Patents by Inventor Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
Jeffrey Thomas 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).
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Patent number: 11612201Abstract: Disclosed are insulating materials, and in particular materials that offer improved insulation properties without compromising breathability. The insulating materials may include a base material having a moisture vapor transfer rate (MVTR) of at least 2000 g/m2/24 h (JIS 1099 A1); a plurality of heat-reflecting elements coupled to a first side of the base material, each heat-reflecting element having a heat-reflecting surface and being positioned to reflect heat towards an underlying surface; and a plurality of spacer elements coupled to the first side of the base material, each spacer element sized and shaped to reduce contact of the heat-reflecting elements with the underlying surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2018Date of Patent: March 28, 2023Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Michael “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
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Publication number: 20220034003Abstract: Embodiments relate to an article of clothing that includes a base material with a moisture vapor transfer rate (MVTR) of at least 2000 g/m2/24 h (JIS 1099 A1). The article of clothing may further include a foam-based spacer material coupled to the first side of the base material. The foam-based spacer material may be positioned between the base material and a wearer of the article of clothing when the article of clothing is worn. The foam-based spacer material may be an array of discrete elements coupled with the base material. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 15, 2021Publication date: February 3, 2022Applicant: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael Woody Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Rebecca A. Durr, Haskell W. Beckham
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Patent number: 10875274Abstract: Disclosed are cooling materials for clothing and other body gear that may use a discontinuous pattern of highly absorbent polymers coupled to a base fabric that has a low resistance to moisture spread (e.g., a high wicking rate) and lower absorption properties compared to the highly absorbent polymer elements, to manage moisture (e.g., sweat) and body heat. The absorbance of the highly absorbent polymers is greater than that of the base fabric, such as at least two times greater, and the highly absorbent polymer elements may be non-endothermic.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2015Date of Patent: December 29, 2020Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig Gates
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Patent number: 10709186Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a base fabric for body gear and other goods having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to technical gear, such as garments, that utilize multispectral cooling elements coupled to the exterior facing surface of a base fabric.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Haskell Beckham
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Publication number: 20190116902Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a base fabric for body gear and other goods having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to technical gear, such as garments, that utilize multispectral cooling elements coupled to the exterior facing surface of a base fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2018Publication date: April 25, 2019Applicant: 14375 NW Science Park DriveInventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Haskell Beckham
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Publication number: 20190110541Abstract: Disclosed are insulating materials, and in particular materials that offer improved insulation properties without compromising breathability.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2018Publication date: April 18, 2019Applicant: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
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Patent number: 10189231Abstract: Provided herein are ecologically friendly waterproof fabrics that include a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, and a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric. The base fabric may be a wicking fabric or may be treated with a compound that enhances wicking, and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier may include a plastic polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene. The waterproof fabrics also may include an abrasion-resistant coating and/or a PFC-free durable water repellant (DWR) agent disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier, and one or both of the abrasion-resistant coating and/or PFC-free DWR agent may be discontinuous. Also provided are methods of making a waterproof fabric.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2017Date of Patent: January 29, 2019Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
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Patent number: 10086582Abstract: Provided herein are waterproof fabrics that include a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, and a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric, a seam through the waterproof fabric, and a waterproof tape disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier and aligned to seal the seam against water ingress. The base fabric may be a wicking fabric or may be treated with a compound that enhances wicking, and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier may include a plastic polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene. The waterproof fabrics also may include an abrasion-resistant coating and/or a durable water repellant (DWR) agent disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier, and one or both of the abrasion-resistant coating and/or DWR agent may be discontinuous. Also provided are methods of making a waterproof fabric.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
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Publication number: 20180192720Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to a base fabric for body gear and other goods having designed performance characteristics, and in particular to technical gear, such as garments, that utilize multispectral cooling elements coupled to the exterior facing surface of a base fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2018Publication date: July 12, 2018Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Haskell Beckham
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Publication number: 20170157902Abstract: Provided herein are ecologically friendly waterproof fabrics that include a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, and a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric. The base fabric may be a wicking fabric or may be treated with a compound that enhances wicking, and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier may include a plastic polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene. The waterproof fabrics also may include an abrasion-resistant coating and/or a PFC-free durable water repellant (DWR) agent disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier, and one or both of the abrasion-resistant coating and/or PFC-free DWR agent may be discontinuous. Also provided are methods of making a waterproof fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2017Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
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Publication number: 20160075101Abstract: Provided herein are waterproof fabrics that include a base fabric having a body-facing surface and an outward-facing surface, and a hydrophobic, waterproof barrier disposed on the outward-facing surface of the base fabric, a seam through the waterproof fabric, and a waterproof tape disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier and aligned to seal the seam against water ingress. The base fabric may be a wicking fabric or may be treated with a compound that enhances wicking, and the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier may include a plastic polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene. The waterproof fabrics also may include an abrasion-resistant coating and/or a durable water repellant (DWR) agent disposed on an outward-facing surface of the hydrophobic, waterproof barrier, and one or both of the abrasion-resistant coating and/or DWR agent may be discontinuous. Also provided are methods of making a waterproof fabric.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: March 17, 2016Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
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Publication number: 20150210032Abstract: Disclosed are cooling materials for clothing and other body gear that may use a discontinuous pattern of highly absorbent polymers coupled to a base fabric that has a low resistance to moisture spread (e.g., a high wicking rate) and lower absorption properties compared to the highly absorbent polymer elements, to manage moisture (e.g., sweat) and body heat. The absorbance of the highly absorbent polymers is greater than that of the base fabric, such as at least two times greater, and the highly absorbent polymer elements may be non-endothermic.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2015Publication date: July 30, 2015Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig Gates
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Patent number: D808619Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
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Patent number: D808620Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
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Patent number: D808621Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 30, 2018Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy