Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02585978 2007-04-24
DETACHABLE UPHOLSTERY FURNITURE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to furniture, and more particularly relates to
detachable upholstery
for use and application in the context of fiarniture, and furniture adapted to
receive detachable
upholstery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the context of the present description, the word "Upholstery" will refer to
those materials and
fabrics, whether fitted or not, that may be used to cover un-stuffed, stuffed,
padded, and/or
spring-cushioned furniture, such as chairs and sofas and the like.
Upholstery is susceptible to wear, physical damage from stains, spills, sharp
or heavy objects,
extended periods of time in sunlight or bright lighting conditions, and other
harm or damage due
to a wide variety of activities. Furthermore, over time, a once desirable
upholstery pattern or
material may no longer be desirable. For example, changing trends in interior
decorating may
encourage the owner of upholstered furniture to modify the upholstery
covering.
While furniture coverings have previously been used to protect and/or modify
the appearance of
a piece of furniture, such furniture coverings may be ill fitting and may not
readily stay in place.
Furthermore, such furniture coverings may only come in limited colors, designs
and sizes.
It is desirable to have furniture the upholstery of which may be modified or
changed or replaced
from time to time without the expense and effort of having to re-upholster the
furniture, which
may be a time-consuming and difficult task to undertake. It is also desirable
to have upholstery
which, if it becomes stained, dirty or damaged, can be readily removed from
the furniture for
washing, dry cleaning and/or replacement.
It is also desirable to have furniture the upholstery of which may be readily
altered from one
color to another, from one fabric, to another, from one material to another,
from one style, to
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another, or to permit the upholstery to be "mixed and matched" amongst various
colors, fabrics,
materials, and styles.
For example, in a hotel lobby, the upholstered furniture is subjected to
extensive wear, and it may
be desirable to be able to easily remove the worn upholstery and install new
upholstery on the
furniture. This is particularly desirable in circumstances where the furniture
is otherwise still
usable in its current condition (that is, that is not sagging or otherwise
damaged). Furthermore,
such upholstered furniture may become stained, dirty or damaged, it may be
desirable to quickly
and easily remove the stained, dirty or damaged upholstery for washing dry-
cleaning and/or
replacement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide furniture which
is adapted to
receive and secure replaceable upholstery.
Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide
furniture upholstery which
may be readily modified or changed or replaced from time to time.
Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide
furniture upholstery which
may be readily removed for cleaning and/or replacement in the event that it
has become stained
or dirty or damaged.
Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide
furniture upholstery which
may be readily altered or replaced with upholstery of another color, fabric,
material or style.
According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a
furniture component having
a frame comprising at least one piece of upholstery fabric and means securely
engaged with the
frame of the furniture component for temporarily and securely engaging the
upholstery fabric to
the frame of the furniture component.
The advantage of the present invention is that it provides furniture which is
adapted to receive
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and secure replaceable upholstery.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides furniture
upholstery which may be
readily modified or changed or replaced from time to time.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides furniture
upholstery which may be
readily removed for cleaning and/or replacement in the event that it has
become stained or dirty
or damaged.
A further advantage of the present invention is that it provides furniture
upholstery which may be
readily altered or replaced with upholstery of another color, fabric, material
or style.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with
reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a chair upon which has been positioned
Velcro
tape in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective rear and bottom view of a chair upon which has been
positioned
Velcro tape in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3A is a front perspective view of a chair with buttons thereon in one
embodiment
of the present invention positioned prior to the installation of the new back
upholstery
component;
Figure 3B is a front perspective view of a back upholstery component of one
embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a front perspective view of a front covering component of one
embodiment of
the present invention;
Figure 4A is a front perspective view of a chair with the broadcloth attached
thereto in
advance of the installation of the upholstery covering components;
Figure 4B is a perspective view of an arm covering component of one embodiment
of the
present invention;
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Figure 5 is a perspective view of a piece of foam for use in a cushion in one
embodiment
of the present invention;
Figure 5A is a front perspective view of a chair with the new back covering,
new front
covering, new arm coverings and new cushion covering installed thereon in one
embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5B is an upholstery cushion component of one embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may be utilized in the
context of a piece of
furniture, or a part thereof, to be covered (or re-covered) in whole or in
part with upholstery
fabric in accordance with the present invention.
As illustrated in Figure 1, in one embodiment of the present invention, a non-
upholstered
armchair structure is provided, preferably having a hard wood frame, and
preferably having
springs, padding and other accessories positioned thereon, the padded sections
of the non-
upholstered armchair structure being substantially pre-covered with broadcloth
(or other suitable
fabric material hereinafter referred to as "broadcloth"), which broadcloth is
closely fitted to and
substantially covers padded sections of the chair structure and is affixed to
the chair structure by
tacks or staples or glue or in such a manner as is known to a person skilled
in the art.
