AU719972B2

AU719972B2 - Couch cover

Info

Publication number: AU719972B2
Application number: AU25595/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Edith Greiman
Original assignee: CAPRICE AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: CAPRICE AUSTRALIA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1996-08-23
Filing date: 1997-06-18
Publication date: 2000-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2017-06-18
Also published as: AU2559597A

Description

AUSTRAL IA Patents Act 1990 C0O4PLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 113 Applicant(s): 7 f CAPRICEAUZ;TRAE31A PYLD~- Invention Title: %C RA 4 COUCH COVER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 2 COUCH COVER This invention relates to a couch cover for covering a couch.

The term couch cover and couch used in the specification should be understood to include single seated chair covers and chairs as well as multiple seated couch covers and conventional multiple seated couches.

The couch covers according to this invention are intended to be used with couches which include a pair of arms separated by a seat portion and a backrest, and a lower base portion.

The invention a couch cover for a couch, including: a central panel having a front edge, a rear edge, .o a'.first side edge and a second side edge, the central panel .i being for location on a seat portion and back rest of the 20 couch; a pair of formed arm members for location on arms of the couch, the arm sections each having a first side edge and a second side edge, the first side edge of one of .oo the arm members being sewn to the first side edge of the 25 central panel and the first side edge of the other arm member being sewn to the second side edge of the central panel; an elastic strip on the couch cover for securing the cover to the couch and wherein the elastic strip is attached to the central panel and extends substantially entirely across the central panel below an uppermost extremity of the formed arm members and near the rear edge of the central panel so that the elastic member is located at the rear of the couch when the couch cover is placed on the couch and applies tension to the central panel and formed arm members to Ssecure the cover to the couch.

H:\p.ulad\4tep\.peci\CAPRIC- couch-cover 295-97.doc 2:103/00 3 Preferably the couch cover includes a skirt portion for covering a vertical front, side and rear surface of the couch.

In one embodiment of the invention, the skirt portion is integral with the central panel and the pair of formed arm members.

In another embodiment of the invention, the skirt portion is separate from the central panel and formed arm members and has an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper edge being sewn to the front edge of the central panel, the second edge of the arm members and to the rear edge of the central panel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the central panel tapers outwardly from the front edge to the rear edge of the central panel and the pair of formed arm members are 20 formed from arm panels which have curved edges which form Sthe first and second side edges of the formed arm members and which are sewn to the respective first side edge and second side edge of the central panel, the formed arm members being completed by respective gusset panels which 25 are sewn to respective front edges of the arm panels and also to a portion of the first and second side edges of the central panel adjacent the front edge of the central panel.

S**

Preferably, a part of the first and second side edges of the arm sections are sewn to the upper edge of the skirt portion.

Preferably, a second elastic strip is sewn to the lower edge of the skirt portion.

l/ H: \p.ulad\K.p\speci\CAPRICE- couch-cover 25595-97.doc 21/03/00 a preferably, the first elastic strip is sewn between the upper edge of the skirt section and the front edge of the central panel, the second edge of the arm members and the rear edge of the central panel.

In one embodiment, the arm members each have a front edge and a rear edge, a curved cutest being cut in the front edge so that the front edge has a pair of straight edge sections on each side of an arcuate edge section, the straight edge sections being sewn together and an elastic member being sewn to the arcuate edge section.

In another embodiment of the invention, the arm members are formed from two arm panels, one of the panels having the first side edge and the other of the panel having the second side edge, the panels respectively having second and third side edges which are sewn together with an elastic member and the arm member having a front edge formed from two curved front edge portions of each panel, the two 20 curved front edge portions being sewn together with an elasticmember.

In a still further embodiment, the arm members include an arm member panel having the first side edge and the second *e 25 side edge and a front edge and a rear edge and an insert panel having a semi-circular curved edge and a straight edge, the semi-circular curved edge being sewn to the front o edge of the arm panel to form the arm member.

In this specification, references to a component being sewn to another component should be understood to mean that the component is directly sewn onto that component or is sewn to the component, or that the components are sewn together by an intermediary such as an elastic member or an additional strip of fabric.

H;\pauuad\4p\speci\CAPRCE- Couch-cover 25595-97.doc 21/0/00 .1 5 A preferred embodiment of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a view of various parts of the couch cover in a disassembled condition; Figure 2 is a view of a formed arm member according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a front view of a chair including the couch cover of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a side view of the chair and couch cover of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a view of an arm member according to :another embodiment of the invention; Figure 6 is a view of the formed arm member according to Figure Figure 7 is a view of an arm member according to yet a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 8 is a view of the formed arm member according to Figure 7; Figure 9 is a view of various parts of a couch cover according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a view of one of the parts shown in Figure 9, showing that part in an orientation it takes up when formed into the couch cover; Figure 11 is a view of the couch cover of Figure 9 on a couch; Figure 12 is a side view of the couch cover of Figure 9 on a couch; and Figure 13 is a rear view of the couch cover of Figure 9 on a couch.

With reference to Figure 1, the couch cover is formed from a central panel 10 which is intended to be located on a seat portion of a couch and over the back rest of the couch. The central panel 10 has a front edge 12, a rear edge 14, a first side edge 16 and a second side edge 18.

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II

6 Two arm panels 20 are provided for covering arms of the couch. The panels 20 have a front edge 22, a rear edge 24, a first edge 26 and a second edge 28.

The front edges 22 have an arcuate section cut out from them to leave an arcuate edge section 22a which is bordered by two straight sections 22b.

A skirt 30 is provided which is generally an elongate strip of material having an upper edge 32, a lower edge 34, a first side edge 36 and a second side edge 38.

The arm panels 20 are first formed into arm members 20A by "sewing an elastic strip 42 to the arcuate edge sections 22a. The elastic strip 42 is stretched so that in a stretched condition it extends right along the arcuate edge section 22a before it is stitched, so that when the tension is removed, it will cause the section 22a to bunch up.

The straight edge sections 22b are then sewn together as is shown in Figure 2 so that a generally tubular like arm member 20A is formed.

After the arm members according to Figure 2 are formed, they are sewn to the central panel 10 by sewing the first side edges 26 and rear edge 24 of the panels 20 to respective first side edge 16 and second side edge 18 of the panel 10. This is performed, in the case of the left arm member 20A, by sewing the corner C of the panel 10 to corner H of the arm member 20A and then sewing the edge 16 about the first side edge 26 and rear edge 24 until the point D on the panel 10 meets the point B on the panel Similarly, the right hand arm member 20A in Figure 1, after it is formed into the shape shown in Figure 2, is sewn to the second edge 18 by sewing the point C of the panel 10 to the corner H and sewing the edge 18 to the edge 26 and rear edge 24 on the right hand panel 20 around to the point D" \\MELBO1\homeS\Karen\Keep\CAPRICE- couch-cover.doc 18/06/97 7 so that the corner B is sewn to the corner D".

The skirt 30 is then sewn to the central panel 10 and formed arm members 20A to complete the cover by sewing the upper edge 32 of the skirt 30 to the front edge 12 of the panel 10 so that the front edge 12 between the corner points C are sewn to the upper edge 32 between the points E and F shown in Figure 1. The sections of the upper edge 32 between the points E and D are then sewn to the respective formed arm members second side edge 28 by sewing point E to corner H-G (which basically form the same point after the sections 22b are sewn together) and the point P to the point B. The portions of the upper edge 32 of the skirt between the points P and L are then sewn to the rear edge 15 14 of the panel 10 between the points D' and D".

S" A first strip of elastic 44 can be sewn to the upper edge 32 of the skirt 30 either before or after the skirt 30 is attached to the arm members and central panel Preferably the elastic member is sewn prior to attachment of the skirt 30 and the elastic member 44 which is sewn to the skirt 30 in a stretched condition basically joins the skirt 30 to the central panel 10 and the formed arm members A second strip of elastic material can be sewn to the bottom edge 34 in the same manner as the first strip 44.

The first and second edges 36 and 38 of the skirt 30 can be sewn together to complete the skirt 30 about the formed arm members 20A and central panel As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, in order to fit the couch cover to a couch, the skirt 30 is pulled over the top of the couch by stretching the elastic members 44 and 46 and locating the skirt 30 at the lower base 50 of the couch.

