Portable, personal table system

An adjustable, portable, personal table system for one person that holds a plate and a drink container. More specifically, the invention is directed to an adjustable, portable, personal table system fashioned with a wire base, plate holder and cup holder components, a central tubular stanchion, and a securing component connected to said stanchion for engaging a ground surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Context of the Invention Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts, and particularly to FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2 , there will be seen the present invention in its intended operating environment. In this, FIG. 1A depicts an indoor family room or covered porch setting where a female FIG. 10 is shown seated on a couch and consuming a lunch from a portable, personal table system 16 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The portable, personal table system 16 includes a base 18 , an upstanding tubular stanchion 20 , a wire plate holder 22 and an attached wire cup holder 24 . The stanchion 20 is divided at approximately its center location and includes an upper segment 26 that is telescoped into a lower segment 28 . Accordingly, if it is desirable to use the subject personal table by someone, such as a child, that would like to sit on a ground surface, the upper stanchion segment 26 can be operably removed, the plate holder 22 inserted into the top of the lower stanchion segment 28 , and the subject portable table may be facilely used at a lower elevation as shown in use by a child in FIG. 1B . Another operating context is shown in FIG. 2 . In this, the subject portable, personal table system 16 is particularly useful in an outdoor environment such as at a picnic or beach function. In this environment, the subject portable, personal table system 16 is often used in cooperation with lawn chairs 30 . When used on grass or sand, the stanchion 20 maybe fitted in one embodiment with an auger like screw or ground engaging means (shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 ) for securing the subject portable, personal table system 16 into a ground surface. Alternatively the ground engaging means can be a pointed tips or a collar with ground engaging times. The subject invention is designed specifically to provide a convenient stable device for holding a dinner plate and cup for both adults and children while dining inside or out, at home or away, on a flat hard surface or an uneven or loose surface. The detailed features of presently preferred embodiments will now be discussed. Portable, Personal Table System Turning to the drawings, FIG. 3 discloses an expanded view of a preferred embodiment comprising the components of the subject invention, including an auger like screw member or ground engaging means. FIG. 4 shows the invention as it would be anchored into a ground surface with the auger like member, and FIG. 5 discloses the assembled invention as it would be used on a hard surface. As shown in FIG. 3 (an exploded component view), the base 18 comprises a circular ring of wire 19 with a plurality of inwardly radiating wire arms or spokes 36 , coplanar with said ring 19 . The spokes extend inwardly toward and connect to a hub member 32 , positioned at the center of said base 18 . The hub 32 is composed of a short cylindrical tube, which is operable to receive within its interior a lower portion of the stanchion segment 28 . In one embodiment, a ground engaging means 29 is positioned at a distant end of the stanchion segment 28 to extend into a ground surface. The base 18 , per se, provides a stable platform for the table on hard surfaces indoors such as hardwood floors, tile, carpet and the like as well as outdoor patio and deck surfaces constructed of cement, wood, and the like. The base 18 also provides for a large measure of stability for the table on outdoor surfaces such as grass, sand and the like. In a sand environment the spokes 36 and base ring 18 may be settled into the sand to secure the stand. The upper stanchion segment 26 , like the lower stanchion segment 28 , is composed of metal tubing and has the same diameter as the lower stanchion segment 28 . The upper segment 26 has a reduced portion 46 that can be fitted into a top end of the lower stanchion segment 28 . The lower stanchion segment 28 has a reduced portion 48 fits into the hub 32 . In a preferred embodiment a ground engaging means comprising an auger component 29 is axially to the reduced portion 48 of the lower stanchion. It should be noted that the use of the upper stanchion segment 26 will add sufficient height to the subject table system so that it is of a comfortable height to be used by an adult while seated in a conventional chair or couch. Alternatively, removal of the upper stanchion segment 26 will position the table's height to a lower use position for either a child or an adult seated on the floor or ground surface. The lower stanchion segment 28 , with attached auger 29 , is cooperatively received within the interior of the hub 32 . The auger 29 projects beneath the plane of the base 18 , and is operable to bore into a ground surface by rotating the stanchion to provide support for the portable table system. The plate holder 22 is constructed of metal wire similar to the wire of the base 18 and is comprised of two wire rings 48 and 50 having a common central axis. The outer ring 48 is larger in diameter than the inner ring 50 . The rings 48 and 50 are attached to radiating support arms 52 , 54 , 56 and 58 which are connected to the rings as shown in FIG. 3 by the plurality of said radiating support arms. The radiating support arms 52 - 58 are welded to the rings 48 and 50 in such a manner that the small ring is offset in a plane slightly beneath the plane of the larger ring. This enables the upper ring to generally conform to the diameter of a conventional serving plate and the smaller, lower ring to conform to the base of the plate. The radiating wires 52 - 58 are bent downwardly in the center at approximately a right angle to form a downwardly extending column 60 . This column 60 is operably received within an upper portion of the stanchion segment 26 to securely support the plate holder 22 in a horizontal posture. The cup holder 24 is composed of wire and is connected to the side of the plate holder 22 . A lateral wall surfaces of the cup holder is formed by wire having a C-shaped upper ring 62 and a similar C-shaped lower ring 64 . The rings 62 and 64 are interconnected by vertical