Abstract:
A folding table for a grill includes a table portion configured to extend into an operative position and configured to be placed in a protective stowed position to protect the grill. The folding table further includes an upper cross support pivotally connected to the table portion and an attachment portion configured to be connected to the grill. The attachment portion is pivotally connected to the support.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/174,167, filed on Apr. 30, 2009, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention is directed to a table, and in particular, a table for use in locations where a preparation or other surface is desired such as next to a grill. 
         [0004]    2. Related Art 
         [0005]    Many devices, such as grills have various side tables that include obstructive support mechanisms and that are not easily folded into a usable arrangement/stowed arrangement position. Moreover, such tables do not have secondary functionality such as locking a grill or other mechanism in a closed position and/or providing a level of protection for the same. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a support table that is easily placed into the operative stowed position, does not have obstructive support mechanisms, has secondary uses such as locking a grill in the closed position and being positioned such as to protect a grill&#39;s upper surface. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The invention meets the foregoing need and allows a support table that is easily supported on a grill or the like may be easily rearranged to protect the top of the grill and lock the grill, which results in a significant improvements in the ability to create a food preparation surface, lock a grill in the closed position, cover the upper surface of a grill and other advantages apparent from the discussion herein. 
         [0008]    According to another aspect of the invention a folding table includes a table portion configured to extend into an operative position and configured to be placed in a protective stowed position. The folding table further includes a handle extending from the table portion, an upper cross support pivotally connected through the handle, and an attachment portion configured to be connected to a device. The attachment portion being pivotally connected to the support. 
         [0009]    Accordingly, in one aspect of the invention a folding table for a grill includes a table portion configured to extend into an operative position and configured to be placed in a protective stowed position to protect the grill. The folding table further includes an upper cross support pivotally connected to the table portion and an attachment portion configured to be connected to the grill. The attachment portion being pivotally connected to the support. 
         [0010]    Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the invention may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the invention as claimed. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a folding table in the operative position attached to a grill constructed according to the principles of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a folding table in the stowed position constructed according to the principles of the invention; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a detailed view of the folding table between the operative position and the stowed position constructed according to the principles of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
         [0016]    In  FIG. 1  the folding table  100  may be arranged along side a device such as a grill  200 . As further shown in  FIG. 1  the table  100  is in the operative position extending horizontally from the grill  200 . Of course, the folding table  100  may be attached to any sort of mechanism or other horizontal surface including kitchen islands, recreational vehicles (RV), boats, and the like. Grill  200  may also include a vent  202 , a lid  204  to close the grill, and a lid edge  206  which cooperates with the lower part of the grill  208 . 
         [0017]    In particular as shown in  FIG. 2 , the table  100  is shown in the stowed position. In the stowed position the table portion extends up above the grill  200  covering the vent  202  and protecting the upper lid  204  surface of the grill  200 . A support  106  extends up from the horizontal surface of the grill  200  in order to place the table portion  102  in the position shown in  FIG. 2 . A cross-support  114 , described later in detail, is shown holding an edge  206  of the grill lid  204  in place and keeping it from opening when the grill  200  is stowed. 
         [0018]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , the folding table  100  may include a table portion  102 . The table portion  102  may take any shape and be formed of any known materials. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the table portion  102  may be implemented as a generally rectangle shape having curved corners. Additionally, the table portion  102  as shown in  FIG. 3  may have a vertically extending edge which that may keep items on the surface of table portion  102  from rolling off or additionally any sort of liquid spillage from pouring off the top surface portion of table portion  102 . Additionally, table portion  102  may be constructed of synthetic materials including various types of plastic, metals, or a combination thereof. For example, the table portion  102  may be formed through a molding process from synthetic materials. 
         [0019]    The folding table  100  may further include a handle  112  attached to the table portion  102 . The handle  112  may be integrally molded with the table portion of  102 . Alternatively, the handle  112  may be mechanically attached to table portion  102  through adhesives or other types of mechanical fasteners. The handle portion  112  may include pivot structure to allow for connection to a support  106 . Additionally or alternatively, the support  106  may be pivotally attached to the table portion  102 . 
         [0020]    The support  106  may be constructed of metal. For example, the support structure  106  may be constructed of a metal rod bent in the fashion shown in  FIG. 3  through a known bending process. Thereafter, the support  106  may be finished using various coating processes to reduce corrosion thereof. Alternatively, the support  106  may be formed of metallic materials that do not require a corrosion resistant surface material in order to avoid having to provide the same. The support  106  may include two support portions. 
         [0021]    The support  106  may also be attached to a horizontal or near horizontal surface through attachment brackets  104 . The attachment brackets  104  may be formed of metallic or other materials and include some form of mechanical attachment. The mechanical attachment may include mechanical fasteners extending through attachment holes  122  for holding the attachment brackets  104  against a vertical or near vertical support surface. The attachment brackets  104  may also include support pivot connections  108  to the bracket  104 . The support connections  108  may be implemented as a bend in the attachment brackets  104  or may be implemented through some other mechanical connection between support  106  and attachment brackets  104 . 
         [0022]    The support  106  functions to support the table portion  102  in a horizontal or near horizontal position. In that regard, the support  106  may be connected at the support pivot connection  110  and also at the support pivot connection  108  and may provide vertical support to the table portion  102  in order to keep table portion  102  in a horizontal configuration. In this regard, the table portion  102  may be supported on one end by the support pivot connection  110  through handle  112  or alternatively pivot connection on table portion  102  and additionally the support  106  may support table portion  102  through a contact against support surface  120  or against cross support  114 . Again, the result is table portion  102  that may be held in a horizontal position through the contact of the table against support surface  120  or cross support  114  of support  106  and the upward force of support  106  through handle  112 . 
         [0023]    A support  106  may also include an upper cross support  116 . The upper cross support  116  may provide strength and rigidity to the support  106 . Additionally, the upper cross support  116  may also function as a way in which to hang tools or other cooking implements to the table portion  102 . Additionally, handle  112  may also act as a way in which to hang tools and other cooking implements along side of the table portion  102  for one who is using the table portion  100  along side a grill. 
         [0024]    The support  106  may also include a lower cross support  118 . The lower cross support  118  provides additional rigidity to support  106  and also may contact the lower surface of the grill  208 . The support  106  further may include a cross support  114 . The cross support  114  may provide additional rigidity to the support  106 . Additionally, cross support  114  may also support table portion  102  thereunder and support table portion  102  in addition to support surface  120 . When the folding table  100  is moved to the stowed position as shown in  FIG. 2 , the cross support  114  may engage the lower edge of the grill lid  204  thereby closing and holding closed the lid  204 . 
         [0025]    In accordance to the features described above, the folding table  100  provides a stable horizontal work surface for grilling or other types of uses. The cross support  106  allows for the folding table  100  to be placed in a stowed position located above the operative position to provide protection and covering for a device, such as a grill  200  as shown in  FIG. 2 . Moreover, the cross supports, including cross support  114  and lower cross support  118  provide the ability to lock and maintain closed a grill lid  204 . 
         [0026]    Again, although as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the folding table  100  may be very well suited for use with a grill, but other uses as noted above are also contemplated by the invention. 
         [0027]    While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the invention.