Patent Description:
The present invention generally relates to furniture protection, and in particular, to self-contained covering for outdoor article of furniture.

In general, outdoor furniture needs to be protected from nature and the elements. It is laborious to place free-flowing covers on outdoor furniture and anything else that resides unprotected outside, such as, for example, grills. It is even more troublesome to find a way and a place to store free-flowing protective coverings when they are not in use. Storing protective, outside-furniture coverings usually requires carrying around dirty, unwieldy, and heavy piles of fabric or leaving them in an unsightly pile. While some people only go through covering and uncovering outside furniture a couple of times a year, others do it every time they want to sit outside. Some protective covers come with bags into which it is practically impossible to roll a protective cover, making those bags useless.

United States Patent Publication No. <CIT> discloses an apparatus for creating a sterile sitting environment. The apparatus includes a front, a side, and the back. The front and the back are connected by the side so as to create an internal volume bounded by the front, the back, and the side, which internal volume is accessible via an opening. The front of the cover can be larger than the back of the cover, and the back of the cover can have a fastener located around the perimeter of the back. The fastener can be used to secure the cover in a second position, which second position can retain the front and the sides of the cover within an internal volume defined by the back of the cover.

The following presents a simplified summary of the innovation in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the invention nor delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

In an aspect, the invention features a system comprises an article of furniture, and a retractable furniture covering rolled up around a spring-loaded mechanism located in a storage housing positioned under a first portion of the article of furniture, the retractable furniture covering configured to extend from a storage housing in the first portion of the article of furniture to a second portion of the article of furniture for shielding at least one of an upper portion of the article of furniture, a lower portion of the article of furniture, a front portion of the article of furniture and a rear portion of the article of furniture from external elements.

In one embodiment, a system includes an article of furniture (e.g., chair, sofa) and a covering that can be attached to a first portion of the article of furniture. The covering can be retractable. The covering can be pulled or extended from the first portion to a second portion of the article of furniture for shielding the article of furniture. For example, the covering can shield an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion and/or a rear portion of the article of furniture from external elements.

In one embodiment, the covering can have an elastic material about the borders or edges of the covering such that the covering can provide better fit with the various portions of the article of furniture. In other words, because of the compressive property of the elastic material, when the covering is placed over the article of furniture, the covering can provide tighter fit with the article of furniture including the upper portion, lower portion, front portion and rear portion thereof.

In one embodiment, the first portion of the article of furniture is located along a lower portion or a front portion of the article of furniture and the second portion is located along a rear portion or an upper portion of the article of furniture. Alternatively, the converse may be true whereby the first portion can be located along a rear portion or an upper portion of the article of furniture and the second portion can be located along a lower portion or a front portion of the article of furniture.

In one embodiment, the covering can include a fastener for securing a first portion of the covering to a second portion of the covering. For example, the covering can be opened about the middle of the cover such that two parts of the covering (e.g., left side and right side) can be joined with a fastener such as a zipper, magnets, or hook and loop fastener (e.g., Velcro®). The fastener can be attached in the appropriate places throughout the covering as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art and will not be elaborated further herein. In some embodiments, the covering can have a handle to make it easier for a user to extend the covering from the first portion to the second portion of the article of furniture.

In one embodiment, the covering may have a first attachment device while the second portion of the article of furniture may have a second attachment device. Alternatively, the second portion of the article of furniture may include the first attachment device while the covering may include the second attachment device. In operation, the second attachment device is configured to receive the first attachment device for securing the covering to the article of furniture, or vice versa.

In one embodiment, the first attachment device can be a latch or a catch, and the second attachment device can be a recess, or a groove configured to receive the latch or the catch. In another embodiment, the first attachment device can be a spring, and the second attachment device can be a tab configured to receive the spring.

In one embodiment, a system includes an article of furniture having a back support and a covering that adjacent to the back support. In this embodiment, the covering is configured to extend from the back support to at least one of an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion and a rear portion of the article of furniture for shielding the article of furniture from external elements.

