Patents by Inventor Zvi Rapaport
Zvi Rapaport 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: 9854877Abstract: A graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The graphic transfer assembly includes an inflatable member that is capable of expanding to fill the interior of an article of footwear. The graphic transfer assembly can include a fluid pump for filling the inflatable member.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2015Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 9788611Abstract: A method of using an inflatable member to customize an article is described. An inflatable member includes at least one adjustable portion. The inflatable member may be inserted into an article. The position of the adjustable portion can be changed according to the size of the article. The inflatable member can also be filled with fluid according to the size of the article. The inflatable member may be used to adjust the size of an article. The inflatable member may be used to apply a graphic to an article.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: October 17, 2017Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 9522497Abstract: A thermoforming system includes a vacuum device operable to simultaneously hold a first object and a second object that are overlapped and abutted against each other. The system also includes a thermoforming machine that simultaneously receives the first object and the second object from the vacuum device. The thermoforming machine is further configured to heat the first and second objects. The thermoforming machine is further configured to attach the first and second objects together. Moreover, the thermoforming machine is configured to form the first and second objects into a thermoformed article.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 2014Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Chad E. Howard, Zvi Rapaport
-
Publication number: 20160135546Abstract: A method of using an inflatable member to customize an article is described. An inflatable member includes at least one adjustable portion. The inflatable member may be inserted into an article. The position of the adjustable portion can be changed according to the size of the article. The inflatable member can also be filled with fluid according to the size of the article. The inflatable member may be used to adjust the size of an article. The inflatable member may be used to apply a graphic to an article.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2016Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 9277786Abstract: A method of using an inflatable member to customize an article is described. An inflatable member includes at least one adjustable portion. The inflatable member may be inserted into an article. The position of the adjustable portion can be changed according to the size of the article. The inflatable member can also be filled with fluid according to the size of the article. The inflatable member may be used to adjust the size of an article. The inflatable member may be used to apply a graphic to an article.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2013Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Publication number: 20150189953Abstract: A graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The graphic transfer assembly includes an inflatable member that is capable of expanding to fill the interior of an article of footwear. The graphic transfer assembly can include a fluid pump for filling the inflatable member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2015Publication date: July 9, 2015Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 8961723Abstract: A graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The graphic transfer assembly includes an inflatable member that is capable of expanding to fill the interior of an article of footwear. The graphic transfer assembly can include a fluid pump for filling the inflatable member.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2011Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Publication number: 20140252689Abstract: A thermoforming system includes a vacuum device operable to simultaneously hold a first object and a second object that are overlapped and abutted against each other. The system also includes a thermoforming machine that simultaneously receives the first object and the second object from the vacuum device. The thermoforming machine is further configured to heat the first and second objects. The thermoforming machine is further configured to attach the first and second objects together. Moreover, the thermoforming machine is configured to form the first and second objects into a thermoformed article.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2014Publication date: September 11, 2014Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Chad E. Howard, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 8777787Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing, an intermediate layer, and a bladder. In manufacturing the sport ball, a panel element of the casing and the bladder may be located in a mold, and a polymer foam material of the intermediate layer may be injected into an area between the bladder and the panel element. In addition, edges of panel element may be heatbonded to each other to join the panel elements and form seams of the casing.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey C. Raynak, Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Mark McNamee
-
Patent number: 8709332Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article includes simultaneously holding, with a vacuum device, a first object and a second object that are overlapped and abutted against each other. The method also includes simultaneously transporting the first and second objects relative to a machine. Still further, the method includes attaching the first and second objects together with the machine.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Chad E. Howard
-
