Abstract:
Cupped arrangement for holding a fabric-type furniture cover in a use-configuration upon a furniture piece. The cupped arrangement includes an attachment portion defining a trap space. The trap space is configured to releasably engage a portion of a fabric-type furniture cover. An anchor portion is coupled to the attachment portion, the anchor portion having a cupped receiving space adapted to insertibly receive a foot portion of a leg of a furniture piece over which the fabric-type furniture cover is installable. The attachment portion and the anchor portion together establish a cupped receiver that is predominantly constructed from semi-rigid material, preferably plastic, that is form-retaining and that possesses sufficient flexure to accommodate releasable securement of the cupped receiver to a furniture cover. The cupped receiver is constructed of multi-parts that, based on relative positioning one to the others, establish an open configuration in which a portion of a furniture cover is insertible into the trap space and a closed configuration in which an inserted portion of a furniture cover is retained in the trap space. At least two of the multi-parts of the cupped receiver are configured to be conformance fitting one to the other, and also being capable of being snapped together, with the trap space established therebetween in the closed configuration.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This non-provisional patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat No. 6,334,399 filed Aug. 9, 2000 which claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application 60/181,696 filed Feb. 10, 2000, and which is a continuation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,161,489 filed Aug. 12, 1999 which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Pat. No. 6,003,451 filed Jan. 22, 1999, several of which are entitled “TABLE COVER.” Each of these patents and corresponding applications are hereby expressly incorporated by reference into the present application in their entireties for disclosure purposes. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention(s) relates generally to fabric-type covers for articles such as furniture pieces and semi-flexible panels such as may be used as room dividers or partitions; and more particularly, to accessories therefore. Specifically, the present invention(s) is directed toward anchors or stays for such article covers or panels.  
           [0004]    2. Background of the Invention  
           [0005]    Nondescript tables intended to be covered before use are well known in the entertainment, convention, and party industries. Typically, the underlying table is of a conventional design and without decorative features. The top of the table may be of any shape, but is typically either square, rectangular, round, or oval-shaped. A set of legs is attached to the underside of the table top. These legs are typically foldable into and out of a use configuration. The tables themselves are relatively unattractive and are almost always covered for use. In this manner, the cover may be selected such that the tables serve as a complement to the theme of an event.  
           [0006]    Typically, conventional table covers have been simple drapes that are positioned over the table for uniform appearance. One problem with such designs is that no reference is provided to indicate when the draped table cover has been properly positioned. Therefore, the set up of such tables, especially when there is a large number, may be time-consuming. Each table must be visually inspected, typically from several different vantage points, to assure that each table looks right from all sides. Commonly, a conventional cloth table cover of inappropriate size will result in uneven overhangs. Further, such draped designs have long been in use and the entertainment, convention, and party industries desire new and novel appearances, as well as efficient designs for event accessories.  
           [0007]    In home settings, the owner of furniture often times desires to change the appearance of the furniture simply and inexpensively. Examples include dining tables, coffee tables, end tables, and bedside tables. Tables of this nature may also be used in commercial settings, such as hotels, restaurants, and offices. Typically, the appearance of such furniture used in commercial settings is desired to be changed temporarily or permanently. As with private owners, commercial owners of furniture desire to make appearance changes simply, inexpensively, and interchangeably.  
           [0008]    Typically, furniture covers have been draped over the furniture piece and held in position by their own weight, crude fastening devices such as screw-pins and even removable elastic straps are also familiar, but not very elegant commercial products. In the case of stretch furniture covers of the nature disclosed herein, the lower peripheries of the cover have commonly been secured by being tucked under the legs of the furniture piece being covered. This presents several problems, but the most obvious is that the weight of the furniture piece, plus any weight resting thereupon, is concentrated on the fabric cover at the points under the legs often causing holes and other unsightly wear-spots that limit the useful life of the cover unnecessarily early.  
