KNIT FORM- FIT SLIPCOVER FOR A RECLINER

• US 20080315642A1
• Filed: 09/08/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bedding Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: Sure Fit Inc. (Hollander Sleep Products, LLC)
• Inventors: Miller, Brenda Kay
• Granted Patent: US 7,959,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/225
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/11 for chairs for headrests only A47C7/386; removable protective covers for car seats B60N2/60

Abstract

A knit form-fit cover for a recliner chair having a base, a backrest, a seat, a pair of armrests and a footrest. The cover includes panels for covering the backrest, left and right armrests, the seat and the footrest. A seat panel includes a fastener having ends attached to lateral edges of the seat panel for positioning near a front edge of the seat of the recliner chair, which may be engaged to resistively fix a portion of the seat panel at the front edge of the seat. The seat panel is formed from an elasticized yarn material, and has pleated corners at lateral ends of a front edge of the seat panel for further securing the seat panel to the footrest. The seat panel also preferably has loops affixed to rear corners of the seat panel for securing a rear portion of the seat panel to the seat.

Claims

1. A slipcover for a recliner chair having a base, a backrest, a seat, left and right armrests and a footrest, wherein the backrest, seat and footrest are coordinatedly movable, the slipcover comprising:

a backrest portion including one or more fabric panels for covering the backrest;

left and right armrest portions each including one or more fabric panels for respectively covering the left and right armrests; and

seat and footrest portions for respectively covering the seat and the footrest, the seat and footrest portions together including at least one fabric panel,

wherein the seat and foot rest portions further include fasteners having ends secured at one or more of lateral edges and corners of the at least one fabric panel of the seat and footrest portions, the fasteners being operable to resistively fix a portion of the at least one fabric panel to the recliner.

2. The slipcover according to claim 1, wherein the fasteners are secured at lateral edges of the at least one fabric panel of the seat and footrest portions for positioning in proximity to a front edge of the seat, each fastener being operable to resistively fix a portion of the at least one panel to the footrest.

3. The slipcover according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fabric panel of the seat and footrest portions further comprises:

pleated corners provided at lateral ends of a front edge of at least one fabric panel, and

an elastic member secured to at least a front edge of the footrest portion of the at least one fabric panel and to the lateral edges at the footrest portion, wherein

the pleated corners and elastic members are operable to resistively fix the footrest portion to the recliner.

4. The slipcover according to claim 3, wherein:

the secured ends of the fasteners are formed by extending the elastic member to form loops at each of the lateral edges of the footrest portion.

5. The slipcover according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fabric panel of the seat and footrest portions further comprises:

pleated corners at lateral ends of a rear edge of the seat portion; and

an elastic member secured to at least a rear edge of the seat portion of the at least one fabric panel and to the lateral edges at the seat portion for securing the seat portion to the seat.

6. The slipcover according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fabric panel of the seat and footrest portions further comprises:

pleated corners at lateral ends of a rear edge of the seat portion; and

loops affixed to the pleated corners of the seat portion for further securing the seat portion to the seat, said loops being configured for attachment to features of the recliner chair provided below the seat.

7. The slipcover according to claim 6, wherein the loops are configured for attachment to legs of the recliner chair.

8. The slipcover according to claim 6, wherein the loops are provided by extending an elastic member secured to a front edge of the seat portion of the at least one fabric panel and to the lateral edges at the seat portion to form loops at each of the pleated corners at the rear edge of the seat panel.

9. The slipcover according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the fabric panels comprises a textile material providing at least a 40% fabric stretch in pattern width and at least a 60% fabric stretch in pattern length under ASTM D 2594 stretch testing.

10. The cover according to claim 9, wherein the textile material comprises an elasticized yarn material.

11. The cover according to claim 10, wherein the elasticized yarn material comprises a spandex material.

12. The slipcover according to claim 1, wherein each of the fabric panels comprises a material providing at least a 40% fabric stretch in pattern width and at least a 60% fabric stretch in pattern length under ASTM D 2594 stretch testing.

13. The cover according to claim 1, wherein ends of the fastener are configured to be secured to one other by a hook and loop fastening material.

14. The cover according to claim 1, wherein the ends of the fastener are configured to be secured to one another by tying the ends together.

15. The cover according to claim 1, wherein one of the left and right armrest panels includes a slit configured for receiving a handle of the recliner chair.

16. The cover according to claim 1, wherein one of the left and right armrest panels includes a storage pocket.

17. A method for manufacturing a slipcover for a recliner chair having a base, a backrest, a seat, left and right armrests and a footrest, wherein the backrest, seat and footrest are coordinatedly movable, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a backrest portion for covering the backrest;

forming left and right armrest portions for respectively covering the left and right armrests;

forming seat and footrest portions for respectively covering the seat and the footrest,

joining rear edges of each of the left and right armrest portions to opposing lateral edges of the backrest portion and the seat portion;

providing fasteners having ends secured at the lateral edges of the footrest portions, the fasteners being operable to resistively fix an area of the footrest portion to the recliner.

18. The method according to claim 17, comprising the steps of:

providing pleated corners at lateral ends of a front edge of the footrest portion, and

providing an elastic member secured to at least the front edge of the footrest portion and the lateral edges at the footrest portion, wherein

the pleated corners and elastic members are operable to resistively fix the footrest portion to the recliner.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the step of providing the fasteners further includes the step of:

forming the secured fasteners by extending the elastic member to form loops at each of the lateral edges of the footrest portion.

20. The method according claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

providing pleated corners at lateral ends of a rear edge of the seat portion; and

providing an elastic member secured to at least the rear edge of the seat portion and to the lateral edges at the seat portion, wherein

the pleated corners and elastic members are operable to resistively fix the seat portion to the recliner.

21. The method according claim 17, further comprising the step of:

providing one or more fabric panels to form one or more of the backrest, armrest, seat and footrest portions, the one or more fabric panels each comprising a textile material providing at least a 40% fabric stretch in pattern width and at least a 60% fabric stretch in pattern length under ASTM D 2594 stretch testing.