Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Mergy

Jeffrey Mergy 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: 8510871
    Abstract: Embodiments provide body gear having designed performance characteristics, and in particular methods and apparatuses that utilize an array of holographic heat managing elements coupled to a base material to direct body heat while also maintaining the desired transfer properties of the base material. In some embodiments, the heat managing elements include heat-directing elements that reflect heat or conduct heat, and that may direct heat towards the body of a user or away from the body of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Mergy
  • Patent number: 8479322
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to body gear having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to methods and apparatuses that utilize an array of performance characteristic elements coupled to a base material to direct heat, absorb heat, emit heat, and/or wick moisture while also maintaining the desired transfer properties of the base material. In some embodiments, two, three, four, or more different types of performance characteristic elements may be included in a piece of body gear, for example in desired zones of the body gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Mergy
  • Publication number: 20120074128
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to the field of outerwear, and more particularly to a heat management system configured to provide heat to one or more predetermined regions or zones, such as the upper or lower body, torso, chest, back, neck, arms, shoulders, wrists/cuffs, hands, fingers, feet, toes, and the like. In various embodiments, these heating zones may be controlled by an actuator switch and control electronics that may allow individual heating zones to be actuated alone or in combination, and in some embodiments, in a predetermined sequence. Some embodiments of the actuator switch may include color-coded lighting elements that may indicate the current temperature, zone activation, heating program, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Lane Cobb, Jeffrey Mergy, Anya Gorson, Daniel W. Crist
  • Publication number: 20120015155
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to body gear having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to methods and apparatuses that utilize an array of performance characteristic elements coupled to a base material to direct heat, absorb heat, emit heat, and/or wick moisture while also maintaining the desired transfer properties of the base material. In some embodiments, two, three, four, or more performance characteristic elements may be included in a piece of body gear, for example in desired zones of the body gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Mergy
  • Publication number: 20110203783
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to body gear having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to methods and apparatuses that utilize an array of holographic heat managing elements coupled to a base material to direct body heat while also maintaining the desired transfer properties of the base material. In some embodiments, the heat managing material elements include heat-directing elements that reflect heat or conduct heat, and may be directed towards the body of a user or away from the body of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Mergy