rods 65 to form a generally cylindrical cup holder. A gap in the rings 62 and 64 serves as an opening 66 for the handle of a cup or mug. The upper ring 62 of the cup holder 24 is attached by means of a weld to the upper ring 48 of the plate holder 22 and the lower ring 64 of the cup holder 24 is attached to a downwardly bent extension of radiating arm 54 of the plate holder 22 . A pair of crossing wires 68 is used to provide a base for a cup positioned within the cup holder. Although the wires 68 are shown in a parallel position other configurations are envisioned such as a radiating design. The plate holder 22 and cup holder 24 can be rotated one hundred and eighty (180) degrees to suit the needs of both left and right handed users. In a preferred embodiment the wire is coated with powder paint which is baked on to provide a smooth outer surface that is resistant to rust. FIG. 4 depicts an assembled portable, personal table system where the plate holder 22 and cup holder 24 are fitted into the top of the upper stanchion segment 26 . The upper segment 26 is telescoped into the top end of the lower stanchion segment 28 , and the lower stanchion segment 28 is telescoped through the hub 32 . In a preferred embodiment the lower segment 28 has attached at its posterior end an auger like ground engaging element 29 . The lower segment 28 that is fitted with the auger 29 is inserted into the upper portion of hub 32 , and the auger 29 projects beneath the plane of the base 18 to secure the base to the ground. Referring to FIG. 5 , when it is not necessary to secure the base 18 to the ground, the upper segment 26 and the lower segment can be reversed and the auger 28 is positioned within the interior of the stanchion segment 26 . FIG. 6 depicts an alternative embodiment of the inventions. The base 18 comprises a ring of wire 19 with a plurality of inwardly radiating wire arms 36 , coplanar with said ring 19 . The arms 36 are bent ninety degrees upwardly at the center of the base 18 to form an upstanding mounting column 37 . In this, the individual upwardly bent wire components cooperatively form a generally cylindrical member which can be received within the interior of the base portion of a lower stanchion segment 28 . Although the use of four spokes 36 is preferred it is possible to use three or five, as desired to provide a stable base. As shown in FIG. 6 , the base 18 can be operably stabilized by an anchor ring 41 which is formed from wire components attach to a metal collar or hub 40 . The wire components include a ring 42 and a plurality of radiating spokes 44 which extend from the center of the anchor ring 42 and hub 40 . The radiating spokes 44 are connected to the ring 42 and are then bent downwardly ninety degrees having free ends or tines 34 operable to be releasably embedded into a ground surface for outdoor use. Application of a moderate amount of downward force on the metal ring 42 by a user's foot will serve to implant the tines into the ground or sand. The metal hub 40 at the center of said anchor ring 41 is slightly larger in diameter than the lower stanchion segment 28 and operably slides along the stanchion. When the invention is being used on a hard surface, the four (4) tines 34 of the anchor ring 41 rest on the surface of the base ring 18 as the anchor ring 41 is free to slid up on the lower stanchion segment 28 . Alternatively the anchor ring 41 can simply be removed. The combination of the base 18 and the anchor ring 41 together provide a stable platform for the subject invention. The anchor ring 41 is slidably received along the lower segment 28 and the subject invention is operable for use in an outdoor lawn or beach environment next to a folding picnic chair. In another operative mode the upper stanchion segment 26 is removed and the plate holder 22 and attached cup holder 24 are mounted directly into the upper end of the lower stanchion segment 28 as shown in FIG. 7 . This form of the invention can be used by a child sitting on a floor surface watching TV as shown in FIG. 1 . Alternatively, the anchor ring 41 can be attached and the lower elevation invention used alongside a low beach chair or the like. Finally another embodiment of a ground engaging means is shown in FIG. 8 . In this embodiment the lower stanchion segment 28 is formed with a generally sharp-end or spike component 31 that can operably be pushed into a ground surface to secure the base 18 to a ground surface. 
 SUMMARY OF MAJOR ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION The present invention represents an enhanced option for informal dining both indoors and outdoors. There are numerous occasions when people gather together to celebrate family reunions, birthdays, ball games and the like in their home where there is not enough seating and table space to accommodate everyone present. The portable, personal table system is very useful during these occasions as it can be set up quickly and used anywhere in the house. When not in use the subject portable table breaks down and stores away in a drawer, cabinet, closet or the like. There are many uses for this unique invention in today's mobile society such as tail-gate parties at sporting events, camping at the beach or wherever people have a picnic table in their backyard and they are in short supply at park and campgrounds as well. As a result people are forced to sit with a paper plate in their lap and nowhere to place their cup when they are cooking out. Additionally, the portable table is manufactured from strong heavy gauge steel wire and then powder coated with non-toxic paint to protect it for many years of physical use. It is constructed to be cleaned and stored away very quickly and conveniently. Other materials such as plastic could also be used to form some or even all of the components of this invention. A stanchion element is divided into two sections so that the height of the plate holder can be lowered by removing one section. The plate and cup holder are faciely removable from the stanchion so that a paper plate and cup can be easily supported with one hand to pour a drink or add food to one's plate with the free hand. In describing the subject invention, reference has been made to a preferred embodiment and illustrative advantages of the invention. Those skilled in the art, however, and familiar with the instant disclosure of the subject invention, may also recognize other additions, deletions, modifications, substitutions and/or other changes which will fall within the purview of the subject invention and claims.