EP2461722B1 - Functional seat cover - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a seat function cover for resting on seating, in particular for children, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Seating is known in the state of the art in a very large number of variations. Basically, each seat consists of an approximately horizontal seat, on which the buttocks of a person rests. In the expansion stage of interest here, a backrest is attached to an edge of this seat and to the two adjacent edges one armrest each. The seated person leans against the backrest and can rest her arms on the armrests. As a rule, the seats have two armrests, but there are also variants with only one armrest known.

This basic form of the seat is varied in many ways. Known variants are upholstered armchairs as a low-end and high seats, e.g. at a bar. Other special forms are e.g. Dentist chairs and seats designed for children. For toddlers there are plenty of seating, the z. B. resemble a chair for adults, which is adapted only in proportions to the size of the child. However, often used are other specialized seating, such. As high seats, where very small children can sit at a table that is actually too high for you, or the various seating in strollers or safety seats in vehicles. In addition, also universally for people of different sizes imaginary seating by additional facilities, such. B. seat covers and / or armrests to a suitable only for children seat.

Such seating is available in public areas, such. As taxis, shopping carts or swimming pools, which may be contaminated by numerous uses of unterschiedst infants, so that a protective cover protects the child from these contaminants.

Another reason for the use of seat covers is that the toddler can even provide for contamination of the seat. These are objects first picked up by the child and then dropped again, from which parts can come loose through contact with the hands or teeth. Small children often can not fully absorb their food, causing parts to fall that can pollute the seating. A particularly intense contamination is caused by metabolic products, which excretes the child. Although i.d.R. Diapers attached to the child, however, it is not completely ruled out that a part of the diapers over passes.

For this reason, it is common in the living area to make seating for children made of very hard materials with smooth surfaces, such. B. painted wood. These are relatively sturdy and can be easily cleaned, but are not ergonomically adapted to the buttocks and back of the child. This leads to punctual overloads of the hip joint and spinal column, which can lead to premature restlessness of the child.

A further disadvantage is that surface contact between the child's skin and the hard surface of the seat enhances the transpiration of the skin surface, which in extreme cases can lead to reddening of the stressed areas of the skin and thus further restlessness of the child. The example of specially designed seats for children in motor vehicles shows that upholstery is essential for longer periods of sitting.

The current state of the art describes the US 5,678,888, Sowell , a slipcover that serves to cover a seating for toddlers, which is herausklappbar from the rear wall of shopping trolleys. The slipcover is made of a thin, textile material that rests on the seat and extends vertically upwards from there, creating a box-like shape. In the forward-facing surface of this box-like shape two openings are provided for pushing through the legs of the child. This protective cover is primarily intended to keep the child away from any contamination found on the seat as well as the lateral boundaries. However, through the openings in the front surface, it is not suitable for retaining impurities emanating from the child. The slipcover also offers no opportunities to support the child's seat in an ergonomically meaningful way or to adapt the temperature of the seat surface to a skin-friendly level or to ventilate the seat.

These restrictions also apply to the JP 2003 235 690, Mac Sanko to, which describes a bag-like insert for a toddler's bowl. It is not only intended for trays in which the toddler is primarily horizontal, but also on shells that allow an erection of the back area. In addition to the limitations already mentioned, this protective cover also lacks the formation of separate areas for the back parts, the armrests and the leg area. As a result, a constant adaptation to the particular shape of a seat is not possible. Rather, wrinkles develop due to the baby's regular movements, which in the long run overload the child's skin. Another limitation is that the slipcover partly on the

Children and restricts their freedom of movement, which may cause concern for the child.

A device of the generic type is known from US 2 254 466 A in which a seat function cover is used whose properties are determined by the material used. With this background in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide a seat cover that is universally adaptable to various shapes and types of seating that may be equipped with ancillary equipment that enhances ventilation, temperature control and ergonomic adjustment of the seating and also perform other functions.

