DE20006038U1 - Slipcover with improved functionality - Google Patents

Description

PATENT ATTORNEYS

SCHAUMBURG · THOENES ■ THURN

EUROPEAN PATENT ATTORNEYS

S.r.l. KARL-HEINZ SCHAUMBURG, Dipl.-Ing.

Via BOSChetti 1 DIETER THOENES, Dipl.-Phys., Dr. rer. nat.

GERHARD THURN, Dipl.-Ing., Dr.-Ing.

20121 Milan

Italy

March 31, 2000
C 9003 DE - THha

Slipcover with improved functionality

The present invention relates to a slipcover with improved functionality, in particular a slipcover for covering the upper area of seat backs and/or headrests.

It is well known that studies on seat ergonomics are carried out for seats in motor vehicles, aircraft and trains, as well as for armchairs in cinemas, theatres and the like, in order to ensure optimum seating comfort for the user.

Much attention is also paid to the issue of hygiene, since the seats mentioned above are used by many different people and everyone wants to find a seat that is as clean as possible.

For example, protective covers are known for car seats that are pulled over the seat like hoods so that they cover at least one area - usually the upper part - of the backrest. For seats in airplanes, trains or motor vehicles, such protective covers cover at least the area on which the user rests his head.

In cinemas, theatres and the like, on the other hand, seat covers are not provided because the function of covering the seat is generally considered useful only in cases where the user rests his head against the backrest, which does not normally occur in cinema or theatre armchairs.

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The protective covers currently available on the market are made in the form of a hood that is attached by pulling it over the corresponding seating area.

This process can sometimes be inconvenient to perform and, in addition, such a slipcover only serves a protective function without being able to offer any other function to the user.

The object of the present invention is to provide a protective cover which, in addition to its normal function of protecting a seat, offers the possibility of turning the protective cover into an advertising medium of interest to the user.

This task requires the specification of a protective cover that can be easily put over the seat and just as easily removed again.

A protective cover made of at least fire-retardant or even fireproof material must be specified.

A slip cover must be specified, the cost of which is low.

These objects are achieved by a slipcover with improved functionality, which includes a piece of cloth for attachment to the upper part of the backrest of a seat or armchair such that one end of the piece of cloth is touched by the user's back and the opposite end covers a rear region of the backrest, at least one of the two ends having an area for attaching advertising in word or picture.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the description of an embodiment of the slipcover according to the invention, which is illustrated as a non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, in which

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the

Slipcover according to the invention, and

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Figure 2 is a perspective view of the attachment of the device shown in Fig.

1 shown slipcover on the backrest of an armchair.

In the figures, a slipcover according to the invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 1 and comprises a piece of cloth 2 for application to the upper part of the backrest 3 of a seat, armchair or the like, which comprises at its four corners a pair of retaining means 4, conveniently consisting for example of two elastic bands and suitable for holding the piece of cloth 2 in position after it has been applied to the upper part of the backrest 3 of the seat or armchair.

The special feature of the invention is that on at least one end of the piece of cloth 2 an area 5 is provided for attaching advertising, pictures and the like.

Conveniently, the piece of cloth 2 is made of fire-retardant or fireproof material so that it does not pose a safety risk in enclosed spaces.

The area 5 where advertising or an image can be placed is preferably located on the end of the piece of fabric 2 which is positioned on the back of the backrest 3 of the seat, so that the advertising is visible to the person sitting behind this backrest. Alternatively, it is possible to provide several advertising images; in this case, the advertising area can also be placed on the end of the piece of fabric 2 which is touched by the user's back when sitting.

Naturally, the area 5 located at the back of the backrest 3 of the seat or armchair is the most visible to users since, even when a person sits down on the corresponding seat, he or she will always have in front of him or her the advertising applied to the end of the piece of cloth 2 which remains visible when the front seat is occupied.

In this way, various types of advertising can be placed on the piece of cloth 2, doubling its functionality. On the one hand, it fulfils a protective function for the upper part of the body, which is desirable from a hygienic point of view.

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the backrest of a seat or armchair, while on the other hand it becomes the optimal advertising medium, since the occupants are essentially "forced" to see the advertisement that is right in front of their eyes.

The piece of cloth 2 shown in Fig. 1 and 2 is rectangular, but may also have other shapes as long as at least one area is provided for the placement of advertising or an image so that the user's attention is drawn to it.

In practice, it has been shown that the seat cover according to the invention completely solves the problem posed. In fact, it is not only easy to apply thanks to the side opening created when the piece of fabric is pulled over the upper part of the backrest, but it is also extremely interesting for advertising purposes, for example for seats in cinemas and theaters, in motor vehicles such as buses and the like, where users have to spend a considerable amount of time sitting down.

In the practical implementation of the invention, all materials used, as long as they are suitable for the specific purpose, shapes and dimensions can be varied according to the requirements.

Claims (7)

1. A slipcover with improved functionality, characterized in that it contains a piece of cloth for attachment to the upper part of the backrest of a seat or armchair such that one end of the piece of cloth is touched by the user's back and the opposite end covers a rear region of the backrest, at least one of the two ends having an area for attaching advertising in word or picture. 2. Slipcover according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one area for attaching advertising in word or picture is provided at the end which covers the rear area of the backrest. 3. Slipcover according to claim 1, characterized in that it contains a pair of areas for applying advertising in word and/or picture, one of which is arranged on the front of each end of the piece of cloth. 4. Slipcover according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piece of cloth contains holding means at its corners which are suitable for attaching and holding it around the upper region of a backrest of a seat or armchair. 5. Slipcover according to claim 4, characterized in that the holding means comprise a pair of elastic bands. 6. Slipcover according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the piece of cloth is made of fire-retardant or fireproof material. 7. Slipcover according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the advertising in word and/or image is printed directly on one end of the piece of cloth.