Slipcover with secured corners for upholstered furniture
A one-piece or two-piece slipcover for covering upholstered furniture has a gathering device at each corner to gather any excess material of the slipcover to provide a neat, tailored look to the slipcover. The gathering device may be an elastic strip, a fabric tab having hook and loop fasteners secured to the surfaces thereof, or a drawstring.
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This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/666,507, filed Mar. 29, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONI. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the covering of upholstered sofas and more particularly it concerns novel coverings for upholstered sofas and chairs as well as upholstered sofas and chairs as so covered. The slipcovers use a gathering device, such as an elastic strip, a hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro®), or a drawstring, in the corners, front, and back of the slipcover, so as to eliminate the need for traditional slipcover ties to hold the slipcover in place and to create a neat, tailored appearance.
II. Description of the Related Art
Conventional slipcovers, while supposedly relatively easy to use, present the user with several functional and aesthetic problems. Use of a slipcover requires the user to position the slipcover over the piece of furniture to be covered. With a conventional one-piece slipcover, a single unit of material covers both the seat cushions and the base section of the piece of furniture. When the slipcover is in place, the user is then required to tuck any excess material between, for example, the base section and the cushions, to help delineate the contours and shape of the piece of furniture.
While the user may be able to tuck material under a cushion and/or between the base section and a cushion, there is no suitable location for tucking or stowing excess material along the sides of a piece of furniture, particularly at the corners of the base section. As a result, conventional slipcovers have incorporated ties at the corners. The ties are lengths of fabric extending from the seams. These ties allow the user to gather excess material along the base of the furniture and secure the gathered material at the corner.
Conventional slipcover ties present several problems to the user. One problem is that the appearance of the ties is generally not aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, the ties are subject to becoming loosened and/or untied, which is a problem because the user must spend considerable time and effort retying the ties. Additional time and effort are needed to ensure that the ties are tied in a manner that provides a balanced look so that the slipcover does not appear sloppy. Further, if the user of the slipcover has children or pets, the tendency of the ties to become loosened and/or untied increases, which may require the user to tie the ties multiple times a day. Additionally, when untied, there is a greater chance that the slipcover ties will become dirty and stained, detracting from the overall appearance of the slipcover. Moreover, if a consumer does not find the look of ties appealing, the user is limited in his or her options for selecting an appealing slipcover. Finally, because upholstered furniture comes in a wide variety of sizes and shapes, it can be difficult and time consuming to obtain a proper and secure fit with a conventional slipcover.
The problems presented with the use of ties is not new. In fact, there have been attempts to create slipcovers that can provide a tailored look without using ties. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,812 to Riley et al. describes a slipcover in which material at the corners is folded flat against an upholstered piece of furniture. The folded material is then placed underneath a wrap band. The wrap band begins at an exterior position along a lower, front corner, passes through a tunnel formed along a side of the slipcover, emerges from the tunnel and terminates at an exterior position along a lower, rear corner. Since the folded material is placed under the wrap band at each corner, a mechanism is needed to cover the wrap band, particularly at the front corners, so as to make the slipcover aesthetically pleasing. Accordingly, the Riley et al. slipcover utilizes a cover skirt that can be affixed to a corner of the slipcover. Use of the cover skirt, however, presents additional problems. For instance, the cover skirt itself may not be aesthetically pleasing to the user, and the cover skirt frequently may become detached from the slipcover, exposing the wrap bands.
An additional slipcover design that does not utilize ties is the design described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,320,407 to Tell. The Tell slipcover incorporates channels formed along the seams connecting various panels of the slipcover. In each channel is a drawstring which may be utilized to change the dimensions of the slipcover when placed on a piece of furniture. The numerous drawstrings incorporated into the Tell slipcover, however, can make adjustment of the slipcover difficult, particularly since there are three or four drawstrings intersecting at various points along the slipcover.
Therefore, what is needed is a slipcover that is easy to use, aesthetically pleasing, and that provides a neat, tailored appearance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONGenerally, the present invention is directed to a one-piece or two-piece slipcover for covering upholstered furniture.
One aspect the present invention is directed to a slipcover assembly for covering a piece of upholstered furniture. The slipcover assembly includes a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture, two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture, a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture, and at least two elastic strips, each of the elastic strips being positioned on a respective corner of the slipcover assembly.
Embodiments of the present invention may include one or more of the following features. Each of the elastic strips extend horizontally around the respective corner. Each elastic strip is sewn onto an interior portion of the respective corner. Additionally, a tunnel can be formed on an interior portion of a corner of the slipcover body, and the elastic strip positioned inside the tunnel.
The slipcover assembly may further include a cinch located at approximately the center of the bottom portion.
In another embodiment, the cinch may be located at approximately the center of the back portion.
In another aspect of the present invention, the slipcover assembly includes a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture, two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture, a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture, and at least two fabric tabs having a hook and loop fastener on the surface thereof, each of the fabric tabs being positioned on a respective corner of the slipcover.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, the slipcover assembly includes a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture, two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture, a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture, a tunnel formed on an interior portion of at least two corners of the slipcover body, and a drawstring positioned in each of the at least two corners of the slipcover body.
In still yet another aspect of the present invention, the slipcover assembly may further include a separate cushion seat cover for covering at least one removable seat cushion of the upholstered piece of furniture.
These and other objects, aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The slipcovers of the present invention provide a clean, tailored appearance through the use of elastic, drawstrings, or any other suitable gathering device located at the corners under the arms, and/or at the center of the front or back of the slipcover.
