Patents by Inventor Christopher Robertson

Christopher Robertson 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: 12668004
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2026
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Tru Huu Minh Le, Sabrina Kerling, Dharan Kirupanantham, Volker Altstädt, Amir Fathi, Daniel Raps, Clemens Keilholz, Thomas Koeppl, Paul Smith, Jan Hill, Angus Wardlaw, Daniel Stephen Price, James Tarrier, Christopher Robertson
  • Publication number: 20250065585
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such a method, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, is provided which includes loading a mold with a first material which includes particles of an expanded material, and, during loading the mold, pre-heating the particles by supplying energy, wherein the energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2024
    Publication date: February 27, 2025
    Inventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
  • Patent number: 12172400
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such a method, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, is provided which includes loading a mold with a first material which includes particles of an expanded material, and, during loading the mold, pre-heating the particles by supplying energy, wherein the energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
  • Publication number: 20240398059
    Abstract: Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
  • Patent number: 12089698
    Abstract: Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
  • Publication number: 20240286323
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Tru Huu Minh Le, Sabrina Kerling, Dharan Kirupanantham, Volker Altstädt, Amir Fathi, Daniel Raps, Clemens Keilholz, Thomas Koeppl, Paul Smith, Jan Hill, Angus Wardlaw, Daniel Stephen Price, James Tarrier, Christopher Robertson
  • Patent number: 11992981
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded to polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Tru Huu Minh Le, Sabrina Kerling, Dharan Kirupanantham, Volker Altstädt, Amir Fathi, Daniel Raps, Clemens Keilholz, Thomas Koeppl, Paul Smith, Jan Hill, Angus Wardlaw, Daniel Stephen Price, James Tarrier, Christopher Robertson
  • Publication number: 20230000204
    Abstract: Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
  • Patent number: 11470913
    Abstract: Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
  • Publication number: 20210370561
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded to polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Tru Huu Minh Le, Sabrina Kerling, Dharan Kirupanantham, Volker Altstädt, Amir Fathi, Daniel Raps, Clemens Keilholz, Thomas Koeppl, Paul Smith, Jan Hill, Angus Wardlaw, Daniel Stephen Price, James Tarrier, Christopher Robertson
  • Patent number: 11117294
    Abstract: The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Christopher Edward Holmes, Tru Huu Minh Le, Sabrina Kerling, Dharan Kirupanantham, Volker Altstädt, Amir Fathi, Daniel Raps, Clemens Keilholz, Thomas Koeppl, Paul Leonard Michael Smith, Jan Hill, Angus Wardlaw, Daniel Stephen Price, James Tarrier, Christopher Robertson
  • Patent number: 11007738
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold for manufacturing a sole from a plurality of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: WERKZEUGBAU SIEGFRIED HOFMANN GMBH
    Inventors: Rene Hubert, Huu Minh Tru Le, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Christian Richardt
  • Patent number: 10974476
    Abstract: A sole mold for manufacturing a sole from a plurality of particles includes at least one first opening for supplying the particles, and at least two second openings for supplying a gaseous and/or liquid medium to bond and/or fuse the particles together. At least a portion of the sole mold is manufactured by an additive manufacturing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2021
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Norbert Reuber, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Rene Hubert, Christian Richardt
  • Publication number: 20210016531
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such a method, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, is provided which includes loading a mold with a first material which includes particles of an expanded material, and, during loading the mold, pre-heating the particles by supplying energy, wherein the energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
  • Patent number: 10791793
    Abstract: A sole for a shoe, such as a sports shoe, includes a plurality of essentially jointly extruded plastic strands. A method for the manufacture of a sole for a shoe includes essentially jointly extruding a plurality of plastic strands and connecting the plurality of extruded plastic strands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Christopher Robertson, Clemens Paul Dyckmans, Huu Minh Tru Le, Jan Hill, Christopher Edward Holmes, Giridharan Kirupanantham
  • Publication number: 20200298520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold for manufacturing a sole from a plurality of particles, (FIG.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: WERKZEUGBAU SIEGFRIED HOFMANN GMBH
    Inventors: Rene HUBERT, Huu Minh Tru LE, Christopher ROBERTSON, Christopher EDWARD, Maximilian Philipp KURTZ, Christian RICHARDT
  • Patent number: 10730259
    Abstract: Described are methods for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such a method, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. According to an aspect of the invention, a method for the manufacture of a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, is provided which includes loading a mold with a first material which includes particles of an expanded material, and, during loading the mold, pre-heating the particles by supplying energy, wherein the energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
  • Publication number: 20200230905
    Abstract: A sole mold for manufacturing a sole from a plurality of particles includes at least one first opening for supplying the particles, and at least two second openings for supplying a gaseous and/or liquid medium to bond and/or fuse the particles together. At least a portion of the sole mold is manufactured by an additive manufacturing method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Publication date: July 23, 2020
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Norbert Reuber, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Rene Hubert, Christian Richardt
  • Publication number: 20200221820
    Abstract: Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2020
    Publication date: July 16, 2020
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
  • Patent number: 10645992
    Abstract: Described are methods for manufacturing a plastic component, in particular a cushioning element for sports apparel, a plastic component manufactured with such methods, for example a sole or a part of a sole for a shoe, and a shoe with such a sole. The method for the manufacture of a plastic component includes loading a mold with a first material includes particles of an expanded material and fusing the surfaces of the particles by supplying energy. The energy is supplied in the form of at least one electromagnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: adidas AG
    Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov