# US 2017/0283071 A1 · Seating suspension diaphragm having integrated slide-in attachment means > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0283071 A1 - Document ID: US20170283071A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/475,824 - Filed: 2017-03-31 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31 - Assignees: Franklin Products, Inc. - Inventors: Howard Velasco - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170283071A1 ## CPC - B64D 11/0647: {Seats characterised by special upholstery or cushioning features} - B60N 2/7011: {of substantially two-dimensional shape, e.g. hammock-like, plastic shells, fabrics} - B64D 11/06: {Arrangements of seats, or adaptations or details specially adapted for aircraft seats (crew seat constructions for emergency purposes B64D25/04)} - B64D 11/0649: {Seats characterised by special features for reducing weight} - A47C 31/026: {passing through the upholstery, e.g. upholstery nails or buttons} - B23P 2700/00: Indexing scheme relating to the articles being treated, e.g. manufactured, repaired, assembled, connected or other operations covered in the subgroups - B60N 2/5891: {characterised by the manufacturing process; manufacturing seat coverings not otherwise provided for} - B64D: EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An assembly for upholstering a seat having a seating frame, said assembly comprising: a diaphragm; and an attachment member for attaching the diaphragm to the seating frame, said attachment member including a coil member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seating frame includes a channel adapted to receive at least the coil member therein for installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the seating frame includes a mounting strip comprising a line of perforations on an edge thereof, wherein the coil member may be threaded through the line of perforations for installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the attachment member further includes an adapter strip adapted to be connected to the coil member for aiding the installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the adapter strip includes a first edge provided with a plurality of open loops projecting therefrom, said adapter strip being connected to the coil member by threading the coil member through the plurality of open loops. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the diaphragm is an open weave fabric comprising interwoven warp and weft yarns, and wherein further each loop of the coil member can be threaded to overlap with at least one warp yarn and one weft yarn to connect the diaphragm to the coil member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The assembly according to claim 6, wherein the coil member is simultaneously threaded through the diaphragm and the open loops of the adapter strip. ### Claim 8 (depends on 4) The assembly according to claim 4, wherein the diaphragm is a closed weave fabric and the adapter strip includes a second edge opposite from the first edge that is secured to the diaphragm so that the open loops project outwardly away from the diaphragm such that the coil member can be threaded through the plurality of open loops to connect the coil member to the diaphragm by means of the adapter strip. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the diaphragm is an open weave fabric comprising interwoven warp and weft yarns defining openings therebetween, and said assembly further comprises: a retainer sheet for maintaining tension in the diaphragm, said retainer sheet comprising a base membrane having a first face from which a plurality of projections extend, each of said projections having a cross-sectional size and shape that complement the openings in the diaphragm between the warp and weft yarns, whereby insertion of the projections of the retainer sheet into said openings maintains the tensioned dimension of said openings during installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 10 An assembly for upholstering a seat having a seating frame, said assembly comprising: an open weave diaphragm comprising interwoven warp and weft yarns and defining an attachment zone proximate a first edge of the diaphragm and a selvage area defined between said attachment zone and the edge of the diaphragm, wherein said attachment zone has no weft yarns; and an attachment member for attaching the diaphragm to the seating frame, said attachment member including a coil member adapted for connection with the attachment zone of the diaphragm. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the seating frame includes a channel adapted to receive at least the coil member therein for installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the seating frame includes a mounting strip comprising a line of perforations on an edge thereof, wherein the coil member may be threaded through the line of perforations for installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the attachment member further includes an adapter strip adapted to be connected to the coil member for aiding the installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The assembly according to claim 13, wherein the adapter strip comprises a web having a first edge with a line of perforations and a second free edge, wherein the coil member may be threaded through the line of perforations to connect the diaphragm to the adapter strip. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the coil member is connected to the diaphragm by overlapping warp yarns in the attachment zone of the diaphragm with a respective loop of the coil member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The assembly according to claim 10, wherein the attachment member further comprises an elongated bead member, wherein the coil member is connected to the diaphragm by axially positioning the bead member within the coil member between the loops of the coil member and the warp yarns in the attachment zone of the diaphragm, such that when the selvage area of the diaphragm is folded away from the coil member, the bead member is pinched between the loops of the coil member and the warp yarns to attach the diaphragm to the coil member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising: a retainer sheet for maintaining tension in the diaphragm, said retainer sheet comprising a base membrane having a first face from which a plurality of projections extend, each of said projections having a cross-sectional size and shape that complement openings in the diaphragm defined by and between the warp and weft yarns, whereby insertion of the projections of the retainer sheet into said openings maintains the tensioned dimension of said openings during installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 18 A method for upholstering a seating frame having at least one channel formed therein, comprising: providing a diaphragm; attaching an attachment member to said diaphragm, said attachment member including a coil member; and feeding at least the coil member through the at least one channel until the diaphragm is in a desired position relative to the seating frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the diaphragm comprises interwoven warp and weft yarns, and the coil member is attached to the diaphragm by threading the coil member through the diaphragm weave such that each loop of the coil member overlaps with at least one warp yarn or at least one weft yarn. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the attachment member further comprises an adapter strip adapted for connection to the coil member. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, further comprising the step of pulling the adapter strip to assist in feeding the coil member through the at least one channel. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the adapter strip includes a first edge provided with a plurality of open loops projecting therefrom, said adapter strip being connected to the coil member by threading the coil member through the plurality of open loops. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the adapter strip comprises a web having a line of perforations on a first edge thereof, wherein the coil member may be threaded through the line of perforations to attach the coil member to the adapter strip. ### Claim 24 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein the diaphragm is a closed weave diaphragm having an adapter strip attached thereto along an edge thereof, said adapter strip having a first edge provided with a plurality of open loops projecting outwardly away from the diaphragm, wherein the coil member is attached to the diaphragm by threading said coil member through the plurality of open loops. ### Claim 25 A method for upholstering a seating frame, said method comprising: providing an open weave diaphragm comprising interwoven warp and weft yarns and defining an attachment zone proximate a first edge of the diaphragm and a selvage area defined between said attachment zone and the edge of the diaphragm, wherein said attachment zone has no weft yarns; attaching an attachment member to said diaphragm in the attachment zone thereof, said attachment member including a coil member; and positioning at least the coil member relative to the seating frame to install the diaphragm. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the seating frame includes a channel adapted to receive at least the coil member therein for positioning the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the seating frame includes a mounting strip comprising a line of perforations on an edge thereof, wherein the coil member is positioned relative to the seating frame to install the diaphragm by threading the coil member through the line of perforations. ### Claim 28 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the attachment member further includes an adapter strip adapted to be connected to the coil member for aiding the installation of the diaphragm to the seating frame. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The method according to claim 28, wherein the adapter strip comprises a web having a first edge with a line of perforations and a second free edge, wherein the step of attaching the attachment member to the diaphragm further includes the step of threading the coil member through the line of perforations to connect the diaphragm to the adapter strip. ### Claim 30 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the coil member is attached to the diaphragm by overlapping warp yarns in the attachment zone of the diaphragm with a respective loop of the coil member. ### Claim 31 (depends on 25) The method according to claim 25, wherein the attachment member further comprises an elongated bead member, wherein the coil member is attached to the diaphragm by axially positioning the bead member within the coil member between the loops of the coil member and the warp yarns in the attachment zone of the diaphragm, such that when the selvage are of the diaphragm is folded away from the coil member, the bead member is pinched between the loops of the coil member and the warp yarns to attach the diaphragm to the coil member.