Patents by Inventor David M. Forland

David M. Forland 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).

  • Publication number: 20250151844
    Abstract: An article of footwear with an upper; and a sole structure. The sole structure has a midsole, wherein the midsole has at least one partially enclosed cavity; a first cushioning element disposed within the at least one partially enclosed cavity, wherein the cushioning element comprises a first barrier film and a second barrier film enclosing an internal volume, the first barrier film and the second barrier adjoining to form a peripheral seam; a second cushioning element disposed within the at least one partially enclosed cavity, wherein the second cushioning element includes a third barrier film and a fourth barrier film enclosing an internal volume; and an outsole, wherein the outsole has a ground-engaging surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2024
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Wesley K. CHAN, Laura E. FLORES SANDOVAL, David M. FORLAND
  • Patent number: 12162224
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cushioning article comprises wrapping a polymeric sheet around a support so that the polymeric sheet surrounds a perimeter of the support. A first portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a first side edge of the polymeric sheet overlaps and is stacked on a second portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a second side edge of the polymeric sheet. The first portion is welded to the second portion at a first weld disposed between the first side edge and the second side edge while the polymeric sheet is wrapped around the support so that the polymeric sheet forms an open-ended sheath with a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall with the first weld disposed at only one of the top wall and the bottom wall. A cushioning article manufactured according to the method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart C. Forstrom, David M. Forland
  • Publication number: 20230301397
    Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure includes a midsole, wherein the midsole includes an enclosed cavity, a thermoformed cushioning element disposed within the enclosed cavity, wherein the cushioning element includes an upper barrier film and a bottom barrier film enclosing an internal volume, and an outsole layer, wherein the outsole layer forms a ground-engaging surface of the article of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 28, 2023
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Fidencio CAMPOS, II, David W. CARTER, David M. FORLAND, Jonathan KOSENICK, Aaron B. STREET
  • Publication number: 20220219405
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cushioning article comprises wrapping a polymeric sheet around a support so that the polymeric sheet surrounds a perimeter of the support. A first portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a first side edge of the polymeric sheet overlaps and is stacked on a second portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a second side edge of the polymeric sheet. The first portion is welded to the second portion at a first weld disposed between the first side edge and the second side edge while the polymeric sheet is wrapped around the support so that the polymeric sheet forms an open-ended sheath with a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall with the first weld disposed at only one of the top wall and the bottom wall. A cushioning article manufactured according to the method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart C. Forstrom, David M. Forland
  • Patent number: 11318684
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cushioning article comprises wrapping a polymeric sheet around a support so that the polymeric sheet surrounds a perimeter of the support. A first portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a first side edge of the polymeric sheet overlaps and is stacked on a second portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a second side edge of the polymeric sheet. The first portion is welded to the second portion at a first weld disposed between the first side edge and the second side edge while the polymeric sheet is wrapped around the support so that the polymeric sheet forms an open-ended sheath with a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall with the first weld disposed at only one of the top wall and the bottom wall. A cushioning article manufactured according to the method is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart C. Forstrom, David M. Forland
  • Publication number: 20190365037
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a cushioning article comprises wrapping a polymeric sheet around a support so that the polymeric sheet surrounds a perimeter of the support. A first portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a first side edge of the polymeric sheet overlaps and is stacked on a second portion of the polymeric sheet adjacent a second side edge of the polymeric sheet. The first portion is welded to the second portion at a first weld disposed between the first side edge and the second side edge while the polymeric sheet is wrapped around the support so that the polymeric sheet forms an open-ended sheath with a top wall, a bottom wall, a first side wall and a second side wall with the first weld disposed at only one of the top wall and the bottom wall. A cushioning article manufactured according to the method is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart C. Forstrom, David M. Forland
  • Patent number: 6055746