           [0009]    In view of the deficiencies described above associated with the use of conventional designs of furniture covers, the present invention(s) have been developed to alleviate these deficiencies and to provide further benefits to a user. These benefits are described in greater detail hereinbelow with respect to alternative embodiments of the present invention.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    The present invention, in the disclosed embodiments thereof, alleviates the deficiencies described above with respect to conventionally designed drape table covers and incorporates several additionally beneficial features. Among the benefits provided to a user are the simplicity and durability of the table cover of the present invention. Another benefit is the clean, sculpted appearance the table cover provides when installed upon a table. A further benefit attractive to the entertainment, convention, and party industries is the versatility and ease in appearance-adaptation of the table cover of the present invention.  
           [0011]    Both the table cover body and the overlay table top cover of the fabric table cover assembly of the present invention are constructed to be substantially form-fitting about a conventional party table. Because the fabric from which the body and cover are constructed is typically a stretch material, the body and cover are stretched about the table and secured thereupon. The stretch nature of the fabric causes the body and cover to constrict about the table and partially conform thereto. The result is a curvaceous appearance that is unique, somewhat space-age in effect, and pleasing to the eye.  
           [0012]    A lower periphery of the bottom of the table cover is secured at the feet of the table. Because of the elastic nature of the lower periphery of the table cover, upward-extending arches are formed between the legs of the table. This is a developed feature highly desirable to users of the table because these arched areas provide gap spaces between the table cover and the floor that accommodate the insertion of a user&#39;s feet under the table. The lack of such access for the user&#39;s feet in conventional table cover designs has long affected the level of comfort and usability of such conventional designs.  
           [0013]    In a preferred embodiment, the table cover of the present invention is constructed to have a top portion and a bottom portion configured to cover the top portion and the legged portion of a table, respectively. The top portion of the table cover is preferably made of a light-colored material, but at least a portion of the top portion of the table cover contains a light-colored area. The bottom portion of the table cover may be made of any colored material. Typically, however, the bottom portion of the table cover is black because of that color&#39;s versatility and ability to blend in many event settings.  
           [0014]    The table cover body, described above, may be used alone. However, in another preferred embodiment, an overlay table top cover may be used that is stretched over the top portion of the table cover body. Typically, this overlay table top cover will have a predetermined pattern, such as stripes, polka-dots, or an animal print, that may be used to customize the appearance of the tables being covered and accent the event in which the tables are being used. Because the overlay table top cover is also constructed of stretch material to enable its simple installation over the top portion of the table cover body and cause conformity thereto, it is relatively simple for the color of the top portion of the table cover body to bleed through any light portions of the overlay table top cover. For this reason, the top portion of the table cover body is preferably constructed from a light-colored material, and more preferably, a white material. Through the use of such a light-colored material, bleed-through is prevented and the colors of the overlay table top cover are made more vibrant by the light-colored backdrop of the top portion of the table cover body. Further, the top portion of the table cover body of the present invention may be constructed from polyester-cotton blend materials that act as a pad under the overlay table top cover, eliminating the need for a separate pad.  
           [0015]    The construction of the table cover body and the overlay table top cover enable quick, simple, and uniform installation of a plurality of table cover assemblies on a plurality of tables. This is important to event planners as set up time is typically at a premium. The set up time for an event is non-revenue generating and, therefore, desired to be minimized. The construction of the table cover assembly of the present invention enables a single person to install the cover quickly and accurately by himself or herself without damaging the table cover. This one-person installation is accommodated by the construction of the table cover and its method of installation and attachment upon a table. Because of the stretching nature of the table cover, the lower periphery of the bottom portion of the table cover may be hooked under the feet of the table&#39;s legs. This may be accomplished one leg at a time as the person moves about the table. Simultaneously, the top portion of the table cover, as well as the bottom portion of the table cover, may be stretched tautly about the table top and legged portions of the table, respectively. In this manner, as the person progresses about the table, each leg may be rocked off of the floor to permit placement of a securable portion of the cover thereunder. This type of installation prevents the table top from having to engage the floor and averts potential damage to the table cover if it were pinched between the table top and the floor.  
