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).

  • Patent number: 9676159
    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: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20170129176
    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: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Publication number: 20170129178
    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: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Publication number: 20170129172
    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 9, 2015
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Inventors: Todd A. Waatti, Yoav Sterman
  • Publication number: 20170006968
    Abstract: An article of footwear having printed structures disposed on the article by a three-dimensional printer is disclosed. The printed structures include extended portions and fastener receiving portions. The extended portions are at least partially embedded in the upper. The fastener receiving portions are at least partially spaced apart from an exterior surface of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2016
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 9474331
    Abstract: An article of footwear having printed structures disposed on the article by a three-dimensional printer is disclosed. The printed structures include extended portions and fastener receiving portions. The extended portions are at least partially embedded in the upper. The fastener receiving portions are at least partially spaced apart from an exterior surface of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20160242505
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The upper includes elongated members extending from a lower peripheral portion that mechanically connect the upper to a sole structure. The sole structure includes several recesses for engaging the elongated members. The upper and/or the elongated members can be printed using a three-dimensional printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventor: Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20160242503
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure. The upper includes elongated members extending from a lower peripheral portion that mechanically connect the upper to a sole structure. The sole structure includes several recesses for engaging the elongated members. The upper and/or the elongated members can be printed using a three-dimensional printer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Inventor: Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 9410270
    Abstract: A system, method, and thread structure composition are disclosed. The thread structure composition includes a first thread and a second thread. The second thread includes a heat moldable material that is moldable above a predetermined temperature. The first thread remains in a solid form at temperatures substantially above the predetermined temperature. The second thread is twisted around the first thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20160219982
    Abstract: An article of footwear having printed structures disposed on the article by a three-dimensional printer is disclosed. The printed structures include extended portions and fastener receiving portions. The extended portions are at least partially embedded in the upper. The fastener receiving portions are at least partially spaced apart from an exterior surface of the upper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventor: Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 9371115
    Abstract: A quick detachable fin hold system for quickly removing and changing the fins on kiteboards and wakeboards or the like. Operated by activating a lever that presses against the board surface or another surface attached to the board and pulls against the clip body and the pins attached to the fin. This action positively tightens the fin to the board. To remove simply lift the lever to loosen the assembly, slide the clip body along the slots and the pins pull out of the hole on the clip body and through the holes in the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventors: Wade Hammerstrom, Lorin Erickson, Todd A Waatti
  • Publication number: 20160089816
    Abstract: An image displaying device includes a background layer and a display layer. The display layer includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is substantially smooth, and the outer surface includes a plurality of raised areas and recessed areas. The display layer has a first zone with a first thickness measured between the inner surface and a raised area and a second zone with a second thickness measured between the inner surface and a recessed area. The display layer also includes a coloring agent having a higher concentration in the first zone as compared to the second zone. The display layer has increased light transmissivity through the recessed areas and decreased light transmissivity through the raised areas such that a contrast of light transmissivity between the raised and recessed areas generates an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Publication date: March 31, 2016
    Inventors: James E. Diepenbrock, Connie A. Sarkinen, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20160053410
    Abstract: A system, method, and thread structure composition are disclosed. The thread structure composition includes a first thread and a second thread. The second thread includes a heat moldable material that is moldable above a predetermined temperature. The first thread remains in a solid form at temperatures substantially above the predetermined temperature. The second thread is twisted around the first thread.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2014
    Publication date: February 25, 2016
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 9216552
    Abstract: An image displaying device includes a background layer and a display layer. The display layer includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is substantially smooth, and the outer surface includes a plurality of raised areas and recessed areas. The display layer has a first zone with a first thickness measured between the inner surface and a raised area and a second zone with a second thickness measured between the inner surface and a recessed area. The display layer also includes a coloring agent having a higher concentration in the first zone as compared to the second zone. The display layer has increased light transmissivity through the recessed areas and decreased light transmissivity through the raised areas such that a contrast of light transmissivity between the raised and recessed areas generates an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Diepenbrock, Connie A. Sarkinen, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20150321418
    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: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20150321434
    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: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoav Sterman, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20150031254
    Abstract: A quick detachable fin hold system for quickly removing and changing the fins on kiteboards and wakeboards or the like. Operated by activating a lever that presses against the board surface or another surface attached to the board and pulls against the clip body and the pins attached to the fin. This action positively tightens the fin to the board. To remove simply lift the lever to loosen the assembly, slide the clip body along the slots and the pins pull out of the hole on the clip body and through the holes in the board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Wade Hammerstrom, Lorin Erickson, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20140333005
    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: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Inventors: John T. Stites, Gary G. Tavares, Todd A. Waatti
  • Publication number: 20140020265
    Abstract: An image displaying device includes a background layer and a display layer. The display layer includes an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface is substantially smooth, and the outer surface includes a plurality of raised areas and recessed areas. The display layer has a first zone with a first thickness measured between the inner surface and a raised area and a second zone with a second thickness measured between the inner surface and a recessed area. The display layer also includes a coloring agent having a higher concentration in the first zone as compared to the second zone. The display layer has increased light transmissivity through the recessed areas and decreased light transmissivity through the raised areas such that a contrast of light transmissivity between the raised and recessed areas generates an image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Inventors: James E. Diepenbrock, Connie A. Sarkinen, Todd A. Waatti
  • Patent number: 8516724
    Abstract: An image displaying device includes a background layer that is substantially opaque. The device also includes a display layer that is semi-transparent. The display layer includes an inner surface facing the background layer, and the inner surface is substantially smooth. The display layer further includes an outer surface facing away from the background layer, and the outer surface includes a plurality of raised areas and a plurality of recessed areas. The display layer has increased light transmissivity through the recessed areas and decreased light transmissivity through the raised areas such that a contrast of light transmissivity between the raised and recessed areas generates an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: James E. Diepenbrock, Connie A. Sarkinen, Todd A. Waatti