Patent Publication Number: US-9883747-B2

Title: Furniture cover assembly

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/888,207, filed May 6, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present invention are directed to furniture covers, including furniture covers for patio furniture. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Patio furniture and other outdoor furniture are very popular. Owners often cover the patio furniture with removable covers to protect the furniture from rain, wind, water, dust, debris, or other adverse elements. Conventional furniture covers, however, do not adequately stay on the furniture, particularly in windy or other stormy conditions. Many conventional furniture covers rely on gravity to hold the covers in place. Other furniture covers use elastic bands at their base to snugly engage the furniture. Other furniture covers use line or other constriction devices to decrease the size of the opening of the furniture cover to better fit the furniture. These prior art designs, however, can be unsightly and difficult to install or remove. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved furniture cover that maintains a positive aesthetic appearance while increasing the ease and usability of the cover, allowing the cover to securely connect to the furniture, and ensuring that the cover will remain in position in all kinds of environments and conditions. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention provides furniture cover assemblies that overcome drawbacks in the prior art and provide additional benefits. A brief summary of some embodiments and aspects of the invention are presented. Thereafter, a detailed description of the illustrated embodiments is presented, which will permit one skilled in the relevant art to understand, make, and use embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the art can obtain a full appreciation of aspects of the invention from the subsequent detailed description, read together with the figures, and from the claims, which follow the detailed description. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment of the disclosed technology, a furniture cover assembly comprises a top cover portion and a plurality of side portions interconnected to define an interior area and an access opening to the interior area. At least one side portion has an edge portion adjacent to the access opening, and the edge portion has a belt tunnel with opposing first and second open end portions. A buckle is adjacent to the first open end portion. A belt is disposed in the belt tunnel, and the belt has an intermediate portion axially moveable within the belt tunnel. The belt has first and second free end portions projecting from and positioned exterior of the belt tunnel. The first free end portion of the belt is adjustably connected to the buckle and forms a first adjustable loop exterior of the belt tunnel. The first adjustable loop is configured to connect to a first one of the support structures of the furniture unit. The second free end portion of the belt is connected to the side portion and forms a second adjustable loop exterior of the belt tunnel adjacent to the second open end portion. The second adjustable loop is configured to connect to a second support structure, wherein the belt tunnel extends between the first and second support structures. The intermediate portion of the belt has a length, and the belt is adjustably connected to the buckle to adjust the length of the intermediate portion that extends between the buckle and the second open end portion. 
     In at least one embodiment, the edge portion of the furniture cover assembly is a first edge portion. The assembly has a second side portion spaced apart from the first side portion, and that has a second edge portion adjacent to the access opening. The second edge portion has a second belt tunnel with opposing third and fourth open ends and a second closed intermediate portion between the third and fourth open ends. A second buckle is attached to the second side portion adjacent to the third open end of the second belt tunnel. A second belt is disposed in the second belt tunnel. The second belt has a second intermediate portion axially moveable within the second belt tunnel and has third and fourth free end portions projecting from and exterior of the second belt tunnel. The third free end portion of the second belt is adjustably connected to the second buckle and forms a third adjustable loop exterior of the second belt tunnel and configured to connect to a third one of the support structures. 
     Another embodiment of the present technology provides a furniture cover assembly having interconnected side portions that define an interior area. At least one side portion has an edge portion adjacent to an access opening to the interior area. The edge portion has a belt tunnel with opposing first and second open ends. An adjustment member is adjacent to the first open end. A belt is slideably disposed in the belt tunnel and has first and second free end portions projecting from and exterior of the belt tunnel. The first free end portion of the belt is adjustably connected to the adjustment member and forms an adjustable loop exterior of the belt tunnel and configured to connect to a support structure of a furniture unit when positioned in the interior area. The second free end portion of the belt forms a second loop exterior of the belt tunnel adjacent to the second open end and configured to connect to a second support structure of the furniture unit with the belt tunnel extending between the first and second support structures. 
