U.S. patent number 3,695,691 [Application Number 05/068,367] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-03 for reversible chair with a reversible cushion cover.
Invention is credited to Monroe P. Putnam.
United States Patent |
3,695,691 |
Putnam |
October 3, 1972 |
REVERSIBLE CHAIR WITH A REVERSIBLE CUSHION COVER
Abstract
The chair has seat and back cushions with reversible covers, and
reversible upholstered front, back, and side panels. By reversing
the covers and the panels, the decorum of the chair can be
completely changed. The reversible covers have inner and outer
layers of upholstery material with a layer of padding in between.
The cover has two seams with the marginal edges disposed between
the inner and outer layers. The method of making the cover includes
placing side panels between two larger panels of a length to extend
around the cushion, placing the layer of padding in overlying
relationship, sewing through the stack along three sides of the
side panels, and transposing the surfaces of the larger panels.
Inventors: |
Putnam; Monroe P. (Aurora,
IN) |
Family
ID: |
22082096 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/068,367 |
Filed: |
August 31, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/223; D6/334;
5/490; 297/227 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
31/11 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
31/00 (20060101); A47C 31/11 (20060101); A47c
031/10 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/218,219,223,283,226,227,422,463 ;5/339,337 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Zugel; Francis K.
Claims
What is claimed is
1. In a chair including a frame structure having a seat support and
a back support, the improvement comprising:
a cushion on the frame structure and having top and bottom sides;
front, rear and side edges; and including a layer of cushion
material; a first sheet of upholstery material overlying the
cushion material and comprising a first panel at the top, bottom
and front edge, and second and third panels at the side edges; a
second sheet of upholstery material comprising first, second and
third panels overlying the respective first, second and third
panels of the first sheet; said first and second panels of the
first sheet of upholstery material and said first and second panels
of the second sheet of upholstery material being joined along a
first seam line passing through the first and second panels of the
first sheet and the first and second panels of the second sheet
with the first seam line and the marginal edges of said first and
second panels of said first and second sheets located between the
two sheets of upholstery material; said first and third panels of
the first sheet of upholstery material and said first and third
panels of the second sheet of upholstery material being joined
along a second seam line passing through the first and third panels
of the first sheet and the first and third panels of the second
sheet with the second seam line and the marginal edges of said
first and third panels of said first and second sheets also located
between the two sheets of upholstery material; and the two sheets
of upholstery material being removable from the layer of cushion
material and the sheets reversed so that the first sheet is exposed
and the second sheet is adjacent the layer of cushion material.
2. The combination of claim 1 including fastening means at the rear
side of the cushion for joining the first and second sheets of
upholstery material and for holding together the edges of the first
panels thereof.
3. The combination of claim 1 including a layer of padding material
between the first panels and joined to said first and second seam
lines.
4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the cushion is a seat cushion
member and including a back cushion member similarly constructed
with reversible sheets of upholstery material.
5. The combination of claim 4 wherein the frame structure includes
left and right side supports each having an arm frame member at the
top thereof; and including left and right reversible panels each
having inner and outer layers of upholstery material extending from
an outer end at a selected point at the bottom of the seat cushion,
over the arm frame member, to an inner end at a point at the side
of the seat cushion; means for holding the outer end of each
reversible panel in position; and the reversible panels being
removable and reversible to expose the inner layer of upholstery
material.
6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the frame structure includes
front and rear upright members at each side, the means for holding
the outer end of the panel includes a rod extending between the
front and rear uprights and means for holding each end of the rod,
and the reversible panels each have means at their outer ends for
receiving the rod.
7. In a chair including a frame structure having front and rear
uprights at each side, a seat support disposed between the
uprights, a back support, a seat cushion on the seat support, and a
back cushion on the back support, the improvement comprising:
an arm frame member extending between the uprights at each side of
the frame;
a reversible upholstered panel at each side of the chair and
including inner and outer layers of upholstery material extending
from an outer end adjacent the bottom of the seat cushion, over the
arm frame member, to an inner end at the side of the seat cushion;
reinforcing means between the inner and outer layers between the
arm frame member and the outer end, and also between the arm frame
member and the inner end, for stiffening the panel; said
reinforcing means leaving the portion of the reversible panel at
the arm frame member flexible;
means for holding the outer end of each reversible panel in
position; and
the reversible panels being removable from the frame structure and
manually reversed to reverse the positions of the inner and outer
layers to expose the inner layer of upholstery material.
