Versatile Children's Play Table With Toy Storage

I. Field of The Invention

The present invention relates to a children's play table, and more specifically to such a play table which includes a removable and reversible table top. One side of the reversible table top incorporates a plurality of interlocking elements for a modular building system while the reverse side is a smooth work surface. Beneath the reversible table top is a recessed work surface which is exposed when the reversible table top is removed. Beneath the recessed surface is a storage area which can accommodate a number of drawers for toy storage with an area beneath the drawers which includes supports for the reversible table top.

II. Description of The Related Art

As anyone who has been a parent or who has otherwise worked with young children can attest, it is important to provide a location where toys can be stored, but in which they remain conveniently accessible to children. This is particularly true of toys which comprise a number of small pieces, such as modular building block systems, puzzles, games, etc. At the same time, the use of such toys requires a firm play surface which is provided at a height which children can easily reach. It would be helpful if the play surface could be used both for building block construction and other activities as well, which would mean that any interlocking elements on the work surface must be capable of being covered or removed.

Previous attempts to design a versatile children's play table have included U.S. Pat. No. 1,850,420 to Schuldt, in which a removable, reversible table top has a pattern on one side for checkers or chess and on the other side for backgammon. U.S. Pat. No. 3,806,220 to Payne teaches a desk with a removable plastic storage tray which operates along rails beneath the desk top. U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,410 to Lilly teaches a foldable playtray which includes a modular building block surface on one side and a smooth surface on the reverse side. The legs can be rotated to support the table or to be coplanar with and extend the table surface. Small objects can also be stored in the legs. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 5,055,081 to Nayak teaches a play table in which a table surface has a modular building block surface with a centrally located opening to a storage container beneath the surface. An optional flat panel can be placed over the building block surface to make a smooth playing surface.

Despite these earlier tables, a need still exists for a versatile children's play table equipped for play with a modular building block system. Such a play table should have conveniently accessible storage for a large number of building blocks or other toys and games, should have a removable and reversible top which is convertible between a smooth surface and a modular building block surface, and should provide storage space within the table for the convertible top when it is removed.

The present invention is a versatile children's play table including a removable and reversible table top with a first side which incorporates a plurality of modular building block interlocking elements. The reverse side of the reversible table top is a smooth play surface. A further, recessed play surface is arranged beneath the reversible table top. A ledge surrounds the recessed play surface after the reversible table top is removed. One or more storage drawers are arranged beneath the recessed play surface, and there is space beneath the drawer(s) to store the removed, reversible table top. In a second embodiment, the reversible table top is split, so that each half of the table top is independently removable and reversible. With this arrangement, one half of the table top can have the smooth side facing upward, for example, while the other half has the modular building block elements facing upward. Alternatively, one half of the table top can be removed, exposing the recessed play surface under only the removed half of the reversible table top.

The principle objects and advantages of the invention include: to provide an improved children's play table; to provide such a table which includes a removable and reversible table top; to provide such a table in which the reversible table top includes a smooth play surface on one side and a modular building block interlocking surface on the reverse side; to provide such a table which includes a further, recessed play surface beneath the reversible table top, which recessed surface is exposed when the reversible table top is removed; to provide a ledge surrounding the recessed play surface so that toys are retained on the recessed play surface; to provide one or more toy storage drawers beneath the recessed play surface; to provide a storage area beneath the storage drawer(s) which includes supports for storing the reversible table top when it is removed; to provide an alternative embodiment of such a table in which the removable and reversible table top is split in half, with each half independently removable and reversible; and to provide such a table which is particularly well adapted for its intended purpose.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention.

The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a versatile children's play table in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the play table, with a pair of storage tubs inserted into corresponding pairs of drawer holding slots.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the play table, with the pair of storage tubs removed from the corresponding pairs of drawer holding slots and placed on the stored reversible table top.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged portion of the play table labeled 4 in FIG. 1, showing the highlighted area of the reversible table top magnified to illustrate the modular building block interlocking components.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the play table, taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 3, and illustrating the reversible table top in phantom lines being removed from the table, and in solid lines placed within the table storage area.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the play table, taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5, and illustrating the reversible table top removed to leave the recessed play surface exposed within a surrounding ledge.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view of the play table, taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5, and illustrating the reversible table top replaced on top of the recessed play surface and within the surrounding ledge.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the versatile children's play table in accordance with the present invention, with a split removable and reversible table top and a single toy storage drawer.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, enlarged portion of the reversible table top area labeled 9 in FIG. 8, showing a split table top with modular building block interlocking components facing upward on one half and a smooth surface facing upward on the other half.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, the numeral 1 generally designates a versatile children's play table. The table 1 comprises a pair of side supports 2 and 3 which are connected by front and rear frame members 5 and 6 and rigidizing frame members 11 and 12. The frame members 11 and 12 are connected such that their cross-section forms a T. The side supports 2 and 3, and the frame members 5, 6, 11 and 12 are connected to each other by a plurality of screws 13.

The table 1 includes a removable, reversible table top 14 which is received within a recess 15 with a surrounding ledge 21. The ledge 21 is actually formed from the topmost portions of the side supports 2 and 3 and the frame members 5 and 6. Beneath the reversible table top 14 is a further, recessed play surface 22. The reversible table top 14 has a plurality of modular building block connectors 23 on one side thereof while the reverse side of the table top 14 is smooth.

A pair of toy storage tubs 24 and 25 each include a rim 26. Left and right drawer supports 31 and 32, and a combined center drawer support 33 are attached beneath the recessed play surface 22 via a plurality of screws 34. The tubs 24 and 25 act as drawers when the rims 26 are inserted within slots 35, 36, and 37 in the drawer supports 31-33, respectively.

A pair of top braces 39 and 40 are attached to the side supports 2 and 3 via screws 41. The top braces 39 and 40 serve to support the recessed play surface 22. The recessed play surface 22 can be affixed to the braces 39 and 40, or, alternatively, can be merely placed thereon such that the recessed play surface 22 is removable as well. An additional pair of braces 42 and 43 are also attached to the side supports 2 and 3 via screws 44, just above the frame member 11. The braces 42 and 43 serve to hold the reversible table top 14 so that it can be conveniently stored after removal, as shown in FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the table 1 is illustrated with the table top 14 removed. A child's toy tractor 45 is shown operating on the recessed play surface 22. As illustrated, the ledge 21 prevents the tractor 45 from rolling off of the surface 22. This feature is particularly desirable for very young children with minimal coordination. It is also very useful for assembling puzzles or playing games which include many small pieces.

Referring to FIG. 1, the table top 14 can be divided into a number of surface areas, such as areas 14a-14d, with each surface area a different color. This arrangement, particularly with bright contrasting colors, can add visual variety and stimulation for small children.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an alternative embodiment of the child's play table is generally indicated at 101 in FIG. 8. The table 101 is otherwise substantially the same as the table 1 of FIG. 1, and, accordingly, many similar parts appearing in FIGS. 1-7 have not been renumbered in FIGS. 8 and 9.

The table 101 includes a reversible table top 114, which is comprised of two split halves 115 and 116. Each of the halves 115 and 116 has the modular building block connectors 23 on one side and a smooth surface on the other side. Referring to FIG. 9, each table top half 115 and 116 can be independently reversed to expose either the building block surface or the smooth surface. By exposing the smooth side of table top half 116 while exposing the building block connectors of the half 115, building blocks can be assembled on the table top half 115 by one child while, for example, another child draws or colors on the half 116. As in the table 1, a recessed smooth playing surface 122 is provided beneath the table top 114. For additional variety, one of the table top halves, such as the half 116, can be removed, leaving the other half 115 in place on the recessed surface 122. In this configuration, one child can play with rolling toys or small play pieces on the exposed portion of the recessed play surface 122 which would normally be covered by the half 116, while another child uses modular blocks on a modular side, or draws on the smooth side of the remaining table top half 115. Of course, the remaining reversible table top half 115 acts as an extension of the ledge 121 for the recessed half of the surface 122 which would normally be under the half 116.

A single large tub 124 is provided for toy storage. The tub 124 operates as a drawer in drawer supports 131 and 132 or, alternatively, sits on one or more of the table top halves 115 and 116 stored on supports 142. The table 101 can be designed such that the combined table top 114 is basically square such that the halves 115 and 116, when turned ninety degrees, rest on the supports 142.

It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.