The elastic members 44 to 46 will pull the skirt 30 tightly about the base 50. The formed arm members 20A can then be \\MELBOI\home\Karen\Keep\CAPRICE- couch-cover.doc 18/06/97 8 located on arms 54 of the couch and the elastic members 42 will stretch as the arm members 20A are fitted over the arms 54 and tend to pull the front of the formed arm members 20A tightly over the front of the arms 54, the central panel 10 then locates on the seat portion 58 of the couch and over the back rest 60. A cushion 62 can then be located in place on the seat 58 to finish the couch. The cushion 62 can be covered by a cover material identical to the couch cover in any desired way.

Figures 5 and 6 show a second way of forming the arm members 20A. In this embodiment, the arm members 20A are formed from two arm panels 70 and 72 which are stitched together along third and fourth edges 74 and 76 :15 respectively by an elastic member 78. The same elastic member 78 extends out of the front of the panels 70 and 72 and the front edge portions between G and Y, and X and H are then sewn together with the elastic member extending over the front of the panel to complete the arm member as shown in Figure 6.

The completed arm member 20A is attached to the central panel 10 and skirt 30 in the same manner as described above.

Figures 7 and 8 show yet a further way of forming the arm member 20A. In this embodiment, an arm panel 80 is provided and an insert panel 82 is intended to be sewn to the arm panel 80 by sewing the semi-circular edge of the insert 84 between the points M and N to the front edge 86 of the panel 80 between the points G and H. This forms a generally sleeve-like arm member 20A shown in Figure 8. In this embodiment, the insert 82 generally forms the front of the arm member 20A and the point H shown in Figures 7 and 8 is sewn directly to point C of the central panel 10 and the straight sections 88 of the insert panel 82 between the points M and N of the respective arm members 20A are sewn \\MELB01\home$\Karen\Keep\CAPRICE- couch-cover.doc 18/06/97 9 to the upper edge 32 of the skirt 30 between the points J and E, and F and J respectively. The remainder of the skirt 30 is connected to the formed arm member 20A of Figure 8 in exactly the same manner as described with reference to Figure 1.

Although in the preferred embodiments described with reference to the drawings, the cover is used with a single seated couch (of course generally referred to as a chair), the cover can be made for conventional couches simply by increasing the width of the panel 10 to suit the length of the couch in question. The panel 10 can be made slightly oversized so that it is merely bunched into the corners of the couch between the seat 58 and the arms 54 prior to 15 location of the cushion 62 or cushions 62 as the case may be.

In other embodiments, an elastic member may be sewn along the first side edges of the arm members 20A and the 20 respective first and second side edges 16 and 18 of the central panel 10 generally between the points A C and B D' and B D" to assist in gathering and fitting of the cover to the couch.

With reference to Figure 9, the layout of a couch cover according to a further embodiment of the invention is disclosed. In this embodiment of the invention, the couch cover includes a central panel 100 and a pair of arm panels 102. In Figure 9, only one of the arm panels 102 is shown.

The other arm panel is a mirror image of the arm panel which is shown. Each of the arm panels have front gusset panels 104. A rear base panel 106 is provided and, if desired, a trim 108 can be provided for sewing about the entire periphery of the formed couch cover to merely provide a decorative trim or finish to the couch cover.

An elastic strip 109 is sewn to the central panel 100 \\MELBO1\homeS\Karen\Keep\CAPRICE- couch-cover.doc 18/06/97 10 adjacent a rear edge 110 of the panel 100.

The panel 100 has a front edge 111 and side edges 112 and 113 together with the rear edge 110. The arm panels 102 have front edge 113, side edge 114 which is curved as clearly shown in Figure 9 and outer edge 115. The gusset panel 104 has a curved edge 117 and a base edge 118.

In order to form the couch cover, the curved edge 114 of the arm panels 102 is sewn to the side edges 112 (and 113 for the opposite side edge) by sewing curved edge 114 between points C and J to the side edge 112 between points B' and F. The arm panel 102 when the couch cover is in use S" will take up the general profile shown in Figure The gusset panel 104 is sewn to the arm panel 102 by sewing the curved edge 117 between points P and D to the front edge 113 of the arm panel 102 between points C and The portion of curved edge 117 between points B and A on the gusset panel 104 is sewn to the side edge 112 of the central panel 100 between points A' and B'.