           [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, the bottom portion of the table cover is constructed in a tube configuration using a longitudinal seam that may be used by an installer as a reference point for proper positioning of the table cover upon the table. By aligning the seam with a leg of the table, not only is a better appearance achieved for each table, but a uniform appearance across a plurality of tables is assured as each is similarly covered.  
           [0017]    In at least one embodiment, the present invention takes the form of a fabric table cover assembly that includes a table cover body that has a top portion configured for covering a table top and a bottom portion configured for covering at least a portion of a supporting portion of a table. The bottom portion of the table cover body has a lower periphery configured to be anchored at securable locations, one of each of the securable locations to be anchored to one of the plurality of legs of the table to be covered. The lower periphery has extension portions between adjacent securable locations that are adapted to form upwardly-extending arches between adjacent securable locations. In this manner, accommodating access areas for feet are established between adjacent legs of the covered table.  
           [0018]    The top portion of the table cover body is light-colored so that light-colored overlay table top cover fabrics positioned upon the top portion are unaffected in appearance color-wise by the top portion of the table cover body. In a preferred embodiment, the light-colored top portion of the table cover body is white for optimized color preservation of overlay table top cover fabrics. The bottom portion of the table cover body is preferably dark-colored for forming an opaque skin about the supporting portion of the covered table.  
           [0019]    In one embodiment, the top portion and the bottom portion of the table cover body are separate fabric pieces joined together at a seam to form the table cover body. The seam may be configured to be located immediately below the top of the covered table when installed thereupon. Additionally, the overlay table top cover is configured to cover the top portion of the table cover body for presenting a contrasting appearance to the bottom portion of the table cover body. Preferably, the overlay table top cover is adapted to stretch tautly over the top portion of the table cover body in a form-fitting manner and for establishing a substantially uniform surface-to-surface engagement between the overlay table top cover and the top portion of the table cover body. Further, the overlay table top cover has at peripheral elastic band for constriction below the top of the covered table when installed thereupon. In a preferred embodiment, the overlay table top cover is constructed from stain and wrinkle-resistant material.  
           [0020]    In another embodiment, the securable locations take, at least in part, the form of hookable portions at the bottom portion of the table cover body and are configured for being securingly hooked under the legs of the covered table. In an alternative embodiment, each securable location includes a cupped receiver positioned at the lower periphery of the bottom portion of the table cover body and is configured to securingly receive a foot portion of a leg of the covered table. The cupped receiver is adapted to be releasably engageable upon the lower periphery of the bottom portion of the table cover body. The durable cupped receiver is configured to be installed on the furniture cover and be positioned under a foot of the furniture piece thereby avoiding undue wear and damage to the cover as opposed to if it had been tucked under the foot as described hereinabove regarding traditional securement means and methods.  
           [0021]    In one embodiment, each cupped receiver includes a first body piece and a second body piece that are substantially conforming or form-fitting to one another. The first body piece may be snapped into the second body piece such that the lower periphery of the table cover is caught between the first body piece and the second body piece. The first body piece may have raised ridges or fins operable for securing the lower periphery of the table cover within the cupped receiver. The first body piece of the cupped receiver has an interior foot receiving area for receiving the foot of a leg of the table therein. The cupped receiver is releasably engageable and may be made of any substantially rigid, durable material, such as plastic or rubber. The cupped receiver is preferably constructed from a material of a color that complements or contrasts the table cover.  
           [0022]    In another embodiment, each cupped receiver includes a first body piece, a second body piece, and a securing piece that are substantially conforming. The first body piece of the cupped receiver has an interior foot receiving area for receiving the foot of a leg of the table therein. The first body piece is securely disposed within the second body piece of the cupped receiver, the second body piece including a securing piece receiver. The securing piece of the cupped receiver has a table cover receiving hook for receiving the lower periphery of the table cover. The securing piece snappingly engages the securing piece receiver of the second body piece, catching the lower periphery of the table cover between the securing piece and the second body piece. The cupped receiver is releasably engageable and may be made of any substantially rigid, durable material, such as plastic or rubber.  
           [0023]    In one aspect, the invention takes the form of a cupped arrangement for holding a fabric-type furniture cover in a use-configuration upon a furniture piece. The cupped arrangement includes an attachment portion defining a trap space. The trap space is configured to releasably engage a portion of a fabric-type furniture cover. An anchor portion is coupled to the attachment portion, the anchor portion having a cupped receiving space adapted to insertibly receive a foot portion of a leg of a furniture piece over which the fabric-type furniture cover is installable. The attachment portion and the anchor portion together establish a cupped receiver that is predominantly constructed from semi-rigid material, preferably plastic, that is form-retaining and that possesses sufficient flexure to accommodate releasable securement of the cupped receiver to a furniture cover. The cupped receiver is constructed of multiparts that, based on relative positioning one to the others, establish an open configuration in which a portion of a furniture cover is insertible into the trap space and a closed configuration in which an inserted portion of a furniture cover is retained in the trap space. In one example, at least two of the multi-parts of the cupped receiver are configured to be conformance fitting one to the other, and also being capable of being snapped together, with the trap space established there between in the closed configuration. It should be appreciated that these types of anchors or cupped receivers may also be utilized on fabric-type panels that are not necessarily employed as furniture covers, but which may take the form of sheeting such as that used to temporarily partition a room.  
           [0024]    Preferably, the bottom portion of the table cover body is constructed from a stretch fabric and is configured to fit tautly about the supporting portion of the covered table thereby presenting a curvaceous appearance about the supporting portion when installed. Optionally, the stretch fabric from which the bottom portion of the table cover body is constructed is a spandex material. Further, the bottom portion of the table cover body includes a peripheral elastic band for constriction about the lower portion of the supporting portion of the covered table, thereby forming the upwardly-extending arches and presenting a fluted appearance at the base of the covered table.  
           [0025]    The beneficial effects described above apply generally to all exemplary devices, mechanisms, and methods disclosed herein. Specific structures and methods through which these benefits may be delivered are described in detail hereinbelow. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0026]    The present invention(s) will now be described in greater detail with reference to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an initial installation step of a table cover body of the table cover assembly configured and used according of the teachings of the present invention(s) onto a furniture piece;  
         [0028]    [0028]FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views illustrating subsequent installation steps of the table cover body;  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an initial installation step of an overlay table top cover of the table cover assembly and a cupped receiver schematically illustrated at the foot of the furniture piece;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a subsequent installation step of the overlay table top cover;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an installed table cover body and overlay table top cover;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a two-piece cupped receiver configured according to one aspect of the presently disclosed invention(s);  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an interior insert of the two-piece cupped receiver illustrated in FIG. 7;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an outer shell of the two-piece cupped receiver illustrated in FIG. 7;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of an interior insert of a two-piece cupped receiver arrangement according to the present invention;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an outer shell of the two-piece cupped receiver illustrated in FIG. 10;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIGS. 12 and 13 are exploded perspective views of one embodiment of a three-piece cupped receiver configured according to the teachings of the present invention (s); and  
         [0038]    [0038]FIGS. 14 and 15 are perspective views of the assembled three-piece cupped receiver illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0039]    As required, preferred embodiments of the present invention(s) and their several aspects are disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the preferred embodiments are merely exemplary, an should not be construed as limiting the scope of the included claims. The present invention(s) may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale, and some features may be exaggerated or minimized to highlight the details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as an aide for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention.  
         [0040]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 6 , a table cover assembly  25  may be appreciated that is usable for covering a table  10  having a top  13  and a supporting portion  16 . The supporting portion  16  of the table  10  includes a plurality of legs  19 , each of which has a foot portion  22 .  