8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the seat and back cushions
each include: a layer of cushion material, and a removable
reversible cover including inner and outer layers of upholstery
material, the cover being removable from the cushion material and
reversible to expose the inner layer of upholstery material.
9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the cushions each have top
and bottom sides, and front, rear and side edges; and the first and
second layers of upholstery material each includes a first panel at
the top, bottom and front edge, and second and third panels at the
opposite side edges; said first panels of both layers being joined
to the second panels along a first seam line passing through all
four panels with the marginal edges located between the sheets of
upholstery material; and the first panels being similarly joined to
the third panels.
10. A removable and reversible cover for cushions and the like
comprising: first and second overlying layers of material; the
first layer having a first panel overlying the top, bottom and
front sides of the cushion, and second and third panels at opposite
ends of the cushion; the second layer having a first panel, and
second and third panels overlying the respective first, second and
third panels of the first layer; the first and second panels of the
first layer and the first and second panels of the second layer
being joined together along a first seam line passing through the
first and second panels of the first layer and the first and second
panels of the second layer with the first seam line and the
marginal edges of the first and second panels of the first and
second layers being located between the two layers of material; the
first and third panels of the first layer and the first and second
panels of the second layer being joined together along a second
seam line passing through the first and third panels of the first
layer and the first and third panels of the second layer with the
second seam line and the marginal edges also being located between
the two layers of material; and the two layers of material being
reversible so that either the first or the second layer may be
exposed and the other layer disposed adjacent the cushion.
11. A removable and reversible cover for cushions and the like as
set forth in claim 10 including a layer of padding material between
the first panels and joined to said first and second seam lines.
Description
BACKGROUND
The invention pertains to chairs, cushion covers, and the like, and
more particularly to upholstered chairs and to removable cushion
covers.
The term "chair" as used herein, is applied to articles of seating
furniture having a seat, back, and legs or other substructure. Many
chairs are upholstered, that is, they include material used to
cushion and cover at least a portion thereof. While upholstered
chairs are usually fine articles of furniture, the upholstery
material eventually wears and requires replacement. Once the
upholstery cover is selected, it is not usually possible to change
the decor of the chair short of reupholstering, applying a slip
cover, or the like. Additionally, with some fabrics, cleaning may
be a problem. One solution to these defficiencies is shown in my
prior U. S. Pat. 3,490,810, issued Jan. 20, 1970.
SUMMARY
The present invention relates generally to chairs, cushion covers,
and the like and more particularly to a reversible chair with
reversible cushion covers.
It is a general object of this invention to provide a new and
useful chair having reversible upholstery.
Another object is to provide a chair, in accordance with the
foregoing object, which has reversible cushion covers and
reversible upholstered side panels.
Still another object is to provide a chair, in accordance with the
foregoing, in which the cushion covers and side panels have inner
and outer layers of cover material.
Another object of this invention is to provide a reversible cushion
cover having inner and outer layers of cover material made up of
panels sewn together in a unique manner so that no marginal edges
are exposed.
Yet another object is to provide a reversible cushion cover, in
accordance with the foregoing object, and having a layer of padding
between the layers, and secured in position in a unique manner.
Another object is to provide a reversible cushion cover having
inner and outer layers of cover material, in which at least some of
the seams extend through all layers of the cover material and yet
the marginal edges are hidden.
Still another object is to provide a reversible cushion cover in
accordance with the foregoing object, in which a layer of padding
material, ultimately disposed between the layers, is located at the
outside during the sewing operation and is attached by the same
seams that extend through all layers of the cover material.
