Patent Application
20060175883
The present invention relates generally to the field of furniture covers and in particular to a new and useful slipcover construction having a decorative and padded component in selected locations.
There are several kinds of slipcovers. Fitted slipcovers are used for covering a specific type of furniture with a specific shape, style, and size.
Fitted slipcovers are constructed to fit the dimensions of the specific shape, size and style of the furniture to be covered. For example, for a fitted slipcover for a sofa, there are often multiple, separate parts including covers for separate seat cushions and/or back cushions sized to fit the specific cushion, frequently using a zipper closure to neatly enclose the cushion.
Semi-fitted slipcovers fit specific types of furniture (e.g., a sofa, a chair, an oversized chair, or a love seat, etc.) having a range of shapes, sizes, styles.
Semi-fitted slipcovers are typically a one-piece unit that can be made of a variety of fabrics and materials as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,664,832 and 6,796,609. U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,002 discloses an alternative two-piece slipcover having a shell and a lower skirt. In some cases, semi-fitted slipcovers can have multiple separate parts. For example, a semi-fitted slipcover for a sofa can have separate cushion covers like the fitted slipcover. However, unlike the fitted slipcover, the construction of the semi-fitted cover for a sofa cushion fits more than one specific cushion size.
Semi-fitted slipcovers are loosely structured and oversized so that they can be adjusted to fit the contours of the particular furniture to be covered. Semi-fitted slipcovers for sofas are typically adjusted by tucking in extra fabric in certain locations such as between the seats and arms or seats and seat backs as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,664,831, 5,664,832, 6,485,099, and 6,796,609. Thus, semi-fitted slipcovers are structured to some degree in that they correspond to the contours of the furniture which they cover, but are sufficiently unstructured due to their dimensionless or bag-like portions.
Semi-fitted slipcovers are often formed from the sewing of multiple cloth pieces or panels. Elastics or sewing are sometimes used to provide structure to certain areas of a semi-fitted slipcover, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,549,355. Structure is sometimes given to the arm portion of the semi-fitted slipcover which will be placed over the arms of the furniture, while the remainder of the semi-fitted slipcover is mostly unstructured.
One type of unfitted slipcover is known as a throw. This type of cover has minimal sewing or a complete lack of sewing. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,838,610, 5,320,407, and 5,547,249 discuss the drawbacks of furniture throws in the background section, and are incorporated here by reference. As explained in U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,249, after a throw cover has been loosely placed on a sofa, the user will hand tuck the fabric cover into the spaces between the seat cushion and the back and between the seat cushion and the arms at each side of the seating perimeter.
Although some structure is provided in semi-fitted slipcovers, it can still be very difficult for the consumer to determine which parts of the slipcover should cover which parts of furniture due to the large size and unstructured or baggy areas of such slipcovers. Selectively providing a frame of reference for the arm, seat, and seatback portions of the slipcover without sewing slipcover portions into a particular shape of furniture portions or using elastic to define these portions would be very useful.
Also, a single layer of fabric used as a slipcover is not likely to be any more comfortable than the seat cushion it covers. Furniture cushions can be lumpy or uneven. Thus, there is a need for providing additional comfort to selected portions of a slipcover and smoothing out or hiding uneven or damaged landscapes of furniture while simultaneously protecting the underlying furniture.
Semi-fitted slipcovers also have the problem that excess fabric, which is initially tucked into the crevices of furniture, tends to become displaced and accumulates in an irregular or lumpy pattern outside of the crevices, and particularly near the center of the seat area of the furniture. The consumer of such slipcovers has to continuously pull and tuck the seat and back areas to give the slipcover a smooth appearance over the seat area. There is need for eliminating such constant maintenance requirements.
A traditional problem with slipcovers is that they become easily disheveled with use. This problem can be most evident with leather furniture which is smooth and slippery. Thus, there is a need for stopping movement of slipcovers.
A high percentage of slipcover consumers have children or are pet owners. These consumers have an obvious motivation for protecting their furniture since water or other types of liquids are often spilled or left on furniture in such families. As a result of the commonality of this problem in such situations, there is a clear need for a slipcover that is at least in selected areas water-resistant.
Slipcovers are typically made of one layer of fabric. As a natural result, such slipcovers take the shape of the underlying furniture that they cover. There is a need for slipcovers which can reshape or change the contours of the furniture that they cover.
