Abstract:
An umbrella table with an inlaid turntable is disclosed. The table includes a tabletop having a substantially planar top surface with a circular aperture therein. A disc is rotatably mounted in the circular aperture. The disc has a substantially planar upper surface and a central opening therethrough. The top surface of the tabletop and the upper surface of the disc are substantially coplanar, and the central opening is capable of receiving a cylindrical shaft such as the shaft of an umbrella.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/641,873, filed Aug. 15, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates to tables, and more particularly relates to an umbrella table having an inlaid turntable or “Lazy Susan” that is substantially flush with a stationary top surface of the table and includes an umbrella-receiving bore therethrough.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Umbrella tables are a common type of outdoor furniture. Umbrella tables typically include a stationary tabletop having a central opening for receiving a shaft or pole of an umbrella. The umbrella pole extends through the central opening in the tabletop such that the hood portion of the umbrella substantially shields the underlying tabletop and some or all of its occupants from sun and weather. An umbrella base typically is positioned below the central opening in the tabletop to receive and support the lower end of the umbrella pole. The portions of the tabletop that surround the umbrella pole are available for supporting various articles such as dishes and flatware for dining. Because umbrella tables are used outdoors, umbrella tables are typically constructed of weather resistant materials such as metal and glass. In recent years, decorative cast aluminum umbrella tables increasingly have become popular.  
         [0004]     Indoor “self-waiting” tables are also known. Such self-waiting tables are typically constructed of wood, and include integral turntables or “Lazy Susans” mounted at or near their centers. One such self-waiting table is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 958,672. The integrally-mounted turntable permits items of food or the like to be placed on the turntable and moved from one location on the table to another as desired for convenient and easy access to persons positioned around the table. While such tables can be useful, such tables are not suited for extensive outdoor use, and do not provide a means for supporting an umbrella for shielding an underlying table and its occupants from sun and weather.  
         [0005]     Others have attempted to provide a turntable for use with an umbrella table by providing a separate turntable that sits atop a tabletop and includes a central bore for passing a shaft of an umbrella therethrough. Such turntables can be positioned directly over a central opening in an umbrella table such that an umbrella pole can be inserted through both the turntable and the aligned opening in the tabletop. One such turntable is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,946. Others have provided rotatable trays that mount on and around a portion of an umbrella pole that extends above a tabletop of an umbrella table. One such rotatable tray is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,712. Unfortunately, such turntables and rotating shelves or trays can interfere with the use of the stationary top surface of an umbrella table. In particular, such turntables and shelves decrease the amount of useful stationary surface area on an umbrella table. In addition, because such turntables and shelves protrude above the upper surfaces of their underlying tabletops, these items can actually interfere with passing items directly between persons seated on opposite sides of an umbrella table when such persons do not desire to use a turntable or rotating shelf to pass such items. Furthermore, such after-market turntables and rotating shelves can detract from the ornamental appearance of an umbrella table.  
         [0006]     Therefore, there is a need for an umbrella table and turntable in which the turntable does not detract from the useful surface area of the table. In addition, there is a need for a turntable that is visually compatible with the ornamental appearance of an ornamented umbrella table. Further, there is a need for a turntable and umbrella table wherein the turntable does not protrude above the top surface of the table, and therefore does not provide an obstacle between opposite sides of the table.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The invention includes a table including a tabletop having a substantially planar top surface with a circular aperture therein. The table also includes a disc that is rotatably mounted in the circular aperture. The disc includes a substantially planar upper surface and a central opening therethrough. The top surface of the tabletop and the upper surface of the disc are substantially coplanar, and the central opening is capable of receiving a cylindrical shaft such as an umbrella pole.  
         [0008]     The invention also includes an umbrella table with a tabletop having a substantially planar top surface. The umbrella table also includes a turntable having a substantially planar upper surface and a central bore therethrough. The upper surface of the turntable is substantially flush with the top surface of the tabletop. The central bore is sized and configured to receive an umbrella pole, and the turntable is substantially free to rotate when the umbrella pole is received in the central bore.  
         [0009]     The invention further includes an umbrella table with a tabletop having a first surface portion, a second surface portion that is substantially coplanar with the first surface portion, and an umbrella-receiving opening. The umbrella table further includes means for rotating the second surface portion relative to the first surface portion.  
         [0010]     These and other aspects of the invention will be evident from a reading of the following descriptions of embodiments of the invention together with the drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of an umbrella table according to the invention;  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the umbrella table shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the tabletop portion of the umbrella table shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  taken along line  3 - 3  as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a detail of the center portion of the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5   a  is a top plan view of the turntable or disc portion of the umbrella table shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5   b  is a bottom plan view of the turntable or disc portion shown in  FIG. 5   a;    
         [0017]      FIG. 5   c  is a side view of the turntable or disc portion shown in  FIGS. 5   a  and  5   b , shown in partial cross-section;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a detail of the center portion of the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 3 , shown with the bearing and turntable disc removed;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a bearing bracket for use in an umbrella table like that shown in  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view of the underside of the umbrella table shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]      FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a table  10  according to the invention. The table  10  includes a tabletop  12  and an underlying table support  13 . The upper surface  15  of the tabletop  12  is substantially flat, and may have any desired outer shape. For example, the tabletop  12  may be circular as shown. Alternatively, the table  10  may be square, rectangular, oval, or the like. The table support  13  can be configured in any manner that stably supports the tabletop in an elevated position. Preferably, the table support  13  has a substantially open center and permits an umbrella stand  22  to be positioned beneath the table  10  as shown. The tabletop  12  includes a central aperture or recess  14 . The aperture  14  is sized and shaped to receive a turntable or disc  30  as shown. The turntable  30  includes a central opening  16  for receiving a shaft  20  of an umbrella. The table  10  is desirably configured such that the umbrella shaft  20  can fully pass through the central opening  16  and extend to an underlying umbrella stand  22  as shown.  
         [0022]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper surface  15  of the tabletop  12  and the top surface  31  of the turntable  30  are substantially coplanar such that the surfaces  15 ,  31  are substantially flush with each other. Accordingly, when the turntable  30  is not used, the turntable  30  does not diminish the surface area of the table  10  or interfere with the continuity of the table&#39;s surface.  
         [0023]     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the turntable or disc  30  is received in a disc-receiving aperture or recess  14  in the tabletop  12 . The aperture  14  desirably is centered in the tabletop  12  as shown, though the aperture  14  may be located elsewhere in the tabletop  12  if desired. The turntable  30  is received in the aperture  14 . Preferably, the aperture  14  is only slightly larger in diameter than the turntable  30  such that the radial gap between the tabletop  12  and turntable  30  is minimized. A central opening  16  extends through the turntable  30  as shown. The central opening  16  is sized to receive shafts of conventional patio umbrellas that typically range in diameter from about 1.38 to about 2 inches. Desirably, the opening  16  is at least about 2 inches in diameter.  
         [0024]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show one arrangement for rotatably supporting the turntable  30  in the aperture  14 . In the embodiment shown, a bearing support  40  is affixed to the underside of the tabletop  12 . As shown in  FIGS. 4, 6 , and  7 , the bearing bracket  40  includes a centrally positioned hub  42 . The hub  42  includes a bearing receptacle  43  and a central bore  47 . One or more brace members  44  connect the hub  42  to the tabletop  12 . As shown in  FIG. 6 , the bearing bracket  40  may include an outer support  46 . The outer support may be welded or otherwise attached to the underside of the tabletop  12 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , a plurality of brace members  44  may connect the hub  42  to the outer support  46 .  
         [0025]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a bearing such as a ball bearing assembly  50  is nested in the bearing receptacle  43  in the hub  42 . The bearing assembly  50  may include an outer race  52 , an inner race  54 , and a plurality of ball bearings  56  disposed between the inner and outer races. Preferably, the bearing assembly  50  is constructed of weather-resistant and corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel, brass, or the like. As shown in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c , the turntable or disc  32  includes an outer edge  34  and a central opening  16 . The underside of the turntable desirably includes a cylindrical boss  37  and a shoulder  33 . A plurality of radial reinforcement ribs  39  may extend between the shoulder  33  and a rim portion  38  along the outer edge  34 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the boss  44  of the turntable  30  is configured to extend through the inner race  54  of the bearing assembly  50 . Preferably, the outer diameter of the boss  36  is about the same size as the inner diameter of the inner race  54  such that the boss  36  securely fits inside the bearing assembly  50 . In addition, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the shoulder  33  of the turntable  30  is sized such that the shoulder  33  rests atop the inner race  54 . If desired, the bearing receptacle  43  can be sized such that the bearing assembly  50  can be pressed into the receptacle  43 , thereby providing a tight, interference fit. Similarly, the boss  36  on the turntable  30  can be sized such that the boss  36  can be pressed into the bearing assembly  50  to provide a tight, interference fit. The bearing assembly  50  permits the turntable  30  to freely rotate within the aperture  14  in the tabletop  12 .  
         [0026]     As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 8 , the central opening  16  in the turntable  30  permits a shaft  20  such as an umbrella pole to completely extend through the table  10 . If desired, a collar or bushing  60  can be provided as shown in  FIG. 4  to reduce the radial clearance between the shaft  20  and the walls of the opening  16 . The bushing  60  can be constructed of a polymeric material, for example, thereby providing a low-friction bearing surface for the shaft  20  in the opening  16 .  
         [0027]     Preferably, the turntable  30  and tabletop  12  have matching or complementary ornamental appearances. If desired, it is possible to provide a turntable  30  and tabletop  12  with patterns and or textures that make it difficult to detect any separation between the two components. Preferably, a table according to the invention is substantially constructed of one or more materials that are resistant to degradation caused by sun, rain, moisture, heat, cold, or other weather conditions. For example, it is desirable to construct the major components of a table according to the invention of aluminum, and in particular, of cast aluminum. Alternatively, such a table may be constructed from cast iron, a polymeric material, or any other suitable material or materials.  
         [0028]     The above description of embodiments of the invention are for the purpose of describing various aspects of the invention, are not intended to limit the scope of the invention thereto. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will understand that certain modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the invention. All such modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.