Abstract:
A table top having a transparent cover through which inserts, such as advertisements, etc. can be viewed. The table top is configured for affixation to a base. The table top comprises a frame having sides, an underlay and a transparent cover. A cavity is formed in the base and is defined by the frame and base. The underlay and transparent cover are substantially planar and are configured to fit within the frame adjacent to each other. The insert is configured to be held between the cover and underlay such that one side of the insert is viewable through the cover.

Description:
This Appln claims benefits of Prov. No. 60/091,423 filed Jul. 10, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to furniture and, more particularly, to customized table tops intended primarily for commercial use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Commercial establishments, such as restaurants, food courts and the like, often use tables with tops or surface that in some way display menus, print advertising or some other promotional or commercial information. This commercial information may be permanently affixed to the table top by, for example, being placed underneath a transparent cover. Preferably, however, the commercial information should be easy to change and replace. 
     Another desirable feature of any table design is the ability to customize the table to a particular buyer&#39;s needs and whims. The table design elements which buyers may wish to vary include the size and configuration of the table, the materials used, the number of table legs and the appearance and shape of the table top. Buyers of tables with transparent tops may wish to customize the appearance, design and/or shape of the surface trim. 
     The tables which are currently available that have transparent tops and replaceable commercial information typically comprise a plain table surface covered by the menu(s), advertising or other commercial information contained on paper-thin sheets. A transparent, usually glass, cover of a size and configuration corresponding to that of the table surface is then placed on top of the table surface. One problem with this construction, however, is that positioning the glass cover to fit exactly on top of the table surface can be cumbersome and may disturb the placement of the commercial information unless the sheets displaying such information are somehow affixed to the table surface. Moreover, once in place, the glass cover is not secured to the table surface except by the forces of gravity and friction. As a result, the cover could easily slide around or be bumped out of place by someone sitting at the table or by a passerby. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,841,848 granted on Jun. 27, 1989 to Elliot Kriegsman discloses one type of table which has an appearance changeable top. This patent discloses a table having a table top, a plurality of legs positioned at the corners of the table top, a cover with depending sides that fits over the table top and an insert that is placed between the table top and the cover. However, the tables disclosed in this patent have certain structural limitations: for instance, they are supported by a plurality of legs and their shape is limited to a substantially rectangular configuration. Moreover, because the cover described in the invention is made of a clear material, the table top surface cannot be designed with a customized trim or border. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved table top for commercial use having inserts that may be easily replaced. 
     It is another object of this invention to provide an improved table top for commercial use having a cover that is easily positioned and removed, and that securely holds the insert in place. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide an improved table top for commercial use having a trim or border that may be custom designed to suit a particular buyer&#39;s tastes. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an improved table top for commercial use that may be designed and constructed in nearly any shape or configuration. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide an improved table top for commercial use that is capable of being supported on a single leg or a plurality of legs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention accomplishes the foregoing objectives by providing a table top with a frame to which a base is attached, and a cavity formed by the base and the sides of the frame. The appearance and design of the frame may be customized to meet the specifications of the particular buyer. The depth of the cavity may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the height of the sides of the frame. An underlay and a transparent cover may be placed in the cavity. Menus, print advertising or other media displaying promotional or commercial information are placed between the underlay and the cover. Additionally, a light source may be disposed in the cavity to illuminate the commercial information. Finally, the cavity may contain an electronic display featuring menus, advertisements, full motion video advertisements or other commercial information. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a table top according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the table top of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the table top of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded cross-sectional view of the table top of FIG. 1 positioned for assembly. 
     FIG  5  is a an exploded perspective view of the table top of FIG. 1 positioned for assembly. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1-5, a preferred embodiment of the table top in accordance with the present invention is generally designated at reference numeral  10 . Table top  10  comprises a frame  12  to which base  14  of the table is attached. A cavity  16  is defined by the base of the table and the sides of frame  12 . An underlay  18  may be placed on top of base  14  and may be covered by transparent cover  20 . 
