Abstract:
An illuminated table having a source of light internally disposed in an enclosed glass housing and having a protective cover sealing off the source of light from the elements.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention relates to illuminated tables; and more particularly, to an illuminated table which can be used indoors or outdoors wherein the source of illumination is protected from the elements. 
         [0003]    2. Related Art 
         [0004]    Illuminated accent tables are known in the art. Such tables are aesthetically appealing in homes and offices and the like. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,807,095 to Bell, one such table is described. The problem with the Bell table, and similar tables, such as the Broach table discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,120,248, is that they cannot be left outdoors where they are subject to the elements. Such tables would swiftly be rendered inoperative due to wind, dust, rain and moisture and the like affecting the electronic lighting elements of the table. 
         [0005]    There is a need for an illuminated table which can be used indoors or out and have its electrical components protected from the elements. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of this invention to provide an illuminated table which can be used indoors or outdoors. 
         [0007]    It is another object of this invention to provide such a table where the lighting portion of the table is enclosed and sealed off from contacts with the elements. 
         [0008]    These and other objects are preferably accomplished by an illuminated table having a source of light internally disposed in an enclosed glass housing and having a protective cover sealing off the source of light from the elements. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an illuminated table in accordance with the teachings of the invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view, partly in section, of the table of  FIG. 1 , two of the supporting legs not shown for convenience of illustration; 
           [0011]      FIGS. 3 and 4  are perspective views of components of the table of  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of another type of illuminated table; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a detailed view of a portion of the table in  FIG. 5  illustrating assembly thereof; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a detailed plan view of a component of the table of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of a modification of  2  components of the table of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 9 to 11  are cross-section views of modifications of a portion of the table of  FIGS. 1 to 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 12 through 16  are perspective views of a portion of the table of  FIGS. 1 to 4  showing other embodiments thereof. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 1  of the drawing, an illuminated table  10  is shown having a semi-spherical glass bowl  11  mounted at the top of a stand center post  12 . A plurality of legs, such as  4  legs  13  through  16 , support a glass top  17  on which a plant  18  or the like may be displayed. The illumination from bulb  19 , See  FIG. 2 , lights up the top  17  and provides a pleasing accent to plant  18 . An electrical conduit  20  terminates in plug  21 . 
         [0019]    Any suitable table support may be provided for bowl  11  and top  17 . For example, as seen particularly in  FIG. 2 , center post  12  has a conventional light socket  22  at top adapted to receive bulb  19  therein as is well known in the art. Socket  22  has a sleeve portion  23  and a threaded upper socket portion  24  in which sleeve  23  is disposed. Bowl  11  has an opening  25  at bottom through which sleeve  23  and threaded socket portion  24  extend, the diameter of opening  25  being slightly greater than the diameter of threaded socket portion  24 . 
         [0020]    A socket ring  26  (see also  FIG. 3 ) is provided having an outer cylindrical side wall  27 , a flat upper wall  28  and open at the bottom as shown. Ring  26  may be threaded on its interior  29 , if desired, such threads mating with the threads of threaded socket portion  24 . 
         [0021]    Referring again to  FIG. 2 , ring  26  is thus placed over sleeve  23  and either surrounds socket portion  24 , or is threaded thereto, the flat portion  28  facing upwardly. 
         [0022]    A bulb cover bracket  30  is provided and has a flat circular bottom wall  31  ( FIG. 4 ) and a circular peripheral side wall  32  and is open at its interior  33 . Side wall  32  has a plurality of upwardly extending spaced tabs  34  for reasons to be discussed. 
         [0023]    The center post  12 , below socket  22 , may have a central ornate section  35  extending downwardly to a leg connecting portion  36 . This portion  36  has a plurality of spaced threaded holes  37  for receiving screws  38  therein. 
         [0024]    The supporting legs are identical. Each leg, such as leg  14 , terminates at bottom in a foot portion  39 , then curves upwardly to an apertured portion  42 , having threaded holes  46  therethrough. Portion  40  then extends upwardly to a top supporting end  42 . 
