Beds – Bedclothing – Valance
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-19
2003-07-29
Santos, Robert G. (Department: 3673)
Beds
Bedclothing
Valance
C005S482000, C005S923000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06598249
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to a method for trimming the lower structure of a piece of furniture such as a bed or a couch as well as a strip of fabric to form such a trimming.
For a long time, attempts have been made to hide the lower structures of pieces of furniture such as bed bases or the structure of couches which are considered to be anaesthetic. Thus, WO-A-99/03378 relates to a bed valance of a size and shape such that it can be arranged on top of and around a bed base and under a mattress. Fitted over the whole length and on the upper edge of the valance is an anti-slip friction surface, the latter being firmly wedged between the mattress and the base of the bed.
WO-A-98/38896, for its part describes a mattress cover comprising a peripheral fabric strip with meshes knitted from high-tenacity yarns and elastic yarns. This peripheral strip can be elastically stretched in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction and regains its transverse stretching characteristics when it is laundered and dried in a relaxed state.
FR-A-2 750 304 describes a method for covering the top of a piece of furniture in which a trimming which is for example decorative is spread out and this covering is immobilised by means of a cover made of transparent plastic material provided with a strong elastic cord housed in a peripheral hem which is stretched over the said top.
FR-A-2 755 595 describes a ready-to-use trimming for a sofa bed consisting of two mattresses, comprising a fitted sheet with a shape and dimensions corresponding to the two mattresses together, an essentially rectangular quilt cover comprising two front edges and two side edges, sub divided by a centre seam into two symmetrical compartments intended to cooperate with one of the frame elements and provided with means allowing it to be fitted without being fixed onto the mattress in such a way that the centre seam is situated in the seating hollow, and two identical quilts cooperating respectively with one of the compartments of the quilt cover.
It would be desirable to have available a trimming for the lower structure of a piece of furniture, such as a bed or a couch, which is easy to manufacture, cheap and versatile as regards the dimensions to be covered, and attractive.
After lengthy research, the applicant has discovered a method for trimming the lower structure of a piece of furniture and a trimming used for such a purpose, essentially based on the creation of an inverted pleat which is adjustable as to the width of the pleated widths thanks to juxtaposed additional fixing elements.
That is why a subject of the present invention is a method for trimming the lower structure of a piece of furniture such as a bed or a couch in which the sides of the said structure are covered with an generally rectangular elongated strip, characterised in that, in order to adjust the height of the said strip on the side, and adapt the length of the said strip to the size of the structure to be covered,
the edge of the upper part of the strip is provided with at least one system of attachment devices comprising a series of male or female attachment devices with a length of at least 5 cm, framed on each side in the direction of the length of the band by a series of additional respectively male or female attachment devices each with a length of at least 5 cm,
the ends of the strip are fixed onto the structure and
the strip is folded at the system of attachment devices, causing them to cooperate to form an inverted pleat, to adjust the length of the strip to the length of the structure to be covered, to constitute, over the length of the structure, an edge resting on top of the latter, and in order to adjust the height of the strip to the height of the structure.
The piece of furniture can be for sitting on such as a couch or an armchair, a piece of bedding furniture such as a bed, or also in particular a table or shelf. The invention applies equally well to pelmets and canopies.
The length of the strip can range according to use from about 50 cm to 15 m, in particular from about 60 cm to 12 m, preferably from about 70 cm to 10 m and quite particularly from about 2 m to 8 m. In the case of a single bed, this length can for example range from about 4.5 to 8 m, in particular from about 5 m to 7 m. In the case of a double bed, this length can range for example from about 5.5 m to 10 m, in particular from about 6.3 to 8 m and quite particularly from about 6.3 m to 7 m. In the case of a couch, this length can be similar to that of a single bed. The lengths indicated above comprise the length of fabric required for the creation of several decorative inverted pleats. They will generally be less if only a functional pleat is required, that is to say the single pleat necessary to adjust the strip to various structural dimensions.
The height of the strip can for example range from about 15 cm to 1.5 m. In the case of a bed, this height can range for example from about 15 cm to 1 m, in particular from about 30 cm to 80 cm and quite particularly from about 40 cm to 60 cm. In the case of a couch, this height can range for example from about 15 cm to 60 cm, in particular from about 20 cm to 50 cm. In the case of a pedestal table, this height can range for example from about 60 cm to 1.5 m, in particular from about 70 cm to 1 m.
By “side of the structure”, is meant the lower vertical sides of the structure, for example the base of a bed, these sides optionally including an empty space constituted for example by the feet of the piece of furniture. The piece of furniture can have any form, for example circular, and in particular rectangular form as in the case of a bed or a couch with a standard form. The part of the strip which is furthest from the ground or from the support on which the piece of furniture rests is called “upper part of the strip”.
A first series of male or female devices have been fitted on this upper edge. This first series of male devices can for example be fitted over a length of 5 to 40 cm, in particular 10 to 20 cm. This first series of devices is framed by series of additional respectively male or female devices. This second series of additional devices will spread out over a length of preferably between 10 and 30 cm, in particular 15 and 20 cm. The whole forms a system of attachment devices.
As male or female devices, all of the devices traditionally used in sewing and decoration can be used, in particular press-studs, loops and metal hooks. In such a case, a series of 2 to 10 female press-studs can for example be fitted, each spaced about 1 cm apart in the direction of the length of the strip, framed by two series of for example 10 to 15 corresponding male press-studs aligned with the female series and therefore in the direction of the length of the strip, preferably with the same spacing as the female press-studs.
However, in preferential conditions of implementation, self-gripping bands such as those known under the trademark Velcro® comprising a multitude of attachment devices are used as an attachment device.
In preferential conditions of use, a band with loops is framed with the aid of two bands with hooks in order to form a system of attachment devices.
Thus, when creating an inverted pleat, it will be possible to arrange for the hooks to remain visible whilst the other part of the hooks will cooperate with the band with loops. These hooks or the equivalent (press-studs, hooks or others) can cooperate in particular with a width of fabric including additional fixing devices at appropriate places. In the case of the use of self-gripping bands, a fabric with loops covering for example the whole surface of the base of the bed can thus be used. Moreover, the use of self-gripping bands allows a continuous adjustment, which is not linked to the spacing of the devices.
In preferential conditions for the implementation of the invention, two additional pleats, such as inverted pleats are provided on the strip. These can be fixed. They can then in particular be fitted either side of the system of male and female devices descr
Pajanacci Marie-Paule
Pajanacci Sophie
Browdy and Neimark
Santos Robert G.
So.Tex.Am
LandOfFree
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