In the preferred embodiment, lengths or strips of, for example, Velcro tape
or other similar
hook and loop fastener material are sewn (in the case of the attachment to the
broadcloth) onto or
otherwise fastened to the broadcloth and/or chair structure, it being
understood that a wide
variety of different methods may be used to provide for the secure engagement
of the Velcro
tape to the broadcloth and/or chair structure, as would be known to a person
skilled in the art
(including, for example in the case of attachment to the chair structure, by
way of tacks, staples
and/or glue). In the context of the description provided herein, the word
"Velcro " and the
expression "Velcro tape" is understood to mean any form of hook and loop
fastener system
known to a person skilled in the art.
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In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Velcro tape is sewn
to the broadcloth
prior to the installation of the broadcloth onto the chair structure, it being
understood that in
some circumstances, it may be possible to fasten the Velcro tape to the
broadcloth after the
installation of the broadcloth to the chair structure.
In the context of the chair structure such as is illustrated in Figures 1 and
2, the chair structure
has already had the broadcloth affixed thereto, and has for example, a back 4,
rear of back 14,
arms 8, underside of arms 15, legs 10, front 12, top 2, and in a preferred
embodiment, multiple
pieces of Velcro tape 6, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, 6E, 6F and 6G (with the "Velcro
hook fasteners
thereon exposed outwardly for engagement with corresponding Velcro tape having
loops thereon
in a manner more fully described herein) have been securely sewn or otherwise
affixed to the
broadcloth positioned thereon and/or the chair structure itself (in which
latter case the Velcro(&
tape is preferably tacked or stapled to the wooden frame of the chair
structure). To provide
enhanced engagement between the Velcro tape and the chair, where possible,
the Velcro tape
which has been sewn to the broadcloth, may also be tacked or stapled through
the broadcloth to
the underlying wooden frame chair structure in a manner known to a person
skilled in the art.
In the context of the upholstery fabric, which may take the form of a single
piece of fabric, such
as is illustrated in Figure 4, or alternatively may take the form of multiple
pieces of fabric the
seams of which are sewn together in a conventional manner, such as illustrated
at 17 in Figure
3B and at 42 in Figure 4B, in a preferred embodiment, Velcrog tape, having on
one side thereof,
for example loop fasteners thereon, is sewn or otherwise securely fastened to
the inside surface
(that is, the surface that will not be outwardly exposed when the upholstery
installation process
has been completed) of the upholstery fabric so that the loop fasteners are
exposed for
engagement with corresponding Velcro hooks as more fully described herein, the
location of the
Velcro tape on the upholstery fabric corresponding to the location of the
Velcro tape on the chair
structure and/or broadcloth, so that when the upholstery fabric is positioned
on the chair
structure, the Velcro tape on the upholstery fabric is aligned with and may be
securely engaged
with the corresponding piece of Velcro tape affixed to the chair structure,
and thereby securely
and temporarily attach the upholstery fabric to the chair structure as more
fully described herein.
In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, an outline of a seat cushion 7 is
shown to illustrate
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that in some circumstances the edges of the upholstery fabric will be blocked
from view by the
seat cushion 7.
As illustrated in Figure 3B, in a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, prefabricated
upholstery fabric components, such as the back upholstery component generally
shown as 17 in
Figure 3B or the arm upholstery component 42 in Figure 4B are provided by
sewing together two
or more pieces of upholstery fabric together prior to the installation of the
upholstery fabric
component onto the chair. Additionally, as illustrated in Figure 3B, the back
upholstery
component 17 has Velcro tape 20A and Velcro tape 20B preferably sewn or
otherwise affixed
thereto, which tape has the Velcro loops exposed for engagement with the
corresponding Velcro
hooks of the corresponding Velcro tape 6A and 6B affixed to the chair
structure as illustrated in
Figures 3A and 2 respectively. Likewise, as illustrated in Figure 4B, the ann
upholstery
component 42 has Velcro tape 32, 33, 35, 36, and 44, preferably sewn or
otherwise affixed
thereto, which tape has the Velcro loops exposed for engagement with the
corresponding Velcro
hooks of the corresponding Velcro tape 6C, 6E, 6F, 6G and 6B respectively
affixed to the chair
structure as illustrated in Figures 4A, 2 and 3A. Likewise, as illustrated in
Figure 4, the front
upholstery component 25 has Velcro tape 26, 28 and 30 preferably sewn or
otherwise affixed
thereto, which tape has the Velcro loops exposed for engagement with the
corresponding Velcro
hooks of the corresponding Velcro tape 6D, 6 and 6G respectively affixed to
the chair structure
as illustrated in Figures 4A and 2 (it being understood that the upholstery
fabric is folded at about
90 degrees near to the Velcro tape 28 and 30 to properly form/bend the
upholstery fabric relative
to the chair structure for full and aligned engagement of the Velcro tape 28
and 30 on the front
upholstery component with the corresponding Velcro tape 6 and 6G on the chair
structure.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in
Figures 3A and 3B,
buttons 22 or similar devices may be arranged on the chair structure (attached
to the broadcloth),
the buttons passing through corresponding holes 16 in the back upholstery
component. This
provides decorative characteristics to the fizrniture, and reduces the
possibility of a gap or sag
forming in the back upholstery component relative to the broadcloth and chair
structure.