In one embodiment, the covering can be stored within a storage compartment along a rear portion of the back support of the article of furniture.

In one embodiment, the covering can be stored within a cushion adjacent the front portion of the back support of the article of furniture.

In one embodiment, the covering can have a first attachment device while the lower portion or the front portion of the article of furniture may have a second attachment device. The second attachment device can be configured to receive the first attachment device, for securing the covering to the article of furniture.

In one operation, these attachment devices can be reversed yet perform the same or similar function. In other words, the first attachment device can be on the lower portion or the front portion of the article of furniture and the second attachment device can be on the covering. The attachment devices can be coupled together such that the covering can be secured to the article of furniture.

In one embodiment, a method of utilizing the disclosed systems herein include initially providing a covering for an article of furniture. In the next step, the method includes attaching the covering to a first portion of the article of furniture. The next step of the method involves extending the covering from the first portion to a second portion of the article of furniture whereby the covering is operable to shield at least one of an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion and a rear portion of the article of furniture from external elements.

In one embodiment, the method further includes the step of securing the covering to the article of furniture with first attachment device configured to receive second attachment device. In one embodiment, the first attachment device can be on the covering and the second attachment device can be on the second portion of the article of furniture. In another embodiment, the first attachment device can be on the second portion of the article of furniture and the second attachment device can be on the covering.

In one embodiment, the method may further include the step of securing a first portion of the covering to a second portion of the covering with a fastener, whereby the fastener is at least one of zipper, magnet, and hook and loop fastener.

The disclosed embodiments may include one or more of the following advantages: providing a hidden or inconspicuous containment system (e.g., storage compartment) that can be built into or attached to a piece of furniture (e.g., chair) for housing an attached, fitted cover for the article of furniture such as an outdoor chair or sofa. The storage compartment can be on the back side of the back support in the form of a false back, or on the front side of the back support in the form of cushions or pillows that may or may not be integrated with the back support.

Other benefits of the present disclosure include, among others, covering that protect the entire chair or sofa, not just pillows. Additionally, the covering may also be engineered to be inserted easily into the containment system. In other words, the covering may be a self-contained system. Last but not least, the covering can be easily pulled out and extended to provide shielding or protection for any pieces of furniture or non-furniture.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the detailed description, in conjunction with the following figures, wherein:.

The subject innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It may be evident, however, that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, an exemplary system <NUM> includes an article of furniture <NUM> and a covering <NUM>. The covering <NUM> may be retractable. In other words, the covering <NUM> may be converted from a storage configuration (e.g., retracted) to an in-use configuration (e.g., extended), and vice versa. Although the article of furniture <NUM> as shown is a chair, the system <NUM> may include other types of furniture, such as a couch or table. Moreover, in other embodiments, the covering <NUM> in accordance with the present disclosure may be used on other non-furniture types of articles (e.g., grill, stove top). While the article of furniture <NUM> discussed herein are mostly for outdoor furniture made of plastic, metal or wood, among other suitable weather-proof materials, it is understood and appreciated that the presently disclosed embodiments can apply equally to in-door furniture including sofas and chairs alike.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the covering <NUM> can be extended over the article of furniture <NUM> so as to provide protection from environmental elements such as rain, sun, pollen, leaves, bird droppings, and so forth. The covering <NUM> may be constructed from a variety of materials or outdoor fabrics such as a polypropylene fabric, marine vinyl, woven textiles made from acrylic, synthetic fibers, blends of cotton, polyester, linen, among others.

In one embodiment, the covering <NUM> may have a fastener <NUM> such as a zipper or set of magnets or other hook and loop fasteners (e.g., Velcro®) to facilitate covering and uncovering of the covering <NUM> to the article of furniture <NUM> such as a chair or sofa. In the alternative, the fastener <NUM> may help to facilitate in securing a first portion (e.g., left portion) of the covering <NUM> to a second portion (e.g., right portion) of the covering <NUM>. As shown, the fastener <NUM> is located in the middle of the covering <NUM>. In the alternative, the fastener <NUM> need not be located in the middle of the covering <NUM> but instead can be located on the sides or edges of the covering <NUM> (not shown). In some embodiments, the fastener <NUM> need not be necessary and the covering <NUM> can be a single, unitary piece of cover that can be pulled or extended over the entire article of furniture <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the covering <NUM> is shown in the storage configuration, whereby the covering <NUM> is under a lower portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. While the covering <NUM> is shown in a first or lower portion <NUM>, it is possible that the covering <NUM> can also be stored in a second or upper portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. The covering <NUM> can be housed or attached to the article of furniture <NUM> via any suitable attachment mechanism.

For example, the covering <NUM> can be attached to a first portion or a second portion of the article of furniture <NUM>. In operation, if the covering <NUM> is attached about a first portion, the covering <NUM> can be extended to a second portion from the first portion or retracted therefrom. Similarly, the converse may be true whereby if the covering <NUM> is attached about a second portion, the covering <NUM> can be extended to a first portion from the second portion or retracted therefrom.

According to the present invention, in the storage configuration, the covering <NUM> is rolled up around a spring-loaded mechanism located in a storage housing positioned under the lower portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in a side view, in addition to the upper portion <NUM> and the lower portion <NUM>, the article of furniture <NUM> also includes a front portion <NUM> and a rear portion <NUM>. The front portion <NUM> is generally the portion that a user faces or engages with the article of furniture <NUM> (e.g., see <FIG> where a user goes to sit down on a seat bottom <NUM>), while the rear portion <NUM> is generally the back or backside of the article of furniture <NUM>.

In one embodiment, as best illustrated in <FIG> (e.g., in an in-use configuration), when the covering <NUM> is extended from the lower portion <NUM> to the upper portion <NUM> (or from the front portion <NUM> to the rear portion <NUM>), the covering <NUM> is generally able to shield mostly the front portion <NUM> and the upper portion <NUM>. In other words, the covering <NUM> is able to shield the areas where a user is typically engaging with the article of furniture <NUM> (e.g., seat bottom <NUM> and seat back <NUM>).

In some embodiments, the covering <NUM> may include additional fabrics or materials such that not only are the front portion <NUM> and the upper portion <NUM> covered or protected when the covering <NUM> is extended, but that the rear portion <NUM> as well as the lower portion <NUM> are protected or shielded from external elements as well. In some embodiments, when the covering <NUM> is extended from the upper portion <NUM> to the lower portion <NUM> (or from the rear portion <NUM> to the front portion <NUM>), or vice versa, the covering <NUM> is able to shield at least parts of the upper portion <NUM>, the lower portion <NUM>, the front portion <NUM> and/or the rear portion <NUM> from external elements.

In one embodiment, the covering <NUM> includes a handle/latch <NUM>. In operation, the handle/latch <NUM> can be grasped by a user to actuate the covering <NUM> from its storage configuration to an in-use configuration (and vice versa) by drawing the covering <NUM> across the article of furniture <NUM>. In other words, the handle/latch <NUM> helps to facilitate the covering <NUM> being extended from the lower portion <NUM> to the upper portion <NUM>, and vice versa (e.g., retracted). Similarly, the handle/latch <NUM> can also help to facilitate the covering <NUM> being extended from the front portion <NUM> to the rear portion <NUM>, and vice versa (e.g., retracted).

In one embodiment, the handle/latch <NUM> can be placed into a rack notch <NUM> located on an upper portion <NUM> of a back support <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>, thereby securing the covering <NUM> across the article of furniture <NUM>. Removing the handle/latch <NUM> from the rack notch <NUM> enables the covering <NUM> to be drawn back or retracted into its storage configuration under the lower portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, in another embodiment, the covering <NUM> can be coupled to a spring mechanism <NUM> located about an upper portion <NUM> of a back support <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. In this embodiment, an edge of the covering <NUM> may include protrusions that are designed to fit tabs <NUM> located on a lower portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. Here again, the spring mechanism <NUM> may be resident in a storage device, such as a solid tube or backpack type of device. In other words, the spring mechanism <NUM> may be a rotatable device such that the covering <NUM> may be rotatable. In operation, drawing the covering <NUM> from the spring mechanism <NUM> and securing it to the tabs <NUM> results in the covering <NUM> spanning across the article of furniture <NUM>. In one embodiment, the covering <NUM> includes attachment devices such as buttons or a hook and loop fastening material (e.g., Velcro®) that mates with a corresponding slot or hook and loop fastening material located on a lower portion of a seat support of the article of furniture <NUM>. In some embodiments, the corresponding attachment device may be located on an upper portion <NUM> of a back support <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the spring mechanism <NUM> may be electrically powered, mechanically powered or manually actuated. If electrically powered, the spring mechanism <NUM> may be coupled to a power cord for plugging into a power outlet as can be appreciated by one skilled in the art.

In one embodiment, the spring mechanism <NUM> may be a first attachment device. As discussed above and shown in <FIG>, the first attachment device can be on the upper portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. In an alternative embodiment, although not shown, the first attachment device may be integrated with the covering <NUM>. Complementary to the first attachment device is a second attachment device, which can be similar to the tabs <NUM> disclosed above. The second attachment device can be located on the lower portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. In operation, the second attachment device can be configured to receive the first attachment device, or vice versa, to ensure that the covering <NUM> is secured to the article of furniture <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the first attachment device can be a latch or a catch, while the second attachment device can be a recess, or a groove configured to receive the latch or the catch. In another embodiment, the first attachment device can be a spring while the second attachment device can be a tab configured to receive the spring.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, disclosed is an exemplary embodiment of a system <NUM> whereby a covering <NUM> can be adjacent the back support <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. For instance, the covering <NUM> can be coupled along portions of the back support <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the covering <NUM> can be adjacent a rear portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>, as best illustrated in <FIG>. In another embodiment, the covering <NUM> can be adjacent a front portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>, as best illustrated in <FIG>.

<FIG> and <FIG> each illustrate an article of furniture <NUM> having a back support <NUM>. In this embodiment, when the article of furniture <NUM> is a chair, the front portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM> is typically the area that receives a user's back when the user is seated on the seat bottom <NUM>, while the rear portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM> is the backside of the back support <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the covering <NUM> may be adjacent the back support <NUM>. Regardless of whether the covering <NUM> is adjacent the front portion <NUM> or the rear portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>, the covering <NUM> is configured to extend from the back support <NUM> to at least one of an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion and/or a rear portion of the article of furniture <NUM> so as to shield or protect the article of furniture <NUM> from external elements.

<FIG> illustrates the covering <NUM> adjacent the rear portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>. In one embodiment, the covering <NUM> can be stored within a storage compartment along the rear portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>. For example, the storage compartment can be a hollow false back with a hinged top that forms a part of the back support <NUM>. In other words, the back support <NUM> can have sufficient thickness and volume so as to allow the covering <NUM> to be stored therein and extended from the rear portion <NUM> thereof. In operation, the covering <NUM> may be pulled or extended from the rear portion <NUM> toward the front portion <NUM> for covering the article of furniture <NUM> as best represented by the arrows in <FIG>. In doing so, the covering <NUM> may also cover any pillows or cushions <NUM> that may be on the front portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates the covering <NUM> adjacent the front portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>. In one embodiment, the covering <NUM> can be stored within a pillow or cushion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>. As <FIG> illustrates the in-use configuration, the pillow or cushion <NUM> has since been converted from the storage configuration whereby the covering <NUM> has been extended. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the pillow or cushion <NUM> can be integrated into the back support <NUM> or be provided as a standalone unit, optionally coupled with fasteners to the back support <NUM>.