         [0041]    Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment, a table cover body  28  is configured for installation over the table  10 . The table cover body  28  includes a top portion  31  and a bottom portion  37 , preferably joined together by a seam  34 . The bottom portion  37  is constructed from a stretching material, such as spandex. The top portion  31  is constructed from a substantially stretch-resistant polyester-cotton blend material that is also stain and wrinkle-resistant. Because the top portion  31  is substantially stretch-resistant, the top portion  31  may be sized to fit a predetermined table configuration, most of such table configurations being of standard shapes and sizes in the event planning industries. Also, because the top portion  31  is substantially stretch-resistant, the top portion  31  of the table cover body  28  assists in properly locating and shaping the bottom portion  37  of the table cover body  28  once properly positioned on the table top  13 . This is possible because the top portion  31  of the table cover body  28  provides a continuous anchor about its perimeter for the top edge of the lower portion  37  of the table cover body  28 .  
         [0042]    Because of the stretch nature of the material of the bottom portion  37 , the table cover body  28  exhibits an elastic effect through its constrictive characteristics about the table  10 . Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, these characteristics enable the table cover body  28  (FIG. 1) to be at least partially form-fitting about the table  10  (FIG. 1) in a curvaceous manner that produces the unique appearance of the installed table cover assembly  25  (FIG. 1).  
         [0043]    Referring to FIGS.  1 - 3 , the installation process begins with an installer  11  positioning the table cover body  28  substantially upon the table top  13 . At least one leg  19  of the table  10  is lifted off of the ground such that the bottom portion  37  of the table cover body  28  may be anchored at a securable location  52  at the foot portion  22  of the leg  19 . In a preferred embodiment, the securable locations  52  are at a lower periphery  49  (FIG. 5) of the bottom portion  37  of the table cover body  28 .  
         [0044]    Optionally, a peripheral elastic band  46  may be included at the lower periphery  49 . It is also possible for the material from which the bottom portion  37  is constructed to perform satisfactorily using its own elastic qualities. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the securable location  52  takes the form of a hookable portion  55 , achieved by pulling the lower periphery  49  underneath the foot portion  22  of the leg  19  and permitting it to constrict thereunder.  
         [0045]    In another aspect, and as schematically illustrated in the lower right-hand portion of FIG. 4, a cupped receiver  80  is employed at the lower periphery  49  for installation of the table cover body  28  under the foot  22  of the leg  19 . This cupped receiver  80  may take a variety of forms as herein described.  
         [0046]    Referring to FIGS.  7 - 9 , in one embodiment, each cupped receiver  80  includes a first body piece  86 , or an interior insert, and a second body piece  84 , or an outer shell, that are substantially conforming to one another. The first body piece  86  may be snapped into the second body piece  84  such that the lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28  is caught between the first body piece  86  and the second body piece  84 . These pieces  84  and  86  maybe completely separate from one another, or may be coupled together in a way that facilitates relative movement between the pieces.  
         [0047]    The first body piece  86  may have raised ridges or fins  96  operable for securing the lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28  within the cupped receiver  80  and to the foot portion  22  of a leg  19  of the table  10 . The first body piece  86  of the cupped receiver  80  has an interior foot receiving area  94  for receiving the foot portion  22  of the leg  19  of the table  10  therein. The cupped receiver  80  is releasably engageable and may be made of any substantially rigid, durable material, such as plastic or rubber. The cupped receiver  80  is preferably constructed from a material of a color that appealingly blends with, or contrasts with the furniture cover.  
         [0048]    Referring to FIG. 7, an assembled cupped receiver  82  is established from two separate pieces, an outer shell  84  and an interior insert  86 . FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary outer shell  84  configured to be engaged upon an interior insert  86 , such as that illustrated in FIG. 8. FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate alternative interior insert  86  and outer shell  84  configurations, respectively. The character of this alternative embodiment is, however, sufficiently similar to that of FIGS.  7 - 9  to allow like reference numerals to be employed across the FIGS.  7 - 11 .  
