Folding Beverage Ice Cooler Table

A cooler table includes a blow-molded tabletop that forms a tray for holding ice, and two collapsible leg assemblies for supporting the tabletop. The tabletop has an upper surface, a perimeter lip, and a lower surface. The upper surface slopes downward from its outer edges to accommodate flow of liquid toward an upper drain aperture as the ice melts. The lower surface of the tabletop includes an outer perimeter portion, a central portion, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion. The outer perimeter portion includes a first side perimeter portion, a second side perimeter portion, a first end perimeter portion, and a second end perimeter portion. The central portion is disposed between the first and second side perimeter portions and between the first and second end perimeter portions. The central portion is spaced apart from the upper surface and has a lower drain aperture that is aligned with the upper drain aperture.

FIELD

This invention relates to the field of tables having collapsible legs. More particularly, this invention relates to a table having collapsible legs and a blow-molded tabletop that forms a tray for holding ice with chilled food or beverages.

BACKGROUND

Cooler tables are used for serving food or beverages, such as at social events, while keeping the items chilled. Some such tables have legs that collapse against their lower surface to provide for ease of transport and storage when not in use. Prior cooler table designs have incorporated solid tabletops, such as the table described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,832,492. Due to their solid structures, these tables are heavy and therefore cumbersome to transport and set up. Also, most solid structures do not provide adequate thermal insulation properties that are needed for cooler table applications. The lack of adequate insulation also leads to excessive moisture condensation on outside surfaces of the tabletop.

What is needed, therefore, is a cooler table having a light-weight structure to provide for easier storage, transportation and set up, and having a hollow tabletop structure to achieve better thermal insulation performance.

SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by a cooler table that is convenient to transport and set up, provides for service of large quantities of chilled beverages, and has no moisture condensation on outside surfaces of the tabletop when in use. Preferred embodiments of the cooler table include a blow-molded tabletop, a first collapsible leg assembly, and a second collapsible leg assembly. The blow-molded tabletop has an upper surface, a perimeter lip, and a lower surface. The upper surface has outer edges and an upper drain aperture centrally disposed between the outer edges. The upper surface slopes downward from the outer edges toward the upper drain aperture to accommodate flow of liquid from the outer edges toward the upper drain aperture. The perimeter lip has inner walls extending upward from the outer edges of the upper surface of the tabletop and outer walls spaced apart from the inner walls. The outer walls include a first side outer wall, a second side outer wall, a first end outer wall, and a second end outer wall.

The lower surface of the tabletop is disposed below the upper surface and spans between the outer walls of the perimeter lip. The lower surface includes an outer perimeter portion, a central portion, a first end portion, a second end portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion. The outer perimeter portion is disposed adjacent to the outer walls of the perimeter lip. The outer perimeter portion includes a first side perimeter portion disposed adjacent to the first side outer wall of the perimeter lip, a second side perimeter portion disposed adjacent to the second side outer wall of the perimeter lip, a first end perimeter portion disposed adjacent to the first end outer wall of the perimeter lip, and a second end perimeter portion disposed adjacent to the second end outer wall of the perimeter lip.

The central portion is disposed between the first and second side perimeter portions and between the first and second end perimeter portions. The central portion is spaced apart from the upper surface by a first distance and has a lower drain aperture that is aligned with the upper drain aperture. The first end portion, which is disposed between the central portion and the first end perimeter portion, is spaced apart from the upper surface by a second distance. The second end portion, which is disposed between the central portion and the second end perimeter portion, is spaced apart from the upper surface by the second distance. The first side portion, which is disposed between the central portion and the first side perimeter portion, is spaced apart from the upper surface by a third distance. The second side portion, which is disposed between the central portion and the second side perimeter portion, is spaced apart from the upper surface by the third distance. In a preferred embodiment, the first distance has a largest value that is greater than the largest value of the second distance, and the second distance has a largest value that is greater than the largest value of the third distance.

