Abstract:
A children&#39;s chair preferably in the form of a saucer chair includes a cover constructed from a washable fabric, the cover being arranged for removal from the frame to facilitate washing of the cover.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/677,314, filed on Jul. 30, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Briefly stated the present disclosure relates to chairs generally and specifically to chairs designed for use by children. While the disclosure is directed to that use, those skilled in the art will recognize the wider applicability of the inventive principles discussed hereinafter. 
         [0004]    Various forms of children&#39;s chairs are well known in the art. In particular, chairs generally known as saucer chairs often are appealing to children and equally important are appealing to their parents. To applicant&#39;s knowledge, in the past, covers for saucer chairs were not removable from the chair frame. That is to say, the frame which conventionally includes a first member having a general rectangular shape supported by a first support attached to the first member and a second support likewise attached to the first member. The supports may be fixed so that each chair is not collapsible, or the supports may be rotatably or pivotally mounted to the first member to permit folding of the chair. In any event, the cover was mounted to the first member in a manner making it non-removable from the chair frame without doing substantial damage to the cover. For adult versions of the saucer chair, the non-removal ability of the cover was not as problematic as attaching a non-removal cover to a child&#39;s chair. Children have the remarkable ability to soil whatever they come into contact with, and chairs are no exception. I am familiar with other forms of chairs having removable covers. In particular, chairs known as “butterfly” chairs have for some time used pockets along the four protruding portions of the chair. Unfortunately, the adoption of the pocket design on both ends of the frame for a children&#39;s chair of the saucer variety is not acceptable. First, the cover does not fit the frame properly when pockets are used on both ends of the first frame member. Second, merely using pockets on both ends of the cover to attach the coverage of the frame is not acceptable in chairs designed for children. The cover, if not designed properly, is too easily removable by the child. While parents find the ability to wash the cover for saucer chair, for example, desirable, they also do not wish the cover to be easily removable from the frame, especially when younger children are involved in use of the chair. 
         [0005]    I have overcome the problems associated with providing a removable cover for a saucer chair by incorporating a plurality of hangers attached to the cover in any convenient method which permits the cover to be attached to the frame in a friction fit. The friction fit is relatively difficult for a child to remove the cover from the frame but also is relatively easy enough for the parent to remove when desired. 
         [0006]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    In accordance with this disclosure, generally stated, a removable cover for a chair frame is provided which requires some knowledge for removal, making removal by a young child more difficult than removal by an adult. The preferred embodiment is a saucer chair which includes a frame having a first frame member having first and second ends. The cover is attached to each of the first and second ends of the first frame member in a manner that maintains the aesthetic appearance of the chair/frame combination while providing easy cover removal by an adult for cleaning. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, the cover has a plurality of hanger hooks attached to it. The hanger hooks are adapted to engage one end of the first frame member. The second end of the first frame member is inserted into a pocket formed in the cover. The pocket-hook arrangement permits removal of the cover from the first frame member while maintaining the proper fit of the cover to the frame. 
         [0009]    The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure as well as presently preferred embodiments thereof will become more apparent from the reading of the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    In the accompanying drawings which form part of the specification: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a view and perspective of one illustrative embodiment of chair of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a view in perspective of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with cover removed; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a bottom plan view of the cover shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged view partly broken away of one illustrative embodiment of hook fastener taken along the line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view in perspective, partly broken away, of the upper back view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view in perspective, partly broken away, of the lower back view of the chair shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0018]    The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description clearly enables one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, describes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives, and uses of the invention, including what is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the invention. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , reference numeral  1  indicates one illustrative embodiment of saucer chair having a frame structure  2  suitable for use with a cover member  3  of the present disclosure. While the chair  1  is described as and is known in the art as a saucer chair, those skilled in the art will recognize the wider applicability of the inventive concepts disclosed herein. 
         [0020]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the frame structure  2  includes a first frame member  4 , which in the embodiment illustrated is supported by a first support structure  5  and a second support structure  6 . The support structures  5  and  6  may comprise any of a variety of constructions, the purpose of the two support structures being to support first frame member  4  above a supporting level, generally the ground or floor. The particular construction of the frame structure  2  and in particular the support structures  5  and  6  may vary in other embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    The first frame member  4  has a top end  10  and a bottom end  11 . The frame member  4  preferably is generally continuous and the top  10  and bottom  11  are joined to one another by opposed sides  12  and  13  respectively. While described as generally continuous, the frame member  4  may be constructed in parts which are joined to one another by any convenient method to form the first frame member  4 . In addition, the first frame member  4  may be made adjustable, if desired, by providing a telescoping arrangement along the opposed sides  12  and  13 . Each of the top end  10  and bottom end  11  are adapted to support the cover member  3  as described below. 
