Chairs and seats – Detachable supplemental flexible pad or cover – Having elongated flexible free-end securing means
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-04
2003-11-18
White, Rodney B. (Department: 3636)
Chairs and seats
Detachable supplemental flexible pad or cover
Having elongated flexible free-end securing means
C297S228100, C297S229000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648410
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to protective covers for seating, and more particularly to a temporary use cover adapted for quick and easy installation and removal from a vehicle seat. The present cover includes a soft, absorbent cloth outer surface, i. e., the surface away from the upholstery, with at least a portion of the opposite upholstery contact surface having a soft plastic or rubberized backing material with a high coefficient of friction to grip the underlying upholstery material. A series of straps is used to secure the device to the underlying seat.
2. Description of Related Art
Over the years, automobiles have become increasingly more luxurious, even in the case of base and economy models. Where once leather was used for upholstery in only very costly or exotic cars, it is now possible to find relatively economical automobiles, and even light trucks and vans, with such costly upholstery materials.
Regardless of the economic level of the vehicle in which such upholstery materials are used, they are nonetheless still relatively costly, and in fact even lesser vinyl and cloth materials tend to be of higher grades (and thus more expensive) for increased durability and longevity, than was provided in the past. As a result, people are more concerned with taking care of the materials in such vehicles, especially when considering that owners tend to keep their vehicles longer than in the past. When considering that it could cost well over a thousand dollars to have the seats reupholstered using a costly material, the concern of automobile owners is understandable.
Another factor that many vehicle owners are well aware of, particularly in warmer and/or sunny climates, is that vinyl and leather upholstery surfaces become quite hot when exposed to the sun. This is especially true of darker colors and even more so of black upholstery. However, most vehicle upholstery tends to be in darker colors, so this is a problem with the majority of vehicles on the road. Occupant(s) entering a vehicle which has been parked in the sun on a warm day, have been known to receive burns to exposed flesh from the overheated upholstery under such conditions.
As a result, many people install aftermarket covers to protect the upholstery and/or to provide some degree of comfort in hot weather. However, most such aftermarket upholstery kits are cumbersome to install and are not easily removed, which results in their being left in place for an extended period on the vehicle seats to conceal the beauty of the underlying original upholstery.
Accordingly, a need will be seen for a temporary use seat cover adapted for ease of placement upon and removal from a single vehicle seating surface. The present temporary cover provides protection to the underlying upholstery from water, sand, grease from soiled clothing, etc., which may be deposited upon a seating surface from a person who has been swimming, working on the car, or engaged in other informal activities. Moreover, the present temporary cover also protects the occupant from possible burns from overheated upholstery materials, by providing a soft fabric (e. g., terrycloth) layer between the occupant and the underlying upholstery. This is particularly critical for persons wearing shorts, swimsuits, or other attire wherein the thighs or other exposed skin areas may come in contact with the upholstery.
A discussion of the related art of which the present inventor is aware, and its differences and distinctions from the present invention, is provided below.
U.S. Pat. No. 974,865 issued on Nov. 8, 1910 to Charles L. Dreher, titled “Sanitary Seat Cover,” describes a temporary use cover formed of a sheet of paper. Such material obviously does not possess the absorbency and moisture repellency of the present cover, with its fabric upper or outer surface and optional plasticized or rubberized back coating. Moreover, the Dreher cover does not have any form of high friction grip to preclude slippage. The Dreher cover cannot be secured about a headrest, as it includes only a clip for securing over the upper edge of a seatback. Moreover, the Dreher cover is not washable, as is the present cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,213,511 issued on Jan. 23, 1917 to Henri C. Linthicum, titled “Seat Cover,” describes a temporary use cover similar to the Dreher cover discussed immediately above. The Linthicum cover is draped over the seatback to extend down both the front and back surfaces thereof. An elongate tie extends from the end of the cover disposed at the lower back of the seatback, and is wrapped around the opposite side of the seatback and cover to secure the cover to the seat. The Linthicum cover is wasteful of material in that it must include sufficient material to extend down the back of the seat as well as the front, since the attachment ties extend from the corners of the cover positioned at the lower rear of the seatback. Moreover, the Linthicum cover cannot attach to a headrest, but rather drapes over the straight upper edge of the seatback. No absorbency or moisture repellency is disclosed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,383,712 issued on May 17, 1983 to Jose Kaganas, titled “Composite Seat Cover,” describes a sheepskin cover having a foam intermediate layer with a backing sheet. The result: is not washable, as is the present temporary cover. Moreover, Kaganas shows only a single strap attachment for his cover, with a single strap end extending centrally respectively from the bottom and top ends of the seat back portion of his cover. Such an attachment arrangement cannot possibly be used with seats having headrests, as the single central strap cannot be secured about the headrest and would tend to slip to one side of the higher central headrest. Moreover, the Kaganas cover requires a gap between the seat bottom and seatback for passing the lower strap therethrough.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,646,376 issued on Jun. 30, 1987 to Paul C. Keiswetter, titled “Temporary Protective Seat Cover,” describes a cover formed of a co-extruded plastic film having different properties on opposite sides thereof. The back surface provides a relatively high coefficient of friction to cling to the underlying upholstery material, while the front surface has a relatively low coefficient of friction to preclude adhering to the user. This material provides no moisture absorbency for absorbing perspiration or other liquid, as provided by the present cover. Moreover, the Keiswetter cover has a relatively wide top with a pocket for installing over the upper edge of the seatback, and is not adapted for securing to a narrow headrest which extends upwardly from the upper part of the seatback. No strap attachments are provided for the Keiswetter cover, as provided by the present temporary cover.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,789 issued on Aug. 15, 1995 to Gary A. Walker, titled “Attachable Type Beach Towel For Universal Use,” describes a rectangular towel having two opposed straps extending from each end thereof. The straps are intended to wrap around some structure parallel to the edge of the towel and secure back to mating attachment points on the towel, which precludes attachment generally horizontally around the back of a vehicle seat headrest. However, Walker also provides supplemental attachment pads which must be secured to the structure to which his towel is to be attached. This precludes temporary installation, as the seat structure must be modified. In any event, Walker does not provide any moisture repellency or high friction grip for his towel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,709,431 issued on Jan. 20, 1998 to Stephanie Horn, titled “Seat Cover For Protecting A Motor Vehicle Seat,” describes a plastic cover closely resembling the cover of the Keiswetter '376 U.S. Patent discussed further above. The Horn cover utilizes the same double laminate sheet material as used by Keiswetter, but includes additional sheets peripherally secured to the opposite ends of the laminate sheet. These additional sheets, with the ends of the laminate sheet, define pockets which are installed ove
Litman Richard C.
White Rodney B.
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