Chair Covers

Abstract

A cover for a chair comprising: a sleeve adapted to cover a front and a rear of a back of the chair; a panel adapted to cover a seat of the chair; and a skirt adapted to cover at least part of legs of the chair; the cover comprising one or more biasing means adapted to shorten side edges of the sleeve and/or the panel. This means that the length of the panel or sleeve can be adjusted to fit a range of chairs.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.K. Patent Application No. GB1110784.4, filed Jun. 24, 2011.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to seat covers, in particular seat covers which are adjustable and suitable for decorating chairs for parties, festivals and special occasions.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,970,820, 1,820,104, 1,889,662, 2,848,039 and 4,232,898 disclose a cover for a seat having biasing means adapted to shorten side edges of a sleeve covering the seat back. Of these disclosures, only U.S. Pat. No. 1,889,662 discloses a cover for a seat having biasing means adapted to shorten side edges of a panel covering the seat, but the seat does not have legs.

Conventional commercial and domestic covers are used for a variety of occasions, and it is common to cover chairs for occasions such as weddings or other functions to provide a uniform or themed look. Cloth fabric covers are widely used, but these require frequent maintenance to keep up an acceptable appearance, and with additional costs including hire and installation and laundering, these are beyond the budget of many potential users, particularly those holding a small event held at home where only a relatively small number of covers are required.

Conventional chair covers are also limited in their ability to be adjusted to easily fit the height and length of a range of household dining chairs of differing shapes and sizes.

One approach utilizes plastic polymer material pushed into the space between the chair seat and the chair back. Sitting on plastic for any length of time could become warm and uncomfortable. The proposed disposable cover would be in the first instance made of non-woven cloth backed material.

A clear need arises for an affordable alternative to the existing material covers available.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a cover for a chair comprising: a sleeve adapted to cover a front and a rear of a back of the chair; a panel adapted to cover a seat of the chair; and a skirt adapted to cover at least part of legs of the chair; the sleeve comprising a front part and a back part joined along a left and a right edge of the sleeve, a first biasing means disposed along the left edge of the sleeve; and a second biasing means disposed along the right edge of the sleeve; in which the first and second biasing means comprise drawstrings or ribbons adapted to shorten the left and right edges of the sleeve. This means that the length of the sleeve can be adjusted to fit a range of chairs.

Preferably, the first and second biasing means are each attached to a fixing point.

Preferably, the left and the right edge respectively comprise an exit point for the first and second biasing means.

Preferably, the cover comprises one or more biasing means disposed along side edges of the panel. This means that the adjusting strips can be easily incorporated into the panel.

Preferably, the one or more biasing means disposed along side edges of the panel comprise drawstrings. Preferably, the biasing means comprise ribbons. These are simple to use, and a user can easily control the degree of shortening they produce, so that the cover is a good fit to the chair.

Preferably, the one or more biasing means disposed along side edges of the panel are each attached to a fixing point. This simplifies the design of the biasing means.

Preferably, the side edges of the panel comprise one or more exit points for the biasing means disposed along side edges of the panel. This provides easy access by the user to the drawstrings.

Preferably, the biasing means disposed along side edges of the panel comprise elastic strips. These self-adjust to the dimensions of the chair.

Preferably, the sleeve is attached to the panel. Preferably the skirt is attached to the sleeve and the panel. This construction means the cover can be fitted to the chair in a single piece.

Preferably, the skirt extends to at least a length of the chair legs. This means that the legs help to retain the cover in place on the chair.

Preferably, the cover additionally comprises a pocket. This means that various novelty products can be incorporated in to the cover.

Preferably, the cover additionally comprises a pressure switch. This means that a device connected to the pressure switch can be activated when a user sits on the chair having the cover.

Preferably, the switch is connected to a means for playing music. This means that music can play when a user sits on the chair having the cover.

Preferably, the switch activates LED lights.

