# US 5,702,791 A · Furniture protector device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,791 A - Document ID: US5702791A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 07/602,765 - Filed: 1990-10-24 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1990-10-24 - Inventors: Jim Zegeer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702791A ## CPC - A47C 31/10: Loose {or removable} furniture covers - A01K 1/035: Devices for use in keeping domestic animals, e.g. fittings in housings or dog beds - Y10T 428/17: Three or more coplanar interfitted sections with securing means - Y10T 428/18: Longitudinally sectional layer of three or more sections - Y10T 428/192: Sheets or webs coplanar - Y10T 428/23: Sheet including cover or casing - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - A01K: ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; AVICULTURE; APICULTURE; PISCICULTURE; FISHING; REARING OR BREEDING ANIMALS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NEW BREEDS OF ANIMALS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A furniture protector for protecting the fabric of upholstered furniture such as sofas and easy arm chairs and the like, from damage by pet dogs includes one or more rigid panels having a width to span a predetermined portion of the front to back seating space and a length to span the seating spaces. The rigid panels leave no comfortable space for pet dogs to rest. The panels have decorative surfaces and fabrics which can be color coordinated with the fabric of the upholstered furniture. Handles are provided and various arrangements for compacting the panels for storage are disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A furniture protector device for protecting the fabric on sofas and stuffed chair furniture having a seating space from damage by dogs, comprising, in combination with said seating space: one or more rigid panel members having a width to span a predetermined portion, but not all, of the front to back portion of said seating space and a length to span approximately the width of said seating space, and a decorative means on said one or more rigid panel members. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The furniture protector device defined in claim 1 including handle means secured to said one or more rigid panel members. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The furniture protector device defined in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said panel members and means hingedly connecting said plurality of panel members for folding to a compact assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The furniture protector defined in claim 3 wherein one of said panel members has said handle secured thereto and the other of said panel members have openings through which said handle means passes. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The furniture protector defined in claim 1 including means for retaining said protector on said seating space. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The furniture protector defined in claim 5 wherein said means for retaining is the weight of said one or more panel members. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The furniture protector defined in claim 5 wherein said furniture has a seat cushion engaging the lower end of a back cushion to form a bight, said means for retaining is constituted by one or more tuck flaps secured to and extending from edges of said panels for tucking into said bight. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The furniture protector defined in claim 5 wherein said means for retaining is constituted by hook patch on the bottom surface of said one or more panel members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The furniture protector defined in claim 1 wherein said fabric on said sofa has predetermined color and design and said furniture protector device includes a fabric sleeve covering said one or more panels. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The furniture protector defined in claim 9 wherein said fabric sleeve is contrastingly color coordinated with said fabric on said sofa. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The furniture protector defined in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of said panels, means hingedly connecting said panels together and wherein said panels are made of wood. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The furniture protector defined in claim 1 wherein each said one or more panel members is comprised of a frame having openings therein and said decorative means is comprised of pattern of said openings in said frame. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The furniture protector defined in claim 1 wherein said decorative means is a three-dimensional object secured to an upper surface of said rigid panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The furniture protector defined in claim 1 wherein said decorative means is constituted by the shape of the edges of said one or more panel members. ### Claim 15 A device for protecting upholstered furniture from a pet dog comprising, in combination with said upholstered furniture a fabric sleeve for receiving one or more rigid panel inserts, said fabric sleeve having a length to cover the length of said furniture and a depth sufficient to preclude comfortable seating by said pet dog and having a color and fabric which is a color coordinated contrast to said upholstered furniture. ### Claim 16 A method of protecting upholstered furniture having a seating area from a pet dog, comprising: providing one or more rigid panel members and forming a decorative surface on said one or more rigid panel members, which decorative surface is coordinated to be complementary in color and design to said upholstered furniture, said one or more rigid panel members having length and depth dimensions receivable on said seating area, and positioning said one or more rigid panel members with their decorative surfaces on said seating area to make it uncomfortable for said pet dog. ### Claim 17 A furniture protector system for a multiple seat stuffed sofa comprising: a plurality of rigid panel members, there being at least one rigid panel member for each seat of said multiple seat stuffed sofa, decorative means on each said rigid panel member, and each said rigid panel member having a surface area sufficient to cover a predetermined area of a selected one of a seat of said multiple seat stuffed sofa, said rigid panel member shaving structural configurations so that they can be stacked, one on another, when not in use as a furniture protector, and wherein one of said rigid panels has a carrying handle secured thereto, and the remaining of said rigid panels are shaped to accommodate said handle when said panels are stacked when not in use.