Publication number: 20140075688Abstract: A method of using an inflatable member to customize an article is described. An inflatable member includes at least one adjustable portion. The inflatable member may be inserted into an article. The position of the adjustable portion can be changed according to the size of the article. The inflatable member can also be filled with fluid according to the size of the article. The inflatable member may be used to adjust the size of an article. The inflatable member may be used to apply a graphic to an article.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 20, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 8673102Abstract: A method of thermoforming an inflatable structure of dissimilar materials includes the steps of providing a first sheet formed of a first material and a second sheet formed of a second material different than the first material, the second sheet being spaced from the first sheet, and a valve being positioned between the first and second sheets; heating the first and second sheets to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point; bonding the first and second sheets together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities to form an inflatable structure having a seal around a periphery thereof, the valve extending through the seal and being in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure; and trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2006Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Michael Kemery, Tobin N. Guild, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 8597450Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder. The casing may form at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder may be located within the casing and formed from a plurality of polymer bladder elements joined along abutting edges to form a sealed and valveless structure that encloses a pressurized gas. In some configurations, the bladder may be at least partially formed from an ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane material.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Bhupesh Dua
-
Patent number: 8578534Abstract: An inflatable member includes at least one adjustable portion. The inflatable member may be inserted into an article. The position of the adjustable portion can be changed according to the size of the article. The inflatable member can also be filled with fluid according to the size of the article. The inflatable member may be to adjust the size of an article.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2011Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
-
Patent number: 8394221Abstract: A fluid-filled may include including an outer barrier, a tensile member, and a fluid. The tensile member may be located within barrier and formed from a textile element that includes a pair of spaced layers joined by a plurality of connecting members. A method of manufacturing the chamber may include locating a textile tensile member between two polymer elements. Pressure and heat are applied to the tensile member and the polymer elements in a first area and in a second area. The pressure is greater in the first area than in the second area. In addition, the polymer elements are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Darren C. Davison
-
Publication number: 20130020743Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article includes simultaneously holding, with a vacuum device, a first object and a second object that are overlapped and abutted against each other. The method also includes simultaneously transporting the first and second objects relative to a machine. Still further, the method includes attaching the first and second objects together with the machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2011Publication date: January 24, 2013Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Chad E. Howard
-
Patent number: 8308883Abstract: A fluid-filled may include including an outer barrier, a tensile member, and a fluid. The tensile member may be located within barrier and formed from a textile element that includes a pair of spaced layers joined by a plurality of connecting members. A method of manufacturing the chamber may include locating a textile tensile member between two polymer elements. Pressure and heat are applied to the tensile member and the polymer elements in a first area and in a second area. The pressure is greater in the first area than in the second area. In addition, the polymer elements are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2012Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Darren C. Davison
-
Publication number: 20120234467Abstract: A sport ball may include a casing and a bladder. The casing may form at least a portion of an exterior surface of the ball. The bladder may be located within the casing and formed from a plurality of polymer bladder elements joined along abutting edges to form a sealed and valveless structure that encloses a pressurized gas. In some configurations, the bladder may be at least partially formed from an ether-based thermoplastic polyurethane material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2012Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Bhupesh Dua
-
Publication number: 20120216943Abstract: A fluid-filled may include including an outer barrier, a tensile member, and a fluid. The tensile member may be located within barrier and formed from a textile element that includes a pair of spaced layers joined by a plurality of connecting members. A method of manufacturing the chamber may include locating a textile tensile member between two polymer elements. Pressure and heat are applied to the tensile member and the polymer elements in a first area and in a second area. The pressure is greater in the first area than in the second area. In addition, the polymer elements are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: August 30, 2012Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Darren C. Davison
-
Publication number: 20120211147Abstract: A fluid-filled may include including an outer barrier, a tensile member, and a fluid. The tensile member may be located within barrier and formed from a textile element that includes a pair of spaced layers joined by a plurality of connecting members. A method of manufacturing the chamber may include locating a textile tensile member between two polymer elements. Pressure and heat are applied to the tensile member and the polymer elements in a first area and in a second area. The pressure is greater in the first area than in the second area. In addition, the polymer elements are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2012Publication date: August 23, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Darren C. Davison