Preferably, the cover is manufactured from a non-woven disposable fabric.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a and 1b are perspective views of a cover from above and behind a chair;

FIGS. 1b and 1c are schematic side views of a cover;

FIG. 2a is a perspective view of the chair cover from above and front being fitted to a chair;

FIG. 2b is a perspective view of a cover fitted to a chair; and

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a seat panel or sleeve having a pouch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a and 2b show a chair 1 fitted with a chair cover 100 having a sleeve 102. Sleeve 102 has a front part 108 and a back part 104. Front part 108 and back part 104 are joined along two edges to leave an opening, which allows sleeve 102 to be easily slid over the chair back. Sleeve 102 can be made from a piece of folded material, as shown, or from two pieces of material.

Biasing means 116a and 116b can be disposed along the join or seam between front part 108 and back part 104 as shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b. Thus biasing means 116a can be disposed between points 2, 3 and 4 on the left of sleeve 102, and biasing means 116b can be disposed between points 11, 12 and 13 on the right side of sleeve 102. Biasing means 116a and 116b allow the height of sleeve 102 to be adjusted on the seat back as required. Biasing means 116a and 116b can comprise an adjusting strip such as a ribbon or drawstring, as shown in FIG. 1a. The adjusting strip can be attached to a fixing point 150 at one end, and exit from the adjusting strip at exit point 152. Pulling down on the adjusting strips adjusts the height of sleeve 102 to fit the chair back. Biasing means 116a and 116b can comprise or elastic, as shown in FIG. 1b, and sleeve 102 will self-adjust to the height of the chair back.

Sleeve 102 can include further biasing means located between points 2 and 13 along an edge of the opening 140, and connected to the other two adjusting strips 116a and 116b to aid in the fit.

Cover 100 includes a seat panel 112 attached to sleeve panel 102 along opening 140 between points 4 and 11 and is adapted to extend over the seat part of chair 1 when sleeve 102 is deployed over the chair back.

Biasing means 116c can be disposed between points 10, 11 and 13 on the right of panel 112, and biasing means 116d can be disposed between points 2, 4 and 5 on the left side of panel 112. Biasing means 116c and 116d can comprise an adjusting strip such as a ribbon or drawstring, as shown in FIG. 1a. The adjusting strip can be attached to a fixing point 150 at one end, and exit from the adjusting strip at exit point 152. Pulling down on the adjusting strips adjusts the length of seat panel 112 to fit the chair seat. Biasing means 116c and 116d can comprise elastic, as shown in FIG. 1b, and seat panel 112 will self-adjust to the length of the chair seat.

Panel 112 can include further biasing means located between points 5 and 10 along the front of panel 112, and connected to the other two adjusting strips 116c and 116d to aid in the fit.

Cover 100 includes a skirt 122, and edges of skirt 122 are joined to three edges of seat panel 112. Skirt 122 comprises of rear panel and an edge of the rear panel is joined along a first edge of the opening 140 between 2 and 13 completing an all round Skirt. Skirt 122 covers at least part of the legs of chair 1 forming a floor to seat securing section to the cover. Skirt 122 can be short to leave legs partially exposed or long to cover the legs completely.

Referring now to FIGS. 2a and 2b, cover 100 is deployed over chair 1 by sliding the sleeve 102 onto the chair back, and biasing means 116 ensure a good fit. This means that sleeve 102 for the back of the chair may stay in non expanding position on a tall dining household chair, whilst retaining the option to adjust its height on a short chair 1, making the chair cover 100 adjustable for a variety of chair backs.

Panel 112, which is joined to sleeve 108, forms the part of the cover that will cover the seat. This has biasing means 116c along edge 11, 10 and biasing means 116d along edge 5, 4. Panel 112 will stay in non-expanding position once placed over a large chair 1, whilst a smaller seating area will require the length of panel 112 to be adjusted using 116c, 116d.

A further biasing means may be present along edge 10, 5.

Panels 104, 108 are folded, and edge 2, 3 is joined to edge 3, 4 and edge 13, 12 is joined to edge 12, 11, creating the sleeve 102 to cover chair 1 backrest front 108 and back 104. Edge 2, 3, 4 and edge 13, 12, 11 include biasing means 116a and 116b respectively.

