Patent Publication Number: US-6705334-B2

Title: Scriptured outdoor furniture

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to outdoor furniture and more specifically to scriptured outdoor furniture. The scriptured outdoor furniture is comprised of an umbrella, swivel clamp, foldable table and foldable chair. The umbrella is of a size forming a canopy over the table and chair. The purpose of said umbrella is to serve as a sun block for an individual seated in said chair and for the surface of said table. The umbrella has a fastening member fixed to the distal end of the central shaft spaced away from the canopy whereby the umbrella can be releasably attached to the table. The fastener is comprised of a swivel clamp having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. Said movable jaw is comprised of a threaded shaft having a handle for advancing/retracting said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw. The umbrella-engaging element is comprised of a tube having an aperture for inserting the handle of the umbrella. The tube terminates in a swivel hinge whereby the umbrella can be extended from a stored table parallel position to a table perpendicular position during use. The umbrella does not have to be removed from the clamping mechanism. The table and umbrella form an easy to carry, set up and store unit. 
     The umbrella has a scenic design portrayed on the external surface with a biblical scriptural passage imprinted thereon. The foldable chair also has a scenic design and biblical scriptural passage imprinted on the exterior of the chair back support. 
     The scenic design and scriptural passage enhances human communication between persons of like mind. It further unobtrusively encourages communication of religious beliefs using the visual arts and conveys a common ground whereby other scriptural practitioners are provided a comfortable atmosphere encouraging communication and affords individuals a medium to display their faith. 
     In additional elements the umbrella and chair have exchangeable elements having biblical scriptural passage imprinted thereon whereby the umbrella and chair can be arrayed with sentiment targeting religious holidays or other special events. 
     The umbrella has an attachable detachable skirt having mating fasteners positioned on the skirt and interior edge of the umbrella. The chair has an attachable detachable chair backing. The chair backing has mating fasteners that are engaged after wrapping around the chair structural members. 
     Furthermore, the table has foldable extension elements forming additional support for the over hanging canopy. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other furniture designs for outdoor furniture. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,757 issued to Phillips on Sep. 24, 1985. Another patent was issued to Levin on Jul. 22, 1986 as U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,120. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,939 was issued to Okuda on Jan. 3, 1989 and still yet another was issued on May 23, 1989 to Levesque as U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,163. 
     Another patent was issued to Sklar on Jul. 13, 1993 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,215. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,954 was issued to Rogers on Oct. 26, 1993 and still yet another was issued on May 23, 1995 to Credle, Sr. as U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,166. 
     Another patent was issued to Suarez on Aug. 8, 1995 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,779. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,012 was issued to Friedman on Sep. 12, 1995 and still yet another was issued on Dec. 26, 1995 to Mayne as U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,041 and still yet another was issued on Nov. 17, 1998 to Davis as U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,327. 
     Another was issued to Steel on Apr. 11, 1930 as United Kingdom patent No. 327,749 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,542,757 
     Inventor: Bradford E. Phillips 
     Issued: Sep. 24, 1995 
     An umbrella having a flexible cover that is usable in either a rib supported cover open position or a rib collapsed cover folded position. An advertising flag is attached to the umbrella cover, the advertising flag extending upwardly beyond the exterior surface of the cover when the umbrella is in the open position so as to display the advertising message thereon. Preferably the advertising flag is sized and positioned so that the flag is at least partially concealed between the folds of the umbrella cover when the cover is folded about the centerpost in the storage position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,601,120 
     Inventor: William J. Levin 
     Issued: Jul. 22, 1986 
     An illuminated sign is formed on a flexible substrate and installable onto a garment or an umbrella having a deployable frame with a web member extending thereover. The illuminated sign is provided with a plurality of lamps, which may be light-emitting diodes, arranged to correspond with the shape of the symbols on the illuminated sign. The electrically interconnected lamps are electrically connectable to a battery via a switch which controls conduction of electrical energy to the lamps. Additionally, a flasher circuit may be provided for causing the lamps to flash on and off periodically. When installed on an umbrella, the switch may be located at a distance from the illuminated sign, such as on the handle thereof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,939 
     Inventor: Toshio Okuda 
     Issued: Jan. 3, 1989 
     An umbrella in which at least a portion of the cover&#39;s peripheral edge is shirred. This shirred edge portion is stretched to a greater length when the umbrella is open and contracted to a lesser length when the umbrella is collapsed, thereby providing a taut appearance to the cover when the umbrella is open in the dome-shaped configuration. This invention is particularly useful when the cover is fabricated from a single piece of material, i.e., when the cover is not comprised of separate gores stitched together. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,832,163 
     Inventor: Kathleen L. Levesque 
     Issued: May 23, 1989 
     A portable table preferably composed of a pair of containers which cooperate in face to face relationship to form a composite table surface and further servers as a support to the pole portion of a beach umbrella 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,215 
     Inventor: Rissa Sklar 
     Issued: Jul. 13, 1993 
     A religious article that first functions as a canopy or chuppah for a wedding ceremony and then when cut into pieces serves as individual prayer shawls ortallitot for the couple. The religious article has two rows of heavy stitching, each adjacent to a longitudinal or latitudinal axis and perpendicular to the weftor warp of the material. The religious article also contains four reinforced corners and four additional reinforced areas each having holes provided therein. When the religious article is cut along the axis, forming two prayer shawls, each shawl has reinforced corners with holes through which are attached braided religious fringes or tzitziyot. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,255,954 
     Inventor: Bill L. Rogers 
     Issued: Oct. 26, 1993 
     A chair back connected umbrella support is formed by an open frame, vertically supporting an elongated sleeve slidably receiving the shank of an umbrella. The frame is removably supported by an inclined chair back by J-shaped hooks connected therewith and the umbrella shank receiving sleeve is disposed substantially vertically by a pair of tubes projecting laterally of the frame and nested by sockets connected with the chair back below the J-shaped hooks. A cam lever engaging the umbrella shank vertically adjustably supports the umbrella relative to the chair and the occupant therein. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,166 
     Inventor: Michael T. Credel, Sr. 
     Issued: May 23, 1995 
     A portable umbrella table is easily assembled and is affixed to the ground by a central hollow stake. The umbrella includes a shaft which is joined to a post which slides through the hollow stake into the ground to provide additional security and stability to table during wind gusts. Adjustable straps are provided on the bottom surface of the table top to laterally contain the umbrella against the table top for transportation and storage and a table top handle allows one person to easily transport the umbrella table before and after use. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,779 
     Inventor: Mercedes Suarez 
     Issued: Aug. 8, 1995 
     Advertising display comprising a body forming a display screen which is fixed on the laminar cover of a sunshade, umbrella or the like. Upon closing, the frame of the cover is capable of folding along with the corresponding portion of the display screen, while upon being unfolded, the display screen is positioned vertically. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,012 
     Inventor: Larry D. Friedman 
     Issued: Sep. 12, 1995 
     A hand-held umbrella with a mechanism for rotating the stem and dome of the umbrella relative to the handle without manual rotation of the handle or umbrella. The rotation is created by a battery-operated motor forming a portion of the handle and adapted to receive the end of the stem opposite of the dome. The exterior surface of the dome may have a picture message imprinted thereon which has the appearance of animated movement when the dome is rotated. A speaker and mechanism for producing audible sound are also incorporated into the handle. In one embodiment, the music is contained on a sound synthesizer chip. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,478,041 
     Inventor: Richard C. Mayne 
     Issued: Dec. 26, 1995 
     This invention relates to a clamping and holding device and more particularly to a clamping and holding device which can be attached to articles such as patio chairs to mount a holder for umbrellas and the like in a variety of positions. The device provides a first clamping arm and a second clamping arm pivotally connected to one another to engage an article. A holder extending laterally from the first clamping arm is provided to hold a tray, umbrella or the like. The holder may be locked in a variety of positions. A cam, cam follower and locking member or nut and bolt system prevents the inadvertent opening of the clamping arms 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,836,327 
     Inventor: Gary A. Davis 
     Issued: Nov. 17, 1998 
     An umbrella holder comprising a clamp mechanism; a right/left angular adjustment mechanism, a forward/rearward angular adjustment mechanism; a length adjustment mechanism; and an umbrella shaft and handle securing mechanism. The clamp mechanism includes an upper and lower jaw member, an upper and lower resilient clamp pad, and a clamp screw mechanism. Each upper and lower jaw member is provided with a clamp channel that is covered with the upper or lower resilient clamp pad, respectively. The clamp channels are oriented in opposed relationship and the clamp screw mechanism threadably engages the lower jaw member and rotatably engages the upper jaw member in a manner such that rotation of the clamp screw mechanism causes the upper and lower jaw to be forced together or apart depending on the direction of rotation of the clamp screw mechanism. The umbrella shaft and handle securing mechanism includes a shaft channel clamp and a handle strap assembly positioned below the shaft channel clamp. The shaft channel clamp includes a channel member having an elongated channel that is covered with resilient padding and sized to receive therein a portion of the shaft of an umbrella. A compression member rotatably connected to a shaft clamp screw mechanism is positioned within the elongated channel. The compression member has a resilient pad covering the compression surface thereof. The compression member is preferably elongated and can also have a curved channelized surface if desired. The handle strap assembly includes a flexible strap having an adjustable securing mechanism. 