The first collapsible leg assembly is operable to move between a collapsed position in which the first collapsible leg assembly is disposed against the lower surface of the tabletop and an extended position in which the first collapsible leg assembly extends outward from the lower surface of the tabletop. The first collapsible leg assembly comprises a first attachment bar, a first cross tube, a first pair of legs, and a first articulated support bracket assembly. The first attachment bar is secured to the lower surface of the tabletop within the central portion. The first cross tube is rotatably attached to the lower surface of the tabletop and disposed adjacent and parallel to the first end perimeter portion. The first pair of legs is attached to and extends from the first cross tube. The first articulated support bracket assembly has a first end rotatably attached to the first pair of legs and a second end rotatably attached to the first attachment bar. When the first collapsible leg assembly is in the collapsed position, the first articulating support bracket assembly is folded against the first end portion of the tabletop, one leg of the first pair of legs is disposed against the first side portion of the lower surface of the tabletop, and another leg of the first pair of legs is disposed against the second side portion of the lower surface of the tabletop.

The second collapsible leg assembly is operable to move between a collapsed position in which the second collapsible leg assembly is disposed against the lower surface of the tabletop and an extended position in which the second collapsible leg assembly extends outward from the lower surface of the tabletop. The second collapsible leg assembly comprises a second attachment bar, a second cross tube, a second pair of legs, and a second articulated support bracket assembly. The second attachment bar is secured to the lower surface of the tabletop within the central portion. The second cross tube is rotatably attached to the lower surface of the tabletop and disposed adjacent and parallel to the second end perimeter portion. The second pair of legs is attached to and extends from the second cross tube. The second articulated support bracket assembly has a first end rotatably attached to the second pair of legs and a second end rotatably attached to the second attachment bar. When the second collapsible leg assembly is in the collapsed position, the second articulating support bracket assembly is folded against the second end portion of the tabletop, one leg of the second pair of legs is disposed against the first side portion of the lower surface of the tabletop, and another leg of the second pair of legs is disposed against the second side portion of the lower surface of the tabletop.

In some preferred embodiments, the cooler table includes retainer clips that are integrally molded into the lower surface of the tabletop for rotatably securing the first and second cross tubes to the lower surface. The retainer clips include two or more first retainer clips for rotatably securing the first cross tube between the first end perimeter portion and the first end portion, and two or more second retainer clips for rotatably securing the second cross tube between the second end perimeter portion and the second end portion.

In some preferred embodiments, each of the first retainer clips includes a first section disposed within the first end perimeter portion, and a second section disposed within the first end portion, and each of the second retainer clips comprises a first section disposed within the second end perimeter portion, and a second section disposed within the second end portion.

In some preferred embodiments, the cooler table includes a plurality of end perimeter depressions formed in the lower surface of the tabletop. The end perimeter depressions include a plurality of first end perimeter depressions distributed along the first end perimeter portion that are configured to provide structural support between the lower surface of the tabletop and the upper surface of the tabletop, wherein at least a portion of each of the two or more first retainer clips is disposed between two of the first end perimeter depressions. The end perimeter depressions also include a plurality of second end perimeter depressions distributed along the second end perimeter portion that are configured to provide structural support between the lower surface of the tabletop and the upper surface of the tabletop, wherein at least a portion of each of the two or more second retainer clips is disposed between two of the second end perimeter depressions.

In some preferred embodiments, the cooler table includes an integrally molded tubular section that extends through the tabletop to fluidly connect the upper and lower drain apertures, so that liquid can enter the upper drain aperture, flow through the tubular section, and exit the lower drain aperture.

In some preferred embodiments, the cooler table includes a plurality of first end depressions, a plurality of second end depressions, a plurality of first side depressions, and a plurality of second side depressions, all of which provide structural support between the lower surface and the upper surface of the tabletop. Each of the first end depressions, which are formed in the first end portion of the lower surface of the tabletop, occupies an area A1in the lower surface and has a height H1measured between the lower surface and the upper surface of the tabletop. Each of the second end depressions, which are formed in the second end portion of the lower surface of the tabletop, occupies the area A1in the lower surface and has the height H1measured between the lower surface and the upper surface of the tabletop. Each of the first side depressions, which are formed in the first side portion of the lower surface of the tabletop, occupies an area A2in the lower surface and has a height H2measured between the lower surface and the upper surface of the tabletop. Each of the second side depressions, which are formed in the second side portion of the lower surface of the tabletop, occupies the area A2in the lower surface and has the height H2measured between the lower surface and the upper surface of the tabletop. In a preferred embodiment, the area A1is greater than the area A2, and the height H1is greater than the height H2.