As a solution, the invention proposes a seat function reference with the features specified in claim 1. Each seat, which can be equipped with a seat cover according to the invention, consists of an approximately horizontal seat, on which the buttocks of a person rests. On one edge of this seat, a backrest is attached and to the two adjacent edges each armrest. The seated person leans against the backrest and can rest her arms on the armrests. As a rule, the seats have two armrests, but there are also variants with only one armrest known.

Starting from this basic form, all conceivable variants of a seat are expressly included: From a cushioned armchair as a low extreme up to a high seat, eg at a bar. Also included are special forms, such as folding seats, room chairs with widened armrest as a writing pad, toilet seats, Office chairs, dental chairs and seats designed for children.

In any case, it is the basic idea of the invention that a protective cover is created, which is indeed one piece, but by separate training of the other sitting on a surface not necessarily linked, other functional areas, namely the leaning of the back, the rest of the Arms and touching or putting up the feet, can be adapted to different sizes and proportions even from fast changing seating.

Due to its low material thickness, it practically does not affect the ergonomic conditions of the seat and can simply be pulled around its edges on the edge areas of backrests and armrests and, if desired, even stretched. The low material thickness is also an advantage when the seat function reference is removed and should be stored. Due to its relatively low volume, it can be easily washed, z. B. by inserting into a washing machine.

The simple and clear shape allows easy production, eg. B. by cutting out of a large fabric and the sewing of the edges. In the simplest case, a single, approximately cross-shaped part is cut out, folded from the back of a strip and sewn to form the backrest hood at the edges of the back part. Depending on the material, the remaining edges are trimmed.

This relatively simple form also allows for a wide variety of optical designs. It ranges from the selection of a printed fabric to the application of decorations to the individual Areas by embroidering or sewing on other decorative elements.

If functional elements are inserted into the pockets on the cover, they too must be adaptable to the changing sizes. The invention proposes that z. B. for the seat approximately in the middle of a rectangular pocket is provided, which leaves the edge regions of the seat free. In these marginal areas further, elongated pockets are provided, into which correspondingly smaller functional elements can be inserted. When using a very small seat only the bag in the middle is equipped with a functional element; the edge pockets remain free. If the seat cover is placed on a relatively large seat, in addition, the narrow pockets are also equipped in the edge area.

In order to equip the seat cover reference according to the invention with the task-related functionalities and to be able to change these quickly and easily when needed, the invention provides as equipment variant pockets on the individual surfaces. The seat, the back, the Armlehnteile or the foot can each be equipped with at least one bag, which serves for the insertion of functional elements.

The invention proposes cushioning elements for adaptation to ergonomic requirements. By padding elements in the seating area, the punctual overloading of the hip joints of the child can be avoided especially in a flat and hard seat. By eliminating this impairment, the child will then stay longer and with greater peace on the seat opportunity.

It makes sense to use cooling elements or heating elements to control the temperature of the child. In the simplest case, these can be gel-filled, flat bags which have been brought to the desired temperature in the refrigerator or on a radiator. In a refinement, it is conceivable that Peltier elements cool the elements with electrical energy on one surface and heat them on the other surface. In summer, the cool side points to the child, in winter the heated one.

It is also conceivable that a spacer fabric is used for tempering, is blown through the cooled or heated air. The ducts for the supply and for the discharge of air can be sewn on the cover and also made of textile material, so that even the fully equipped cover can still adapt to the shapes of the respective seating.

However, the spacer fabric just mentioned can also be used without a forced air supply only to improve the ventilation. It allows in particular in the seating area an air supply. For children who transpire relatively strongly, the moist air is dissipated much better. Thus, impairments or even skin injuries are avoided by this moisture. Another advantage is that in case of sudden onset of increased ventilation of the moistened with sweat air body parts -. B. when lifting the buttocks - the burden is reduced by the then suddenly occurring supercooling or even eliminated.

The other functions of the elements that can be inserted in the pockets are not only a relatively luxurious feature, but mitigates certain overloads, which reduces the likelihood of the child's dissatisfaction.

