U.S. patent number 3,896,531 [Application Number 05/382,702] was granted by the patent office on 1975-07-29 for upholstery system method and apparatus.
Invention is credited to DeWitt Y. Gorman.
United States Patent |
3,896,531 |
Gorman |
July 29, 1975 |
Upholstery system method and apparatus
Abstract
An upholstery system method and apparatus for furniture and the
like in which the upholstery covering is releasably affixed to a
base member for enabling changing of the covering as desired. A
clasp apparatus adapted for mounting with the base member for
releasably securing upholstery coverings such as sheets, panels,
fabrics and the like with the base member is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Gorman; DeWitt Y. (Houston,
TX) |
Family
ID: |
23510044 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/382,702 |
Filed: |
July 26, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
29/91.1;
297/440.22; 297/440.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
4/02 (20130101); A47C 31/023 (20130101); A47C
4/028 (20130101); Y10T 29/481 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
4/00 (20060101); A47C 4/02 (20060101); B24b
039/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;297/440
;160/392,394,395,397 ;24/243K ;29/91.9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gilliam; Paul R.
Assistant Examiner: Calvert; Andrew M.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pravel & Wilson
Claims
I claim:
1. A method of releasably securing a sheet of unformed decorative
upholstery covering material to a base member having a cushion
portion to form an upholstered cushion, including the steps of:
providing a cushion portion for a base member in a desired shape
with the cushion portion forming at least one cushion corner;
arranging the sheet of unformed decorative upholstery covering
material by positioning the sheet of unformed decorative upholstery
covering material about the cushion portion in a desired
manner;
folding the sheet of unformed decorative upholstery covering
material at each cushion corner formed by the cushion portion in a
manner for forming a sheet of folded decorative upholstery covering
material about the cushion portion in a desired manner for
viewing;
placing a shield member within a fold to eliminate wrinkles formed
in the viewed surface of the sheet of upholstery covering material
by the portion of the sheet of upholstery covering folded behind
said viewed surface of the sheet of upholstery covering; and
deforming resiliently by engaging with the base member a plurality
of clip members also engaging the sheet of folded decorative
upholstery covering material without the use of tools for providing
a plurality of forces for releasably securing the folded sheet of
decorative upholstery covering material with the base member while
avoiding piercing or damaging of the sheet of unformed decorative
upholstery covering material.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1, including the step of:
releasing the plurality of clip members without the use of tools to
enable changing of the sheet of unformed decorative upholstery
covering when desired without damaging the sheet of unformed
decorative upholstery covering material.
3. A method of releasably securing a sheet of unformed decorative
upholstery covering material having first and second opposed edges
to a base member having first and second opposing side portions and
a cushion portion to form an upholstered cushion, including the
steps of:
disposing a sheet of unformed decorative upholstery covering
material about the cushion portion in a desired manner;
arranging the first edge of the unformed decorative upholstery
covering material adjacent the first side portion of the base
member;
securing the first edge of the unformed decorative upholstery
covering material by deforming resiliently a plurality of clip
members adjacent the first side portion of the base member and the
decorative upholstery covering material for providing a plurality
of forces for releasably securing the first edge of the decorative
upholstery covering material to the base member while avoiding the
piercing or damaging of the decorative upholstery covering
material;
arranging the second edge of the upholstery covering material
adjacent the second opposing side portion of the base member;
securing the second edge of the upholstery covering material by
deforming resiliently a plurality of clip members adjacent to the
opposing second side portion of the base member and the decorative
upholstery covering material for providing a plurality of forces
for releasably securing the second edge of the decorative
upholstery covering material to the base member while avoiding the
piercing or damaging of the upholstery covering material and for
providing a wrinkle-free upholstered cushion;
folding the sheet of unformed decorative upholstery covering
material at each cushion corner formed by the cushion portion in a
manner for forming a sheet of folded decorative upholstery covering
material about the cushion portion in a desired manner for
viewing;
placing a shield member within a fold to eliminate wrinkles formed
in the viewed surface of the sheet of upholstery covering material
by the portion of the sheet of upholstery covering folded behind
said viewed surface of the sheet of upholstery covering; and
deforming resiliently by engaging with the base member a plurality
of clip members also engaging the sheet of folded decorative
upholstery covering material without the use of tools for providing
a plurality of forces for releasably securing the folded sheet of
decorative upholstery covering material with the base member while
avoiding piercing or damaging of the sheet of unformed decorative
upholstery covering material.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of an upholstery
system method and apparatus and more particularly to an upholstery
system for securing upholstery coverings and the like with a base
member to form a cushion structure without sewing or otherwise
seaming the covering.