Finally, there is a need for more intricate slipcovers having an aesthetic quality that surpasses mere colored decoration.
Many slipcover consumers have attempted to solve the above-identified problems by using various separate household objects and materials. This is burdensome to the consumer and has caused an exceptionally high product return rate to the retailer or manufacturer in the semi-fitted slipcover category as compared to other product categories in the home furnishings industry. If the consumer keeps the product, it often results in the consumer enduring a less than satisfactory product.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a slipcover with a frame of reference at selected portions of the cover so that the slipcover can be installed with ease.
It is another object of the present invention to provide cushioning to only selected areas of a slipcover for providing a comfortable seat surface, for example, and for smoothing out and/or reshaping or redefining the landscape or contour of the seating area.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide aesthetic qualities to a slipcover which surpasses mere colored decoration.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a protective cover for furniture which is waterproof and remains substantially in position even after people sit on the cover.
Accordingly, a slipcover is provided which comprises a fitted, semi-fitted or unfitted sheet of fabric and a decorative and padded multi-layered component selectively integrated with the sheet of fabric in selected locations. The multi-layered component comprises a cushion material and at least one additional layer covering the cushion material. The multi-layered component of fabric and cushion material is tufted, quilted, or assembled in some other manner to secure the component layers in their relative positions while providing an aesthetic quality to the slipcover.
The multi-layered component and the sheet of fabric are integrated either by attachment, or by replacement or substitution of portions of the sheet of fabric with the multi-layered component. Integration is achieved by seam means such as gluing, sewing, heat fusing, etc., or detachable fasteners such as zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, and ties, or the like.
Finally, the bottom of the sheet of fabric includes means for preventing slipping of the slipcover. The multi-layered component also includes means for preventing slipping if it is substituted for portions of the sheet of fabric in selected locations. The fitted, semi-fitted or unfitted sheet of fabric, the multi-layered component, or the entire slipcover are also preferably made of fabric that is water-resistant or waterproof, or may be chemically treated so as to be water resistant or waterproof.
The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
In the drawings:
Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to the same or similar elements,
The sofa 50 has arms or armrests 52, a back 54, a seat area 56, and a lower body 58. The seat area 56 typically comprises a cushioned region 59 as a soft sitting surface on a seat base (not shown). The cushioned region 59 contains one or more seat cushions generally depending on the size of the seating furniture. A first crevice region 62 is located between a lower front edge of the cushioned region and the seat base. A second crevice region 64 is located between the cushioned region 59 and each of the sofa arms 52. A third crevice region 66 is located between the back of the cushioned region 59 and the back 54 of the sofa 50. A fourth crevice region 68 is located between the sofa arms 52 and the back 54 of the sofa 50.
It is noted that although a sofa 50 is shown, the slipcover of the present invention may be used with many other types of seating furniture such as chairs, loveseats, oversized chairs, wing chairs, rocking chairs, folding chairs, outdoor furniture, sofabeds, sectionals, ottomans, futons, floor cushions, day beds, recliners, dining room chairs, sofas with one or no arms etc., or with similar forms of seating structures such as back rests, bean bags or soft, frameless furniture etc. Also, the slipcover of the present invention may be suitable for both square cushion seats and T-cushion seats.
The slipcover 20 of the present invention includes a back portion 22 which covers the front, back and sides of the back of the sofa, a seat portion 24 which covers the top and front surfaces of the seating area of the sofa, a pair of arm portions 26 which cover the arms of the sofa, and a skirt portion 28 which covers the lower portion of the sofa.
The slipcover 20 is fitted, semi-fitted, or unfitted. In its fitted form, slipcover 20 is sewn so that it fits precisely over the shape and size of the sofa. It may also have separate covers that precisely fit the sofa cushions. In its semi-fitted form, a portion of the slipcover 20, such as the back, seat, or arms, are structured by the sewing of seams for example, while the remaining portions remain unstructured. A semi-fitted slipcover is preferably oversized with excess fabric which is strategically tucked into the crevice regions 64, 66, and 68 of the sofa 50 to achieve a “fitted” appearance despite the oversized and adjustable nature of the semi-fitted slipcover. In its unfitted form, the slipcover 20 lacks sewn structured regions altogether and is strategically tucked in around the crevice regions 64, 66, and 68 as well. Extra fabric can also be tucked into crevice region 62 for slipcovers with a particular construction in which extra fabric is located in the skirt area. Again, however, the sheet of fabric forming the slipcover can be, and is usually made up of multiple panels of fabric that are attached to each other, typically by sewing.
