Patents by Inventor William A. Brunais

William A. Brunais 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: 8241450
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber may include utilizing one of a blowmolding and a thermoforming process to define a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall surface of the chamber. An aperture is defined through the first surface in a location where the first surface is spaced from the second surface. A pressurization apparatus is located adjacent to the first surface and around the aperture, and the pressurization apparatus is utilized to inject a fluid into the chamber through the aperture, compress the first surface against the second surface, and form a bond around the aperture and between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun J. Hensley, Stuart C. Forstrom, William A. Brunais
  • Publication number: 20090151195
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber may include utilizing one of a blowmolding and a thermoforming process to define a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall surface of the chamber. An aperture is defined through the first surface in a location where the first surface is spaced from the second surface. A pressurization apparatus is located adjacent to the first surface and around the aperture, and the pressurization apparatus is utilized to inject a fluid into the chamber through the aperture, compress the first surface against the second surface, and form a bond around the aperture and between the first surface and the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: STUART C. FORSTROM, SHAUN J. HENSLEY, WILLIAM A. BRUNAIS
  • Publication number: 20090152774
    Abstract: A mold may include mold portions that each includes a surface, a cavity formed in the surface, and a movable frame that extends around the cavity. In manufacturing a fluid-filled chamber, a parison may be located between the mold portions. The mold portions are moved toward the parison such that the frames contact and compress opposite sides of the parison to form a first bond between the opposite sides of the parison. The parison is also compressed between the mold portions such that opposite sides of the parison are shaped within the cavities to define the chamber and form a second bond immediately adjacent to the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: SHAUN J. HENSLEY, STUART C. FORSTROM, WILLIAM A. BRUNAIS
  • Publication number: 20060064901
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear and a method for manufacturing the chamber are disclosed. The chamber may be incorporated into a sole structure of the footwear and includes a central area and a plurality of lobes extending outward from the central area. The lobes are in fluid communication with the central area and are formed from a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall. The sidewall joins with the first surface with the second surface to seal the fluid within the chamber, but no internal connections are generally utilized to join interior portions of the first surface with interior portions of the second surface. The fluid within the chamber may be air at a pressure that is approximately equal to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Hensley, William Brunais, John Swigart, Eric Schindler
  • Publication number: 20050011607
    Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber for an article of footwear and a method for manufacturing the chamber are disclosed. The chamber may be incorporated into a sole structure of the footwear and includes a central area and a plurality of lobes extending outward from the central area. The lobes are in fluid communication with the central area and are formed from a first surface, a second surface, and a sidewall. The sidewall joins with the first surface with the second surface to seal the fluid within the chamber, but no internal connections are generally utilized to join interior portions of the first surface with interior portions of the second surface. The fluid within the chamber may be air at a pressure that is approximately equal to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Publication date: January 20, 2005
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Shaun Hensley, William Brunais