         [0025]    Legs  13  to  16  are secured to post  12  by screws  38  threaded into aligned holes  41 ,  37 . Conduit  20  extends upwardly through portion  36 , within portions  35  and post  12  to socket  22  as is well known in the electrical art. 
         [0026]    Top  17  can merely rest of ends  42  of legs  13  to  16 , or be provided on its underside with sleeves  43  into which ends  42  are disposed. Further securement means may be provided by means of locking screws  44  which threads into aligned holes  45 ,  46 , in sleeves  43 , and ends  42 , respectively. 
         [0027]    As particularly contemplated in the present invention, after bulb  19  is inserted through bracket  30  and ring  26  and threaded into socket  22 , protection for bulb  19  against the elements is provided in the form of a generally tubular bulb cover  47  having an open bottom  48  and a bottom annular rim  49 . Cover  47  is adapted to snap onto bracket  30 , the rim  19  snapping into tabs  34  which retain cover  47  to bracket  30  and covers bulb  19  and seals it off against the elements. 
         [0028]    Thus, in assembly, the legs  13  to  16  are screwed to portion  36  of post  12 , the light glass bowl  11  is placed around the threaded portion  24  of socket  22  and secured thereto by ring  26 . The bulb cover bracket  30  is placed on top of ring  26  and light bulb  19  is screwed into socket  22 . The bulb cover  47  is placed over bulb  19  and firmly pressed down so that ring  49  snaps into tabs  34 . Bracket  30  may be of a metallic material so that tabs  34  are resilient and may be stamped out of the metallic bracket  30 . 
         [0029]    Glass top  17  is now placed on top of ends  42  and locked into place via screws  44 . 
         [0030]    Any suitable materials may be used. Bowl  11  and top  17 , and cover  47 , are of course of glass and may be clear or translucent. 
         [0031]    It can be seen that there is disclosed an illuminated table that can be used indoors or outdoors and the electrical components are protected from the elements. 
         [0032]    Although a particular illuminated table is disclosed in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , obviously various configurations may occur to an artisan. 
         [0033]    For example, as seen in  FIG. 5 , table  50  has a base  51  with an electrical conduit  52  extending from base  51  to plug  53 . Base  51  has a central post  54 , threaded at bottom, with sleeve  55  threaded thereto. Post  53  has an upper portion  56  extending through a leg bracket  57 . A leg support  58  is secured to post  56  and has a plurality of spaced base pins  59  extending outwardly therefrom. A like plurality of supporting legs, such as legs  60 ,  61  (only  2  shown for convenience of illustration in FIG.  5 —see  FIG. 6  for a third leg  60 ′), are provided having hollow ends  62  at bottom receiving pins  59  therein. Screws  63  are threaded into aligned holes  64 , in bracket  57 , and holes  65  in pins  59  thereby securing support legs  60 ,  61  in position. 
         [0034]    Legs  60 ,  61  extend upwardly and curve to terminal generally horizontal ends  66 . A glass top  67  is then disposed on top of ends  66 . Top  67  may have spaced rubber gaskets  68  fixed thereto with downwardly extending threaded shafts of bolts  69  which extend through aligned holes  70  in ends  66  and are secured in position by nuts  71  threaded to bolts  69 . 
         [0035]    Post  56  terminates at its upper end in a bulb socket  72  extending through and secured to the bottom of a light cup  73  by a threaded nut  74 . Light cup  73  is open at top so bulb  75  can be threaded into socket  72 . A light cup ring  76  is now placed on top of the rim  77  of light cup  73 . A screw  78  is threaded through aligned threaded holes  79  and  80  in legs  60 ,  61  and ring  76 . Ring  76  has a plurality of spaced pins  81  receivable in slots  82  in cap  83  which is mounted on top of ring  76 . 