Ties or straps 70 contribute to the fitted appearance. Semi-fitted slipcovers often use ties, D-rings, Velcro® fasteners, snaps, etc. when constructed with excess fabric in the skirt area 28. However, semi-fitted slipcovers made of material with stretch fibers and/or a knitted construction are generally not made with excess fabric in the skirt area so that ties are not needed.
The slipcover 20, shown in
The multi-layered component 40, as shown in more detail in
The multi-layered component 40 is preferably integrated either as an attachment to selected locations on the fabric sheet 30, or as a replacement for the material of the sheet of fabric 30 in only selected locations. The multi-layered component is integrated by seam means such as sewing, gluing, heat fusing, or detachable fasteners such as zippers, hook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, ties, etc. If the sheet of fabric 30 includes more than one layer of material or fabric, then the multi-layered component can replace any or all of the layers of fabric or material of the fabric sheet 30. In addition, if more than one multi-layered component is integrated into fabric 30 in selected locations, each component 40 can be the same or different and the seam means can be the same or different.
The multi-layered component 40 can be attached from the top or bottom of the sheet of fabric 30. For example, a cushion layer with a bottom fabric layer can be attached from the bottom of the sheet of fabric 30 at a selected location so that the appearance of a separate multi-layered component is simulated at only the selected location.
Integration of the multi-layered component 40 may be accomplished in a variety of ways. The multi-layered component can have a variety of configurations as illustrated in the embodiments shown in
The seam means that can be sewn or fused around the perimeter of each component to hold it to the slipcover, may alternatively be a zipper, hook and loops fasteners, snaps, buttons, ties, or other detachable fastener means.
In alternative embodiments of the invention, the slipcover 20 is water resistant or waterproof (here called waterproof in a generic sense). The fabric sheet 30 is preferably chemically treated (e.g., sprayed or coated) with a waterproofing agent such as wax-based silicone that works on all materials including fabric and suede. Therefore, the nature of the material or materials which form the fabric sheet 30 does not have to be limited to a waterproof material. However, the material for the sheet of fabric 30 may be chosen to have an inherent water resistant capability so that chemical treatments are not necessary. This may be important since waterproofing treatments can wear off, requiring subsequent treatments. Examples of waterproof fabric materials include rubber, vinyl, polyurethane, PVC, polypropylene, nylon, Goretex, acrylic, latex, PET, silicone, teflon, taslan, polyethylene, any combinations thereof, and any other material that is inherently waterproof.
In addition, the multi-layered component 40 can have one or more layers of water resistant material or one or more layers can be chemically treated with a waterproofing agent. The multi-layered component 40 may be waterproofed alone without any other portion of the slipcover 20 being waterproofed.
The sheet of fabric 30 can also be made of a material that has a high coefficient of friction and non-slip resistance to fabrics such as for example, rubber. However, a non-slip material can also be attached to the sheet of fabric 30 for preventing the sheet of fabric 30 from moving around and becoming disheveled. For example, the sheet of fabric may be chemically treated with a material having a high coefficient of friction, or strips of rubber, plastic or other non-slipping materials may removably or permanently affixed to the bottom surface of the sheet of fabric 30 so that they make contact with the top surface of the seat area of the sofa, thereby preventing movement of the sheet of fabric 30 with respect to the seat area of the sofa. Materials which can be used for this function include rubber, vinyl, polyester scrim coated with PVC, polyurethane, some nylons, latex, PET, silicone elastomers, and any other material that has an inherently high coefficient of friction so as to be suitable for preventing slip.
If the multi-layered component 40 is integrated as a replacement for a portion of the fabric sheet 30 and includes a bottom layer of fabric 48, then the bottom layer of fabric 48 may be made of a non-slip material such as a resin or rubber, may be chemically treated with a non-slip material, or may have an attached non-slip material. Therefore, a non-slip feature is provided not only by the bottom surface of the fabric sheet 30, but also in the selected locations where the material of the fabric sheet 30 has been replaced with the multi-layered component 40. Alternatively, strips of rubber or other non-slip material may be attached to the bottom of the fabric layer 48. The multi-layered component 40 may contain a non-slip material alone without any other portion of the fabric sheet 30 having the non-slip feature.
While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
