Patents by Inventor Thomas White

Thomas White 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: 20260132551
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a dynamic textile structure capable of expansion and contraction, the textile structure including a first textile layer, a second textile layer, and a support framework including a plurality of anchor strands possessing stretch and recovery, where each of the first textile layer and the second textile layer is coupled to an anchor strand of the plurality of anchor strands at an anchor point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2025
    Publication date: May 14, 2026
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Thomas White, James Shih-Tien Huang
  • Patent number: 12617183
    Abstract: An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2026
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Daniel Lee, Roger Fan, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 12480234
    Abstract: A woven textile structure is formed by weaving a first woven layer including first yarns and weaving a second woven layer including first yarns, where the woven layers are arranged in a stacked manner and are separated from each other. During the weaving of the first and second woven layers, second yarns are inserted along an intermediate span in the weft direction of the woven textile structure, where the second yarns are elongated to an elongated length during the insertion in the weft direction. First yarns of the first woven layer are interlaced with first yarns of the second woven layer and a second yarn of the intermediate span at a plurality of interlacing locations along the woven textile structure so as to define stitches at each interlacing location, where each stitch joins the first woven layer with the second woven layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2025
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Thomas White, James Shih-Tien Huang
  • Patent number: 12338555
    Abstract: A woven textile structure is formed by weaving a first woven layer including first yarns and weaving a second woven layer including first yarns, where the woven layers are arranged in a stacked manner and are separated from each other. During the weaving of the first and second woven layers, second yarns are inserted along an intermediate span in the weft direction of the woven textile structure, where the second yarns are elongated to an elongated length during the insertion in the weft direction. First yarns of the first woven layer are interlaced with first yarns of the second woven layer and a second yarn of the intermediate span at a plurality of interlacing locations along the woven textile structure so as to define stitches at each interlacing location, where each stitch joins the first woven layer with the second woven layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Thomas White, James Shih-Tien Huang
  • Publication number: 20250176672
    Abstract: A method of forming an upper for an article of footwear includes depositing a fibrous material over a shoe last to form a fibrous material layer, where the fibrous material layer forms a portion of an upper of the article of footwear, flowing a polymer material within a mold so as to conform with a lower portion of the upper including the fibrous material layer, and drying the polymer material to form a sole structure for the article of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2025
    Publication date: June 5, 2025
    Inventors: James Webster, Thomas White, Kevin Fallon
  • Publication number: 20250128499
    Abstract: An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2024
    Publication date: April 24, 2025
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Daniel Lee, Roger Fan, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 12232564
    Abstract: A method of forming an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a first material layer over a shoe last, providing a second material layer over the first material layer such that the first and second material layers adhere to each other at an interface between the first and second material layers, where one or both of the first material layer and second material layer is provided by spray forming a polymer material onto the last. The material layers are removed from the last and turned inside out such that the first material layer includes an exposed surface that forms an exterior surface of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: James Webster, Thomas White, Kevin Fallon
  • Patent number: 12202244
    Abstract: An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2025
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Daniel Lee, Roger Fan, Thomas White
  • Publication number: 20240401251
    Abstract: A woven textile structure is formed by weaving a first woven layer including first yarns and weaving a second woven layer including first yarns, where the woven layers are arranged in a stacked manner and are separated from each other. During the weaving of the first and second woven layers, second yarns are inserted along an intermediate span in the weft direction of the woven textile structure, where the second yarns are elongated to an elongated length during the insertion in the weft direction. First yarns of the first woven layer are interlaced with first yarns of the second woven layer and a second yarn of the intermediate span at a plurality of interlacing locations along the woven textile structure so as to define stitches at each interlacing location, where each stitch joins the first woven layer with the second woven layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: December 5, 2024
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Thomas White, James Shih-Tien Huang
  • Patent number: 12146246
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper attached to the sole structure. The upper is formed from a textile including interlocked strands oriented in a predetermined configuration. The strands include one or more inelastic strands operable to provide stretch and/or recovery properties to the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dombrow, Kevin P. Fallon, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 12091786
    Abstract: A textile upper for an article of footwear includes at least one microclimate modulation structure located at one or more regions of the upper. In an embodiment, a microclimate modulation structure includes a plurality of knitted strands, the knitted strands including a first strand type and a second strand type, the first strand type having a greater thermal conductivity than the second strand type. In another embodiment, the microclimate modulation structure includes an uneven surface that includes a plurality of knitted beams and a plurality of indentations defined between the knitted beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: David Dombrow, Kevin P. Fallon, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 12037726
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an article of footwear includes a first braided layer and a second braided layer. The first braided layer passes along an upper surface of a midsole while the second braided layer passes along a lower surface of the midsole. In another embodiment, an article of footwear includes a first braided layer and a second braided layer. The first braided layer passes along an upper surface of a plate while the second braided layer passes along a lower surface of the plate. The plate includes a plurality of apertures. The plurality of apertures are configured to receive ground engaging members. In another embodiment, an article of footwear includes a unitary braided component that includes a first layer and a second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Santos, John Acevedo, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 12018411
    Abstract: A woven textile structure is formed by weaving a first woven layer including first yarns and weaving a second woven layer including first yarns, where the woven layers are arranged in a stacked manner and are separated from each other. During the weaving of the first and second woven layers, second yarns are inserted along an intermediate span in the weft direction of the woven textile structure, where the second yarns are elongated to an elongated length during the insertion in the weft direction. First yarns of the first woven layer are interlaced with first yarns of the second woven layer and a second yarn of the intermediate span at a plurality of interlacing locations along the woven textile structure so as to define stitches at each interlacing location, where each stitch joins the first woven layer with the second woven layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Thomas White, James Shih-Tien Huang
  • Publication number: 20230405970
    Abstract: An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Daniel Lee, Roger Fan, Thomas White
  • Publication number: 20230292884
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Inventors: Jason Berns, Julian Ellis, Tom Luedecke, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 11717054
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Berns, Julian Ellis, Tom Luedecke, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 11701862
    Abstract: An article of apparel includes a composite material. The composite material includes a pliable first layer and a resilient second layer, where the first and second layers are secured to each other via a patterned strand network. In forming the composite material, the second layer is stretched and maintained under tension while the first layer is secured to the second layer via the patterned strand network. The tension on the second layer is then released, resulting in contraction of the second layer in relation to the first layer and an outward buckling or protrusion of the first layer in relation to the second layer to form protruding cells along the composite material that are bounded by portions of the patterned strand network. The patterned strand network can be formed using embroidery with one or more auxetic patterns in the stitching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Daniel Lee, Roger Fan, Thomas White
  • Patent number: 11596203
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper at least partially formed of a textile element. The textile element includes a yarn matrix having a plurality of interlocked strands oriented in predetermined directions. A structural element may be captured within the matrix at selected locations. In operation, the matrix is stitched onto a temporary substrate. The substrate is removed and the article coupled to a sole structure to form the article of footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Berns, Julian Ellis, Tom Luedecke, Thomas White
  • Patent number: D977802
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Thomas White, James Shih-Tien Huang
  • Patent number: D1063357
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Under Armour, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Toronjo, Thomas White, James Shih-Tien Huang