System and Method for Re-Covering Chairs

Abstract

The present invention teaches a removable secondary covering with hoods at either end for fitting the secondary covering to the back and seat of a chair and a tie for further securing the removable secondary covering.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to the field of furniture re-upholstery and re-covering, and specifically to re-upholstery and re-covering systems and methods for chairs.

2. Description of Related Art

The padded seats and backs of many chairs, such as standard office desk chairs, are typically covered with cloth or similar materials that, over time, fade and wear with use, rendering them unsightly and uncomfortable. Some chairs are so inexpensive that the cost to re-upholster or re-cover them can approach or exceed the initial price of the chair itself, yet remain sufficiently expensive to preclude justifying their ready replacement when their original coverings become worn, torn, or faded.

In addition to being cost-prohibitive in the context of certain chairs, existing methods for re-upholstering or re-covering commonly require that a chair be at least partially dismantled so that relevant individual components of the chair—such as a covered seat and back—may be accessed for recovering. This usually involves tacking, stapling, or otherwise affixing a new cloth or other surface material to the seat and back, then re-assembling the chair. Such ordinary re-upholstering methods take time and effort, and are not conducive to being carried out in most office workplace environments.

Precisely because the original coverings of new chairs can be readily compromised and damaged, secondary chair coverings can serve to protect new chairs from premature cosmetic damage or wear and tear, and can be particularly useful if removable and washable. Such secondary chair coverings additionally may provide a means of aesthetically customizing or personalizing a chair. Many existing re-covering means and methods, however, remain complicated and expensive to install.

What is needed is a simple and inexpensive system and method for easily, quickly, and inexpensively re-covering chairs to protect them or compensate for existing damage, and to make them more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a removable secondary covering with hoods at either end for fitting the secondary covering to the back and seat of a chair. The secondary covering may integrate a drape to provide a more comprehensive covering for the back of the chair. A separate tie may be employed to further secure the secondary covering to a chair and help to prevent the secondary covering from bunching with use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the secondary covering.

FIG. 2 presents a rear isometric view of the secondary covering.

FIG. 3 shows a rear isometric view of the secondary covering as it might be readied to install on a chair.

FIG. 4 illustrates a rear isometric view of the secondary covering after a hood has been slipped over the back of a chair.

FIG. 5 is a front isometric view of the secondary covering with one hood slipped over the back of a chair and a second hood slipped over the front portion of the seat of a chair and excess covering material bunched up where the seat and back of the chair meet.

FIG. 6 presents a front isometric view of the secondary covering after excess covering material has been pushed through a space where the seat and the back meet, as well as a tie readied to be positioned across the front portion of the secondary covering.

FIG. 7 illustrates a rear isometric view of the secondary covering and a drape to hide any excess covering material pushed from the front to the back of the chair through a space between the seat and the back, with two loose ends of a tie exposed beneath.

FIG. 8 illustrates two ends of a tie fastened together at a location behind a chair that might be concealed by a drape.

REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS

• 100 Secondary covering
• 101 Front portion of the secondary covering
• 201 Rear portion of the secondary covering
• 202 First hood
• 203 Second hood
• 204 Drape
• 301 Back of chair
• 302 Seat of chair
• 501 Excess secondary covering material
• 601 Tie

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a removable secondary covering with hoods at either end for fitting the secondary covering to the back and seat of a chair. The secondary covering may integrate a drape to provide a more comprehensive covering for the back of the chair. A separate tie may be employed to further secure the secondary covering to the chair and help to prevent the secondary covering from bunching with use. The secondary covering and any associated tie may be constructed from cloth, leather, naugahyde, or other suitable materials. With appropriate materials such as cloth, the secondary covering may be machine washable.

In the particular embodiment of the subject invention illustrated, FIG. 1 reflects that the secondary covering 100 has a front portion 101 that is a contiguous smooth surface. It is this surface that comes into direct contact with the person seated in a chair on which the secondary covering 100 has been installed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the rear portion 201 of the secondary covering 100 reveals hoods 202, 203 formed at the ends of the secondary covering 100. Also depicted in FIG. 2 is a drape 204 that may be left to hang at the rear of a chair.

FIG. 3 shows the secondary covering 100 positioned to install on a chair. To install the secondary covering 100 on a chair, a first hood 202 is slipped over the back 301 of a chair and a second hood 203 is slipped over the seat 302 of a chair, in no particular order. FIG. 4 illustrates the secondary covering 100 after a first hood 202 has been slipped over the back 301 of a chair. FIG. 5 reflects the secondary covering 100 with hoods 202, 203 slipped over the back 301 and the seat 302 of the chair, and excess secondary covering material 501 bunched where the back 301 and the seat 302 of the chair meet.

FIG. 6 represents the secondary covering 100 as installed following the tucking of the excess secondary covering material 501 through a space between the back 301 and the seat 302, as well as a tie 601 readied to be positioned across the front portion 101 of the secondary covering 100 in a space between the back 301 and the seat 302 of a chair. FIG. 7 shows how a drape 204 may hang at the rear of a chair to hide unsightly excess secondary covering material 501 that has been tucked through a space between the back 301 and the seat 302 of a chair. FIG. 7 further illustrates two loose ends of a tie 601 after it has been positioned and is ready for fastening.

Finally, FIG. 8 reflects a typical location behind a chair for the fastening of two ends of a tie 601 by knotting, bowing, or otherwise removably joining or fastening said ends of the tie 601. The employment of a tie 601 can function to prevent bunching of the secondary covering 100 with use.

Additional features, not presented in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, may be incorporated into this and various other embodiments of the invention. These additional features may include one or more pillows for extra comfort. Any said pillow could function to provide lumbar, head, or neck support, and could be sewn into or otherwise integrated into the secondary covering, or fastened detachably to the secondary covering through the use of buttons, clasps, Velcro® or other suitable means.

Claims

1. A system for re-covering chairs, comprising:

a secondary covering comprising a first hood and a second hood; and

a tie.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drape.

3. The system of claim 1, in which the secondary covering and tie are each comprised of cloth, leather, or naugahyde.

4. The system of claim 3, in which the secondary covering and tie are machine washable.

5. The system of claim 2, in which the secondary covering and tie are each comprised of cloth, leather, or naugahyde.

6. The system of claim 5, in which the secondary covering and tie are machine washable.

7. The system of claim 1, in which one or more pillows is permanently integrated into the secondary covering.

8. The system of claim 2, in which one or more pillows is permanently integrated into the secondary covering.

9. The system of claim 1, in which one or more pillows is detachably fastened to the secondary covering.

10. The system of claim 2, in which one or more pillows is detachably fastened into the secondary covering.

11. A method for re-covering chairs, comprising the steps of:

slipping a first hood of a secondary covering over the back of a chair; and

slipping a second hood of the secondary covering over the seat of said chair.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of tucking excess secondary covering material in a space between the back and the seat of a chair.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of securing the secondary covering to the chair by means of a tie extended across a front surface of the secondary covering where any excess secondary covering material has been tucked in a space between the back of the chair and the seat of the chair and removably joining two ends of the tie together behind the chair.