Abstract:
A cover is provided for covering a furniture item having a seat and a back. The cover has a seat portion configured to cover the seat of the furniture item. The seat portion has a width generally corresponding to a depth of the furniture item seat and a length transverse to the width. The cover has a back portion configured to cover the back of the furniture item. The cover back portion extends from the seat portion a distance greater than a height of the furniture item back. The cover back portion extends along a length of the seat portion with side edges of the back portion generally transverse to the seat portion length. The cover has a strap operatively connected to the cover and having a length sufficient to extend around the furniture item back. The strap operatively engages the back portion in attaching the cover to the furniture item.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/780,311, filed Mar. 13, 2013, currently pending, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to furniture covers and more particularly to furniture covers providing enhanced fit, furniture protection and a reduced need for repositioning. 
         [0003]    Furniture covers can provide protection for furniture against wear, dirt and other contaminants. Additionally, furniture covers may provide an improved aesthetic appearance for a piece of furniture. Conventional furniture covers do not stay in position when people or pets sit or lay on the furniture the furniture cover is disposed on, and as a result, the aesthetic appearance and protection the furniture cover provides is reduced. Therefore, conventional furniture covers must be frequently repositioned to maintain a consistent aesthetic appearance and protection benefits. 
         [0004]    Accordingly, a need exists for improved furniture covers. This, and other needs, may be addressed by one or more aspects of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    One or more preferred embodiments now will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein the same elements are referred to with the same reference numerals, and wherein: 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a furniture cover in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the furniture cover of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a piece of furniture on which the furniture cover of  FIG. 1  may be applied; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the furniture cover of  FIG. 1  applied to the piece of furniture of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the furniture cover of  FIG. 1  applied to the piece of furniture of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a furniture cover in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a detailed rear view of the furniture cover of  FIG. 6  applied to a piece of furniture; 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a detailed front perspective view of a furniture cover in the process of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 9  is a detailed front perspective view of a furniture cover in the process of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 10  is a detailed side perspective view of a furniture cover in the process of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 11  is a detailed side perspective view of a furniture cover in the process of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0017]      FIG. 12  is a detailed front view of a furniture cover in the process of being applied to a piece of furniture, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0018]      FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of a furniture cover applied to a piece of furniture; 
           [0019]      FIG. 14  is a schematic view of a furniture cover in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 15  is a side perspective view of the furniture cover of  FIG. 14  applied to a piece of furniture. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, with reference to the drawings. The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its implementations, or uses. 
         [0022]    In embodiments of the present invention, a furniture cover is provided that, while providing protection against wear, dirt and other contaminants may also provide an aesthetic appearance to a piece of furniture. Many aspects and features of the present invention further relate to functional enhancements to a furniture cover, including functional enhancements to a furniture cover that provide for improved tit, stability, and ease of application. Improved stability may reduce the need for repositioning the furniture cover even when people or pets sit or lay on a piece of furniture to which it has been applied, allowing for a consistent aesthetic appearance and protection of the piece of furniture. 
         [0023]    Armed Furniture Cover Embodiment 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-13 , a piece of furniture  100  may be covered with a furniture cover  200 . The piece of furniture  100  is an armed piece of furniture, and as used herein, an armed piece of furniture refers to a piece of furniture that has a first arm  106  extending from a back  102  on a first side  116  of the piece of furniture, a second arm  108  extending from the back  102  on a second side  118 , a seat  104  and a front  110 . The arms  106 ,  108  may extend from the back  102  to the front  110  of the piece of furniture. In one embodiment, the piece of armed furniture may be a couch, sofa, bench, chair, or any other piece of furniture with a seat, back and arms. 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a furniture cover  200  in accordance with one embodiments of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the furniture cover  200  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a piece of furniture  100  on which the furniture cover of  FIG. 1  may be applied.  FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the furniture cover  200  of  FIG. 1  applied to the piece of furniture  100  of  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 5  is a rear perspective view of the furniture cover  200  of  FIG. 1  applied to the piece of furniture  100  of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0026]    As seen in detail in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  4 , and  5 , the furniture cover  200  comprises a back covering portion  202 , a first arm covering portion  206 , a second arm covering portion  208 , a seat covering portion  204 , a front covering portion  210 , and a strap  220 . When the furniture cover  200  is applied to the piece of furniture  100  the seat covering portion  204  is disposed on the seat  104 , the first arm covering portion  206  is disposed on the first arm  106 , the second arm covering portion  208  is disposed on the second arm  108 , the back covering portion  202  is disposed on the back  102 , and the front covering portion  210  is disposed on the front  110 . 
