Patents by Inventor Derek Fitchett

Derek Fitchett 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: 20230255314
    Abstract: A footwear sole structure includes a midsole having a ground-facing surface with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The midsole defines downwardly-extending protrusions at the ground-facing surface distributed over the midfoot region and the heel region, each of the downwardly-extending protrusions having a convex outer surface. A height of the midsole is greatest at the midfoot region. The sole structure may also include an outsole covering at least a portion of the ground-facing surface of the midsole, and a height of the sole structure may be greatest at the midfoot region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Karen S. Dimoff, Derek A. Fitchett, Emily Harrington, Joseph L. Helseth, Oliver McLachlan, Colin Runkle
  • Patent number: 11666119
    Abstract: A footwear sole structure includes a midsole having a ground-facing surface with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The midsole defines downwardly-extending protrusions at the ground-facing surface distributed over the midfoot region and the heel region, each of the downwardly-extending protrusions having a convex outer surface. A height of the midsole is greatest at the midfoot region. The sole structure may also include an outsole covering at least a portion of the ground-facing surface of the midsole, and a height of the sole structure may be greatest at the midfoot region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Karen S. Dimoff, Derek A. Fitchett, Emily Harrington, Joseph L. Helseth, Oliver McLachlan, Colin Runkle
  • Publication number: 20230048832
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knit element with a first surface and an opposite second surface. An inlaid yarn may extend through the knit element and between the first surface and the second surface. A secured area where the first surface and the second surface are secured together may be included, where the inlaid yarn is secured by loops forming the first surface and the second surface. A cushioning area may be included, where the cushioning area has a tubular construction such that the first surface and the second surface are separable, forming a cavity therebetween, and where the inlaid yarn extends through the cavity formed between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Enkhbat Dorjgurkhem, Derek A. Fitchett, Kristen E. Orme, Colin Runkle, Gagandeep Singh, Dolores S. Thompson, Erin Toraya
  • Patent number: 11492736
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knit element with a first surface and an opposite second surface. An inlaid yarn may extend through the knit element and between the first surface and the second surface. A secured area where the first surface and the second surface are secured together may be included, where the inlaid yarn is secured by loops forming the first surface and the second surface. A cushioning area may be included, where the cushioning area has a tubular construction such that the first surface and the second surface are separable, forming a cavity therebetween, and where the inlaid yarn extends through the cavity formed between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Enkhbat Dorjgurkhem, Derek A. Fitchett, Kristen E. Orme, Colin M. Runkle, Gagandeep Singh, Dolores S. Thompson, Erin E. Toraya
  • Publication number: 20220007787
    Abstract: A footwear sole structure includes a midsole having a ground-facing surface with a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The midsole defines downwardly-extending protrusions at the ground-facing surface distributed over the midfoot region and the heel region, each of the downwardly-extending protrusions having a convex outer surface. A height of the midsole is greatest at the midfoot region. The sole structure may also include an outsole covering at least a portion of the ground-facing surface of the midsole, and a height of the sole structure may be greatest at the midfoot region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Fidencio Campos, II, Karen S. Dimoff, Derek A. Fitchett, Emily Harrington, Joseph L. Helseth, Oliver McLachlan, Colin Runkle
  • Publication number: 20200375316
    Abstract: A knitted component may form at least a portion of an upper for the article of footwear. The knitted component may include at least one tubular structure that has a first knit layer and a second knit layer, the first knit layer and the second knit layer being separable such that a channel is located between the first knit layer and the second knit layer. A cable may be located at least partially within the channel of the at least one tubular structure, where the cable extends continuously from a biteline of the article of footwear on a lateral side of the upper, through a throat area of the upper, and to the biteline on a medial side of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart W. Dealey, Derek A. Fitchett, James Morales
  • Publication number: 20190313738
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a knit element with a first surface and an opposite second surface. An inlaid yarn may extend through the knit element and between the first surface and the second surface. A secured area where the first surface and the second surfaces are secured together may be included, where the inlaid yarn is secured by loops forming the first surface and the second surface. A cushioning area may be included, where the cushioning area has a tubular construction such that the first surface and the second surface are separable, forming a cavity therebetween, and where the inlaid yarn extends through the cavity formed between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: October 17, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Enkhbat Dorjgurkhem, Derek A. Fitchett, Kristen E. Orme, Colin M. Runkle, Gagandeep Singh, Dolores S. Thompson, Erin E. Toraya
