US20170290442A1

US20170290442A1 - Retractable Chair Cover

Info

Publication number: US20170290442A1
Application number: US15/480,481
Authority: US
Inventors: Jim Rause
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-04-06
Filing date: 2017-04-06
Publication date: 2017-10-12

Abstract

A retractable chair cover is provided. The retractable chair cover facilitates the expeditious covering of a chair. The chair cover includes an elongated housing having straps configured to mount the housing to the legs of a chair. A roller rotatably disposed in the housing rotates in a first and second direction. A cover affixed to the roller is configured to extend and retract through a slot disposed on the housing. A front flap and a pair of opposing flaps extending outwardly from the cover define a pocket sized to receive a chair. An actuator operably coupled to the roller is configured to rotate the roller and retract the cover when extended.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/318,860 filed on Apr. 6, 2016. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to furniture covers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a retractable chair cover including a pocket configured to fasten to the back rest a chair and outwardly extending flaps configured to fold over and wrap around the sides of the chair in order to completely enclose the cover around the chair.
Outdoor patio furniture, such as a patio chair, is regularly used in backyards, on decks, and patios. Typically, padding and cushions are utilized to make the chair more comfortable. However, this padding and cushion may be susceptible to damage and saturation from rain and other weather conditions such that special measures must be taken in order to keep the padding and cushions dry for use. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a convenient chair cover that can withstand harsh weather conditions, including, but not limited to, excessive rain and sunlight.
Known chair covers include retractable and extendable covers that fail to enclose the entire upper portion of the chair, thereby enabling moisture to collect on the cushion of the seat and damage the materials. Further, known chair covers fail to provide a means that secures the cover entirely around the chair so as to prevent the cover from becoming unfastened and allowing moisture to collect on the upper portion of the chair. Moreover, known chair covers do not include a convenient means for fastening the cover to a chair in a position that provides for easy deployment over the chair. Therefore, it is desirable to provide a chair cover configured to attach to the chair such that the cover can be easily deployed over the chair, while providing a means for completely enclosing the cover over the chair in order to adequately prevent moisture from collecting on the padding or cushions of the chair.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of furniture covers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a retractable chair cover wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when covering and protecting an outdoor chair. An example of the present invention comprises a chair cover including a housing having a longitudinally extending slot. A roller rotatably disposed in an interior of the housing is configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction. A cover including a first end affixed to the roller and a second free end including a handle is configured to extend and retract from the housing. A front flap and a pair of opposing flaps extending outwardly from the cover define a pocket sized to receive a chair. The roller is configured to extend and retract the cover in and out of the housing through the slot. An actuator operably coupled to the roller is configured to retract the cover when extended.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a bottom perspective view of the retractable chair cover in an extended configuration.

FIG. 2 shows a bottom plan view of the retractable chair cover in an extended configuration.

FIG. 3A shows a top perspective view of the retractable chair cover in a retracted configuration.

FIG. 3B shows a bottom perspective view of the retractable chair cover in a retracted configuration.

FIG. 4 shows a phantom view of the retractable chair cover.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of the retractable wheel chair as fastened to a patio chair in a retracted configuration.