         [0049]    As illustrated, the cupped receiver  80  is formed by the snapping engagement of the outer shell  84  about the interior insert  86 . The outer shell  84  includes a catch projection  85  that projects over and snaps about a protrusion  87  of the interior insert  86 . In this manner, the outer shell  84  and the interior insert  86  are made releasably engageable. The interior surface of the outer shell  84  is configured to substantially conform to the exterior surface of the interior insert  86 , providing substantial face-to-face abutment. When assembled, a cover securement recess  88  is established between the outer shell  84  and the interior insert  86 . The cover securement recess  88  is used for securingly receiving a portion of the lower periphery  49  of the bottom portion  37  of the table cover body  28 . Securement of the cupped receiver  80  to the table cover body  28 , or to any other similarly constructed cover, is established by snapping the outer shell  84  and the interior insert  86  together with the portion of the cover intended to be secured positioned therebetween. With respect to a cover in which an elastic band  46  has been incorporated, the enlarged cord caused by the presence of the elastic band  46  provides an expanded portion simply trapped in the cover securement recess  88  between the outer shell  84  and the interior insert  86 .  
         [0050]    Friction members  90  are provided in the form of spiked teeth  92  that stab into the secured portion of the table cover body  28 . Through the use of the spiked teeth  92 , disengagement of the table cover body  28  from the cupped receiver  80  is resisted until the outer shell  84  and the interior insert  86  are purposefully disengaged and the cover securement recess  88  is opened.  
         [0051]    The interior foot receiving area  94  is established within the interior space of the cupped receiver  80 . This interior foot receiving area  94  is operable for receiving the foot portion  22  of a leg  19  of the table  10  therein. The fit of the interior foot receiving area  94  about the foot portion  22  may be sufficiently snug to maintain an engagement therebetween. Further, the elastic nature of the material of the table cover body  28  will typically place an upward force on the cupped receiver  80  that tends to hold the cupped receiver  80  tightly upon the foot portion  22  of the leg  19  of the table  10 . To assist the installer in properly positioning the foot portion  22  in the interior foot receiving area  94 , a sloped access lip  96  is provided that directs the foot portion  22  to slide into the interior foot receiving area  94  for proper positioning therein. Because there is a possibility that a relatively great amount of downward force may be exerted upon the cupped receiver  80 , especially if the cupped receiver  80  is used on a chair cover, a bottom portion  98  of the cupped receiver  80  is reinforced using reinforcing ribs  99 . The reinforcing ribs  99  may extend radially from the center of the interior insert  86 , toward the circumference thereof. The reinforcing ribs  99  may take the form of vanes that are perpendicularly oriented to the bottom interior surface of the interior insert  86 .  
         [0052]    Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, in another embodiment, each cupped receiver  80  includes a first body piece  100 , a second body piece  102 , and a securing piece  104  that are substantially conforming with one another. The first body piece  100  of the cupped receiver  80 , or the foot receiving piece  100 , has an interior foot receiving area  106  for receiving the foot portion  22  of a leg  19  of the furniture piece  10  therein. The foot receiving piece  100  is securely disposed within the second body piece  102  of the cupped receiver  80 , or the base piece. The second body piece  102  includes a securing piece receiver  108 . The securing piece  104  of the cupped receiver  80  has a table cover receiving hook  110  for receiving the lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28 . The securing piece  104  snappingly engages the securing piece receiver  108  of the second body piece  102 , catching the lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28  between the securing piece  104  and the second body piece  102 . The cupped receiver  80  is releasably engageable and may be made of any substantially rigid, durable material, such as plastic or rubber.  
         [0053]    The first body piece  100  of the cupped receiver  80  may be substantially round, substantially square, any other suitable shape, or it may have substantially round portions and substantially square portions. The interior foot receiving area  106  of the first body piece  100  preferably includes projecting or raised fin structures  112  operable for engaging the foot portion  22  of the leg  19  of the table  10 . Optionally, these raised fin structures  112  may each include a rubber bead operable for securing the first body piece  100  to the foot portion  22  of the leg  19  of the table  10 . As illustrated, the fin structures  112  are more horizontally oriented, but the fin(s)  112  may also be substantially vertically oriented. In such a vertical orientation, the raised fin structures  112  may also be angled such that the foot portion  22  of the leg  19  of the table  10  is guided as it is slid into the interior foot receiving area  106  of the first body piece  100 . The angled nature of these fin(s)  112  may be configured to form a downwardly tapered space  106  so that variously sized and configured furniture feet  19  can be frictionally engaged. If the interior space is tapered, variously sized feet  19  will be accommodated, but smaller feet will project further into the receiving space  106  than a larger feet  19  which will abut the tapered fins  112  earlier during insertion and therefore not rest as deeply in the receiving assembly  80 .  
