A COVER FOR AN ARTICLE

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cover for an article.

Background of the Invention

The present invention was initially developed when considering aspects of covers for mattresses and, in particular, the common bed sheet. In this regard it is known to produce bed sheets or other bed/mattress covers with two or four fitted corners. Notwithstanding that the invention was developed in relation to bed/mattress covers Applicant recognizes that the inventive concepts may be applied to covers for articles other than beds and mattresses, such as, but not limited to: cushions, lounges, chairs, tables, and cars.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a cover for an article comprising: a sheet of pliable material for covering said article; an elastic member; and, a coupling system for releasably coupling the elastic member to a region of said sheet.

In one embodiment the coupling system may comprise one or more loops formed in or attached to said sheet through which the elastic member passes.

In a further embodiment, the coupling system may further comprise a hem formed in the sheet through which the elastic member passes.

In each of the embodiments described above, the coupling system may comprise a fastening system for releasably engaging opposite ends of the elastic member to said sheet.

The fastening system may comprise first fastener portions formed on or attached to the sheet and second complimentary fastener portions formed on or attached to opposite ends of said elastic member.

In each of the above embodiments the elastic member may be one of a plurality of elastic members; and wherein respective elastic members are releasably coupled to the sheet at different locations by corresponding coupling systems.

According to a second aspect there is provided a method for making a cover for covering an article, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a sheet of pliable material for covering said article; (b) forming a coupling system in at least one region of said sheet for releasably coupling an elastic member.

The method may further comprise providing an elastic member and engaging said elastic member with said coupling system.

The method may further comprise forming the coupling system by providing on or in sheet and on or in the elastic member

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a fastening system for releasably engaging opposite ends of the elastic member to said sheet.

The forming of the coupling system may comprise forming a hem, or one or more loops, in the sheet through which said elastic member can be threaded.

Further, the providing of the fastening system may comprise providing first fastener portions on or in the sheet and second complimentary fastener portions on or in opposite ends of said elastic member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Preferred embodiments, incorporating all aspects of the invention, will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention when assembled; Figure 2A shows a perspective view of a threading device used in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2B shows a perspective view of a the device shown in Figure 2A being used to assemble a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3A shows a plan view of the embodiment shown in Figure 1 when not assembled;

Figure 3B shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 3A. Figure 4A shows a plan view of a further embodiment of a fastening system when not assembled;

Figure 4B shows a perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figure 4A when assembled.

Figure 5A shows a plan view of a further embodiment of a coupling system when not assembled;

Figure 5B shows a perspective view of a further embodiment of Figure 5A when assembled.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention

Before the preferred embodiment of the present invention is described, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular apparatus described, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing the particular embodiment only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. It must be noted that as used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Figure 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention where a cover 2 is in use covering an article which, in the case of this embodiment, is a mattress 4. The cover 2 comprises a sheet 6 of a pliable material such as a cotton sheet. The cover 2 further comprises an elastic member 8 and a coupling system 10 for releasably coupling the elastic member 8 to a region of the sheet 6. As the present application is in relation to a mattress, the region is a corner of the sheet.

As previously explained above, while the article is described in this embodiment as a mattress the invention is not limited by or otherwise dependant on the nature, shape or configuration of the article to which it is to be applied. For example, the cover 2 may be used to cover a car, boat or like item; or a chair, table, lounge, freestanding barbeque etc.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the coupling system 10 comprises a hem 12 formed in the sheet 6. The hem 12 is generally constructed by folding an edge of the sheet 6 back over itself and fixing it in place to form a passage through which the elastic member 8 may be passed or threaded. The elastic member 8 is passed or threaded through the hem 12 by a threading device 24 (shown in

Figure 2A) so that a first end 14 and a second end 16 of the elastic member 8 can be secured in place at opposite ends of the hem 12 by one or more fastening systems 18.

The fastening system 18 comprises first fastener portions formed on or in the sheet 6 and complimentary second fastener portions formed on or in opposite ends of the elastic material.

