Self-tensioning fabric cover for covering curved frames of furniture

Abstract

A self-tensioning smooth-curved fabric cover for covering a curved frame of furniture that includes a sheet of fabric, a spring steel strip, and upper connecting means. The sheet of fabric has a polygonal shape with four sides and includes a sleeve along the upper side of the sheet. The spring is positioned inside the sleeve. The first side of each upper connecting means is connected to the sleeve or to the spring inside the sleeve and the second side of each upper connecting means is connected to the frame. When the fabric cover is assembled on the frame, the spring tensions the sleeve and the sheet of fabric away from the frame and the sheet of fabric laid smooth.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention refers to a self-tensioning smooth-curved fabric cover for covering curved frames of furniture.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In many cases furniture have frames covered by fabric sheets. When the frame is straight, the user can stretch the sheet and they look tight. But, in the curves of the frames the sheets are loose, not smooth and unbeautiful. The present invention discloses sheets that provide an excellent answer to these and other problems.DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0003] The intention of the drawings attached to the application is not to limit the scope of the invention and its application. The drawings are intended only to illustrate the invention and they constitute only one of its many possible implementations.

[0004] FIG. 1 depicts the curved frame (20) of the furniture (30).

[0005] FIG. 2 depicts the spring steel strip (50).

[0006] FIG. 3 depicts the bottom strip (83) and the bottom connecting means (80).

[0007] FIGS. 4-6 depict self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover (10).

[0008] FIG. 7 depicts the self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover assembled on the frame.

[0009] FIG. 8 depicts a part of the fabric cover with the bottom connecting means (80).

[0010] FIG. 9 depicts the upper connecting means (60).THE INVENTION

[0011] The main object of the present invention is to provide a self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover (10) for covering a curved frame (20) of furniture (30). The curved fabric cover includes a sheet of fabric (40), a spring steel strip (50), and two or more upper connecting means (60).

[0012] The sheet of fabric may have a polygonal shape with four sides. The sheet of fabric may include along its upper side (41) a sleeve (70) with a first opening (71) at the first corner (43) of the upper side and a second opening (72) at a second corner (43) of the upper side. The spring steel strip is positioned inside along the sleeve preferably from end to end. It is possible that instead of a sleeve, the sheet of fabric will include loops through which the strap can be threaded as one threads a trouser belt, and the expression sleeve includes equivalent means such as straps or loops. Naturally, the fabric sheet is made of fabric, but it is possible that it is made of a variety of flexible materials that are used to cover furniture frames.

[0013] The first side (61) of the upper connecting means is connected to the sleeve or to the spring steel strip and the second side (62) of the upper connecting means is designed to be connected to (or to be hanged on) the curved frame. The upper connecting means may be a hook (as shown for example in the drawings), a loop, a tying string, a rubber band, and the like.

[0014] When the self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover is assembled on the curved frame, the spring steel strip stretches the sleeve and the sheet of fabric outwards (marked with arrow 90) (away from the curved frame) due to the spring force of the spring steel strip that is configured to straighten, such that the sheet of fabric can be laid flat, straight, smooth and very aesthetic.

[0015] The self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover may further include two (or more) bottom connecting means (80). The first side (81) of the bottom connecting means is connected to a bottom side (44) of the sheet of fabric and the second side (82) of the bottom connecting means is designed to be connected to the curved frame directly or through a nut for example. The bottom connection means can be a hook, a rubber band (as shown for example in the drawings), a loop, a tying string, and the like. The sheet of fabric may include along its bottom side (44) a bottom strip (83) to which the bottom connecting means are connected.

[0016] The self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover has many advantages compared to the standard fabric coverings (that when used to cover frames of furniture the sheet looks unstretched, wrinkled and ugly). On the other hand, once the user mounts the self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover of the present invention on the curved frame, the spring steel strip exerts outward force away from the frame in a way that tensioning the sheet of fabric away from the frame in a beautiful and aesthetically smooth way an creating a smooth rounded shape of the sheet of fabric, regardless the actual smoothness of the curved frame (that can be not so smooth), which is a good solution to the world of furniture and also to the world of the catering furniture, where it is common to remove and to assemble the fabric sheets, therefore it is important to assemble the sheets of fabric quickly and smoothly on the frames.

[0017] FIG. 1 depicts the curved frame (20) of the furniture (30), FIG. 2 depicts the spring steel strip (50), FIG. 3 depicts the bottom strip (83) and the bottom connecting means (80), FIGS. 4-5 depict the self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover (10), FIG. 6 depicts the self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover (10) in in a rolled state, FIG. 7 depicts the self-tightening smooth-curved fabric cover assembled on the frame, FIG. 8 depicts a part of the fabric cover with the bottom connecting means (80), and FIG. 9 depicts the upper connecting means (60).

Claims

1. A self-tensioning fabric cover for covering a curved frame of furniture, comprising:a sheet of fabric,a spring steel strip, andupper connecting means;wherein the sheet of fabric has a polygonal shape with four sides; wherein the sheet of fabric includes a sleeve along an upper side of the sheet of fabric;wherein the spring steel strip is positioned inside the sleeve;wherein a first side of each upper connecting means is connected to the sleeve or to the spring steel strip inside the sleeve and a second side of each upper connecting means is designed to be connected to the curved frame;wherein, when the self-tensioning fabric cover is assembled on the curved frame, the spring steel strip tensions the sleeve and the sheet of fabric away from the curved frame due to a spring force of the spring steel strip that is configured to straighten, such that the sheet of fabric is laid smooth.

2. The self-tensioning fabric cover of claim 1, further comprising bottom connecting means; wherein a first side of each bottom connecting means is connected to a bottom side of the sheet of fabric and a second side of each bottom connecting means is designed to be connected to the curved frame.

3. The self-tensioning fabric cover of claim 1, wherein said furniture is catering furniture.

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