         [0027]    The furniture cover further includes a first fastener  236  and a second fastener  238  configured to attach the strap  220  to the back covering portion  202 . The strap includes a first fastener portion  226  and a second fastener portion  228  configured to attach to the first fastener  236  and the second fastener  238 , respectively. The fasteners  206 ,  208  may be a button, snap, buckle, zipper, hook-and-loop, or any other suitable fastener, and the fastener portions  226 ,  228  may be the appropriate counterpart to the fasteners  206 ,  208 . In one embodiment, the fasteners  206 ,  208  are buttons and the fastener portions  226 ,  228  are button-holes. The strap  220  may be elasticized or adjustable to accommodate backs  102  with different geometries. As best seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , when the furniture cover  200  is applied to a piece of furniture  100  the strap  220  wraps around the back  102  of the piece of furniture, and maintains the position of the furniture cover even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece of furniture to which the furniture cover has been applied. 
         [0028]    While the strap  220  is preferably removable from the back covering portion  202 , the strap may instead be more permanently attached to the back covering portion  202 , for example via sewing. 
         [0029]      FIG. 5  shows an exemplary embodiment in which the back covering portion  202  of the furniture cover  200  includes a segment  212  that extends to a cover a portion of the back  102  that is not adjacent to the seat  104 . The strap  220  may be configured to wrap around both the back  102  and the segment  212  that covers a portion of the back  102  non adjacent to the seat  104 , holding the segment  212  in contact with the back  102 . In this embodiment, the strap  220  maintains the position of the back covering portion  202  even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece of furniture to which the furniture cover has been applied. 
         [0030]    The furniture cover  200  further includes a back flap  242 , a first side flap  246 , and a second side flap  248 . The back flap  242  extends down from a seam located at the junction of the back covering portion  202  and the seat covering portion  204 . The first side flap  246  extends down from a seam located at the junction of the first side covering portion  206  and the seat covering portion  204 . The second side flap  248  extends down from a seam located at the junction of the second side portion  208  and the seat covering portion. The back flap  242 , first side flap  246 , and second side flap  248  may extend for a portion, or the entire length, of the corresponding seams located at the junction between the seat portion and the back covering portion  202 , first side covering portion  206 , and second side covering portion  208 , respectively. The flaps  242 ,  246 ,  248  are configured so that they may be placed in between segments of the piece of furniture  100 , thereby maintaining the position of the furniture cover  200  even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece of furniture to which the furniture cover has been applied. In at least one embodiment, the back flap  242 , first side flap  246 , and second side flap  248  are placed between a cushion, or cushions, of the piece of furniture  100  and the back  102 , first arm  106 , and second arm  108 , respectively. 
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view of a furniture cover  200  that includes a loop  250 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 7  is detailed rear perspective view of the furniture cover  200  of  FIG. 6  applied to a piece of furniture  100 . 
         [0032]    The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  is similar to the embodiment discussed above, except that the furniture cover  200  further comprises a loop  250  attached to the back covering portion  202 . When the furniture cover  200  is applied to the piece of furniture  100  a segment  212  of the back covering portion  202  extends to a cover a portion of the back  102  that is not adjacent to the seat  104 . The loop  250  is located on the segment  212  of the back covering portion  202  that extends to a cover a portion of the back  102  that is not adjacent to the seat  104 . In one embodiment, the loop  250  is located at the edge of segment  212 . In another embodiment there may be multiple loops attached to the back covering portion  202 . 
