BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to furniture covers generally, and, more specifically, to a removable, washable, beach lounge chair cover which contains a cushion that extends the full length and width of the chaise longue. The invention is designed for a beach chair of the folding, chaise lounge, type, which is frequently used for lying in the sun at the beach or at home.

[0004] 2. Description of Related Art

[0005] Chaise longue chairs of the folding type often used by sunbathers usually are constructed with two types of body-support elements: nylon mesh strips, woven in criss-cross fashion, or tubular, plastic ribbons. Both types are stretched across the frame members and secured to the frame with fasteners, usually rivets. Both types of body support are uncomfortable. The nylon mesh strips are thin, and offer no cushioning from the frame. The tubular, plastic ribbons flatten when stretched across the frame and also provide negligible cushioning from the frame.

[0006] In the hot sun, the metal frame of the chaise lounge can become too hot to touch. In cool weather, the metal frame becomes uncomfortably chilly to the touch. Neither type of body-support element offers insulation from a hot or cold frame.

[0007] Various chair covers and cushions have been proposed to address these problems.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,785, issued Nov. 19, 1985, to George B. Duke, Jr. et al., titled, “Lounge Chair Cover,” discloses a removable, washable cover for a lounge chair, which has hanging pockets on each side of the cover. The cover contains no full-length, full-width cushion to insulate and cushion the user and no pillowcase. The cover possesses only retaining straps for a pillow, which leaves the pillow exposed to dirt.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,568, issued on Jun. 9, 1987, to Stephen L. Greer, titled, “Terry Cloth Mattress and Lawn Chair Cover with Continuous Elastic Border,” discloses a towel cover made of terry cloth, with a peripheral hem in which is inserted an elastic band to cause snug fitting of the towel to an air mattress or a mattress of a lawn chair. The Greer cover contains no removable, full-length cushion; no convenience pockets for personal articles; no pillowcase; and no pillow.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,094, issued on Feb. 16, 1988, also to Stephen L. Greer, titled, “Expandable Terry Cloth Sand or Lawn Chair Cover Having Integrally Formed Pockets,” describes a cover for a lawn chair, which only fits over a chair, and cannot be used on a beach chaise longue.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,012, issued to Victor J. LaPorte, titled, “Beach Mat Adapted for Use on a Lounge Chair,” discloses a lounge chair with a beach mat resting upon the lounge chair, in which the beach mat has a flap at one end that slips over the head of the lounge chair. The mat cannot be removed from the covering, therefore, neither the mat nor its covering can be washed easily. Further, the LaPorte invention has no convenience pockets for personal articles, no pillowcase, and no pillow.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,288, issued to Susan Lee, on Oct. 31, 1989, titled, “Lounge Chair Cover,” discloses a lounge chair cover with an elongated panel with end flaps that are secured to the panel to make pockets at the ends of the panel. The pockets are inserted over the ends of the chair to hold the cover in place. The cover contains no removable, full-length cushion, and possesses no convenience pockets to hold personal articles.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 4,892,353, issued on Jan. 9, 1990, to Dan J. Goddard, titled, “Cover for Lounge Chair,” discloses a cover for a chaise longue chair extending over the chair surface. Fitted pockets engage the head and foot ends of the lounge. Dependant, convenience pockets are provided at the sides of the cover. The Goddard invention has no removable, full-length cushion, no pillowcase, and no pillow.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 6,149,234, issued on Nov. 21, 2000, to Dorothy M. Daniels, titled, “Beach Chair Towel Retainer System,” discloses a beach-chair towel retaining system for covering a beach chair. An upper, stretchable band surrounds the upper portion of the towel and the upper portion of the beach chair to hold the upper portion of the towel to the chair. A lower, stretchable band surrounds the lower portion of the towel and the lower portion of the beach chair to hold the lower portion of the towel to the chair. A saddle bag containing convenience pockets at each end rests across the intermediate portion of the towel, with the pockets depending from the chair. A pillow and a pillowcase are detachably attached to the outer surface of the upper, stretchable band. The Daniels invention possesses no removable, full-length cushion. The cover is affixed to the chair with separate, stretchable bands that are not an integral part of the cover, and therefore susceptible to loss. The convenience pockets, constructed as a saddle bag, must be attached separately and also are not an integral part of the cover.

[0015] None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention is a removable, washable, cover for a beach chair of the folding, chaise longue type frequently used for sunbathing. The cover extends the full length and width of the chaise lounge and contains a removable cushion, which also extends the full length and width of the chaise lounge.

[0017] The cover of the instant invention cushions the user from the hard, metal frame of the chaise longue. The cover also provides insulation when the frame and body-support elements, such as nylon mesh and plastic tubing, become uncomfortably hot or cold.

[0018] The cover is made of two, rectangular layers of fabric sewn together along the outer edges, except for an opening at least eighteen inches long in one of the longer sides. The cushion is inserted into the cover through the opening. The opening is closed with a releasable fastener, such as hook-and-loop fastening material.

[0019] Convenience pockets for storage of personal articles are permanently attached to each of the two longer edges of the cover, and freely depend from the cover. Panels of fabric sewn to the back of the cover, at the head end and the foot end of the cover, form deep pockets, which slip over the chaise longue frame, securing the cover to the chaise longue.

[0020] An oblong pillowcase is permanently attached to the head end of the cover. The pillowcase is sewn together along three edges, leaving one of the longer edges open. A pillow is inserted into the pillowcase through the open edge, which is sealed with a releasable fastener, such as hook-and-loop fastening material.

[0021] After the full-length cushion and the pillow are removed, the cover can be washed easily, as a single piece, in a standard home washing machine.

[0022] Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide a beach chaise longue cover that contains within it a removable cushion that extends the full length and width of the chaise longue, the cushion being removable so that the cover may be washed.

[0023] It is another object of the invention that the cover possess permanently attached convenience pockets for personal articles, which depend from each of the longer sides of the rectangular cover.

[0024] It is a further object of the invention that the cover possess a permanently attached-pillowcase at the head end of the cover.

[0025] It is another object of the invention to provide a cover for a beach lounge chair having pockets at the head and foot ends of the cover for securely attaching the cover to the lounge chair.

[0026] Still another object of the invention is to provide a beach lounge chair cover with storage compartments, with a, removable full length cushion encased within the cover by hook and loop fastening material for quick and easy removal of the cushion, and having a pillowcase at the head end of the cover with hook and loop closure material sealing the pillowcase for quick and easy removal of the pillow, whereby the cover is easily prepared for washing.

[0027] It is an additional object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0028] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.