In the embodiment of
Additionally, although the slipcover of the embodiment depicted in
With the slipcover depicted in
Returning to
The front cinch 9 may be of any suitable type, but, preferred is an elastic cinch. The elastic may be secured to the slipcover in any suitable manner. For example, the elastic may be sewn onto the inside of the slipcover or may be secured inside a tunnel formed on the inside of the slipcover. The dimensions of the elastic for the front cinch 9 are not limited to any particular size. Preferably, however, the elastic is approximately 12-14 inches in length when pulled flat. The front cinch 9 may be used in conjunction with any of the back cinch 8 and elastic corners 7, as discussed above, or with any of the embodiments discussed below.
Operation of the embodiment depicted in
Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above in detail, it will be understood that the descriptions are merely for purposes of illustration. Various modifications of and equivalent structures corresponding to the disclosed aspects of the preferred embodiments in addition to those described above may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention which is defined in the following claims, the scope of which is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass such modifications and equivalent structures.
Claims
1. A slipcover assembly for covering a piece of upholstered furniture having a base section, a back extending from the base section, and two arms extending from opposite ends of the base section, the slipcover assembly comprising:
- a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture; and
- at least two elastic strips, each of the elastic strips being positioned on a respective corner of the slipcover assembly.
2. The slipcover assembly according to claim 1, wherein each of the elastic strips extends horizontally around the respective corner.
3. The slipcover assembly according to claim 2, wherein each elastic strip is sewn onto an interior portion of the respective corner.
4. The slipcover assembly according to claim 2, wherein the slipcover assembly further includes a tunnel formed on an interior portion of a corner of the slipcover body, and wherein the elastic strip is positioned inside the tunnel.
5. The slipcover assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bottom portion includes a cinch located at approximately the horizontal center of the bottom portion.
6. The slipcover assembly according to claim 1, wherein the back portion includes a cinch located at approximately the horizontal center of the back portion.
7. A slipcover assembly for covering a piece of upholstered furniture having a base section, a back extending from the base section, and two arms extending from opposite ends of the base section, the slipcover assembly comprising:
- a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture; and
- at least two fabric tabs having a hook and loop fastener on the surface thereof, each of the fabric tabs being positioned on a respective corner of the slipcover.
8. The slipcover assembly according to claim 7, wherein each of the fabric tabs extends horizontally around the respective corner.
9. A slipcover assembly for covering a piece of upholstered furniture having a base section, a back extending from the base section, and two arms extending from opposite ends of the base section, the slipcover assembly comprising:
- a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a tunnel formed on an interior portion of at least two corners of the slipcover body; and
- a drawstring positioned in each of the at least two corners of the slipcover body, the drawstring having stopper means slidably positioned thereon.
10. The slipcover assembly according to claim 9, wherein the stopper means is a duffle clip.
11. A slipcover assembly for covering a piece of upholstered furniture having a base section, a back extending from the base section, two arms extending from opposite ends of the base section, and at least one removable seat cushion supported on the base section, the slipcover assembly comprising:
- a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- at least two elastic strips, each of the elastic strips being positioned on a respective corner of the slipcover assembly; and
- a separate cushion slipcover for covering the at least one removable seat cushion.
12. The slipcover assembly according to claim 11, wherein each of the elastic strips extends horizontally around the respective corner.
13. The slipcover assembly according to claim 12, wherein each elastic strip is sewn onto an interior portion of the respective corner.
14. The slipcover assembly according to claim 12, wherein the slipcover assembly further includes a tunnel formed on an interior portion of a corner of the slipcover body, and wherein the elastic strip is positioned inside the tunnel.
15. The slipcover assembly according to claim 11, wherein the bottom portion includes a cinch located at approximately the horizontal center of the bottom portion.
16. The slipcover assembly according to claim 11, wherein the back portion includes a cinch located at approximately the horizontal center of the back portion.
17. A slipcover assembly for covering a piece of upholstered furniture having a base section, a back extending from the base section, two arms extending from opposite ends of the base section, and at least one removable seat cushion supported on the base section, the slipcover assembly comprising:
- a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- at least two fabric tabs having a hook and loop fastener on the surface thereof, each of the fabric tabs being positioned on a respective corner of the slipcover; and
- a separate cushion slipcover for covering the at least one removable seat cushion.
18. The slipcover assembly according to claim 17, wherein each of the fabric tabs extends horizontally around the respective corner.
19. A slipcover assembly for covering a piece of upholstered furniture having a base section, a back extending from the base section, two arms extending from opposite ends of the base section, and at least one removable seat cushion supported on the base section the slipcover assembly comprising:
- a back portion for covering the back of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- two side portions for coving the two arms of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a bottom portion for covering the base section of the piece of upholstered furniture;
- a tunnel formed on an interior portion of at least two corners of the slipcover body;
- a drawstring positioned in each of the at least two corners of the slipcover body, the drawstring having stopper means slidably positioned thereon; and
- a separate cushion slipcover for covering the at least one removable seat cushion.
20. The slipcover assembly according to claim 19, wherein the stopper means is a duffle clip.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 9, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 9, 2006
Applicant: MAYTEX MILLS, INC. (Yonkers, NY)
Inventors: David Baines (New Canaan, CT), Dominick Leuci (Brooklyn, NY), Harvey Bucovetsky (Cote St. Luc)
Application Number: 11/371,095
International Classification: A47C 27/00 (20060101);