Stretch slipcovers

• US 20030122411A1
• Filed: 12/05/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Invista North America Sarl (Invista)
• Original Assignee: Invista North America Sarl (Invista)
• Inventors: Gorcyca, John, Hietpas, Geoffrey D., Chambers, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,736,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/228.13
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/11 for chairs for headrests only A47C7/386; removable protective covers for car seats B60N2/60
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3008 Woven fabric has an elastic quality

Abstract

The invention provides upholstery stretch slipcovers comprising a fabric having sufficient elastic recovery force that the cover requires no additional fabric having greater elastic recovery force than said first fabric to hold the stretch cover in place and to maintain the substantial absence of surface wrinkles in normal use. The stretch slipcovers are particularly useful for chairs having separate back and seat cushions. The invention further provides a method for replacably upholstering a resilient cushion.

Claims

1. A stretch slipcover for a resilient cushion, said stretch cover having a top and sides comprising a first fabric having sufficient elastic recovery force that the stretch cover requires no second fabric having greater elastic recovery force than said first fabric to hold the stretch cover in place and to maintain the substantial absence of surface wrinkles in normal use.

2. The stretch slipcover of claim 1 wherein said stretch cover comprises a fabric having greater than 30% extension, at 15 lbs. applied load, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction and a minimum recovery force of 200 grams at 25% extension in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction.

3. The stretch slipcover of claim 1 absent a perimeter band for gripping the resilient cushion.

4. A stretch slipcover set comprising two stretch covers of claim 1 wherein the first stretch cover fits a chair back cushion and a second stretch cover fits a chair seat cushion.

5. A stretch slipcover having a top panel and side panels comprising fabric having greater than 30% extension, at 15 lbs. applied load, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction and a minimum recovery force of 200 grams at 25% extension in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction.

6. The stretch slipcover of claim 5 absent an elastic band around the perimeter of said stretch cover having greater elasticity than said fabric.

7. The stretch slipcover of claim 5 absent a substantially inelastic band around the perimeter of said stretch slipcover.

8. A stretch slipcover set comprising:

a back cover having front and side portions for covering the back cushion of a chair; and

a seat cover comprising top and side portions for covering a chair seat;

wherein said covers comprise fabric having greater than 30% extension, at 15 lbs. applied load, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction and a minimum recovery force of 200 grams at 25% extension in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction.

9. A stretch slipcover set for a chair having a separate back cushion and seat cushion comprising:

a stretch slipcover having a front portion and side portions for covering a front surface and at least part of the side surfaces of the back cushion of the chair; and

a stretch slipcover having a top portion and side portions for covering a top surface and at least part of the side surfaces of the seat cushion of the chair;

wherein the stretch slipcovers are constructed of fabric having greater than 30% extension, at 15 lbs. applied load, in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction and a minimum recovery force of 200 grams at 25% extension in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction.

10. A method of replacably upholstering a resilient cushion comprising the steps of:

providing a stretch slipcover having elastic recovery force that the stretch cover requires no second fabric having greater elastic recovery force to maintain the substantial absence of wrinkles in normal use;

stretching said stretch slipcover of step (a) over said resilient cushion;

releasing said stretch slipcover to allow said stretch cover to grip said resilient cushion.