Patent Publication Number: US-6698363-B2

Title: Extendable table

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an extendable table. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Extendable tables are known in the art. Examples of such extendable tables are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,475,464, 4,815,393, 4,878,439, and 5,735,220. These aforementioned extendable tables do not provide any means for securing an umbrella when the table is in the extended configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an extendable table that can support an umbrella when the table is either extended or not extended. 
     It is another object of the present invention that the aforementioned extendable table of the present invention be easy to use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description. 
     Thus, the present invention is directed to, in one aspect, an extendable table that comprises a frame having legs, and first and second table top portions movably attached to the frame. The first table top portion has an end defining a cut-out. The second table top portion has an end that is opposite to the end of the first table top portion and which defines a cut-out that is generally aligned with the cut-out defined by the end of the first table top portion. When the extendable table of the present invention is to be configured in the closed configuration, the first and second table top portions are moved toward each other so that the ends of the first and second table top portions abut each other and the cut-outs cooperate to form an opening for receiving an umbrella support post. When the extendable table of the present invention is to be configured in the expanded configuration, the first and second table top portions are moved away from each other so as to form a space between the first and second table top portions. A portion of the frame is exposed within the space. The extendable table of the present invention further comprises a center table top portion that is removably positioned on the portion of the frame exposed within the space between the first and second table top portions. The center table top portion includes a central opening for receiving a support post of an umbrella. The center table top portion has protruding members that are sized for insertion into the cut-outs of the first and second table top portions. Thus, the extendable table of the present invention can support an umbrella when in the closed configuration and expanded configuration. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing features of the present invention will become more readily apparent and may be understood by referring to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an extendable table in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the extendable table of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is top plan view of the extendable table of FIG. 1 wherein the table top portions are moved away from each other. 
     FIG. 4 is top plan view of a center table top portion used with the extendable table of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 5 is top plan view of the extendable table of the present invention in the extended configuration. 
     FIG. 5A is an end view taken along line  5 A— 5 A in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 6 top plan view, similar to FIG. 3, of an extendable table in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, there is shown one embodiment of the extendable table of the present invention. Extendable table  10  has frame  12  and legs  14  attached to frame  12 . Table  10  further comprises table top portion  16  movably attached to the frame  12 . Table top portion  16  has perimetrical edge portion  18  and top surface  19  within perimetrical edge portion  18 . Perimetrical edge portion  18  includes portion  20  which defines cut-out  22 . Table  10  further comprises table top portion  24  movably attached to the frame  12 . Table top portion  24  has perimetrical edge portion  26  and top surface  27  within perimetrical edge portion  26 . Perimetrical edge portion  26  includes portion  28  which defines cut-out  30 . Cut-outs  22  and  30  are generally aligned with one another as shown in FIG.  3 . Edge portions  20  and  28  of table portions  16  and  24 , respectively, are opposite to and abut one another when table  10  is in the closed or non-extended configuration as shown in FIG.  2 . When table  10  is in the closed or non-extended configuration, cut-outs  22  and  30  confront each other and cooperate to form opening  32 . In a preferred embodiment, cut-outs  22  and  30  are generally semi-circular shaped so that opening  32  is generally circular shaped. A generally circular shaped opening  32  conforms to the generally cylindrical shaped umbrella pole commonly found in many patio and beach umbrellas. As shown in FIG. 3, when table top portions  16  and  24  are moved away from each other, space  39  is formed which exposes portion  40  of frame  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown center table top portion  50  which is used with table  10 . Center table top portion  50  includes perimetrical edge  52  which includes opposite portions  54  and  56  and a top surface  58  within perimetrical edge  52 . Top surface  58  defines opening  60 . In a preferred embodiment, opening  60  is centrally located and is generally circular in shape. Opening  60  is sized to receive the support post or pole of a beach or patio umbrella. Portion  54  of center table top portion  50  defines a protruding portion  62  that is sized to fit into cut-out  22 . In a preferred embodiment, protruding portion  62  has shape that corresponds to the shape of cut-out  22 . In a preferred embodiment, protruding portion  62  has a generally semi-circular shape. Portion  56  of center table top portion  50  defines a protruding portion  64  that is sized to fit into cut-out  30 . In a preferred embodiment, protruding portion  64  has shape that corresponds to the shape of cut-out  30 . In a preferred embodiment, protruding portion  64  has a generally semi-circular shape. 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, when it is desired to extend table  10 , table top portions  16  and  24  are moved apart and center table top portion  50  is removably positioned within space  39  so that center table top portion  50  is supported by frame portion  40 . When center table top portion  50  is positioned on frame portion  40 , edge portion  54  of center table portion  50  abuts the edge portion  20  of table top portion  16 , protruding portion  62  is inserted into cut-out  22 , edge portion  56  of center table portion  50  abuts the edge portion  28  of table top portion  24 , and protruding portion  64  is inserted into cut-out  30 . 
     Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, when table  10  is in the extended configuration, protruding portions  62  and  64  are inserted into cut-outs  22  and  30 , respectively, and an umbrella support post (not shown) can be inserted into opening  60 . When table  10  is in the closed or non-extended configuration as shown in FIG. 2, center table top portion  50  is removed and an umbrella support post (not shown) can be inserted into opening  32  formed by cut-outs  22  and  30 . Therefore, an umbrella can be used with table  10  whether table  10  is in the extended or non-extended configuration. 
     It is to be understood that any suitable techniques known in the art may be used to movably attach table top portions  16  and  24  to frame  12 . In a preferred embodiment, table top portions  16  and  24  are slidably attached to frame  12 . FIG. 5A illustrates one example of how table top portions  16  and  24  may be slidably attached to frame  12 . In such an embodiment, frame  12  includes rails  70  and  72  which are generally parallel to one another and which extend along the length of the table. Rails  70  and  72  have tracks  74  and  76 , respectively. Each table top portion  16  and  24  (only table top portion  16  is shown) includes support members  78  that are attached to the bottom sides of table top portions  16  and  24 . Rollers  80  are rotatably attached to members  78  and are engaged within tracks  74  and  76 . Such a configuration facilitates sliding movement of table top portions  16  and  24  with respect to frame  12 . Legs  14  are rigidly attached to rails  70  and  72 . It is to be understood that the configuration shown in FIG. 5A is just one example and that there are other suitable techniques and configurations for movably attaching table top portions  16  and  24  to frame  12 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, table top portion  24  includes members or tabs  90  that extend from edge portion  28  and which are inserted into openings (not shown) in edge portion  20  of table top portion  16 . Such a configuration provides stability and structural integrity when table  10  is in the closed configuration. Referring to FIG. 4, center table top portion  50  includes members or tabs  92  that extend from edge  54  and openings (not shown) that are in edge portion  56 . When table  10  is in the open configuration, members or tabs  92  are inserted into the openings in edge  20  of table top portion  16  and members or tabs  90  of table top portion  24  are inserted into openings in edge portion  56  of table top portion  50 . Such a configuration provides stability and structural integrity when table  10  is in the extended configuration. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, there is shown an alternate embodiment of the present invention. Extendable table  100  comprises extendable frame  102  having first frame section  104  and second frame section  106 . Frame sections  104  and  106  are movably attached to one another and can move bi-directional as indicated by arrow  107 . Extendable table  100  includes legs (not shown) that are attached to frame sections  104  and  106 . Extendable table  100  further comprises table top portion  110  which is rigidly attached to frame section  104 . Table top portion  110  has a perimetrical edge portion  112  which defines cut-out  114 . Extendable table  100  further comprises table top portion  116  which is rigidly attached to frame section  106 . Table top portion  116  has a perimetrical edge portion  118  which defines cut-out  120 . Cut-outs  114  and  120  function in the same manner as cut-outs  22  and  30 , respectively, which were described in the foregoing description. In order to configure table  100  in the closed or non-extended configuration, frame sections  110  and  116  are moved toward each other so that table top portions  110  and  116  abut each other and cut-outs  114  and  120  cooperate to form an opening (not shown) in a similar manner in which opening  32  of extendable table  10  is formed by cut-outs  22  and  30 . In order to configure extendable table  100  in the extended configuration, frame sections  110  and  116  are moved away from each other to form space  122  between table top portions  110  and  116  and a center table top portion (not shown) similar to center table top portion  50  is then inserted into space  122 . The main difference between extendable table  10  and extendable table  100  is that in extendable table  10 , table top portions  16  and  24  are movable attached to frame  12  whereas in extendable table  100 , table top portions  110  and  116  are rigidly attached to movable frame sections  104  and  106 , respectively. 
     It is to be understood that the components and parts of tables  10  and  100  can be configured to have any one of a variety geometrical shapes, e.g. circular, rectangular, square, oval, etc. Furthermore, tables  10  and  100  can be fabricated from any one of a variety of materials, e.g. metal, plastic, etc. 
     The principals, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the present invention have been described in the foregoing specification. The invention which is intended to be protected herein should not, however, be construed as limited to the particular forms disclosed, as these are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Variations in changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing detailed description should be considered exemplary in nature and not limited to the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the attached claims.