Edward Dean Thomas

US Patent:

7070845, Jul 4, 2006

Filed:

Aug 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/642262

Inventors:

Edward N. Thomas - Portland OR, US
David Goodwin - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

NIKE, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

B32B 1/04
A43B 13/20

US Classification:

428 69, 428 71, 428 86, 36 29

Abstract:

The invention relates to a fluid-filled bladder and a method for making for making a fluid-filled bladder that include a core having at least one fusing filament. A portion of the fusing filament is positioned adjacent to the exterior surface of the core such that it engages and fuses to barrier layers of the bladder, thereby securing the core to the barrier layers without the need for an additional fusing agent therebetween.

US Patent:

7131296, Nov 7, 2006

Filed:

Jan 17, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/334731

Inventors:

Bhupesh Dua - Portland OR, US
Edward Nathaniel Thomas - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

D04B 9/46

US Classification:

66178R, 66202

Abstract:

An article of footwear with a knit upper and a method of manufacturing the footwear are disclosed. The upper is formed through a knitting process to include a plurality of sections formed of different yarns and knits to provide the sections with different physical properties. In portions of the upper where sections formed of different yarns are in adjacent wales, a tuck stitch is utilized to join the sections. The method utilizes a circular knitting machine having multiple feeds that work together to knit the upper into a unitary, seamless structure. The multiple feeds, each of which provide multiple types of yarns, produce the sections to have varying physical properties.

US Patent:

7347011, Mar 25, 2008

Filed:

Mar 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/791289

Inventors:

Bhupesh Dua - Portland OR, US
Edward Nathaniel Thomas - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

NIKE, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A43B 1/04

US Classification:

36 45, 36 10, 36 3 A

Abstract:

An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

US Patent:

7774956, Aug 17, 2010

Filed:

Nov 10, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/558499

Inventors:

Bhupesh Dua - Portland OR, US
Edward Nathaniel Thomas - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

NIKE, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A43C 11/00
A43B 23/02

US Classification:

36 501, 36 45, 36 9 R

Abstract:

Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e. g. , for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e. g. , in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e. g. , different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc. ) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e. g. , different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.

US Patent:

7814598, Oct 19, 2010

Filed:

Feb 18, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/032995

Inventors:

Bhupesh Dua - Portland OR, US
Edward Nathaniel Thomas - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

NIKE, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A43D 8/00

US Classification:

12146C, 36 45

Abstract:

An article of footwear and a method of manufacturing the article of footwear are disclosed. The footwear may include an upper and a sole structure. The upper incorporates a textile element with edges that are joined together to define at least a portion of a void for receiving a foot. The textile element may also have a first area and a second area with a unitary construction. The first area is formed of a first stitch configuration, and the second area is formed of a second stitch configuration that is different from the first stitch configuration to impart varying textures to a surface of the textile element. Various warp knitting or weft knitting processes may be utilized to form the textile element.

US Patent:

7870682, Jan 18, 2011

Filed:

Aug 13, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/838011

Inventors:

James C. Meschter - Portland OR, US
Bhupesh Dua - Portland OR, US
Edward N. Thomas - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

NIKE, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

A43B 23/00

US Classification:

36 45, 36 47

Abstract:

An article of footwear includes an upper that is at least partially formed from a base layer and thread sections that lie adjacent a surface of the base layer. The thread sections are positioned to provide structural elements that, for example, restrain stretch in directions corresponding with longitudinal axes of the thread sections. In some configurations of the footwear, a first portion of the thread sections may extend between forefoot and heel regions of the footwear, and a second portion of the thread sections may extend vertically. An embroidering process may be utilized to position the thread sections on the base layer.

US Patent:

8196317, Jun 12, 2012

Filed:

Jul 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/829880

Inventors:

Bhupesh Dua - Portland OR, US
Edward Nathaniel Thomas - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OH

International Classification:

A43C 11/00

US Classification:

36 501, 36 45, 36 9 R

Abstract:

Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e. g. , for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e. g. , in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e. g. , different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc. ) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e. g. , different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.

US Patent:

8215132, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Jul 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/829788

Inventors:

Bhupesh Dua - Portland OR, US
Edward Nathaniel Thomas - Portland OR, US

Assignee:

Nike, Inc. - Beaverton OR

International Classification:

D04B 1/22

US Classification:

66177, 12146 C

Abstract:

Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e. g. , for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e. g. , in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e. g. , different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc. ) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e. g. , different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.