  • Patent number: 9409064
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball body having a first set of construction specifications and a first dimple pattern formed on an outer surface of the golf ball body; and (b) a coating applied to the outer surface of the golf ball body to thereby produce a coated golf ball body having an exterior surface. At least one of the outer surface of the golf ball body and the coating includes a plurality of surface roughening particles to provide increased micro surface roughness as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications and the same dimple pattern but without the micro surface roughening particles. The micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9381404
    Abstract: A golf ball is provided including a core, a cover encasing the core and a coating that comprises a resin applied to the outer surface of the cover. Particles comprising a high density material are included in the coating such that the coating has a density at least twice that of the core's density or contributes at least 0.60% of the golf ball's total moment of inertia, and the coating has a micro surface roughness at least 1.75 times larger than the roughness of a comparative ball. A method of making a golf ball is also provided, including providing a spherical core, encasing the core with a cover, applying a resin to the outer surface of the cover, and adding a plurality of particles comprising a high density material to form a coating material that has a second density at least two times the first density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9259623
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Nike International, Ltd.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9199133
    Abstract: Golf balls having an exterior surface with a predetermined area which is smaller than the entire surface area of the exterior surface and includes enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughness affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9186557
    Abstract: A golf ball kit having an abrasive material adapted for imparting enhanced micro surface roughness to an exterior surface of a golf ball. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness. The kit includes an instruction device having a plurality of correlations between at least one performance parameter and micro surface roughness for at least a first golf ball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9186558
    Abstract: Golf balls having an exterior surface with a predetermined area which is smaller than the entire surface area of the exterior surface, includes enhanced micro surface roughness, and is in the form of an asymmetrical pattern on the exterior surface of the golf ball. The enhanced micro surface roughness affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9119990
    Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball including a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) cover and a polyurethane coating layer. The cover crosslinks with the coating layer in order to achieve improved durability, specifically improved scuff resistance. The chemical composition of the thermoplastic polyurethane material making up the cover and the chemical composition of the polyurethane coating layer may be chosen so as to be complimentary thereby promoting crosslinking between them. Methods of manufacturing these golf balls are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Bradley C. Tutmark
  • Patent number: 9108085
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9033826
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Nicholas Yontz, Johannes Anderl
  • Patent number: 9033825
    Abstract: Golf balls include: (a) a golf ball having a first set of construction specifications; (b) a coating of the golf ball having an exterior surface and (c) the exterior surface having an enhanced micro surface roughness. The enhanced micro surface roughening affects the aerodynamic properties of the ball as compared to golf balls having the same set of construction specifications but without enhanced micro surface roughness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Johannes Anderl, Nicholas Yontz, Derek A. Fitchett
  • Patent number: 8986137
    Abstract: A ball includes a core, a cover, and cracking element or cracking layer. The cracking layer may be deformed or actuated to create discontinuities in the cover. The creation of discontinuities allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The cracking layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Arthur P. Molinari
  • Patent number: 8905860
    Abstract: A ball includes a core, a cover, and an intermediate layer between the core and the cover. The intermediate layer may be deformed or actuated to create discontinuities in the cover. The creation of discontinuities allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The intermediate layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek A. Fitchett, Arthur P. Molinari, Jung Gyu Moon
  • Patent number: 8905861
    Abstract: A ball includes a core, a cover, and a separator or separating layer. The separating layer may be deformed or actuated to separate at least a portion of the cover from the core. This removal allows for easier recycling of the ball parts. The separating layer may include one of a bladder or a hydrophilic material that expand upon the introduction of a fluid, a shape memory polymer that deforms upon application of a stimulus, or two materials that react chemically to form a gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Derek A. Fitchett