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: 20240042679
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2023
    Publication date: February 8, 2024
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Patent number: 11826948
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Publication number: 20230292879
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Publication date: September 21, 2023
    Applicant: 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: 20230180890
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Dervin A. James, Ryan R. Larson, Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 11647808
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: 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: 20230081164
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Applicant: 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: 11597172
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20220395052
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Publication date: December 15, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20220305721
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: September 29, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Patent number: 11425961
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20220205152
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Publication date: June 30, 2022
    Inventors: Justin Lee Gladish, Naomi Morrison, Trina Z. Murrietta, Carissa J. Rozinka, Todd A. Waatti, Lawrence Yow Yun
  • Patent number: 11364676
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Patent number: 11358340
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20220118725
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20220071343
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: March 10, 2022
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Patent number: 11220075
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 11214024
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 11185123
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Publication number: 20210354367
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2021
    Publication date: November 18, 2021
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Patent number: 11097466
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman