Abstract:
An interchangeable table top arrangement has a frame and backer board that can fit over a pre-existing table top or can be attached to a pedestal and used as a main table top. The frame and backer board define a recess, and an interchangeable insert fits into this recess. A hook-and-eye material (i.e., Velcro®) or other suitable releasable attachment system hold the insert in place within the frame. Finger holes in the backer board facilitate separating the attachment system to change out the insert. The inserts may have designs imprinted on them, e.g., advertising, holiday theme material, or game boards.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 60/243,302, filed Oct. 27, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
     This invention is directed to flat horizontal support members, namely, tables, and more specifically to a simple system by which a conventional table or table base may be quickly and easily provided with an alternative or interchangeable table top surface appearance or configuration, whether ornamental, or functional, such as display advertising, game boards, instructional work stations, and the like. 
     The prior art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,878 granted Jun. 27, 1989 to Elliot Kreigsman, which is directed to a see-through table top and the prior art described therein, namely U.S. Pat. No. 1,850,420 granted on Mar. 22, 1932 to S. J. Schuldt for “Game Table”; U.S. Pat. No. 3,001,843 granted on Sep. 26, 1961 to S. D. Davis for “Convertible Table”; and U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,105 granted on Jan. 4, 1966 to R. Reisdorff et al for “Table”; all of whose tables are relatively complex in construction; U.S. Pat. No. 3,212,952 granted on Oct. 19, 1965 to J. Turner for “Decorative Table” which provides an aesthetically pleasing table top; but one which must remain as set up by the manufacturer; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,833,609 granted on May 6, 1958 to C. J. Lawless for “Table Construction With Reversible Top” which is not only relatively complex in construction but only provides either one of only two table top configurations. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Broadly stated, the interchangeable table top according to the present invention, in one form, comprises a frame of a size and shape to fit over the top surface and around the edges of the top of an existing, conventional table. In one embodiment, an upwardly facing horizontal shoulder is spaced downwardly from the top edge of the frame and extends inwardly around the inner perimeter of the frame. A backer board is supported on the shoulder and permanently secured to the frame. The backer board in turn supports a replaceable and interchangeable table top insert member, which serves as a substrate for whatever ornamental, promotional (e.g., for advertising), entertainment, or other imaging as may be desired, with the image being applied to a top surface of the insert member. The frame defines a recess of given dimensions, and the insert has equal dimensions so that it fits rather precisely into the accommodating recess. The replaceable imaged table top insert member is releasably secured, using suitable releasable attaching means, to the backing board. Favorably, the top surface of the replaceable table top insert member is substantially flush with the edge of the frame. The backer board is provided with means for releasing the insert member from the backer board when it is desired to change the insert member out for a different insert member. In a preferred embodiment this can be constituted by one or more finger holes in the backer board. This feature facilitates separation of the releasably secured imaged table top. In an alternative form of the invention, the backer board may replace the conventional table top and be permanently secured to the table base. In such case, the backer board would be of suitable thickness to serve as a table top, and the pedestal base or other leg members would be fastened directly to the bottom surface of the backer board. 
     The above and other features and embodiments of this invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing figures in which corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numerals. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective elevational view of a conventional pedestal table having an interchangeable table top according to the present invention, shown with parts broken away to reveal hidden structures; 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the table top frame, shown with parts broken away to reveal hidden structure; 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the replaceable table top; and 
     FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical isometric section showing details of construction; 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a table top insert on which is imprinted a holiday theme design. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a table top insert on which is imprinted a game board design, i.e., a chess board. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the Drawing, and initially to FIG. 1, a conventional pedestal table  10  has a normal or standard permanently attached table top  11 , and an interchangeable table top  12  according to the present invention is installed on top of the aforementioned permanent table top  11 . The interchangeable table top  12  includes a rigid frame  14  of a size and shape to fit over the top surface and around the edges of the standard top  11  of a conventional table with a slide fit. The invention is adapted to use with virtually any table. Although the invention is illustrated with respect to a rectangular table top, which is the most common shape, the table top arrangement may take the form of a table of any other standard geometric shape, i.e., circular, oval, elliptical, hexagonal, or the like. Non-standard shapes, e.g., horseshoe, semi-circular, or other shapes, are also possible. Although shown as a pedestal base table, this invention is equally applicable to multi-legged tables. 
     With further reference to FIGS. 2,  3 , and  4 , the frame  14  is shown to include an upwardly facing horizontal lip or shoulder  15  spaced downwardly from the top edge  16  of the frame and extending inwardly around the inner perimeter of the frame. In the assembled structure, the surface of lip or shoulder  15  lies in a common plane with the top surface of table top  11 . The bottommost portion  17  of frame  14  below lip or shoulder  15  functions as a drop or skirt surrounding and engaging the side edges of the normal table top  11  with a slide fit. Frame  14  may be fabricated from wood, or it may be made from a molded, extruded or machined synthetic resinous plastic material, or a lightweight metal, such as aluminum or the like. 
