Abstract:
A cover for a grill or similar piece of patio equipment, the cover having a front side or panel imprinted with a full-size photographic landscape image of an actual landscape matching the grill&#39;s background storage landscape in a typical patio location.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS/PRIORITY BENEFIT CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/359,278 filed Jul. 7, 2016 by the same inventor (Mackinder), the entirety of which provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The subject matter of the present application is in the field of soft fabric covers for outdoor patio equipment and furniture. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Patio equipment such as charcoal and gas grills is commonly protected with a soft fabric waterproof cover when not in use. The cover is typically made from plain, neutral colored fabric (black, gray, tan) for easy cleaning and to minimize its appearance, which is at best utilitarian. 
         [0004]    Some prior grill covers are provided with decorative touches such as sports team or manufacturer logos. For hunting enthusiasts there are grill covers in popular camouflage patterns. 
         [0005]    Whether plain, logo-bearing, or camouflaged, prior grill covers generally disrupt the tranquil visual aspect of a patio or deck, which is usually sited to take advantage of a scenic landscape or view. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    I have invented a cover for grills and other large types of patio equipment and furniture (patio heaters, fire pits, tables, benches, etc., hereafter generally “grill” unless specified). The inventive cover comprises a more or less flat front side or panel when draped over the grill, the front side printed with a photographic landscape image of a natural scenic view or landscape chosen to match or complement the background landscape of the covered grill in its storage location. The photographic landscape image is an actual view of a real landscape or scenery, and not a mere stylized or artistic rendition or a pattern of disruptive colors and shapes as found in camouflage patterns. 
         [0007]    In a preferred form, the photographic landscape image on the grill cover is matched approximately to the local grill background landscape, and may be varied according to local season, for example with two or more different covers matching two or more different seasons. 
         [0008]    In a further form, the photographic landscape image on the grill cover is based on a photograph of the actual background landscape of the covered grill as viewed from a spot on or near the deck or patio; i.e., a custom photo of the user&#39;s view of the background behind the stored grill from an angle at which the covered grill is seen in everyday life. 
         [0009]    In still a further form, a different photographic landscape image is applied to different sides of the grill cover, to complement or match the background landscape of the covered grill as viewed from different sides or angles at a given location. 
         [0010]    “Printed” is used herein to mean any known process for printing or applying photographic images onto fabric materials, such as digital textile printing, or direct-to-garment (DTG) printing using software driven inkjet systems that convert photographs to prints. 
         [0011]    “Landscape” is used herein to mean any natural, real-world environmental view of macro or discrete scenery features, whether part of a woods, field, skyline, shoreline, waterscape, etc., as opposed to micro or close-up views of small, random or repeated portions of some environmental feature such as portions of foliage like that used for some camouflage patterns. The landscape may include, in part or entirety, manmade elements such as buildings—farm buildings, fences, city blocks, building siding or facades, cosmopolitan skylines, gardens, etc. 
         [0012]    “Patio” is used herein to mean not only patios and decks, but any near-house location where a grill or equivalent piece of outdoor equipment or furniture is frequently within view from near or inside the house. 
         [0013]    These and other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description below, in light of the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a grill protected with a cover according to the invention, shown on a patio or deck with a first grill background landscape behind it and a complementary photographic landscape image on the front side of the cover. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of alternate, modified covers shown exploded from the grill. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a perspective side view of the grill cover of  FIG. 1 , showing a different photographic landscape image complementary to a second grill background landscape viewed from a different side, the image applied to a flat opposite side panel of the grill cover. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is similar to  FIG. 1 , but schematically represents a custom-matched photographic landscape image of the actual grill background landscape applied to the front side of the cover to match the actual grill background landscape behind the grill. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is similar to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , but shows a modified grill cover with structured upper corners or ends to improve the flatness of the front side of the cover and the photographic landscape image displayed thereon. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Referring first to  FIG. 1 , a barbecue grill  10  is shown covered with an exemplary fabric grill cover  20  in order to teach how to make and use the claimed invention. Grill  10  is shown located in a typical patio location  30  from the viewpoint of an adjacent house or building (not depicted in  FIG. 1 ). Patio location  30  may be a patio, deck, or any convenient spot in the backyard to place a grill, without limitation. The view behind the grill  10  from the vantage point of  FIG. 1 , usually from inside or near the house, comprises the background landscape  40 . In the illustrated example, the “backyard” relative to patio  30  is a waterfront and accordingly presents a waterfront background landscape. 
         [0020]    Structurally, grill cover  20  is a conventional cover, made for example from a UV-resistant waterproof polyester or nylon canvas, although other conventional weather-resistant cover fabrics or fabric-like materials can be used. Cover  20  includes a front side or panel  22  that is generally or more-or-less flat when draped over grill  10 , although some wrinkling or irregularity is normal given the drape of the fabric over a typical grill whose front face is not perfectly flat, and whose dimensions may be less than perfectly rectangular or regular. Front panel  22  and the other sides or panels of cover  20  may be delineated by welts or seams  21  formed during manufacture to joint multiple pieces of fabric or to add structure or shape to the soft fabric. 