A very wide variety of textile materials is applicable: Manufacture from single-layer cotton fabric or single-layer, robust plastic material is also possible, as well as the use of multiple layers, primarily textile material. Very interesting is z. B. a two-layered design, in which a lower layer is impermeable to water and thereby shuts off the moisture emanating from the child or retains existing liquids in an application as a hygiene protection on the outside. The upper layer can then consist of a particularly skin-friendly, soft and hochflorigen material such. Terry.

For easy adaptation to different distances of the uprights of the backrests and armrests, diagonally oriented slots extending from the corners of the seat are suitable, comprising closely spaced uprights. The remaining area of the slot can z. B. be closed again with a hook and loop fastener.

As already mentioned, it is a disadvantage of many known proposals for covers of child seat opportunities that they are not taut compared to the seat, the backrest or the armrest and thereby form wrinkles that can burden the child's skin unduly. In order to avoid this wrinkling, the invention proposes that at the end of at least one Armlehnteiles or Fußlehnteiles weights are attached, which pull the textile material smooth by their gravity. Such weight can z. As a lead chain, a rod or other, weighty bulk material in a hemstitch be at each end. Alternatively, a weight in one or more small bags be inserted and / or attached at the end of a Armlehnteils or at the end of the foot part. For this equipment variant, it is a further, meaningful addition that the seat in the region of its edges is connected via additional fasteners with the seat to be relied.

As a further embodiment, the invention proposes that the foot part can be formed into a footmuff by connecting the end of the foot part to the front corners of the seat surface or to the forwardly facing edges of the armrest parts. These can be used as fastening elements elongated, textile strips, the z. B. are sewn to the corners of the seat.

For an improved adaptation to seats of different sizes, the invention proposes as an alternative that on the underside of the seat surface of the cover in the region of the four corners in each case a plurality of loops are arranged at different distances to the corner. Depending on the size of the seat to be relied on, the loop closest to the actual seat size is then selected as the fastening point of the textile strip. As a result, the seat of the cover can be stretched tight on the seat. The textile strips are then looped around the legs of the seat, around struts of the armrests or the backrest and z. B. closed with a loop or Velcro to a tight-fitting ring.

Through these multiple mounting options, the seat cover function can be used on both relatively small and relatively large seating. It is also possible to hang the cover within a day on different seats, so z. B. from the high chair in the apartment after breakfast on the child seat in the car, in the morning on the child seat in kindergarten and in the afternoon on the stroller for a walk.

As mentioned, it is an essential feature of the seat function cover according to the invention that it is fixed with a backrest hood on the backrest of the respective child seat. Since the lengths of the backrests of the various seating arrangements can be very different, the invention proposes that the seat function cover be dimensioned for the largest length of the backrest occurring. For shorter backrests, a certain horizontal section in the back of the cover is gathered by folding over and "folded away". It is useful in the interest of a wrinkle-free Aufliegens that the folding edge of the folded away portion is fixed, z. B. by appropriate fasteners. These fasteners can - as previously described - in each one of several available Öffnun be introduced. Alternatively, a Velcro fastener can be pressed to the appropriate location.

The fastening elements already mentioned several times can be fastened to the seat surface, the back part, at least one armrest part or the foot part. In addition to the aforementioned, flexible, elongated strips and cords, chains, cords or strands are conceivable. These fasteners can either be closed in a ring or inserted into complementary counterparts on the cover, hooked or snapped - z. B. with snaps. Other, very easy-to-use fasteners are hook-and-loop fasteners. If the fasteners are not in itself z. B. are connected by a knot or a loop, hooks, hook-and-loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, buckles, slots, hollow rivets or the like can be provided as connecting elements. These counterparts are arranged either at the respective other end of an elongate, strip-like fastening element, or on the seat surface or a part of the cover. It makes sense to always arrange the fasteners in pairs.

For adaptation to seating with different sizes, it is also useful that a plurality of fasteners are arranged at a small distance from each other. Depending on the size of the seat to be relied then only the nearest fastener is used. The outermost fastener then serves to fix the respective protruding portions of the cover at a suitable location.

Another useful extension of the child's functional cover according to the invention are horizontally stretched surfaces which absorb objects dropped by the child and thereby prevent them from falling to the floor or even rolling them down under other furnishings.

These can z. B. the freely hanging ends of the Armlehnteils be used. In order to clamp them with a minimum of effort to a horizontal surface, the invention proposes that they - similar to an umbrella - are held by two rod-shaped struts in this position. These two struts are inserted in hollow seams at the two opposite, free edges of Armlehnteile. They then run above and approximately parallel to the seat from one Armlehnteil to the other Armlehnteil. As a result, they rest on the respective upper edge of the two armrests and span the area between the armrests like a bridge.

In this area, the rear strut can be guided through a corresponding recess in the back so that it does not obstruct the back of the child. The other, parallel strut can run along the edge of a table for the child. Alternatively, a table can be placed on this strut, which also rests on the two armrests. This additional table expands the area of the area around the child so that it is fully equipped around the child broad, approximately U-shaped, horizontal strip pulls, which can be used like a table for receiving objects that can drop the toddler.

To adapt to different dimensions of the seat, a plurality of recesses may be provided for the rear strut in the back part of which only one is used. Likewise, several hollow seams can be provided on the armrests, so that the clamped areas can also be adapted to the respective length of the armrests.

As an alternative to a table, the horizontal surface drawn around the child can also be formed by the end piece of the foot part. To do this, the end of the foot section must be led back upwards around the feet like a foot bag. There it is held by struts that run half in narrow, tunnel-like pockets on the armrests and the other half in hollow seams at the edge of the foot. This creates a surface running around the child in a U-shape, which is similar to the roof of a tent made of textile material, which is stretched at intervals by struts.

Figur 1

Schnitt durch einen Kindersitzschonbezug auf einem Sitz

Figur 2

Schnitt wie in Figur 1, jedoch mit einem als Ablagefläche aufgespanntem Armteil

In the following, further details and features of the invention will be explained in more detail by way of examples. However, these are not intended to limit the invention, but only to explain. It shows in a schematic representation:

FIG. 1

Section through a child seat cover on a seat

FIG. 2

Cut as in FIG. 1 , but with a clamped as a storage area arm part

In FIG. 1 is a seat for children provided with a cover according to the invention and cut in the middle of the backrest to the front edge graphically. Likewise, the legs of the seat 1 have been broken off graphically. In section, the seat 11 of the seat 1 can be seen. The plate of the seat 11 is at the edges by a spar reinforced and joins at the rear edge of the backrest 12 of the seat 1 at. On the seat 11 is the central element of the cover, the seat 2. It is in FIG. 1 halved in the drawing. Therefore, the first edge 21, which connects the seat 2 with the back part 3, only half to see. The back part 3 rests on the backrest 12 of the seat 1 and is placed at its upper end by the backrest hood 31 on the backrest 12.

In the illustrated embodiment, a comparatively short backrest 12 is drawn. The back part 3 of the cover is too long in this embodiment. Therefore, it is gathered in about its middle in a horizontal section 32. The gathered parts are folded on each other. In FIG. 1 is not shown how the zusammengerafften parts by fasteners - such. As a hook and loop fastener - are stable connected to the adjacent area.

In FIG. 1 Due to the extremely large material thickness selected in the illustration, the folded, horizontal section 32 appears as a much larger object than will be the case in practice. Good to see, however, is how in this way the length of the back part 3 can be adapted to the respective length of the backrest 12 of the seat 1.

At the in FIG. 1 left side of the seat 2, on the second edge 22, the Armlehnteil 4 is attached. In the illustrated embodiment, it is in one piece in the seat 2 over. In FIG. 1 is very easy to see how the Armlehnteil 4 is guided on the armrest 13 of the seat 1 along up to its upper edge. On the outer side, the free end of the Armlehnteils 4 depends down. In the illustrated embodiment, a hemstitch is attached to the end of Armlehnteils 4, in which a weight 41 is inserted, here z. B. an approximately cylindrical rod. This weight keeps the armrest 4 taut by its gravity so that no wrinkles that are annoying to the toddler form.