Referring to Figure 5, a piece of foam 55 (or other like material ) having a
generally rectangular
shape (or such other shape as may be required), may be covered with a
generally rectangular
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shaped (or shaped as may be required) upholstery cushion component 46 such as
is illustrated in
Figure 5B, having an end pane152 having Velcro tape 50 preferably sewn or
otherwise affixed
thereto, which tape has the Velcro loops exposed for engagement with the
corresponding Velcro
hooks of the corresponding Velcro tape 48 affixed to an edge of the upholstery
cushion
component 46 such as is illustrated in Figure 5B, so that when the foam 55 is
inserted into the
upholstery cushion component 46, and thereafter the end panel 52 is closed by
rotating it as
shown by the arrow 54 in Figure 5B, the Velcro tape 50 comes into contact
with, and becomes
securely and temporarily engaged with the Velcro tape 48 to securely fasten
the end panel 52 in
the closed position. In this manner, a foam cushion is provided for use, for
example, on a chair,
as illustrated in Figure 5A, or otherwise as required.
The upholstery components may be installed by placing them in the appropriate
position on the
underlying chair structure, and thereafter, the Velcro tape on the upholstery
components, being
aligned with the corresponding pieces of Velcro tape on the chair structure,
one may apply
pressure to the pieces of Velcro tape on the upholstery component, thereby
securely engaging
the Velcro tape on the upholstery component with the Velcro tape on the
chair structure to
thereby securely and temporarily engage the upholstery component to the chair
structure. A
chair upholstered in the manner of one embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated in
Figure 5A. To remove the upholstery component from the chair structure, one
may gently but
firmly pull on the area of the upholstery component where the Velcro tape is
positioned, until
the Velcro tape on the upholstery component is separated from the Velcro
tape affixed to the
chair structure. Thereafter, once each of the pieces of Velcro tape on a piece
of upholstery
component have been separated from the corresponding piece of Velcro tape on
the chair
structure, the upholstery component may be readily removed from the chair
structure in a manner
known to a person skilled in the art.
In the context of implementing the invention, it may be desirable to hide
those edges of the
upholstery components on which the Velcro tape is attached, and where
possible, it may be
desirable to hide these edges below cushion lines (such as, in the case of the
Velcro tape 6 and
6B being positioned beneath the cushion in the context of the arm chair in
Figure 4A), and on the
underside edge of the chair (such as, in the case of the Velcro(t tape 6B, 6F
and 6G in the
context of the arm chair in Figure 2), or using other techniques known to a
person skilled in the
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art.
It is to be understood that the Velcro tape provides a secure, yet easy
removal and reattachment
mechanism and methodology, and that alternative mechanisms and methodologies
are known in
the art to provide such functionality, including, for example, zippers, it
being understood that all
such mechanisms and methodologies are included within the context of the
present invention.
In the context of the description of the invention provided herein, it is to
be understood that as
Velcro -type hook and loop fastening systems require two pieces of tape to act
together to
provide a fastener, one piece of tape having hooks thereon, and the other
piece of tape having
loops thereon, and that for reasons of simplicity in describing the present
invention herein,
reference has been made to the Velcro tape on the furniture having hooks
presented thereon
while the Velcro tape on the upholstery fabric has loops presented thereon, it
is to be understood
that this may be reversed, namely that the Velcro tape affixed to the
furniture may have loops
presented thereon, while the Velcro tape affixed to the upholstery may have
hooks presented
thereon.
It is understood that the upholstery and the process and methodology described
herein may also
be used in the context of car seats, camper furniture and other products where
upholstery/fabric is
utilized. It is also understood that the upholstery and process and
methodology described herein
may be used in the context of furniture having welts, buttons (which can be
readily attached
using snaps or in another known manner so as to allow them to be easily
replaced or
interchanged as desired), skirting, extra padding and other design
characteristics. Where extra
padding is used, such as in the case of head rests, additional reinforcement
may be required. This
may be accomplished by providing additional Velcro tape strips on the
furniture and padding
material as would be known to a person skilled in the art. Additionally, it
may be necessary to
provide additional or reinforced broadcloth to ensure proper and appropriate
reinforcement and
strength.
The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred
embodiments. However,
it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations
and modifications can
be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.
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