Patents by Inventor Todd A. Waatti
Todd A. Waatti 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: 20250043475Abstract: An engineered textile includes a plurality of yarn strands with a subset extending in a substantially parallel and spaced arrangement and a bonding material extending across the plurality of yarn strands. The bonding material encapsulates a portion of each yarn strand to bond adjacent ones of the plurality of yarn strands together.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2024Publication date: February 6, 2025Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: EunYoung Byun, Kevin R. Derr, Martin E. Evans, HoEun Kim, Eun Kyung Lee, Gwen Marks, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Todd A. Waatti, Chun-Hao Hsu, HyunWoo Jeon, Hyo Young Kim, TaeYoon Kim, I-Han Lan, Yi-Chia Liang
-
Patent number: 12193521Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a tubular knit sleeve for a below-the-knee amputee where the tubular knit sleeve includes zoned grip features, zoned cushioning features, zoned traction features, and zoned breathability/permeability features that facilitate the wearer participating in athletic activities, such as wrestling, without a prosthetic leg.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2021Date of Patent: January 14, 2025Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Justin Lee Gladish, Naomi Morrison, Trina Z. Murrietta, Carissa J. Rozinka, Todd A. Waatti, Lawrence Yow Yun
-
Patent number: 12049051Abstract: A system and method for forming 3D printed structures includes one or more anchor portions on a base component. Additional materials can be printed on or adjacent to the anchor portions to provide additional structural components bonded to the anchor portions. These structures can be printed on, and can be a part of, a base component of an article of apparel.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2021Date of Patent: July 30, 2024Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20240042679Abstract: A method and system are disclosed. A method of printing onto a base having an upper surface spaced from a lower surface by a base thickness includes dispensing a yarn from a nozzle of a printing system and selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region. The step of dispensing the yarn includes dispensing a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material. The step of selectively attaching the yarn to the first attachment region includes moving the nozzle into the first attachment region. The step of moving the nozzle into the first attachment region reduces the base thickness by a prodding distance. The heat-moldable material bonds to the first attachment region.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 23, 2023Publication date: February 8, 2024Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
-
Patent number: 11826948Abstract: A method and system are disclosed. A method of printing onto a base having an upper surface spaced from a lower surface by a base thickness includes dispensing a yarn from a nozzle of a printing system and selectively attaching the yarn to a first attachment region. The step of dispensing the yarn includes dispensing a heat-moldable material and a melt-resistant material. The step of selectively attaching the yarn to the first attachment region includes moving the nozzle into the first attachment region. The step of moving the nozzle into the first attachment region reduces the base thickness by a prodding distance. The heat-moldable material bonds to the first attachment region.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
-
Publication number: 20230292879Abstract: A method for forming a plate includes attaching a first strand portion to a flexible substrate to form a first layer on the substrate and positioning a second strand portion on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a plurality of discrete regions on the substrate. The method also includes positioning a plurality of traction elements into corresponding cavities formed into a first mold surface and positioning the substrate on the first mold surface to change a shape of the substrate. At least one of heat and pressure is applied to the first strand portion, the second strand portion, the substrate, and the traction elements to conform the substrate to the shape of the first mold surface and form the traction elements into the substrate at each of the discrete regions. The method also includes incorporating the substrate into an article of footwear.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2023Publication date: September 21, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Sam Amis, Aaron Bartel, Stefan E. Guest, Sam Lacey, William C. McFarland, II, Christian Alexander Steinbeck, Yoav Sterman, Adam Thuss, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20230180890Abstract: A bladder for a wearable article, the bladder comprising a first barrier sheet including a first surface and a second surface disposed on an opposite side from the first surface, a second barrier sheet including a third surface and a fourth surface disposed on an opposite side from the third surface and attached to the second surface of the first barrier sheet to define a chamber, and a bead layer disposed on at least one of the second surface or the fourth surface within the chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 1, 2022Publication date: June 15, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Dervin A. James, Ryan R. Larson, Todd A. Waatti
-
Patent number: 11647808Abstract: A method for forming a plate includes attaching a first strand portion to a flexible substrate to form a first layer on the substrate and positioning a second strand portion on the first layer to form a second layer on the first layer in a plurality of discrete regions on the substrate. The method also includes positioning a plurality of traction elements into corresponding cavities formed into a first mold surface and positioning the substrate on the first mold surface to change a shape of the substrate. At least one of heat and pressure is applied to the first strand portion, the second strand portion, the substrate, and the traction elements to conform the substrate to the shape of the first mold surface and form the traction elements into the substrate at each of the discrete regions. The method also includes incorporating the substrate into an article of footwear.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2020Date of Patent: May 16, 2023Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Sam Amis, Aaron Bartel, Stefan E. Guest, Sam Lacey, William C. McFarland, II, Christian Alexander Steinbeck, Yoav Sterman, Adam Thuss, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20230081164Abstract: A method of creating an engineered textile includes placing a yarn-wound jig on an upper surface of a substrate, selectively printing or extruding a bonding material across the plurality of arranged yarn strands, solidifying the bonding material to bond adjacent ones of the plurality of arranged yarn strands together and form a bound plurality of arranged yarn strands, and removing the bound plurality of arranged yarn strands from the substrate and the frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2022Publication date: March 16, 2023Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: EunYoung Byun, Kevin R. Derr, Martin E. Evans, Ho Eun Kim, Eun Kyung Lee, Gwen Marks, Matthew D. Nordstrom, Todd A. Waatti, Chun-Hao Hsu, HyunWoo Jeon, Hyo Young Kim, TaeYoon Kim, I-Han Lan, Yi-Chia Liang
-
Patent number: 11597172Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include: (a) a golf club head base member including a face member having a ball striking face; and (b) a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is formed via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process) and/or engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process). The polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the club head in some structures.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20220395052Abstract: A method of forming a traced element is disclosed. The method may include printing layers of a traced element and incorporating a textile strand in overlapping polymer layers of the traced element. In some embodiments, the traced element may be formed on a base layer. The traced element may be incorporated into an upper for an article of footwear.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2022Publication date: December 15, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20220305721Abstract: A method and apparatus for bonding a yarn to a wearable article includes bonding the yarn to the wearable article at a first portion and a second portion. A first bonding location and a second bonding location are spaced apart from one another on a surface of the wearable article and an intermediate portion of the yarn extends contiguously between the first bonding location and the second bonding location and is not bonded to the wearable article.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2022Publication date: September 29, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
-
Patent number: 11425961Abstract: A method of forming a traced element is disclosed. The method may include printing layers of a traced element and incorporating a textile strand in overlapping polymer layers of the traced element. In some embodiments, the traced element may be formed on a base layer. The traced element may be incorporated into an upper for an article of footwear.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2019Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20220205152Abstract: Aspects herein are directed to a tubular knit sleeve for a below-the-knee amputee where the tubular knit sleeve includes zoned grip features, zoned cushioning features, zoned traction features, and zoned breathability/permeability features that facilitate the wearer participating in athletic activities, such as wrestling, without a prosthetic leg.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2021Publication date: June 30, 2022Inventors: Justin Lee Gladish, Naomi Morrison, Trina Z. Murrietta, Carissa J. Rozinka, Todd A. Waatti, Lawrence Yow Yun
-
Patent number: 11364676Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed. A method of printing onto a base includes providing a yarn from a material source disposed in a printing system. The yarn is an elongated continuous piece including a tagging segment and a reel segment. The reel segment is disposed proximate the material source. The tagging segment extends from a nozzle of the printing system. The method further includes attaching the tagging segment to the base and moving the nozzle away from the tagging segment after the attaching the tagging segment to the base. The nozzle is moved by an actuating system of the printing system. The moving the nozzle along the base increases a tension between the tagging segment and the material source. The tension in the yarn pulls the reel segment from the material source.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
-
Patent number: 11358340Abstract: A system and method for forming 3D printed structures on a base component includes extruding material through a nozzle while moving the nozzle vertically. Extruded material flows from the nozzle and spreads outwardly upon contact with an underlying portion of material. The outward spread of material is controlled to form a desired geometry for the 3D printed structure. An optical sensing device may provide feedback for controlling the outward spread of material. Using a molding component, structures with anchored portions extending through openings in the base component can be formed.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2019Date of Patent: June 14, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20220118725Abstract: A system and method for forming 3D printed structures includes one or more anchor portions on a base component. Additional materials can be printed on or adjacent to the anchor portions to provide additional structural components bonded to the anchor portions. These structures can be printed on, and can be a part of, a base component of an article of apparel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 29, 2021Publication date: April 21, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
-
Publication number: 20220071343Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing onto a curved surface of an article are disclosed. An embodiment of a method may include receiving the article and extruding a composite yarn from a nozzle. A method may include attaching the composite yarn to the curved surface by moving the nozzle in a direction aligned with a first axis and a direction aligned with second axis along the curved surface. The first axis may be approximately normal to the print surface and the second axis may be approximately normal to the first direction. The article may be repositioned during printing to accommodate nozzle movement.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2021Publication date: March 10, 2022Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
-
Patent number: 11220075Abstract: Wood-type golf clubs and/or golf club heads include: (a) a golf club head base member including a face member having a ball striking face; and (b) a polymeric body member engaged with the golf club head base member, wherein the polymeric body member is formed via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process) and/or engaged with the golf club head base member via a rotational molding process (or other centrifugal force inducing molding process). The polymeric body member forms at least a portion of a crown member of the club head in some structures.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 2019Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing CorporationInventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti
-
Patent number: 11214024Abstract: A system and method for forming 3D printed structures includes printing an outer shell portion and filling an interior of the outer shell portion to form an inner portion. The outer shell portion and inner portion may have differing material properties. The outer shell portion may be anchored to the base component.Type: GrantFiled: April 4, 2019Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti