METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FITTING A COVERING OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL OVER AN OBJECT

Abstract: Method for fitting a covering of flexible material (3) over an object (2), in particular for upholstering a chair, in which a piece of the covering material (3) is laid over the object and with the exertion of some tension is fastened to the object at least at one end edge part thereof by fastening to this end edge part a strip-shaped element (5) which is relatively rigid at least in the crosswise direction and inserting this element with the end edge part of the covering fastened thereto in a longitudinal groove (6) provided in the object and forming an angle ≦90° with the direction in which the covering material extends from the groove, which strip-shaped element (5) has along one of its longitudinal edges a thickened part (51) preferably in the form of beaded edge which fits into the groove with some play.

Description: The invention relates to a method for fitting a covering of flexible material over an object, in particular for upholstering a chair, in which a piece of the covering material is laid over the object and with the exertion of some tension is fastened to the object at least at one end edge part thereof by fastening to this end edge part a strip-shaped element which is relatively rigid at least in the crosswise direction and inserting this element with the end edge part of the covering fastened thereto in a longitudinal groove provided in the object and forming an angle ≦ 90° with the direction in which the covering material extends from the groove. Such a method is known from CH-A-526289. In the known method the strip-shaped element is formed by a perfect strip of equal thickness over its entire length and breadth, an end edge part of the covering being fastened to one of the surfaces of the strip-shaped element, so that the element forms an edge reinforcement, which makes the end edge part of the covering thicker with the thickness of the stripshaped element. This means that the width of the longitudinal groove in the object to be covered must be adapted at this thickened end edge part, so that with a strip-shaped element of standard thickness, the longitudinal groove must be made wider or narrower depending on the thickness of the covering material to be used and, because the available covering materials have a wide range of thicknesses, a groove of standard width cannot be used. DE-A-3632278 discloses a method for fitting a covering of a flexible material over an object in which a plurality of clip-shaped retaining elements are fastened in spaced apart relation to the seam of said material, which retaining elements are pushed inside a plurality of cooperating groove-forming elements which are arranged in spaced apart relation on the rigid frame of said object. Each of said retaining elements is provided with step-like protrusions which are in engagement with flange-shaped portions of a respective groove-forming element. The retaining elements are fastened to the covering by means of edge elements which are attached to the seam of the covering material. Each edge-element has a cylindrical portion over which the clip-shaped retaining element fits so that said element is permitted to slide along the edge-element. Thus this known method is based on a snap-connection between the covering and the frame member, whereas the cylindrical portions of the edge-elements serve solely for the fastening of the retaining elements with respect to the covering material. The object of the Invention is to produce an improved method which does not have a disadvantage of the first mentioned known method, but still retains the advantageous effect that the covering can be removed easily and replaced by a new covering. This object is achieved with the method according to the invention in that the strip-shaped element has along one of its longitudinal edges a thickened part which fits into the groove with some play, and the end edge part of the covering material is fastened to the part of the strip-shaped element extending from the thickened part, said thickened part preferably being in the form of a beaded edge projecting towards one side relative to one of the faces of the strip. In this way the overall thickness of the beaded edge can be selected in such a way that the thickness of the part thereof projecting relative to the face of the strip is at least slightly greater than the maximum thickness of the standard covering materials, so that with a longitudinal groove of standard width all standard covering materials can be used. The thickness of the beaded edge is, however, advantageously selected in such a way that the thickness of the above-mentioned projecting part is slightly greater than twice the maximum thickness of the standard covering materials, so that the end edge part can then be fastened to the strip-shaped element in such a way that the end edge part faces away from the thickened part, and the part of the covering extending from the fastened end edge part is folded back over the fastened end edge part. In this way any frayed threads at the end edge of the material are covered by the part of the covering material folded back and overlapping the end edge, so that they cannot be in the way during insertion in the groove of the strip-shaped element with the covering material part fastened thereto. Insertion in the groove of the strip with the material part fastened thereto is also facilitated by comparison with the known method due to the beaded edge, because it pushes into the groove firstly as a smooth, easy-gliding guiding edge. The covering material is preferably sewn to the strip-shaped element by means of a sewing machine, the beaded edge forming an ideal guide for the sewing machine foot. The invention relates also to a device according to claims 5 to 7. The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which: Fig. 1 shows in cross section a part of an armrest of a chair covered by the method according to the invention; and Fig. 2 shows on a larger scale the fastening of the covering on the left in Fig. 1. As shown in the figures, the armrest comprises a frame 1, 1′, 1″ of, for example, wood which is filled with cushion parts 2, 2′ of a springy material, for example, foam rubber, and over which a covering 3, 3′, for example made of a fabric, is fitted. As is best shown in Fig. 2 by covering 3, an end edge part 31 on the covering 3 is fastened to the strip-shaped element 5 by means of the stitched seam 4, the part 32 of the covering 3 being folded back over the part 31, so that the free end 33 where frayed threads could be formed is covered by part 32. The strip-shaped element 5 of, for example, plastic has a beaded edge 51, of which the part projecting relative to the face of the strip 4 is of a thickness (d) which is slightly greater than the overall thickness of the covering material parts 31 and 32. The strip 5 with the covering material parts 31 and 32 fastened thereto is inserted into a groove 6 which is formed in the frame part 1, and which forms an acute angle with the direction in which the covering material 3 extends from the part 32. The covering material part 3 is cut to size here in such a way that some tension is also exerted on the covering material when the strip 5 is being inserted in the groove 6. The covering material 3′ shown in Fig. 1 is fastened in the same way as shown in Fig. 2, and the same reference numbers are used, but with the addition of accents.

Claims: 1. Method for fitting a covering of flexible material (3) over an object, in particular for upholstering a chair, in which a piece of the covering material is laid over the object and with the exertion of some tension is fastened to the object at least at one end edge part (31) thereof by fastening to this end edge part a strip-shaped element (5) which is relatively rigid at least in the crosswise direction and inserting this element with the end edge part of the covering fastened thereto in a longitudinal groove (6) provided in the object and forming an angle ≦ 90° with the direction in which the covering material (3) extends from the groove, characterized in that the strip-shaped element (5) has along one of its longitudinal edges a thickened part (5) which fits into the groove (6) with some play, and the end edge part (31) of the covering material is fastened to the part of the strip (5) extending from the thickened part. 2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the thickened part (51) projects towards one side relative to one of the faces of the strip (5). 3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the thickened part is in the form of a beaded edge (51). 4. Method according to Claims 1-3, characterized in that the end edge part (31) of the covering material is fastened to the strip-shaped element (5) in such a way that the end edge faces away from the thickened part, and the part (32) of the covering extending from the fastened end edge part (31) is then folded back over the fastened end edge part (31). 5. Device for fitting a covering of flexible material (3) over an object, in particular for upholstering a chair, which device comprises a stripshaped element (5) which is relatively rigid at least in the crosswise direction and which is fastened to at least one edge part (31) of said covering material and is located inside a longitudinal groove (6) provided in the object and forming an angle ≦ 90° with the direction in which the covering material extends from the groove, characterized in that the strip-shaped element (5) has along one of its longitudinal edges a thickened part (51) which fits into the groove (6) with some play, and the end edge part (31) of the covering material is fastened to the part of the strip (5) extending from the thickened part. 6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the thickened part (51) projects towards one side relative to one of the faces of the strip (5). 7. Device according to claims 5 or 6, characterized in that the thickened part is in the form of a beaded edge (51).

Inventors: VELDHUIZEN, HENDRIKUS JUSEUS
Applicants: VELDHUIZEN BEHEER B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A47C31
IPC codes: A47C31