Patents by Inventor William C. McFarland, II

William C. McFarland, II 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: 20190281927
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear including forming a first upper on a textile manufacturing machine and forming a second upper on the textile manufacturing machine at a time that at least partially overlaps with formation of the first upper. The first upper and the second upper are formed at separate locations of the textile manufacturing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Publication date: September 19, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. McFarland, II, Kristen Orme
  • Patent number: 10349702
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear including forming a first upper on a textile manufacturing machine and forming a second upper on the textile manufacturing machine at a time that at least partially overlaps with formation of the first upper. The first upper and the second upper are formed at separate locations of the textile manufacturing machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. McFarland, II, Kristen Orme
  • Patent number: 10349700
    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: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    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: 20190191822
    Abstract: An article of footwear may include an inner knit layer forming a void dimensioned for receipt of at least a portion of a foot, along with an outer knit layer, where the outer knit layer at least partially surrounds the inner knit layer. The outer knit layer may define window for viewing of the inner knit layer, the window being located at an overfoot portion of the article of footwear, and the window exposing a portion of the inner knit layer. The inner knit layer may be movable relative to the outer knit layer at the window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant R. Klug, Timothy K. Liles, John S. MacGilbert, William C. McFarland, II
  • Patent number: 10251448
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to an article of footwear with multiple layers. The article of footwear may include an inner layer with a void dimensioned for receipt of at least a portion of a foot. The article of footwear may also include an outer layer, where the outer layer at least partially surrounds the inner layer. A midsole may be disposed between the inner and outer layers, where the midsole is secured to the inner layer and the outer layer to thereby form an indirect coupling between the inner layer and the outer layer. The inner layer may be movable relative to the outer layer at one or more locations separate from the indirect coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant Russell Klug, Timothy K. Liles, II, John S. MacGilbert, William C. McFarland, II
  • Publication number: 20190059510
    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: July 20, 2017
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    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: 20190037967
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present disclosure provides knitted component comprising with a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing opposite the second surface. A pod may have the first surface and the second surface, and an edge region may have the first surface and the second surface, where the edge region at least partially demarcates the pod. A first yarn may substantially form the first surface of the pod, where the first yarn is a fusible yarn. A second yarn may substantially form the second surface of the pod, and the second yarn may substantially form the first surface of the edge region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2018
    Publication date: February 7, 2019
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. McFarland, II, Leah M. Resneck, Nikita A. Troufanov
  • Patent number: 10145037
    Abstract: A multi-carrier, zonal weaving system and method of manufacturing a zonal woven material is provided. The multi-carrier system includes a first weft yarn, a second weft yarn, and one or more intermediate warp yarns for wrapping by the first and second weft yarns. The zonal weaving method includes receiving a first weft yarn from a first origin via a first shed, wrapping it around one or more zonal warp yarns, and returned to the first weft origin after the first shed upper and lower yarns are exchanged. In further aspects, a second weft yarn is received from a second weft origin via a second shed, wrapped around the same intermediate, zonal warp yarns, and returned to the second weft origin after exchange of the second shed yarns. In one aspect, the first and second weft yarns are interlocked during wrapping of the common warp yarns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Carrie L. Davis, Megan Foley, William C. McFarland, II
  • Publication number: 20180177261
    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: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    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: 20180116327
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to uppers for articles of footwear. The uppers may be formed by knitting one or more yarns together. After formation of the upper, the one or more yarns may be manipulated to change a property of the knitted upper. For example, one or more of the yarns may be at least partially melted and subsequently cooled to form a molded thermoplastic polymer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: May 3, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: William C. McFARLAND, II, Leah RESNECK
  • Publication number: 20180070678
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing articles of footwear including forming a first upper on a textile manufacturing machine and forming a second upper on the textile manufacturing machine at a time that at least partially overlaps with formation of the first upper. The first upper and the second upper are formed at separate locations of the textile manufacturing machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Publication date: March 15, 2018
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. McFarland, II, Kristen Orme
  • Publication number: 20170245581
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to uppers for articles of footwear. The uppers may be formed by knitting one or more yarns together. After formation of the upper, the one or more yarns may be manipulated to change a property of the knitted upper. For example, one or more of the yarns may be at least partially melted and subsequently cooled to form a molded thermoplastic polymer element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, INC.
    Inventors: William C. McFARLAND, II, Leah RESNECK
  • Publication number: 20170245582
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knitted component having a first yarn and a second yarn, where the first yarn comprises a core with a sheath, the sheath being formed of a thermoplastic material having a melting temperature. The second yarn may be substantially free of the thermoplastic material. The knitted component may further comprise a first layer having a first surface and a second layer having a second surface, where the first layer and the second layer are secured via a knit structure of the knitted component, and where the knitted component further comprises a first region and a second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Jessica Green, Chun-Ying Hsu, Jaroslav J. Lupinek, Darryl Matthews, William C. McFarland, II, Yi-Ning Yang, Chen-Ying Han
  • Publication number: 20170218541
    Abstract: A multi-carrier, zonal weaving system and method of manufacturing a zonal woven material is provided. The multi-carrier system includes a first weft yarn, a second weft yarn, and one or more intermediate warp yarns for wrapping by the first and second weft yarns. The zonal weaving method includes receiving a first weft yarn from a first origin via a first shed, wrapping it around one or more zonal warp yarns, and returned to the first weft origin after the first shed upper and lower yarns are exchanged. In further aspects, a second weft yarn is received from a second weft origin via a second shed, wrapped around the same intermediate, zonal warp yarns, and returned to the second weft origin after exchange of the second shed yarns. In one aspect, the first and second weft yarns are interlocked during wrapping of the common warp yarns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2017
    Publication date: August 3, 2017
    Inventors: Carrie L. Davis, Megan Foley, William C. McFarland, II
  • Publication number: 20170202311
    Abstract: The present embodiments generally relate to an article of footwear with multiple layers. The article of footwear may include an inner layer with a void dimensioned for receipt of at least a portion of a foot. The article of footwear may also include an outer layer, where the outer layer at least partially surrounds the inner layer. A midsole may be disposed between the inner and outer layers, where the midsole is secured to the inner layer and the outer layer to thereby form an indirect coupling between the inner layer and the outer layer. The inner layer may be movable relative to the outer layer at one or more locations separate from the indirect coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bryant Russell Klug, Timothy K. Liles, II, John S. MacGilbert, William C. McFarland, II
  • Publication number: 20170202295
    Abstract: A method of knitting a knitted component for an upper of an article of footwear is provided. The method may include using a flat knitting machine. The upper may be configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The method may include performing a pass of at least one yarn feeder along the longitudinal axis relative to first and second needle beds, feeding at least one yarn with the at least one feeder during the pass, forming, during the pass, a plurality of first loops with the first needles to define a first portion of the knitted component, and forming, during the pass, a plurality of second loops with the second needles to define a second portion of the knitted component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Publication date: July 20, 2017
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. MacGilbert, William C. McFarland, II