Abstract:
A table covering is fabricated from a rectangular sheet of laminated, waterproof material for use outdoors. Each end of the sheet includes a cord securement system for attaching the sheet to a tabletop. The cord system is preferably a shock cord system that allows for independent adjustment of the attachment of the sheet to the tabletop. A length adjustment system allows for variable adjustment in the length of the table covering so that the table covering may be used with tabletops of different sizes.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to table coverings such as tablecloths, and more particularly to table coverings especially suited for outdoor use.  
         BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Table coverings such as common tablecloths are used for many purposes. These include decorative functions, as method for protecting the surface of a table, and as a method for providing a clean surface on which food may be served and eaten. The latter use of table coverings is particularly apt when the table is in an outdoor setting where the table is more likely to be dirty or otherwise unappealing. In the outdoor setting the table covering thus provides a clean and sanitary surface for outdoor dining on a table that may otherwise be dirty.  
           [0003]    Outdoor events often call for table coverings. But since the coverings are being used outdoors, it is of obvious advantage to have a table covering that is waterproof and easily cleaned. Furthermore, the table covering must be secured to the table to prevent it from being blown off or blown askew by the wind. Moreover, in many cases it may be undesirable to reach under an table that is located outdoors since the table may be dirty and may have insects and spiders and the like residing beneath the tabletop There is a need, therefore, for a table covering suited to outdoor use that meets these needs and provides other advantages.  
           [0004]    The present invention is a table covering that is particularly suited to outdoor use but which may be used with any table in any location. The covering provides a flexible, wipeable, waterproof cover that includes an integral attachment system for securing the covering to the table without having to reach under the table. The method of attaching the covering to a table utilizes an elastic cord with a hook on each end. Each hook is secured to a grommet on a side of the covering and the shock cord extends through a grommet on one end of the sheet. The covering is secured to the table by pulling the center portion of the cord outwardly of the end grommet to apply tension to the shock cords, thus smoothing the table covering against the underlying table. The table covering is released from the tabletop by releasing one or both shock cords. The covering is reversible, allowing for a color choice by providing different colors on each of the opposite surfaces. The table covering is fabricated from a material that will not tear easily or fray on the edges. The covering thus has no hem that might otherwise collect dirt, but rather is made of material that allows a durable, attractive clean-cut edge. An attached utility pouch is included for placement of condiments, plates and the like. The utility pouch is also reversible and easily accessible from either surface of the table covering. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]    The invention will be better understood and its numerous objects and advantages will be more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the following drawings:  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 1 is a top view of a table covering according to the present invention showing in phantom lines the table boards of an underlying tabletop.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 2 is a top view of the opposite side of the table covering shown in FIG. 1, showing in phantom lines the table boards of an underlying tabletop.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the table cover according to the present invention as positioned on a tabletop shown by table boards in phantom lines. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0009]    A preferred embodiment of a table covering  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3. Although table covering  10  is particularly well suited for outdoor use, the table covering may be just as well be used indoors.  
         [0010]    Table covering  10  is fabricated from a sheet  11  of material that is generally rectangular in shape, having opposite side margins or edges  12   a ,  12   b  and opposite end margins or edges  14   a  and  14   b . The corners of sheet  11  are shown slightly rounded, although they may be squared off as right angles if desired. A utility pouch  16 , described in more detail below, is optionally attached to an end edge  14   a . The table covering is sized to cover standard rectangular tables such as picnic tables and the like. A standard picnic tabletop  18  is illustrated schematically in the figures with phantom lines and includes plural table boards that are arranged side-by-side to define the tabletop  18 .  
         [0011]    Table covering  10  is connected to the underlying tabletop  18  by means of a dual shock cord system, one shock cord associated with each end edge of the covering. Specifically, with reference to the end edge  14   a , a shock cord  20  has a first end  22  connected to sheet  11  near side edge  12   a . In the preferred embodiment shown in the figures, first end  22  is attached to side edge  12   a  at a grommet  24  through which end  22  extends and is knotted. It will be appreciated nonetheless that the end of the shock cord may be attached to the side edge in any convenient manner. Shock cord  20  is doubled over on itself and the doubled-over section extends through a grommet  25  that defines an opening in sheet  11  near end edge  14   a . A standard spring-loaded toggle  26  is inserted over the doubled-over section of shock cord  20  and the second end of the shock cord is connected to a grommet  28  near the opposite side edge  12   b . A knot  30  is preferably tied in the doubled-over section of shock cord extending beyond toggle  26  to prevent inadvertent removal of the toggle from the cord (FIG. 3).  
         [0012]    The opposite end  14   b  of sheet  11  is fitted with a similar shock cord as that just described. However, this second shock cord is adjustable with respect to its position along side edges  12   a  and  12   b  to accommodate use of the table covering with different sized tables. Thus, referring to end edge  14   b , a shock cord  32  has a hook  34  connected to the first end  36  of the cord. Hook  34  may be selectively connected to sheet  11  near side edge  12   a  at a selected grommet  38 ,  40 . Grommets  38  and  40  are positioned along side edge  12   a  to provide for multiple attachment points for hook  34 , depending upon the size of tabletop  18 . As described above with respect to shock cord  20 , shock cord  32  is doubled over on itself and the doubled-over section extends through a grommet  42  that defines an opening in sheet  11  near end edge  14   b . A standard spring-loaded toggle  44  is inserted over the doubled-over section of shock cord  32  outwardly of grommet  42  and the second end  46  of shock cord  32  is fitted with a hook  48  that is connectable to a selected grommet  50  or  52  near the opposite side edge  12   b . A knot  54  is preferably tied in the doubled-over section of shock cord extending beyond toggle  44  to prevent inadvertent removal of the toggle from the cord (FIG. 3).  
