Patents by Inventor Karen Hawkinson

Karen Hawkinson 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).

  • Publication number: 20240247417
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Publication number: 20230413933
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to garments that incorporate adaptive stand-off structures in the form of fluid-filled bladders that transition from a first shape to a second shape when exposed to moisture in the form of, for example, perspiration. When the fluid-filled bladders are in the first shape, the fluid-filled bladders are generally planar with a surface plane of a textile layer forming the garment so that the garment comes into contact or near contact with the wearer's body surface. When the fluid-filled bladders are in the second shape, they extend in a z-direction away from the surface plane of the textile layer forming the garment such that the textile layer is spaced apart from the wearer's body surface by the stand-off structures to reduce cling and facilitate the evaporation of perspiration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2023
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Karen A. Hawkinson, Joshua Patrick Williams
  • Patent number: 11785999
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to garments that incorporate adaptive stand-off structures in the form of fluid-filled bladders that transition from a first shape to a second shape when exposed to moisture in the form of, for example, perspiration. When the fluid-filled bladders are in the first shape, the fluid-filled bladders are generally planar with a surface plane of a textile layer forming the garment so that the garment comes into contact or near contact with the wearer's body surface. When the fluid-filled bladders are in the second shape, they extend in a z-direction away from the surface plane of the textile layer forming the garment such that the textile layer is spaced apart from the wearer's body surface by the stand-off structures to reduce cling and facilitate the evaporation of perspiration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Karen A. Hawkinson, Joshua Patrick Williams
  • Publication number: 20230287608
    Abstract: An article may include first and second components comprising non-woven textiles and a third component positioned between the first two components. A first surface of the third component that is adjacent the first component comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, and the third component is fused with a first region of the first component and unfused with a second region of the first component. A method of manufacturing the article, which may be an article of wear, includes arranging the components to form a stacked configuration so that the third component is positioned between the first and second components. Heat and compression may be applied to at least a first region of the first component to fuse the first region with the third component, whereas a second region of the first component may remain unfused to the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20230265589
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2023
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 11692289
    Abstract: An article may include first and second components comprising non-woven textiles and a third component positioned between the first two components. A first surface of the third component that is adjacent the first component comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, and the third component is fused with a first region of the first component and unfused with a second region of the first component. A method of manufacturing the article, which may be an article of wear, includes arranging the components to form a stacked configuration so that the third component is positioned between the first and second components. Heat and compression may be applied to at least a first region of the first component to fuse the first region with the third component, whereas a second region of the first component may remain unfused to the second component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20220056621
    Abstract: An article may include first and second components comprising non-woven textiles and a third component positioned between the first two components. A first surface of the third component that is adjacent the first component comprises a thermoplastic polymer material, and the third component is fused with a first region of the first component and unfused with a second region of the first component. A method of manufacturing the article, which may be an article of wear, includes arranging the components to form a stacked configuration so that the third component is positioned between the first and second components. Heat and compression may be applied to at least a first region of the first component to fuse the first region with the third component, whereas a second region of the first component may remain unfused to the second component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11203823
    Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20210361010
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to garments that incorporate adaptive stand-off structures in the form of fluid-filled bladders that transition from a first shape to a second shape when exposed to moisture in the form of, for example, perspiration. When the fluid-filled bladders are in the first shape, the fluid-filled bladders are generally planar with a surface plane of a textile layer forming the garment so that the garment comes into contact or near contact with the wearer's body surface. When the fluid-filled bladders are in the second shape, they extend in a z-direction away from the surface plane of the textile layer forming the garment such that the textile layer is spaced apart from the wearer's body surface by the stand-off structures to reduce cling and facilitate the evaporation of perspiration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: Karen A. Hawkinson, Joshua Patrick Williams
  • Patent number: 11155943
    Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 11155942
    Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 10982364
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 10982363
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Publication number: 20200291554
    Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20200291553
    Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer
  • Publication number: 20190345656
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2019
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Publication number: 20190242043
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Publication number: 20190078245
    Abstract: A non-woven textile may be formed from a plurality of thermoplastic polymer filaments. The non-woven textile may have a first region and a second region, with the filaments of the first region being fused to a greater degree than the filaments of the second region. A variety of products, including apparel (e.g., shirts, pants, footwear), may incorporate the non-woven textile. In some of these products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another textile element to form a seam. More particularly, an edge area of the non-woven textile may be heatbonded with an edge area of the other textile element at the seam. In other products, the non-woven textile may be joined with another component, whether a textile or a non-textile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson
  • Patent number: 10194711
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes providing a yarn that is at least partially package dyed. The method also includes flat knitting a knitted component at least partially from the yarn. The knitted component has an area with a density of at least twenty-eight courses per inch (28 CPI). Moreover, the method includes forming at least a portion of an upper of the article of footwear with the knitted component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen Hawkinson
  • Publication number: 20190010638
    Abstract: A composite structure may include a knit component and a bonded component. The knit component has a first surface and an opposite second surface, and the knit component includes a fusible yarn and a non-fusible yarn that form a knitted structure. The fusible yarn is at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the fusible yarn is located on at least the first surface. The bonded component is positioned adjacent to the first surface, and the bonded component is thermal bonded to the first surface with the thermoplastic polymer material of the fusible yarn.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Karen A. Hawkinson, Benjamin A. Shaffer