Upholstering of furniture and the like has previously required the
expensive services of skilled craftsman in fabricating and
permanently attaching the covering material to furniture. Damage to
such upholstery was expensive and difficult to properly repair
which was a major disadvantage in some commercial applications
where the furniture was continually subjected to extreme abuse. In
addition, permanently attached decorative upholstery coverings have
limited the number of creative options available to interior
decorators as well as requiring furniture dealers to stock large
expensive inventories of furniture.
Snap fasteners or clasps, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
1,896,200 and 1,907,785, have been known for some time. Many
fasteners, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,861 were
permanently deformed when installed were therefore usable only
once. Specialized fasteners used for particular purposes as
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,864,477 were also known. Other prior
art fasteners, for example, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
1,940,636, required that special tools be used to attach the clasp
or fastener.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Method and apparatus for an universal upholstery system suitable
for use with furniture in which a covering is releasably affixed to
a base member to permit rapid and frequent changing of the covering
when desired without special tools or skills while presenting a
pleasing appearance comparable to that achieved by conventional
upholstering methods. A clasp apparatus having a clamp frame,
mountable with a cushion base, for receiving and holding a
plurality of resiliently deformable steel strip beam members
therein for securing upholstery fabrics and the like with the clasp
frame in response to the deformation of the steel strips is
employed to form an upholstery cushion.
An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved
upholstery system method and apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved clasp apparatus.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and
improved upholstery cushion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the back portion of an upholstered
chain utilizing the upholstery system of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the manner of
assembly of upholstered cushions with the chair frame;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an inverted seat cushion with the
upholstery material partially installed;
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the upholstery material
fully installed and bottom covering aligned for attachment;
FIG. 5 is a view taken along lines 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating a second manner of
installing the upholstery material; and
FIG. 8 is a side view in section, of an alternate cushion employing
the clasp apparatus of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 illustrates a chair device C employing the upholstery system
method and apparatus of the present invention. While the preferred
embodiment of the present invention disclosed will be for a two
chair chair device C, it is readily apparent that the chain device
C may include either single person chair devices or chair devices
capable of supporting more than two persons.
The chair device C includes a support frame F and one or more
support pads P mountable on the frame F. The pads P may be provided
with a layer of cushioning material for the user and may be in
dimensioned to provide support for more than a single user.
The present invention is also directed to a clasp apparatus,
generally designated A in FIG. 5, mounted with a pad base structure
for releasably securing upholstery coverings, sheets, panels,
films, fabrics and the like with the structure in a desired manner.
The clasp apparatus A is equally well suited for releasably
securing any material of this general nature and the apparatus A
should not be considered limited in any manner by the type or
nature of the materials secured thereby.
The clasp apparatus A is particularly well suited for use in
upholstering furniture and will be disclosed hereinafter for use in
the upholstered chair device, but the clasp apparatus A should not
be considered limited to upholstered furniture as it may be
utilized in other applications although it is an integral portion
of the upholstery system of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the support frame F includes one
or more substantially vertical or upright support members 10, 11,
12 and 13. The front vertical leg 10 is connected to the rear
vertical leg 11 by a pair of spaced, parallel, horizontal members
14 and 15, with the upper horizontal member 15 also providing or
forming an arm rest as is well known. The front and rear vertical
legs 12 and 13 are connected in a similar manner by the horizontal
members 16 and 17. The rear vertical legs 11 and 13 are connected
by a pair of spaced, substantially horizontal members 18 and 19
which also provide back support for the frame F while the lower
horizontal side support members 14 and 16 are connected by a pair
of spaced parallel members 20 and 21. Preferably, but not
necessarily, the frame F is made from structural aluminum or steel
members and fabricated by welding to achieve a pleasing appearance.
The support frame F may be designed in any style and as noted
hereinabove designed to support any number of users. Also, if
desired, the arm rest formed by the upper horizontal members 15 and
17 may not be employed.
The upholstery pads P are mounted or located on the frame F to
provide desired support for the user in the well known manner. As
illustrated in FIG. 5, the pads P include a pad base or structural
frame member 30 of any desired shape for mounting a suitable
cushion or padding material 31 for user comfort. The padding
material 31 may also be of any desired shape and is covered by an
upholstery fabric or covering 32 to achieve a pleasing appearance
and durability of use. The fabric 32 is releasably secured to the
pad base or structural frame 30 by the clasp apparatus A and which
may also, but not necessarily, serve to secure the cushion 31 with
the structure 30.