         [0054]    The second body piece  102  of the cupped receiver  80  includes an interior receiving space  114  for receiving the first body piece  100  and a bottom piece  126 . Preferably, the interior receiving space  114  of the second body piece  102  substantially conforms to the first body piece  100 . The second body piece  102  also includes the securing piece receiver  108  and a table cover body receiver  116 . The securing piece receiver  108  includes a plurality of recessed channels operable for snappingly engaging a plurality of protruding portions  118  of the securing piece  104 . The table cover body receiver  116  is a shelf structure operable for catching and securing the lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28  between the second body piece  102  and the securing piece  104 . The second body piece  102  further includes a plurality of securing channels  120  operable for receiving a plurality of securing teeth  122  of the securing piece  104 . Together, the plurality of securing channels  120  and the plurality of securing teeth  122  prevent the securing piece  104  from being pulled upward by the table cover body  28 .  
         [0055]    As described above, the securing piece  104  includes a table cover receiving hook  110  for receiving the lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28 . Referring to FIG. 14, when the securing piece  104  and the second body piece  102  are engaged, the table cover receiving hook  110  and the table cover body receiver  116  form a table cover channel  124  in which the lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28  is disposed. FIG. 15 provides further illustration of the unified cupped receiver  82 .  
         [0056]    In operation, the foot portion  22  of a leg  19  of the table  10  is disposed within the first body piece  100 . Advantageously, the first body piece  100  may be left on the foot portion  22  of the leg  19  of the table  10  temporarily or permanently. The first body piece  100  is then disposed within the second body piece  102 . The lower periphery  49  of the table cover body  28  is hooked or caught using the table cover receiving hook  110  of the securing piece  104 . The securing piece  104  is then snappingly engaged with the second body piece  102 , securing the lower periphery  49  of the Table cover body  28  between the securing piece  104  and the second body piece  102 . Alternatively, the securing piece  104  may be engaged with the second body piece  102  prior to disposing the first body piece  100  within the second body piece  102 . The securing piece  104  and the second body piece  102  may then be fitted under the first body piece  100 , securing the table cover body  28  about the table  10 .  
         [0057]    Because of the design of the cupped receiver  80 , it should be appreciated that the cupped receiver  80  may be used in conjunction with a plurality of covers and structures, such as covers for chairs, covers for other types of furniture, and covers for other articles that have fabric, fabric-type and otherwise similarly constructed portions that are desired to be secured or anchored. The fabric-type material may be as simple as plastic sheeting. For example, covers for paintings may be desired to be secured or anchored at corners over which such cupped receivers  80  can be aptly hung. It should be appreciated that the cupped receiver  80  need not be round in configuration, but may be configured to accommodate variously shaped elements. In the case of a cover to be secured about a painting at the corners of a frame thereof, the cupped receiver  80  may be substantially square in shape for catching upon the corners of the frame. Such anchors may also be used with panels constructed from stretch fabrics that are connected between the anchors for forming a partition-type room divider. Further, the cupped receiver  80  may be used to establish projection screens of various characteristics.  