     Another embodiment of the present technology provides a furniture cover assembly for covering a furniture unit having spaced apart legs or other support structures. The furniture cover assembly comprises a top cover portion and a plurality of side portions that define an interior area and an access opening that provides access into the interior area. At least one side portion has an edge portion adjacent to the access opening, and the edge portion has a belt tunnel with opposing first and second open ends and a closed intermediate portion between the first and second open ends. A first buckle member is attached to the one side portion adjacent to the first open end of the belt tunnel. A second buckle member is attached to the one side portion adjacent to the second open end of the belt tunnel. A belt is slideably disposed in the belt tunnel, and the belt has an intermediate portion axially moveable within the belt tunnel and has first and second free end portions projecting from and exterior of the belt tunnel. The first free end portion of the belt is adjustably connected to the first buckle member and forms a first adjustable loop exterior of the belt tunnel that connects to a first one of the support structures. The second free end portion of the belt is adjustably connected to the second buckle member and forms a second adjustable loop exterior of the belt tunnel configured to connect to a second one of the support structures with the belt tunnel extending between the first and second support structures. The intermediate portion of the belt has a length, and the belt is adjustably connected to the first and second buckle members to adjust the length of the intermediate portion that extends between the first and second buckle portions. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of a furniture cover assembly in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a rear isometric view of the furniture cover assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged side elevation view of a strap system of the furniture cover assembly of  FIG. 1   
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along line  4 - 4  of the strap system of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the strap system of the furniture cover assembly of  FIG. 3 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A furniture cover assembly  10  in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure is shown in the drawings for purposes of illustration. In the following description, numerous specific details are discussed to provide a thorough and enabling description for embodiments of the disclosure. One skilled in the relevant art, however, will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific details. In other instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown, or are not described in detail, to avoid obscuring aspects of the disclosure. In general, alternatives and alternate embodiments described herein are substantially similar to the previously described embodiments, and common elements are identified by the same reference numbers. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  are front and rear isometric views of the furniture cover assembly  10 . The cover assembly  10  of the illustrated embodiment covers and protects a selected piece of furniture  12  (shown schematically in phantom lines) having a plurality of legs  14  or other support structures spaced apart from each other. The illustrated cover assembly  10  has a top panel  16  connected to four side panels  18  that define an interior area  20  within which the furniture  12  fits. The top panel  16  and side panels  18  can all be integrally connected to each other and formed of a continuous material. Alternatively, one or more of the top and side panels  16  and  18  can be separate pieces of material stitched or otherwise joined together. In yet other embodiments, the top panel  16  and/or any of the side panels  18  can be made by a plurality of panel portions stitched or otherwise joined together to form the panel. Each of the side panels  18  have a bottom edge portion  22  spaced away from the top panel  16  and positioned to define an access opening  24  that provides access into the interior area  20 . The access opening  24  is shaped and sized to fit over the furniture  12  when the cover assembly  10  is being installed over or removed from the furniture  12 . 
     The illustrated cover assembly  10  has opposing left and right side panels  26  and  28  that span between front and rear side panels  30  and  32 . While the illustrated embodiment has four side panels  18 , other embodiments can include a different number of side panels that interconnects to the top panel  16  in a configuration to accommodate a variety of different pieces of furniture  12 , such as tables, chairs, lounges, benches, cabinets, etc. 
     The left and right side panels  26  and  28  each have a front edge area  34  that connects to the front side panel  30  and a have rear edge area  36  that connects to the rear side panel  32 . The bottom edge portion  22  of each of the left and right side panels  26  and  28  includes a belt tunnel  38  that extends between the front and rear edge areas  34  and  36 . Each belt tunnel  38  has open front and rear ends  40  and  42  that provide access into the belt tunnel  38 . An elongated belt  44  is slidably disposed within the belt tunnel  38  and positioned so that an intermediate portion  46  of the belt  44  is contained within the belt tunnel  38 . Front and rear end portions  48  and  50  of the belt  44  extend through the respective open front and rear ends  40  and  42  and are exterior of the belt tunnel  38 . As discussed in greater detail below, the belt&#39;s front and rear end portions  48  and  50  extending from the belt tunnel are long enough to create a loop  66  that fits around and secures to a respective leg  14  of the furniture  12 . The belt  44  is not permanently fixed to the bottom edge portion  22  of the side panel, such that the belt  44  could be pulled out of the belt tunnel if desired by pulling axially on the free front or rear end portion  48  or  50  of the belt  44 . 
     The cover assembly  10  also has buckle assemblies  52  or other adjustment members attached to the side panels  26  and  28  adjacent to the open ends  40  and  42  of the belt tunnel  38 . The buckle assemblies  52  are fixed in a position to releasably and adjustably connect to the respective front or rear end portions  48  or  50  of the belt  44  such that the front and rear end portion  48  and  50  can form the loop  66  that receives the furniture&#39;s leg  14 . In the illustrated embodiment, the cover assembly  10  has four buckle assemblies  52  adjacent to the front and rear open ends  40  and  42  of the belt tunnels  38  on each of the left and right side panels  26  and  28 . Each buckle assembly  52  is substantially identical, so the following description of one buckle assembly is applicable to each of the buckle assemblies of the illustrated embodiment. 