These, and other objects and advantages of the present invention,
will become apparent as the same becomes better understood from the
following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair embodying the present
invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the framing of the chair in FIG.
1;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the side panels showing
the edges of the layers in cross-section and in exaggerated
thickness;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the back side of half the side
panel as would be seen from line 4--4 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the right arm of the chair
as taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 1, and on an enlarged scale;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the various upholstery
panels and the layer of padding preparatory to the assembly
operation and showing the layers in exaggerated thickness;
FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B are generally diagrammatic views illustrating
the steps of the method of making the cushion cover;
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through a cushion having
the reversible cover thereon and taken generally along line 8--8 of
FIG. 9;
FIG. 9 is a view partly elevational and partly cross-sectional
taken generally along line 9--9 of FIG. 8, and on a larger scale;
and
FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a corner of
the removable cover and showing the various layers in exaggerated
thickness.
DESCRIPTION
Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings which
illustrate the best presently known mode of carrying out the
invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the
same parts throughout the several views.
One form of the article of seating furniture, hereinafter called
the chair, is shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 1 and 2. As
shown, the chair has a generally rigid frame structure including
front legs 10 and rear legs 11, with the legs at each side of the
chair being connected by upper and lower horizontal members 12 and
13, respectively. The rear legs 11 are similarly connected by upper
and lower horizontal members 14 and 15, respectively. The forward
legs are interconnected by a lower horizontal member 16. Webbing 18
extends between the lower members 15 and 16 to provide a seat
support portion of the frame. Other webbing 19 extends between
members 14 and 15 to provide a back support portion of the frame.
In lieu of the webbing, springs, burlap or other standard seating
materials can be used. Although not essential, an additional member
20 is conveniently provided at the top of the rear legs 11 to
provide support for the top side of the back cushion.
Removable and reversible padded side panels, generally designated
30, are provided at either side of the chair (see FIG. 1) While the
embodiment will be described as a side panel, the principle is
identical, and the structure similar, for a padded panel 31 at the
front of the chair and also for a padded panel at the back of the
chair generally enclosing the area of the webbing 19. Referring now
to FIGS. 3-5, one side of the panel 30 is covered with one fabric
32 which may hereafter be called the outer layer. The sides and
ends are folded inwardly over a layer of padding 35, and the
portions of the pad which form the opposite faces of the arm are
reinforced as by fiberboard panels 36. As best seen in FIG. 4, the
central portion of the panel is not reinforced so that it can be
folded upon itself and thus provide the flexible area which extends
over member 12 (see FIG. 5). The right end of the outer layer of
material 32, as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, form a tubular channel
through which a rod 13a can pass to anchor the outer end of the
panel. The opposite side of the panel is formed by a different
layer of material 42, a layer of padding 45, and the similar
fiberboard reinforcing panels 46 (see FIG. 3 or 5). The different
layer of material 42 is similarly folded upon itself (see FIG. 3)
to form a tubular channel. The above-described layers are secured
to each other by any convenient means, as by adhesive, to form the
reversible panel.
The panel 30 is mounted on the chair by first anchoring the outer
end. The rod 13a other passed through the tubular channel and the
ends of the rod 13a fit into downwardly inclined slots in legs 10
and 11. The panel is then drawn upwardly along the outer side of
the horizontal members 12 and 13 and then downwardly along the
inner side as shown in FIG. 5. The inner edge is held in position
between the seat cushion and the horizontal member 13. With this
arrangement, the reversible panel 30 can readily be applied to the
arms and a similar one applied to the back and a smaller one to the
front. As seen in FIG. 2, a rod 15a is provided for anchoring such
a panel for the back. The reversible panel can be readily removed
and reversed so that the other layer is disposed outermost.
The seat and back cushions may be generally identical and are
herein both indicated by the numeral 50. It is to be understood
that the description of the seat cushion can be applied to the back
cushion and that the terminology of a top, bottom, and front, rear
and side edges is for descriptive purposes only.