The clasp apparatus A, illustrated in FIG. 5, includes a clamp
frame 40 mounted with a substantially flat lower surface 33 of the
pad structural member 30 about its periphery and a resiliently
deformable beam or clip member 41 mounted with the clamp frame 40
at a first end 41a and with a second end 41b coacting with the
clamp frame 40 for securing the sheet of upholstery material 32
with the clamp frame 40 in response to the deformation of the beam
member 41. It will be immediately apparent to those skilled in the
art that the fabric 32 may be placed in engagement with either the
first end 41a or the second end 41b of the beam 41 or both ends 41a
and 41b for securing the fabric 32 with the clamp frame 40.
The clamp frame 40 is preferably formed of a pair of longitudinally
extending structural angle members 42 and 43 secured together, such
as by spaced spot welds 44, to form a substantially U-shaped
channel member having a substantially uniform cross-sectional shape
along its entire longitudinal length. In the embodiment illustrated
in FIG. 5, the angle member 43 is formed integral with the
structural support member 30, but it is readily apparent that the
member 43 may be formed by a separate member secured to the
structural member 30. Both the formation of the clamp frame 40
integral with and mountable on the base member 30 is within the
scope of the present invention. The first member 42, having a
shoulder portion 42a extending therefrom, forms a first surface
shape or corner 42b for receiving the end 41a of the beam 41 and
holding the end 41a in a position for blocking undesired movement
of the beam to release the desired securing deformation when
secured in the clamp frame 40. The frame 40 forms a second surface
shape or corner 43a with the inner surface of the angle 43 having a
shape coacting with the end 41b for securing the upholstery fabric
32 with the clamp frame 40 while blocking undesired movement of the
end 41b of the beam 41 to release the desired securing deformation
of the beam 41. The distance between the spaced, parallel corners
42b and 43a of the frame 40 are dimensioned less than the length of
the beam 41 to resiliently deform the beam 41 when secured therein
for holding the fabric 32 in position. The lip 42a is sized to
enable the beam 41 to move into the securing position by
deformation thereof and which will move to the securing position by
resilient recovery from the deformed position in moving past the
lip or shoulder 42a. Preferably, the shoulder 42a is dimensioned to
enable the beam 41 to be snapped into position or removed by hand
and without the need for special tools and the like.
For ease of releasably securing the securing fabric 32 with the
clamp frame 40, the beam 41 is preferably formed from a ribbon-like
strip of spring steel which may be easily snapped in and out of the
frame 40 by manipulation with the thumb and finger when desired.
This construction enables the installation and removal from the
clamp frame 40 of the beams 41 at a plurality of locations along
the frame 40 for securing the fabric 32 without damage thereto or
the need for special tools or training.
An escutcheon or decorative panel 45 may be secured with the base
member 30 to conceal the clasp apparatus A and provide a more
pleasing appearance to the pads P.
A second embodiment of the clasp apparatus A is illustrated in FIG.
8, where the clamp frame 40 is secured with a wooden pad structure
member 30a having a peripheral edge member 30b mounted therewith
which cooperates with the angle member 42 to form the clamp frame
40 for deformably receiving the beam or snap member 41 therein. One
or both ends of the beam 41 may cooperate with the clamp frame 40
for securing the upholstery fabric 32a with the frame 40 in
response to the deformation of the beam 41. A suitable panel 45a
may be utilized in this embodiment to shield the clasp apparatus A
from view and which is secured with the frame member 30a by any
suitable means (not illustrated).
In the use and operation of the present invention, the frame F is
fabricated as desired in any well known manner. The cushion or pad
frames 30 are independently formed to provide the projecting member
43 thereon. The angles 42 are then located adjacent the member 43
with the longitudinally extending lip portion 42a projecting
towards the peripheral member 43 and secured with the structural
member 30. The layer of cushion material means 31 is then mounted
with the frame 30 and is preferably secured in a desired position
by suitable means such as glueing and the like. Any suitable
resilient cushioning material such as a spring arrangement or
foamed rubber-like material may be employed although use of the
latter is illustrated. The cushioning material may be encapsulated
in a fabric covering in the usual manner, but such a covering is
not necessary. The cushioning material 31 may be of uniform
thickness, such as employed in the bottom cushions 50 and 51 or may
be of a non-uniform thickness or shape such as employed in the back
cushions 52 and 53. The clasp apparatus A of the present invention
is equally well suited for any shape of cushioning material 31.
