Abstract:
A storage table is disclosed for storing items such as strings of Christmas lights or other cords. The table acts as both a standard end table and a storage unit that stores items inside a base portion of the table. The table includes a top, at least one side adjacent to the top, and a bottom adjacent to the side that define a storage portion. Inside the storage portion, the table has a shaft for storing a string of lights around the shaft.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
   This application claims priority from co-pending provisional application No. 60/326,954, filed Oct. 3, 2001. 

   FIELD OF INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to furniture storage units. More particularly, it relates to a storage unit for storing a string of lights or a similar corded item in a base of an end table. Still more particularly, it relates to a system for storing Christmas lights by wrapping the lights around a shaft disposed within a base portion of an end table. 
   BACKGROUND 
   Christmas lights are decorative lights that generally include a primary cord that plugs into an outlet. Attached to the primary cord are lights that may have various colors. Some types of lights are replaceable, while others are permanently connected. Some Christmas lights are designed to look like icicles and include a plurality of shorter strings of lights connected to the primary cord, while other types of lights are connected directly to the primary cord. 
   For most people, Christmas lights are used seasonally. They are generally displayed inside or outside the house in December and removed later in the winter. When lights are removed from the house or other structure, they are then stored until the following year. 
   Storage of Christmas lights presents various problems. Perhaps the most common problem is breaking lights or damaging the cord. When lights are simply placed in a box, they may break when the box is dropped or when the lights touch each other. Also, the primary cord or other cord or connection may be bent in such a manner that the cord is damaged, possibly rendering the lights nonfunctional when they are removed the following year. Another problem with storing lights in a box is that separate strings of lights may become entangled. The strings may become knotted with themselves or with other strings. This creates a frustrating situation for the user when the lights are taken from storage the following year. These problems are in addition to the problem of finding sufficient space to store the boxes of lights. 
   One storage solution used by some individuals is to try to re-pack the lights into their original containers. Although this might provide limited protection and organization, the light strings are often difficult to fit back into their original container. Also, the string may still be bent, the string may still become twisted or knotted about itself, and the lights may still contact each other, causing the problems identified. Further, storage of lights in their original boxes does not solve the problem of requiring storage space in the home for storing the lights when they are not in use. What is needed is a more convenient way to store Christmas lights and other corded items. 
   SUMMARY 
   A storage table is disclosed for storing items such as strings of Christmas lights or other cords. The table acts as both a standard end table and a storage unit that stores items inside a base portion of the table. The table includes a top, at least one side adjacent to the top, and a bottom adjacent to the side that define a storage portion. Inside the storage portion, the table has a shaft for storing light strings wrapped around the shaft. 
   In another embodiment, a Christmas light storage apparatus is disclosed having a base with an inner shaft attached to the base at a bottom end of the inner shaft. An outer shaft is positioned coaxial with the inner shaft, and the outer shaft is adapted to rotate about the inner shaft to gather a cord around the outer shaft. The outer shaft has attached to it a means, such as a hook or other fastener for holding the cord while the outer shaft rotates, such that the cord wraps around the outer shaft. 
   In another embodiment, a storage table is disclosed having a bottom, four sides fixedly connected to each other, and a top. The top, bottom, and sides define a cavity for storing items, such Christmas lights and other corded items. The sides removeably connect to the top and to the bottom so that the sides and top can be removed to access the cavity. A shaft is disposed within the cavity and is used to store stings of lights or other corded items by wrapping the lights around the shaft. The shaft includes an inner shaft and an outer shaft. The inner shaft is fixedly connected to the bottom. The outer shaft is coaxial with the inner shaft and rotates relative to the inner shaft about a central longitudinal axis. A hook is connected to the outer shaft, which hook is used to engage a cord, such as an extension cord or a string of lights. A hand crank is connected to the outer shaft and is used to rotate the outer shaft relative to the inner shaft. 

