Patents by Inventor John W. Frankila

John W. Frankila 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: 5137293
    Abstract: A step support for mounting an exterior assist step on a vehicle body structure comprises a U-shaped tubular support member having a pair of intermediate portions interconnecting a step-supporting portion and a pair of spaced free ends which are mounted to the body structure, with the intermediate and step-supporting portions projecting outwardly of the vehicle. A plurality of pairs of aligned upper and lower through holes are formed in the step-supporting portion for receiving bolts therethrough to mount the step on the support. A reinforcing collar is formed integrally on the tubing adjacent each through hole by flow drilling to enable tightening of the fasteners to clamp the step and support together without deforming the tubing. A pair of auxiliary support stirrups are each welded to the tubular support member and have their free ends adjustably mounted on the body structure to the body structure to provide a 4-point mounting of the tubular support member on the body structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Wickes Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Lee K. Graves, John W. Frankila
  • Patent number: 4976493
    Abstract: A plastic guide is provided for mounting a headrest to a vehicle seat back. The guide is an elongated plastic member having a through bore, locking tangs on one end, intermediate shoulders, which terminate in spaced fingers, a trim flange on the other end, and a spring finger entering the bore. The guide is inserted through a hole in the upholstery of a trimmed seat back and through aligned apertures in a seat frame tube so that the locking tangs cooperate with the shoulders to lock the guide to the tube and the fingers snap over the tube to prevent relative rotation. The spring finger engages detent notches in the headrest support post to position the headrest relative to the seat back. An axial slot in the guide permits insertion of an elongated tool to pry the spring finger out of a locking notch to enable removal of the post to separate the headrest from the seat back.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Inventor: John W. Frankila
  • Patent number: 4381085
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor including a web clamp in the retractor housing to reduce the spooling effect when the retractor is locked. The webbing extends from the retractor spool about a web clamp and then outwards of the retractor housing. Extraction forces acting on the webbing in an emergency result in forcing of the web clamp against the roll of webbing to thereby prevent further withdrawal of the webbing from the spool. The web clamp is maintained in close proximity to the roll of webbing regardless of the amount of webbing left on the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1981
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1983
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: Robert L. Stephenson, John W. Frankila
  • Patent number: 4331350
    Abstract: A seat belt anchor assembly including an anchor around which a loop of seat belt webbing is retained, and openings in both portions of the webbing aligned with an aperture in the anchor for mounting the anchor to a structural part of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1982
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Frankila, Robert M. Kremer
  • Patent number: 4327882
    Abstract: A dual spool retractor in which a manual lock up feature is provided in addition to an emergency locking device. A manually engageable member moves a pawl into lock position with the ratchet wheels of the spools. Such member is automatically disengaged upon unwinding of the lap belt retractor whereby the retractor is unlocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1982
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Frankila, Robert L. Stephenson
  • Patent number: 4273301
    Abstract: A seat belt retractor including a locking member, a release member to move the locking member out of its locked position and a web clamp which is engageable with seat belt webbing on the retractor to limit the spooling effect. A handle actuated mechanism actuates the release member to unlock the retractor and renders the clamp ineffective, whereby the retractor is rendered free spooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1980
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1981
    Assignee: Allied Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Frankila