         [0058]    It should be appreciated that an additional benefit is derived from using cupped receivers  80  at the ground engaging portions of the feet of a table and, more pertinently, at the ground engaging portions of the feet of a chair. The inner and outer components of the cupped receiver  80  are preferably constructed from a hard plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Further, the bottom exterior surface of the cupped receiver  80  is generally convex shaped or, at a minimum, has upwardly curved edges such that the sliding action of the table or chair over a supporting floor is facilitated. This may be attributed to the cupped receivers  80  acting as sleds over carpeted surfaces and reduced surface-to-surface contact on hard surfaces. Further, because the cupped receivers  80  are made from a semi-rigid material, the cupped receivers  80  also act as a buffer and protects the flooring from such sliding action which may otherwise mar or gouge the surface of the flooring.  
         [0059]    It is also contemplated that a one-piece cupped receiver may be constructed according to the criteria established for the cupped receiver  80  illustrated in FIGS.  7 - 15 . An arrangement is provided upon the body of the cupped receiver for affecting an attachment between the cupped receiver and the cover to be secured or anchored. Ideally, this attachment is releasable in nature, however, the attachment may also be permanent.  
         [0060]    Returning to the furniture cover aspect of the invention(s), reference to FIG. 2, illustrates continued installation of a table cover as the installer  11  moves from one leg  19  to the next leg  19  anchoring the bottom portion  37  of the table cover body  28  under the foot portion  22  of each leg  19  at a securable location  52  until finally the configuration illustrated in FIG. 3 is achieved. There, it can be appreciated that extension portions  61  span between the securable locations  52  and, when the table cover body  28  is installed upon the table  10 , form upwardly extending arches  64  between each pair of legs  19 . Referring to FIG. 4, each arch  64  provides a feet accommodating access area  67  for those persons who sit at the covered table  10 . This feature improves the comfort level of those persons attending an event, increasing the usability of the tables  10 .  
         [0061]    In the illustrated embodiment, the top portion  31  of the table cover body  28  is round shaped and the bottom portion  37  is tubular. The tube of the bottom portion  37  is formed by sewing a sheet of material at end portions thereof utilizing a tube-forming seam  43 . The seam  43  may be used by an installer  11  to assure proper positioning of the table cover body  28  upon the table  10 . When beginning installation, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the seam  43  may be aligned with the leg  19  under which the bottom portion  37  is first anchored. If this system is consistently utilized, a uniform appearance across a plurality of tables  10  in an event setting may be achieved.  
         [0062]    An optional component of the table cover assembly  25  is an overlay table top cover  70 . The use of such an overlay table top cover  70  is illustrated in FIGS.  4 - 6 . Typically, the overlay table top cover  70  has a specific design that has been selected to complement the theme of an event. Examples of such designs include colored polka-dots, flag patterns, and animal prints. In each case, the overlay table top cover  70  is preferably constructed of a stretch material that is secured about the top  13  of the table  10 , over the top portion  31  of the table cover body  28 , using a peripheral elastic band  73 . The more the overlay table top cover  70  is stretched, the more transparent the material becomes. This is especially true with respect to light-colored portions in the design of the overlay table top cover  70 . For this reason, the top portion  31  of the table cover body  28  is preferably constructed of a light-colored material, and more preferably from a white material. Thus, lighter colors of the overlay table top cover  70  are not washed out by the dark underlay, but are instead preserved and enhanced by the light color of the top portion  31  of the table cover body  28 .  
         [0063]    The overlay table top cover  70  is an important component as it incorporates adaptability into the table cover assembly  25 . By using standard table cover bodies  28  with custom overlay table top covers  70 , dramatically different appearances may be achieved using the same table cover body  28  and table  10 . This feature is attractive to event planners who must be able to provide a wide range of appearances on a finite budget. In an exemplary embodiment, the bottom portion  37  of the table cover body  28  is constructed from a dark-colored material, such as black spandex, that forms an opaque skin  40  about the supporting portion  16  of the table  10  when properly installed. In this configuration, the table cover assembly  25  presents a solid, sculpted appearance over the previously unattractive skeletal table  10 , such as that available at most convention and party events.  
         [0064]    A table cover assembly and its components have been described herein. These and other embodiments which will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art are within the intended scope of the present invention as claimed below. As stated previously, detailed embodiments of the present invention have been described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the present invention, which may be embodied in various forms.