A divan and armchair cover

Abstract: A divan and armchair cover (1) is described comprising a cloth (2) predisposed to be mounted from above to cover an underlying structure (3), that is, a divan or armchair. The cloth (2) is composed of a substantially rectangular sheet (4) and comprises couples of ribbons (5) arranged anteriorly in proximity to a first arm (6) and a second arm (7) of the underlying structure (3) and couples of ribbons (5a) arranged laterally substantially at the posterior end (6a and 7a) of the arms (6 and 7) and in proximity to a backrest (8) of the divan or armchair. The cloth (2) further comprises other ribbon couples (5b) located in the superior part of the backrest (8) respectively to each end (8a and 8b) of the said backrest (8). The divan and armchair cover (1) exhibits drape lines (9) situated in the superior part of the backrest (8) respectively at each end (8a and 8b) of the said backrest (8). The said drape lines (9) comprise, internally to the cloth (2), situated at the ribbon (5b) couple, a coulisse or free-running channel (10) aimed at realising a plurality of regulatable bunchings on the cloth (2) itself.

Description: The invention relates to a divan and armchair cover. As is known, it is usual to cover divans and armchairs with covers to protect them and to offer the possibility of changing the aesthetic aspect by means of cloths of different colours and patterns and type. Such divan and chair covers are generally predisposed to be applied from above by means of an opening, to cover the divan or armchair. In particular, the above-mentioned covers are generally made of elasticated cloth and are very adherent to the underlying structure, thus evidencing sagging or lumps or other small defects in the underlying structure, apart from the fact that it becomes laborious and awkward to apply and remove the said covers. There are also covers made of non-elasticated cloth, but they envisage the presence of elasticated elements for holding and obtaining a good degree of adhesion to the underlying structure. The above-mentioned divan and armchair covers have proved to be unsatisfactory in that they are not suitable for different divan or armchair models. This is due to the fact that the expansion and contraction properties of the elasticated materials used do not afford enough flexibility of use. Also divan and armchair covers made of non-elasticated materials but equipped with elasticated elements have shown themselves to have some drawbacks due to the presence of the said elasticated elements. Indeed, every time that a cover is changed, it is usual to wash it. It has been observed that divan and armchair covers of the above-described type have the drawback of losing their elasticity, thus reducing their gripping characteristics after a certain number of washes. Consequently, the cloth tends not to adhere well to the underlying structure, resulting in creases which are undesired and aesthetically unattractive. Apart from the aforegoing, the pleats created by the elastic characteristics of the cover have a pre-established disposition, while it would be better for the user to be able to create drapings as he or she desires. Another drawback of the divan and armchair covers in the prior art is observable on the act of applying the said cover on the underlying structure. The cover, being constituted substantially by a "sack", which is elasticated, presents a certain mounting difficulty since it is awkward to handle and impractical to tidy into place, for example, by a single person. A further drawback is the long working times necessary to produce the said "sack", with consequent higher costs. An example of elasticated cloth, with the typical drawbacks of the elasticated materials, is shown in FR-A-2623703, which discloses a cover for armchairs of different dimensions, characterized in that it comprises a single piece or a series of pieces of fabric made of an extensible fibre and comprising a central part designed to cover the frontal and superior part of the seat, as the frontal, superior and rear part of the back; two lateral symmetrical parts, located at the sides of the central part and designed to cover the arms of the armchair and the lateral edges of the back; means to stretch the fabric adapting it to the armchair. While said cover includes ribbons for stretching the extensible fabric over an underlying armchair, the document does not teach or suggest ribbons or other means for drawing sections of the extensible fabric together so as to form decorative drapes or bunchings along any portion of a cover. In the constant search for improvements, a divan and armchair cover has been produced which permits a certain liberty of arrangement, leaving to the user a certain choice of arranging the drapings and the bunchings according to his or her own personal taste and imagination. The general aim of the present invention is substantially that of solving the prior art problems and overcoming the above-described difficulties through a divan and armchair cover able to adhere perfectly to the underlying structure. A particular aim of the present invention is substantially to realise a divan and armchair cover which allows a rapid and easy mounting and dismounting of the cover from the underlying structure, leaving space for the user's personal taste and imagination regarding the arrangement of drapings and bunches. A further aim of the present invention is to realise a divan and armchair cover which is easy to make, functionally