The threading device 24 comprises a slender member having a beak or catch 26 at a distal end into which a portion of the elastic member 8 is placed. The geometry of the beak 26 is configured to trap the portion of the elastic member 8 so a user may easily push said trapped portion through the hem 12. Generally, one of the ends of the elastic member 8 will be secured (either manually by the user or by a respective fastening system 18) so the entire elastic member 8 is not inadvertently pushed completely through the hem 12. The threading device 24 is constructed from a

material and appropriate geometry having sufficient rigidity to be easily maneuverable through the hem 12. The threading device 24 may be made from a flexible plastics material.

The elastic member 8 is of a length that provides sufficient tension, once secured, to allow said cover 2 to grip the article 4 so said cover 2 is not easily removed. The length, and thus the resulting tension of the elastic member 8 when assembled, may differ depending upon the size of the cover 2 and the article 4 being covered.

The elastic member 8 may further comprise one or more segments of elastic material depending upon the characteristic elasticity required. In one embodiment, the elastic member 8 may comprise segments of a harder wearing material at either end of a strip of elastic material. For example, the elastic member may comprise a central strip of elastic material with say leather or canvas strips coupled to each end.

The fastening systems 18 may comprise any means of fastening the first 14 and second 16 ends of the elastic member 8 to the sheet 6 known to one skilled in the art. Figure 2B, 3A and Figure 3B both show a further embodiment of a fastening system 18 where a catch and hook system is used to secure the elastic member 8 to the sheet 6 once it has been threaded through the hem 12. The elastic member 8 is configured at each end (14 and 16) with a second fastener portion in the form of a catch 20 orientated to engage respective first fastener portions in the form of hooks 22 that are fixed to the sheet 6 at opposite ends of the hem 12. Alternatively, the first 14 and second 16 ends

of the elastic member 8 may each be configured with the catch 22 that engages respective hooks 20 fixed to the sheet 6 at opposite ends of the hem 12.

A further embodiment of a suitable fastening system 18 may comprise, first fastener portions in the form of buttons 28 and second fastener portions in the form of button holes 30 where the sheet 6, at opposite ends of the hem 12, is provided with button 28 to engage a respective complimentary button-holes 30 at the first 14 and 16 ends of the elastic member 8. The converse may also be applicable.

The fastening system 18 may be configured to allow the tension of the elastic member 8 to be adjusted in situ. In this embodiment, the fastening system 18 may comprise one or more buttons and buttons-holes to allow the elastic member 8 to be tensioned variably. In the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the sheet 6 comprises only one button 28 at opposite ends of the hem 12. The elastic member 8 comprises two or more button-holes 30 configured in the first 14 and second 16 ends of the elastic member 8. During assembly, the elastic member 8 may be stretched and secured at different lengths to assert a different tension. The converse of the latter embodiment may also apply where the buttons 28 are placed on the elastic member 8 and a buttonhole 30 is placed in the sheet 6 at opposite ends of the hem 12.

A further fastening system 18 may comprise press fit studs having male and female portions. As with the previously described button-hole fastening system, the male or female portions of the studs may be located on either the elastic

member 8 or the sheet 6. It will be appreciated that use of multiple press studs will also give effect to the elastic member 8 being adjustable in situ.

A further embodiment of the coupling system 10 is shown in Figure 5A and Figure 5B. The coupling system 10 shown comprises one or more loops 32 formed in or attached to the sheet 6 through which the elastic member 8 passes. The loops 32 may be attached to the edge of the corner region of the sheet 6 or at any location near the edge of said sheet. The loops 32 may be constructed from the same material as the sheet 6.

Advantages of each of the described embodiments are that the elastic member 8 can be easily assembled and removed from the coupling system 10 when the cover is to be cleaned. The elastic member 8 can be easily, and cheaply, replaced when damaged or no longer functioning as required allowing the cover 2 to be retained incurring minimal cost.

Numerous variations and modifications will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the relevant art, in addition to those already described, without departing from the basic inventive concepts. For example as a further variation of the fastening system 18, buckles can be sewn or otherwise attached to the sheet near opposite ends of the hem 12 with ends of the elastic member threaded through the buckles. This allows for relatively simple adjustment in tension by pulling on the ends of the elastic member. Also the coupling system 10 may be placed on either side of the cover/sheet, so that it can itself be covered by the cover 2/sheet 6 or be exposed when the cover 2 is in use. All such variations and modifications are to be considered

within the scope of the present invention, the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.