Stretch slipcovers

Abstract

The invention provides upholstery stretch slipcovers comprising a fabric having sufficient elastic recovery force that the cover requires no additional fabric having greater elastic recovery force than said first fabric to hold the stretch cover in place and to maintain the substantial absence of surface wrinkles in normal use. The stretch slipcovers are particularly useful for chairs having separate back and seat cushions. The invention further provides a method for replaceably upholstering a resilient cushion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A stretch slipcover, comprising: 
 a top and sides comprising a fabric having sufficient elastic recovery force to hold the stretch slipcover in place over a resilient cushion and to maintain a substantial absence of surface wrinkles, wherein    the fabric has greater than 30% extension under 15 lbs. applied load in directions parallel and perpendicular to a warp direction of the fabric, and wherein    the fabric has a minimum recovery force of 200 grams at 25% extension in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction.    
     
     
         2 . The stretch slipcover of  claim 1 , in combination with a resilient cushion.  
     
     
         3 . The combination of  claim 2 , wherein the slipcover is held on the resilient cushion solely by the recovery force of the fabric.  
     
     
         4 . The stretch slipcover of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a long chain synthetic elastomer comprised of at least 85% by weight of a segmented polyurethane.  
     
     
         5 . The stretch slipcover of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises elastane.  
     
     
         6 . The stretch slipcover of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric comprises a peripheral edge of the slipcover.  
     
     
         7 . The stretch slipcover of  claim 6 , wherein a perimeter of the stretch slipcover is free of an elastic or resilient band.  
     
     
         8 . A stretch slipcover set comprising two stretch slipcovers of  claim 1 , wherein the first stretch slipcover fits a chair back cushion and a second stretch slipcover fits a chair seat cushion.  
     
     
         9 . A stretch slipcover set for a chair having a separate back cushion and seat cushion, comprising: 
 a first stretch slipcover having a front portion and side portions for covering a front surface and at least part of side surfaces of the back cushion of the chair; and    a second stretch slipcover having a top portion and side portions for covering a top surface and at least part of side surfaces of the seat cushion of the chair, wherein    the stretch slipcovers are constructed of fabric having greater than 30% extension under 15 lbs. applied load in directions parallel and perpendicular to a warp direction of the fabric, and    the fabric has a minimum recovery force of 200 grams at 25% extension in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction of the fabric.    
     
     
         10 . The stretch slipcover of  claim 9 , in combination with a chair.  
     
     
         11 . The combination of  claim 10 , wherein the slipcovers are held on the chair solely by the recovery force of the fabric.  
     
     
         12 . The stretch slipcover set of  claim 9 , wherein the fabric comprises a long chain synthetic elastomer comprised of at least 85% by weight of a segmented polyurethane.  
     
     
         13 . The stretch slipcover set of  claim 9 , wherein the fabric comprises elastane.  
     
     
         14 . The stretch slipcover set of  claim 9 , wherein the fabric comprises a peripheral edge of the slipcovers.  
     
     
         15 . The stretch slipcover set of  claim 14 , wherein perimeters of the stretch slipcovers are free of elastic or resilient bands.  
     
     
         16 . A method of replaceably upholstering a chair, comprising: 
 (a) providing a first stretch slipcover having a front portion and side portions for covering a front surface and at least part of side surfaces of a back cushion of the chair;    (b) providing a second stretch slipcover having a top portion and side portions for covering a top surface and at least part of side surfaces of the seat cushion of the chair, wherein the first and second slipcovers are constructed of a fabric having a minimum recovery force of 200 grams at 25% extension in directions parallel and perpendicular to the warp direction;    (c) stretching the first stretch slipcover of step (a) over the back cushion of the chair;    (d) releasing the first stretch slipcover to allow the first stretch slipcover to grip the back cushion, wherein the recovery force of the first stretch slipcover fabric provides a substantial absence of surface wrinkles;    (e) stretching the second stretch slipcover of step (b) over the seat cushion of the chair; and    (f) releasing the second stretch slipcover to allow the second stretch slipcover to grip the seat cushion, wherein the recovery force of the second stretch slipcover fabric provides a substantial absence of surface wrinkles.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric comprises a long chain synthetic elastomer comprised of at least 85% by weight of a segmented polyurethane.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric comprises elastane.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the fabric comprises peripheral edges of the slipcovers.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein perimeters of the stretch slipcovers are free of elastic or resilient bands.