Abstract:
The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion provides a decorative appearance when applied to a generally utilitarian outdoor furniture cushion. The cover is preferably formed of moisture-resistant fabric, such as canvas, cotton duck, or denim. The cover may be formed in any width to install over a single seat cushion or a wider cushion, as on a settee or the like. The cover has fasteners on opposite edges that wrap around beneath the cushion to secure to one another, either directly or via straps. The lateral edges of the cover include fasteners for interchangeable application of various trim elements thereto in order to conceal the edges of the underlying cushion. The trim elements may be formed to have a number of different appearances, enabling the user of the cover to exchange trim components to suit the occasion or provide a fresh appearance.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/682,709, filed Aug. 13, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates generally to protective covers and the like, and particularly to a cover for an outdoor furniture cushion, e.g., lawn furniture, patio furniture, and the like. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Outdoor furniture such as patio furniture, lawn furniture, and the like, is generally constructed to include two basic attributes, i.e., to be relatively durable and to have relatively few embellishments in order to provide the required durability for outdoor use. Accordingly, cushions are often added to such outdoor furniture for greater comfort, as the basic article of outdoor furniture will often have a relatively hard seating surface. 
         [0006]    However, the cushions typically provided for outdoor furniture are generally somewhat plain and utilitarian in order to withstand the typical outdoor environment, e.g., sun and ultraviolet radiation, rain, fog, and moisture, windblown dirt and dust, etc. Moreover, their external surfaces are generally formed of a plastic material in order to provide the waterproof surface desired to prevent the interior cushion material from becoming soaked with water in the event of rain or other precipitation. Such plastics generally do not hold up well when exposed to sunlight, due to the harsh ultraviolet radiation emitted by the sun. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, a number of covers for the cushions of outdoor furniture have been developed in the past. Many such covers are formed of absorbent materials such as terrycloth or the like in order to provide moisture absorbency for beach or similar uses. Of course, such moisture absorbent covers are not intended for long term use, as the materials used are quite susceptible to damage from the outdoor environment. Moreover, such covers are generally in the form of a towel or similar simple sheet, and little (if any) means is provided for the attachment of the cover to the cushion. These devices tend to be purely utilitarian and provide no additional decorative embellishments such as trim, either permanently attached or interchangeable. 
         [0008]    Thus, a cover for an outdoor furniture cushion solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion includes a sheet of moisture-resistant material (e.g., canvas, cotton duck, denim, etc.). In some embodiments, sufficient material to wrap completely beneath the cushion is provided, the two opposite edges of the cover securing to one another beneath the cushion. Other embodiments have elongate straps extending from one edge thereof, the straps being removably secured to cooperating attachment components on the opposite edge of the cover. The cover may be made in any width to cover the cushion of a single seat chair, or to cover a wider bench, settee or the like. 
         [0010]    The lateral edges of the cover preferably include some form of attachment means for removably and interchangeably attaching a trim piece thereto, in order to at least partially conceal the otherwise exposed edge of the underlying cushion over which the cover is applied. The means for securing the edges of the cover to one another and for securing the trim to the lateral edges of the cover may comprise mating hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®), mating snap fasteners, or other fasteners. The cover and a plurality of different removable trim components may be provided as a kit to enable the user to change the trim for various occasions. 
         [0011]    These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is an environmental, perspective view of a cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the cover kit for an outdoor furniture cushion according to the present invention, including additional interchangeable trim components. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of alternate embodiment of the cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to the present invention, illustrating an alternative trim attachment means. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is an exploded environmental perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to the present invention, illustrating a relatively wide cover for use with a multiple seat settee or the like. 
