Patents by Inventor Jason R. Meeker
Jason R. Meeker 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: 20250185755Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear defines a footbed and includes a bladder extending from a first end in a forefoot region of the sole structure to a second end in a heel region of the sole structure and a chassis including a lower chassis having a first outsole segment attached to the bladder in the forefoot region and a lower cushioning element attached to the bladder in the heel region.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2024Publication date: June 12, 2025Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Devin Bailly, Paul Begyn, Clayton Chambers, Guercy Eugene, Dervin A. James, Jason R. Meeker, Benjamin J. Monfils, Kevin C. Sze
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Patent number: 12262784Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. The tensile component is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The groove serves as a guide path for an operator or for a machine to follow when stitching or otherwise securing the strobel to the upper. A method of manufacturing footwear is included.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2023Date of Patent: April 1, 2025Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker, Eric A Schmalzer, Jeffrey S. To, Geoffrey A Weston
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Publication number: 20250049175Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear defines a footbed and includes a chassis having a lower cushioning element including an upper side and a bottom side disposed on an opposite side from the upper side, the lower cushioning element including one or more apertures extending from the upper side to the bottom side. A bladder is disposed adjacent to the upper side of the lower cushioning element and an outsole is disposed adjacent to the bottom side of the lower cushioning element and includes one or more protrusions each extending through a respective one of the one or more apertures and engaging the bladder.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2024Publication date: February 13, 2025Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Devin Bailly, Paul Begyn, Clayton Chambers, Guercy Eugene, Dervin A. James, Jason R. Meeker, Benjamin J. Monfils, Kevin C. Sze
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Patent number: 12201184Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The strobel also includes a lasting component configured to extend along the peripheral flange around the at least a portion of the perimeter of the interior cavity. The lasting component is secured to the peripheral flange. A method of manufacturing footwear that includes the strobel is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2023Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker, Eric A. Schmalzer, Jeffrey S. To, Geoffrey A. Weston
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Patent number: 12201183Abstract: A cushioning article comprises a first and a second polymeric sheet bonded to one another and enclosing an interior cavity. The polymeric sheets retain a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component disposed in the interior cavity includes a first tensile layer, a second tensile layer, and a plurality of tethers spanning the interior cavity and connecting the first tensile layer to the second tensile layer. An inwardly-protruding bond joins the first polymeric sheet to the first tensile layer, protrudes inward from the first polymeric sheet toward the second polymeric sheet, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers. The first polymeric sheet is displaced from the first tensile layer adjacent to the inwardly-protruding bond by the gas. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2023Date of Patent: January 21, 2025Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Page J. Bailey, Jeremy L. Connell, Jason R. Meeker
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Publication number: 20240415229Abstract: A bladder including a first barrier element having a first surface formed on a first side of the first barrier element and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first barrier element than the first surface, a second barrier element having a third surface formed on a first side of the second barrier element and a fourth surface formed on an opposite side of the second barrier element than the third surface, and a peripheral seam joining the first barrier element and the second barrier element to define an interior void between the first surface and the third surface, the peripheral seam including a first segment extending along the bladder proximate to the second surface, a second segment extending along the bladder proximate to the fourth surface, and a third segment extending between and connecting the first segment and the second segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 14, 2024Publication date: December 19, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy L. Connell, Craig Fredrick, Jason R. Meeker, Chris Wilburn
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Publication number: 20240365926Abstract: A cushioning article includes a bladder enclosing an interior cavity and retaining a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and includes tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers. The tensile layers are connected to an inner surface of the bladder such that the tethers span across the interior cavity. The bladder has an inwardly-protruding bond that joins an inner surface of the bladder to the tensile component, protrudes inward into the interior cavity, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers such that the bladder is narrowed at the inwardly protruding bond and the gas in the interior cavity fluidly communicates across the inwardly-protruding bond. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2024Publication date: November 7, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Page J. Bailey, Jeremy L. Connell, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker
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Patent number: 12070099Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel, a footwear upper, and a sole plate. The strobel includes a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around a perimeter of the interior cavity from a medial side to a lateral side of the polymeric bladder at a front of the polymeric bladder. The footwear upper is secured to the peripheral flange. The sole plate has a heel portion, a midfoot portion, and a forefoot portion, and a rear extent of the strobel is secured to the sole plate or to the footwear upper forward of a rear extent of the sole plate. A method of manufacturing the article of footwear includes securing the peripheral flange to the upper.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2022Date of Patent: August 27, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Ryan P. Callahan, Jeremy L Connell, Carrie L. Davis, Windra Fahmi, Gjermund Haugbro, Fiona L. Lesecq, Jason R. Meeker, Benjamin Stewart, Dylan S. Van Atta, Darlan Zacharia
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Patent number: 12064007Abstract: A cushioning article includes a bladder enclosing an interior cavity and retaining a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and includes tensile layers and a plurality of tethers connecting the tensile layers. The tensile layers are connected to an inner surface of the bladder such that the tethers span across the interior cavity. The bladder has an inwardly-protruding bond that joins an inner surface of the bladder to the tensile component, protrudes inward into the interior cavity, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers such that the bladder is narrowed at the inwardly protruding bond and the gas in the interior cavity fluidly communicates across the inwardly-protruding bond. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2023Date of Patent: August 20, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Page J. Bailey, Jeremy L. Connell, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker
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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: 11992086Abstract: A strobel for an article of footwear includes a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A first bond secures opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder to one another and extends transversely inward from a medial side of the peripheral flange only partway transversely across the interior cavity. A second bond is rearward of the first bond. The second bond extends transversely inward from a lateral side of the peripheral flange only partway transversely across the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. An outer edge of the tensile component extends transversely inward at and borders a perimeter of the first bond and a perimeter of the second bond.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2022Date of Patent: May 28, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Ryan P. Callahan, Jeremy L. Connell, Carrie L. Davis, Windra Fahmi, Gjermund Haugbro, Fiona L. Lesecq, Jason R. Meeker, Benjamin Stewart, Dylan S. Van Atta, Darlan Zacharia
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Publication number: 20240122298Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. The tensile component is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The groove serves as a guide path for an operator or for a machine to follow when stitching or otherwise securing the strobel to the upper. A method of manufacturing footwear is included.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2023Publication date: April 18, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker, Eric A. Schmalzer, Jeffrey S. To, Geoffrey A. Weston
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Publication number: 20240108102Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The strobel also includes a lasting component configured to extend along the peripheral flange around the at least a portion of the perimeter of the interior cavity. The lasting component is secured to the peripheral flange. A method of manufacturing footwear that includes the strobel is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker, Eric A. Schmalzer, Jeffrey S. To, Geoffrey A. Weston
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Publication number: 20240081477Abstract: A cushioning article comprises a first and a second polymeric sheet bonded to one another and enclosing an interior cavity. The polymeric sheets retain a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component disposed in the interior cavity includes a first tensile layer, a second tensile layer, and a plurality of tethers spanning the interior cavity and connecting the first tensile layer to the second tensile layer. An inwardly-protruding bond joins the first polymeric sheet to the first tensile layer, protrudes inward from the first polymeric sheet toward the second polymeric sheet, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers. The first polymeric sheet is displaced from the first tensile layer adjacent to the inwardly-protruding bond by the gas. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2023Publication date: March 14, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Page J. Bailey, Jeremy L. Connell, Jason R. Meeker
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Publication number: 20240074533Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole structure that includes a foam midsole layer. A first forefoot cushioning component is secured to the foot-facing surface of the foam midsole layer in the forefoot region, a second forefoot cushioning component overlies the first forefoot cushioning component, and a strobel extends at least in the forefoot region and the midfoot region and over the second forefoot cushioning component. One or more of the forefoot cushioning component, the second forefoot cushioning component, and the strobel may include a bladder and a tensile component. The bladder encloses and retains a gas in an interior cavity. The tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2023Publication date: March 7, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy L. Connell, Jason R. Meeker, Jason G. Petrie, Jacob Raymond Van Daam
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Publication number: 20240032650Abstract: An article of footwear has a sole structure that includes a foam midsole layer. A forefoot cushioning component is secured to the foot-facing surface of the foam midsole layer in the forefoot region, and a heel cushioning component is secured to the foam midsole layer at one of the foot-facing surface or the ground-facing surface in the heel region. Each of the forefoot cushioning component and the heel cushioning component includes a bladder and a tensile component. The bladder encloses and retains a gas in an interior cavity. The tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. The bladder of the forefoot cushioning component has at least one inwardly-protruding bond that joins the inner surface of the bladder to the tensile component, protrudes inward into the interior cavity, and partially traverses a plurality of tethers of the tensile component.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy L. Connell, Jason R. Meeker, Jason G. Petrie, Jacob Raymond Van Daam
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Patent number: 11877622Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity and is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The strobel also includes a lasting component configured to extend along the peripheral flange around the at least a portion of the perimeter of the interior cavity. The lasting component is secured to the peripheral flange. A method of manufacturing footwear that includes the strobel is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker, Eric A. Schmalzer, Jeffrey S. To, Geoffrey A. Weston
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Patent number: 11877621Abstract: An article of footwear includes a strobel that has a polymeric bladder defining an interior cavity and configured to retain a fluid in the interior cavity. The polymeric bladder has a peripheral flange extending around at least a portion of a perimeter of the interior cavity. A tensile component is disposed in the interior cavity. The tensile component is secured to opposing inner surfaces of the polymeric bladder. The peripheral flange defines a groove extending along the peripheral flange. The groove serves as a guide path for an operator or for a machine to follow when stitching or otherwise securing the strobel to the upper. A method of manufacturing footwear is included.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2021Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Arick Auyang, Derek Houng, Jason R. Meeker, Eric A. Schmalzer, Jeffrey S. To, Geoffrey A. Weston
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Patent number: 11849802Abstract: A cushioning article comprises a first and a second polymeric sheet bonded to one another and enclosing an interior cavity. The polymeric sheets retain a gas in the interior cavity. A tensile component disposed in the interior cavity includes a first tensile layer, a second tensile layer, and a plurality of tethers spanning the interior cavity and connecting the first tensile layer to the second tensile layer. An inwardly-protruding bond joins the first polymeric sheet to the first tensile layer, protrudes inward from the first polymeric sheet toward the second polymeric sheet, and partially traverses the plurality of tethers. The first polymeric sheet is displaced from the first tensile layer adjacent to the inwardly-protruding bond by the gas. A method of manufacturing a cushioning article is disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2023Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Page J. Bailey, Jeremy L Connell, Jason R. Meeker
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Publication number: 20230404210Abstract: A bladder including a first barrier element having a first surface formed on a first side of the first barrier element and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first barrier element than the first surface, a second barrier element having a third surface formed on a first side of the second barrier element and a fourth surface formed on an opposite side of the second barrier element than the third surface, and a peripheral seam joining the first barrier element and the second barrier element to define an interior void between the first surface and the third surface, the peripheral seam including a first segment extending along the bladder proximate to the second surface, a second segment extending along the bladder proximate to the fourth surface, and a third segment extending between and connecting the first segment and the second segment.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2023Publication date: December 21, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Jeremy L. Connell, Craig Fredrick, Jason R. Meeker, Chris Wilburn