The upholstery fabric 32 is then placed on a work surface with a
desired outside facing or viewed surface 32a facing downwardly.
Should it be desirable to use an inner covering 34 (FIG. 3) to
provide a slip plane for enabling relative movement between the
layer of cushioning material 31 and the outer or upholstery
covering 32 it is then placed over the covering 32. The frame 30
and cushion material 31 are then placed on the upholstery fabric 32
with the cushion material 31 adjacent the covering 32. One
peripheral edge of the upholstery material is placed in the clamp
frame 40 and a plurality of beams 41 are snapped into the securing
position to secure the material 32 along one edge of the cushion or
pad P. The opposite edge of the upholstery material is then placed
in the clamp frame 40 opposite the previously secured edge and a
plurality of beams 41 are snapped in the securing position in the
clamp frame 40 along this edge of the pad P to secure the
upholstery material 32 with the opposite edge of the cushion P.
Trimming of the upholstery material 32 is not necessary to place
the cushion P in the condition illustrated in FIG. 3.
At this time, it is only necessary to repeat the sequence of
positioning the remaining edges of the upholstery material in the
clamp frame 40 and snapping the plurality of beam members 41 into
position for securing these two opposite edges of the upholstery
material with the clamp frame 40. It will also be immediately
appreciated that the clasp apparatus A of the present invention is
equally well suited for use with angular-folded crease corners
(FIGS. 3 and 4) and square-folded crease corners (FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and
7) although the latter is preferred. As illustrated in FIG. 3, a
flat fold bar member 35 may be placed in either type of corner fold
to present an attractive wrinkle-free covering 32 when viewed by
hiding the folded double thickness of material behind the member
35. The covering panel 45 is then secured in position by attaching
to the cushion base 30 and the cushion P is then complete. The
above sequence is repeated to assemble any number of desired
cushions P. While the most desirable shaped cushion for ease of
assembly is square, the shape and size of the cushion may be varied
as desired.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the cushions P are preferably given a
slightly domed shape adjacent the cushion support area indicated at
51u prior to mounting on the frame F to provide sufficient slack in
the covering 32 when the cushions P are used to eliminate undesired
stretching or deformation of the covering 32. The dome effect may
be achieved when initially forming the dome with the cushion
material 31, by adding appropriately shaped additional layers of
cushion material either before or after securing the covering 32 to
the frame 30 or by the use of a removably securable support pan
like plate 80 (FIG. 3) forcing the center of the cushion material
32 into the shape of a dome. Of course, the dome effect may be
obtained by other methods well known to those skilled in the
art.
The bottom or seat cushions 50 and 51 are secured with the
horizontal members 20 and 21 by any suitable means, such as, but
not limited to, bolting and the like. The back cushions 52 and 53
are secured to the back supports 18 and 19 in a similar manner.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, clasp apparatus A of the present
invention may also be utilized to releasably secure an upholstery
fabric with a base member or removable panel 50 employed to provide
a more desirable appearance for the chair C. The panel 50 includes
upper and lower rearwardly extending peripheral lips or edges 50a
and 50b cooperating with a pair of angles 42 to form a clamp frame
adjacent the edges 50a and 50b. Separate U-shaped clamps 40 are
secured to the back side of the panel 50 adjacent to edges 50c and
50d for securing the upholstery fabric 32 along those edges. The
upholstery fabric 32 is installed in the peripheral clamp frame 40
along the edges 50a, 50b, 50c and 50d in the manner set forth
hereinabove.
Mounted with the horizontal back braces 18 and 19 and a plurality
of four downwardly projecting resilient mounting fingers 55, 56, 57
and 58 respectively. As illustrated in FIG. 6, the members 55, 56,
57 and 58 are dimensioned to receive the angle 42 adjacent the
lower surface 40b on the lugs 55a, 56a, 57a and 58a respectively,
for supporting the panel. The angle 42 adjacent the upper edge 50a
is dimensioned to engage the horizontal cross-member 19 for
supporting the panel 50 thereon, and for forcing the portion 42a of
the frame 42 adjacent the lower shoulder 50b to deform the lugs
55a, 56a, 57a and 58a for securing the panel 50 with the frame F.
Other means of securing the base member are panel 50 with the frame
F without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are
illustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the
size, shape, and materials as well as in the details of the
illustrated construction may be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention.
* * * * *