In some preferred embodiments, the first and second side portions of the lower surface of the tabletop are each sufficiently wide to accommodate the first pair of legs and the second pair of legs in a side-by-side arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS.1A,1B,2A and2Bdepict a cooler table10used for serving food or beverages, such as at social events. The tabletop12, which is preferably made of plastic formed by blow molding, comprises a tray for holding a bed of ice in which food or beverage items stay chilled. Due to the blow-molding process, the tabletop12has a double-walled tray structure that provides thermal insulation on the bottom and sides of the tray.

As described in more detail below, the table10preferably has legs50aand50bthat collapse against the underside of the tabletop12to make the structure easier to transport and store.FIGS.1A and1Bdepict the table10in a use configuration in which the legs are extended.FIGS.2A and2Bdepict the table10in a storage configuration in which the legs are collapsed.

Descriptions of embodiments of the table10provided herein refer to various surfaces in the structure of the tabletop12. As the term is used herein, a “surface” refers to a wall of a molded structure having a thickness that is relatively small compared to the length and width of the structure. For example, the thickness of a wall of a blow-molded structure may be between about 1.50 mm and 4.00 mm, whereas the surface may span a distance that is on the order of 400 times the thickness. Thus, unless specifically defined herein as an inner surface or an outer surface, the word “surface” is not limited to the inside or the outside of a double-wall blow-molded structure but refers generally to a wall of the double-wall structure.

The tabletop12includes an upper surface14having outer edges16, and a perimeter lip20having inner walls22that extend upward from the outer edges16. The perimeter lip20has outer walls that are spaced apart from the inner walls22, including first and second side outer walls24aand first and second end outer walls24b. In the description provided herein, the first and second side outer walls24adefine the length of the tabletop12, and the first and second end outer walls24bdefine the width of the tabletop12. An upper drain aperture18is centrally disposed between the outer edges16of the tabletop12. In a preferred embodiment, the upper surface14slopes downward from the outer edges16toward the upper drain aperture18to accommodate flow of water from the outer edges16toward the upper drain aperture18as ice melts.

In preferred embodiments, the thickness of the material of the upper surface14varies from about 3.10 mm to about 3.70 mm, and the thickness of the material of the lip20varies from about 2.50 mm to about 3.70 mm.

The tabletop12includes a lower surface26that spans the distance between the outer walls24aand24bof the perimeter lip20. In a preferred embodiment, the lower surface26includes outer perimeter portions28a-28b, a central portion30, a first end portion36, a second end portion38, a first side portion40and a second side portion42. The outer perimeter portions, which are disposed adjacent to the outer walls24a-24bof the perimeter lip20, comprise first and second side perimeter portions28adisposed opposite each other, and first and second end perimeter portions28bdisposed opposite each other. The first side perimeter portion28ais disposed adjacent to the first side outer wall24aof the perimeter lip20, and the second side perimeter portion28ais disposed adjacent to the second side outer wall24aof the perimeter lip20. The first end perimeter portion28bis disposed adjacent to the first end outer wall24bof the perimeter lip20, and the second end perimeter portion28bis disposed adjacent to the second end outer wall24bof the perimeter lip20.

In preferred embodiments, the thickness of the material of the lower surface26varies from about 2.50 mm to about 4.00 mm, and the thickness of the material of the outer perimeter portions28a-28bvaries from about 1.50 mm to about 2.60 mm.

The central portion30of the lower surface26is disposed between the first and second side portions40and42and between the first and second end portions36and38and is spaced apart from the upper surface14by a distance D1. The central portion30has a lower drain aperture32that is aligned with the upper drain aperture18. An integrally molded tubular section34extends through the tabletop12to fluidly connect the upper and lower drain apertures18and32, so that liquid can enter the upper drain aperture18, flow through the tubular section34, and exit from the lower drain aperture32.

The first end portion36of the lower surface26is disposed between the central portion30and the first end perimeter portion28band is spaced apart from the upper surface14by a distance D2. The second end portion38of the lower surface26is disposed between the central portion30and the second end perimeter portion28band is spaced apart from the upper surface14by the distance D2.

