Abstract:
A table is disclosed, which has a rotatable writing device and a non-rotatable table portion. The rotatable writing device has an upper surface for accepting writing. The table portion includes a plurality of lobes to provide convenient work space that does not interfere with rotation and use of the writing device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to tables and more particularly to a table that includes a rotatable writing device with a surface for receiving writing.  
         [0003]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0004]     When a number of individuals work together collaboratively it is frequently helpful for them to work around a single table. When the subject of the groups&#39; work involves a writing to which two or more individuals contribute, it is useful to provide a single writing surface and to provide means to rotate the writing so that individuals at varying positions around the table may easily view and contribute to the writing.  
         [0005]     It is known to make a table that includes a separately rotatable element. Such tables, however, typically provide a rotatable element that is similar in composition to the surface of the non-rotatable portion of the table. The purpose of such tables usually is to facilitate access to objects on the rotatable element from positions anywhere around the perimeter of the table. Such tables do not provide a rotatable surface on which writings can be made directly and easily erased. Moreover, such tables generally are square or rectangular in shape and do not provide a convenient surface for users to store references or on which users can do individual work without interfering with the rotatable portion of the table.  
         [0006]     3. Objects and Summary of the Invention  
         [0007]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a table that includes a rotatable writing device with a surface for directly receiving readily erasable writing.  
         [0008]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a writing surface for directly receiving writings, which allows such writings to be erased easily.  
         [0009]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a table with a rotatable writing surface that also includes convenient work surfaces that may be used without interfering with the rotatable portion of the table.  
         [0010]     These and other objectives are met by a table having a non-rotatable table portion with an upper surface that extends in a first plane and a writing device rotatably interconnected to the table portion, having an upper surface adapted to receive writing and wherein the non-rotatable table portion includes a plurality of lobes to provide working surfaces. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]      FIG. 1  is top plan view of a table according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2A  is a sectional view of a table according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along section line  2 A/ 2 B- 2 A/ 2 B.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2B  is a sectional view of a table according to another embodiment of the present invention, taken along section line  2 A/ 2 B- 2 A/ 2 B. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring now to the drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout, there is seen a table, designated generally by reference numeral  10 , comprising a conventional table portion  12  having an upwardly facing surface  14 , and a writing device  16  rotatably mounted to table portion  12 . Writing device  16  includes an upper surface  18  on which a user may write using an appropriate writing instrument, such as a dry erase marker, chalk, and the like. Accordingly, upper surface  18  may be composed of any conventional writing substrate, such as a dry erase board, chalk board, and the like.  
         [0015]     With reference to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , upper surface  14  of table portion  12  and upper surface  18  of writing device  16  extend co-planar relative to one another and preferably parallel to the floor. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2A , table portion  12  includes an open region  20  in which writing device  16  is positioned. A mounting bracket  22  is attached to the underside  24  of table portion  12  and writing device  16  is mounted thereon with a bearing  26  that permits its rotation relative to table portion  12 .  
         [0016]     Table portion  12  can be made of a variety of conventional table materials, including, for example, wood, metal, glass, plastic and combinations thereof. Preferably, the upwardly facing surface  14  of the table portion  12  is generally smooth. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that for certain applications it may be useful to have a textured surface and/or to provide a lip or other depressed or elevated feature, for example around the outer or inner perimeter of the table portion  12 . In certain applications, however, it may be useful to use a semispherical or frustoconical writing device  16 , in which case the writing device  16  would extend above the plane of the table portion  12 .  
         [0017]     In the preferred embodiment, the writing device  16  and the table portion  12  are both in the same plane. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that for certain applications it may be useful to provide a writing device  16  that is above or below the plane of the table portion  12 .  
         [0018]     The writing device  16  may be made of a variety of materials including wood, metal, glass, plastic or combinations thereof. To aid in rotation of the rotatable center portion, gripping features such as knobs, handholds or portions of high friction material can be added to the writing device  16 .  
         [0019]     The writing device  16  preferably is rotatable through a full 360° relative to the table portion  12 . Writing device  16  can be supported by any mechanism that will allow it to rotate with respect to the table portion  12  and will maintain its horizontal position with respect to the table portion  12 . One example is the preferred embodiment depicted in  FIG. 2A  and described above.  
         [0020]     In an alternate embodiment, depicted in  FIG. 2B , writing device  16  has a frustoconical shape at its outer edge  28 , which corresponds to the shape of the inner edge  30  of table portion  12 . According to this embodiment, writing device  16  is supported by bearing  18 ′ located around the inner edge  30  of the table portion  12 . Alternatively, bearing  18 ′ could be located around the outer edge  28  of writing device  16 . Writing device  16  can also be supported without the use of bearings, for example, by rollers fixedly attached to the underside of table portion  12  which are positioned to support the underside of writing device  16  about its perimeter.  
         [0021]     Preferably, the outer edge  28  and inner edge  30  are closely matched to prevent materials from slipping through the gap between outer edge  28  and inner edge  30 . There must be sufficient distance between outer edge  28  and inner edge  30  to permit r writing device  16  to rotate freely. Those skilled in the art will recognize that outer edge  28  and inner edge  30  can each be formed with corresponding contours. For example, outer edge  28  can be formed with a convex rim that corresponds with a concave rim on inner edge  30 . With reference once again to  FIG. 1 , table portion  12  is preferably shaped with a plurality of lobes  40 . It is intended that users of table  10  would stand or sit between adjacent lobes, thus having convenient access to writing device  16  while utilizing the lobes  40  to set papers, books, computers, or other supplies or equipment. While table  10  is illustrated as including room for four occupants, it is to be understood that table  10  could be formed to any desired geometry.  
         [0022]     While there has been illustrated and described what are at present considered to be preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood and appreciated that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art, and that the appended claims encompass all such modifications that fall within the full spirit and scope of the present invention.