Convertible protective cover and pillow for patio furniture and the like

Abstract

In one embodiment, a convertible protective cover for protecting an article. The cover includes a covering portion having an underside, a pillowcase portion having an inside surface, and a tether having two ends, one end coupled to the covering portion and the other end coupled to the pillowcase portion. The covering portion can be stuffed into the tethered pillowcase portion to form a stuffed pillow that conceals the cover. Conversely, the protective cover conceals the pillowcase portion while the protective cover is in use to protect the article.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A convertible protective cover comprising:
 a covering portion having an underside;   a pillowcase portion having an inside surface; and   a tether having two ends, one end coupled to the covering portion and the other end coupled to the pillowcase portion.   
     
     
         2 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein one end of the tether is coupled to the underside of the covering portion, and the other end of the tether is coupled to the inside surface of the pillowcase portion. 
     
     
         3 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the pillowcase portion is adapted to receive and conceal the covering portion and the tether. 
     
     
         4 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the pillowcase portion comprises solution-dyed acrylic. 
     
     
         5 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the covering portion comprises one or more layers of polypropylene. 
     
     
         6 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 5 , wherein the covering portion includes at least one spunbond polypropylene layer. 
     
     
         7 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 5 , wherein the covering portion includes two outer layers of material and an inner layer of material disposed between the outer layers. 
     
     
         8 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 7 , wherein the outer layers comprise spunbond polypropylene and the inner layer comprises polypropylene film. 
     
     
         9 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the pillowcase portion has a front surface and a back surface, and an opening is formed in the back surface for receiving the covering portion therein. 
     
     
         10 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the tether comprises polypropylene webbing. 
     
     
         11 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the tether is detachable from at least one of the pillowcase portion and the covering portion. 
     
     
         12 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the tether is elastic. 
     
     
         13 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the pillowcase portion has at least one closure device for retaining the tether and the covering portion inside the pillowcase portion. 
     
     
         14 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the convertible protective cover conforms generally to the shape of a cooking apparatus. 
     
     
         15 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the cooking apparatus is a cart-style barbecue grill. 
     
     
         16 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the convertible protective cover conforms generally to the shape of a vehicle. 
     
     
         17 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover conforms generally to the shape of an article of furniture. 
     
     
         18 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , wherein the protective cover conforms generally to the shape of a seating device. 
     
     
         19 . The convertible protective cover of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more straps to secure the convertible protective cover around an article. 
     
     
         20 . A method for concealing a protective cover for an article, the method comprising:
 receiving, inside a pillowcase portion having an inside surface, a covering portion having an underside, wherein:   the pillowcase portion is tethered to the covering portion by means of a tether; and   one end of the tether is coupled to the underside of the covering portion, and the other end of the tether is coupled to the inside surface of the pillowcase portion.