         [0036]    If desired, suction cups  84  may be provided on top of ends  66 . Similar cups, if desired, may be provided on ends  42  of the legs in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0037]    In assembly, leg bracket  57  is secured to base  51 . The light cup  73  is pulled out of the way (see FIG.  6 —shaft portion  85  being resilient) before attaching legs  60 ,  60 ′,  61 . The legs  60 ,  60 ′,  61  are aligned with base pins  58 ,  59  by angling the top of the legs  60 ,  60 ′,  61  in towards the center and ends  62  are pushed on to base pins  58 ,  59 . 
         [0038]    Light cup  76  (see  FIG. 7 ) has a central opening  86  and is secured to legs  60 ,  60 ′,  61  before insertion of bulb  75 . 
         [0039]    Although cover  47  in the table of  FIGS. 1 to 4  snaps into tabs  34 , as seen in  FIG. 8 , a cover  90  and bracket  93  may be used in place of cover  47  and bracket  30 . Cover  90  has a threaded bottom rim  91  on the interior of cover  90  threadably received on the outer threaded portion  92  of bracket  93 . 
         [0040]    Various methods may be used to mount the tops to the glass bowl of the table of  FIGS. 1 to 4 . For example, as seen in  FIG. 9 , bowl  11  may be provided at its upper end with annular ring  94 , of a resilient or metallic material, having a groove  95  receiving the upper annular rim of bowl  11  therein. Glass top  96 , the outer diameter thereof being the same as the outer diameter of bowl  11 , may have an annular flange  97  encircling the outer rim of top  96 , the rim being receivable within a groove  98  in flange  97 . Flange  97  rests on top of ring  94 . 
         [0041]    Another embodiment is shown in  FIG. 10  wherein annular flange  99  is one integral piece having an upper groove  100  receiving the rim to top  96  therein and a downwardly extending groove  101  receiving the upper rim of bowl  11  therein. As seen in  FIG. 11 , an annular flange  102  may be secured to the underside of top  103 , which is greater in diameter than bowl  11 , and has an upper flat portion  104 , on which top  103  rests, and a downwardly extending annular groove  105  into which the rim of bowl  11  is disposed. All of the flanges may be of resilient material, if desired, to grip the various pieces. 
         [0042]    Other methods of securing a top to a bowl are shown in  FIGS. 12 to 16  wherein like numerals refer to like parts of  FIGS. 1 to 4 . In  FIG. 12 , top  106  has a resilient annular gasket  107  secured to the underside thereof, the gasket having a groove  108  into which the upper rim (not shown) of bowl  11  is disposed. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 13 and 14 , a metallic annular ring  108 ′ is provided having a flat upper portion  106  and a downwardly extending annular portion  107  having an annular slot (not visible) receiving the upper rim of bowl  11  therein. 
         [0043]    As seen in  FIG. 15 , a holding cup  120  may be secured to the underside of glass table top  106  in any suitable manner, such as by gluing or glass welding cup  120 , which may be metallic, wood, plastic, etc., thereto. Cup  120  has an internal socket  121  in its lower end  122  and a generally circular flared upper end  123  of greater diameter than lower end  122 . The upper ends of the legs, such as leg  14 , fits into socket  121 . As seen in  FIG. 16 , an adjustable screw  124  is tightened to lock leg  14  in socket  121 . 
         [0044]    In all embodiments, the combination of the top, bulb cover and glass bowl, prevent almost all moisture from entering into the interior of the tables. Thus, the bulb socket is protected from the elements. 
         [0045]    The various tops may be of clear or translucent glass, or of various resin materials, metallic materials, marble or granite. The bowl  11  may be of metal or glass, transparent or translucent, or even of a solid opaque material. 
         [0046]    Any suitable source of illumination may be used, such as solar, LEDS, etc. Although an electrical conduit is disclosed, a battery-powered light may be used. 
         [0047]    Although particular embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, variations thereof may occur to an artisan and the scope of the invention should only be limited to the scope of the appended claims.