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).
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Patent number: 12668004Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 24, 2024Date of Patent: June 30, 2026Assignee: adidas AGInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20250065585Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 11, 2024Publication date: February 27, 2025Inventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
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Patent number: 12172400Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 1, 2020Date of Patent: December 24, 2024Assignee: adidas AGInventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
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Publication number: 20240398059Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 14, 2024Publication date: December 5, 2024Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
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Patent number: 12089698Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 13, 2022Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: adidas AGInventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
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Publication number: 20240286323Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2024Publication date: August 29, 2024Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 11992981Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 11, 2021Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: adidas AGInventors: 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
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Publication number: 20230000204Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: September 13, 2022Publication date: January 5, 2023Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
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Patent number: 11470913Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: October 18, 2022Assignee: adidas AGInventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
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Publication number: 20210370561Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 11, 2021Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: 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
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Patent number: 11117294Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 24, 2015Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: adidas AGInventors: 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
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Patent number: 11007738Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold for manufacturing a sole from a plurality of particles.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2018Date of Patent: May 18, 2021Assignee: WERKZEUGBAU SIEGFRIED HOFMANN GMBHInventors: Rene Hubert, Huu Minh Tru Le, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Christian Richardt
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Patent number: 10974476Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 27, 2020Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: adidas AGInventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Norbert Reuber, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Rene Hubert, Christian Richardt
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Publication number: 20210016531Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Inventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
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Patent number: 10791793Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 15, 2017Date of Patent: October 6, 2020Assignee: adidas AGInventors: Christopher Robertson, Clemens Paul Dyckmans, Huu Minh Tru Le, Jan Hill, Christopher Edward Holmes, Giridharan Kirupanantham
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Publication number: 20200298520Abstract: The present invention relates to a mold for manufacturing a sole from a plurality of particles, (FIG.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 7, 2018Publication date: September 24, 2020Applicant: WERKZEUGBAU SIEGFRIED HOFMANN GMBHInventors: Rene HUBERT, Huu Minh Tru LE, Christopher ROBERTSON, Christopher EDWARD, Maximilian Philipp KURTZ, Christian RICHARDT
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Patent number: 10730259Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 1, 2017Date of Patent: August 4, 2020Assignee: adidas AGInventors: Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov, Norbert Reuber, Tru Huu Minh Le, Andreas Johannes Seefried, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Amir Fathi
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Publication number: 20200230905Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: March 27, 2020Publication date: July 23, 2020Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Robertson, Christopher Edward Holmes, Norbert Reuber, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Rene Hubert, Christian Richardt
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Publication number: 20200221820Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2020Publication date: July 16, 2020Inventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov
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Patent number: 10645992Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 4, 2016Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: adidas AGInventors: Tru Huu Minh Le, Christopher Edward Holmes, Christopher Robertson, Maximilian Philipp Kurtz, Victor Romanov