Patents by Inventor Kevin C. Sze

Kevin C. Sze 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: 20250194740
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure having a cushioning component. The cushioning component includes a bladder defining an interior cavity between opposing inner surfaces of a first barrier sheet and a second barrier sheet, and the barrier sheets sealed to one another along a peripheral bond. A core is disposed in the interior cavity and spaced entirely inward of the peripheral bond. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet traversing the interior cavity between and directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets at a plurality of wavy bonds to tether the barrier sheets to one another. The wavy bonds are arranged with waves having peaks and valleys extending in a fore-aft direction such that the at least one polymeric sheet does not create any sealed chambers within the bladder that are not in fluid communication with the interior cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Case, Scott C. Holt, Dervin A. James, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20250194741
    Abstract: A cushioning component for a wearable article includes a bladder with barrier sheets defining an interior cavity. A core is disposed in the interior cavity and is spaced entirely inward of a peripheral bond between the barrier sheets. The core traverses the interior cavity between and is bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets at a plurality of bonds. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet defining a plurality of spaced slots extending therethrough, each slot having a first end and a second end with both the first end and the second end inward of an outer perimeter of the core such that the core includes a plurality of strips bordering the slots and decoupled from one another at the slots, each strip bonded to at least one of the first barrier sheet or the second barrier sheet by at least one of the bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Case, Tory M. Cross, Viviane Labelle, Yuan Mu, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20250194743
    Abstract: A cushioning component includes a bladder and a core. The bladder includes first and second barrier sheets defining an interior cavity between opposing inner surfaces of the barrier sheets. The core includes at least one polymeric sheet traversing the interior cavity between and directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces at a plurality of bonds. The cushioning component includes a sidewall disposed around an outer perimeter of the core and directly bonded to the first and second barrier sheets at peripheral bonds to enclose the interior cavity. The core is disposed in the interior cavity and is decoupled from the sidewall. A method of manufacturing includes disposing blocker ink on opposing sides of at least one polymeric sheet, placing the at least one polymeric sheet between the barrier sheets, and thermally bonding the core to the opposing inner surfaces, and the sidewall to the barrier sheets at the peripheral bonds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Case, Tory M. Cross, Viviane Labelle, Yuan Mu, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20250194744
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a cushioning component. The cushioning component includes a bladder and a multi-sheet core disposed in the bladder and bonded to inner sides of barrier sheets of the bladder to act as a tensile component. The barrier sheets define an interior cavity and are sealed to one another along a peripheral bond to enclose and retain a gas in the interior cavity. The multi-sheet core is spaced entirely inward of the peripheral bond and is directly bonded to the opposing inner surfaces of the first and second barrier sheets. The multi-sheet core does not create any sealed chambers within the bladder that are not in fluid communication with the interior cavity. No bonds securing the multi-sheet core to the opposing inner surfaces extend continuously from a medial edge of the multi-sheet core to a lateral edge of the multi-sheet core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2024
    Publication date: June 19, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick R. Case, Scott C. Holt, Dervin A. James, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20250185755
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2024
    Publication date: June 12, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Devin Bailly, Paul Begyn, Clayton Chambers, Guercy Eugene, Dervin A. James, Jason R. Meeker, Benjamin J. Monfils, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20250091279
    Abstract: A method including inserting into a mold a first tool having a first surface. The method further includes printing a second tool from a polymer material and inserting the second tool into the first tool. The second tool having a smaller wall thickness than the first tool and including a second surface opposing and in contact with the first surface of the first tool and a third surface formed on an opposite side of the second tool than the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2024
    Publication date: March 20, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Cross, Dervin A. James, Ryan R. Larson, Kevin C. Sze, Adam Thuss
  • Publication number: 20250049175
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2024
    Publication date: February 13, 2025
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Devin Bailly, Paul Begyn, Clayton Chambers, Guercy Eugene, Dervin A. James, Jason R. Meeker, Benjamin J. Monfils, Kevin C. Sze
  • Patent number: 12179411
    Abstract: A method including inserting into a mold a first tool having a first surface. The method further includes printing a second tool from a polymer material and inserting the second tool into the first tool. The second tool having a smaller wall thickness than the first tool and including a second surface opposing and in contact with the first surface of the first tool and a third surface formed on an opposite side of the second tool than the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Cross, Dervin A. James, Ryan R. Larson, Kevin C. Sze, Adam Thuss
  • Patent number: 12035770
    Abstract: The technology described herein relates to breathable, vented, and insulating garments. More particularly, the technology described herein relates to articles with a plurality of interconnected chambers that are configured to retain a thermally insulating fill material such as down or synthetic fibers. The plurality of interconnected chambers are formed between at least two layers of material and between a plurality of seams. The plurality of seams are configured to join the at least two layers of material together. In one aspect, each seam of the plurality of seams is angularly oriented with respect to an adjacent or neighboring seam of the plurality of seams. One or more openings or perforations may be formed on one or more seams of the plurality of seams forming the plurality of interconnected chambers. The one or more openings may achieve evaporation of moisture and/or air transfer from an interior environment of the garment to an exterior environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke A. Pezzimenti, Iustinia Koshkaroff, Kevin C. Sze
  • Patent number: 11992072
    Abstract: The technology described herein relates to breathable, vented, and insulating garments. More particularly, the technology described herein relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Openings along seams between the insulating chambers may achieve evaporative moisture or air transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment. In an aspect, the garments comprise one or more insulated zones provided with one or more vented-insulation sections provided at locations on the garment configured to align with one or more areas of a wearer's body that are more sensitive to environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) and/or are prone to faster heat loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke A. Pezzimenti, Kevin C. Sze, Iustinia Koshkaroff