   
     SUMMARY OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a storage table; 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the table shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along the line  2 — 2 ′; 
       FIG. 3  shows a shaft of the table, around which a string of lights may be wrapped; 
       FIG. 4  shows the table of  FIG. 1  with the top and sides removed, thereby exposing the shaft of  FIG. 3  attached to a bottom portion of the table; 
       FIG. 5  shows a side view of the shaft assembly with a hand crank; 
       FIG. 6  shows a handle that attaches to a top end of an inner shaft of the table; 
       FIG. 7  shows a side view of the table with one side removed to illustrate the strings of light bulbs wrapped around the shaft; 
       FIG. 8  shows a top of a table having an indentation that receives a handle; 
       FIG. 9  shows the shaft of the table in use collecting a string of lights; 
       FIG. 10  shows a top view of the bottom portion of the table, including the storage compartments; 
       FIG. 11  shows an embodiment of the outer shaft with hooks to engage a string of lights; 
       FIG. 12  sides of one embodiment of the table; and 
       FIG. 13  shows a more detailed view of the relation between the inner and outer shafts. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a storage table  10 . The table  10  includes a top  12 , a bottom  16 , and sides  14   a ,  14   b . Collectively, the sides  14   a ,  14   b  and bottom  16  may be referred to as the “base” of the table  10 . In one embodiment, the table  10  includes four sides (e.g.,  14   a ,  14   b ) and the bottom portion  16  is substantially rectangular. Lower edges of the sides  14   a ,  14   b  form corners with edges of the bottom portion  16 . In the embodiment shown, the sides  14   a ,  14   b  extend generally vertically and slope toward a center of the table  10  near the top  12 . The sides  14   a ,  14   b  define a cavity (not shown) inside the table  10 . The table  10  may be constructed of various materials, such as wood, plastic, or metal. The top  12  of the table  10  is substantially flat in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and includes a top surface  13  and a bottom surface (not shown). The table  10  is adapted to allow placement of objects on the top surface  13 , as with other conventional tables. 
   The table  10  also includes a handle  18  that is connected to the table  10  at a connector  20 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the handle  18  pivotally connects to the table  10  at the connector  20  so that the handle  18  is in a vertical orientation perpendicular to the top surface  13  of the top  12  when in use and the handle  18  folds to a generally horizontal orientation parallel to the top surface  13  of the top  12 . In the embodiment shown, the top surface  13  includes a recessed portion (not shown) that receives the handle  18  when the handle  18  is folded down when not in use. In one embodiment, the table  10  includes multiple, interchangeable tops (e.g.  12 ), which may have different sizes and shapes. 
     FIG. 2  shows a cross-section of the table  10  shown in  FIG. 1 , taken along the line  2 - 2 ′. The table  10  includes a top  12 , a bottom  16 , and a plurality of sides  14   a ,  14   c . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the sides  14   a ,  14   c  generally abut edges of the bottom  16  and extend vertically up to the lower surface  11  of the table top  12 . The sides  14   a ,  14   c  define a cavity  100  within the table  10 . The cavity  100 , also referred to as a storage portion  100 , is used to store Christmas lights or similar corded objects (not shown). 
   In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the table  10  includes storage compartments  27  that define accessory cavities  25  for storing objects, such as light bulbs, fuses, or other accessories used with Christmas lights. The storage compartments  27  comprise sides  23 ,  24 , a rear portion  32 , a lid  22  connected to the rear portion  32  by a hinge  26  or similar connector. The accessory cavity  25  is further defined by the bottom  16  of the table  10 . 
   A shaft assembly extends vertically within the cavity  100  of the table  10  and is used for gathering Christmas lights or similar items. The shaft assembly (also referred to generally as a “shaft”) includes an inner shaft  34  and an outer shaft  36  that are generally coaxial. The inner shaft  34  and the outer shaft  36  are spaced apart from each other to allow relative rotational movement between the inner shaft  34  and the outer shaft  36  about a central longitudinal axis. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the inner shaft  34  includes an upper end  44  and a lower end  38 . The inner shaft  34  is fixedly connected to the bottom  16  of the table  10  by a lock nut  40  and a washer  42 . The upper end  44  of the shaft  34  includes threads adapted to engage the connector  20  of the handle  30 . The connector  20  includes flanges  30  that abut the top  12  of the table  10  within a recessed portion  19  defined within the top surface  13  of the top  12 . The connector  20  engages the threads of the upper end  44  of the inner shaft  34 , thereby urging the top  12  of the table  10  down toward the sides  14   a ,  14   c  such that the top  12  is firmly connected to the base of the table  10  when the table  10  is in use and items are placed on the top surface  13 . The handle  18  pivotally connects to the connector  20 , such that the handle  18  is in a vertical orientation when the handle  18  is used to lift the table  10  and is in a generally horizontal orientation when the handle  18  is folded down into the recessed portion  19 . In one embodiment, the inner shaft  34  is is a solid or hollow rod formed from steel or other metal. 
   In one embodiment the outer shaft  36  is a hollow, elongated tube, such as a plastic or a polyvinyl chloride (“PVC”) tube. The outer tube  36  includes one or more hooks  48   a–d  for engaging a cord such as a Christmas light string. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the hooks  48   a–d  include four metal portions, such as bent wires that are curved to receive electrical plugs of a cord, such as a Christmas light string. A hand crank  50  is connected near a top end  37  of the outer shaft  36  and is used to gather a string of Christmas lights or a cord. In use, the hand crank  50  is used to rotate the outer shaft  36  relative to the inner shaft  34  along a central longitudinal axis, such that a Christmas light string, with a plug of the string engaged by one of the hooks  48   d , is wound around the outer shaft  36 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , a washer  46  is connected to the inner shaft  34  immediately below the flat plate  51  of the hand crank  50 , and is used to suspend the outer shaft  36  above the bottom  16  of the table  10 , so the outer shaft  36  may more freely rotate about the inner shaft  34 . 
     FIG. 3  shows a shaft of the table  10  around which a string of lights  28  may be wrapped. The shaft includes an inner shaft  34  having a top end  44  with threads. The shaft also includes an outer shaft  36  disposed coaxial with the inner shaft  34 . A hand crank  50  is connected to an end of the outer shaft  36  and is used to rotate the outer shaft  36  about the inner shaft  34 , for example in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 3 . To wrap a cord or a string of lights  28 , the cord or string  28  is engaged by one of the hooks  48   a  connected to the outer shaft  36 , for example at a plug  54  of the central cord  52 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3 , a bundle of lights  28  includes a central cord  52  that wraps around the outer shaft  36  as the hand crank  50  rotates the outer shaft  36  about the inner shaft  34 . 
     FIG. 4  shows the table  10  of  FIG. 1  with the top ( 12  in  FIG. 1 ) and sides ( 14   a – 14   d  in  FIG. 1 ) removed, thereby exposing the shaft of  FIG. 3  attached to the bottom portion  16  of the table  10 . An accessory compartment  27  is shown in  FIG. 4  connected to the bottom  16  of the table  10 . The compartment  27  includes sides ( 23 ,  24  in  FIG. 2 ), a lid ( 22  in  FIG. 2 ), a rear portion ( 32  in  FIG. 2 ), and a hinge ( 26  in  FIG. 2 ) that connects the rear portion ( 32  in  FIG. 2 ) to the lid ( 22  in  FIG. 2 ), though these items are not specifically identified in  FIG. 4 . In  FIG. 4 , a string of lights  28  has been wound around the outer shaft  36  after the string  28  has been engaged by the hook  48   b . The hand crank  50  is used to rotate the outer shaft  36  about the inner shaft  34 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the handle  18  and connector  20  may be reconnected to the top end  44  of the inner shaft  34  after the top ( 12  in  FIG. 1 ) has been removed from the base. This allows the handle  18  to be used to carry the wound string of lights  28  without the sides ( 14   a ,  14   c  in  FIG. 1 ) and top ( 12  in  FIG. 1 ). This provides a convenient way of toting the wound lights  28  for example outside of a person&#39;s house while the lights  28  are being installed. Also shown in  FIG. 4  is a second hook  48   d  that is not in use. To unwind the lights, the user may simply pull on the string  28  in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, causing the outer shaft  36  to rotate relative to the inner shaft  34 , thereby unwinding the string  28 . 
     FIG. 5  shows a side view of the shaft with a hand crank  50 . The hand crank  50  is attached to an upper portion of the shaft  36  and includes a plate  51 , which generally runs perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the inner and outer shafts  34 ,  36 . The hand crank  50  is used to rotate the outer shaft  36  about the inner shaft  34 . The plate  51  of the hand crank  50  defines an opening (not shown) through which the inner shaft  34  extends. The opening has a diameter slightly larger than an outer diameter of the inner shaft  34 , such that the outer shaft  36  is permitted to rotate about the inner shaft  34 , but the opening in the plate  51  of the hand crank  50  keeps the outer and inner shafts  36 ,  34  substantially aligned, in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a handle  18  that attaches to a top end  44  of an inner shaft  34  of the table  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the top end  44  of the inner shaft  34  includes threads that mate with similar threads (not shown) inside the connector  20 . The connector  20  is positioned on top of the threads of the top end  44  and the connector  20  is rotated about the threads to engage the inner shaft  34  with the connector  20 . When the connector  20  is attached to the inner shaft  34  and the top  12  of the table  10  is in place, the flange  30  of the connector  20  helps hold down the top  12  of the table  10  to the base. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 , the handle  18  is pivotally connected to the connector  20  at pivot points  19 . This allows the handle  18  to fold down when the handle  18  is not in use, and to extend upwardly when the handle  18  is used to carry the table  10 , with or without the top  12  and sides  14   a–d  attached. 
     FIG. 7  shows a side view of the table  10  with one side (e.g.  14   b  in  FIG. 1 ) removed to illustrate the strings of light bulbs  28   a–b  wrapped around the outer shaft  36 . The strings  28   a–b  are contained within the cavity  100  defined by the sides  14   a ,  14   c  of the table  10 . In one embodiment the table  10  has four sides (e.g.  14   a–d ) and substantially encloses the lights within the cavity  100 , such that the lights cannot be seen from outside the table  10  when the table  10  is assembled. From the outside, the table  10  appears like an ordinary end table because it hides the items it stores. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , the flange ( 30  in  FIG. 6 ) of the connector ( 20  in  FIG. 6 ) is used to hold the top  12  of the table  10  down towards the base of the table  10 . The sides  14   a ,  14   c  are each connected to each other in this embodiment, but are not connected permanently to the bottom  16  or the top  12 . The flanges ( 30  in  FIG. 6 ) effectively sandwich the sides  14   a ,  14   c  between the top  12  and the bottom  16  to hold the table  10  together. A rope  56  or similar item is used to remove the sides  14   a ,  14   c  from the table  10 , after the top  12  has been removed in one embodiment. To remove the top  12  and dissemble the table  10  in order to access the lights  50   a ,  50   b , the handle  18  is twisted causing the connector to twist ( 20  in  FIG. 6 ) thereby disengaging the connector ( 20  in  FIG. 6 ) from the inner shaft  34 . After the connector ( 20  in  FIG. 6 ) is removed, the top  12  may be removed from the table  10 . A user may then lift the rope  56  upwardly to remove the sides ( 14   a–d ) of the table  10  together as a unit. The rope  56  is connected to two of the sides  14   a ,  14   c  at connecting points  58  in the example of  FIG. 7 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a top  12  of a table  10  having a recessed portion  19  that receives the handle  18 . The recessed portion  19  also receives the connector  20 , and the flanges ( 30  in  FIG. 2 ) of the connector  20  abut the top  12  of the table  10  within the recessed portion  19 . 
