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).
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Patent number: 8241451Abstract: 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: May 20, 2008Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Darren C. Davison
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Publication number: 20120202627Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2012Publication date: August 9, 2012Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey C. Raynak, Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Mark McNamee
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Patent number: 8210973Abstract: 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: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Bhupesh Dua
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Patent number: 8182379Abstract: 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: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Geoffrey C. Raynak, Mark McNamee
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Publication number: 20110277250Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicants: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
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Publication number: 20110192537Abstract: 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: April 11, 2011Publication date: August 11, 2011Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
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Patent number: 7950432Abstract: 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: June 24, 2009Date of Patent: May 31, 2011Assignee: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
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Publication number: 20100326591Abstract: 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: June 24, 2009Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Elizabeth Langvin, Zvi Rapaport
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Publication number: 20090325745Abstract: 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: June 27, 2008Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White
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Publication number: 20090325744Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2008Publication date: December 31, 2009Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Geoffrey C. Raynak, Zvi Rapaport, Vincent F. White, Mark McNamee
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Publication number: 20090288313Abstract: 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: May 20, 2008Publication date: November 26, 2009Applicant: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Darren C. Davison
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Patent number: 7591919Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2007Date of Patent: September 22, 2009Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
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Patent number: 7588654Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2007Date of Patent: September 15, 2009Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
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Publication number: 20090045546Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
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Publication number: 20090045547Abstract: A fluid-filled chamber may include an outer barrier formed from a polymer material and a foam tensile member located within the outer barrier. In manufacturing the fluid-filled chamber, a mold may be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces between the outer barrier and various portions of the tensile member, thereby providing substantially uniform bonding between the outer barrier and the tensile member. Surfaces of the tensile member may also be contoured to substantially equalize compressive forces. In some configurations, the outer barrier and tensile member may be formed from thermoplastic polymer materials that form a direct bond between the outer barrier and surfaces of tensile member.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2007Publication date: February 19, 2009Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Eric S. Schindler, Zvi Rapaport
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Publication number: 20070069419Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2006Publication date: March 29, 2007Applicant: NIKE, INC.Inventors: Michael Kemery, Tobin Guild, Zvi Rapaport
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Patent number: 7156787Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a first side of a first material and a second side of a second material different from the first material. A sidewall connects the first and second sides, and a seam extends around the sidewall joining first and second portions of the sidewall. The first and second portions are secured to one another by thermoforming, and an inflation valve is positioned in the sidewall. The inflatable structure may be formed by heating the first and second sheets of material to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point, compressing the first and second sheets of material together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities such that the valve extends through the seal and is 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: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventors: Michael Kemery, Tobin Nathaniel Guild, Zvi Rapaport
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Publication number: 20050167029Abstract: A method for forming a fluid-filled bladder is disclosed. The method includes placing a core between a first sheet and a second sheet of thermoplastic material. The first sheet, the second sheet, and the core are compressed in a mold such that a first portion of the mold contacts the first sheet to bond the first sheet to the core, and the first portion of the mold contacts and shapes substantially all of a sidewall area of the first sheet to form a sidewall of the bladder from the sidewall area. A second portion of the mold also contacts the second sheet to bond the second sheet to the core. In addition, the first sheet and the second sheet are compressed together around the periphery of the core to form a peripheral bond between the second sheet and the sidewall.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2004Publication date: August 4, 2005Applicant: NIKE, Inc.Inventors: Zvi Rapaport, Eric Schindler
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Publication number: 20050137067Abstract: An inflatable structure includes a first side of a first material and a second side of a second material different from the first material. A sidewall connects the first and second sides, and a seam extends around the sidewall joining first and second portions of the sidewall. The first and second portions are secured to one another by thermoforming, and an inflation valve is positioned in the sidewall. The inflatable structure may be formed by heating the first and second sheets of material to a temperature above their glass transition temperature and below their melting point, compressing the first and second sheets of material together in a mold having an opposed pair of cavities such that the valve extends through the seal and is in fluid communication with an interior and exterior of the inflatable structure, and trimming excess material from the periphery of the inflatable structure.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2003Publication date: June 23, 2005Inventors: Michael Kemery, Tobin Guild, Zvi Rapaport
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Patent number: 6837951Abstract: A method for thermoforming a resilient, fluid-filled bladder structure with thermal contact molding is disclosed. The bladder includes two sheets of thermoplastic material that are separated by at least one core formed of two spaced outer layers connected together by a plurality of connecting members. The bladder is formed by bonding the sheets to the core, bonding the sheets to each other around the periphery of the core and forming a sidewall between the sheets in a single mold. A fluid is then inserted into the space bounded by the peripheral bond and the two sheets such that the connecting members are extended.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2001Date of Patent: January 4, 2005Assignee: Nike, Inc.Inventor: Zvi Rapaport