GB2135573A

GB2135573A - Fastening upholstery to a furniture frame

Info

Publication number: GB2135573A
Application number: GB08305914A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Riley
Original assignee: DELLBROOK FURNITURE Ltd
Current assignee: DELLBROOK FURNITURE Ltd
Priority date: 1983-03-03
Filing date: 1983-03-03
Publication date: 1984-09-05
Also published as: GB8305914D0; GB2135573B

Abstract

Upholstery 12, 14 is fastened to a furniture frame 8 by positioning a length of upholstery material 3 over the frame and inserting fastening devices 15 through the upholstery material and into the frame such that the insertion of the fastening devices causes the length of upholstery material to be deformed to hide the fastening devices. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Furniture The invention relates to furniture and particularly to a method of fastening upholstery to furniture frames.

It is well known to fasten upholstery, for example leather upholstery, to wooden furniture frames by hammering studs through the upholstery and into the frame. A large number of studs is required and the time needed to hammer them all in is considerable. Since they are visible in the finished product they must be carefully and uniformly positioned which increases the time and skill required, and the heads must be attractive, thus increasing the cost of the studs.

It is also known to attach upholstery to furniture frames by means of cheaper fastening devices such as metal staples which can be rapidly inserted using a stapling gun, with little or no skill. However, staples are unsightly and are not generally used in the production of quality furniture.

We have now devised a method of fastening upholstery to furniture frames which is quicker and cheaper than using studs, but still produces an attractive finish.

According to the invention a method of fastening upholstery to a furniture frame comprises positioning a length of upholstery material over the frame and inserting fastening devices through the upholstery material and into the frame such that insertion of the fastening devices causes the length of upholstery material to be deformed to hide the fastening devices.

Preferably the fastening dev,ices comprise metal staples.

Preferably the length of upholstery material comprises an elongate strip and a second piece of upholstery material may be sandwiched between the strip and the frame.

Preferably the length of upholstery material is placed along a groove prior to insertion of a line of fastening devices.

Preferably the fastening devices drive the length of upholstery material into the base of the groove such that the walls of the groove act on the length of upholstery material to bring about the deformation.

Preferably the length of upholstery material is provided with a length of beading on each side of the line insertion of the fastening devices, the action of the groove walls on the beading causing the two lengths of beading to abut one another, thus concealing the fastening devices.

Preferably the lengths of beading comprise two piping cords stitched in upholstery material, the fastening devices being inserted between the piping cords.

The groove may be provided in the furniture frame.

Alternatively the groove may be provided in the upholstery, for example by appropriate padding or shaping of the upholstery material.

The invention includes an article of furniture comprising upholstery fastened to a frame by the method according to the invention.

By way of example, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a front view of part of an article of furniture manufactured according to the prior art; Figure 2 is a cross-section through part of a piece of furniture upholstered according to an embodiment of the present invention, before securing of the upholstery; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view as in Figure 2, with the upholstery secured; Figure 4 is a perspective view of part of an upholstery strip used in the embodiment of the invention; and Figure 5 is a front view of part of an article of furniture upholstered according to the embodiment of the invention.

A known technique is fastening upholstery to furniture is illustrated in Figure 1. Studs 1 having attractive heads are hammered through the upholstery and into the wooden frame within the article of furniture. A large number of studs must be used and it takes time and skill to position them neatly and accurately.

According to this embodiment of the invention, an upholstery strip 3 is first manufactured comprising two spaced-apart, substantially parallel piping cords 2, covered with an elongate strip of leather 4 which is wrapped around the cords 2 so that its two edges abut or slightly overlap. The leather is stitched adjacent to both piping cords, thereby keeping the piping cords separate and securely binding each cord in the leather. This produces a flexible strip which is easily folded along a line extending between the two seams of stitches 6 and which has beading along each longitudinal edge.

A wooden frame 8 of an article of furniture used with the upholstery strip 3 has a special groove 10 cut where it is desired to fasten the upholstery to the frame. In the present embodiment two pieces 12, 14 of leather are to be secured along one edge of the frame 8 and it is desired to conceal the seam thus formed. The two pieces 12, 14 of leather are positioned over the frame so that they overlap in the groove 10, as in Figure 2. A length of the upholstery strip 3 is placed along the groove with its abutting or overlapping edges facing outwards. Staples 1 5 are then forced through the strip 3 and through the pieces 12, 14 of leather and into the base of the groove in the wooden frame 8, as in Figure 3.

The action of the sides of the groove on the beading of the strip causes the strip to bend along its length and the strip becomes tightly seated in the groove 10, with the two lengths of beading abutting each other, thus hiding the staples from view. The operation secures the pieces 12, 14 of leather to the frame and simultaneously provides an attractive leather-bound double piped edging for the furniture. The staples can be inserted very rapidly, using a stapling gun, and no great skill is required.

Figure 5 shows a front view of an article of furniture when upholstered according to the above described method. As can be seen, the upholstery strip may be used around corners as well as for straight sections.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example, the strip may be used on an edge where only one piece of leather is used, the strip securing the leather and providing an attractive edging. Moreover, the strip need not be used on an edge of a piece of furniture, but can be affixed anywhere on the furniture. The groove itself need not be in the wooden frame, but may be in the upholstery material, for example by means of appropriate padding or shaping of the upholstery material.

The upholstery material and the cover for the piping cords need not be leather, but can be any suitably flexible, tough material.

Claims

1. A method of fastening upholstery to a furniture frame comprising positioning a length of upholstery material over the frame and inserting fastening devices through the upholstery material and into the frame such that insertion of the fastening devices causes the length of upholstery material to be deformed to hide the fastening devices.

2. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in claim 1, in which the fastening devices comprise metal staples.

3. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the length of upholstery material comprises an elongate strip and a second piece of upholstery material is sandwiched between the strip and the frame.

4. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the length of upholstery material is placed along a groove prior to insertion of a line of fastening devices.

5. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in claim 4, in which the fastening devices drive the length of upholstery material into the base of the groove such that the walls of the groove act on the length of upholstery material to bring about the deformation.

6. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in claim 5, in which the length of upholstery material is provided with a length of beading on each side of the line of insertion of the fastening devices, the action of the groove walls on the beading causing the two lengths of beading to abut one another, thus concealing the fastening devices.

7. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in claim 6, in which the length of beading comprises two piping cords stitched in upholstery material, the fastening devices being inserted between the piping cords.

8. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, in which the groove is provided in the furniture frame.

9. A method of fastening upholstery as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, in which the groove is provided in the upholstery, for example by appropriate padding or shaping of the upholstery material.

10. A method of fastening upholstery substantially as herein described, with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

11. An article of furniture comprising upholstery fastened to a frame by the method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

12. An article of furniture constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.