     FIG. 9  shows the shaft assembly of the table  10  in use collecting a string of lights  28   e . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 , the string lights  28   e  are icicle-style lights having central cord  52   e  and a plurality of strings of lights  53  attached to the central cord  52   e . The central cord  52   e  of the lights  28   e  is wound around the outer shaft  36  as the hand crank  50  rotates the outer shaft  36  about the inner shaft  34 , for example in the direction indicated by the arrow in  FIG. 9 . A hook  48   a  connected to the outer shaft  36  engages a plug  54   e , or similar portion of the lights  28   e , to hold the lights  28   e  in place as the central cord  52   e  of the string  28   e  is wrapped around the outer shaft  36 . Multiple strings (e.g.  28   e ) may be connected to each other, for example, using the electrical plugs (e.g.  54   e ), and may be wrapped around the shaft using a single hook  48   a . A compartment ( 27  in  FIG. 2 ) is shown having a lid  22  and a side  24 , which can be used for storing light bulbs and similar accessories. 
     FIG. 10  shows a top view of the bottom  16  portion of the table  10 , including the storage compartments ( 27  in  FIG. 2 ). In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the storage compartments ( 27  in  FIG. 2 ) include side walls  23 ,  24 ,  29  that define cavities  25   a–d , which can be used to store items. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the inner shaft ( 34  in  FIG. 2 ) connects to the bottom  16  through a hole  60  in the bottom  16  where the inner shaft ( 34  in  FIG. 2 ) engages a lock nut ( 40  in  FIG. 2 ) or similar connector. A washer  42  is also connected to the bottom  16  where the inner shaft ( 34  in  FIG. 2 ) connects to the bottom  16 . In one embodiment, the inner shaft ( 34  in  FIG. 2 ) is fixedly connected to the bottom  16 , such that only the outer shaft ( 36  in  FIG. 20 ) and not the inner shaft ( 34  in  FIG. 2 ) rotates about the central longitudinal axis as a string of lights ( 28  in  FIG. 4 ) is wound around the outer shaft ( 36  in  FIG. 2 ). 
     FIG. 11  shows an embodiment of the outer shaft  36  with hooks  48   a–d  to engage a string of lights (e.g.  28  in  FIG. 4 ). In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , two sets of hooks (e.g.,  48   a ,  48   b ) are formed from a single piece of metal, such as wire that wraps around the outer shaft  36  and extends outwardly from the outer shaft  36  to form bends in the wire that engage the cord or string of lights. 
     FIG. 12  shows sides  14   a–d  of one embodiment of the table  10 . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 , the sides  14   a–d  have been removed from the rest of the table  10 , for example to access the cavity  100 . The sides  14   a–d  have top and bottom ends  61   a–d ,  63   a–d . In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 12 , the sides  14   a–d  are connected to each other at corners  65   a–d  and may be removed together using a rope  56  connected to upper ends  61   b ,  61   d  of the sides  14   a–d  in this embodiment. 
   In one embodiment, the lower edges  63   a–d  of the sides  14   a–d  abut edges  67   a–d  of the bottom  16 . In one embodiment, the bottom  16  is approximately twelve inches wide by twelve inches long. In one embodiment, the table is approximately 24 inches high. In one embodiment, the upper end edges  61   a–d  of the sides  14   a–d , where the sides  14   a–d  meet the lower surface ( 11  in  FIG. 2 ) of the top  12  form a square that is approximately six inches by six inches. 
     FIG. 13  shows a more detailed view of the relation between the inner and outer shafts  34 ,  36 . The hand crank  50  includes a plate  51  attached to an upper portion  37  of the outer shaft  36 . The plate  51  is substantially flat in the embodiment shown and defines a hole  53  through which the upper end  44  of the inner shaft  34  extends. The outer shaft  36  rotates relative to the inner shaft  34  along a central longitudinal axis  55 , shown by the dashed line in  FIG. 13 . The hole  57  has a diameter that is slightly larger than the outside diameter of the inner shaft  34  and smaller than the inside diameter of the outer shaft  36 . This size of the hole  57  allows the outer shaft  36  to rotate freely about the inner shaft  34 , but helps to keep the outer shaft  36  substantially aligned with the inner shaft  34 , along the central longitudinal axis  55 . 
   Although the present invention has been described with respect to particular embodiments thereof, variations are possible. The present invention may be embodied in specific forms without departing from the essential spirit or attributes thereof. It is desired that the embodiments described herein be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive and that reference be made to the appended claims and their equivalents for determining the scope of the invention.