Abstract:
In one embodiment, a convertible protective cover for protecting an article. The cover includes a covering portion having an underside, a pillowcase portion having an inside surface, and a tether having two ends, one end coupled to the covering portion and the other end coupled to the pillowcase portion. 
     The covering portion can be stuffed into the tethered pillowcase portion to form a stuffed pillow that conceals the cover. Conversely, the protective cover conceals the pillowcase portion while the protective cover is in use to protect the article.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/878,283, filed Sep. 16, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The disclosure relates, generally, to protective covers, and more particularly, to weatherproof protective covering devices for barbecue grills and other cooking apparatus, automobiles, outdoor furniture, and the like. 
         [0003]    Conventional weatherproof covers are used to protect outdoor furniture and other valuable items against damage from sun, rain, snow, dust, rodents, tree sap, spills, and the like. When a conventional cover is removed from an item of outdoor furniture, such as a deck chair or chaise lounger, and the cover is not in use, it can be cumbersome to find suitable convenient storage for the cover due to its bulk. 
         [0004]    The functionality of conventional patio chairs is often enhanced by the use of one or more conventional outdoor furniture pillows. Due to their bulk, such pillows are typically removed from a patio chair prior to applying a conventional weatherproof cover, and may even be brought indoors or stowed away in another dry location away from sunlight. 
         [0005]    Accordingly, use of conventional outdoor furniture covers and outdoor furniture pillows in conjunction with one another involves having to dedicate storage space for either one or the other, at nearly all times. The cover is stowed away in a designated storage location while the pillow is in use, and the pillow is stowed away in a designated storage location while the cover is in use. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide convertible protective covers, for use with patio furniture and other outdoor items for which protection against weather is desirable, such as barbecue grills. A protective cover consistent with embodiments of the disclosure is adapted to convert into a pillow, whereby the cover itself is stored inside the pillow. Thus, no additional storage space is required for the cover when the cover is not in use, because the cover converts into a pillow. Conversely, no additional storage space is required for the pillow when the pillow is not in use, because the pillow converts back into a cover. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the disclosure provides a convertible protective cover includes: a covering portion having an underside, a pillowcase portion having an inside surface, and a tether having two ends, one end coupled to the covering portion and the other end coupled to the pillowcase portion. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the disclosure provides a method for concealing a protective cover for an article. The method includes: receiving, inside a pillowcase portion having an inside surface, a covering portion having an underside. The pillowcase portion is tethered to the covering portion by means of a tether. One end of the tether is coupled to the underside of the covering portion, and the other end of the tether is coupled to the inside surface of the pillowcase portion. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary convertible outdoor chair cover consistent with a first embodiment of the disclosure, in use as a chair cover; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  shows the convertible outdoor chair cover of  FIG. 1 , in an intermediate stage of conversion to a pillow; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  shows the convertible outdoor chair cover of  FIG. 1 , in use as a pillow; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  shows an exemplary convertible outdoor chair cover consistent with a second embodiment of the disclosure, in use as a pillow; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary convertible outdoor chaise lounge cover consistent with a third embodiment of the disclosure, in use as a chaise lounge cover; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary convertible barbecue grill cover consistent with a fourth embodiment of the disclosure, in use as a barbecue grill cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Detailed illustrative embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein. However, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments of the present disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments of the disclosure. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary convertible outdoor chair cover  100  consistent with a first embodiment of the disclosure. In  FIG. 1 , cover  100  is shown during use as a cover for a chair  110 . It can be seen that, from its outside appearance, cover  100  appears to be an ordinary chair cover, and only covering portion  101  is visible. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  shows cover  100  of  FIG. 1 , in an intermediate stage of conversion to a pillow. As shown, cover  100  includes a pillowcase portion  102  coupled to covering portion  101  by means of a tether  103 . Tether  103  connects to an interior portion of covering portion  101  at one end, with the other end of tether  103  connecting to an interior portion of pillowcase portion  102 . 
         [0018]    The shape, size, and dimensions of covering portion  101  will vary and should generally conform to the shape, size, and dimensions of the patio furniture (or barbecue grill, or other article being covered). Accordingly, the particular size and dimensions for the construction of covering portion  101  will not be discussed herein. Covering portion  101  is desirably manufactured, e.g., from 100% polypropylene or other waterproof material. In one embodiment, covering portion  101  is a three-layer product consisting of two outer layers of spunbond polypropylene with an inner layer of polypropylene film. The polypropylene film is 100% waterproof and breathable. Covering portion  101  is desirably strong, lightweight, durable, UV-resistant and protects patio furniture from the elements. Covering portion  101  is also desirably flexible and stuffs easily into the interior of pillowcase portion  102 . In some embodiments, hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) or other strap-type fasteners may be included, to permit covering portion  101  to be fastened securely to chair  110 . 
         [0019]    Pillowcase portion  102  is sized to receive both the entire covering portion  101  and the entire tether  103 , which are adapted to be “stuffed” by a user into covering portion  101 , in pocket or envelope fashion. When stuffed inside pillowcase portion  102 , covering portion  101  acts as the stuffing of the pillow, yielding a usable comfortable and attractive pillow that can be placed on furniture, and hiding the fact that a patio furniture cover is stored inside. Pillowcase portion  102  is desirably manufactured, e.g., from solution-dyed acrylic for durability, UV-stability, fade-resistance and to provide a soft, luxurious feel consistent with patio cushions and pillows. In one embodiment, pillowcase portion  102  is designed to operate in like manner to a duvet cover, with an opening in the rear instead of at one edge, so that covering portion  101  can be stuffed into pillowcase portion  102  through the rear opening. 
         [0020]    Tether  103 , which may be formed, e.g., from polypropylene webbing, is desirably included to prevent covering portion  101  from becoming lost or otherwise separated from pillowcase portion  102 . In one embodiment, tether  103  is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 , tether  103  is permanently and non-releasably attached to covering portion  101  and pillowcase portion  102 . However, in alternative embodiments, tether  103  is releasably attached (e.g., using hook-and-loop fastener, one or more releasable connectors, or the like) to one or more of covering portion  101  and pillowcase portion  102 , e.g., to permit detangling and/or cleaning. Tether  103  may be elastic (e.g., to reduce tangling and length) or non-elastic, in different embodiments, and may include wire, rope, string, cord, or the like. In some embodiments, tether  103  may be omitted altogether. 
         [0021]    As seen in  FIG. 1 , during use as a cover, pillowcase portion  102  simply remains hidden underneath covering portion  101 , e.g., disposed between chair  110  and covering portion  101 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , during use as a pillow, covering portion  101  remains hidden inside pillowcase portion  102 . 
         [0022]    Although pillowcase portion  102  remains open at one end in the embodiment of  FIGS. 1-3 ,  FIG. 4  shows an alternative embodiment of a pillowcase portion  402  that includes a zipper  408  along its edge, to permit closure of the open end of pillowcase portion  402 , thereby securely retaining and concealing the covering portion and the tether inside pillowcase portion  402 . Other closure devices that may be used for similar purposes include buttons, hook-and-loop fastener, snaps, or the like. Alternatively, in certain embodiments, the closure of the pillow may be achieved by overlapping the fabric edges of the pillowcase portion  402 , with a closure device either being omitted altogether or with a closure device being provided by one or more folds or pockets formed in the fabric edges of the pillowcase portion  402 . Inclusion of zipper  408  or one or more other closure devices permits closure of pillowcase portion  402  after stuffing by the user, thereby providing the appearance of a neat, manufactured pillow product that can be placed on a patio chair or other outdoor furniture after removing the cover from the chair and converting it into a pillow. 
         [0023]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary convertible outdoor chaise lounge cover  500  consistent with a third embodiment of the disclosure, in use as a cover for a chaise lounge  510 . Cover  500  of  FIG. 5  is similar to cover  100  of  FIGS. 1-3 , except that the dimensions of cover  500  are different from those of cover  100 . In other respects, covers  100  and  500  are constructed and function in like manner to one another. 
         [0024]      FIG. 6  shows an exemplary convertible barbecue grill cover  600  consistent with a fourth embodiment of the disclosure, in use as a cover for a barbecue grill (not shown). Cover  600  of  FIG. 6  is similar to cover  100  of  FIGS. 1-3  and cover  500  of  FIG. 5 , except that the dimensions of cover  600  are different from those of covers  100 ,  500 , because cover  600  is adapted to fit a barbecue grill. In other respects, cover  600  is constructed and function in like manner to covers  100 ,  500 . 
         [0025]    Accordingly, a convertible cover consistent with embodiments of the disclosure eliminates the problem of having to find a place to store patio furniture covers by creating a pillow that has its own storage location for the cover inside the pillow. Additionally, the problem of having to find a place to store patio furniture pillows is eliminated by creating a pillow that converts into a patio furniture cover that is subsequently disposed over an article of patio furniture. 
         [0026]    This disclosure should not be construed as being limited to covers for patio furniture, grills, or any other particular devices. A convertible cover consistent with embodiments of the disclosure can alternatively be made to fit any other item or items for which protection against weather is desirable. 
         [0027]    Although embodiments of the disclosure are described as being used in connection with cooking apparatus, it should be understood that a protective cover consistent with embodiments of the disclosure may alternatively be used as a heatproof and/or waterproof protective cover for other items. 
         [0028]    It should be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this disclosure may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure. 
         [0029]    Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the disclosure. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. 
         [0030]    Although the disclosure has been described using relative terms such as “front,” “back,” “side,” “top,” “bottom,” “over,” “above,” “under” and the like in the description and in the claims, such terms are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the disclosure described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. 
         [0031]    Although the disclosure is described herein with reference to specific embodiments, various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Any benefits, advantages, or solutions to problems that are described herein with regard to specific embodiments are not intended to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims. 
         [0032]    It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments of the disclosure. 
         [0033]    Although the elements in the following method claims, if any, are recited in a particular sequence with corresponding labeling, unless the claim recitations otherwise imply a particular sequence for implementing some or all of those elements, those elements are not necessarily intended to be limited to being implemented in that particular sequence. 
         [0034]    Although the disclosure has been set forth in terms of the exemplary embodiments described herein and illustrated in the attached drawings, it is to be understood that such disclosure is purely illustrative and is not to be interpreted as limiting. Consequently, various alterations, modifications, and/or alternative embodiments and applications may be suggested to those skilled in the art after having read this disclosure. Accordingly, it is intended that the disclosure be interpreted as encompassing all alterations, modifications, or alternative embodiments and applications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this disclosure. 
         [0035]    It will be further understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of this disclosure may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the disclosure as expressed in the following claims. 
         [0036]    The embodiments covered by the claims in this application are limited to embodiments that (1) are enabled by this specification and (2) correspond to statutory subject matter. Non-enabled embodiments and embodiments that correspond to non-statutory subject matter are explicitly disclaimed even if they fall within the scope of the claims.