         [0013]    Shock cords  20  and  32  are preferably elastomeric and may be any elastic cord such as bungee cords. Nonetheless, standard cord or rope that is not elastic may be used in place of elastic shock cords.  
         [0014]    As noted above, a utility pouch  16  is attached to end edge  14   a . Utility pouch  16  is optional, and a pouch may be attached to each end edge or along the side edges as desired. With reference to FIG. 1, pouch  16  is preferably fabricated from a mesh material  60  that will both drain fluids and that will not collect debris. The bottom edge  62  of pouch  16  is closed and gusseted to allow for expansion. The upper edge  64  extends beyond the marginal edge of end edge  14   a  on both surfaces of the table covering and is attached to table covering  10  at plural attachment points  66 , for example by sewing. An outside edge of mesh material  60  is not attached to the table covering material between attachment points  66 , thereby defining a top-down opening into the pouch. Binding tape  68  covers the sewn edges of the pouch to provide a clean finish, and plural pouches may be defined by sewing the mesh material at, for example, stitch lines  70  and  72 . D-rings  74  are provided to facilitate attachment of other equipment such as knives and the like to the table covering.  
         [0015]    Sheet  11  is preferably fabricated from a durable, waterproof and easily cleaned material that may have different colors on the opposite surfaces. For instance, first surface  56  shown in FIG. 1 may be one color, and the opposite second surface  58  (which is shown in one corner of the table covering shown in FIG. 1) may be a different color. The table covering may be reversed. That is, it may be turned over without affecting the performance of the shock cords described above. Further, the material used to fabricate sheet  11  is preferably a material that will not fray along its edges and which is reinforced to prevent tearing. This allows the marginal edges to be unhemmed, as hemming will tend to accumulate dirt. There are numerous materials commercially available that are appropriate for use with the present invention. One such material is an internally reinforced polyethylene laminate that is resistant to tearing and punctures and withstands extended exposure to weather. Reef Industries, Inc. of Houston, Tex., sells this product under the brand name Griffolyn™. There are many other laminates, fabrics and other materials that also work well to make sheet  11 .  
         [0016]    Table covering  10  is placed over and secured to a tabletop  18  as follows. With reference to FIG. 3, and with hooks  34  and  48  detached from any grommets, sheet  11  is laid over tabletop  18  such that side edges  12   a ,  12   b  and end edges  14   a ,  14   b  extend beyond the marginal edges of tabletop  18 . Shock cords  20  and  32  are positioned such that they extend beneath the lower surface of the tabletop, as shown. Hooks  34  and  48  are then connected to a selected grommet that adjusts the length of sheet  11  to the size most closely approximating the length of the tabletop. Stated otherwise, by varying the position at which the hooks  34  and  48  are connected along the side edges, the length of the table covering—that is, the length of the surface covered—may be adjusted. In FIG. 3 hook  34  is connected to grommet  40  and hook  48  (not shown) is connected to grommet  52 . To illustrate the adjustment feature, if tabletop  18  were longer than shown in FIG. 3, hook  34  may be connected to grommet  38  and hook  48  may be connected to grommet  50  to adjust the length of the sheet  11 .  
         [0017]    With hooks  34  and  48  connected to the appropriate grommets as described, the doubled-over section of cord extending outwardly through opening  42  beyond toggle  44  is pulled outwardly, away from the tabletop, in the direction of arrow A. The cord may be pulled easily by grasping knot  54 . As noted above, the shock cords are positioned below the lower surface of the tabletop. Applying tension to the shock cord thus snugs sheet  11  against the tabletop. With the shock cord pulled outwardly, toggle  44  is released and slid toward tabletop  18  along the shock cord until it abuts or lays adjacent grommet  43 . The toggle thus acts as a stop to prevent retraction of the cord through the opening, and to thus maintain the tension on the shock cord.  
         [0018]    The identical procedure is repeated at the opposite end of the table covering, except that since the first and second ends of the shock cord are fixed to their respective grommets in sheet  11 , there is no need to adjust these connections. The doubled-over section of cord extending outwardly beyond toggle  26  is pulled outwardly, away from the tabletop, in the direction of arrow B. The cord may be pulled by grasping knot  30 . This applies tension to the shock cord and thus snugs sheet  11  to the tabletop. With the shock cord pulled outwardly, toggle  26  is released and slid toward tabletop  18  along the shock cord until it abuts or lays adjacent grommet  25 , again to act as a stop to prevent retraction of the shock cord through the opening and thus maintain the desired tension on the cord.  
         [0019]    The shock cords at either end of sheet  11  may then be alternately loosened and/or tightened to adjust the table covering and to secure and smooth it to the tabletop. When attached to the tabletop  18  in this manner sheet  11  provides a smooth and easily cleaned surface. The secure attachment provided by the shock cords prevents the table covering from being blown off or askew by the wind. The table covering may be removed from the tabletop by releasing one or both of the toggles to release tension on the shock cords.  
         [0020]    When attached to a tabletop as described above, utility pouch  16  hangs downwardly from end  14   a  as illustrated in FIG. 3. Utility pouch  16  may be used to store a wide various items such as plates, utensils, napkins, condiments, maps and literature to name a few. Other items may be connected to D-rings  74  as desired.  
         [0021]    While the present invention has been described in terms of a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill that the spirit and scope of the invention is not limited to those embodiments, but extend to the various modifications and equivalents as defined in the appended claims.