Patents by Inventor Feng-Ming Ou
Feng-Ming Ou 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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Publication number: 20220152842Abstract: An item with fibers may be picked up and placed using a tool head with hooks that engage the fibers. The tool head may comprise at least one hook portion and at least one contact surface adjacent to the hook portion. The hooks that engage the fibers may extend from the hook portion. The tool head may be actuatable between at least a first configuration that permits the hooks to engage the fibers and a second configuration that does not permit the hooks to engage the fibers. An item may be picked up at a starting location with a tool head in the first configuration and placed at a placement location by moving the tool head and then actuating the tool head to the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: May 19, 2022Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing, Chia-Chi Yang
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Patent number: 11267135Abstract: An item with fibers may be picked up and placed using a tool head with hooks that engage the fibers. The tool head may comprise at least one hook portion and at least one contact surface adjacent to the hook portion. The hooks that engage the fibers may extend from the hook portion. The tool head may be actuatable between at least a first configuration that permits the hooks to engage the fibers and a second configuration that does not permit the hooks to engage the fibers. An item may be picked up at a starting location with a tool head in the first configuration and placed at a placement location by moving the tool head and then actuating the tool head to the second configuration.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2020Date of Patent: March 8, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing, Chia-Chi Yang
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Publication number: 20210031381Abstract: An item with fibers may be picked up and placed using a tool head with hooks that engage the fibers. The tool head may comprise at least one hook portion and at least one contact surface adjacent to the hook portion. The hooks that engage the fibers may extend from the hook portion. The tool head may be actuatable between at least a first configuration that permits the hooks to engage the fibers and a second configuration that does not permit the hooks to engage the fibers. An item may be picked up at a starting location with a tool head in the first configuration and placed at a placement location by moving the tool head and then actuating the tool head to the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing, Chia-Chi Yang
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Patent number: 10850403Abstract: An item with fibers may be picked up and placed using a tool head with hooks that engage the fibers. The tool head may comprise at least one hook portion and at least one contact surface adjacent to the hook portion. The hooks that engage the fibers may extend from the hook portion. The tool head may be actuatable between at least a first configuration that permits the hooks to engage the fibers and a second configuration that does not permit the hooks to engage the fibers. An item may be picked up at a starting location with a tool head in the first configuration and placed at a placement location by moving the tool head and then actuating the tool head to the second configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2019Date of Patent: December 1, 2020Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing, Chia-Chi Yang
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Publication number: 20190358828Abstract: An item with fibers may be picked up and placed using a tool head with hooks that engage the fibers. The tool head may comprise at least one hook portion and at least one contact surface adjacent to the hook portion. The hooks that engage the fibers may extend from the hook portion. The tool head may be actuatable between at least a first configuration that permits the hooks to engage the fibers and a second configuration that does not permit the hooks to engage the fibers. An item may be picked up at a starting location with a tool head in the first configuration and placed at a placement location by moving the tool head and then actuating the tool head to the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2019Publication date: November 28, 2019Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing, Chia-Chi Yang
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Patent number: 10399235Abstract: An item with fibers may be picked up and placed using a tool head with hooks that engage the fibers. The tool head may comprise at least one hook portion and at least one contact surface adjacent to the hook portion. The hooks that engage the fibers may extend from the hook portion. The tool head may be actuatable between at least a first configuration that permits the hooks to engage the fibers and a second configuration that does not permit the hooks to engage the fibers. An item may be picked up at a starting location with a tool head in the first configuration and placed at a placement location by moving the tool head and then actuating the tool head to the second configuration.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2016Date of Patent: September 3, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing, Chia-Chi Yang
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Patent number: 10376019Abstract: Automated painting of a shoe sole portion of a shoe is enhanced by use of a jig. The shoe sole portion may be secured between top and bottom plates of the jig such that a side surface of the shoe sole portion is left exposed. Additionally, the jig is adapted to create configurable masking lines along the side surface of the shoe sole portion using multi-layer deforming layers.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2014Date of Patent: August 13, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Feng-Ming Ou, Hao-Zhen Chen, Chih-Chung Wu
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Patent number: 10322532Abstract: Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2018Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, I-Huang Liu, Feng-Ming Ou
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Patent number: 10052800Abstract: Cast polyurethane parts for shoes or other items may be formed in an automated fashion. A dispensing mechanism may dispense a predetermined amount of a liquid phase polyurethane mixture onto a flat surface face of a mold. A dispersal mechanism may distribute the liquid phase polyurethane mixture over the flat surface face of the mold to fill at least one cavity in the form. A vacuum may be applied to remove air bubbles from the liquid phase polyurethane mixture. Excess liquid phase polyurethane mixture may be removed from the flat surface face of the mold using a flexible blade that contacts and moves across the flat surface face. One or more conveyance mechanism may transport molds through the desired stages of a system and/or method in accordance with the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2016Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Mike F. Quigley, Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing
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Publication number: 20180169913Abstract: Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2018Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, I-Huang Liu, Feng-Ming Ou
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Patent number: 9931769Abstract: Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2017Date of Patent: April 3, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, I-Huang Liu, Feng-Ming Ou
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Publication number: 20170297236Abstract: Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2017Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, I-Huang Liu, Feng-Ming Ou
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Patent number: 9724851Abstract: Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2017Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, I-Huang Liu, Feng-Ming Ou
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Patent number: 9675140Abstract: An automated system for painting a shoe sole portion of a shoe is provided. The automated painting system is adapted to use a variety of stations and components to automatically paint a side surface of the shoe sole portion while it is secured in a jig, transition the jig to an open position, and remove the painted shoe sole portion from the jig.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2016Date of Patent: June 13, 2017Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Feng-Ming Ou, Hao-Zhen Chen, Chih-Chung Wu
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Publication number: 20170113379Abstract: Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 4, 2017Publication date: April 27, 2017Inventors: Dragan Jurkovic, Patrick Conall Regan, I-Huang Liu, Feng-Ming Ou
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Publication number: 20170050324Abstract: An item with fibers may be picked up and placed using a tool head with hooks that engage the fibers. The tool head may comprise at least one hook portion and at least one contact surface adjacent to the hook portion. The hooks that engage the fibers may extend from the hook portion. The tool head may be actuatable between at least a first configuration that permits the hooks to engage the fibers and a second configuration that does not permit the hooks to engage the fibers. An item may be picked up at a starting location with a tool head in the first configuration and placed at a placement location by moving the tool head and then actuating the tool head to the second configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2016Publication date: February 23, 2017Inventors: Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-Hsi Hsing, Chia-Chi Yang
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Patent number: 9566724Abstract: Molded rubber objects may be molded and de-molded by defining both a desired final form for the molded rubber object and a tab extending from the final form of the molded rubber object using a cavity in a mold. Rubber pellets may be dispensed in predetermined amounts at desired location(s) within the cavity to provide the rubber needed to form the molded rubber object. Heat and pressure may be applied to the mold to cause the rubber pellets to fill the cavity defining both the desired final form of the molded rubber object and the tab. After the heat and pressure has been applied, a gripping device may grasp the tab and move the tab in a direction and with sufficient force to peel the rubber object from the mold cavity. If desired, the tab may be removed from the molded rubber object.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Dragan Jurkovic, Feng-Ming Ou, I-Huang Liu
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Publication number: 20160279837Abstract: Cast polyurethane parts for shoes or other items may be formed in an automated fashion. A dispensing mechanism may dispense a predetermined amount of a liquid phase polyurethane mixture onto a flat surface face of a mold. A dispersal mechanism may distribute the liquid phase polyurethane mixture over the flat surface face of the mold to fill at least one cavity in the form. A vacuum may be applied to remove air bubbles from the liquid phase polyurethane mixture. Excess liquid phase polyurethane mixture may be removed from the flat surface face of the mold using a flexible blade that contacts and moves across the flat surface face. One or more conveyance mechanism may transport molds through the desired stages of a system and/or method in accordance with the present invention.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2016Publication date: September 29, 2016Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Mike F. Quigley, Feng-Ming Ou, YU-His Hsing
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Patent number: 9370880Abstract: Cast polyurethane parts for shoes or other items may be formed in an automated fashion. A dispensing mechanism may dispense a predetermined amount of a liquid phase polyurethane mixture onto a flat surface face of a mold. A dispersal mechanism may distribute the liquid phase polyurethane mixture over the flat surface face of the mold to fill at least one cavity in the form. A vacuum may be applied to remove air bubbles from the liquid phase polyurethane mixture. Excess liquid phase polyurethane mixture may be removed from the flat surface face of the mold using a flexible blade that contacts and moves across the flat surface face. One or more conveyance mechanism may transport molds through the desired stages of a system and/or method in accordance with the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 21, 2016Assignee: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Patrick Conall Regan, Mike F. Quigley, Feng-Ming Ou, Yu-His Hsing
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Publication number: 20160150856Abstract: An automated system for painting a shoe sole portion of a shoe is provided. The automated painting system is adapted to use a variety of stations and components to automatically paint a side surface of the shoe sole portion while it is secured in a jig, transition the jig to an open position, and remove the painted shoe sole portion from the jig.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2016Publication date: June 2, 2016Inventors: PATRICK CONALL REGAN, FENG-MING OU, HAO-ZHEN CHEN, CHIH-CHUNG WU