Unitary slipcover with straight front skirt

• US 6,116,685 A
• Filed: 12/07/1998
• Issued: 09/12/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sure Fit Home Products, LLC (Hollander Sleep Products, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Sure Fit Inc. (Hollander Sleep Products, LLC)
• Inventors: White, Cecil A., Shaner, Susan
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuomo, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vu, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US09/206,572
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 297/218.1, 297/224, 297/225, 297/229, 297/228.1, 297/228.2
• US Class Current: 297/218.1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/11 for chairs for headrests only A47C7/386; removable protective covers for car seats B60N2/60

Abstract

A unitary slipcover for covering a seating-type piece of furniture having a base, a back, arms, and a cushioned seat portion. The slipcover includes a seat cushion covering portion with a rear edge. A cinching element terminating in first and second ends is secured therebetween to at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion covering portion for reducing the effective peripheral dimension of at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion covering portion. A main body covering portion of the slipcover is folded in a longitudinal direction and each end is sewn to itself to define arm covering portions. One longitudinal side of the main body covering portion of the slipcover is secured to the seat cushion covering portion and the other longitudinal side is preferably secured to a main body skirt covering portion, which conceals at least a portion of the base of the piece of furniture. A separate substantially planar front skirt covering portion is preferably integral to the seat cushion covering portion and extends therefrom over a front crevice defined between the front edge of the seat cushion and the base of the piece of furniture. The cinching element maintains the seat cushion covering portion positioned securely and neatly across the top of the seat cushion while the draped front skirt provides a slipcover draped appearance. Pairs of binding elements may be secured about the corners of the piece of furniture to further ensure that the slipcover remains properly positioned and to enhance the aesthetic appearance.

Claims

1. A slipcover for a piece of furniture having a back, arms and at least one seat cushion, said slipcover comprising:

a pouch-shaped seat cushion covering portion having a rear edge and a front edge;

an adjusting member secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion for varying at least a portion of a peripheral dimension of the rear edge thereof while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering portion remains uncinched; and

a pouch-shaped main body covering portion for covering the back and arms of the piece of furniture, said main body covering portion having a first longitudinal side and a second longitudinal side, the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion being secured to the first longitudinal side of said main body covering portion.

2. The slipcover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said adjusting member comprises an elastic band secured to at least a portion of a periphery of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion.

3. The slipcover in accordance with claim 2, wherein said elastic band is secured while in a stretched state such that a peripheral dimension of at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion is effectively reduced when the elastic band assumes a relaxed state.

4. The slipcover in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a front skirt covering portion integral with said seat cushion covering portion, a transition area defined at an interface between said seat cushion covering portion and said front skirt covering portion being uncinched to provide a draped slipcover appearance.

5. The slipcover in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a front skirt covering portion secured to said seat cushion covering portion.

6. The slipcover in accordance with claim 5, further comprising a main body skirt covering portion secured to the second longitudinal side of said main body covering portion between the first and second ends thereof.

7. The slipcover in accordance with claim 1, wherein said main body covering portion terminates in a first end and a second end, each end of said main body covering portion is secured to form closed ends defining arm portions for conforming to the arms of the piece of furniture.

8. The slipcover in accordance with claim 7, further comprising an arm cinching element attached to at least a portion of the closed ends of said main body covering portion.

9. The slipcover in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a pair of binding elements disposed proximate one of a front corner and a rear corner of the piece of furniture for securing the slipcover on the piece of furniture.

10. The slipcover in accordance with claim 9, wherein said pair of binding elements comprises a first binding member and a second binding member.

11. The slipcover in accordance with claim 10, where the first and second binding members comprise one of a cord, rope, ribbon, and strap.

12. The slipcover in accordance with claim 11, wherein the first and second binding members are one of tied and knotted.

13. The slipcover in accordance with claim 9, wherein said pair of binding elements, when secured about the piece of furniture, extend in substantially the same plane as said cinching element to further secure the slipcover to the piece of furniture.

14. A combination comprising:

a piece of furniture including a base, a back, first and second arms, and at least one seat cushion having a rear edge; and

a unitary slipcover positioned on said piece of furniture and covering at least the back, arms, and the seat cushion, said slipcover including a seat cushion covering portion having a rear edge and a front edge, and a cinching element secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion, said cinching element securing the slipcover about at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion of said piece of furniture, so that at least a portion of the slipcover extends beneath at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion proximate the back of said piece of furniture while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering portion remains uncinched.

15. The combination in accordance with claim 14, wherein the seat cushion and the back of said piece of furniture define a rear crevice therebetween, and wherein at least a portion of said slipcover extends into the rear crevice proximate at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion.

16. The combination in accordance with claim 14, wherein a lower front edge of the seat cushion and the base of said piece of furniture define a front crevice therebetween, and wherein the slipcover extends over the front crevice to provide a draped slipcover appearance.

17. A one-piece slipcover for covering a piece of furniture having a back, arms and at least one seat cushion having a rear edge, said slipcover comprising:

a first pouch for covering the back and arms of the piece of furniture;

a second pouch secured to said first pouch for covering the seat cushion of the piece of furniture, said second pouch having a rear edge and a front edge;

a cinching element secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said second pouch, said cinching element securing a portion of the slipcover beneath at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion of the piece of furniture while at least a portion of the front edge of said second pouch remains uncinched.

18. A one-piece slipcover for covering a piece of furniture having a base, back, arms and at least one seat cushion positioned on the base, said slipcover comprising:

a main body portion for covering the back of the piece of furniture and terminating at first and second ends in shaped arm covering portions for covering the arms of the piece of furniture;

a seat cushion covering portion secured to said main body portion, said seat cushion covering portion having a rear edge and a front edge; and

a cinching element secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion, said cinching element biasing at least a portion of the slipcover beneath at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering portion remains uncinched.

19. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 18, further comprising at least one pair of binding members secured about at least one of front and rear corners of the piece of furniture.

20. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 19, wherein each pair of binding members includes a first binding member and a second binding member.

21. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 20, wherein the first and second binding members comprise one of a cord, rope, ribbon, and strap.

22. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 21, wherein the first and second binding members are one of tied and knotted.

23. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 19, wherein said pair of binding elements, when secured about the piece of furniture, extend in substantially the same plane as said cinching element to further secure the slipcover to the piece of furniture.

24. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a skirt having an uncinched front skirt portion integral to said seat cushion covering portion for covering a portion of the base of the piece of furniture extending from said seat cushion covering portion toward a lower surface of the piece of furniture to provide a slipcover appearance.

25. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 24, wherein said skirt further comprises a main body skirt portion secured to said main body covering portion and extending between the first and second terminating ends thereof.

26. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 18, further comprising a skirt having an uncinched front skirt portion secured to said seat cushion covering portion for covering a portion of the base of the piece of furniture extending from said seat cushion covering portion toward a lower surface of the piece of furniture to provide a slipcover appearance.

27. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 26, wherein said skirt further comprises a main body skirt portion secured to said main body covering portion and extending between the first and second terminating ends thereof.

28. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 18, wherein said cinching element is an elastic band.

29. A one-piece slipcover adapted to cover the back, arms, and seat cushion of a piece of furniture, said slipcover including a main body covering portion for covering the back and arms of the piece of furniture, comprising:

a seat cushion covering portion for covering the seat cushion of the piece of furniture, said seat cushion covering portion having a rear edge and a front edge; and

means for biasing at least a portion of the slipcover substantially directly beneath a portion of a rear edge of the seat cushion, said biasing means comprising a cinching element terminating in first and second ends, said cinching element being secured between the first and second ends to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering portion remains uncinched.

30. A one-piece slipcover for a piece of furniture having a base, a back, a pair of arms, and a seat cushion, said slipcover comprising:

a main body covering portion for covering the back and the pair of arms of the piece of furniture;

a seat cushion covering portion for covering the seat cushion of the sofa, said seat cushion covering portion having a rear edge and a front edge; and

a cinching element secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion, and said cinching element being adapted to gather a portion of the slipcover beneath at least a portion of a lower rear edge of the seat cushion while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering portion remains uncinched.

31. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 30, further comprising an uncinched main body skirt covering portion secured to a periphery of said main body covering portion, said main body skirt covering portion extending downward from said main body covering portion to cover at least a portion of the base proximate the arms and back of the piece of furniture.

32. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 30, further comprising a front skirt covering portion secured to said seat cushion covering portion for covering a portion of the base of the piece of furniture extending from said seat cushion covering portion toward a lower surface of the piece of furniture to thereby provide a slipcover appearance.

33. A combination comprising:

a piece of furniture including a back, a pair of arms, a base, and at least one seat cushion positioned on the base; and

a slipcover comprising;

a seat cushion covering pouch covering the seat cushion, said seat cushion covering pouch having a rear edge and a front edge;

a cinching element secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering pouch while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering pouch remains uncinched;

a main body covering pouch secured to a portion of said seat cushion covering pouch and covering the back and arms of the piece of furniture; and

a skirt secured to said main body covering pouch, extending around the back of the piece of furniture, and terminating at the end of each arm.

34. The combination in accordance with claim 33, wherein said cinching element is an elastic band.

35. The combination in accordance with claim 34, wherein said cinching element is secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering pouch while in a stretched state such that at least a portion of a peripheral dimension of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering pouch is effectively reduced when the elastic band assumes a relaxed state.

36. The combination in accordance with claim 33, wherein the seat cushion and the back of the piece of furniture define a rear crevice therebetween, and at least a portion of the slipcover extends into the rear crevice.

37. The combination in accordance with claim 33, wherein a front edge of the seat cushion and the base of the piece of furniture define a front crevice therebetween, and wherein the slipcover extends over the front crevice to provide a draped slipcover appearance.

38. The combination in accordance with claim 33, further comprising at least one pair of binding members secured about at least one corner of the piece of furniture.

39. The combination in accordance with claim 33, further comprising a pair of binding members secured about each corner of the piece of furniture.

40. A slipcover for covering a piece of furniture having a base, arms, a back, and at least one seat cushion with a rear edge, comprising:

a seat cushion covering pouch for enveloping at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion of the piece of furniture, said seat cushion covering pouch having a rear edge and a front edge;

a front skirt covering portion integral to said seat cushion covering portion, said front skirt covering portion being uncinched to provide a slipcover appearance;

a cinching element secured to at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering pouch for tightening at least a portion of the rear edge of said seat cushion covering pouch about at least a portion of the rear edge of the seat cushion while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering pouch remains uncinched; and

a substantially rectangular main body portion having a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge, said main body portion being folded longitudinally and secured together at its respective ends to define first and second arm covering portions, the first longitudinal edge being secured along a portion of the periphery of said seat cushion covering portion, and the second longitudinal edge being substantially free to define an open pouch with said arm covering portions and the first longitudinal edge for receiving a back and a pair of arms of the piece of furniture.

41. The slipcover in accordance with claim 40, further comprising at least one pair of binding elements, when secured about the piece of furniture, said pair of binding elements extend in substantially the same plane as said cinching element to further secure the slipcover to the piece of furniture.

42. The slipcover in accordance with claim 40, further comprising a main body skirt covering portion secured to the second longitudinal edge of said main body covering portion and covering at least a portion of the base of the piece of furniture.

43. A one-piece slipcover for covering a piece of furniture having a back, arms, a base and at least one seat cushion, said slipcover comprising:

a main body portion for covering at least the back and arms of the piece of furniture;

a seat cushion covering portion for covering the seat cushion of the piece of furniture, said seat cushion having a front edge and a substantially linear rear edge terminating in curved corners; and

a first cinching element secured to at least a portion of the substantially linear rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion while at least a portion of the front edge of said seat cushion covering portion remains uncinched.

44. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 43, wherein said first cinching element is secured along the substantially linear rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion.

45. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 43, wherein said first cinching element is secured along the curved corners and the substantially linear rear edge of said seat cushion covering portion.

46. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 43, further comprising a second cinching element secured to at least a portion of one of the curved corners of the seat cushion covering portion.

47. The one-piece slipcover in accordance with claim 46, further comprising a third cinching element secured to at least a portion of one of the curved corners of the seat cushion covering portion.