     A rigid backer board  18  is supported within frame  14  supported on lips or shoulders  15  and permanently secured to the frame by means of nails or screws and/or adhesive. The dimensions of the backer board are the dimensions of table top  11  plus the widths of two lips or shoulders  15 . The frame  14  and the backer board together define a recess  26 , which in this embodiment is rectangular in shape. The recess  26  is of specific dimensions and is intended to receive an insert which will be described shortly. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the backer board  18  is intended to rest on the normal table top  11 . Here, the lower part of the frame extends below the backer board  18  and defines a lower recess  27  that fits the permanent table top  11 . In an alternative form, backer board  18  replaces conventional table top  11  and is permanently secured directly to a table base. In both forms it supports an interchangeable rigid planar table top insert  19  whose exposed upper surface  20  functions as a substrate for any of innumerable types of images, and whose bottom surface  22  overlies the back board, space therefrom by releasable fastening means. The “image” may be as simple as a plain over all color, or it might be an erasable surface on which indicia may be drawn and then removed, and the like. The table top insert  19  has the same dimensions as the recess  26 , and fits snugly within the recess  26 , surrounded by the frame  14 . 
     There are first and second releasable attaching means disposed on the bottom of the insert  19  and on the upper surface of the backer board  18 , and these may be complementary strips or patches of an interlocking book and loop type filamentary fastening material, such as that sold under the trademarks Velcro® and Scotchmate®. The releasable fastening means may be in the form of strips  22  and  23  attached, respectively to the top surface of backing board  18  and the bottom of surface  21  of table top  19 . The strips  22  and  23  are desirably attached adjacent all peripheral edges of the backing board and table top insert, desirably supplemented by centrally located filamentary fastening means, such as the X-patterns  24  and  25  on the respective backing board and the table top insert. In this embodiment, the releasable fastening means must be arranged on the respective surfaces in complementary mirror image patterns so that they engage when the parts are pressed together. The patterns may have two-way or four-way symmetry so that the user does not have to be concerned with the orientation of the insert relative to the frame and backer-board portion. At least one finger hole, and preferably a plurality of finger holes  28  are provided through backer board  18 , preferably along the edges and/or at the corners of the backer board  18  (see FIG.  2 ), to facilitate separation of the releasable fasteners when it is desired to replace or exchange an imaged table top insert  19 . Favorably, the table tops can each be provided with a set of several interchangeable inserts  19 . The variety of possible inserts is inexhaustible. 
     Instead of using complementary patterns of filamentary fastening strips on both the top side of backer board  18  and bottom side  21  of table top  19 , the strips on one of the surfaces may be eliminated and replaced by a napped textile fabric covering the surface. When the top of the backing board  18  has a smooth glossy surface, suction cups may be used as the fastening means. Other releasable fastening means may be employed, such as magnetic strips or releasable mechanical fasteners. 
     The depth of lip or shoulder  15  is such that the combined thicknesses of the backer board  18 , joined releasable fasteners  22 - 25  and imaged table top insert  19  cause the insert top surface  20  to be substantially flush with the top edge  16  of the frame  14 , as in a high quality piece of furniture, disguising any appearance of being temporary or interchangeable. The outer top edge  16  of frame  14  is desirably rounded, as shown. 
     The number of different images which may be applied to the top surface  20  of the interchangeable table top insert  19  is limitless. Examples include display advertising, abstract designs, holiday theme materials designs, such as Christmas theme images (See insert  19 ′—FIG.  5 ), play surfaces such as checker boards (See insert  19 ″—FIG.  6 ), or boards for such games as Parcheesi, Poker, Monopoly, etc., ornamental and decorative simulated wood and stone surfaces, sports schedules, etc. The table top of this invention is intended to be suited for commercial usage, such as food courts, lunchrooms, cafes, etc., but may be used in any environment where tables are used, such as game rooms, class rooms, or other environments. The principle of this invention provides a simple easy way of adapting the table tops to meet varying situational needs on a time sensitive and efficient basis. For example, the tables  10  can be arranged with holiday inserts  19 ′ for a holiday party, and then quickly changed over for another event by changing out the inserts, for example using the inserts  19 ″ for a chess tournament. The inserts  19  can be imprinted with designs that carry advertisements for local merchants, with the inserts  19  being changed over when the businesses change, or when advertising or promotional campaigns so dictate. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to a selected preferred embodiment, it should be recognized that the invention is not limited to that embodiment, and that many modifications and variations would be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departure from the scope and spirit of this invention, as defined in the appended claims.