US20140042786A1

US20140042786A1 - Cover for an outdoor furniture cushion

Info

Publication number: US20140042786A1
Application number: US13/963,715
Authority: US
Inventors: Teresa E. Miller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-08-13
Filing date: 2013-08-09
Publication date: 2014-02-13

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

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/682,709, filed Aug. 13, 2012.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
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.
2. Description of the Related Art
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.
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.
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.
Thus, a cover for an outdoor furniture cushion solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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.
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.
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

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to the present invention.

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.

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.

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.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 P2 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.
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 P2. 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.
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 P2 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 P2.
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.
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.

Claims

I claim:

1. A cover for an outdoor furniture cushion, comprising:

a flexible fabric sheet having mutually opposed first and second lateral edges defining a central seating portion, mutually opposed forward and rearward portions extending from the central seating portion, and mutually opposed first and second attachment edges extending from the forward and rearward portions;

a first fastener disposed along the first attachment edge; and

a second fastener disposed along the second attachment edge, the second fastener selectively securing to the first fastener beneath the outdoor furniture cushion for removably securing the sheet about the outdoor furniture cushion.

2. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 1, wherein the sheet is formed of moisture-resistant fabric material.

3. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 1, wherein each of the lateral edges has a trim attachment fastener disposed thereon, the cover further comprising a plurality of lateral trim pieces, each of the trim pieces having cover attachment fasteners disposed thereon, the trim pieces being removably and interchangeably attached to the lateral edges of the cover.

4. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 3, wherein the trim attachment fasteners of the lateral edges and the cover attachment fasteners of the lateral trim pieces comprise mating hook and loop fasteners.

5. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 3, wherein the trim attachment fasteners of the lateral edges and the cover attachment fasteners of the lateral trim pieces comprise mating snap fastener components.

6. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 1, wherein the first and second attachment fasteners comprise mating hook and loop fasteners.

7. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of first attachment fasteners disposed along the first attachment edge;

a plurality of attachment straps extending from the second attachment edge, each of the attachment straps having a distal end; and

second attachment fasteners disposed upon the distal ends of the attachment straps, the second attachment fasteners passing beneath the outdoor furniture cushion and selectively engaging with the first attachment fasteners for securing the cover removably about the outdoor furniture cushion.

8. A cover for an outdoor furniture cushion, the cover comprising a sheet of moisture-resistant, flexible fabric having a central seating portion and mutually opposed first and second attachment edges extending from the central seating portion, the second attachment edge selectively securing to the first attachment edge for removably securing the sheet about the outdoor furniture cushion.

9. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 8, further comprising:

mutually opposed first and second lateral edges disposed along the central seating portion;

mutually opposed forward and rearward portions extending from the central seating portion, the first and second attachment edges extending respectively from the forward and rearward portions;

first attachment fasteners disposed along the first attachment edge; and

second attachment fasteners disposed along the second attachment edge, the second attachment fasteners selectively securing to the first attachment fasteners beneath the outdoor furniture cushion.

10. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 9, wherein the first and second attachment fasteners comprise mating hook and loop fasteners.

11. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 8, further comprising:

trim attachment fasteners disposed on each of the lateral edges; and

a plurality of lateral trim pieces, each of the trim pieces having cover attachment fasteners disposed thereon, the trim pieces being removably and interchangeably attached to the lateral edges of the cover.

12. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 11, wherein the trim attachment fasteners of the lateral edges and the cover attachment fasteners of the lateral trim pieces comprise mating hook and loop fasteners.

13. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 11, wherein the trim attachment fasteners of the lateral edges and the cover attachment fasteners of the lateral trim pieces comprise mating snap fasteners.

14. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 8, further comprising:

15. A cover for an outdoor furniture cushion, comprising:

a flexible fabric sheet having mutually opposed first and second lateral edges defining a central seating portion, mutually opposed forward and rearward portions extending from the central seating portion, and mutually opposed first and second attachment edges extending from the forward and rearward portions, each of the lateral edges having trim attachment fasteners disposed thereon; and

16. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 15, further comprising:

a first attachment fastener disposed along the first attachment edge; and

second attachment fastener disposed along the second attachment edge, the second attachment fastener selectively securing to the first attachment fastener beneath the outdoor furniture cushion for removably securing the sheet about the outdoor furniture cushion.

17. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 16, wherein the first and second attachment fasteners comprise mating hook and loop fasteners.

18. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 15, wherein the sheet is formed of moisture-resistant fabric material.

19. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 15, wherein the trim attachment fasteners of the lateral edges and the cover attachment fasteners of the lateral trim pieces are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fabric fasteners and snap fasteners.

20. The cover for an outdoor furniture cushion according to claim 15, further comprising: