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).

  • Patent number: 11612201
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Michael “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
  • Publication number: 20220034003
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2021
    Publication date: February 3, 2022
    Applicant: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Woody Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Rebecca A. Durr, Haskell W. Beckham
  • Patent number: 10875274
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig Gates
  • Patent number: 10709186
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Haskell Beckham
  • Publication number: 20190116902
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Publication date: April 25, 2019
    Applicant: 14375 NW Science Park Drive
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Haskell Beckham
  • Publication number: 20190110541
    Abstract: Disclosed are insulating materials, and in particular materials that offer improved insulation properties without compromising breathability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Publication date: April 18, 2019
    Applicant: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
  • Patent number: 10189231
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
  • Patent number: 10086582
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Columbia Sportswear North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. “Woody” Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
  • Publication number: 20180192720
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2018
    Publication date: July 12, 2018
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Haskell Beckham
  • Publication number: 20170157902
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
  • Publication number: 20160075101
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig M. Gates, Wayne Alan Skankey
  • Publication number: 20150210032
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Publication date: July 30, 2015
    Inventors: Michael E. "Woody" Blackford, Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy, Craig Gates
  • Patent number: D808619
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
  • Patent number: D808620
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy
  • Patent number: D808621
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: COLUMBIA SPORTSWEAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Alan Skankey, Jeffrey Thomas Mergy