       
    
    
       [0016]    Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0017]    The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion provides for the decorative protection of a conventional outdoor furniture cushion, as used with lawn furniture, patio furniture, lounge chairs, and the like. As such cushions are removable and generally merely placed loosely upon the seating surface of the chair or other article of furniture, the cover may be secured completely about the cushion to provide the desired security for the cover. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  of the drawings provides an environmental perspective view of an exemplary cover  10  installed around the cushion of a chair C.  FIG. 2  illustrates a kit including the cover  10  and a plurality of interchangeable trim components. The cover  10  may be formed of flexible sheet material, and is preferably formed of a sheet of moisture-resistant fabric material such as canvas, duck, or denim. While such fabrics will absorb moisture if exposed to heavy quantities of liquid, they do not tend to absorb condensation (dew), fog, or mist when left outdoors. Additional moisture protection may be provided by a moisture repellant treatment, such as Scotchgard®, if desired. 
         [0019]    The cover  10  includes mutually opposed first and second lateral edges  12  and  14  defining a central seating portion  16  therebetween. Mutually opposed forward and rearward portions  18  and  20  extend across the forward and rearward edges of the central seating portion  16 , respectively. The forward portion  18  includes a first or forward attachment edge  22 , and the rearward portion  20  has a corresponding second or rearward attachment edge  24 , as shown in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The two attachment edges  22  and  24  have mutually mating fasteners  26  and  28  disposed thereon, e.g., first and second hook and loop fasteners (Velcro®) or other suitable fasteners for removably securing the two edges  22  and  24  to one another. 
         [0020]    The cover  10  is formed with sufficient length from its first or forward attachment edge  22  to its second or rearward attachment edge  24  to wrap completely around the cushion or pad P (shown in broken lines in  FIG. 2 ). The two edges  22  and  24  overlap one another to provide for the attachment of the two fasteners  26  and  28  to one another beneath the cushion or pad P. In this mariner, the cover  10  forms a sleeve configuration about the cushion or pad P. The opposed lateral edges  12  and  14  of the cover  10  are open, and the overlapping attachment edges  22  and  24  are concealed beneath the cushion or pad P to provide an unbroken seating surface  16  atop the cushion or pad. A number of different covers may be provided, each of the covers having different patterns or themes in keeping with different holiday or other events. This permits the owner of the covers  10  and outdoor furniture to exchange the covers  10  to correspond with the season or event. 
         [0021]    The two laterally opposed edges  12  and  14  are open when the cover  10  is secured around the cushion or pad P, as noted above. Thus, the lateral edges of the cushion are visible unless they are concealed in some manner. Accordingly, the present cover  10  may include lateral trim.  FIG. 2  illustrates a series of lateral trim pieces for removable and interchangeable attachment to the lateral edges  12  and  14  of the cover  10 . The two lateral edges  12  and  14  are provided with trim attachment means, e.g., hook and loop fasteners (Velcro®)  30  and  32  along the respective upper or exposed edge surfaces. The lateral trim pieces, e.g., first trim pieces  34  and  36  having swag or bunting thereon, include corresponding mating cover attachment fasteners  38  and  40  along their upper or attachment edges. This permits the trim pieces  34  and  36  to be installed upon and removed from the respective edges  12  and  14  of the cover  10  to adjust the appearance of the cover. The second trim piece  36  is shown attached to the second lateral edge  14  of the cover  10  in  FIG. 1 . The exposed fasteners  38 ,  40  may be tucked under the upper edge of the trim to conceal the fasteners when installed. 
