Slipcover for a recliner

• US 5,676,422 A
• Filed: 04/08/1996
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sure Fit Inc. (Hollander Sleep Products, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Fieldcrest Cannon, Inc. (GGST LLC)
• Inventors: White, Cecil A., Shaner, Susan, Dale, Gretchen F., Reiss, Clarence J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US08/628,906
• Time in Patent Office: 554 Days
• Field of Search: 297/68, 297/225, 297/224, 297/228.11, 297/229, 297/228.1, 297/219.1, 297/228.13, 297/228.12
• 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 slipcover combination for covering a movable item of furniture having an upright and a lounging position is described. The slipcover combination has a main body panel having a substantially rectangular shape with first and second adjacent corners being notched to form a pair of substantially V-cut slits defining a panel portion therebetween for covering the pivotable foot rest of the recliner. First and second skirts are also provided, one for covering the seat main body and the other for individually covering the movable foot rest portion. The skirt for the main body is preferably in the form of a longitudinal piece of material, while the other skirt is desirably formed as a ring which fits the foot rest in the manner of a sleeve. A plurality of stay puts and spiral fasteners may also be provided. The slipcover combination can be readily be applied to a piece of furniture, and maintains its position and aesthetically appealing appearance, even as the recliner is moved from its upright position to its lounging position.

Claims

1. A slipcover combination for a reclining piece of furniture having a main body and a foot rest which is movable from a first substantially vertical upright position to a second generally horizontal leg supporting position comprising:

a flexible substantially rectangular main body panel having first and second adjacent corners notched inwardly toward the center of the panel to define first and second substantially V-shaped slits and a foot panel section therebetween,

a main body skirt for encircling a lower main body of a piece of furniture, and

a foot rest skirt for individually covering a foot rest portion of a piece of furniture.

2. The slipcover combination according to claim 1, wherein said foot rest skirt is substantially ring-shaped, to enable it to substantially encircle the foot rest of a piece of furniture.

3. The slipcover combination according to claim 2, wherein said foot rest skirt has an elasticized upper edge.

4. The slipcover combination according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of fasteners for securing said main body panel to the main body of a piece of furniture.

5. The slipcover combination according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of stay puts for securing said main body panel to the main body of a piece of furniture about a seat cushion portion thereof.

6. The slipcover combination according to claim 1, further comprising an elastic band having fastening members cooperating with opposite ends thereof, said elastic band being adapted to secure a portion of said main body panel about a rear portion of a piece of furniture.

7. The slipcover combination according to claim 6, further comprising a plurality of fasteners for securing said main body panel to the main body of a piece of furniture and a plurality of stay puts for securing said main body panel to the main body of a piece of furniture about a seat cushion portion thereof.

8. The slipcover combination according to claim 1, wherein said substantially V-shaped slits extend toward a center region of said main body panel about 1/8 to 1/4 of the length of the main body panel and about 1/7 to 1/3 of the width of the main body panel.

9. A slipcover combination according to claim 1, wherein said main body skirt includes an opening for receiving an operating handle of a reclining piece of furniture.

10. A slipcover and seat combination comprising:

a seat having a main body including a base, back, first and second arms and a seat cushion therebetween, and a foot rest which is movable from a first substantially vertical upright position to a second generally horizontal leg supporting position,

a flexible substantially rectangular slipcover main body panel having first and second adjacent corners notched inwardly toward the center of the panel to define first and second substantially V-shaped slits and a foot panel portion therebetween, said main body panel being positioned over said seat such that said foot panel portion covers said foot rest and is secured therebehind, and a remainder of said main body panel substantially covers at least said back and seat cushion of said seat,

a main body skirt secured to the base of said seat proximate a lower portion thereof, and

a foot rest skirt secured on said foot rest to cover at least an outwardly facing portion thereof.

11. The slipcover and seat combination according to claim 10, wherein said foot rest skirt is substantially ring-shaped and it substantially encircles the foot rest.

12. The slipcover and seat combination according to claim 11, wherein said foot rest skirt has an elasticized upper edge which maintains the foot rest skirt on said foot rest.

13. The slipcover and seat combination according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of fasteners securing said main body panel to the main body of said seat.

14. The slipcover and seat combination according to claim 10, further comprising a plurality of stay puts positioned on top of said main body panel and between said first and second seat arms and seat cushion to secure said main body panel to the main body of the seat.

15. The slipcover and seat combination according to claim 10, further comprising an elastic band having fastening members cooperating with opposite ends thereof, said elastic band being secured to opposite sides of said main body panel proximate said seat back to secure the main body panel smoothly thereabout.

16. The slipcover and seat combination according to claim 15, further comprising a plurality of fasteners securing said main body panel to the main body of the seat and a plurality of stay puts securing said main body panel to the main body of the seat about the seat cushion thereof.

17. A slipcover and seat combination according to claim 10, wherein said seat includes an operating handle for actuating movement of said foot rest, and said main body skirt includes an opening for receiving the operating handle.

18. A method of slipcovering a reclining piece of furniture having a main body and a foot rest which is movable from a first substantially vertical upright position to a second generally horizontal leg supporting position, said method comprising the steps of:

positioning a flexible substantially rectangular main body panel having first and second adjacent corners notched inwardly to define first and second substantially V-shaped slits and a foot panel section therebetween over the reclining piece of furniture such that said foot panel section covers the foot rest and is secured thereto and a remainder of said main body panel substantially covers at least a back and seat cushion of said piece of furniture, then

securing a main body skirt to the base of said piece of furniture proximate a lower portion thereof, and

securing a foot rest skirt on said foot rest to cover at least an outwardly facing portion thereof.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of securing said main body panel to the piece of furniture by inserting a plurality of fasteners through the main body panel and into the piece of furniture.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of positioning a plurality of stay puts on top of the main body panel and about a seat cushion portion of the piece of furniture to secure the main body panel about the seat cushion thereof.

21. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of securing an elastic band having fastening members cooperating with its opposite ends to said main body panel about a rear portion of the piece of furniture to secure the main body panel thereon.

22. The method according to claim 21, further comprising the steps of securing said main body panel to the piece of furniture by inserting a plurality of fasteners through the main body panel and into the piece of furniture and positioning a plurality of stay puts on top of the main body panel and about a seat cushion portion of the piece of furniture to secure the main body panel about the seat cushion thereof.

23. A slipcover combination for a reclining piece of furniture having a main body and a foot rest which is movable from a first substantially vertical upright position to a second generally horizontal leg supporting position comprising:

a flexible substantially rectangular main body panel having first and second adjacent corners notched inwardly toward the center of the panel to define first and second substantially V-shaped slits and a foot panel section therebetween,

a main body skirt for encircling a lower main body of a piece of furniture, said main body skirt having an opening for receiving an operating handle of the piece of furniture,

a substantially ring-shaped foot rest skirt having an elasticized upper edge for individually covering a foot rest portion of a piece of furniture,

a plurality of fasteners for securing said main body panel to the main body of a piece of furniture, and

an elastic band having fastening members cooperating with opposite ends thereof.

24. The slipcover combination according to claim 23, wherein said substantially V-shaped slits extend toward a center region of said main body panel about 1/8 to 1/4 of the length of the main body panel and about 1/7 to 1/3 of the width of the main body panel.