Abstract:
This invention relates to a chair having a selectively removable, replaceable headrest cover. The chair has a headrest and a removable headrest cover configured to fit on at least a portion of the headrest. The headrest is hingedly attached to the chair so that the headrest can be rotated away from the chair to a second, open position to allow a user access to a bottom side of the headrest. The headrest cover is selectively attachable to or detachable from the headrest when the headrest is in the second, open position. Upon positioning the headrest in a first, closed position, the headrest cover appears to be a conventional (i.e., non-removable) headrest cover.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/514,889, filed on Aug. 3, 2011, which is which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to a chair having a removable headrest cover. More particularly, this invention relates to a chair having a selectively removable, replaceable headrest cover. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Conventional chairs such as an office or executive chair are formed with a seating surface and a back (usually a high back). A headrest configured to support and cushion the head of a user of the chair is positioned on the back of the chair. Conventional headrests for chairs are integrally formed with the chair so that the headrest is permanently, fixedly attached to the back of the chair. Further, it is common for there to be a logo or design printed or embroidered onto a headrest cover permanently, fixedly attached to the headrest. 
         [0004]    Because a conventional headrest is formed integrally with the chair, if the headrest cover becomes worn or excessively dirty, the headrest cover cannot be changed and the entire chair must be replaced. Further, if a user of a conventional chair desires a custom headrest cover (having, for example, a company logo on the headrest cover), a manufacturer of the chair must attach the headrest cover to the chair during the manufacturing process. This can be an inefficient and error-prone process, especially when small lot sizes of chairs are ordered. Therefore, there is a need in the industry for a chair having a removable headrest cover that can easily and selectively be replaced by a user and/or a manufacturer of the chair. The present invention fulfills these needs and provides further related advantages as describe herein. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    The application relates to a chair comprising a headrest and a removable headrest cover. In one aspect, the headrest can be hingedly attached to the chair so that the headrest can be rotated away from the chair to a second position in which a user of the chair can access a bottom side of the headrest. The headrest cover can be selectively attached to or detached from the headrest when the headrest is in the second position. In another aspect, the headrest can be secured to the chair with hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, zippers and the like positioned on the chair and the bottom side of the headrest. Similarly, the headrest cover can be attached to the headrest with hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, zippers and the like positioned on the cover and the bottom side of the headrest. 
         [0006]    In one aspect, the headrest cover can have a predetermined design printed or embroidered on it. The headrest cover can be customizable and selectively replaceable by a user. For example, the user could be provided a headrest cover having a predetermined color and a predetermined design such as a logo printed or embroidered on the cover. In another example, a user could be provided a plurality of headrest covers that can be selectively changed by the user to replace a worn or dirty headrest cover, or to change the look of the chair. 
         [0007]    Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]    These and other features of the preferred embodiments of the invention will become more apparent in the detailed description in which reference is made to the appended drawings wherein: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a chair having a removable headrest cover, according to one aspect. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the chair of  FIG. 1 , showing the headrest in a second, open position. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the rear of the chair of  FIG. 1 , showing the headrest in a first, closed position. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the rear of the chair of  FIG. 1 , showing the headrest in a first, closed position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0013]    The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawings, and claims, and their previous and following description. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting. 
         [0014]    The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known embodiment. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the invention described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results of the present invention. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits of the present invention can be obtained by selecting some of the features of the present invention without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part of the present invention. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles of the present invention and not in limitation thereof. 
         [0015]    As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a headrest cover” can include two or more such headrest covers unless the context indicates otherwise. 
         [0016]    Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint. 
         [0017]    As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” mean that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not. 
         [0018]    The application relates to a removable headrest cover for a chair  10  and methods for using the same. In one aspect, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the chair can comprise a headrest  12  and a removable headrest cover  14 . As will be described more fully below, the removable headrest cover can be selectively replaceable by a user of the chair. 
         [0019]    The chair  10  can be a conventional chair. For example and without limitation, the chair can be an office chair or an executive chair. In one aspect, the chair can have a high back  16 , or alternatively, the chair can have a mid or a low back. Of course, it is contemplated that the chair can be other types of chairs, such as, for example and without limitation, a reclining chair, a sofa, and the like. The chair can be covered with materials such as leather, vinyl, linen, and the like 
         [0020]    The headrest  12  can appear to be a conventional headrest sized and shaped to support the head of a user of the chair  10 . However, in one aspect, at least a portion of the headrest  12  can be rotatably attached to the chair  10 . In another aspect, a least a portion of the headrest can be securedly attached to the chair  10 . In still another aspect, a portion of the headrest can be sewn to the chair. For example and with reference to  FIG. 2 , a portion of a rear surface  18  of the headrest can extend beyond a body  20  of the headrest and can be attached to the back  16  of the chair. In other examples, at least a portion of the headrest can be securedly attached to the chair with at least one fastener  26  such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, zippers and the like positioned on the back of the chair  10  and the rear surface of the headrest. In another aspect, at least a portion of the headrest can be formed integrally with the chair. For example, a portion of the rear surface  18  of the headrest can extend beyond the body  20  of the headrest and can form at least a portion of the back  16  of the chair. 
         [0021]    Referring again to  FIG. 1 , in one aspect, the headrest  12  can be rotatably attached to the chair so that the headrest can be rotated about and between a first, closed position, in which a front surface  22  of the headrest faces generally the same direction as a front surface  24  of the back  16  of the chair, and a second, open position, in which the front surface of the headrest faces away from the front surface of the back of the chair. As can be appreciated, in the first, closed position, a portion of the rear surface  18  of the headrest can contact the front surface  24  of the back of the chair. In another aspect, the means for attaching the headrest  12  to the chair  10  can act as a hinge about which the headrest rotates relative to the chair  10 . For example, if a portion of the rear surface  18  of the headrest is sewn to the back of the chair, the portion of the rear surface of the headrest  12  extending beyond the body  20  of the headrest can act as a hinge about which the headrest rotates relative to the chair  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 . With the headrest in the second, open position, the rear surface  18  of the headrest can be accessible, while in the first, closed position, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the headrest  12  can appear to be a conventional (i.e., non-rotatable) headrest. In one aspect, the means for attaching the headrest  12  to the chair  10 , and/or a means for attaching the headrest cover  14  to the headrest (described more fully below) can be positioned on the rear surface  18  of the headrest such that they are hidden from view when the chair is in use with the headrest  12  in the first, closed position. 
         [0022]    The headrest cover  14  can be configured to cover at least a portion of the front surface  22  of the headrest  12 . In one aspect, the headrest cover can be configured to cover at least a portion of the front surface and the sides of the headrest. The headrest cover  14  can be formed from the same material as the chair  10 , for example, leather, vinyl, linen, and the like. Alternatively, the headrest cover can be formed from a different material than the chair. In one aspect, the headrest cover  14  can be attached to the headrest  12  with at least one fastener  26  such as hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, zippers and the like positioned on an inner surface of the cover. In another aspect, the headrest cover can be customizable and selectively replaceable by a user. For example, a user of the chair  10  can be provided a headrest cover having predetermined color and/or a predetermined design such as a logo printed or embroidered on the cover. As described more fully below, the user can selectively attach or detach the headrest cover to the headrest when the headrest is in the second, open position. 
         [0023]    With reference again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in use, the headrest  12  can be rotated to the second, open position, in which the front surface  22  of the headrest faces away from the front surface  24  of the back  16  of the chair  10 . In the second position, the rear surface  18  of the headrest is exposed and accessible to the user. The headrest cover  14  can be placed on the body  20  of the headrest so that at least a portion of the front surface of the headrest is covered by the headrest cover. The headrest cover can be secured in the desired position by attaching the fasteners  26  on the inner surface of the headrest cover  14  to complementary mating fasteners on the rear surface  18  of the headrest. For example, hook fasteners positioned on the inner surface of the headrest cover can matingly engage loop fasteners  26  positioned on the rear surface of the headrest  12 . 
         [0024]    After the headrest cover  14  has been secured in the desired position on the headrest  12 , the headrest can be rotated to the first, closed position, in which the front surface  22  of the headrest faces generally the same direction as the front surface  24  of the back  16  of the chair  10 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . In one aspect, the headrest can be securedly attached to the chair in the first position by attaching fasteners  26  on the rear surface  18  of the headrest  12  to complementary mating fasteners on the front surface  24  of the back  16  of the chair. For example, hook fasteners positioned on the rear surface of the headrest can matingly engage loop fasteners positioned on the front surface of the chair. In another aspect, and as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the headrest cover  14  can also be attached to the chair  10  in the first, open position by attaching fasteners  26  on the rear surface of the headrest cover to complementary mating fasteners on the rear surface  28  of the back  16  of the chair. 
         [0025]    Upon installation of the headrest cover  14  on the headrest  12 , and with the headrest in the first, closed position, the headrest cover  14  can appear to be a conventional (i.e., non-removable) headrest cover, as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 4 . In one aspect, any perimeter edges  30  of the headrest cover can be hidden from view and/or made to appear that they are formed integrally with the chair when the headrest cover  14  is in the first position. 
         [0026]    In use, in one example, a user could be provided a plurality of headrest covers  14  that can be selectively changed by the user to replace a worn or dirty headrest cover, to change the look of the chair  10 , and/or to change a logo or design displayed on the headrest cover. In another example, a manufacturer of the chair could easily provide a custom chair to a user by manufacturing a conventional chair and then adding a predetermined replaceable, removable headrest cover  14 . 
         [0027]    Although several embodiments of the invention have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind to which the invention pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed hereinabove, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the described invention, nor the claims which follow.