M. Frank Rudy
Encyclopedia
Marion Frank Rudy was the aeronautical engineer who patented a cushioning system based on an inert gas
encapsulated in polyurethane
plastic. It was trademarked by Nike
as the "Air" sole. He was a member of Case Western Reserve University
's class of 1950, and a graduate of Fairview High School
, in Fairview Park, Ohio
. He was also a member of the Phi Kappa Tau
fraternity.
Rudy died in his home in California on December 13, 2009. He was 84 years old.
Inert gas
An inert gas is a non-reactive gas used during chemical synthesis, chemical analysis, or preservation of reactive materials. Inert gases are selected for specific settings for which they are functionally inert since the cost of the gas and the cost of purifying the gas are usually a consideration...
encapsulated in polyurethane
Polyurethane
A polyurethane is any polymer composed of a chain of organic units joined by carbamate links. Polyurethane polymers are formed through step-growth polymerization, by reacting a monomer with another monomer in the presence of a catalyst.Polyurethanes are...
plastic. It was trademarked by Nike
Nike, Inc.
Nike, Inc. is a major publicly traded sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. The company is headquartered near Beaverton, Oregon, which is part of the Portland metropolitan area...
as the "Air" sole. He was a member of Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
's class of 1950, and a graduate of Fairview High School
Fairview High School (Fairview Park, Ohio)
Fairview High School is a public high school located at 4507 West 213th Street in Fairview Park, Ohio, located just west of Cleveland, Ohio.The school's colors are scarlet and gray. The athletic teams are known as the Warriors. The school fight song is "Buckeye"...
, in Fairview Park, Ohio
Fairview Park, Ohio
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 420,690 people, 7,856 households, and 4,713 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,742.2 people per square mile . There were 8,152 housing units at an average density of 1,736.1 per square mile...
. He was also a member of the Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau
Phi Kappa Tau is a U.S. national collegiate fraternity.-History:Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity was founded in the Union Literary Society Hall of Miami University's Old Main Building in Oxford, Ohio on March 17, 1906...
fraternity.
Rudy died in his home in California on December 13, 2009. He was 84 years old.