FIG. 6 shows a top perspective view of the retractable chair cover donned over a patio chair in an extended configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the retractable chair cover. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.
The present invention provides a retractable chair cover configured to attach to the lower end of chair, such as a patio chair, and extend and retract thereover in order to adequately prevent moisture from collecting on the padding or cushions of the chair. FIGS. 1-4, illustrate the retractable chair cover 10. The retractable chair cover 10 includes an elongated housing 15 having a roller 20 configured to extend and retract a cover 25 from an interior of the tubular housing 15. The roller 20 is operably coupled to an actuator 22 configured to rotate the roller 20 in a first direction in order to retract the cover 25. The cover 25 defines a pocket 30 including a pair of opposing flaps 35 sized to extend around a chair and fasten the cover 25 thereto.
The housing 15 includes an elongated tubular member having a hollowed interior volume, a front end 42 including a slot 45, and a rear end 44. The slot 45 extends longitudinally along a linear length of the housing 15 from a first end 50 of the housing 15 towards a second end 55 of the housing 15. In one embodiment, the slot 45 includes a longitudinal length less than the longitudinal length of the housing 15, such that the slot 45 does not fully extend from the first end 50 to the second end 55. In another embodiment, the slot 45 includes a longitudinal length equal to the longitudinal length of the housing 15, such that the slot 45 extends completely from the first end 50 to the second end 55. The slot 45 is sized to enable the cover 25 to retract and extend therethrough and includes a width less than the measure of the perimeter of the housing 15, such that the slot 45 does not enable the roller 20 and cover 25 from falling out of the housing 15.
A strap 18 disposed on the housing 15 extends radially outwardly from an exterior of the housing 15. The strap 18 is configured to extend around the rear end 42 and fasten around an item, such as the legs of a chair, such that the strap 18 does not extend around the slot 45 and interfere with the retraction and extension of the cover 25 from the housing 15, when the housing 15 is mounted onto a chair. In one embodiment, the strap 18 includes a first end 32 positioned adjacent to a first edge 52 of the slot 45 and a second end 54 including a hook and loop fastener 56, such a male or female fastener. The hook and loop fastener 56 is configured to attach to a complimentary hook and loop fastener 58 disposed on the exterior surface of the housing 15 adjacent to a second edge 62 of the slot 45. In this way, the strap 18 may wrap around an item and affix the housing 15 thereto. In the depicted embodiment, a pair of straps 18 are positioned along the first edge 52 of the slot 45
The roller 20 includes an elongated tubular member, such as a cylindrical tube, that extends longitudinally along the interior volume of the housing 15 from the first end 50 to the second end 55, as shown in FIG. 4. The roller 20 is rotatably coupled to the first and second ends 50, 55 of the housing 15, such that the roller 20 may rotate freely in the housing 15. In the depicted embodiment, the roller 20 is rotatably mounted into a center of the interior volume via brackets 40 disposed at the first and second ends 50, 55 of the housing 15.
The roller 20 includes a diameter less than the diameter of the housing 15, such that the roller 20 can rotate in the interior volume without interference from the walls of the housing 15. In one embodiment, the roller 20 has a longitudinal length that is approximately equal to the longitudinal length of the housing 15, such that the roller 20 extends completely from the first end 50 to the second end 55 of the housing 15. In another embodiment, the roller 20 includes a longitudinal length less than the longitudinal length of the housing 15. In yet another embodiment, the roller 20 includes a longitudinal length equal to or less than the longitudinal length of the slot 45, such that the roller 20 can be removed from the housing via the slot 45.
The cover 25 comprises an expansive structure configured to extend completely over a chair, as shown in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, the cover 25 is constructed from a material including water impermeable tarpaulin. In other embodiments, the cover 22 may be constructed of other water impermeable materials, such as nylon, polyester, canvas, urethane, or polyethylene. The cover 25 includes a first end 70 that is attached to the roller 20 and a free second end 75 that can be gripped by a user in order to extend the cover 22 from the roller 20. The cover 25 is positionable between a retracted position, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4, and 5, in which it is wound around the roller 20 within the interior volume of the housing 15, and an extended position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, in which is it unwound from the roller 20, extended entirely from the housing 15 and thus capable of fitting over a chair.
The free second end 75 includes a rigid member 80, such as a rod, embedded along a peripheral edge 85 thereof, as shown in FIG. 1. In the depicted embodiment, the rigid member 80 extends longitudinally along the peripheral edge 85 such that it is positioned parallel relative to the housing 15. In one embodiment, the rigid member 80 is sewn into an interior of the peripheral edge 85 in order to permanently affix the rigid member 80 in the cover 25. In another embodiment, the rigid member 80 is removably attached to an exterior of the rigid member such that the rigid member 80 may be removed as desired. The rigid member 80 includes a diameter sized to prevent the free end of the cover from being completely retracted into the housing 15. Thus, the rigid member 80 includes a diameter greater than the measure of the space 90 provided between a retracted and wound cover 25 and an inner edge 95 of the slot 45, as shown in FIG. 3A. In this, way the cover 25 always remains accessible to a user when retracting the cover 25 over a chair.
In one embodiment, the rigid member 80 includes a longitudinal length less than a longitudinal length of the slot 45. In another embodiment, the rigid member 80 includes a length greater than the longitudinal length of the slot 45 but less than the longitudinal length of the housing 15. In yet another embodiment, the rigid member 80 includes a longitudinal length larger than the longitudinal length of the slot 45 and housing 15.
A handle 100 disposed on the free second end 75 extends outwardly from the peripheral edge 85 thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1-5. In the depicted embodiments, the handle 100 includes a loop; however, in alternative embodiments, the handle 100 may include any variety of handles known in the art. When the cover 25 is in a retracted configuration the handle 100 protrudes outwardly from the slot 45 such that a user may grasp the free second end 70 and extend if from the housing 15. In this way, the cover 25 provides a means for easy retrieval of the cover 25 from the housing 15.
The pocket 30 is affixed to the perimeter edge 105 of the cover 25 and extends vertically outwardly therefrom. The pocket 30 is sized to receive an entire chair therein. The pocket 30 includes a front flap 110 defining a pouch 112 sized to receive the upper portion of the back rest of a chair and the pair of opposing flaps 35, which are sized to wrap around the chair, thereby completely surrounding the upper surface of the chair. The front flap 110 extends upwardly from a peripheral edge 85 of the free second end 75 of the cover 25, and the opposing flaps 35 extend upwardly from longitudinal edges 120 of the cover 25. The opposing flaps 35 include fasteners 38 for fastening the flaps around the chair. In one embodiment, the opposing flaps 35 include complimentary hook and loop fasteners, wherein one flap includes a female hook and loop fastener and the opposing flap include a male hook and loop fastener, such that the opposing flaps 35 may fasten to each other when donned over a chair.
The front flap 110 is pivotally connected to the peripheral edge 85 of the free second end 75 and the pair of opposing flaps 35 are pivotally connected to the longitudinal edges 120 of the cover 25, such that the front flap 110 and opposing flaps 35 may fold radially inwardly and outwardly relative to cover 25, as shown by FIG. 2. In this way, the front flap 110 and the opposing flaps 35 may fold inwardly onto the cover 25 when retracting the cover 25 into the housing 15 and may fold outwardly away from the cover 25 when donning the cover 25 over a chair.
The opposing flaps 35 form arcuate members extending from a first end 125 of the longitudinal edges 120 to a second end 130 of the longitudinal edges 120, as shown in FIG. 1. In the depicted embodiment, the opposing flaps 35 include upper edges 135 that increase in height relative to the cover 25 as they extend along the longitudinal edges 120. As the opposing flaps 35 extend along the longitudinal edges 120, their upper edges 135 slope upwards, increasing in height until they reach a peak 140. Once the upper edges 135 reach the peak 140, they decrease in height, thereby sloping downwardly until the upper edges 135 terminate at either the first or second ends 125, 130 of the longitudinal edges 120. In this way, the opposing flaps 35 include a height sized to extend around the sides of a chair.
The actuator 22 is operably coupled to the roller 20 and is configured to rotate the roller 24 in the first direction to retract the cover 25 into the housing 15. In one embodiment, the actuator 22 of the roller 20 includes a spring-biased actuator disposed in an interior volume of the roller 20, as shown in FIG. 4. The spring-biased actuator 22 includes a biased spring 145 and a ratchet 150. The spring 145 is biased towards the first direction and acquires increasing tension as the cover 25 is manually extended outwardly from the housing 15, or in an opposing second direction. The ratchet 150 enables a user to lock the cover 20 in an extended position and further release the tension of the spring 145. Releasing the tension of the spring 145 initiates rotation of the roller 20 in the first direction, which winds the cover 25 around the roller 20, thereby retracting the cover 25 into the housing 15.
In operation, the housing 15 would be fastened longitudinally to a crossbar 160 affixed to the legs a chair 165. The housing 15 is placed against the crossbar 160 such that the rear of the housing 15 is positioned up against the crossbar 160, and front of the housing 15, including the slot 45, is facing outwardly and exposing the cover 25. The straps 18 are then wrapped around the crossbar 160 towards the rear of the housing 15 and attached to the fasteners disposed on the housing 15, such that they do not interfere with the slot 45, as shown in FIG. 5. The retractable chair cover is now in positon to be retracted from the housing 15 via the handle 100 and donned over the chair 165. Once donned over the chair 165, the opposing sides 35 are extended around the sides of the chair 165 to completely surround the chair 165, as shown in FIG. 6.
It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1) A chair cover, comprising:

