Patents Assigned to Franklin Products, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11753171
    Abstract: A method of upholstering a seat having a seating frame, and a corresponding attachment assembly, comprises providing a diaphragm generally having a weave of warp and weft yarns with an attachment member for installation of the diaphragm to the seat. The attachment member comprises an adapter strip and a coil member. The coil member is adapted to be intertwined with the weave of the diaphragm and thereafter inserted into and held by the channel in the seating frame. The adapter strip may be connected to the coil member to facilitate feeding the assembly through the channel in the seating frame. Alternately, the adapter strip can replace the channel in the seating frame and instead provide a mounting structure to which the diaphragm can be attached through the coil member's engagement with the adapter strip. A retainer sheet may also be used to maintain a desired tension of the diaphragm during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 11097640
    Abstract: An article of upholstery covering is attached to an article of furniture, by steps that include inserting, into a channel around a frame of the article of furniture, an edge attachment article that is attached by an securement portion thereof along a periphery of the article of upholstery covering; and tensioning the article of upholstery covering to engage a catch portion of the edge attachment article under a lip of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: FRANKLIN PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 11014675
    Abstract: An upholstery cover article comprises a pad; a facing laminated to one side of the pad; a backing scrim laminated to the other side of the pad opposite the fabric cover; and an edge attachment article secured to a perimeter of at least one of the pad, the facing, or the backing scrim. The edge attachment article consists essentially of a ribbon of spring material, which is formed to provide a securement portion that is secured along the perimeter of the flexible panel, and to provide an catch portion that is not secured to the flexible panel and protrudes contiguous from the securement portion partway across the flexible panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: FRANKLIN PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 10518886
    Abstract: A method of upholstering a seat having a seating frame, and a corresponding attachment assembly, comprises providing a diaphragm generally having a weave of warp and weft yarns with an attachment member for installation of the diaphragm to the seat. The attachment member comprises an adapter strip and a coil member. The coil member is adapted to be intertwined with the weave of the diaphragm and thereafter inserted into and held by the channel in the seating frame. The adapter strip may be connected to the coil member to facilitate feeding the assembly through the channel in the seating frame. Alternately, the adapter strip can replace the channel in the seating frame and instead provide a mounting structure to which the diaphragm can be attached through the coil member's engagement with the adapter strip. A retainer sheet may also be used to maintain a desired tension of the diaphragm during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 10118704
    Abstract: A hybrid seat pan and diaphragm apparatus includes a seat pan that has a concave portion and a diaphragm positioned at an occupant-facing side of the seat pan and stretched across the seat pan at a first distance above the concave portion of the seat pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 10086944
    Abstract: A reversible upholstery dress cover article includes a fabric web, an obverse finish layer covering an obverse face of the web, a reverse finish layer covering a reverse face of the web, a relatively flexible tape attached around an edge of the web, and a relatively stiff ribbon attached in the tape. The tape spaces the ribbon apart from the edge of the web and the tape can be folded to bring the ribbon against either the obverse finish layer or the reverse finish layer without folding the web. The tape is folded around the ribbon in a first fold so that the ribbon extends along a midline of the tape, then each edge of the tape is folded back in a second fold to form flaps that extend beyond the first fold, with the ribbon protruding from the folded tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Picard
  • Publication number: 20170320579
    Abstract: A method of upholstering a seat having a seating frame, and a corresponding attachment assembly, comprises providing a diaphragm generally having a weave of warp and weft yarns with an attachment member for installation of the diaphragm to the seat. The attachment member comprises an adapter strip and a coil member. The coil member is adapted to be intertwined with the weave of the diaphragm and thereafter inserted into and held by the channel in the seating frame. The adapter strip may be connected to the coil member to facilitate feeding the assembly through the channel in the seating frame. Alternately, the adapter strip can replace the channel in the seating frame and instead provide a mounting structure to which the diaphragm can be attached through the coil member's engagement with the adapter strip. A retainer sheet may also be used to maintain a desired tension of the diaphragm during installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Applicant: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Publication number: 20170283071
    Abstract: A method of upholstering a seat having a seating frame, and a corresponding attachment assembly, comprises providing a diaphragm generally having a weave of warp and weft yarns with an attachment member for installation of the diaphragm to the seat. The attachment member comprises an adapter strip and a coil member. The coil member is adapted to be intertwined with the weave of the diaphragm and thereafter inserted into and held by the channel in the seating frame. The adapter strip may be connected to the coil member to facilitate feeding the assembly through the channel in the seating frame. Alternately, the adapter strip can replace the channel in the seating frame and instead provide a mounting structure to which the diaphragm can be attached through the coil member's engagement with the adapter strip. A retainer sheet may also be used to maintain a desired tension of the diaphragm during installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 9580175
    Abstract: The seat back portion of a passenger aircraft seat is built of an elastomer mesh type diaphragm without conventional cushions or dress covers, in order to maximize space available to the passenger while reducing costs and weight. The diaphragm is attached and tensioned into a structural frame, which also supports a slide-in rear shroud closeout. The frame is designed to remain exposed, showing a decorative finish.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard Velasco, Bruce Swomley
  • Patent number: 9579999
    Abstract: A headrest assembly is attached to a seat back assembly by providing holes through a panel of the seat back assembly; providing loops protruding from a rear surface of the headrest assembly; inserting the loops of the headrest assembly through the corresponding holes of the seat back assembly; and inserting a retainer through the loops to fasten the headrest assembly to the seat back assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 9180793
    Abstract: A movable seating arrangement includes a seat pan, a back support rigidly connected with the seat pan, and a seat member slidably mounted to the seat pan. The seat member can be moved from a retracted position proximate the back support to an extended position displaced forward of the upright position, without movement of the back support. In certain embodiments, a lumbar support is mounted to the back support, and motion of the seat member to its extended position causes a mid portion of the lumbar support to flex forward from a flattened position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Carlin, Howard Velasco
  • Publication number: 20140300171
    Abstract: The seat back portion of a passenger aircraft seat is built of an elastomer mesh type diaphragm without conventional cushions or dress covers, in order to maximize space available to the passenger while reducing costs and weight. The diaphragm is attached and tensioned into a structural frame, which also supports a slide-in rear shroud closeout. The frame is designed to remain exposed, showing a decorative finish.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2014
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Applicant: FRANKLIN PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Howard Velasco, Bruce Swomley
  • Publication number: 20130154325
    Abstract: A movable seating arrangement includes a seat pan, a back support rigidly connected with the seat pan, and a seat member slidably mounted to the seat pan. The seat member can be moved from a retracted position proximate the back support to an extended position displaced forward of the upright position, without movement of the back support. In certain embodiments, a lumbar support is mounted to the back support, and motion of the seat member to its extended position causes a mid portion of the lumbar support to flex forward from a flattened position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Carlin, Howard Velasco
  • Patent number: 7587956
    Abstract: A device for controlling motion of an object includes a housing defining first and second cavities each extending from a first to a second longitudinal end of the housing. A partition separates the cavities. A first sliding member is movable within the first cavity, and includes a first extension extending outwardly from the first longitudinal end for being attached to an object whose movement is to be controlled. A second sliding member is movable within the second cavity, and includes a second extension extending outwardly from a longitudinal end for being pulled a variably controlled distance away from the housing. A motion limiting member communicates with the sliding members such that movement of the second extension the variably controlled distance away from the housing causes the first extension to be movable the variably controlled distance in a direction in which the second sliding member is pulled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7588297
    Abstract: A support diaphragm for a seat or backrest of a chair includes a support frame having laterally spaced first and second support portions. A support material includes a flexible sheet extending from and generally tensioned between the support portions to form a front portion, and extending from and generally tensioned between the support portions to form a back portion spaced from and in underlying relationship to the front portion. A strut is coupled at lateral ends to the front and back portions of the support material. The strut lengthwise extends along the support material in at least one predetermined direction relative to a direction of tension in the support material. The strut provides generally no resistance to movement of the front and back portions toward each other, the width of the strut between the lateral ends provides a desired amount of contouring of the front portion of the support material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald E. Picard
  • Publication number: 20090071273
    Abstract: A device for controlling motion of an object includes a housing defining first and second cavities each extending from a first to a second longitudinal end of the housing. A partition separates the cavities. A first sliding (controlled) member is movable within the first cavity, and includes a first extension extending outwardly from the first longitudinal end for being attached to an object whose movement is to be controlled. A second sliding (controlling) member is movable within the second cavity, and includes a second extension extending outwardly from a longitudinal end for being pulled a variably controlled distance away from the housing. A motion limiting member communicates with the sliding members such that movement of the second extension the variably controlled distance away from the housing causes the first extension to be movable the variably controlled distance in a direction in which the second sliding member is pulled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: March 19, 2009
    Applicant: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Howard Velasco, JR.
  • Patent number: 6604792
    Abstract: A seat assembly includes a chair frame with spaced supports for holding a diaphragm to the frame, where the diaphragm has one edge connected to one of the spaced supports of the chair frame, and an opposite edge of the diaphragm adjacent to another of the spaced supports of the chair frame. The seat assembly also includes an over center linkage for releasably coupling the opposite edge of the diaphragm to the another of the spaced supports of the chair frame for stretching the diaphragm between the spaced supports of the chair frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Franklin Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald Picard