The first side portion40of the lower surface26is disposed between the central portion30and the first side perimeter portion28aand is spaced apart from the upper surface14by a distance D3. The second side portion42of the lower surface26is disposed between the central portion30and the second side perimeter portion28aand is spaced apart from the upper surface14by the distance D3.

In a preferred embodiment depicted inFIGS.4A and4B, although the distance D1between the upper surface14and the central portion30of the lower surface26varies over a range, and the distance D2between upper surface14and the first and second end portions36and38of the lower surface26varies over a range, the largest value of the distance D1is greater than the largest value of the distance D2. Also, although the distance D3between the upper surface14and the first and second side perimeter portions40and42of the lower surface26varies over a range, the largest value of the distance D2is greater than the largest value of the distance D3. This variation in distances that define the overall height in the various portions of the tabletop12across its length and width-smaller height toward the edges and larger height toward the center-accommodates the downward slope of the upper surface14from its outer edges16toward the drain aperture18. It also provides more space near the side edges to accommodate the legs50aand50band more space near the end edges to accommodate the leg support brackets when the legs are in the collapsed position.

The table10includes first and second collapsible leg assemblies44aand44bthat are operable to move between a collapsed position in which the leg assemblies are disposed against the lower surface26of the tabletop12and an extended position in which the leg assemblies extend outward from the lower surface26. The first collapsible leg assembly44aincludes a first attachment bar46athat is attached to the lower surface26of the tabletop12within the central portion30. In a preferred embodiment, the first attachment bar46ais secured to the lower surface26with fasteners, such as screws. A first cross tube48ais rotatably attached to the lower surface26adjacent and parallel to the outer edge of the first end perimeter portion28b. The opposing ends of the first cross tube48aare rotatably received in apertures in opposing side rails64that are attached to the first side perimeter portions28aof the lower surface26. The first cross tube48ais also rotatably secured to the lower surface26by a pair of retainer clips56that are described in more detail hereinafter.

The first collapsible leg assembly44aincludes a first pair of legs50athat are attached to and extend from the first cross tube48a, and a first articulated support bracket assembly52ahaving a first end that is rotatably attached to the first pair of legs50aand a second end that is rotatably attached to the first attachment bar46a. The first articulated support bracket assembly52aincludes an inner bracket portion66aand an outer bracket portion68a. The inner bracket portion66ais rotatably attached at its distal end to the first attachment bar46aand at its proximal end to the inner end of the outer bracket portion68a. The outer ends of the outer bracket portion68aare rotatably attached to the first pair of legs50a.

As shown inFIGS.2B,3B,4A and4B, when the first collapsible leg assembly44ais in the collapsed position, the first articulating support bracket assembly52acollapses down against the first end portion36of the lower surface26of the tabletop12, with one leg50adisposed against the first side portion40of the lower surface26and the other leg50adisposed against the second side portion42of the lower surface26.

Similarly, the second collapsible leg assembly44bincludes a second attachment bar46bthat is attached to the lower surface26of the tabletop12within the central portion30. In a preferred embodiment, the second attachment bar46bis secured to the lower surface26with fasteners, such as screws. A second cross tube48bis rotatably attached to the lower surface26adjacent and parallel to the outer edge of the second end perimeter portion28b. The opposing ends of the second cross tube48bare rotatably received in apertures in the opposing side rails64. The second cross tube48bis also rotatably secured to the lower surface26by a pair of retainer clips56that are described in more detail hereinafter.

The second collapsible leg assembly44bincludes a second pair of legs50bthat are attached to and extend from the second cross tube48b, and a second articulated support bracket assembly52bhaving a first end that is rotatably attached to the second pair of legs50band a second end that is rotatably attached to the second attachment bar46b. The second articulated support bracket assembly52bincludes an inner bracket portion66band an outer bracket portion68b. The inner bracket portion66bis rotatably attached at its distal end to the second attachment bar46band at its proximal end to the inner end of the outer bracket portion68b. The outer ends of the outer bracket portion68bare rotatably attached to the second pair of legs50b.