     As seen in  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the buckle assembly  52  has a short web  53  stitched or otherwise securely fixed to the side panel  18  adjacent to the open end  40 / 42  of the belt tunnel  38 . In the illustrated embodiment, one end  54  of the short web  53  is stitched to the outer wall  56  of the belt tunnel  38  immediately adjacent to the tunnel&#39;s open end  40 / 42 . In other embodiments, the web  53  can be fixed to the outer wall  56  of the belt tunnel  38 , or to the edge portion of the side panel adjacent to the opening of the belt tunnel  38  with other attachment means, such as fasteners, rivets, adhesive, ultrasonic welding, or other sufficiently durable attachment means or mechanisms. The other end  58  of the web  53  is securely attached to a two-piece buckle  60  that has a female buckle portion  62  and a male buckle portion  64  releasably engageable with each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the end  58  of the web  53  is securely fixed to the female buckle portion  62 , and the female buckle portion releasably connects to the male buckle portion  64 . The illustrated buckle  60  is a conventional side release buckle, although other buckles can be used. In yet other embodiments, the buckle  60  may be a single piece buckle attached to the web  53  and connectable to the front or rear end portion  48  or  50  of the belt  44 . 
     The web  53  of the illustrated embodiment is made of a short length of strap similar to the material that forms the belt  44 . The web  53  can be a fabric or other textile material that is flexible and durable so as to withstand the outside elements and normal wear and tear. Other embodiments can use rope, lace, cord, bungee, or other materials for the web  53  and/or the belt  44  that allows for connection to the buckle  60 , such as to the side panel  18  adjacent to the opening of the belt tunnel  38 . In yet other embodiments, the buckle  60  can be directly affixed to the material forming the belt tunnel  38  or the side panel  18  adjacent to the opening of the belt tunnel. 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , the male buckle portion  64  of the two-piece buckle  60  is threaded onto the front or rear end portion  48  or  50  of the belt  44  and is adjustably positionable along the belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50 . Although the illustrated embodiment shows the female buckle portion  62  attached to the web  53  and the male buckle portion  64  attached to the belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50 , other embodiments can have the male buckle portion  64  attached to the web  53  and the female buckle portion  62  adjustably attached to the belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50  is connected to the male buckle portion  64  at a position so the end portion has a sufficient length from the belt tunnel&#39;s open end  40 / 42  to form the loop  66  when the male buckle portion  64  is attached to the female buckle portion  62 . This loop  66  is configured to extend around and securely engage the furniture&#39;s leg  14  slightly above the ground or other supporting surface. The belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50  can be adjusted to move the male buckle portion  64  along the belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50  so as to enlarge or reduce the loop  66  as needed to fit around and securely engage the furniture&#39;s leg  14  and to retain the associated side panel  18  adjacent to the side of the furniture  12 . The loop  66  around the furniture&#39;s leg  14  can be easily and quickly opened or closed by disengaging or engaging, respectively, the male and female buckle portions  64  and  62 . In addition, when the belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50  is looped around the leg  14  and the male and female buckle portions  64  and  62  are releasably connected to each other, the belt&#39;s end portion  48 / 50  can be adjusted through the male buckle portion  64  to securely cinch the belt  44  to the furniture&#39;s leg  14 . 
     The belt  44  and side panel  18  arrangement of the illustrated embodiment is configured so that, when the cover assembly  10  is positioned over the furniture  12 , the front and rear end portions  48  and  50  of the belt  44  are looped around the adjacent legs  14  of the furniture  12 , and the male and female buckle portions  64  and  62  attached to each other. The loops  66  formed by the end portions  48 / 50  of the belt  44  are then tightened through the assemblies  52  so as to effectively shorten the length of the belt  44  extending between the buckle assemblies  52 . In this arrangement, the intermediate portion  46  of the belt  44  remains free and slidably disposed within the belt tunnel  38  such that, when the belt  44  has been adjusted/tightened, the side panel  18  adjacent to the belt tunnel  38  is pulled axially between the buckle assemblies  52  and the belt remains taut or under tension between the buckle assemblies  52 . The taut belts in the side panels  18  securely hold the side panels down to keep them from excessively flapping in windy conditions. As a result, the side panels remain generally planar with a nice, clean appearance when the cover assembly  10  is installed over the furniture  12 . 
     The cover assembly  10  shown in the illustrated embodiment has the belt tunnels  38 , the belts  44 , and buckle assemblies  52  on the opposing left and right side panels. The cover assembly  10  in other embodiments can have belt tunnels  38 , belts  44  and buckle assemblies  52  on the opposing front and rear side panels  30  and  32 , and/or on all of the side panels  18 . Other embodiments can include the belt tunnels  38 , belts  44  and buckle assemblies  52  on less than all of the side panels  18 . 