         [0022]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the cover member  3  may and preferably does include any one of a number of visual design features which are intended to be particularly attractive to young children. The cover member  3  includes a front cover part  16 , and a back cover part  17 , which together define an internal void, not shown. The front and back cover parts  16  and  17  are joined to one another by a seam  15 . Generally any aesthetic design is placed on the front cover part  16  and additional design elements associated with the visual design of the front cover part  16 , for examples ears  14 , are attached to the cover member  3  by any convenient method. Conventionally the ears  14  and the like, as shown in  FIG. 1  are sewed to the cover  3  along the seam  15 , for example. Other attachment methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 
         [0023]    Commonly the internal void between the front cover part  16  and the back cover part  17  is intended to hold some acceptable fill or padding material. Polyester batting works well for example, to provide for user comfort when the cover  3  is supported on the frame member  4  in normal use. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the back cover part  17  of the cover  3  has a top end  20  having an external pocket  21  attached to it. The pocket  21  is formed along or near the end  20  of the cover  3 . The pocket  21  is intended to receive the end  10  of the first frame member  4  in a relatively snug but still easily removable fit. The depth and dimensions of the pocket  21  is a matter of design choice, and preferably the depth of the pocket should be sufficient to house the end  10  of the frame member  4  without accidental removal of the end  10  in operational use except when removal is intentionally desired. 
         [0025]    The cover  3  is intended to extend from above the first end  10  of the frame member  4  past the second end  11  of the frame member  4 . In that regard, it can be noted that the cover  3  appears to have a circular design in  FIG. 1 . However,  FIG. 2  shows that the frame member  4  generally is rectangular. The ability to provide different visual effects for the cover  3  even when the supporting frame for the cover has a materially different shape is an additional benefit obtained from the disclosure of the attachment method for the cover  3  described herein. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIGS. 3 ,  4  and  6 , it is best seen that the backing  17  of the cover  3  has a plurality of hooks  50  associated with it. The hooks  50  have a first end  51  and a second end  55 . The first end  51  of the Hooks  50  is attached to the frame member  4  in a tight friction fit. In the embodiment illustrated the hooks  50  are “J” shaped in cross-section so as to facilitate their attachment to the frame member  4 . Preferably the frame member  4  is tubular in cross-section, although other frame cross-sections may be employed if desired. In the latter case, the hooks  50  cross-section design may be altered to facilitate attachment to the frame member  4 . 
         [0027]    The second end  55  of the hooks  50  are attached to the backing  17  by any convenient method. For example, the hooks  50  may be attached to a strap or buckle arrangement  60  in which the hooks  50  have a strap  61  attached to them and the strap  61  in turn is attached to the cover  3 . The strap  61  may be attached to the cover  3  in any convenient way. Sewing the straps to the cover or utilizing hook and loop fastening devices work satisfactorily, for example. In the embodiment illustrated, five of the hook  50  fasteners are attached to the cover  3  and are utilized to attach the cover  3  to the second end  11  of the frame  4 . In this way, the hooks serve to shape the design of the cover  3  in the generally circular pattern shown in  FIG. 1 . As indicated, the circular shape is formed even though the frame member  4  generally is a rectangular design. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the rectangular design of the frame member  11  simplifies the manufacturing of the frame  4 . 
         [0028]    In use, the cover  3  may be packaged attached to the frame structure  2  or shipped and/or sold separately. In any event, cleaning cover  3  is accomplished easily, merely, by removing the cover  3  and washing the cover. The materials used for cover  3  constructions, including the hooks  50  are all machine washable and dryable. Once dried the cover is merely reattached to the frame structure  2 . Numerous variations within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Merely by way of example and not of limitation, the number of hooks employed with the cover  3  maybe varied in other embodiments of the invention. As indicated, the hook design may be altered to correspond to the cross-sectional shape of the frame member  4 . It is important that the hook attaches to the frame in a relatively tight friction fit so that children are not easily able to remove the cover  3  from the frame  1  while adults may accomplish that removal expeditiously. Other attachment methods between the hooks in the cover may be employed if desired. The backing  17  may have openings  65  formed in it sized to receive the strap  61  in order to facilitate attachment of the straps to the cover  3  within the void between the front and back or the cover  3 . Various materials may be in use for both the cover, the cushioning inserted within the void defined by the front and back covers, and the hooks themselves. These variations are merely illustrative. 
         [0029]    In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results are obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.