At the front edge of the seat 2, the third edge 23, the foot part 5 of the cover is attached. In FIG. 1 is easy to see how it hangs over the front boundary of the seat 2 freely. At its end, like the arm part, it is held tight by a weight 51. This weight prevents the foot part 5 could possibly catch or jam between the seat 2 and the seat 11.

On the left side of the FIG. 1 It is shown how with a band-shaped fastener 6, the reference at the junction of the seat 11 is attached to the armrest 13: The two ends of the fastener are guided around a front, columnar part of the armrest 4 around and connected to a loop.

In FIG. 1 Another variant for a fastener 6 is shown, namely at the junction of the back part 3 with the Armlehnteil 4. In this example, a textile strip is sewn to the back part 3 and connected to a Velcro on the outside of Armlehnteils 4.

As a further equipment variant are in FIG. 1 the seat 2 and the back part 3 each equipped with a pocket 72 and 73. Various functional elements can be inserted in this bag to improve the condition of the child. In FIG. 1 is a dotted sectional area of the contents of the two pockets 72 and 73 shown in cross section. It could be z. As a cushion, a spacer fabric or a gel pad, with which the seat and the back is heated or cooled depending on Vortemperierung. In FIG. 1 It is understandable that an electrical heating element could be inserted in the pockets or a Peltier element that uses electrical energy directly for cooling.

In FIG. 2 is the same seating 1 as in FIG. 1 represented with the same section. The difference to FIG. 1 is that the hanging over the armrest 13 Part of Armlehnteils 4 of the cover is clamped to an approximately horizontal shelf. In FIG. 2 is easy to see how ever a strut 42 is inserted into hollow seams 43 at the edges of the arm part 4. These struts 42 rest on the upper edge of the armrest 13. The rear strut 42 is guided along behind the back part of the cover 3, so that the back part padded the strut 42 protruding beyond the backrest 12 somewhat. In practice, the resulting bead will not always be as big as in FIG. 2 , because here at the same time a corresponding folded, horizontal portion 32 of the back part 3 is shown, which comes to lie at the same height as the implementation of the strut 42.

In FIG. 2 it is clear that the front strut 42 is in the grip area of the child. It therefore suggests itself, in a further refined equipment variant - in FIG. 2 but not drawn variant - the strut 42 also to be provided with a horizontal shelf, such. For this variant, the foot part 5 must be quite long, since it extends down to the feet of the child sitting and from there again completely after must be returned to the top 42 to the top. If it is still there to be spanned to a horizontal shelf, a further extension of the foot part 5 is required.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Seating for children

11

Seat of seat 1

12

Seat backrest 1

13

Armrests of seating 1

2

Seat of the cover, resting on seat 11

21

first edge of the seat 2, connected to the back part 3

22

second edge of the seat 2, connected to e. Armrest 4

23

third edge of the seat 2, connected to the foot part 5

3

Back part of the cover

31

Backrest hood of the back part

32

horizontal portion of the back part 3, zusammenraffbar

4

Armrest part of the cover

41

Weight at the end of the armrest

42

Strut, stretches arm 4 to horizontal storage

43

Cavity on the arm 4, for insertion of the strut 42nd

5

Foot part of the cover

51

Weight at the end of the foot part

6

Fastening element on the seat 2 o. The parts 3 to 5

72

Pocket on seat 2

73

Pocket on back part 3

Claims (20)

1. Functional seat cover for placing on seating (1), in particular for children, comprising an approximately horizontal seat (11), an approximately vertical backrest (12), and two armrests (13), composed of washable textile material, wherein a quadrilateral seat surface (2) can be laid on the seat (11),

   - which is connected at its first edge (21) to a back portion (3), on which a backrest hood (31) is integrally formed, which can be drawn over the backrest (12), and

   - the seat surface (2) is connected at its mutually opposite second edge (22) and its fourth edge to an armrest portion (4) in each case, which in each case can be laid on an armrest (13), and

   - the seat surface (2), at its third edge (23), is connected to a foot portion, which can be hung down over the front edge of the seat (11), characterised in that the seat surface (2) has, approximately in the centre, a rectangular pocket (72), which, on at least one edge, is surrounded by a plurality of strip-shaped pockets and, at least into the centre pocket (72), there can be inserted

   - a three-dimensional knitted spacer fabric and/or

   - an upholstery element and/or

   - a cooling element and/or

   - a heating element.
2. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the back portion (3) and/or at least one armrest (4) and/or the foot portion (5) is equipped with at least one pocket (72, 73), into which

   - a three-dimensional knitted spacer fabric and/or

   - an upholstery element and/or

   - a cooling element and/or

   - a heating element
   can be inserted.
3. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it consists of two or more layers of textile material.
4. Functional seat covering according to claim 1, characterised in that the textile material consists of a lower water-impermeable layer and an upper high-pile layer.
5. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at the end of at least one armrest portion (4) and/or of the foot portion (5), a weight (41, 51) is attached.
6. Functional seat covering according to claim 5, characterised in that the weight (41, 51)

   - is a lead chain or

   - a rod or

   - a bulk material
   in a hollow seam.
7. Functional seat covering according to claim 6, characterised in that the weight (41, 51) can be inserted into a pocket at the end of an armrest portion (4) or at the end of the foot portion (5).
8. Functional seat covering according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, by means of the foot portion (5), a foot muff can be formed, in which the end of the foot portion (5) can be joined by means of two fastening elements (6) to the front corners of the seat surface (2) or the forward-facing edges of the armrest portions (4).
9. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the distance between the seat surface (2) and the upper edge of the back portion (3) can be adjusted by gathering together and fixing a horizontal section (32) of the back portion (3).
10. Functional seat covering according to claim 9, characterised in that, for fixing the gathered-together section of the back portion (3), a fastening element (6) can be used.
11. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, on the seat surface (2) and/or the back portion (3) and/or at least one armrest portion (4) and/or the foot portion (5), flexible, elongated fastening elements (6), such as, for example, cords or strips or chains or strings or braids are fastened, by means of which the seat surface and/or the portions (3,4,5) can be connected to the seating means (1).
12. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fastening elements (6) are in each case fastened in pairs at a small distance from one another or at the same location of the functional seat covering.
13. Functional seat covering according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the fastening elements (6) can be guided around portions of the seating means (1) and can be joined to themselves and/or to a further fastening element (6) and/or to the functional seat covering.
14. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fastening elements (6) are connected to one another by means of a knot or a loop.
15. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the fastening elements (6) are connected to one another or to the seat surface (2) and/or to a portion (3, 4, 5) by means of

    - hooks and/or

    - hook-and-loop closures and/or

    - buttons and/or

    - press studs and/or

    - buckles and/or

    - slits and/or

    - hollow rivets
16. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, for adaptation to various sizes of the seating means (1), a plurality of fastening means are disposed close to one another, and only one or a few thereof are equipped with a fastening element (6).
17. Functional seat covering, characterised in that both armrest portions (4) can be stretched to form approximately horizontal shelf surfaces in that

    - a strut (42) in each case is inserted into hollow seams (43) at the two opposing free edges of the arm portions, and

    - above and approximately parallel to two edges of the seat surface (2), lead from one armrest portion (4) to the other armrest portion (4).
18. Functional seating cover according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that a strut (42) leads through a narrow, horizontal tunnel-like pocket in the back portion (3).
19. Functional seat covering according to claim 19, characterised in that,
    for adaptation to different dimensions of the seating means (1), a plurality of tunnel-like pockets are available.
20. Functional seat covering according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that the end portion of the foot portion (5) can be stretched to form an approximately horizontal shelf surface, in which a strut in each case leads through narrow, tunnel-like pockets on the foot portion (5) and on an armrest portion (4) in each case.

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