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Adjustable chair coverAdjustable chair cover description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070145798, Adjustable chair cover. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/097,547, filed Apr. 1, 2005, and which is incorporated in its entirety into this application by this reference. II. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention generally relates to protective and decorative chair cover devices, specifically those for dining chairs. During the feeding of infants, young children, the elderly or those disabled persons who have feeding difficulty, messes are more likely to occur. Previously, parents, caregivers and even caterers sought to protect dining chairs from soiling by various means: [0003] For home use, a person may utilize a form-fitting cover tailored to the precise dimensions of the chair and referred to in the trade as "slipcovers." Although they are very attractive in appearance, the expense is prohibitive for most people and special cleaning requirements make them cumbersome and expensive to maintain. [0004] Parents, caregivers and even caterers may utilize chair covers, known as "throws" in the trade (see U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,049 (1970) to Gerard). These bag-like throws are easily installed and removed. However, they have special washing requirements and therefore cause the caregiver to perform additional work. They are not adjustable. They are likely to be either baggy fitting or too small to be utilized at all. They seriously detract from the stylish appearance of the chair, unless they happen to fit precisely the chair in use. Further, throws are not made of absorbent or impermeable fabric. They do not remain in position on the chair when individuals sit upon them, causing a safety issue for the very young, the elderly and the disabled. [0005] Likewise, some parents and caretakers may cover a chair with a large towel. Although machine washable, and easy to install and remove, towels shift as children or those with disabilities attempt to seat themselves. In addition, such individuals are likely to move about after being seated, causing a safety issue and/or providing inadequate coverage for the chair. Due to inadequate coverage, the parent or caregiver must perform multiple attempts to place the towel and the individual being fed in an advantageous position. Should any shifting occur, as is likely, the parent or caregiver then must clean the chair itself, defeating the towel's purpose. A towel also adversely affects the appearance of the chair while in use. [0006] Several types of protective chair covers for dining chairs have been patented: Most notably, U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,718 (1996) to Neary and U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,709 (2003) to Hetherington. Each suffers from a number of disadvantages: [0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,509,718 shows a one-piece plastic cover for the seat of a dining chair. However, for reasons of comfort, plastic is not an ideal fabric for seating a young child, an elderly person or a disabled person. In addition, the plastic cover requires hand-wiping, as opposed to those made of machine-washable fabrics or disposable fibers, which are labor-saving. Furthermore, the plastic seat cover does not provide coverage to the back of the chair. [0008] U.S. Pat. No. 6,634,709 (2003) shows a one-piece machine-pressable chair cover. Intended for catering use with standard-sized chairs only, it is not adjustable to varying-sized chairs. Moreover, a parent or caregiver would not likely favor a machine-pressable chair cover. A low maintenance chair cover is preferable. [0009] Accordingly, a need exists for protective covers for dining chairs that are adjustable, comfortable, easily installed and removed, stationary, tailored in appearance, and labor-saving (e.g., either machine washable and not requiring pressing, or disposable). III. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] The chair covers described in this application have several advantages over prior chair covers. Parents, caregivers and caterers need not clean each and every crevice of the described chair covers after each feeding. The chair covers are adjustable to fit a variety of chairs sizes, enabling persons to purchase a single item and avoid a multiplicity of purchases and returns in a trial-and-error effort to purchase the correct size chair cover. The chair covers can be quickly and easily installed and removed. The chair covers may be made of machine-washable fabric, enabling easy maintenance. The chair covers may be made of cotton fabric, enabling absorption of spilled liquids. The chair covers may be constructed of absorbent fibers (i.e., paper) possessing sufficient integrity that it does not abrade during normal use, ensuring durability, and easy and sanitary disposal. The chair covers may be constructed with one side of a moisture-repellant material, providing sufficient protection to chairs from spills. The chair covers remain substantially secure and in the position in which they are placed, even when a toddler, child, or disabled person moves upon them. The chair covers can be made more inexpensively than fitted slipcovers thereby making it possible for a larger number of people to purchase and own. [0011] In very general terms, the adjustable chair cover, comprises two separate major components, a back cover and a seat cover that are detachably connected to each other when mounted on a chair. The back cover slides onto the back of the chair and includes a lower portion that rests on top of the chair bottom. This lower portion includes a fastener that mates with a complementary fastener on the seat cover. The seat cover wraps around the chair bottom and includes fasteners that permit the user to wrap the seat cover tightly and secure it in the tightly wrapped position on the chair bottom. The back cover optionally includes a pocket for storing small items. [0012] The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and do not restrict the claims directed to the invention. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view from behind of an embodiment of a two-piece adjustable chair cover. [0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from behind of the two-piece adjustable chair cover of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view illustrating an un-sewn version of the portion of the chair cover shown in FIG. 1 for covering the back of a chair. [0016] FIG. 3A is a partial cross section of the portion of the chair cover taken along the line 3A-3A of FIG. 3. [0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view from behind of the two-piece adjustable chair cover of FIG. 1. [0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating a version of the portion of the chair cover shown in FIG. 1 for covering the seat of a chair. [0019] FIG. 5A is a partial cross section of the portion of the chair cover taken along the line 5A-5A of FIG. 5. [0020] FIG. 6 shows the seat cover, with the underside surface visible. Continue reading about Adjustable chair cover... Full patent description for Adjustable chair cover Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Adjustable chair cover patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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