Patents by Inventor Kimberly Nichole McConnell

Kimberly Nichole McConnell 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).

  • System and methods for forming a sole structure
    Patent number: 11673358
    Abstract: A molding system and a method for forming a sole structure are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shayne Hannemann, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Justin Andrew Meyer, Rick Alan Pollard
  • System and methods for a foaming process
    Patent number: 11491690
    Abstract: A foaming process and a method for operation of the foaming process are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shayne Hannemann, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Justin Andrew Meyer, Rick Alan Pollard
  • INJECTION MOLDING OF CROSSLINKING POLYMERS
    Publication number: 20220024098
    Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Richard Lewis Montague, II, Rick Alan Pollard, Chow-Chi Huang, Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Aaron Timothy Neate
  • Injection molding of crosslinking polymers
    Patent number: 11161286
    Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lewis Montague, II, Rick Alan Pollard, Chow-Chi Huang, Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Aaron Timothy Neate
  • INJECTION MOLDING OF CROSSLINKING POLYMERS
    Publication number: 20210170655
    Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventors: Richard Lewis Montague, II, Rick Alan Polland, Chow-Chi Huang, Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Aaron Timothy Neate
  • Injection molding of crosslinking polymers
    Patent number: 10953583
    Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: Richard Lewis Montague, II, Rick Alan Pollard, Chow-Chi Huang, Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Aaron Timothy Neate
  • SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR FORMING A SOLE STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20200156341
    Abstract: A molding system and a method for forming a sole structure are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Shayne Hannemann, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Justin Andrew Meyer, Rick Alan Pollard
  • SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR A FOAMING PROCESS
    Publication number: 20200156292
    Abstract: A foaming process and a method for operation of the foaming process are provided. The method includes flowing a molten polymeric material into a mold from an upstream device, receiving the molten polymeric material in a cavity of the mold, and maintaining a repeatable, uniform pressure profile as the molten polymeric material is delivered into the mold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: Shayne Hannemann, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Justin Andrew Meyer, Rick Alan Pollard
  • Injection Molding of Crosslinking Polymers
    Publication number: 20180361643
    Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity, whereupon a cure profile is commenced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Lewis Montague, II, Rick Alan Pollard, Chow-Chi Huang, Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Aaron Timothy Neate
  • Injection Molding of Crosslinking Polymers
    Publication number: 20180361635
    Abstract: Non-time dependent measured variables are used to effectively determine an optimal hold profile for an expanding crosslinking polymer part in a mold cavity. A system and/or approach may first inject molten expanding crosslinking polymer into a mold cavity, then measure at least one non-time dependent variable during an injection molding cycle. Next, the system and/or method commences a hold profile for the part, and upon completing the hold profile, the part is ejected from the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Publication date: December 20, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Lewis Montague, II, Rick Alan Pollard, Chow-Chi Huang, Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Aaron Timothy Neate
  • Method and apparatus for substantially constant pressure injection molding of thinwall parts
    Patent number: 9815233
    Abstract: A substantially constant pressure injection molding method and machine that forms molded parts by injecting molten thermoplastic material into a mold cavity at a substantially constant pressure. As a result, the mold cavity is filled with molten thermoplastic material by advancing a continuous flow front of thermoplastic material from a gate to an end of the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: IMFLUX, INC.
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Michael Thomas Dodd, Natalia Maria Ramon Martinez, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Danny David Lumpkin, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, John Russell Lawson
  • Reduced Size Runner for An Injection Mold System
    Publication number: 20170190087
    Abstract: A runner system for a multi-cavity injection molding system, the runner system having runners of reduced size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Danny David Lumpkin, Chow-Chi Huang, Charles John Berg, JR.
  • Injection molding machines and methods for accounting for changes in material properties during injection molding runs
    Patent number: 9643351
    Abstract: A method and a machine account for changes in material properties of molten plastic material during an injection run. A change in a control signal is calculated by a controller during the injection molding run. If the change in the control signal indicates a change in material flowability, the controller alters a target injection pressure to ensure that molten plastic material completely fills and packs a mold cavity to prevent part flaws such as short shots or flashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Milko Georgiev Gergov
  • Reduced size runner for an injection mold system
    Patent number: 9610721
    Abstract: A runner system for a multi-cavity injection molding system, the runner system having runners of reduced size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Danny David Lumpkin, Chow-Chi Huang, Charles John Berg, Jr.
  • Injection molding machines and methods for accounting for changes in material properties during injection molding runs
    Patent number: 9481119
    Abstract: A method and a machine that account for changes in material properties of molten plastic material during an injection run. If viscosity of the molten plastic material changes during an injection run, a controller alters a step time of the injection cycle to ensure that molten plastic material completely fills and packs a mold cavity to prevent part flaws such as short shots or flashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC.
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Milko Georgiev Gergov
  • Injection molding machines and methods for accounting for changes in material properties during injection molding runs
    Patent number: 9475226
    Abstract: A method and a machine that account for changes in material properties of molten plastic material during an injection run. If viscosity of the molten plastic material changes during an injection run, a controller alters a step time of the injection cycle to ensure that molten plastic material completely fills and packs a mold cavity to prevent part flaws such as short shots or flashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: IMFLUX INC
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Milko Georgiev Gergov
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY CONSTANT PRESSURE INJECTION MOLDING OF THINWALL PARTS
    Publication number: 20160176084
    Abstract: A substantially constant pressure injection molding method and machine that forms molded parts by injecting molten thermoplastic material into a mold cavity at a substantially constant pressure. As a result, the mold cavity is filled with molten thermoplastic material by advancing a continuous flow front of thermoplastic material from a gate to an end of the mold cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Inventors: Gene Michael ALTONEN, Michael Thomas DODD, Natalia Maria RAMON MARTINEZ, Kimberly Nichole MCCONNELL, Danny David LUMPKIN, Vincent Sean BREIDENBACH, John Russell LAWSON
  • Injection molding machines and methods for accounting for changes in material properties during injection molding runs
    Patent number: 9321206
    Abstract: A method and a machine that account for changes in material properties of molten plastic material during an injection run. If viscosity of the molten plastic material changes during an injection run, a controller alters an injection pressure to ensure that molten plastic material fills a mold cavity within a correct amount of time to prevent part flaws such as short shots or flashing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: iMFLUX, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, Milko Georgiev Gergov
  • Reduced Size Runner for an Injection Mold System
    Publication number: 20160059456
    Abstract: A runner system for a multi-cavity injection molding system, the runner system having runners of reduced size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Gene Michael ALTONEN, Vincent Sean BREIDENBACH, Kimberly Nichole McCONNELL, Danny David LUMPKIN, Chow-chi HUANG, Charles John BERG, JR.
  • Method and apparatus for substantially constant pressure injection molding of thinwall parts
    Patent number: 9272452
    Abstract: A substantially constant pressure injection molding method and machine that forms molded parts by injecting molten thermoplastic material into a mold cavity at a substantially constant pressures. As a result, the mold cavity is filled with molten thermoplastic material by advancing a continuous flow front of thermoplastic material from a gate to an end of the mold cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: iMFLUX, Inc.
    Inventors: Gene Michael Altonen, Michael Thomas Dodd, Natalia Maria Ramon-Martinez, Kimberly Nichole McConnell, Danny David Lumpkin, Vincent Sean Breidenbach, John Russell Lawson