Patent Application
20140138994
Outdoor furniture can be purchased in a flat-pack format. Flat-pack furniture, also known as knock-down furniture, is shipped disassembled and packaged in a flat box. Not only does the box contain the pieces and hardware needed for assembling the furniture, but the box also contains instructions and, in some instances, simple tools for assembly. While some pieces of outdoor furniture are more conducive to being manufactured for flat-packing, such as tables or chairs that receive removable cushions, other pieces of outdoor furniture are less conducive, such as upholstered furniture.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
A stool includes an internal frame including a base, a seat and a plurality of stiles coupling the base to the seat. A sling material is stretched between and coupled to opposing sides of the seat. A slipcover fits over the internal frame and includes an end panel and a plurality of side panels that define an open end located opposite the end panel. The end panel includes a padded cushion that rests on top of the sling material.
A seat includes a skeleton having a rectilinear bottom, a rectilinear top and a plurality of legs connecting the rectilinear bottom to the rectilinear top. A protective cover fits over the skeleton and includes a top having a padded cushion, a plurality of sides and an open bottom that is located opposite from the top. The protective cover further comprises at least one pair of straps. The pair of straps are attached to opposing sides of the protective cover and to each other to secure the protective cover tight against the skeleton.
To assemble the stool or seat, first ends of the plurality of stiles are mounted to the base and opposing second ends of the plurality of stiles are mounted to the seat to form an internal frame. The seat includes a sling material stretched between and coupled to opposing sides of the seat. The internal frame is covered with the slipcover that includes the end panel, the plurality of side panels and the open end located opposite the end panel. The end panel includes the padded cushion that sits adjacent to the sling material.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.
Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a knock-down or a flat-pack furnishing that is assembled into a stool. The knock-down stool has the look and feel of being fully upholstered and is for use in outdoor or patio applications. For example, the knock-down stool can be used as seating around an outdoor dining table. The stool includes an internal frame having a seat, a sling material stretched between opposing sides of the seat and a slipcover that fits over the internal frame and includes a padded cushion that sits on top of the sling material.
Outdoor furniture or patio furniture, especially outdoor seating furnishings, commonly incorporate sling material or fabric as part of their design because of its desirable characteristics of being able to dry quickly, being able to withstand inclement weather conditions and being able to be easily cleaned. Sling patio furniture is constructed by stretching synthetic fabric between wood or metal frame members of a chair to provide a seat and a seat back. Typically, sling material or fabric is made of a synthetic material, such as polyester coated with a vinyl layer for added weather protection.
The outdoor stool described herein not only provides an upholstered furnishing that can withstand harsh outdoor environments, but it also includes two layers or a double layer of cushioning. The first layer is a sling material stretched between opposing sides of the seat of the internal frame. This first layer of cushioning provides a comfortable surface that evenly distributes weight without the need for further structural elements. The second layer of cushioning is a padded cushion located in a slipcover that fits over the internal frame of the stool and sits on top of the first layer of cushioning.
In one embodiment, base 106 includes a rectilinear shape, such as a square, having four sides 112, 113, 114 and 115, a top surface 116, a bottom surface 117, an inner facing surface 118 and an outer facing surface 119. It should be understood, however, base 106 can include other types of shapes other than the shape illustrated in the figures. In addition, seat 108 includes a rectilinear shape, such as a square, having four sides 120, 121, 122 and 123, a top surface 124, a bottom surface 125, an inner facing surface 126 and an outer facing surface 127. Like base 106, seat 108 can include other types of shapes other than the shape illustrated in the figures. In one embodiment and as illustrated in the figures, dimensions of sides 112, 113, 114 and 115 of base 106 substantially match dimensions of sides 120, 121, 122 and 123 of seat 108.
Stiles or legs 110 that couple base 106 to seat 108 include first ends 128 and second ends 129. As illustrated in
As shown in
In one embodiment, opposing ends 140 and 141 of sling material 138 are hemmed. Then, a portion of sling material 138 that is adjacent end 140 is folded over a first bar or support piece 142 and attached to side 120 of seat 108 and a portion of sling material 138 that is adjacent end 141 is folded over a second bar or support piece 143 and attached to side 122 of seat 108. In this way, ends 140 and 141 are held tight against opposing sides of seat 108, while opposing ends 144 and 145, which are hemmed, are free ends that are not connected to seat 108.