     As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front and rear side panels  30  and  32  each have a channel  70  formed in the panel&#39;s bottom edge portion  22  that extends along the length of the panel. Each channel  70  contains a draw member  72 , such as a draw string, that exits the channel  70  through an opening  74  in the middle portion  75  of the bottom edge portion  22 . In one embodiment, each of the side panels  18  also include a channel for the draw member  72 , separate from the belt tunnels, and the draw member extends through the channels about the perimeter of the cover assembly adjacent to the opening  74 . In another embodiment, one or more the side panels  18  can include a channel that retains a draw member  72  dedicated to the respective side panel, wherein the draw member  72  is anchored at its ends in or adjacent to the channel  70  in the respective side panel. This allows for individual adjustment of each side panel that includes a draw member  72 . In yet another, a draw member  72  can be provided that extends along channels  70  in a pair of adjacent side panels  18 . Another embodiment can include a draw member  72  that extends through channels formed in less than all of the side panels. The draw string can be a bungee, an elastic cord, or otherwise stretchable member, or it can be a non-stretchable member. The draw member  72  in other embodiments can be a belt, cable, rope, cord, web, or the like. The draw member  72  is adjustable between tightened positioned to securely hold the cover on the furniture and a loosened position that allows the cover to be placed over or removed from the furniture. In one embodiment, a cord keeper  76  is adjustably attached to the draw member  72  adjacent to the opening  74  and is configured to be positioned along the draw member  72  to tighten the side panels  18  around the furniture  12 , or to loosen the side panels  18  relative to the furniture  12  for installation or removal of the cover assembly onto or off of the furniture  12 . 
     As seen in  FIG. 2 , the cover assembly  10  also includes a vent  78  formed in a side panel  18 . The vent  78  in the illustrated embodiment is provided in the rear side panel  32 , although other embodiments can include a vent  78  in other side panels  18  or in the top panel  16 . The vent  78  allows air to move into and out of the interior area  20 , which can facilitate installation or removal of the cover assembly  10  over the furniture  12 . The vent  78  can also help reduce flapping of the side panel  18  in windy conditions. The vent  78  can include a cover that allows for airflow through the vent  78  while blocking the passage of rain, water, dust, or debris into the interior area  20  through the vent. 
     The cover assembly  10  of the illustrated embodiment also includes a handle  80  on the rear side panel  32  adjacent to the vent  78  ( FIG. 2 ) and on the front side panel  30  ( FIG. 1 ) generally adjacent to the top panel  16 . Other embodiments can include one or more handles  80  on the left, right, and/or top panels  26 ,  28 , and  16 . The handles  80  are configured to allow a user to grasp the handle(s)  80  to facilitate installation or removal of the cover assembly  10  onto or off of the furniture  12 . 
     In operation, the cover assembly  10  is installed over the furniture  12  by disconnecting the buckles  60  or otherwise opening the loops  66  and loosening the cord keeper  76  and draw member  72  to maximize or otherwise enlarge the access opening  24  of the cover assembly  10 . The cover assembly  10  is then positioned over the furniture  12  so the furniture is substantially fully within the interior area  20  except for a portion of the legs  14  that extend partially through the access opening  24 . The front and rear end portions  48  and  50  of the belt  44  are then wrapped around the associated leg  14  to create the loops  66  around the legs  14 . The male and female buckle portions  64  and  62  are then snapped together and the end portions  48 / 50  of the belts  44  are tightened as needed to securely tighten the belts  44  around the legs  14 , while maintaining the bottom edge portion  22  of the side panels  18  substantially in tension (when the distance between the legs  14  is greater than the length of the belt tunnel  38 ). The draw members  72  on the side panels  18  are then tightened and the cord keeper  76  is adjusted to maintain the draw members  72  in the tight arrangement so as to secure the bottom edge portions  22  of the cover assembly  10  around the bottom perimeter of the furniture  12 . The cover assembly  10  can be removed from the furniture  12  by reversing the above process and lifting the cover assembly  10  off of the furniture  12 , such as by utilizing the handles  80 . 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, but that various modifications may be made without deviating from the invention. Additionally, aspects of the invention described in the context of particular embodiments or examples may be combined or eliminated in other embodiments. Although advantages associated with certain embodiments of the invention have been described in the context of those embodiments, other embodiments may also exhibit such advantages. Additionally, not all embodiments need necessarily exhibit such advantages to fall within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims.