EP2837308B1

EP2837308B1 - A system and a method for covering a gap occurring between two adjacent furniture parts

Info

Publication number: EP2837308B1
Application number: EP13180060.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Vigdis Maudal Krohn-Hansen; Hong-Ngo Aandal
Original assignee: Hilding Anders Norway As
Current assignee: Hilding Anders Norway As
Priority date: 2013-08-12
Filing date: 2013-08-12
Publication date: 2016-04-06
Anticipated expiration: 2033-08-12
Also published as: EP2837308A1

Description

The invention concerns a system and a method for covering a gap occurring between two adjacent furniture parts.
In accordance with prior art solutions it is well known to cover furniture made up by various furniture parts with a removable sheet in order to protect the furniture parts and also to provide a visual effect of a one piece furniture displaying a smooth surface. The furniture cover may advantageously be manufactured in a shape fitting the form of the furniture of which it is to cover. The cover may be used for covering sofas, chairs, beds etc. The invention may be used for various kinds of furniture where a gap may occur between adjacent furniture parts.
The inventive system may be used for a bed such as a double bed comprising two separate bed sections, wherein each bed section may be a box mattress, a continental base frame or an ordinary mattress. The double bed is made up by two separate bed sections to facilitate the transport and handling of the bed. But when the bed is assembled, it is a wish among the users that the two bed sections appear as a single unit double bed. In order to enhance the visual impression of the double bed a furniture cover in the shape of a form fitted sheet is installed over the bed sections to make it appear as a single unit double bed. When a sheet is fitted onto the bed sections in this manner, the fabric which is overlaying the gap between the two bed sections is pulled into the gap, and consequently a crease occurs in between the bed sections..
In accordance with the prior art publications DE 10306735 , DE9402363 , WO9206624 , US2004163174 , WO2007011914 and US5555581 A1 , various solutions are proposed for hiding the gap between the bed sections.
As most of the top surface of the bed will be covered by a top mattress or other known means for hiding this portion of the gap, most of the gap at this seen from the top side is not visible when the bed is in use. However, the vertical gap at the side surface of the beds end is visible, and in some cases a portion of the gap at the top surface of the beds end portion is also visible. A need has evoked within the market to reduce or if possible to eliminate the visibility of this gap. Based on this need it is an object of the invention to provide a solution which will reduce or eliminate the visibility of the gap through the fabric of the furniture cover. Some of the publications as mentioned above present solutions for hiding the gap between two beds making up a double bed. The current invention present an alternative solution to these prior art solutions.
The invention is defined in the independent claim, and embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.
In accordance with the invention a system is provided for covering a gap occurring between two adjacent parts of a furniture, as claimed in claim 1.
The holding means may comprise a pocket for the insert of the support element. In one embodiment the furniture cover may be provided with a pocket for receiving the support element. The pocket may be arranged at a surface of the furniture cover and when the furniture cover is placed on the furniture the pocket faces the furniture. The pocket with the support element installed in the pocket then covers at least a portion of the gap, and the support element forms a bridge over the gap so that the fabric of the furniture cover is prevented from being pulled into the gap.
The support element displays certain rigidity to be able to prevent the fabric of the furniture cover to get pulled into the gap. In some aspects of the invention both the vertical portion of the gap located at a side portion of the furniture and the portion of the gap located at the top side of the bed/ furniture are visible. To cover both the top side portion of the gap as well as the end side portion of the gap, the support element in one embodiment has a curved shape for covering both portions of the gap. The curved shape of the support element may be obtained by preforming the support element before inserting it into the holding means such as the pocket. Alternatively, the support element may initially have a non curved or leveled shape and the support element displays certain flexible characteristics which makes it possible to form the support element in accordance with the outline of the furniture thereby covering both the gap at the top portion and at the gap at side portion of the furniture, when putting the furniture cover onto the furniture. The support element may have the shape of a flat element such as a slice having a thickness enabling a curved shape of the support element when being positioned in contact with the furniture.
The support element needs to be held in place relative to the furniture cover in order to cover the gap. The holding means helps positioning and holding the support element in a correct position. The holding means may be attached to the furniture parts or the holding means may be attached to the furniture cover. Further the holding means may be made up of several elements capable of positioning and holding the support element correctly to cover the gap. The holding means may be provided by various means able to position the support element in a correct position and holding this position during the use of the bed. In one embodiment the holding means comprises a pocket. The pocket may be constituted by a panel of fabric. The panel is folded and stitched with invisible stitches to the inside surface of the furniture cover which faces the furniture when placed on the furniture.
The invention also includes a method for covering a gap occurring between two adjacent parts of a furniture, as claimed in claim 8.
When the holding means is constituted by the pocket, the method may also include installing the support element into the pocket for instance by inserting the support element into the pocket through a side opening in the pocket.
In the following an example of an embodiment of the invention, where the furniture is shown as a bed, will be described with reference to the figures, wherein

Fig 1 shows a double bed with a furniture cover installed onto the bed.
Fig 2 shows a support element positioned under the furniture cover.
Fig 3 shows a front view of a support element positioned under the furniture cover of a double bed.
Fig 4 shows a support element as it is inserted into a pocket.

In fig 1 two adjacent furniture parts 1, 2 here shown as two bed sections are positioned side by side and a furniture cover 3 is installed over the furniture parts 1, 2. A gap 4 which occurs at the area where the two bed sections are joined, is visible through the furniture cover 3. A portion 5a of the gap is visible at the side or end section of the bed, and another portion 5b of the gap is visible at the top section of the bed, as the fabric of the furniture cover 3 tends to get pulled into the gap 4. In the example shown in the figures a top mattress hides the remaining portion of gap otherwise visible at the top section of the bed.
In order to prevent the fabric from being pulled into the gap, the invention proposes arranging a support member 7 over the portions 5a, 5b of the gap to hide its visibility through the fabric of the furniture cover 3, see fig 4. The support member 7 is arranged in holding means 8 such as a pocket which at its upper end 9 is fixed to the inside surface of the furniture cover for instance by stitches not visible at the outside surface of the furniture cover. Usually the support member is inserted into the holding means 8 before installing the furniture cover on the bed, for instance through a side opening as the one shown in fig 4. The position of the holding means 8 ensures the correct position of the support member 7 over the gap portions 5a, 5b.
Fig 4 shows the curvature of the support element 7 as it appears when the furniture cover 3 is installed on the bed. The support element 7 is here shown as a rectangular body. The thickness of the rectangular body allows curving the body, and as seen from the figures the support member 7 is shaped to fit the outer contour of the end side of the bed. The support member 7 may be inserted in the holding means 8 in an essentially flat configuration. When installing the furniture cover on the bed 1, the flexible features of the support member 7 allows it to be curved thereby obtaining the curvature of the contour/outline of the end side of the bed. As an alternative to this the support member 7 may be preformed to fit the outer contour of the bed or the support member 7.
Fig 2 and fig 3 show the support member 7 positioned over the gap portions 5a, 5b (not visible) preventing the fabric of the furniture from being pulled into the gap. As seen from these figures, the bed appears as a double bed with no visible crease disturbing the visual image of a continuous end surface.

Claims

System for covering a gap occurring between two adjacent parts of a furniture, wherein the system comprising:
- a support element to be positioned to cover the gap occurring between two adjacent parts of a furniture,

- the system comprises holding means for positioning and holding the support element in the position covering the gap, -a furniture cover for the furniture, wherein the support element and the holding means are arranged in between the furniture cover and the furniture parts when the furniture cover is installed on the furniture thereby preventing the furniture cover from being pulled into the gap,
wherein the support element is configured for covering a portion of the gap at a side face of the furniture parts, and a portion of the gap at a top face of the furniture parts.
System for covering a gap in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the holding means comprises a pocket for receiving the support element.
System stem for covering a gap in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the support element has a preformed curved shape to fit with the outline of the furniture.
System for covering a gap in accordance with claim 1,
characterized in that the support element has an initial non curved shape and the flexible characteristics of the support element make it possible to form the support element into a curved shape in accordance with the outline of the furniture.
System for covering a gap in accordance with one of claims 1-4,

characterized in that the two parts of the furniture comprise two mattresses positioned side by side.
System for covering a gap in accordance with one of claims 1-5,
characterized in that the pocket is formed as a hidden pocket not visible when the furniture cover is installed on the furniture.
System for covering a gap in accordance with one of claims 1-6,
characterized in that the pocket has a side opening for the insert of the support element.
Method for covering a gap occurring between two adjacent parts of a furniture, wherein the method comprises:
- positioning and holding a support element by the use of holding means in a position prepared for covering the gap occurring between two adjacent parts of a furniture, and that the support element is configured for covering a portion of the gap at a side face of the furniture parts, and a portion of the gap at a top face of the furniture parts,

- installing a furniture cover over the furniture parts, thereby positioning the support element which covers the gap and the holding means in between the furniture cover and the furniture parts to prevent the furniture cover from being pulled into the gap.
Method for covering a gap occurring between two adjacent parts of a furniture in accordance with claim 9, wherein the holding means comprises a pocket which is attached to the furniture cover and positioning and holding the support element by installing the support element into the pocket.