         [0022]    Beaded alternative trim pieces  42 ,  44  and ribboned alternative trim pieces  46 ,  48  having identical cover attachment fasteners  38  and  40  extending along their edges may be interchangeably installed along the lateral edges  12  and  14  of the cover. The specific trim configurations illustrated, e.g., beads, ribbons, bunting or swag, etc., are merely exemplary, and are representative of a large number of different configurations that may be provided. The trim components  34 ,  36  and  42  through  48  may be configured for various holidays, e.g., Christmas, Independence Day, etc., or perhaps given a more general festive appearance in keeping with a birthday or anniversary celebration, etc. In this manner, the trim pieces  34 ,  36  and  42  through  48  may be interchangeably installed along the lateral edges  12  and  14  of the cover  10  to suit the holiday or event. The cushion cover and various trim pieces may be sold or otherwise provided together as a kit, permitting the purchaser or owner to use the desired trim pieces and store others until their use is desired. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  provides an environmental perspective view of an alternative cushion cover embodiment, designated as cover  110 . The cover  110  is similar to the cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , having first and second lateral edges  112  and  114  defining a central seating area  116 , and opposite forward and rearward portions  118  and  120 . The cover  110  includes mutually opposed forward and rearward attachment edges having first, or forward, and second, or rearward, attachment means or material thereon, similar to the corresponding components  22  through  28  of the cover  10  illustrated in  FIG. 2  of the drawings. The cover  110  of  FIG. 3  differs from the cover  10  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  by having trim attachment means  130  and  132  comprising snap fastener components, rather than the hook and loop fasteners of the cover  10 . Accordingly, the corresponding trim pieces  134  and  136  are provided with respective cover attachment means  138  and  140  comprising snap fastener components  138  and  140  adapted to mate with the snap fastener components  130  and  132  of the cover  110 . It will be seen that other alternative trim attachment means may be provided along the lateral edges of the cover and along the trim pieces, e.g., buttons and buttonholes, hooks or laces and eyelets, etc. 
         [0024]    To this point, the cover for outdoor furniture cushions  10  and  110  has been illustrated with a single seat chair C in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . However, it will be seen that the present cover is not limited only to use with single seat cushions.  FIG. 4  provides an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cover  210  in combination with a multiple seat settee S or the like having a relatively wide cushion or pad P 2  capable of seating more than one person. The cover  210  is somewhat similar to the covers  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 , having first and second lateral edges  212  and  214  defining a central seating area  216 , and opposite forward and rearward portions  218  and  220  having first, or forward, and second, or rearward, attachment edges  222  and  224 . 
         [0025]    The cover  210  differs from the other covers  10  and  110  in another respect, in that it is somewhat narrower from front to rear than the other covers. This can provide significant economy in the construction of the cover  210 , in that it eliminates the material that extends beneath the cushion or pad. This is of particular concern when forming a relatively wide, multiple seat cover such as the cover  210 . Since the material does not extend beneath the cushion or pad, alternative means are provided to secure the cover  210  about the cushion or pad P 2 . This is achieved by providing a series of separate first attachment means or points  226  along the first or forward attachment edge  222  of the cover. This first attachment means may comprise a series of patches of hook and loop fasteners, or may alternatively comprise a single band of such fastener extending along the forward attachment edge  222  of the cover  210  to simplify manufacture and installation of the cover. 
         [0026]    A corresponding series of attachment straps  228  extend from the second or rearward attachment edge  224  of the cover  210 . Each of the attachment straps  228  has a distal end  230  with second attachment means  232  disposed thereon, with the second attachment means  232  of the distal ends  230  of the straps  228  comprising a mating hook and loop fastener that mates removably with the first hook and loop fastener of the first attachment means  226 . Alternative attachment means may be used in lieu of the hook and loop material, e.g., eyelets and ties, snaps, buttons and buttonholes, etc. The cover  210  is installed over the cushion or pad P 2  by wrapping the straps  228  beneath the cushion and draping the seating portion  216  of the cover  210  over the top of the cushion. The attachment means  232  on the distal ends  230  of the straps  232  are then secured to the mating first attachment means  226  disposed along the first or forward edge  222  of the cover  210  to secure the cover  210  around the cushion or pad P 2 . 
         [0027]    The various embodiments described herein and illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 4  are exemplary, and it will be seen that various features of each of the embodiments may be combined with other features of other embodiments. For example, the cover  210  of  FIG. 4  is not shown with any lateral trim components. However, it will be seen that the cover  210  may have trim attachment material added to its lateral edges  212  and  214  in the manner of the covers  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1 through 4  to enable any of the various trim pieces or components of other embodiments to be attached thereto. It should also be noted that the strap attachment means of the embodiment of  FIG. 4  is not exclusive to that embodiment, but may be adapted to the covers  10  and  110  of  FIGS. 1 through 3 . Alternatively, the complete wraparound configuration of the covers  10  and  110  may be used with the cover  210  of  FIG. 4 . 
         [0028]    It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.