  • Patent number: 11885393
    Abstract: A cord-lock assembly for slidably adjusting a length of cord is provided. The assembly may include various components such as a cord, a cord lock, and an article layer into which the cord lock and cord may be at least partially integrated. The cord lock may include one or more components that releasably clamp onto the cord and engage the cord through resistance provided by a biasing element. The cord-lock assembly may be configured such that a force applied to the cord lock in axial alignment with an aperture in which the cord lock is positioned allows adjustment of a length of cord extending through the cord lock and/or through the aperture layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yuki Aihara, Kevin C. Sze
  • Patent number: 11684094
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a cooling garment. The cooling garment can include a vest configured to be worn by a wearer. One or more pockets on the vest may be configured to receive one or more icepacks. The one or more pockets may include a stretch material on a front portion of the one or more pockets. The one or more pockets can further include a non-stretch material on a back portion of the one or more pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob R. Arnold, Baron C. Brandt, Alexander J. Dedman, Payton A. Rose, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20230116987
    Abstract: A method including inserting into a mold a first tool having a first surface. The method further includes printing a second tool from a polymer material and inserting the second tool into the first tool. The second tool having a smaller wall thickness than the first tool and including a second surface opposing and in contact with the first surface of the first tool and a third surface formed on an opposite side of the second tool than the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John Cross, Dervin A. James, Ryan R. Larson, Kevin C. Sze, Adam Thuss
  • Publication number: 20230118832
    Abstract: The technology described herein relates to breathable, vented, and insulating garments. More particularly, the technology described herein relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Openings along seams between the insulating chambers may achieve evaporative moisture or air transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment. In an aspect, the garments comprise one or more insulated zones provided with one or more vented-insulation sections provided at locations on the garment configured to align with one or more areas of a wearer's body that are more sensitive to environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) and/or are prone to faster heat loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2022
    Publication date: April 20, 2023
    Inventors: Luke A. Pezzimenti, Kevin C. Sze, Iustinia Koshkaroff
  • Patent number: 11606992
    Abstract: The technology described herein relates to breathable, vented, and insulating garments. More particularly, the technology described herein relates to garments with chambers to retain an insulating fill material. Openings along seams between the insulating chambers may achieve evaporative moisture or air transfer from the inside (proximal to the body of a wearer) of the garment to the outside environment. In an aspect, the garments comprise one or more insulated zones provided with one or more vented-insulation sections provided at locations on the garment configured to align with one or more areas of a wearer's body that are more sensitive to environmental conditions (e.g. temperature) and/or are prone to faster heat loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Luke A. Pezzimenti, Kevin C. Sze, Iustinia Koshkaroff
  • Publication number: 20220354194
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a cooling garment. The cooling garment can include a vest configured to be worn by a wearer. One or more pockets on the vest may be configured to receive one or more icepacks. The one or more pockets may include a stretch material on a front portion of the one or more pockets. The one or more pockets can further include a non-stretch material on a back portion of the one or more pockets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventors: Baron C. Brandt, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20220351826
    Abstract: A performance monitoring system includes an athletic band or other article of apparel worn by a user, with a pocket supported by the article and defining a cavity, where the pocket has a sensor opening extending through an inner wall of the pocket and an access opening providing access to the cavity. The system also includes an electronic module received in the cavity such that the module can be inserted and removed from the cavity through the access opening. The module has a projection on an underside of the electronic module and a sensor mounted on the projection, where the projection extends through the sensor opening when the electronic module is received in the cavity and is configured to place the sensor in close proximity to skin of the user, such that the sensor is configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2022
    Publication date: November 3, 2022
    Inventors: Jamian R. Cobbett, Monica Judge, Summer Schneider, Ariana Manesh, Simon Quay, Bill Webb, Quinn Fitzgerald, Kevin C. Sze, Russ Watt
  • Patent number: 11437133
    Abstract: A performance monitoring system includes an athletic band or other article of apparel worn by a user, with a pocket supported by the article and defining a cavity, where the pocket has a sensor opening extending through an inner wall of the pocket and an access opening providing access to the cavity. The system also includes an electronic module received in the cavity such that the module can be inserted and removed from the cavity through the access opening. The module has a projection on an underside of the electronic module and a sensor mounted on the projection, where the projection extends through the sensor opening when the electronic module is received in the cavity and is configured to place the sensor in close proximity to skin of the user, such that the sensor is configured to sense a physiological parameter of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jamian R. Cobbett, Monica Judge, Summer Schneider, Ariana Manesh, Simon Quay, Bill Webb, Quinn Fitzgerald, Kevin C. Sze, Russ Watt
  • Patent number: 11425944
    Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a cooling garment. The cooling garment can include a vest configured to be worn by a wearer. One or more pockets on the vest may be configured to receive one or more icepacks. The one or more pockets may include a stretch material on a front portion of the one or more pockets. The one or more pockets can further include a non-stretch material on a back portion of the one or more pockets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Baron C. Brandt, Kevin C. Sze
  • Publication number: 20220082153
    Abstract: A cord-lock assembly for slidably adjusting a length of cord is provided. The assembly may include various components such as a cord, a cord lock, and an article layer into which the cord lock and cord may be at least partially integrated. The cord lock may include one or more components that releasably clamp onto the cord and engage the cord through resistance provided by a biasing element. The cord-lock assembly may be configured such that a force applied to the cord lock in axial alignment with an aperture in which the cord lock is positioned allows adjustment of a length of cord extending through the cord lock and/or through the aperture layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2021
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Yuki AIHARA, Kevin C. SZE