a housing including a longitudinally extending slot,

a roller rotatably disposed in an interior of the housing, the roller configured to rotate in a first direction and a second direction;

a cover including a first end affixed to the roller and a second free end, the cover including a front flap and a pair of opposing flaps extending outwardly from the cover, the front flap and pair of opposing flaps defining a pocket;

wherein the roller is configured to extend and retract the cover into the housing through the slot;

an actuator operably coupled to the roller, the actuator configured to retract the cover via rotation of the roller.

2) The chair cover of claim 1, wherein the roller is rotatably mounted to brackets disposed on either ends of the interior of the housing.

3) The chair cover of claim 1, wherein the front flap extends along a lateral edge on the second free end of the cover and the pair of opposing flaps extend along a longitudinal edge on the sides of the cover.

4) The chair cover of claim 3, wherein the front flap is pivotally connected to the lateral edge of the second free end and the pair of opposing flaps are pivotally connected to the longitudinal edge.

5) The chair cover of claim 4, wherein the pair of opposing flaps include an arcuate upper edge that tapers in height along the longitudinal edge.

6) The chair cover of claim 1, wherein the second free end comprises a rigid member extending longitudinally along the edge of the second free end, the rigid member including a width configured to prevent the second free end of the cover from completely retracting into the housing.

7) The chair cover of claim 1, wherein the second free end comprises a handle extending outwardly from an edge thereof.

8) The chair cover of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises water impermeable tarpaulin.

9) The chair cover of claim 1, further comprising a strap including a first fastener and a complimentary second fastener, the first fastener configured to mate with the second fastener.

10) The chair cover of claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to rotate the roller in the first direction, wherein rotation of the roller in the first direction retracts the cover.

11) The chair cover of claim 10, wherein the actuator comprises a spring-biased actuator disposed in an interior volume of the roller, the spring-biased actuator including a spring biased towards the first direction and a ratchet operably coupled to the spring, wherein extension of the cover in a second direction increases the tension in the spring and wherein the ratchet enables a user to lock the cover when extended and release the tension in the spring.