    Abstract: An athletic shoe has a sole with a rearfoot strike zone segmented from the remaining heel area by a line of flexion which permits articulation of the strike zone during initial heel strike of a runner. The line of flexion is located to delimit a rearfoot strike zone reflecting the heel to toe running style of the majority of the running population. In addition to allowing articulation of the rearfoot strike zone about the line of flexion, the sole incorporates cushioning elements, including a resilient gas filled bladder, to provide differential cushioning characteristics in different parts of the heel, to attenuate force applications and shock associated with heel strike, without degrading footwear stability during subsequent phases of the running cycle. The line of flexion may be formed by various means including a deep groove, a line of relatively flexible midsole material, and a relatively flexible portion of a segmented fluid bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Lyden, Gordon A. Valiant, Robert J. Lucas, Michael T. Donaghu, David M. Forland, Joel L. Passke, Thomas McGuirk, Lester Q. Lee
  • Patent number: 5625964
    Abstract: An athletic shoe has a sole with a rearfoot strike zone segmented from the remaining heel area by a line of flexion which permits articulation of the strike zone during initial heel strike of a runner. The line of flexion is located to delimit a rearfoot strike zone reflecting the heel to toe running style of the majority of the running population. In addition to allowing articulation of the rearfoot strike zone about the line of flexion, the sole incorporates cushioning elements, including a resilient gas filled bladder, to provide differential cushioning characteristics in different parts of the heel, to attenuate force applications and shock associated with heel strike, without degrading footwear stability during subsequent phases of the running cycle. The line of flexion may be formed by various ways including a deep groove, a line of relatively flexible midsole material, and a relatively flexible portion of a segmented fluid bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Lyden, Gordon A. Valiant, Robert J. Lucas, Michael T. Donaghu, David M. Forland, Joel L. Passke, Thomas McGuirk, Lester Q. Lee
  • Patent number: 5425184
    Abstract: An athletic shoe has a sole with a rearfoot strike zone segmented from the remaining heel area by a line of flexion which permits articulation of the strike zone during initial heel strike of a runner. The line of flexion is located to delimit a rearfoot strike zone reflecting the heel to toe running style of the majority of the running population. In addition to allowing articulation of the rearfoot strike zone about the line of flexion, the sole incorporates cushioning elements, including a resilient gas filled bladder, to provide differential cushioning characteristics in different parts of the heel, to attenuate force applications and shock associated with heel strike, without degrading footwear stability during subsequent phases of the running cycle. The line of flexion may be formed by various means including a deep groove, a line of relatively flexible midsole material, and a relatively flexible portion of a segmented fluid bladder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Lyden, Gordon A. Valiant, Robert J. Lucas, Michael T. Donaghu, David M. Forland, Joel I. Passke, Thomas McGuirk, Lester Q. Lee
  • Patent number: 5353459
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for inflating a bladder including a first and a second distinct chamber linked in fluid communication by an interconnecting port, and a fluid fill inlet linked in fluid communication with the first chamber. A first nozzle set at a first predetermined pressure level and connected to a first fluid pressure source is inserted in the fill inlet to thereby inflate the first and second chambers to the first predetermined pressure. The interconnecting port is sealed to isolate the first chamber from the second chamber out of fluid communication with each other such that the second chamber is isolated at the first predetermined pressure. The first nozzle is removed from the fluid fill inlet. A second nozzle set at a second predetermined pressure level and connected to a second pressure source is inserted into the fluid fill inlet to thereby inflate the first chamber to the second predetermined pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Potter, Joel L. Passke, David M. Forland
  • Patent number: D335952
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Forland, Steven C. McDonald, Joel L. Passke
  • Patent number: D336771
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Tinker L. Hatfield, David M. Forland, Joel L. Passke
  • Patent number: D336772
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1993
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Forland, Joel L. Passke
  • Patent number: D341478
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Forland, Tinker L. Hatfield, Steven C. McDonald, Joel L. Passke
  • Patent number: D349186
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Passke, David M. Forland, Larry R. Sarkinen
  • Patent number: D349804
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Passke, David M. Forland
  • Patent number: D349808
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel Passke, David M. Forland, Larry R. Sarkinen, William J. Worthington
  • Patent number: D350016
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Joel L. Passke, David M. Forland, Robert J. Lucas, Michael T. Donaghu
  • Patent number: D351277
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Aveni, Perry W. Auger, David M. Forland
  • Patent number: D366756
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Forland, Tinker L. Hatfield, Steven C. McDonald, Joel L. Passke