Patents by Inventor Thomas J Rushbrook

Thomas J Rushbrook 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: 20180125165
    Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Jessica Green, Stephen Hipp, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, Christianna Wincek
  • Publication number: 20180125158
    Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Mirko Bianconi, Sergio Cavaliere, Yuchung K. Chen, Jessica Green, Stephen Hipp, John Hurd, Oliver McLachlan, Nicolas Menenghini, James Molyneux, Pierangelo Pini, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, Christianna Wincek
  • Publication number: 20180127904
    Abstract: Articles of wear having one or more textiles that include a low processing temperature polymeric composition and a high processing temperature polymeric composition, and methods of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The low processing temperature polymeric composition and the high processing temperature polymeric composition can be selectively incorporated into a textile to provide one or more structural properties and/or other advantageous properties to the article. The textile can be thermoformed to impart such structural and/or other advantageous properties to the article of wear. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Jessica Green, Stephen Hipp, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, Christianna Wincek
  • Publication number: 20180110288
    Abstract: An upper component for an article of footwear allows easy entry of the foot into the article of footwear. The upper component includes a heel body, which includes a first portion partially defining an ankle opening. The heel body further includes a second portion coupled to the first portion. The second portion is foldable and partially defines the ankle opening. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration. The upper component includes at least one tension member coupled to the second portion. The tension member is movable relative to the first portion to move the second portion from the unfolded configuration to the folded configuration. The ankle opening is larger when the second portion is in the unfolded configuration than when the second portion is in the folded configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Tobie D. Hatfield, Ami Davis, John T. Dimoff, Nadia M. Panian, Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Patent number: 9907361
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. A set of tensioning members extend over the upper and into channels formed in the sole structure. The tensioning members travel through the channels and exit a rear opening of the sole structure where they may be tensioned using a manual or automatic tensioning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Patent number: 9888743
    Abstract: A reinforcement component for an article of footwear is formed by a folded knit element. The knit element includes a plurality of strap members that are separated by slits when the knit element is in a contracted position. In an expanded position, the slits become openings between the plurality of strap members. The knit element has an upper portion that is folded over a lower portion so that ends of the plurality of strap members are brought together and a plurality of loops are formed along a top of the folded knit element. The folded knit element forms the reinforcement component and the plurality of loops are configured to receive a lace. Forces applied to the reinforcement component by the lace are distributed through the plurality of strap members across the upper of the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Scott C. Holt, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Sam Amis
  • Publication number: 20180020763
    Abstract: In one aspect of the present disclosure, a knitted component may include a knitted layer at least partially formed with a plurality of first yarns and a retention system formed in the knitted layer. The retention system may include a plurality of floating portions of the first yarns, and may be movable from a first state to a second state. In the first state, the plurality of floating portions of the first yarns may assume a slack state, where a float length of the first yarns may be greater than a dimension of the retention system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: January 25, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Hipp, Fanny Y. Ho, Bruce J. Kilgore, Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Publication number: 20170311672
    Abstract: One aspect of the present disclosure provides a knitted component forming an overfoot portion and an underfoot portion of an article of footwear. The knitted component may include a first layer defining a void and a second layer second layer at least partially surrounding the first layer. The second layer may form an outer surface on the overfoot portion and the underfoot portion, and a portion of the first layer may be continuous with a portion of the second layer in an ankle region of the knitted component. An interstitial space may be formed between the first layer and the second layer, and a component may be disposed between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Hipp, Fanny Y. Ho, Bruce J. Kilgore, Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Publication number: 20170215524
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers
  • Publication number: 20170202301
    Abstract: A chassis for an article of footwear may include a base and a frame attached to a top side of the base. The frame may include a network of interconnected walls defining a plurality of cells, each of at least a portion of the cells having a bottom at least partially closed by an underlying portion of the base. A bottom of the base may be fixed with respect to a plantar section of an upper. A sock liner may be indexed to the chassis or to another footwear support structure. The sock liner may have downwardly-extending tabs configured to rest in cells of the chassis or in other cavities of a support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Inventors: Sam Amis, Michael S. Amos, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20170164689
