Patents by Inventor Edward N. Thomas
Edward N. Thomas 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: 9743705Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with flat-knit edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2014Date of Patent: August 29, 2017Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Edward N. Thomas, Bhupesh Dua
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Patent number: 9730484Abstract: Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2013Date of Patent: August 15, 2017Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
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Publication number: 20170071280Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with flat-knit edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2016Publication date: March 16, 2017Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
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Patent number: 8959800Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper with a knitted element formed through a flat knitting process. In one configuration, the knitted element has an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer. The first layer is formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer is joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer. In another configuration, a knitted element for footwear includes a foot-receiving portion and one or more straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion. The foot-receiving portion defines a void for receiving the foot, and the strap(s) extend outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2014Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
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Publication number: 20150013080Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear is disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with flat-knit edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 1, 2014Publication date: January 15, 2015Inventors: Edward N. Thomas, Bhupesh Dua
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Publication number: 20140310987Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper with a knitted element formed through a flat knitting process. In one configuration, the knitted element has an area with a first layer and a second layer at least partially coextensive with the first layer. The first layer is formed of unitary construction with the second layer, and the second layer is joined to the first layer at opposite sides of the second layer. In another configuration, a knitted element for footwear includes a foot-receiving portion and one or more straps formed of unitary construction with the foot-receiving portion. The foot-receiving portion defines a void for receiving the foot, and the strap(s) extend outward from sides of the foot-receiving portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2014Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
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Publication number: 20140150294Abstract: An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Edward N. Thomas, Bhupesh Dua
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Publication number: 20140150295Abstract: Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2013Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
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Patent number: 7870682Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2007Date of Patent: January 18, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: James C. Meschter, Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
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Publication number: 20090140470Abstract: A method of forming a portion of an article of footwear includes the steps of providing a last having an exterior surface, extruding a plurality of polymeric fibers, projecting a stream of the extruded polymeric fibers onto the last to form a mat having the shape of the exterior of the last, and subjecting the mat to heat and pressure in a mold.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2009Publication date: June 4, 2009Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward N. Thomas
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Patent number: 7070845Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid-filled bladder and a method for making for making a fluid-filled bladder that include a core having at least one fusing filament. A portion of the fusing filament is positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the core such that it engages and fuses to barrier layers of the bladder, thereby securing the core to the barrier layers without the need for an additional fusing agent therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2003Date of Patent: July 4, 2006Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Edward N. Thomas, David Goodwin
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Patent number: D396341Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Sergio G. Lozano, Craig E. Santos, Edward N. Thomas
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Patent number: D396342Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Foxen, Craig E. Santos, Edward N. Thomas
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Patent number: D396343Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1998Date of Patent: July 28, 1998Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Thomas Foxen, Craig E. Santos, Edward N. Thomas
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Patent number: D397238Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 1998Date of Patent: August 25, 1998Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Sergio G. Lozano, Craig E. Santos, Edward N. Thomas