Patents by Inventor Bruce Huffa

Bruce Huffa 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: 8490299
    Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Bruce Huffa, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20120318026
    Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper that includes a knitted component and a sole structure secured to the upper. The knitted component may define a tube formed of unitary knit construction, and a strand may extend through a length of the tube. As another example, the knitted component may have a pair of at least partially coextensive knitted layers formed of unitary knit construction, and a plurality of floating yarns may extend between the knitted layers. In some configurations, the knit type or yarn type may vary in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. Additionally, the knitted component may incorporate a thermoplastic yarn that is fused in different regions of the knitted component to impart different properties. A flat knitting process or a variety of other knitting processes may be utilized to form the knitted component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Bruce Huffa, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20120233882
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper incorporating a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE. Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Huffa, Dua Bhupesh
  • Publication number: 20120234052
    Abstract: An article of footwear and a variety of other products may incorporate a knitted component. An inlaid strand extends through the knitted component. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Huffa, Bhupesh Dua
  • Publication number: 20120234051
    Abstract: A knitted component may incorporate an inlaid strand. A combination feeder may be utilized to inlay the strand within the knitted component. As an example, the combination feeder may include a feeder arm that reciprocates between a retracted position and an extended position. In manufacturing the knitted component, the feeder inlays the strand when the feeder arm is in the extended position, and the strand is absent from the knitted component when the feeder arm is in the retracted position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Huffa
  • Publication number: 20120023686
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear may include assembling at least a portion of an upper of the article of footwear, the upper having a lower perimeter edge. A lasting element is secured to the upper. The lasting element includes (a) a first strip joined to a lateral side of the upper adjacent to the lower perimeter edge, (b) a second strip joined to a medial side of the upper adjacent to the lower perimeter edge, and (c) at least one strand extending through the first strip and the second strip. The strand is tensioned, and a sole structure of the article of footwear is joined to the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Huffa, Bryan N. Farris