When was the Stretch Zone design patent for the Strap Attachment Apparatus approved?
Stretch_Zone Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We own the following approved and registered patent that is material to the Franchise Business.
Design Patent - Serial Number US 10,238,525 B2 filed on September 9, 2015 and approved on March 26th, 2019 for a Strap Attachment Apparatus for a table comprising a strap attachment apparatus for a treatment table including a spanning belt formed of flexible material secured across opposite sides of said table with a pair of anchors connected at opposite ends of the spanning belt for attachment to the table. The anchors include body strap retainers that support at least one body strap. The body strap is movable on the retainers to adjust the position of the straps to fit a person on the treatment table while the anchors remain fixed to the table. The patent term is for 15 years from the date of filing.
You must use the patent in accordance with the terms of the Franchise Agreement. If we develop any other patents material to the Franchise Business, we reserve the right to license them to you subject to the terms of the Franchise Agreement.
Source: Item 14 — ITEM -14 PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS AND PROPRIETARY INFORMATION (FDD pages 60–62)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Stretch Zone's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the design patent for the Strap Attachment Apparatus was approved on March 26, 2019. The patent, which has serial number US 10,238,525 B2, was initially filed on September 9, 2015. The patent covers a table with a strap attachment apparatus, including a spanning belt made of flexible material secured across opposite sides of the table, with anchors connected at the ends of the belt for attachment to the table. The anchors also feature body strap retainers to support at least one body strap, which can be adjusted to fit a person on the treatment table while the anchors remain fixed. The patent term lasts for 15 years from the filing date.
This patent is considered material to the Stretch Zone franchise business, meaning franchisees are required to use it in accordance with the terms outlined in the Franchise Agreement. If Stretch Zone develops any additional patents that are material to the franchise, they reserve the right to license these to franchisees under the terms of the Franchise Agreement. This ensures that Stretch Zone maintains control over key aspects of its business model and can continue to innovate while protecting its intellectual property.
For a prospective franchisee, this means that the Strap Attachment Apparatus is a protected element of the Stretch Zone system. They must use it as specified in the Franchise Agreement and should be aware that any unauthorized use or modification could lead to legal repercussions. Furthermore, franchisees may be required to adopt and pay for any new patented technologies that Stretch Zone develops in the future, which could impact their operating costs and business practices.