Patents by Inventor Dervin A. James
Dervin A. James 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: 12096824Abstract: An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 10, 2023Date of Patent: September 24, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Patent number: 12042008Abstract: A bladder includes a first polymeric film, a second polymeric film attached to the first polymeric film to form a chamber, and one or more grooves formed in an exterior surface of the chamber. In one configuration, the grooves are formed in the exterior surface of the chamber by subjecting the chamber to a laser-etching process.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2021Date of Patent: July 23, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Charles R. Edwards, Jeremy Gantz, Dervin A. James, Honam Ko, Adam Kohn, Harry Lam Pham, Eric S. Schindler, Yuanmin Wang
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Publication number: 20240206591Abstract: A cushioning component for a wearable article comprises a bladder including a first barrier sheet and a second barrier sheet that define an interior cavity between opposing inner surfaces of the first barrier sheet and the second barrier sheet and are sealed to one another along a peripheral bond to enclose the interior cavity and retain a gas in the interior cavity. A core includes at least one polymeric sheet disposed in the interior cavity entirely inward of the peripheral bond and traversing the interior cavity between and directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the first and second barrier sheets at a plurality of bonds to tether the first barrier sheet to the second barrier sheet. The at least one polymeric sheet does not create any sealed chambers within the bladder that are not in fluid communication with the interior cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2023Publication date: June 27, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Scott C. Holt, Dervin A. James
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Publication number: 20240197034Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear, the sole structure defining a footbed and a ground-engaging surface and including a chassis extending from an anterior end of the sole structure to a posterior end of the sole structure, and a bladder supported within the chassis and extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end exposed at the posterior end of the sole structure, the bladder including a first curved portion in the forefoot region and a substantially flat portion at the posterior end of the sole structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 18, 2023Publication date: June 20, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Devin Bailly, Paul Begyn, Clayton Chambers, Guercy Eugene, Dervin A. James, Jason R. Meeker, Benjamin J. Monfils
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Patent number: 11980253Abstract: Articles of footwear having an upper and a sole structure and methods of making the articles. The upper includes an adjustment system having a base element, a fluid-filled chamber, an adjusting element, an anchoring element, and a tensile strand. The adjusting element is positioned outward from the fluid-filled chamber. The anchoring element is secured to the base element and is spaced from the adjusting element. The tensile strand extends between the adjusting element and the anchoring element. The adjusting element is operable to change a tension placed upon the tensile strand.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2022Date of Patent: May 14, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Lee D. Peyton, Dervin A. James, Zachary M. Elder
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Patent number: 11903443Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a midsole with a bladder system having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The bladder system defines a first sealed chamber retaining fluid as a first cushioning layer, the first sealed chamber extending over the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region. The bladder system further defines multiple discreet sealed chambers retaining fluid in isolation from one another, each of the multiple discreet chambers disposed at one side of the first sealed chamber, and fluidly isolated from the first sealed chamber.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2021Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Lee D. Peyton
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Publication number: 20230413940Abstract: Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear components including the bladders, articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. Such bladder systems may include two thermoplastic elastomer sheets joined together at an outer perimeter bond. The outer perimeter bond may be shaped such that the interior chamber of the bladder forms: (i) a foot support chamber portion for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot and (ii) one or more side chamber portions forming at least part of one or more securing straps and/or at least part of one or more footwear upper components. The one or more side chamber portions extend outward from the foot support chamber portion and are in fluid communication with the foot support chamber portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick R. Case, Yoon Jeong Choi, Dervin A. James
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Publication number: 20230413949Abstract: Bladders for footwear uppers, footwear components and articles of footwear including the bladders, and/or methods of making and using such bladders are described. The bladders may include first and second thermoplastic elastomer sheets joined together by an outer perimeter bond. An interior chamber is defined between the thermoplastic elastomer sheets and inside the outer perimeter bond. The outer perimeter bond may be shaped such that the interior chamber forms: (i) a foot support chamber portion for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot, and at least one of items (ii) and (iii) below, in which: item (ii) comprises a first side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first securing strap or a first footwear upper component), and item (iii) comprises a second side chamber portion (e.g., forming at least part of a first strap-engaging member or a second footwear upper component).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2023Publication date: December 28, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick R. Case, Yoon Jeong Choi, Dervin A. James
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Publication number: 20230180890Abstract: A bladder for a wearable article, the bladder comprising a first barrier sheet including a first surface and a second surface disposed on an opposite side from the first surface, a second barrier sheet including a third surface and a fourth surface disposed on an opposite side from the third surface and attached to the second surface of the first barrier sheet to define a chamber, and a bead layer disposed on at least one of the second surface or the fourth surface within the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dervin A. James, Ryan R. Larson, Todd A. Waatti
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Publication number: 20230157417Abstract: An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2023Publication date: May 25, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Patent number: 11633017Abstract: An article of footwear includes a fitting system with an upper member that is supported by the upper and a strand guide that is supported by the sole structure. The strand guide is flexible and flexes in concert with the sole structure. The strand guide has a guide surface. The fitting system further includes a tensioning system with a flexible strand that is configured to bias the upper member toward the strand guide. The flexible strand has a first section coupled to the upper member and a second section extending through the sole structure. The second section abuts the guide surface. The second section is configured to slide across the guide surface as a result of flexure of the strand guide. The first section and the upper member are configured to move relative to the sole structure as a result of sliding of the second section across the guide surface.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2020Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Elizabeth A. Kilgore