simple and compatible with current aesthetic preferences. A still further aim of the invention is to provide a divan and armchair cover which can be applied to various models and types of divans and armchairs. These aims and others besides, which will better emerge during the description of the invention, are substantially attained by a divan and armchair cover as in the appended clams. Further characteristics and advantages will better emerge from the detailed description that follows, of a divan and armchair cover according to the present invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a preferred embodiment here illustrated iii the form of a non-limiting example, and in which: Figure 1 shows, in schematic and perspective view a divan and armchair cover according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows, in lateral view, the divan and armchair cover of figure 1; Figure 3 shows, in a view from above, the inside of the divan and armchair cover completely opened out. With reference to the figures, 1 denotes a divan and armchair cover, according to the present invention. The divan and armchair cover 1 comprises conventionally a cloth 2 predisposed to be applied from above to cover an underlying structure 3, that is to say, a divan or an armchair. Originally, the cloth 2 is composed of a rectangular sheet 4 equipped with two flaps 4a, also rectangular, arranged one on the opposite side to the other. Each flap 4a exhibits a longer side connected with a longer side of the rectangle, in proximity to a shorter side. In this way, the realisation of the divan and armchair cover 1 is simplified since it is not necessary to cut and specially sew during preparation of the cloth 2. The cloth 2 comprises gripping means 5 which can be arranged anteriorly in proximity to a first arm 6 and a second arm 7 of the underlying structure 3. Other gripping means 5a can be positioned laterally substantially at the posterior end 6a and 7a of the arms 6 and 7 and in proximity to a backrest 8 of the divan and armchair themselves. Further, the cloth 2 can comprise other gripping means 5b situated in the superior part of the backrest 8 respectively to each end 8a and 8b of the backrest itself. In particular, the gripping means 5, 5a and 5b can comprise at least a couple of ribbons which make a bow by means of the union of the two free ends. Advantageously, both the ribbon 5 arranged anteriorly in proximity to the first arm 6 and the ribbon 5 of the second arm 7, apart from being aesthetically very pleasing, have the function of holding the backrest cover section of the sheet 4 still on the front of the backrest 8 of the underlying structure 3, thus avoiding the presence of gripping elastics as are used in the prior art. Similarly, the gripping means or ribbons 5a arranged respectively at the posterior end 6a of the arm 6 and the posterior end 7a of the arm 7 have the task of holding the posterior and anterior portions of the said sheet 4 together, keeping it stretched and still in its middle portion on the backrest and between the backrest and the cushions anteriorly and creating at the same time a lateral drape. According to the present embodiment, the cloth 2 exhibits a smooth configuration, slightly stretched in the central part of the backrest 8 while exhibiting drape lines 9 in the superior part of the backrest 8 respectively at each end 8a and 8b of the backrest 8 itself. Furthermore, the cloth 2 exhibits at least a couple of pleated portions 11 positioned according to pre-established directions and predisposed to confer gripping lines to the cloth 2 itself. The said pleated portions 11 are respectively arranged, posteriorly, at a middle portion of the backrest 8, and anteriorly at an inferior portion of the backrest 8 at the seat cushions. In particular, each pleated portion 11 is elastically extendable in the longitudinal direction and comprises an elasticated gripping ribbon or, advantageously, a free-running ribbon in a channel. Differently, the pleated portion 11 can be obtained by creating a plurality of loops through which a ribbon can be passed. According to an embodiment, the divan cover is equipped with at least one ribbon, preferably made of elasticated material 13, arranged with a first end 13a in proximity to the first arm 6 and a second end 13b in proximity to the second arm 7 of the underlying structure 3. Further, the elasticated material ribbon 13 envisages, in a substantially median position, a closing element 14 predisposed to unite and to regulate the two ribbon portions. Advantageously the elasticated material ribbon 13 is arranged internally to the cloth 2 and extends from the first arm 6 in a position underlying at least one cushion 12 of the underlying structure 3 up to the second arm 7, as is clearly visible in figure 3. More in particular, the closing element 14 can be obtained by means of a knot made by uniting the two free ends in a median position or by means of a plastic hook-and-eye of known type. Following the up-to-now mostly structural description, the functioning of the invention will now be explained. To mount the divan and armchair cover 1 it is sufficient that the operator stands behind the divan and begins to extend the cloth 2 along the backrest 8, positioning it thereafter anteriorly on the cushions. Once the backrest 8 has been arranged, the cushions are slightly lifted and the elasticated ribbon 13 is passed over the sides of the lateral edges of the cushions, the free ends of the elasticated ribbon 13 