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper layer comprised of a plate member and a lower layer comprised of a plurality of segmented portions separated by flexing regions. The flexing regions may comprise portions of a compressible material. The sole structure accommodates vertical bending and torsion, while limiting lateral bending.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Publication number: 20170129200
    Abstract: Processes and systems for thermoforming articles of wear are disclosed. The process can include utilizing a negative pressure generation system to seal an article in a forming material thereby compressing the forming material onto the outer surface of the article. The process can also include exposing the sealed article to an increased temperature followed by exposure to a decrease temperature, while maintaining the compressive force of the forming material on the outer surface of the article. A positive pressure can also be applied to the sealed article while undergoing the heating and/or cooling steps, which can facilitate the removal of bubbles from the article during thermoforming as well as apply additional compressive force to the outer surface of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Giovanni Adami, Sam Amis, Sergio Cavaliere, Meng-Chun Hu, John Hurd, James Molyneux, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Timothy J. Smith, I-Hsien Tseng, Mirko Bianconi, Federico Zecchetto
  • Publication number: 20170127757
    Abstract: A sole structure can include an outsole with flexure zones that allow relative movement between regions of the outsole bottom surface that are separated or defined by the flexure zones.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2017
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Brooke P. Rapf
  • Patent number: 9629418
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an upper configured to receive a foot of a wearer, the upper including one or more elastic portions and one or more substantially inelastic portions. The footwear may further include a plurality of lace receiving members fixedly attached to an outer surface of the upper on the inelastic portions of the upper. Also, the footwear may include a sole structure fixedly attached to the upper. In addition, the footwear may include a motorized tensioning system including a motorized tightening device and a tensile member extending through the plurality of lace receiving members, the tightening device being configured to apply tension in the tensile member to adjust the size of an internal void defined by the article of footwear by drawing two or more of the plurality of lace receiving members closer to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Tiffany A. Beers
  • Patent number: 9615626
    Abstract: A sole structure for an article of footwear includes an upper layer comprised of a plate member and a lower layer comprised of a plurality of segmented portions separated by flexing regions. The flexing regions may comprise portions of a compressible material. The sole structure accommodates vertical bending and torsion, while limiting lateral bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Patent number: 9609915
    Abstract: A sole structure can include an outsole with flexure zones that allow relative movement between regions of the outsole bottom surface that are separated or defined by the flexure zones. Such relative movement, together with selected traction elements or combinations of traction elements within the regions, act to provide the needed traction and stability for a number of motions that normally accompany a given activity such as golf.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Rushbrook, Brooke P. Rapf
  • Publication number: 20170055626
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The sole structure includes a gap extending longitudinally through the sole structure. A tensioning member extends through the sole structure and across the gap such that tensioning the tensioning member contracts the gap and pulls opposing sides of the sole structure together. As the sole structure contracts, the upper is pulled down on the foot, thereby tightening the upper around the foot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Publication number: 20160374433
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper with a forward covering portion and a rearward covering portion. The rearward covering portion can be adjusted between an open configuration for receiving a foot and a closed configuration for covering the foot. In the open configuration the rearward covering portion is approximately flat, while in the closed configuration the rearward covering portion has a three-dimensional shape. The rearward covering portion may be folded vertically between the open configuration and the closed configuration. A tensioning member can be used to control the configuration of the rearward covering portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Nadia M. Panian, Thomas J. Rushbrook
  • Patent number: 9526296
    Abstract: An article of footwear in which certain regions of the upper may be slippery, such that it is more difficult for a person to firmly grasp the article of footwear. The eyestays in the article of footwear are biased towards the lateral side of the footwear. The article of footwear also has an outer sole with ridges at, for example, the back of the heel, the ball-of-the foot regions on the lateral and medial sides, respectively, of the article of footwear, and at the toe region. The ridges are angled downward, such that the wearer of the footwear may have increased traction by digging the ridges into the ground or into a playing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Bryant Russell Klug, Nadia M. Panian, Nathan G. Schultze, Matthew C. Palmer, Kevin J. Rucier, Tobie D. Hatfield, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Aaron K. Seid
  • Publication number: 20160366979
    Abstract: A warp knit element for an article of footwear includes a plurality of strap members that are separated by a slit. The strap members are formed of unitary knit construction to be joined at a junction. Edges that define the strap member extend generally in a warp direction on the knit element. The knit element can provide stretch resistance to the article of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Scott C. Holt, Thomas J. Rushbrook, Sam Amis