes discrete portions that bend and/or pivot as needed to conform to a face of the user. Such mobility allows the portions to be oriented with respect to corresponding regions of the face, so that an engagement surface of each portion directly engages the corresponding region of the face to maximize the surface area of contact. Such a configuration can be provided while also providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance by providing one or more covers that form continuous, breathable surfaces with the desired opacity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Inventors: PAUL X. WANG, Benjamin A. SHAFFER, Adam Y. KOLLGAARD, Liam R. MARTINEZ, Rex T. EHMAN, Samuel G. SMITH, Timon A. WRIGHT, Evan A. CERNOKUS
  • Publication number: 20240348960
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that include earpad assemblies that improve acoustic isolation are discussed. User convenience features that include automatically detecting the orientation of the headphones on a user's head are also discussed. Various power-saving features, design features, sensor configurations and user comfort features are also discussed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2024
    Publication date: October 17, 2024
    Applicant: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom, Lee M. Panecki, Phillip Qian, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Christopher J. Stringer, Eugene A. Whang, David H. Narajowski, Scott Y. Oshita, Dustin A. Hatfield, Zachary G. Segraves, Sean J. Docherty
  • Patent number: 12096175
    Abstract: This disclosure includes several different features suitable for use in circumaural and supra-aural headphones designs. Designs that enhance user comfort and improve user control of the headphones are discussed. Various sensor configurations and electronic component positions are also discussed. User convenience features that include detachable cushions and automatically detecting the donning and doffing of headphones are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Dustin A. Hatfield, Michael B. Minerbi, Eugene Antony Whang, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Edward Siahaan, Daniel R. Bloom
  • Publication number: 20240302669
    Abstract: Systems of the present disclosure can provide a head-mountable device with a head securement element that allows a user to adjust both the magnitude, location, and direction of forces applied to the face of the user. Examples of adjustment mechanisms described herein allow a user to control the tilt of the head-mountable device relative to a head securement element, as well as the tightness of the head securement element. Accordingly, the user can select a fit that distributes forces widely, maximizes comfort, allows the user to enjoy the head-mountable device for longer durations of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2024
    Publication date: September 12, 2024
    Inventors: Dustin A. HATFIELD, Geng LUO, Benjamin A. SHAFFER, Julian JAEDE, Nicolas LYLYK, Paul X. WANG, Trevor J. NESS