As clearly illustrated in
As illustrated in the perspective view of
Fastening mechanism 160 includes at least one pair of straps 162 and 163 having first ends 164 and 165 and second ends 166 and 167. First ends 164 and 165 are secured, for example by stitching, to edges of opposing side panels 150 and 152. Second ends 166 and 167 mate together to secure slipcover 104 around internal frame 102.
In one embodiment and as illustrated in
Second end 167 of strap 163 is coupled to a webbing ring 170. In one embodiment, second end 167 of strap 163 is folded over, and for example stitched together, to create a loop for holding webbing ring 170. To secure straps 162 and 163 together so as to secure slipcover 104 to internal frame 102, second end 166 of strap 162 is inserted through webbing ring 170 so that webbing ring 170 is located between hook material 168 and loop material 169 or located such that at least a portion of hook material 168 is located on one side of webbing ring 170 and at least a portion of loop material 169 is located on the other side of webbing ring 170. Second end 166 of strap 162 is folded back onto itself to engage or mate hook material 168 with loop material 169. Before mating hook material 168 with loop material 169, strap 162 should be pulled so that opposing side panels 150 and 152 are tight against internal frame 102.
In another embodiment, fastening mechanism 160 includes first pair of straps 162 and 163 as described above and a second pair of straps 172 and 173. Straps 172 and 173 include first ends 174 and 175 and second ends 176 and 177. First ends 174 and 175 are secured, for example by stitching, to edges of opposing side panels 151 and 153. Second ends 176 and 177 mate together to further secure slipcover 104 around internal frame 102.
In one embodiment and not specifically illustrated, second end 176 of strap 172 includes a piece of hook material and a piece of loop material similar to second end 166 of strap 162. In some embodiments, the hook material is spaced apart form loop material, but in other embodiments, the hook material and the loop material are positioned adjacent to each other along a side of strap 172. Although the hook material can be located closer to second end 176 than the loop material, it should be realized that in alternative embodiments the loop material can be located closer to second end 176 than the hook material.
Second end 177 of strap 173 is coupled to a webbing ring 180. In one embodiment, second end 177 of strap 173 is folded over, and for example stitched together, to create a loop for holding webbing ring 180. To secure straps 172 and 173 together so as to further secure slipcover 104 to internal frame 102, second end 176 of strap 172 is inserted through webbing ring 180 so that webbing ring 180 is located between the hook material and the loop material or located such that at least a portion of the hook material is located on one side of webbing ring 180 and at least a portion of the loop material is located on the other side of webbing ring 180. Second end 176 of strap 172 is folded back onto itself to engage or mate the hook material with the loop material. Before mating the hook material with the loop material, strap 172 should be pulled so that opposing side panels 151 and 153 are tight against internal frame 102.
Although fastening mechanism 160 may consist of only one pair of straps that would pull opposing sides of slipcover 104 tight against internal frame 102, fastening mechanism 160 is better served consisting of a second pair of straps that would also pull the other opposing sides of slipcover 104 tight against internal frame 102. In addition, it is possible that fastening mechanism can include four or more pairs of straps for tightening side panels 150, 151, 152 and 153 against internal frame 102.
Slipcover 104 is secured to internal frame 102 using at least one pair of straps that are coupled to edges of open end 154 of slipcover 104. To secure slipcover 104 to internal frame 102 an end of first strap 162 or 172 of the pair of straps is inserted or threaded through a webbing ring 170 or 180 located at an end of a second strap 163 or 173 of the pair of straps and a piece of a hook material located on the first strap 162 or 172 is connected to or mated with a piece of loop material also located on the first strap 162 or 172. In one embodiment, straps 162 and 163 are coupled to opposing edges of open end 154 of slipcover 104 and straps 172 and 173 are coupled to different opposing edges of the open end 154 of slipcover 104.
Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.