In operation, when the covering <NUM> is stored within a pillow or cushion <NUM> and ready to be extended into in-use mode, the covering <NUM> can be extended toward the front, back or sides of the article of furniture <NUM> as best illustrated by the arrows in <FIG>. In other words, the covering <NUM> may be stored within the pillow or cushion <NUM>, whereby an opening in the cushion <NUM> may allow the covering <NUM> to be removed therefrom. Once removed, the covering <NUM> can extend to the left side (L) of the article of furniture <NUM>, to the right side (R) of the article of furniture <NUM>, or the top and bottom sides (bottom side arrows not shown) of the article of furniture <NUM>. Once removed, the covering <NUM> can be extended to cover the entire article of furniture <NUM>. If there are multiple portions of the covering <NUM>, these can be secured to each other with fasteners similar to those described above to not only secure portions of the covering <NUM> to each other but to also ensure that the covering <NUM> is secured to the article of furniture <NUM>.

In one embodiment, when the covering <NUM> has been extended, whether from the front portion <NUM> or the rear portion <NUM> of the back support <NUM>, an elastic material may aid in securing the covering <NUM> over the article of furniture <NUM> as best described below and shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> in an in-use configuration, elastic materials <NUM> can be positioned (e.g., around the edges or along the borders) about the covering <NUM> and used to fit the covering <NUM> to the particular size and/or shape of the article of furniture <NUM>. In other words, the covering <NUM> can include an elastic material such that the covering <NUM> is able to make physical contact with various parts of the article of furniture <NUM>. In other words, because of the elastic properties of the materials <NUM> in providing the necessary compressive force, the elastic material <NUM> will ensure that the covering <NUM> maintain a tight fit with the article of furniture <NUM> such that the covering <NUM> remains in place in the event of wind or heavy precipitation, as the elastic properties of the elastic material <NUM> will ensure that the covering <NUM> makes physical contact with the upper portion <NUM>, the lower portion <NUM>, the front portion <NUM> and/or the rear portion <NUM> of the article of furniture <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the covering <NUM> may include ribs and/or spring pop-like tent bars to aid in a covering operation.

<FIG> is a flow diagram illustrating various methods <NUM> of using the disclosed exemplary systems <NUM>. In one embodiment, a method <NUM> of using the disclosed self-contained outdoor furniture covering system <NUM> includes a providing step <NUM>, where a covering <NUM> for an article of furniture <NUM> is provided. Next is an attaching step <NUM>, whereby the covering <NUM> is attached to a first portion of the article of furniture <NUM> similar to those described above. The next step of the process is an extending step <NUM>, such that the covering <NUM> is extended from the first portion to a second portion of the article of furniture <NUM>. In doing so, the covering <NUM> is operable to shield at least one of an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, and a rear portion of the article of furniture <NUM> from external elements.

In one embodiment, the next step of the method <NUM> is a securing step <NUM>, including securing the covering <NUM> to the article of furniture <NUM> with first attachment device and second attachment device. In an embodiment, the first attachment device can be on the covering <NUM> and the second attachment device can be on the second portion of the article of furniture <NUM>. In an alternative embodiment, the first attachment device can be on the second portion of the article of furniture <NUM> and the second attachment device can be on the covering <NUM>. Regardless of the positioning of these attachment devices, they are able to be configured so as to receive one another so as to secure the covering <NUM> to the article of furniture <NUM>.

In one embodiment, the next step of the method <NUM> is an optional securing step <NUM>, including securing a first portion of the covering <NUM> to a second portion of the covering <NUM> similar to that described in <FIG>. In this embodiment, the securing step <NUM> can be achieved with a fastener, where the fastener can be zipper, magnet, or hook and loop fasteners, among others.

Claim 1:
A system (<NUM>) comprising:
an article of furniture (<NUM>);
a retractable furniture covering (<NUM>) rolled up around a spring-loaded mechanism located in a storage housing positioned under a first portion of the article of furniture (<NUM>), the retractable furniture covering (<NUM>) configured to extend from the storage housing under the first portion of the article of furniture (<NUM>) to a second portion of the article of furniture (<NUM>) for shielding at least one of an upper portion (<NUM>) of the article of furniture (<NUM>), a lower portion (<NUM>) of the article of furniture (<NUM>), a front portion (<NUM>) of the article of furniture (<NUM>) and a rear portion (<NUM>) of the article of furniture (<NUM>) from external elements.