Patents by Inventor Robert C. William, Jr.

Robert C. William, Jr. 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: 11910870
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include one or more of the following: a knitted component forming a collar of the upper, the collar at least partially forming an opening for providing access to an interior of the article of footwear; and a first knit edge and a second knit edge that extend along the collar of the upper, wherein a knitted central portion of the collar extends between the first knit edge and the second knit edge. The collar may consist of a single seam to join together the first knit edge and the second knit edge. The single seam may be offset from a centerline at the rear-most portion of a heel area such that the knitted central portion of the collar extends through the centerline of the heel area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Erin E. Toraya, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11793269
    Abstract: A footwear sole structure may include a plurality of discrete hexagonally-shaped sole elements defined by a plurality of sipes. The sipes may include a plurality of sipes that extend in a transverse direction across the sole structure and a plurality of sipes that extend in an oblique direction relative to the transverse sipes. A plurality of sipes may also subdivide the hexagonally-shaped sole elements into one or more diamond-shaped sole element portions. The sole structure may include additional features such as non-hexagonal sole elements and lugs distributed across a bottom surface of the sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary E. Hull, John A. Truax, Robert W. Dolan, Mark C. Miner, Angela N. Martin, Robert C. Williams, Jr., Karen S. Dimoff, Jekti Hadiati, Howard Banich
  • Publication number: 20230255311
    Abstract: A footwear sole structure may include a plurality of discrete hexagonally-shaped sole elements defined by a plurality of sipes. The sipes may include a plurality of sipes that extend in a transverse direction across the sole structure and a plurality of sipes that extend in an oblique direction relative to the transverse sipes. A plurality of sipes may also subdivide the hexagonally-shaped sole elements into one or more diamond-shaped sole element portions. The sole structure may include additional features such as non-hexagonal sole elements and lugs distributed across a bottom surface of the sole structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Zachary E. Hull, John A. Truax, Robert W. Dolan, Mark C. Miner, Angela N. Martin, Robert C. Williams, JR., Karen S. Dimoff, Jekti Hadiati, Howard Banich
  • Publication number: 20210298414
    Abstract: A footwear sole structure may include a plurality of discrete hexagonally-shaped sole elements defined by a plurality of sipes. The sipes may include a plurality of sipes that extend in a transverse direction across the sole structure and a plurality of sipes that extend in an oblique direction relative to the transverse sipes. A plurality of sipes may also subdivide the hexagonally-shaped sole elements into one or more diamond-shaped sole element portions. The sole structure may include additional features such as non-hexagonal sole elements and lugs distributed across a bottom surface of the sole structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2021
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Zachary E. Hull, John A. Truax, Robert W. Dolan, Mark C. Miner, Angela N. Martin, Robert C. Williams, JR., Karen S. Dimoff, Jekti Hadiati, Howard Banich
  • Patent number: 11000092
    Abstract: A footwear sole structure may include a plurality of discrete hexagonally-shaped sole elements defined by a plurality of sipes. The sipes may include a plurality of sipes that extend in a transverse direction across the sole structure and a plurality of sipes that extend in an oblique direction relative to the transverse sipes. A plurality of sipes may also subdivide the hexagonally-shaped sole elements into one or more diamond-shaped sole element portions. The sole structure may include additional features such as non-hexagonal sole elements and lugs distributed across a bottom surface of the sole structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Zachary E. Hull, John A. Truax, Robert W. Dolan, Mark C. Miner, Angela N. Martin, Robert C. Williams, Jr., Karen S. Dimoff, Jekti Hadiati, Howard Banich
  • Publication number: 20200359746
    Abstract: An upper for an article of footwear may include one or more of the following: a knitted component forming a collar of the upper, the collar at least partially forming an opening for providing access to an interior of the article of footwear; and a first knit edge and a second knit edge that extend along the collar of the upper, wherein a knitted central portion of the collar extends between the first knit edge and the second knit edge. The collar may consist of a single seam to join together the first knit edge and the second knit edge. The single seam may be offset from a centerline at the rear-most portion of a heel area such that the knitted central portion of the collar extends through the centerline of the heel area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Erin E. Toraya, Robert C. Williams, JR.
  • Patent number: 10729208
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper with a knitted component. Alone or in combination, the knitted component may include regions with different degrees of stretch-resistance; the knitted component forms a collar with a half-gauge knit; the upper includes a strand with sections that are inlaid within the knitted component, and the sections are positioned immediately adjacent to each other; the strand forms a plurality of loops, pairs of the loops are positioned immediately adjacent to each other and configured to receive a lace; and the knitted component includes a thermoplastic polymer material, and the strand is unbonded to the thermoplastic polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Erin E. Toraya, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10070693
    Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Kevin W. Hoffer, James C. Meschter, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9987439
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system, method, and computer program product for controlling the supply of a distending media (such as an insufflating gas) from a distending media source to an endoscopic device so as to prevent the excess venting and/or waste of distending media. More specifically, the present invention provides for the detection of a pressure level within a lumen of an endoscopic device and adjusts a supply parameter of the distending media based at least in part on the detected pressure level, and in some cases, on the relationship between the detected pressure level and a user-defined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED STATES ENDOSCOPY GROUP, INC.
    Inventors: Robert C. Williams, Jr., Peter M. Kurzyna, Kenneth E. Wolcott, Jeffrey B. Cushner
  • Publication number: 20180070677
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper with a knitted component. Alone or in combination, the knitted component may include regions with different degrees of stretch-resistance; the knitted component forms a collar with a half-gauge knit; the upper includes a strand with sections that are inlaid within the knitted component, and the sections are positioned immediately adjacent to each other; the strand forms a plurality of loops, pairs of the loops are positioned immediately adjacent to each other and configured to receive a lace; and the knitted component includes a thermoplastic polymer material, and the strand is unbonded to the thermoplastic polymer material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Erin E. Toraya, Robert C. Williams, JR.
  • Patent number: 9861160
    Abstract: An article of footwear may have an upper with a knitted component. Alone or in combination, the knitted component may include regions with different degrees of stretch-resistance; the knitted component forms a collar with a half-gauge knit; the upper includes a strand with sections that are inlaid within the knitted component, and the sections are positioned immediately adjacent to each other; the strand forms a plurality of loops, pairs of the loops are positioned immediately adjacent to each other and configured to receive a lace; and the knitted component includes a thermoplastic polymer material, and the strand is unbonded to the thermoplastic polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Erin E. Toraya, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9808048
    Abstract: A tensile strand element for an article of footwear is disclosed. The tensile strand element includes one or more tensile strands secured at their endpoints between the sole and upper of an article of footwear, creating one or more looped portions. The unsecured looped portions may extend into the fastening region of the footwear and engage with a fastening system to tighten the footwear upper snugly against a wearer's foot to provide added support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bryan N. Farris, Kevin W. Hoffer, James C. Meschter, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D796809
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D801017
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Laura C. Parrett, Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D809272
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D826533
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D827277
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D855301
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D890484
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.
  • Patent number: D890504
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Williams, Jr.