Fabric furniture coverings

Abstract

The present technology relates to furniture covers, in particular, to knitted items of material that are configured to cover pieces of furniture such as chairs, couches, stools, tables, mattresses or box springs, and that are knitted from environmentally friendly fibers that constitute recycled or recyclable materials. Such furniture covers are aesthetically appealing, durable, environmentally friendly, easy to use and change, and otherwise sufficient to satisfy users' practical and design goals. They also have the advantage of permitting a user to dispose the furniture covers, and remove them, without disturbing adjacent pieces of furniture, particularly in the case of a box spring that can be covered without removing the mattress stacked on top.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A furniture cover configured to cover a portion of a piece of furniture, the furniture cover comprising a knitted material, the knitted material comprising at least 75% recyclable or recycled yarn;
 wherein the furniture cover in its resting position has a shape substantially conforming to a shape of the portion of the piece of furniture;   wherein the furniture cover is configured to stretch to an additional 50% or more of its resting length or width or area when being placed onto the piece of furniture, and then to return to its resting position once placed over the portion of the piece of furniture, such that the furniture cover protects the portion of the piece of furniture from dust, allergens, microbes or damage.   
     
     
         2 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , configured to cover a seating surface of a chair or couch. 
     
     
         3 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic portion along its edge, wherein the elastic portion wraps around an underside of the piece of furniture in a manner sufficient to hold the furniture cover in place when disposed on the piece of furniture and in its resting position. 
     
     
         4 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , comprising only a single piece of knitted material and having no stitching thereon other than the knitted material. 
     
     
         5 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , further comprising an elastic portion on at least one edge. 
     
     
         6 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , comprising one or more seams. 
     
     
         7 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , configured to cover a chair, a stool, a couch, or a table. 
     
     
         8 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , comprising two or more surfaces having differing textures. 
     
     
         9 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is stretchable to a length or width or area of up to 75% greater than its original resting length or width or area. 
     
     
         10 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , configured to encase an outer surface of a mattress, headboard, or box spring having a top and bottom surface and an outer edge; the furniture cover comprising a closed loop of the knitted material encircling a space, such that when disposed upon the mattress, headboard, or box spring, the closed loop of the knitted material contacts the outer edge of the mattress, headboard, or box spring, and at least a portion of both a top and a bottom surface of the mattress, headboard, or box spring are not in contact with the furniture cover. 
     
     
         11 . The furniture cover of  claim 1 , wherein the recyclable or recycled yarn comprises any of the following: elastoester polymer, polyethylene terephthalate (polyester), wool, cotton, bamboo, hemp, linen, or lyocell. 
     
     
         12 . A method of disposing a furniture cover on a piece of furniture, the method comprising:
 (a) obtaining a furniture cover of  claim 1  in a resting position, wherein the furniture cover has an edge that comprises an elastic portion;   (b) manually stretching the furniture cover from its resting position to a stretched position;   (c) positioning the stretched furniture cover over the desired portion of a piece of furniture; and   (d) manually releasing the furniture cover from its stretched position, such that the furniture cover returns to its resting position and partially or completely encases the piece of furniture, the elastic portion covering an edge of the piece of furniture.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the piece of furniture comprises a mattress stacked on top of a box spring, such that a bottom surface of the mattress is in contact with a top surface of the box spring. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the furniture cover is disposed onto the box spring without moving or disturbing the mattress. 
     
     
         15 . A method of removing a furniture cover of  claim 1  from a piece of furniture that is partially or completely encased in the furniture cover in a resting position, where an elastic portion on an edge of the furniture cover is covering an edge of the piece of furniture, the method comprising:
 (a) grasping the furniture cover and manually stretching it from its resting position into a stretched position, such that no portion of the furniture cover is touching the piece of furniture; and 
 (b) allowing the furniture cover to return to its resting position, no longer in contact with the piece of furniture. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the piece of furniture comprises a mattress stacked on top of a box spring, such that a bottom surface of the mattress is in contact with a top surface of the box spring. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the furniture cover is removed from the box spring without moving or disturbing the mattress.