When the central panel 100 is located over the seat portion and backrest of the couch, the sewn seam between points C and J, and E' and F will cause the edge 110 to take a slightly curved profile. The rear of the central panel 100 may be completed by a rear panel 106 by sewing edge 121 of panel 106 between points K and L to the edge 110 between points F and H. The edge 121 may be slightly curved so that the panel 106 is wider at its mid point than at its extreme edges. The edge of the panel 106 between points K and M is sewn to the curved edge 114 of the arm panel 102 between points J and E'.

The couch cover may be completed by sewing a trim 108 about the entire lower periphery of the sewn couch cover.

\\MELBOI\home$\ Caren\Keep\CAPRICE- couch-coverdoc 18/06/97 11 Figure 11 shows a front view of the couch cover of Figure 9 on a couch. Figure 12 is a side view of the cover and Figure 13 is a rear view of the cover. In Figures 11 to 13, the dashed lines illustrate the sewn seams previously described.

As is best shown in Figure 13, the elastic member 109 which is sewn to the central panel 100 adjacent edge 110 will tend to tighten the central panel 100 to the couch and therefore secure the couch cover securely on the couch.

As is clearly shown in Figure 13, the arm panel 102 wraps S: around the rear of the arm rests of the couch and the sewn seam between the points C and J tends to follow the portion of the couch which extends from the seat of the couch and along the transition of the arm rest of the couch to the backrest of the couch.

In the embodiment of Figures 9 to 13, the skirt portion of the couch cover which effectively covers the front vertical surface of the couch and the rear generally vertical surface of the couch is formed integral with the central panel 100 and also has an integral part of the gusset S. panels 104 and arm panels 102.

Since modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention may readily be effected by persons skilled within the art, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described by way of example hereinabove.

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Claims

2. The couch cover of claim 1, including a skirt portion for covering a vertical front, side and rear surface of the couch. S
3. The couch cover of claim 2, wherein the skirt portion is integral with the central panel and the pair of formed arm members.
4. The couch cover of claim 2, wherein the skirt portion is separate from the central panel and formed arm members and has an upper edge and a lower edge, the upper A edge being sewn to the front edge of the central panel, the H:\paulad\Keep\speci\CAPRICE- couch-cover 25595-97-doc 21/03/00 Lij 13 second edge of the arm members and to the rear edge of the central panel. The couch cover of claim 1, wherein the central panel tapers outwardly from the front edge to the rear edge of the central panel and the pair of formed arm members are formd from arm panels which have curved edges which form the first and second side edges of the formed arm members and which are sewn to the respective first side edge and second side edge of the central panel, the formed arm members being completed by respective gusset panels which are sewn to respective front edges of the arm panels and also to a portion of the first and second side edges of the central panel adjacent the front edge of the central panel.
6. The couch cover of claim 4, wherein a part of the first and second side edges of the arm sections are sewn to the upper edge of the skirt portion. 20 7. The couch cover of claim 6, wherein a second elastic/strip is sewn to the lower edge of the skirt portion. *o*
8. The couch cover of claim 7, wherein the first 25 elastic strip is sewn between the upper edge of the skirt section and the front edge of the central panel, the second edge of the arm members and the rear edge of the central panel. 9 The couch cover of claim 1, wherein the arm members each have a front edge and a rear edge, a curved cutout being cut in the front edge so that the front edge has a pair of straight edge sections on each side of an arcuate edge section, the straight edge sections being sewn together and an elastic member being sewn to the arcuate edge section. H: \paulad\Kep\speci\CAPRICE- couch-cover 25595-97.doc 21/03/00 4 I "I 1 14 The couch cover of claim 1, wherein the arm members are formed from two arm panels, one of the panels having the first side edge and the other of the panel having the second side edge, the panels respectively having second and third side edges which are sewn together with an elastic member and the arm members having a front edge formed from two curved front edge portions of each panel, the two curved front edge portions being sewn together with an elastic member.
11. The couch cover of claim 1, wherein the arm members include an arm member panel having the first side edge and the second side edge and a front edge and a rear edge and an insert panel having a semi-circular curved edge 15 and a straight edge, the semi-circular curved edge being sewn to the front edge of the arm panel to form the arm member.
12. A couch cover for a couch, substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying o drawings. H:\paulad\Keep\CAPRICE- couch-cover 25595-97.doc 6/12/99