Abstract:
The disclosed invention is an improved seat cover that prevents slipping or pulling off of the seat back during use. The improved seat cover utilizes an additional panel of material that is tucked between the seat back and seat bottom of a car seat. The disclosed invention fits a variety of seat types and can accommodate arm rests and child safety seat latches. In certain embodiments of the improved seat cover, the additional panel of material includes slots through which child safety restraints may be anchored without the removal of the seat cover.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to protective covers for automobile seats, and more particularly, to an improved one-piece protective seat cover which is adjustable to fit automobile seats having different sizes and to allow the functionality of the vehicle seat arm rests and child seat safety latches. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The advantages of automobile seat covers have long been recognized by consumers for the protection of seat upholstery and/or for covering worn or damaged upholstery. Accordingly, there exists a myriad of designs of seat covers aimed at solving various problems, such as, but not limited to the fit and attachment to numerous styles of automobile seats. 
         [0003]    While the devices heretofore meet their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for an improved seat cover that has certain improved features that allow for an adjustable fit to various seat designs, and which is easily installed and removed for laundering once becoming soiled. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The embodiments of the present invention address the needs presented above by providing a seat cover of an improved, one-piece design having a seat covering portion and a back rest portion that are slipped onto an automobile seat, and which is retained thereon simply by the virtue of its construction without the use of straps with hooks or other structure engaging fasteners. 
         [0005]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a seat cover that is constructed from a machine washable fabric. 
         [0006]    A second embodiment of the present invention provides a seat cover that is water resistant and may include a water resistant liner. 
         [0007]    A third embodiment of the present invention provides a seat cover that is usable with child safety devices, such as car seats or booster seats by providing access to seat safety latching points. 
         [0008]    A fourth embodiment of the present invention provides a seat cover including provisions for an automobile seat head rest and armrests. 
         [0009]    A fifth embodiment of the present invention provides a seat cover including a specially designed tuckable panel which operates to adjust and secure the fitting of the seat cover to the seat. 
         [0010]    Numerous objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a left-side perspective view of an automobile seat cover constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention installed on a captain&#39;s style automobile seat; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a rear view of the automobile seat cover installed on the automobile seat; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a right-side perspective view of an automobile seat cover constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged, partial cross-sectional view of an automobile seat cover constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention installed on an automobile seat, illustrating a tuckable panel disposed within the gap between the seat and back rest of the automobile seat and a safety latch extending through a slot in the tuckable panel; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged, partial view of a front panel and a seat panel joined together by a tuckable panel; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a partial perspective view of a tuckable panel illustrating an open safety latch slot extending through the tuckable panel and a fastener for sealing the slot; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section through a seat panel of the seat cover. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
         [0020]    With reference now to  FIGS. 1 through 7 , an automobile seat cover incorporating the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
         [0021]    As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 5 , the seat cover  10  is of a one-piece, or unitary, slip cover construction permitting easy installation and removal of the seat cover  10  on an automobile seat, and particularly, a captain&#39;s chair style automobile seat  12  having a seat cushion  14  and a back rest  16 . 
         [0022]    The seat cover  10  comprises a seat portion or a bottom portion  18  constructed to cover the seat cushion  14  of automobile seat  12 , and a back portion  20  constructed to cover the back rest  16  of the automobile seat  12 . The seat portion  18  has a seat panel  22  of a sufficient size to cover the top of seat cushion  14  of the automobile seat  12 . 
         [0023]    The seat portion  18  further includes a peripheral skirt  24  descending from the seat panel  22  and extending along at least the front and two opposing sides of the seat panel  22 . The bottom edge of the skirt  24  is fitted with an elastic band or similar material  26  to cause the skirt  24  to fit snuggly about the seat cushion  14 . 
         [0024]    The back portion  20  includes a front panel  28  of a sufficient size to cover the forward surface of the back rest  16  and a back panel  30  joined to the front panel  28  by opposing side panels  32  and  34  and top panel  36 . Front panel  28 , back panel  30 , side panels  32  and  34 , and top panel  36  together provide a sleeve having an opening opposite the top panel  36  which can slide over the back rest  16  with the back rest  16  disposed within the interior of the sleeve construction. The bottom edge of the back panel  30  is fitted with an elastic band or similar material  38  to cause a cinch in the sleeve construction of the back portion  20  about the back rest  16 . Additionally, an elastic strap  40  is connected to and extends between the bottom edge of the back panel  30  and a lower end of side panel  34  forming an armrest opening  42  through which an armrest  44  of the automobile seat  12  may extend. Similarly, an elastic strap  46  is connected to and extends between the bottom edge of the back panel  30  and a lower end of side panel  32  forming an armrest opening  48  through which an armrest  44  of the automobile seat  12  may extend. 
         [0025]    The back portion  20  may further include a headrest opening  52  extending through the top panel  36  thereof, through which a headrest  54  may extend. Headrest opening  52  may be fitted with an elastic band or similar material  56  to cinch the headrest opening and permit expansion of the headrest opening  52  when a headrest  54  is passed therethrough. 
         [0026]    Seat cover  10  further includes a tuckable panel  58 . The tuckable panel  58  connects the seat panel  22  of the seat portion  18  and the front panel  28  of the back portion  20 . The tuckable panel  58  is provided to be tucked into the gap  60  that extends between the seat cushion  14  and the back rest  16  of the automobile seat  12  to pull the seat panel  22  and the front panel  28  snug with the seat cushion  14  and back rest  16 , respectively. The tuckable panel  58  provides universal fitting of the seat cover  10  to variously sized automobile seats. 
         [0027]    As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the tuckable panel  58  may also include a pair of longitudinal slits or slots  62  and  64  that are laterally spaced a distance equal to the spacing between standard safety latching points  63  for child safety restraints, such as car seats and booster seats. In use, a safety latching point  63  is extended through a respective slot  62 ,  64  permitting access thereto for the installation and securement of a child safety restraint (not shown). Slots  62  and  64  may be fitted with a fastener to permit sealing of each slot when not in use to prevent debris and liquid from traveling through the slot and soiling the underlying seat. 
         [0028]    With reference to  FIG. 6 , and in an embodiment, each slot  62 ,  64  may be fitted with a hook-and-loop type fastener to permit sealing thereof. In such an embodiment, a hook portion  66  is disposed along one edge of the slot and the corresponding loop portion  68  is disposed along the opposite edge of the slot such that the opposite edges of the slot may be overlapped and pressed together, thereby joining the hook portion  66  and loop portion  68  of the hook-and-loop fastener and sealing the slot  62 ,  64 . 
         [0029]    Seat cover  10  may be constructed of any suitable material including but not limited to cotton, cotton blends, polyester, polyester blends, velour, terrycloth, polycotton, knits, denim, cotton/spandex blends, neoprene, or wool as desired based upon application. 
         [0030]      FIG. 7  illustrates a cross section view of an embodiment where at least the seat panel  22  is of a layered construction including a fabric or top layer  70  having an interior water proof coating or liner  72  along the bottom or interior surface  74  of layer  70 . The coating or liner  72  serves to prevent liquids from passing through the seat cover  10  and soiling the underlying seat upholstery. In one embodiment, coating or liner  72  may be rubberized or the like to provide a friction interface between the seat cover  10  and the underlying seat to prevent slipping/bunching of the seat cover  10 . In other embodiments, the interior surface  76  of coating or liner  72  may be textured or otherwise treated to have a texture to provide a friction interface between the seat cover  10  and the underlying seat. 
         [0031]    In other embodiments, the seat cover  10  may further include one or more storage pockets  78  disposed on the skirt  24 . The pockets  78  may include an elasticized opening and may further include suitable fasteners for sealing the pockets. 
         [0032]    Additionally, while not depicted, in other embodiments, the seat cover  10  may have imprinted thereupon or otherwise include various aesthetic designs or patterns as desired. For example, in one embodiment, the seat cover  10  may have animal prints, character prints, or abstract/non-abstract designs. 
         [0033]    Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
         [0034]    It is believed that the system and method as described and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.