     Table top  10 , as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, is formed as a square, having frame  12  comprising four sides of equal lengths. However, the table top of the present invention may be made in any configuration, as long as the frame is capable of supporting a wall, a top ledge and a bottom ledge, as described more fully below. 
     Moreover, table top  10  depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a relatively thin frame which makes up a very small percentage of the table top surface. The frame, however, can be made as thin or as wide as the user desires. 
     Frame  12  comprises wall  22 , top ledge  24  and bottom ledge  26 . Wall  22  comprises two parallel sides, an inner side  28  and an outer side  30 , and two opposed surfaces, top surface  32  and bottom surface  34 . Top ledge  24  and bottom ledge  26  are secured to inner surface  28  by any suitable means; the preferred method, however, is by an adhesive, such as glue. As is conventional in the art of table manufacture, top ledge  24  is permanently secured to wall  22  of frame  12  so that the exposed surface  36  of top ledge  24  and top surface  32  of wall  22  form a smooth, continuous and planar surface. Similarly, bottom ledge  26  is permanently secured to wall  22  so that undersurface  40  is coplanar with bottom surface  34  of wall  22 . 
     Preferably, as best seen in FIGS. 3-5, top surface  32  and outer side  30  of wall  22  form a beveled edge  38 . Beveled edge  38  creates an aesthetically more pleasing appearance for table top  10 ; in addition, by eliminating the usual sharp edges of a table top, the use of beveled edges minimizes the risk that the user or passerby will inadvertently injure himself. 
     Base  14  of table top  12  is placed between top ledge  24  and bottom ledge  26  and secured to inner surface  28  of wall  22  by an adhesive, preferably glue, as is standard practice in manufacturing tables. 
     Preferably, wall  22  is made of Formica; alternatively, the wall may be made of oak, corian or some other type of wood which would be more expensive to use but which would render an elegant, sophisticated appearance. Top and bottom ledges  24  and  26  respectively could be made of wood, which can be painted or otherwise treated in order to match the appearance of wall  22 , so that entire frame  12 , or at least the portions exposed to view, have a uniform appearance. However, as described above, the appearance and design of frame  12  can be custom-made according to very specific instructions and details provided by the user. 
     Top ledge  24  and base  14  of table top  10  meet to form a cavity  16 , the depth of which depends on the height of top ledge  24  and, accordingly, the height of wall  22  to which top ledge  24  is secured. Thus, cavity  16  may be made deeper or more shallow simply by increasing or decreasing the height of top ledge  24  and the height of wall  22 . 
     Underlay  18  is planar and is formed of a size and configuration to fit into cavity  16  and on top of base  14 . Underlay  18  is preferably made of wood particle board or other material that provides a rigid and sturdy support but is relatively inexpensive. The use of underlay  18  is conventional in the art of table manufacture; however, table top  10  could also be manufactured in accordance with the present invention without underlay  18 . Cover  20  is also planar, and is similarly formed of a size and configuration to fit into cavity  16  and on top of underlay  18 . The preferred material for cover  20  is glass; however, any other clear, transparent material, such as clear plastic, would also be suitable. Cover  20  comprises an exposed upper surface  41  with upper edges  42  which may be beveled, as best seen in FIG.  5 . Beveled edges  42  facilitate locating and placing cover  20  in frame  12  and extricating cover  20  from frame  12  because they allow the cover to more easily slide into place. However, upper edges  42  may also comprise right angles. 
     The embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-5 represent one embodiment of table top  10  of the present invention. In this embodiment, a paper-thin insert (not depicted in the Figures) is placed between the underlay and the glass cover. This insert may be provided with an upper surface which displays a singular print advertisement, a series of print advertisements, a menu, or other commercial information that is capable of being printed or reproduced on a piece of paper, a sheet-like piece of cardboard or the like. The insert is also formed of a size and configuration to fit into the cavity  16 , on top of underlay  18  and beneath cover  20 . In this way, the insert can be viewed through transparent cover  20  by an individual sitting at the table. Transparent cover  20  also securely holds the insert in place and protects the insert from being soiled, torn or otherwise destroyed. 