then being united, by means of a bow or a knot or, if present, the hook-and-eye. Following this, the cloth 2 is arranged on the arms 6 and 7 and on the cushion, by letting down the perimetral edge. Finally, if necessary, the left-over part of the cloth 2 can be tucked into the fissure between the cushions and the backrest 8. At this point the coulisse arranged at each end of the backrest 8 is regulated, creating thus the drapings and bunchings desired, finally knotting the ribbon and tieing a bow. Then the anterior and posterior lateral portions are positioned, uniting them by means of the ribbon couple and tieing another bow. Finally, another series of drapings and bunchings are made on the front, below the arms 6 and 7, with a further couple of ribbons and corresponding bows. To dismount the cloth 2, it is sufficient to reverse the above-described operations. The present invention thus reaches the proposed aims. It permits of easily and quickly applying and removing the cloth 2 since the ribbons grant considerable adaptability to the divan and armchair cover 1 with regard to the dimensions of the underlying structure 3. Advantageously, the invention, thanks to its versatility and ease of handling permits of effecting the mounting and dismounting operations of the divan and armchair cover 1 from the underlying structure 3 with speed and ease. Furthermore, thanks to the limited presence of elasticated elements it is possible to maintain the initial characteristics of the divan cover even after numerous washings. To this end it is useful to point out that the divan and armchair cover 1, being made substantially in a rectangle, permits a considerable reduction in working times and therefore a reduction in production costs.

Claims: A divan and armchair cover, comprising a cloth (2) predisposed to be applied from the top to cover an underlying structure (3), that is, a divan or an armchair, said cloth (2) comprising gripping means (5) arranged anteriorly in proximity to a first arm (6) and a second arm (7) of the divan or armchair and gripping means (5a) arranged laterally substantially at the posterior end (6a and 7a) of the said arms (6 and 7) and in proximity to a backrest (8) of the said divan and armchair, characterized in that the cloth is composed of a non-elasticized or inextensible strictly rectangular sheet (4) provided with only two lateral strictly rectangular flaps (4a) arranged on opposite sides, each flap (4a) exhibiting a longer side connected with a longer side of said rectangular sheet (4) in proximity to a shorter side thereof. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 1, wherein said cloth (2) comprises further gripping means (5b) so arranged that they are in the upper part of the backrest (8) along a upper border line of said backrest, respectively to each end (8a and 8b) of the backrest itself and conformed in such a way as to act in the direction of said border line of the backrest to adapt the cover to the width of the underlying structure (3) when in use, through drapings, curlings and/or bunchings. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said gripping means (5, 5a and 5b) comprise at least one couple of ribbons. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cloth (2) exhibits drape lines (9) located in the superior part of the said backrest (8) respectively at each end (8a and 8b) of the backrest (8) itself. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 4, characterised by the fact that the said drape lines (9) comprise internally to the cloth (2), situated at the couple of ribbons, a coulisse or free-running channel (10) to realise a plurality of regulatable bunchings on the cloth (2) itself. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cloth (2) exhibits at least one couple of pleated portions (11), positioned according to pre-established directions and aimed at conferring gripping lines to the said cloth (2). A divan and armchair cover as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said cloth (2) exhibits the said couple of pleated portions (11) respectively arranged, posteriorly at a median portion of the backrest (8) and anteriorly in an inferior portion of the backrest (8) at the cushions. A divan and armchair cover according to claim 7, characterised by the fact that each of the said pleated portions (11) is elastically extendable in a longitudinal direction. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that each of the said pleated portions (11) comprises an elastic gripping ribbon. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that each of the said pleated portion (11) comprises a coulisse or free-running ribbon. A divan and armchair cover as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that each of the said pleated portions (11) comprises a ribbon alternatively threaded in a plurality of loops arranged longitudinally in the sheet (4). A divan and armchair cover as in claim 3, characterised by the fact that each couple of ribbons realises a bow by means of the union of two free ends. A divan or armchair cover as in claim 1, wherein the gripping means (5) comprise at least two couple of ribbons each of which arranged near the two flaps (4a) in such a way as a first ribbon is anchored to the rectangular sheet (4) at a certain distance from the longer side, and a second ribbon is anchored to the flap (4a).

Inventors: VAIA ILDE, VAIA, ILDE
Applicants: VAIA ILDE, VAIA, ILDE
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A47C31
IPC codes: A47C31