Catching device for use with upholstered furniture

Abstract

A catching device for use with a piece of upholstered furniture having a base portion, at least one wall portion extending upwardly from the base portion, and a crevice between the base portion and the at least one wall portion. The catching device includes an elongated receptacle sized and shaped for insertion into the crevice. The receptacle has a length selected to extend along at least a portion of the crevice, an upper sidewall shaped to extend along a wall side of the crevice, a lower sidewall shaped to extend along a base side of the crevice, and an end portion shaped for flexibly coupling the lower sidewall to the upper sidewall so as to form a closed end of the receptacle. The upper sidewall and lower sidewall are biased apart from each other such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the upper sidewall sealingly engages the wall portion and the lower sidewall sealingly engages the base portion. The catching device also includes a retaining flange flexibly coupled to a top portion of the upper sidewall and being sized and shaped such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the retaining flange protrudes outwardly from the crevice and away from the lower sidewall to engage a wall surface of the at least one wall portion to secure the receptacle in the crevice.

1 . A catching device for use with a piece of upholstered furniture having a base portion, at least one wall portion extending upwardly from the base portion, and a crevice between the base portion and the at least one wall portion, the catching device comprising:
 a) an elongated receptacle sized and shaped for insertion into the crevice, the receptacle having a length selected to extend along at least a portion of the crevice, an upper sidewall shaped to extend along a wall side of the crevice, a lower sidewall shaped to extend along a base side of the crevice, and an end portion shaped for flexibly coupling the lower sidewall to the upper sidewall so as to form a closed end of the receptacle, the upper sidewall and lower sidewall being biased apart from each other such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the upper sidewall sealingly engages the wall portion and the lower sidewall sealingly engages the base portion; and   b) a retaining flange flexibly coupled to a top portion of the upper sidewall, the retaining flange being sized and shaped such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the retaining flange protrudes outwardly from the crevice and away from the lower sidewall to engage a wall surface of the at least one wall portion to secure the receptacle in the crevice.   
   
   
       2 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining flange width is selected such that the retaining flange is configured to hookingly engage the wall surface of the at least one wall portion. 
   
   
       3 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining flange is coupled to the top portion of the upper sidewall at an angle between approximately 75 degrees and 105 degrees. 
   
   
       4 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining flange is generally perpendicularly to the upper sidewall. 
   
   
       5 . The catching device of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower engagement member coupled to the lower sidewall of the catching device and extending outwardly therefrom, the lower engagement member sized and shaped such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the lower engagement member engages an upper surface of the base portion so as to secure the receptacle in the crevice. 
   
   
       6 . The catching device of  claim 5 , wherein the lower engagement member is flexibly coupled to the lower sidewall and extends downwardly therefrom at an angle between approximately 0 degrees and 30 degrees. 
   
   
       7 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper sidewall and lower sidewall are flexible such that when at least one occupant sits on the base portion, the upper and lower sidewalls maintain sealing engagement with the wall portion and base portion. 
   
   
       8 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining flange has a width selected such that the retaining flange is at least partially hidden by a removable cushion received on the base portion of the piece of upholstered furniture. 
   
   
       9 . The catching device of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one friction-enhanced portion configured to engage the piece of upholstered furniture to secure the receptacle in the crevice. 
   
   
       10 . The catching device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one friction-enhanced portion includes a plurality of ridges. 
   
   
       11 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper sidewall, the lower sidewall, and the retaining flange comprises a ridged portion having a plurality of ridges, the plurality of ridges orientated at rake angles selected to inhibit movement of the catching device when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice. 
   
   
       12 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper sidewall, lower sidewall, end portion, and retaining flange are formed of a continuous member. 
   
   
       13 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion of the piece of upholstered furniture comprises a backrest portion of the upholstered furniture and the length of the receptacle is selected to extend along substantially the entire backrest portion. 
   
   
       14 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the wall portion of the piece of upholstered furniture comprises a side wall portion of the upholstered furniture and the length of the receptacle is selected to extend along substantially the entire side wall portion. 
   
   
       15 . The catching device of  claim 1 , wherein the end portion is bulbously shaped such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the end portion tends to wedge against the upper sidewall and lower sidewall to secure the receptacle within the crevice. 
   
   
       16 . A catching device for use with a piece of upholstered furniture having a base portion, at least one wall portion extending upwardly from the base portion, and a crevice between the base portion and the at least one wall portion, the catching device comprising:
 a) an elongated receptacle sized and shaped for insertion into the crevice, the receptacle having a length selected to extend along at least a portion of the crevice, an upper sidewall shaped to extend along a wall side of the crevice, a lower sidewall shaped to extend along a base side of the crevice, and an end portion shaped for flexibly coupling the lower sidewall to the upper sidewall so as to form a closed end of the receptacle, the upper sidewall and lower sidewall biased apart from each other such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the upper sidewall sealingly engages the wall portion and the lower sidewall sealingly engages the base portion; and   b) a lower engagement member coupled to the lower sidewall of the catching device and extending outwardly therefrom, the lower engagement member sized and shaped such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the lower engagement member engages an upper surface of the base portion so as to secure the receptacle in the crevice.   
   
   
       17 . The catching device of  claim 16 , further comprising a retaining flange flexibly coupled to a top portion of the upper sidewall and being sized and shaped such that when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice, the retaining flange protrudes outwardly from the crevice and away from the lower sidewall to engage a wall surface of the at least one wall portion to secure the receptacle in the crevice. 
   
   
       18 . The catching device of  claim 16 , further comprising at least one friction-enhanced portion configured to engage the piece of upholstered furniture to secure the receptacle in the crevice. 
   
   
       19 . The catching device of  claim 18 , wherein the at least one friction-enhanced portion includes a plurality of ridges. 
   
   
       20 . The catching device of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the upper sidewall, the lower sidewall, and the lower engagement member comprises a ridged portion having a plurality of ridges, the plurality of ridges orientated at rake angles selected to inhibit movement of the catching device when the receptacle is inserted into the crevice.