Patents by Inventor Eric S. Schindler

Eric S. Schindler 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).

  • Patent number: 7707743
    Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper and including a support assembly having an upper member and a lower member spaced from the upper member. A first layer is positioned beneath and in contact with the upper member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of first wave crests and first wave troughs. A second layer is positioned above the lower member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of second wave crests and second wave troughs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Fred G. Fagergren
  • Patent number: 7591919
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
  • Patent number: 7588654
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
  • Publication number: 20090151196
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have a sole structure with a chamber, a plate, and an outsole. The chamber encloses a fluid and has an upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The plate is positioned adjacent to the upper surface and has a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. The outsole may be positioned adjacent to the lower surface and may have a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. In some manufacturing processes for the sole structure, the plate and outsole may be located within a mold, and the chamber may then be shaped by surfaces of the plate, outsole, and mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Daniel W. Peter
  • Publication number: 20090151093
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have a sole structure with a chamber, a plate, and an outsole. The chamber encloses a fluid and has an upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The plate is positioned adjacent to the upper surface and has a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. The outsole may be positioned adjacent to the lower surface and may have a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. In some manufacturing processes for the sole structure, the plate and outsole may be located within a mold, and the chamber may then be shaped by surfaces of the plate, outsole, and mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: ERIC S. SCHINDLER, STUART C. FORSTROM, DANIEL W. PETER
  • Publication number: 20090045547
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
  • Publication number: 20090045546
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Publication date: February 19, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
  • Publication number: 20090013558
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure has a plurality of support elements, and each of the support elements include a shell and a core. The shell defines an interior void and is formed from a polymer material that extends around substantially all of the void. The core has a shape of the void and is located within the void, with at least a portion of the core being a polymer foam material. The polymer foam material of at least two of the support elements may have different densities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaas Pieter Hazenberg, Eric S. Schindler
  • Publication number: 20080184595
    Abstract: An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper. The sole structure includes a first chamber and a second chamber that each enclose a fluid. The first chamber and the second chamber both define a plurality of projections and depressions. At least a portion of the projections of the first chamber are located within the depressions of the second chamber, and at least a portion of the projections of the second chamber are located within the depressions of the first chamber. In some configurations, each of the first chamber and the second chamber may form portions of upper and lower surfaces of a pneumatic component. In addition, colors of the first chamber and the second chamber may be selected such that the colors combine at an interface of the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, John F. Swigart
  • Publication number: 20070266593
    Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper and including a support assembly having an upper member and a lower member spaced from the upper member. A first layer is positioned beneath and in contact with the upper member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of first wave crests and first wave troughs. A second layer is positioned above the lower member and has a wave shaped profile with a plurality of second wave crests and second wave troughs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: November 22, 2007
    Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Fred G. Fagergren
  • Patent number: 7000335
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear and a method for manufacturing the chamber are disclosed. The chamber may be incorporated into a sole structure of the footwear and includes a central area and a plurality of lobes extending outward from the central area. The lobes are in fluid communication with the central area and are formed from a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall. The sidewall joins with the first surface with the second surface to seal the fluid within the chamber, but no internal connections are generally utilized to join interior portions of the first surface with interior portions of the second surface. The fluid within the chamber may be air at a pressure that is approximately equal to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Swigart, Eric S. Schindler
  • Patent number: 6931764
    Abstract: A cushioning component for an article of footwear is disclosed that includes a fluid-filled chamber and a covering element extending over a portion of the chamber. The chamber is devoid of internal connections, and the fluid within the chamber may be at a pressure that is substantially equal to an ambient pressure. The chamber defines a plurality of lobes, and the cushioning element includes a plurality of inserts that extend between the lobes. The inserts are elongate structures that decrease the compressibility of peripheral portions of the cushioning component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Swigart, Eric S. Schindler