     In the above described embodiment of table top  10 , the features described above have the following preferred heights: wall  22  has a height of 1¾″, top ledge  24  and bottom ledge  26  are both ½″ high; and base  14  is ¾″ high. Both underlay  18  and transparent cover  20  have preferred heights of ¼″. These dimensions only apply to the preferred embodiment described above. The dimensions may be altered to suit the user&#39;s taste. It is apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described above. Accordingly, the invention is not meant to be limited by recitation of specific dimensions. 
     In one preferred embodiment, apertures are disposed at the center of cover  10 , underlay  18  and base  14 . The location and dimensions of these apertures are identical so that when base  14 , underlay  18  and cover  20  are properly positioned, the apertures formed in each element directly line up with each other. As a result, the apertures form a bore  44  that extends from cover  20  and terminates at base  14 , as best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Bore  44  is dimensioned to receive a bolt (not shown). When positioned in place in bore  44 , the head of the bolt protrudes from the top of cover  20  and the opposite end of the bolt emerges from beneath base  14 . The head of the bolt may serve as a base to which a napkin holder, advertisement holder and the like may be attached. The bolt is secured into place by means of a nut fastened onto the opposite end of the bolt that is exposed to view under base  14 . This feature allows the table top user to easily reach underneath the table to unscrew the nut, and then disengage the bolt from bore  44 . The user can then place his index finger or thumb in the aperture formed in the cover, thereby allowing the user to more easily lift cover  20  from frame  12  and out of cavity  16 . The insert can them be removed and replaced with a new insert. Once a new insert is placed in cavity  16  and on top of underlay  18 , the user may reposition cover  20  on top of the insert, once again placing the thumb or index finger in the aperture in cover  20  to assist in locating cover  20  into its proper place. Finally, the bolt is positioned in bore  44  and secured in place by fastening the nut on the bolt. 
     Other embodiments of the disclosed invention include “medium-tech” and “high-tech” versions of table top  10 . To manufacture the medium- and high-tech versions, the height of top ledge  24 , and accordingly the height of wall  22  to which it is attached, is typically increased in order to create a deeper cavity. Both the “medium-tech” and “high-tech” embodiments of the table top will be customized with respect to the electrical wiring, in order to accommodate the particular limitations, needs and objectives of the user. 
     In the “medium-tech” version of the table top, the heights of top ledge  24  and wall  22  of the frame are adjusted to create a cavity  16  that is preferably approximately 1 inch deep. A light source, preferably a series of small light bulbs such as white translucent bulbs, are disposed in underlay  18 . The intensities of these light bulbs may be adjusted by means of a dimmer switch located underneath base  14  of the table or on a table leg. Alternatively, the light source could also be controlled by means of a centrally-located, master dimmer switch. The deeper cavity is needed in order to accommodate the dimensions of the light bulbs and to diffuse the light they emit. An insert containing advertising, a menu or other commercial information is placed on top of underlay  18 . This insert is made of clear plastic or some other material which is translucent but which will not be destroyed or otherwise affected by the heat emitted by the light bulbs. Finally, cover  20  is placed in cavity  16  and on top of the insert. In this way, the lights will shine through the transparent insert and cover  20 , thereby illuminating the information contained on the insert. 
     Finally, the high-tech embodiment of the table typically requires increasing the heights of top ledge  24  and wall  22  of frame  12  to form a cavity that is deep enough to accommodate an electronic display. Underlay  18  consists of the electronic display which is preferably about 2-3 inches thick, and cover  20  is placed directly on top of the electronic display. The electronic display may comprise a flat panel display, an LCD and the like. The electronic display is hooked up to a main server, allowing it to display menus, advertisements, including full motion video advertisements, or other commercial information with or without sound. Cover  20  can be made into a touch screen so that a person sitting at the table may order from the menu or otherwise interact with the commercial information displayed by the electronic display. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited except as may be necessary.