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Patent number: 11633012Abstract: A sole assembly for an article of footwear includes a midsole that is formed from at least a bladder and foam midsole component. The midsole has a ground facing surface and a sidewall, and the bladder meets the foam midsole at a component boundary on the sidewall. An etching extends into both the foam midsole and the bladder. The etched channel has a depth into the sidewall of between about 2 ?m and about 1000 ?m and continuously extends across the component boundary.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2021Date of Patent: April 25, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dervin A. James, Eric S. Schindler
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Publication number: 20230116987Abstract: A method including inserting into a mold a first tool having a first surface. The method further includes printing a second tool from a polymer material and inserting the second tool into the first tool. The second tool having a smaller wall thickness than the first tool and including a second surface opposing and in contact with the first surface of the first tool and a third surface formed on an opposite side of the second tool than the second surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2022Publication date: April 20, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: John Cross, Dervin A. James, Ryan R. Larson, Kevin C. Sze, Adam Thuss
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Patent number: 11607008Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a first plate and a second plate both extending longitudinally in a flexion region of the sole structure. The second plate is disposed above the first plate in the flexion region. The second plate has a fixed portion fixed to the first plate, and has a free portion. A coupler is operatively connected to one of the first plate and the free portion of the second plate. The coupler is selectably movable transversely relative to the first plate and the second plate between a first position and a second position. The coupler is spaced apart from the other one of the first plate and the free portion of the second plate in the first position, and operatively engages the other one of the first plate and the free portion of the second plate in the second position.Type: GrantFiled: October 6, 2020Date of Patent: March 21, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dervin A. James, Austin Orand
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Patent number: 11547178Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article comprises etching an etched feature on a surface of a first polymeric sheet, and forming a fluid-filled bladder element from the first polymeric sheet, with the fluid-filled bladder element having a sealable internal cavity that retains fluid. The method includes assembling the bladder element in the article so that a first portion of the bladder element having the etched feature is exposed to view, and a second portion of the bladder element is blocked from view by the article. An article includes the bladder element with the etched feature.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2019Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Taryn Hensley, Dervin A. James
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Patent number: 11540594Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bladder system with a first bladder enclosing a first sealed chamber retaining fluid, and a second bladder overlying and bonded to the first bladder and enclosing a second sealed chamber isolated from the first sealed chamber and retaining fluid. The first bladder establishes a ground-facing surface and the second bladder establishes a foot-facing surface of the bladder system. The first bladder includes first domed pods extending at the ground-facing surface and at an upper surface of the first bladder, the first sealed chamber filling the first domed pods. The second bladder includes second domed pods and annular ring pods, the second domed pods and the annular ring pods extending at the lower surface of the second bladder and at the foot-facing surface, the second sealed chamber filling the second domed pods and the annular ring pods.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Case, Zachary M. Elder, Dervin A. James, Lee D. Peyton
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Patent number: 11490686Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article includes forming a fluid-filled bladder element from polymeric material. The method further includes securing an overlay to the polymeric material. At least one portion of the overlay is substantially transparent, and an image on one of the fluid-filled bladder element and the overlay is aligned with and exposed to view through the at least one portion of the overlay that is substantially transparent. The fluid-filled bladder element is assembled in the article so that a first portion of the fluid-filled bladder element and the image are exposed to view, and a second portion of the fluid-filled bladder element is blocked from view by the article. An article includes the fluid-filled bladder element with the image, and with the overlay secured to the fluid-filled bladder element.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Taryn Hensley, Dervin A. James
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Publication number: 20220322791Abstract: Articles of footwear having an upper and a sole structure are described, as well as methods of making the articles. The upper includes an adjustment system having a base element, a fluid-filled chamber, an adjusting element, an anchoring element, and a tensile strand. The adjusting element is positioned outward from the fluid-filled chamber. The anchoring element is secured to the base element and is spaced from the adjusting element. The tensile strand extends between the adjusting element and the anchoring element. The adjusting element is operable to change a tension placed upon the tensile strand.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2022Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Lee D. Peyton, Dervin A. James, Zachary M. Elder
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Patent number: 11440237Abstract: A method for forming a bladder comprises providing a mold including a chamber wall having a first height and a cavity wall having a second height. The cavity wall is surrounded by the chamber wall and defines a plurality of cavities. A first sheet, a second sheet, and a gasket are provided to the mold, whereby the gasket is disposed adjacent to at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet. The mold is moved such that a peripheral portion of the at least one of the first sheet and the second sheet and the gasket are compressed by the chamber wall. A first pressure is provided between the first sheet and the second sheet through the gasket to form a plurality of chambers, and the mold is moved to a second position to seal the first pressure between the first sheet and the second sheet.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Wesley K. Chan, Scott C. Holt, Dervin A. James
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Patent number: 11399597Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The upper includes an adjustment system having a base element, a fluid-filled chamber, an adjusting element, an anchoring element, and a tensile strand. The adjusting element is positioned outward from the fluid-filled chamber. The anchoring element is secured to the base element and is spaced from the adjusting element. The tensile strand extends between the adjusting element and the anchoring element. The adjusting element is operable to change a tension placed upon the tensile strand.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2019Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Lee D. Peyton, Dervin A. James, Zachary M. Elder