As shown inFIGS.2B,3B,4A and4B, when the second collapsible leg assembly44bis in the collapsed position, the second articulating support bracket assembly52bcollapses down against the second end portion38of the lower surface26of the tabletop12, with one leg50bdisposed against the first side portion40of the lower surface26and the other leg50bdisposed against the second side portion42of the lower surface26. It should be noted that the first and second side portions40and42are sufficiently wide to accommodate the legs50aand50bin a side-by-side arrangement.

As shown inFIGS.4A,5and6, a preferred embodiment of the tabletop12includes retainer clips56that are integrally molded into the lower surface26. Each retainer clip56comprises two opposing sections disposed to either side of a cross tube48a-48b. One of the sections of each clip56is integrally molded as part of the first end perimeter portion28band the other section is integrally molded as part of the first end portion36. At the other end of the tabletop12, one of the sections of each clip56is integrally molded as part of the second end perimeter portion28band the other section is integrally molded as part of the second end portion38. In a preferred embodiment, two retainer clips56are provided at each end of the tabletop12to rotatably secure the first cross tube48abetween the first end perimeter portion28band the first end portion36, and to rotatably secure the second cross tube48bbetween the second end perimeter portion28band the second end portion38. The retainer clips56are dimensioned so that the cross tubes48a-48bcan be pushed into a snap-fit engagement that holds the tubes48a-48bin place while still allowing the tubes to rotate when the leg assemblies44a-44bare moved between collapsed and extended positions.

As depicted inFIG.3B, a plurality of first end perimeter depressions54and second end perimeter depressions54are distributed along the first end perimeter portion28band the second end perimeter portion28bin the lower surface26of the tabletop12. Details of the depressions54are depicted inFIGS.5and6. These depressions54provide additional structural support between the lower surface26and the upper surface14of the tabletop within the first and second end perimeter portions28bwhere the first and second cross tubes48aand48bare attached. In a preferred embodiment, five depressions54are provided within each end perimeter portion28b.

As shown inFIG.6, one section of each retainer clip56is disposed between two adjacent end perimeter depressions54to enhance the structural rigidity of the clip56.

As shown inFIG.7, a preferred embodiment includes depressions60a-60band62a-62bthat provide structural support between the lower surface26and the upper surface14of the tabletop12. The first end depressions60aare formed in the first end portion36of the lower surface26of the tabletop12and the second end depressions60bare formed in the second end portion38of the lower surface26of the tabletop12. As shown inFIG.8A, each of the first end depressions60aand second end depressions60boccupies the area A1in the lower surface26and has the height H1measured between the lower surface26and the upper surface14of the tabletop12.

With continued reference toFIG.7, the first side depressions62aare formed in the first side portion40of the lower surface26of the tabletop12and the second side depressions62bare formed in the second side portion42of the lower surface26of the tabletop12. As shown inFIG.8B, each of the first side depressions62aand second side depressions62boccupies the area A2in the lower surface26and has the height H2measured between the lower surface26and the upper surface14of the tabletop12.

In a preferred embodiment of the tabletop12, the area A1is greater than the area A2, and the height H1is greater than the height H2.

Further details regarding the shape and structure of a preferred embodiment of the depressions60a-60band62a-62bmay be found in U.S. Pat. No. 11,147,377, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

As depicted inFIGS.3B,9A and9B, a preferred embodiment of the cooler table10includes a set of right-angle brackets70to enhance the strength of the attachment of the side rails64to the first and second end perimeter portions28bof the bottom surface26of the tabletop12. The brackets70, which are preferably constructed from steel, include apertures72in each of their plates through which fasteners pass to secure the plates70and the side rail64to the tabletop12. In a preferred embodiment, the brackets70are received in rectangular recesses74molded into the first and second side portions40and42of the bottom surface26of the tabletop12.

FIG.10Adepicts typical dimensions of an embodiment of the tabletop12. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that other dimensions could be selected, and that the dimensions shown herein do not limit the scope of the invention.FIG.10Bdepicts dimensions of a most preferred embodiment, in which the sidewalls of the drain aperture18include a chamfer at the top and bottom edges at angles of 15.4 and 20.5 degrees, respectively. This chamfered shape makes removal of the tabletop12from the blow molding machine easier.