The seat and back cushions 50 are also provided with reversible
covers shown in cross-section in FIGS. 8- 10. The cushion 50
includes a layer of cushion material 52 constructed in any manner
well known in the art. For example, cushion material 52 may be foam
rubber, polyurethane foam, or a traditional spring unit. The cover
includes an outer layer, an inner layer, and preferably a layer of
padding 51 therebetween. The layer of padding 51 may be made of
polyester fiber or other resilient padding material. The outer
layer includes a first panel 54 which extends from the back side of
the cushion, across the top front and bottom as best seen in FIG.
8. The outer layer also includes side panels 55 and 56 at opposite
sides of the cushion. The inner layer includes similar panels
indicated by the same numerals followed by the postscript prime
('). The cover member is closed at the rear side as by a zipper 58
so that it can be readily removed from the cushion material 52,
reversed, and repositioned with the inner cover layer at the
outside. In this manner, the cushions are reversible as well as the
aforementioned panels. In the manner described above, the inner and
outer layers may be of the same material so that the effective life
of the upholstery can be doubled, or different materials or colors
can be utilized so that the decor can by quickly and easily
changed.
The reversible cover is formed in a particularly unique manner
diagrammatically illustrated in FIGS. 7, 7A and 7B. As previously
indicated, first panels 54 and 54' form a front, top, bottom and
rear wall. The side panels 55, 55' and 56, 56' are located at
either side of the cushion. The cushion is made by sewing the first
panels 54, 54', the layer of padding 51, and the side panels 55,
55' together in a single sewing operation. Panels 56, 56' are also
attached in another single sewing operation. The operation is
achieved by positioning the two first panels in overlying
relationship with the surfaces to be exposed facing each other and
with the layer of padding 51 on top (see FIG. 6). The side panels
55, 55' are interposed between the two first panels and with their
surfaces to be exposed facing the adjacent first panel. In other
words, the side panels 55, 55' have their unexposed surfaces facing
each other. When so arranged, the top perspective view will be as
seen in FIG. 7. It will be noted that one longitudinal edge of the
side panels 55, 55' are at the longitudinal edge of panels 54, 54'
and padding 51. For purposes of illustration, that longitudinal
edge of panels 54, 54' and padding 51 is divided into zones X, Y
and Z. All five layers are then stitched together along a seam line
Sla shown in FIG. 7 until the end of the panels 55, 55' is reached.
After this the layers are turned as indicated by the arrow A until
the pieces have the relative position shown in FIG. 7A. In other
words, the side panels 55, 55' are reoriented until their shorter
end edges are at zone Y. The seam line is extended as indicated at
Slb and the layers are then turned again as indicated by the arrow
A1 until the layers are in the relative position shown in FIG. 7B.
In other words, the side panels 55, 55' are again reoriented until
their other longitudinal edges are at zone Z. The seam line is then
extended as indicated at S2a to the end of the side panels. A
similar operation is performed as indicated by the arrow B in FIG.
7 and the seam lines S2a and S2c in FIG. 9.
At that time, all seam lines are exposed outwardly. The first
panels 54 and 54' then have their surfaces transposed by pulling
the first panels through itself to dispose all outer surfaces
(surfaces to be exposed) at opposite sides of the reversible cover.
As a result, the marginal edges of the panel are located wholly
between the inner and outer layers of the removable cover. The
padding 51 is also disposed between the layers. The padding, by
being included in this manner serves to hide any wrinkles in
whichever first panel is at the inside and also serves to hide the
slight ridge formed by the two seam lines. In this manner, a
smooth, attractive cover results no matter which surface is
exposed.
It is now deemed obvious that the present invention provides a
truly reversible chair by which the life of the upholstery material
is extended and in which the decor may be readily changed, if
desired. It is also deemed obvious that this is achieved without
any significant increase in price in the original commodity. The
removable and reversible cushion cover is formed with a single seam
at each side passing through multiple panels, and the same is
completely hidden. The hidden seam is achieved by the unique manner
in which the reversible cushion cover is formed.
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has herein been
illustrated and described, this has been done by way of
illustration and not limitation, and the invention should not be
limited except as required by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *