US2895542A - Cover for cushion in upholstered furniture - Google Patents

Description

July 21, 1959 E. scHuT'rE 2,895,542

CQVER FOR CUSHION IN UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE Filed July 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 3/ az INVENTOR.

fr /a M 56/ /0775 July 21, 1959 v E. M. SCHUTTE 2,895,542

COVER FOR CUSHION IN UPHOLSTEIRED FURNITURE Filed July 27, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 37 Z 0 o 35 M I INVENTOR.

2 I fTf/EL M. 50/7 0775 ATTOEA/EH July 21, 1959 E. M. SCHUTTE 2,895,542

COVER FOR CUSHION IN UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE Filed July 27, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Thu. Ea.

[N V EN TOR. 57/54 M 50/ /0775 Arm/aver the chair.

United States Patent COVER FOR CUSHION IN UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE Ethel M. Schutte, Baltimore, Md., assignor to The Comfy Manufacturing Company, Baltimore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Application July 27, 1956, Serial No. 600,520

9 Claims. (Cl. 155-182) This invention relates to covers for cushions in upholstered furniture and the like.

An upholstered chair usually comprises a separate, removable cushion, and a slip cover for such a chair is usually constructed so that the cushion cover is separate from and independent of the cover part which encloses These cushion covers are ordinarily made as preformed or partially preformed casings with some means, such as a draw string or an elastic tape, for closing the same upon the cushions inserted therein to secure the casings to the enclosed cushions. As a result of constructing cushion covers in the form of complete or partial casings, such covers are necessarily limited to a particular type of cushion that may be inserted therein. For example, such a cover made especially for square cushions could not suitably enclose a cushion of the T type, and vice versa, such a cover designed for a T- shaped cushion would not be suitable for a square-shaped cushion.

It is the primary purpose of this invention to provide a universal type of cover that can be conformed to enclose either square or T-shaped cushions with equal ease and so as to provide a snug fitting, neat appearing coverage for such cushions.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an independent, universal cover cushion which will entirely cover a separable cushion and which can be neatly and smoothly applied to present forms of separable cushions regardless of the latters shape and/or dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary cushion cover which can be locked in neat, smooth condition on a completely covered cushion, which cannot be disarranged at the sides of the cushion or be forced off the back of the cushion during usage, and which will maintain a neat, smooth condition regardless of the number of times pressure is applied to and removed from the cushion in the use of the latter in a chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a unitary cushion cover that is substantially in the form of a blank when not covering a cushion and therefore can be readily washed and ironed.

Other objects as well as the advantages and novel features of construction of my new cover will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cushion cover made in accordance with the invention and illustrating an initial step in applying it to a T-shaped cushion;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the manner in which the sides and back of the cover may be secured to the T-shaped cushion;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the cover completely applied to a T-shaped cushion;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the cover of this invention may be initially applied to a square-shaped cushion;

Figs. 5 to 7 are partial perspective views showing, respectively, a side of the cover partly folded. around 2,895,542 Patented July 21, 1959 one side of the square pillow, such side of the cover completely folded on such pillow side, and the cover'completely covering and secured to such side of the pillow.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cushion cover shown in Figs. 1 to 7.

In the drawings, the reference numerals A and B indicate generally the two panels of the coverthat extend over the top and bottom sides of a cushion, and the reference numeral C indicates generally the front panel which covers the front face of a cushion and connects the two panels A and B together at the front .of the cover. It will be understood that either panel A or panel B may be used as the top covering panel on a cushion, such as the T-shaped cushion designated D in Fig. l of the drawings, or the square-shaped cushion designated E in Fig. 4 of the drawings. For the sake of simplicity, however, in the following description panel A shall be referred to as the top panel, and panel B, the bottom panel. It will be evident from Fig. 8 of the drawings that the top panel A and the bottom panel B are similar in size and shape and are each principally constituted of a blank fabric material which has an area greater than the top of the largest size cushion which the cover may be used to enclose. Each of panels A and B include a substantially rectangularly-shaped body portion 10 having sufficient length and width to enable such panel, together with the other two panels, to completely cover all surfaces of the largest cushion for which the cover was designed. Panels A and B, at their forward .ends, are each provided with a pair of side extensions 11 having such dimensions as to enable such extensions to cover completely the projecting side frontportions of a T- shaped cushion. Each extension 11 has a depth, or a dimension in a front to rear direction, approximately /3 the depth of its associated panel and it is separated from the body portion 10 of the latter in the direction of its depth by a slit 15, which enables the side edges of the body portions of the panels A and B to cover the sides of a T-shaped cushion smoothly and completely right up tothe side projections of such cushion. The inner end portion of the rear edge 12 of each extension forms the front edge of its associated slit 15 which extends inwardly from the associated side edge of the body portion 10 at right angles to the latter. It will thus be observed that the rear edge 12 of an extension 11 has a length greater than the distance between such associated side edge of the body portion 10 and the end or outer side edge of the side extension. Secured to the rear edge 12 of each extension 11, and forming part of the extension, is a narrow elongated strip 13 of fabric material that extends from the outer end of edge 12 and substantially throughout the entire length of such edge, so that its inner end overlaps the rear edge of the associated slit 15 in the fiat condition of the cover as shown in Fig. 8. Strip 13 is approximately two inches wide or of such width that the rear surfaces of the side projections on the largest size of a T-shaped cushion for which the cover was designed will be entirely enclosed by the extensions 11 of the two panels. The end edge of each extension 11 is formed in part by the end of strip 13 and includes a front portion 14 which curves inwardly and forwardly towards the line of juncture of the front edge of the associated body portion 10 with the front panel C.

The front panel C is an elongated strip of fabric material having a central portion 20 that is substantially rectangularly-shaped and has a width substantially equal to the width of the cushions to be covered. The two free ends or extensions 21 of the front panel C are tapered in shape and diminish gradually in width from the central portion 20 of such panel. The longitudinal edges of the central portion 20 of panel C are connected to the front edges of the top and bottom panels A and fastening devices 32. tension 21 of the front covering panel C may then be B, between the curved edge portions 14 of the extensions 11 of such panels, by seams which extend throughout the entire length of such central portion 20 and terminate at the junctures of such central portion with the tapering ends 21 of panel C. Extending along the entire length of panels C, along the longitudinal edges thereof, are substantially nonstretchable cords 22 covered by welting material 23. These welted cords provide an attractive finished appearance at the front of the cover and at the same time provide what may be termed gripping members to enable the extensions 21 to be readily gripped so as to facilitate the proper folding or wrapping of the extensions around the front ends of either a square or T-shaped cushion. Thus, as will hereinafter appear more clearly, the free ends or extensions 21 stiffened by the projecting ends of the welted cords may be bent under tension to conform exactly to the shape of the edges of the front portions of the cushion sides and then secured by suitable fastening devices which hold the extensions under tension to firmly retain the material of the cover neatly, and in proper snug relation on the cushion. The application of the cover to a T-shaped cushion may be made in the following manner:

In applying the cover of this invention to a T-shaped cushion, such as the cushion designated D in the drawings, the cushion is initially sandwiched between the two cover panels A and B of the cover with the front face of the cushion up against the inner surface of the front panel C, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The user may then fold into overlapping relation the outer end edge portions of adjacent extensions 11 of panels A and B about a fold line 25 to cover the outer side face of the associated side projecting portion D of the cushion. These overlapped folded portions may be initially secured in position against the face of the extension by a fastening device 30; a suitable form of such device comprising a head and a screw shaped pin. The strips 13 secured to such side extensions 11 may then be folded in overlapping relation over the rear surface of the cushion extension D to enclose the latter as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. In order to obtain a snug appearance folds 26 may be formed in the strips 13 during the said folding thereof. In their folded condition the strips 13 may be secured temporarily against the rear surface of extension D by a suitable fastening device 30. The side edges of the body portions of the panels A and B may then be folded along fold lines 27 into overlapping relation upon the adjacent side surface of the cushion and secured in position thereagainst by means of suitable The associated end section or exfolded under tension over the end and rear surfaces of the cushion extension D so covered by the said extensions of panels A and B, and against the covered forward portion of the side wall of the cushion in back of such extension D, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The folded end 21 of front panel C may then be secured in tensioned condition on the cushion by the fastening elements 31. When one side of the cushion has been co vered in the aforesaid manner the other side of the cushion may be enclosed by the panels A, B and C in a like manner. After the projecting ends D of the cushion and the side surfaces thereof are so enclosed by the cover, the rear edge portions of panels A and B may then be folded along the fold line 28 into overlapping relation against the rear wall of the cushion. For the sake of neatness it is preferred that such rear edge portions of the cover be first gathered in to form end folds 29 before folding the major part of the rear edge portions into overlapping relation. The cover is then secured in position on the rear face of the cushion by fastening devices 33 of the screw type previously mentioned.

Figs. 4 to 7 of the drawings show that the cover of this invention can be utilized to equal advantage to neatly and smoothly cover a square type of cushion. As with the T-type of cushion, a cushion E of the square type is initially sandwiched between the cover panels A and B so that the front edge thereof is centrally located with respect to the front panel C and in engagement with the rear surface thereof, as is shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In assembling the cover on the cushion E, a side edge of the cover may be initially folded upwardly around the side edge 35 of the cushion so that the outer end of the side extension 11 thereof is inserted under the other covering panel of the cover as shown in Fig. 5 0f the drawings. The associated extension 11 of the other covering panel is then initially folded so that its length from the fold line 35 to the folded edge thereof is less than the thickness of the cushion as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Then the associated side edge of the other covering panel is folded down over the side of the cushion in the manner shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. The associated extensions 11 and side edges of the panels A and B folded into overlapping relation on such side of the cushion may then be secured in place against such side surface of the cushion by a plurality of fastening devices 36 of the type previously described. The associated end extension 21 of the front panel C is then folded under tension against the side of the cushion to cover the side extensions 11 of the panels A and B and a portion of the overlapping side edges of such panels as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The extension of panel C is secured in place under tension by l or more fastening devices 37. This completes the wrapping of the cover around one side of the cushion. In a similar fashion the cover is wrapped around the other side of the cushion B. After the two sides of the cushion have been properly covered, the rear ends of the overlapping side edge portions of the panels A and B are folded around the back of the bushion E against the rear surface thereof (compare Figs. 6 and 7). The rear edge portions of panels A and B are then folded in overlapping relation against the rear surface of the cushion E as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings. The rear edges of the cover may be maintained in overlapped condition on the rear surface of the cushion by means .of fastening devices 38.

It will be understood from the above description in connection with Figs. 1 to 3 and Figs. 4 to 7 that the cover of this invention can be readily fitted snugly and neatly and without any puckering of or distortion of the fabric material of which such cover is constituted to either a cushion having a rectangular shape or to a T- shaped cushion. It will also be understood that the cover can be fitted to cushions of either type having widely varying dimensions because the cover is initially made to cover a cushion of the largest size in a range of cushions of such types. When the cover is applied to the smallest cushion in such range the surplus material can be folded or overlapped on the cushion to give the cover a neat, smooth appearance. Due to the nonexpansible cords of the welting along the edges of the front panel C, the ends of such front panel may be readily manipulated under tension so that they exactly conform to the shape of the cushion at the front end thereof whether it be of the square or T-shaped type. The extensions of the front panel C also serve to conceal the overlapping side edge portions of the cover panels at the front of the cover, to lock such overlapped portions securely in position on the cushion, and to emphasize and add to the lines of the cushion at the front thereof. It will be apparent also that the cover can be readily removed from a cushion simply by unscrewing the fastening members from their anchorage in the cushion and lifting the cover off the cushion. Due to its open construction and the fact that it can be laid out flat, as in the form of a blank, the cover can be easily washed and ironed by hand and by the machines now constructed for these purposes.

While I have hereinabove described and illustrated a preferred form of my invention, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that various changes in the con struction thereof may be made without departingfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels each substantially in the form of a blank to enable it to be readily placed in covering relation with a plane surface of a cushion, means joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other, the remaining edges of said panels being free, said top and bottom panels each having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portions thereof to enable the cover to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of T projections of a T-shaped cushion and including edge portions around the periphery of the bodies of said extensions for covering the side surfaces of such T projection portion and forming with such extension bodies variable covering inclosures receptive of different sizes of such T projection portions, and elongated covering elements extending laterally from the joined portions of said top and bottom panels to overlie and conceal the edges of such covering inclosures.

2. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels each having extensions projecting outwardly fiom each side edge'of the forward portions thereof to enable the cover to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the T projections of a T-shaped cushion, rectangular side panels secured along one longitudinal edge to the periphery of said extensions for covering side surfaces of such T projection portions and forming with such extensions variable covering inclosures receptive of diiferent sizes of such T projection portions, a front panel joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other, said front panel being elongated and extending laterally beyond the ends of the joined portions of said top and bottom panels to overlie and conceal the edges of such covering inclosures, and means for maintaining all of said covering inclosures in adjusted position upon the respective surfaces of a cushion.

3. A universal cushion cover such as defined in claim 2 in which the edge portions of said top and bottom panels adjacently in rear of said extensions project outwardly beyond the inner ends of the rear edges of said extensions, in which said rectangular side panels are secured to the rear edges of said extensions and cover the rear side surfaces of such T projection portions, and in which the inner ends of said rectangular side panels and the associated ends of said rear edge portions overlap in the fiat condition of said top and bottom panels, and in which the extensions of said front panel have sutficient length to extend around and cover the rear sides of the T projections and overlie said rectangular side panels.

4. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels each having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portions thereof to enable the cover to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the T projections of a T-shaped cushion and including edge portions around the periphery of the bodies of said extensions for covering the side surfaces of such T projection portions and forming with such extension bodies variable covering inclosures receptive of different sizes of such T projection portions, means joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other, and elongated covering elements extending laterally from the joined portions of said top and bottom panels to overlie and conceal the edges of such covering inclosures.

5. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels each having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portions thereof to enable the cover to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the T projections of a T-shaped cushion and including edge portions around the periphery of the bodies of said extensions for covering the side surfaces of such projection portions and forming with such extension bodies variable covering inclosures receptive of different sizes of such T projection portions, 21 front panel joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other, said front panel being elongated and extending laterally beyond the ends of the joined portions of said top and bottom panels to overlie and conceal the edges of such covering inclosures, and means for maintaining all of said covering inclosures in adjusted position upon the respective surfaces of a cushion.

6. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels each having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portions thereof to enable the cover to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the T projections of a T-shaped cushion and including edge portions around the periphery of the bodies of said extensions for covering the side surfaces of such T projection portions and forming with such extension bodies variable covering inclosures receptive of difierent sizes of such T projection portions, means joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other, elongated covering elements extending laterally from the joined portions of said top and bottom panels to overlie and conceal the edges of such covering inclosures, said top and bottom panels rearwardly of said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the body of a cushion to be covered thereby and including edge portions rearwardly of said extensions for covering side surfaces of such cushion body portions and forming with the bodies of such panels variable covering inclosure sections receptive of different sizes of such cushion body portions, and means for maintaining all of said covering inclosures, covering sections and covering elements in iadjusted position upon the respective surfaces of a cushion.

7. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels each having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portions thereof to enable the cover to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the T projections of a T-shaped cushion and including edge portions around the periphery of the bodies of said extensions for covering all the side surfaces of such T projection portions and forming with such extension bodies variable covering inclosures receptive of different sizes of such T projection portions, means joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other, elongated covering elements extending laterally from the joined portions of said top and bottom panels and being of sufficient length to extend around all sides of the T projections and overlie and conceal the edges of such covering inclosures, said top and bottom panels rearwardly of said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the body of a cushion to be covered thereby and including edge portions rearwardly of said extensions for covering all the side surfaces of such cushion body portions and forming with the bodies of such panels variable covering inclosure sections receptive of different sizes of such cushion body portions, and means for maintaining all of said covering inclosures, covering sections and covering elements in adjusted position upon the respective surfaces of a cushion.

8. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels each having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portions thereof to enable the cover to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the T projections of a T-shaped cushion and including edge portions around the periphery of the bodies of said extensions for covering the side surfaces of such T projection portions and forming with such extension bodies variable covering inclosures receptive of difierent sizes of such T projection portions, means joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other, elongated covering elements extending laterally from the joined portions of said top and bottom panels and being of sufficient length to extend around all sides of the T projections and overlie and conceal the edges of such covering inclosures, means for maintaining all of said covering inclosures and said covering elements in adjusted position upon the respective surfaces of a cushion, said top and bottom panels rearwardly of said extensions having covering areas greater than the areas of associated plane surfaces of portions of the body of a cushion to be covered thereby and including edge portions rearwardly of said extensions for covering side surfaces of such cushion body portions and forming with the bodies of such panels variable covering inclosure sections receptive of different sizes of such cushion body portions, and means for joining said top and bottom panels rearwardly of said side extensions.

9. A universal cover for cushions comprising top and bottom panels adaptable to cover cushions of T-shaped configuration, said top panel having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portion thereof, each of said extensions having a covering area greater than the area of the associated upper plane sureluding edge portions around the periphery of the body of said extension for covering the side surfaces of such T projection and forming with such extension body a variable covering inclosure receptive of different sizes of such T projections, said bottom panel having extensions projecting outwardly from each side edge of the forward portion thereof, each of said bottom panel extensions having a covering area greater than the area of the associated lower plane surface of the T projection of a T-shaped cushion and including edge portions around the periphery of the body of said bottom panel extension for covering the side surfaces of such T projection and forming with such bottom panel extension body a variable covering inclosure receptive of different sizes of such T projections, both the covering inclosures at each side of the forward portions of said top and bottom panels coacting to cover an associated T projection of a T-shaped cushion, means joining the forward edges of said top and bottom panels to each other between said edge portions of the extensions of said panels, an elongated covering element extending laterally from each end of the joined forward edges of said top and bottom panels to overlie the sides of an associated T projection of a cushion and conceal the edges of both covering inclosures associated with such T projection, and means for maintaining each of said covering elements in such overlying position on the associated T projection.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,734,558 Waranch Feb. 14, 1956 2,778,413 Katzner Jan. 22, 1957 2,782,413 Armbrecht Feb. 26, 1957

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