         [0033]    As the detail in  FIG. 7  shows, the strap  220  may pass through the loop  250  when the furniture cover is applied to a piece of furniture  100 . The strap  220  may apply a force to the loop  250  that is transferred to the back covering portion  202  producing tension therein. In this embodiment, the interaction of the strap  220  and loop  250  maintains the position of the back covering portion  202  even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece of furniture to which the furniture cover has been applied. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 8-11  show multiple steps in the process of applying the furniture cover  200  shown in  FIG. 1 ,  2  or  6  to a piece of furniture  100 , in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 8  the furniture cover  200  is first centered on the seat  104  so that the back flap  242  is adjacent to the back  102 . The back flap  242  is then tucked or placed in to the area, or crevice, between the seat  104  and the back  102 , as shown in  FIG. 9 . The first side flap  246  is then positioned adjacent to the first arm  106 , as shown in  FIG. 10 . The first side flap  246  is then placed, or tucked, in to the area, or crevice, between the seat  104  and the first arm  106 , as shown in  FIG. 11 . The process shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11  is then repeated for the second arm flap  248 . The first arm covering portion  206  is then positioned over the first arm  106 , and the second arm covering portion  208  is positioned over the second arm  108 , as shown in  FIG. 12 . The back covering portion  202  is then positioned over the back  102 , and the strap  220  is positioned around the back  102 , completing the application of the furniture cover  200  to the piece of furniture  100 , as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         [0035]    In at least one embodiment, the furniture cover may have a quilted surface, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0036]    Armless Furniture Cover Embodiment 
         [0037]      FIG. 14  is a schematic view of an armless furniture cover  300 , in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15  is a side perspective view of the furniture cover  300  of  FIG. 14  applied to a piece of furniture  100 . 
         [0038]    A piece of furniture may be covered with the furniture cover  300 . In one embodiment, the piece of furniture may be an armed piece of furniture  100 , as shown in  FIG. 3  and discussed above. In another embodiment, the piece of furniture may be an armless piece of furniture, and as used herein, an armless piece of furniture refers to a piece of furniture that has a back  102  and a seat  104 , but does not have arms. In one embodiment, the piece of armless furniture may be a bench, chair, futon, or any other piece of furniture with a seat and back but no arms. 
         [0039]    As seen in detail in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the furniture cover  300  comprises a back covering portion  302 , a seat covering portion  304 , a front covering portion  310 , and a strap  320 . When the furniture cover  300  is applied to the piece of furniture  100  the seat covering portion  304  is disposed on the seat  104 , the back covering portion  302  is disposed on the back  102 , and the front covering portion  310  is disposed on the front  110 . 
         [0040]    The furniture cover further includes a first fastener  336  and a second fastener  338  configured to attach the strap  320  to the back covering portion  302 . The strap includes a first fastener portion  326  and a second fastener portion  328  configured to attach to the first fastener  336  and the second fastener  338 , respectively. The fasteners  306 ,  308  may be a button, snap, buckle, zipper, hook-and-loop, or any other suitable fastener, and the fastener portions  326 ,  328  may be the appropriate counterpart to the fasteners  306 ,  308 . In at least one embodiment, the fasteners  306 ,  308  are buttons and the corresponding fastener portions  326 ,  328  are button-holes. The strap  320  may be elasticized or adjustable to accommodate backs  102  with different geometries. As best seen in  FIG. 15 , when the furniture cover  300  is applied to a piece of furniture  100  the strap  320  wraps around the back  102  of the piece of furniture, and maintains the position of the furniture cover even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece of furniture to which the furniture cover has been applied. 
         [0041]    While the strap  320  is preferably removable from the back covering portion  302 , the strap may instead be more permanently attached to the back covering portion  302 , for example via sewing. 
         [0042]    The furniture may further comprise a loop  350  attached to the back covering portion  302 , as shown in  FIG. 14 .  FIG. 15  shows an exemplary embodiment in which the back covering portion  302  of the furniture cover  300  includes a segment  312  that extends to a cover a portion of the back  102  that is not adjacent to the seat  104 . The loop  350  may be attached to segment  312  of the back covering portion  302 , and be configured to interact with the strap  320  in the same manner as shown in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, the strap  320  maintains the position of the back covering portion  302  even when pets or people sit or lay on the piece of furniture to which the furniture cover has been applied. 
         [0043]    In another embodiment, the strap  320  may be configured to wrap around both the back  102  and the segment  312  that covers a portion of the back  102  not adjacent to the seat  104 , forcing the segment  312  in to contact with the back  102 , in the same manner as show in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0044]    In one embodiment, the furniture cover  300  may be reversible. In another embodiment, the furniture cover may have a quilted surface, in the same manner as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
         [0045]    Based on the foregoing description, it will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those specifically described herein, as well as many variations, modifications, and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and the foregoing descriptions thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, while the present invention has been described herein in detail in relation to one or more preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and exemplary of the present invention and is made merely for the purpose of providing a full and enabling disclosure of the invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise exclude any such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.