US3657750A - Furniture skirt construction - Google Patents

Abstract

An upholstered furniture skirt construction and method for making same wherein a U-shaped curtain with evenly and upwardly positioned first and second edges is secured adjacent the front surface of the upholstered furniture article, and a double welt is extended continuously along and over these edges so that the skirt hangs substantially vertically from the front surface of the furniture article.

Description

United States Patent Staley 1 1 Apr. 25, 1972 FURNITURE SKIRT CONSTRUCTION [72] Inventor: Herbert C. Staley, PO. Box 1812, High Point, NC. 27461 [22] Filed: May 24, 1971 211 App]. No.: 146,178

[52] 11.5. CI ..l ....5/333, 297/219 [51] Int. Cl ..A47c 21/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..5/333, 353, 353.l,353.2, 353.3, 5/353.4, 353.5, 353.6, 353.7, 353.8; 297/219, 225,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 576,020 1/1897 Bailey ..$/333X D'Arcy ..5/35 3.7 Weinberg ..5/333 Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Andrew M. Calvert Attorney-Charles Y. Lackey [57] ABSTRACT An upholstered furniture skirt construction and method for making same wherein a U-shaped curtain with evenly and upwardly positioned first and second edges is secured adjacent the front surface of the upholstered furniture article, and a double welt is extendedcontinuously along and over these edges so that the skirthangs substantially vertically from the front surface of the furniture article.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAPR 25 I972 I 5. 65?:750

INVENTOR. H E RBE RT 0. STALEY FURNITURE SKIRT CONSTRUCTION I BACKGROUND, BRIEF SUMMARY AND OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION tape in the general direction of the supporting surface or floor.

These curtains are usually lined so that a second fabric layer is secured to the inner side of the curtain.

Unfortunately, when relatively heavy fabric material such as that normally used in upholstering furniture is formed into a curtain, the bend over the securing tape is not sufficiently precise to allow the curtain to hang substantially vertically from the frame front surface. The curtain has a tendency to extend outwardly from the front of the furniture article, and a conventional lining usually increases this undesirable characteristic. Additionally, when the curtain fabric has been penetrated by pins during the fabricating process, the fabric will have a tendency to pucker at some later time after it has been put into use and subjected to changes in temperature and humidity.

The present invention avoids the problems inherent in conventional skirt construction. A U-shaped curtain is formed with its first and second edges positioned evenly together and extending upwardly so that the curtain can be affixed to the frame front surface. An integrally formed doublt welt is placed continuously along and over the first and second edges, and the double welt and the U-shaped curtain is then secured to the frame front surface. Since there is no bending of the fabric over a securing tape as in conventional construction, the U- shaped curtain extends substantially vertically from the frame front surface toward the supporting surface. To amplify the vertical drape of the curtain, an insert may be positioned within the curtain. No pins need be used during the fabricating process, so the pucker problem is eliminated.

The method of constructing the present invention includes either stapling the integral double welt and the U-shaped curtain to the frame front surface, gluing both of these components to the surface or joining the integral double welt and U-shaped curtain prior to attachment to the frame front surface. Either method is equally suitable.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a primary object of the present invention is to provide a novel dress skirt for upholstered furniture which will hang substantially vertically from the furniture frame.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for fabricating dress skirts for upholstered furniture which is more efficient, economical and reliable than the conventional method of furniture skirt construction.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a furniture skirt and method for making same resulting in a far more aesthetically appealing component than heretofore produced under conventional procedures.

These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent after a consideration of the following detailed specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE DESCRIPTION FIG. I is a perspective and fragmentary view of an article of upholstered furniture embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary and front elevational view of an article of upholstered furniture embodying the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional and side elevational view of a conventionally constructed dress skirt for upholstered furniture.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional and side elevational view of a dress skirt for upholstered furniture constituting one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of an integrally fonned double welt constituting a component of the present invention.

FIG-6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional and side elevational view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein the U-sha ped curtain and integral double welt are glued to the frame front surface of the furniture article.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary and sectional view of the integral double welt and U-shaped curtain which have been sewn together prior to attachment to the frame front surface of the furniture article.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 3 illustrates the upholstered furniture article dress skirt fonned by the conventional method of securing one end of the curtain fabric material 10 downwardly and adjacent to the front surface 12 of furniture article frame 14 which has been covered with some suitable upholstering material 16. A strip 18 of tape or backing material is then fastened against the inner surface .20 of curtain material '10, and both the tape and the curtain material are then secured to the frame front surface 12 by a plurality of tacks 22 or some other suitable means. The curtain material 10 is normally dressed with a lining 24 as illustrated in FIG. 3.

While furniture skirts are adequate in appearance when formed by this procedure, it will be apparent that the curtain has a tendency. to extend generally outwardly away from surface 12 of frame 14 in the manner shown because of the sharp bend in the fabric 10 when it extends outwardly and downwardly over strip 18. The addition of lining 24 in many instances compounds the problem since temperature and humidity will affect the appearance of both the fabric 10 and the lining 24 when irregularities, pin holes or flaws have been put into the material during the fabricating process.

The present invention is designed to overcome the undesirable features in appearance of prior art furniture skins and provide a more efficient and positive method for fabricating those skirts. Referring to FIG. 4, a segment of material 26 of preselected length and width is folded upon itself to form a U- shaped curtain 28 having its first and second edges 30 and 32 positioned evenly and upwardly together against the frame front surface 34 hereagain covered by suitable upholstery fabric 36. An integral double welt 38 (see FIG. 5) is extended continuously along and over first and second edges 30 and 32 to hide these edges and form a dress seam appealing in appearance.

The U-shaped curtain and integral double welt may be affixed to surface 34 by a number of equally suitable means, among them including tacks or staples 40 (FIG. 4), glue 42 (FIG. 6) or other measures. It is also possible to continuously sew the integral double welt 38 to the evenly and upwardly extending first and second edges (FIG. 7) prior to afiixing these components to the front surface of the frame. When tacks or staples are used to attach the components to the frame, they are, of course, directed between the two welts which are integrally connected so that they are not visible in the finished product because of the close proximity of the welts each to the other.

Double welt 38 is of conventional construction and is fonned by wrapping fabric 44 from both edges about braided or corded material 46 as shown in FIG. 5. This double welt construction is conventionally used to cover the junction line between wood and fabric on upholstered furniture.

While there has been described a number of embodiments of upholstered furniture dress skirts and 'methods for fabricating same, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications can be made in the article and method without departing from the spirit and purpose of the invention. Such modifications are contemplated.

I claim:

2. A skirt as claimed in claim 1, said retaining means including a plurality of spaced apart staples.

3. A skirt as claimed in claim 1, said retaining means including a film of glue applied at selected locations.

4. A skirt as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an insert positioned within said U-shaped curtain to encourage said curtain to drape substantially vertically from said frame front surface.

Claims (4)

1. A dress skirt for upholstered furniture having a frame with a front surface supported by a plurality of legs maintaining the frame a suitable distance from a supporting surface, said skirt comprising: a U-shaped curtain adjacent the frame front surface, said curtain having first and second edges positioned evenly and upwardly together against the frame front surface; a double welt extending continuously along and over said first and second edges; and means retaining said curtain first and second edges and said double welt adjacent said frame front surface.

2. A skirt as claimed in claim 1, said retaining means including a plurality of spaced apart staples.

3. A skirt as claimed in claim 1, said retaining means including a film of glue applied at selected locations.

4. A skirt as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an insert positioned within said U-shaped curtain to encourage said curtain to drape substantially vertically from said frame front surface.

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