Portable, Collapsible, Beach and Lawn Recreation Table

I. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of portable tables. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable recreation table supported by a ground engaging stake that is well suited for use on beaches, camp grounds, lawns and the like having uneven terrain.

II. Description of the Related Art

Standard tables are not suitable for use on unlevel surfaces, and are not typically portable for recreational purposes. Therefore, inventors created several types of portable recreation tables. U.S. Pat. No. 4,407,475 issued to Gossage illustrates an earlier attempt at a collapsible, portable recreation table, which is not adjustable for height, does not have a leveling disc, but does have a retractable leg which is complex and a biased latch which after beach or environmental exposure is susceptible to jams and other mechanical problems. Ciulli describes a portable table which anchors into the ground in U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,835. The pointed rigid rod is not collapsible and therefore the disassembled table is not as compact, as well as the protruding rod may be dangerous while transporting. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,166 Credle describes a portable umbrella table having many removable pieces which could become lost and are awkward for disassembly, and the umbrella, if kept small enough to keep the table compact, collapsible, and portable could not provide a large amount of value. U.S. Pat. No. 4,920,897 issued to Reed et al. is neither collapsible, height adjustable, portable, nor easily assembled and disassembled. In addition, the parts are not contained within the table, and since the auger is attached to the table, the auger could be dangerous when not engaging the ground. Because there is a hole in the center of the table top to receive the umbrella, the amount of useable table surface is reduced.

In accordance with the present invention and the contemplated problems which have and continue to exist in this field, one of the objectives of this invention is to provide a portable, collapsible, beach and lawn recreation table that is improved over the prior art.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a level and sturdy table while in unleveled terrain which is accomplished through a spike which is implanted into the ground and is connected to a supporting ring which when placed firmly against the ground minimizes tilting and slanting from wind, heavy objects and the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a table with non-complex foldable leg mechanisms which allows the table to be easily collapsible and portable.

Still, another object of this invention is to provide a table in a manner in which all parts are contained within the individual unit, whether in the assembled or disassembled mode, and when portable all pieced are contained in a manner which is consistent with safety factors.

Yet, another object of this invention is to provide a table that has an adjustable height.

Still yet, it is another object of this invention to provide a portable table that has increased stability by using three legs.

This invention accomplishes the above and other objectives and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing a portable, collapsible, beach and lawn recreation table that is simple in design and construction, inexpensive to fabricate, and easy to use. The table has a platform with a rim extending therefrom. Pivotally mounted to the rim are legs which can nest within the rim when the legs are in a closed position. To secure the legs, a connecting disc has slots to receive a second end of the legs. The connecting disc has a threaded bore to receive the threaded end of a ground engaging stake, which allows the table to be used in non-even terrain. Because the table can be easily disassembled, it is well adapted for transport and storage.

It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing preferred embodiments of the invention.

The invention will be better understood and the above objects as well as objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable, collapsible, beach and lawn recreation table made in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the table of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the table having various parts thereof shown removably mounted thereto;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the table;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of the table showing a handle in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a partial bottom view of the table with a leg in a collapsed position; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of the table and the pivotally mounted leg.

The reference numbers in the drawings relate to the following:

1=portable, collapsible, beach and lawn recreation table

10=platform

12=upper surface of platform

14=lower surface of platform

16=outer edge of platform

18=rim of platform

20=inner surface of rim

22=rim edge

24=groove

26=leg

28=first end of leg

30=second end of leg

32=head of leg

34=neck of leg

36=connecting disc

38=circumferential edge of connecting disc

40=mounting wall of connecting disc

44=threaded bore of connecting disc

46=leg connector

48=lower portion of leg connector

50=transverse upper portion

52=stake

54=threaded end of stake

56=pointed end of stake

58=handle

60=threaded disc holder

62=stake holder

64=receiver

66=post

68=stop

For a fuller understanding of the nature and desired objects of this invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, reference is made first to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 of the drawings illustrates a portable, collapsible, beach and lawn recreation table 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the table 1 has a platform 10 having an upper surface 12, a lower surface 14, an outer edge 16 and a rim 18 extending from the outer edge 16. The rim 18 has an inner surface 20 and a rim edge 22. As shown in FIG. 5, the upper surface 12 is substantially planar. On the upper surface 12 are grooves 24 which form a predetermined pattern.

Pivotally mounted to the rim 18 of the platform 10 on the inner surface 20 are a plurality of elongated legs 26. Each leg 26 has a first end 28 and a second end 30. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 7, the legs 26 are pivotally mounted to the rim 18 at the first end 28 are movable to a closed position. A closed position, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, is defined as the position of the leg 26 where the second end 30 is placed into contact with the inner surface 20 of the rim 18 between the lower surface 14 of the platform 10 and the rim edge 22. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 7, the second end 30 of the leg 26 is notched to form a head 32 and a neck 34. The neck 34 is discussed further below.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a connecting disc 36 is removably mounted to the legs 26. The connecting disc 36 has a circumferential edge 38, a mounting wall 40 extending from the circumferential edge 38, a threaded bore 44 and a plurality of leg connectors 46 disposed on the mounting wall 40. Each leg connector is a T-shaped slot having a narrow vertically extending lower portion 48 and a transverse upper portion 50. In operation, the head 32 of the leg 26 extends through the transverse upper portion 50, and the neck 34 removably inserts into and engages the lower portion 48, removably mounting the second end 30 of the leg 26 to the connecting disc 36.

To support the table 1 on a ground surface (not shown), a stake 52 is removably mounted to the connecting disc 36 for removable insertion into the ground surface. The stake 52 has a threaded end 54 and a pointed end 56. The threaded end 54 matingly and removably engages the threaded bore 44 of the connecting disc 36, and the pointed end 56 removably inserts into the ground surface. The height of the platform 10 above the ground surface is adjustable by rotating the connecting disc 36 about the threaded end 54 to adjust the depth of threaded end 54 within the threaded bore 44. The table 1 is removed from the ground by rotating and lifting the table until the stake 52 disengages the ground surface.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, a handle 58 is mounted to the rim 18 of the platform 10. In the preferred embodiment, the handle 58 is capable of being pushed flat against the rim 18 and being extended outwardly from the rim 18 for transport by an operator.

Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting disc 36 and the stake 52 are removably securable to the lower surface 14 of the platform 10 for ease of transport and storage. A threaded disc holder 60 is positioned on the lower surface 14 for removably and matingly engaging the threaded bore 44 of the connecting disc 36. To removably engage and secure the stake 52 to the lower surface 14, a stake holder 62 is provided on the lower surface 14. The stake holder 62 has a receiver 64 with an opening (not shown) for removably receiving the stake 52 proximate the pointed end 56 and a pair of posts 66 to removably engage the stake 52 proximate the threaded end 54. A stop 68 is provided to removably engage the threaded end 54 of the stake 52. FIG. 4 depicts the lower surface 14 of the platform 10 with all legs 26 in the closed position, and also shows the connecting disc 36 and the stake 52 engaging the disc holder 60 and the stake holder 62.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly, disassembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, various modifications may be made of the invention without departing from the scope thereof and it is desired, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art and which are set forth in the appended claims.