         [0021]    Front panel  22  of cover  20  is printed with a photographic landscape image  50  of a type similar or complementary to actual background landscape  40 . In  FIG. 1 , grill cover photographic landscape image  50  is a waterfront landscape chosen for its similarity to actual background landscape  40 . Photographic landscape image  50  is a printed representation of a photographic image of an actual, real landscape, made using known photograph-to-fabric image printing techniques. 
         [0022]    Although at least the front panel  22  of cover  20  should be fully covered with photographic landscape image  50 ,  FIG. 1  shows photographic landscape  50  applied in continuous fashion to the cover&#39;s side panels  24 , as well. This provides a wraparound visual effect that makes grill cover  20  blend into or complement the actual background landscape  40  from different angles on patio  30 . 
         [0023]    It should be noted that photographic landscape image  50  may include both natural and manmade features, such as shown at  52  and  54 , respectively, in  FIG. 1 . Alternately, photographic landscape image  50  may include only manmade features complementing a natural background landscape  40  (for example, a photographic image of a beach cabana or a boat to complement the natural background landscape  40  of a beach or waterfront); or, only natural features complementing a manmade landscape background  40  (for example, a photographic image of a shrub, hedge, lawn, tree, etc. to complement a wall of a building). 
         [0024]    Referring next to  FIG. 2 , grill covers  20  with photographic landscape images  50  and  50 ′ representing different seasons are shown relative to a grill  10 . Cover  20  with photographic landscape image  50  shows, for example, a summer scene of a particular landscape. Cover  20  with photographic landscape  50 ′ shows, for example, the same landscape in winter. A homeowner can accordingly purchase multiple covers  20  and apply them as needed to grill  10  as the seasons change. 
         [0025]    Alternately, and still referring to  FIG. 2 , photographic landscapes  50  and  50 ′ could represent different complementary landscapes for different grill locations  30 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , cover  20  is shown over grill  10  in patio location  30  from the opposite viewpoint of  FIG. 1 , i.e. looking at house  100  from the viewpoint of the waterfront background landscape. A different photographic landscape image  150  is shown on the rear panel or side  122  of cover  20 , complementary to the opposite grill background landscape  140  comprising portions of patio  30  and a side of house  100 . Photographic landscape image  150  accordingly comprises image  152  of actual patio decking  130 , images  154  of actual patio objects  134 , and an image  156  of actual house exterior siding or features  136 . 
         [0027]    Referring now to both  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another aspect of the invention is the ability to custom match the photographic landscape image  50  (or  150 ) on one or more sides or panels of cover  20  to match the actual background landscape  40  (or  140 ) behind grill  10  from a particular viewpoint in patio location  30 . In  FIG. 3 , photographic landscape image  150  on the back panel  122  of cover  20  may be a photographic image of the actual patio and house exterior features  132 ,  134 ,  136  of patio location  30  and house  100  custom printed onto cover  20 . In  FIG. 4 , cover  20  has a front-panel photographic landscape image  50  comprising an actual photo of wooded background landscape  40  behind it, for a near-perfect visual match. 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  also shows a zipper option  60  along one of the seams of cover  20 , for example a heavy-duty YKK type zipper of the type used on tents, boat covers, and the like. Zipper  60  makes cover  20  easier to put on and take off the grill  10 . By placing zipper  60  on a side panel  24  or along a seam between adjacent sides or panels, visual disruption of photograph landscape image  50  is minimized. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a modified cover  200  with an improved front panel  222  is shown over the same grill  10  as in previous Figures. Cover  200 , like cover  20 , has a photographic landscape image  50  complementary to or matching the background landscape (not shown). Front panel  222  has been improved in terms of flatness and visual presentation of image  50  with a set of internal struts or similar rigidifying supports  221  secured to the inside of the cover. Struts  221  extend from a point of resting contact with the uppermost center portion  10   a  of grill  10  to free cantilevered ends  221   a  out over the grill&#39;s side portions  10   b , which are often lower and give the grill a non-rectangular front outline that causes the fabric of any cover to sag at the sides. Struts  221  accordingly maintain the rectangular shape of the front panel  222  for an optimally flat, undistorted presentation of photographic landscape image  50 . 
         [0030]    It will finally be understood that the disclosed embodiments represent presently preferred examples of how to make and use the invention, but are intended to enable rather than limit the invention. Variations and modifications of the illustrated examples in the foregoing written specification and drawings may be possible without departing from the scope of the invention. It should further be understood that to the extent the term “invention” is used in the written specification, it is not to be construed as a limiting term as to number of claimed or disclosed inventions or discoveries or the scope of any such invention or discovery, but as a term which has long been used to describe new and useful improvements in science and the useful arts. The scope of the invention supported by the above disclosure should accordingly be construed within the scope of what it teaches and suggests to those skilled in the art, and within the scope of any claims that the above disclosure supports in this application or in any other application claiming priority to this application.