Company Filing History:
Years Active: 2005-2017
Title: Mark Steven Franke: Innovator in Boxer Short Design
Introduction
Mark Steven Franke is a notable inventor based in Neenah, Wisconsin. He has made significant contributions to the textile industry, particularly in the design and manufacturing of boxer shorts. With a total of eight patents to his name, Franke has developed innovative methods that enhance the functionality and comfort of men's underwear.
Latest Patents
Franke's latest patents include a process for making boxer shorts from a web with various leg opening shapes. This invention outlines a boxer-style pant and a method of creating it with side seams, a contracted crotch region, and hanging legs. The process involves providing a web that is cut along transversely opposed edges to define leg openings. The leg openings can be formed by cutting slits along these edges. Additionally, the web is contracted in a selected area between the leg openings, and the front and back regions are joined to form the side seams. An absorbent structure may also be attached to the web, enhancing the product's utility.
Another patent focuses on a similar process of making boxer shorts from a web. This invention describes a boxer-style pant that can be a single pant assembly or a continuous web of multiple pant assemblies connected to one another. The web may be folded against a support structure, and a multi-lane production system can be utilized to fold the web against multiple support structures. The web is cut to define leg openings and contracted in selected areas, with the front and back regions joined to form side seams.
Career Highlights
Franke is currently employed at Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc., a leading company in the consumer goods sector. His work at Kimberly-Clark has allowed him to apply his innovative ideas in a practical setting, contributing to the development of high-quality products that meet consumer needs.
Collaborations
Throughout his career, Franke has collaborated with talented individuals such as Heather Schenck Mortell and Yee Yang. These collaborations have fostered a creative environment that encourages the exchange of ideas and the development of innovative solutions in the textile industry.
Conclusion
Mark Steven Franke is a distinguished inventor whose contributions to the design of boxer shorts have made a significant impact in the textile industry. His innovative patents and collaborative efforts continue to shape the future of men's underwear.