Skirt 122 is joined to seat panel 112 along edge 11, 10 and edge 9, 10 edges 4, 5 5, 6 and 10, 5 are joined to 2, 13 which is to joined to bottom edges of back panel 104 on the sleeve 102 thus forming an all round skirt.

FIG. 3 shows an optional pouch 162 housing a pressure-activated switch for parties or similar celebrations attached to the seat panel 112 and or sleeve panels 102 front 108 or back 104. The switch can activate a device, such as musical theme sounds or LED lights and be incorporated in the finished cover, to add effect at parties for example. Seat cover 100 is thus formed in a way that allows the individual panels to be folded and sealed together to form a complete slipover disposable chair cover 100.

In the Figures, biasing means 116, 116a, 116b, 116c and 116d can be, for example, sewn, glued, or heat-sealed, into the cover. Chair cover 100 can be used with chairs 1 that vary in size, allowing the height of the cover that forms sleeve 102 and the length of the cover that forms panel 112 to be adjusted, making the cover highly adaptable.

Cover 100 can be used in conjunction with an open backed or solid back chair 1, or with a square back chair or round back chair, and is not restricted to one or the other.

If a bow, tie, band, or decorative fastening is to be included it is possible to sew this into the edges 2, 3 and 3, 4 and edges 12, 13, 11, 12 that forms sleeve 102. Also if cover 100 is to accommodate a wider bucket type chair 1 an additional insert may be required at points 2, 4, 6 and points 9, 13, 11, which will allow greater flexibility to a vulnerable area or uncompromising chair 1 shape.

The invention thus provides an adjustable seat cover which advantageously allows adjustment of both seat and backrest if required.

Cover 100 can be manufactured from a variety of materials; a non-woven disposable fabric is particularly preferred. These are low in price, and provide a disposable slipover cover for the purpose of covering and decorating a variety of chairs with the same versatile cover. Allowing non-woven fabrics to be available in the home provides an affordable alternative to fabric, convenient to replaced and easy to dispose of.

The disposable adjusting chair cover offers an easy and affordable way of providing a uniform and decorative party look, having the added benefit of providing an element of protection from spills, and a barrier against direct sunlight and other elements.

The invention provides an affordable and practical cover for a small family event, or a large occasion or function.

Claims

1. A chair cover comprising:

a sleeve adapted to cover a front and a rear of a back of a chair;

a panel adapted to cover a seat of the chair; and

a skirt adapted to cover at least part of legs of the chair;

the chair cover comprising one or more biasing means adapted to shorten side edges of the sleeve and/or the panel.

2. The chair cover of claim 1, in which the one or more biasing means are disposed along the side edges of the panel.

3. The chair cover of claim 1, in which the one or more biasing means are disposed along side edges of the sleeve.

4. The chair cover of claim 1, in which the one or more biasing means comprise a fixing point.

5. The chair cover of claim 4, in which the one or more biasing means comprise drawstrings.

6. The chair cover of claim 5, in which the one or more biasing means comprise an exit point.

7. The chair cover of claim 4, in which the one or more biasing means comprise ribbons.

8. The chair cover of claim 7, in which the one or more biasing means comprise an exit point.

9. The chair cover of claim 1, in which the one or more biasing means comprise elastic.

10. The chair cover of claim 9, in which the one or more biasing means comprise an exit point.

11. The chair cover of claim 1, in which the sleeve is attached to the panel.

12. The chair cover of claim 11, in which the skirt is attached to the sleeve and the panel.

13. The chair cover of claim 1, in which the skirt extends to at least a length of the chair legs.

14. The chair cover of claim 1, additionally comprising a pocket.

15. The chair cover of claim 1, additionally comprising a pressure switch.

16. The chair cover of claim 14, in which the switch is connected to a means for playing music.

17. The chair cover of claim 14, in which the switch is connected to a means for playing music.