     While these furniture devices may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     The present invention discloses scriptured outdoor furniture comprising an umbrella, swivel clamp, foldable table and foldable chair. The umbrella is of a size forming a canopy over the table and chair. The umbrella has a fastening member fixed to the distal end of the central post away from the canopy whereby the umbrella can be releasably attached to the table. The fastener is comprised of a swivel clamp having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw having a threaded shaft having a handle for advancing/retracting the movable jaw toward the stationary jaw. The umbrella has an attachable detachable skirt having mating fasteners positioned on the skirt and interior edge of the umbrella. The chair has an attachable detachable chair backing. The chair backing has mating fasteners that are engaged after wrapping around the chair structural members. Furthermore, the table has foldable extension elements forming additional support for the overhanging canopy. 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide outdoor scriptured furniture having an umbrella and chair with scriptural passage imprinted thereon. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide outdoor scriptured furniture having a table for attachment thereon of the scriptural imprinted umbrella. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an expandable collapsible umbrella having illustrations of scenic displays imprinted upon the exterior surface of said umbrella. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide an expandable collapsible umbrella having illustrations of scenic displays and scriptural biblical passage imprinted upon the exterior surface of said umbrella. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair having illustrations of scenic displays imprinted upon the seat back of said chair. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a foldable chair having illustrations of scenic displays and scriptural biblical passage imprinted upon the seat back of said chair. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide scriptured furniture having a swivel clamp forming an attachment member for said umbrella to said table. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide scriptured furniture having a swivel clamp whereby the umbrella can be swiveled from a stored table parallel position to a table perpendicular position. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide scriptured furniture having a table and scriptured umbrella whereby the umbrella can stay attached to said table for storing, moving, assembly and ease of use. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing scriptured outdoor furniture. The scriptured outdoor furniture is comprised of an umbrella, swivel clamp, foldable table and foldable chair. The umbrella is of sufficient size forming a sun block for an individual seated in said chair and for the surface of said table and a scenic design is portrayed on the external surface with a biblical scriptural passage imprinted thereon. The foldable chair also has a scenic design and biblical scriptural passage imprinted on the exterior of the chair back support. 
     The scenic design and scriptural passage enhances human communication between persons of like mind. It further unobtrusively encourages communication of religious beliefs using the visual arts and conveys a common ground whereby other scriptural practitioners are provided a comfortable atmosphere encouraging communication and affords individuals a medium to display their faith. 
     The umbrella has a fastener member fixed to the distal end of the central shaft spaced away from the canopy whereby the umbrella can be releasably attached to the table. The fastener is comprised of a swivel clamp having a stationary jaw and a movable jaw. Said movable jaw is comprised of a threaded shaft having a handle for advancing/retracting said movable jaw toward said stationary jaw. The umbrella-engaging element is comprised of a tube having an aperture for inserting the handle of the umbrella. The tube terminates in a swivel hinge whereby the umbrella can be extended from a stored table parallel position to a table perpendicular position during use. The umbrella does not have to be removed from the clamping mechanism. The table and umbrella form an easy to carry, set up and store unit. In addition, the umbrella and chair have exchangeable elements with biblical scriptural passage imprinted thereon whereby the umbrella and chair can be arrayed with various scriptural passages. 
     The umbrella has an attachable detachable skirt having mating fasteners positioned on the skirt and interior edge of the umbrella. The chair has an attachable detachable chair backing. The chair backing has mating fasteners that are engaged after wrapping around the chair structural members. 
     Furthermore, the table has foldable extension elements forming additional support for the over hanging canopy. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 2 is an illustrative view of the present invention in use. 
     FIG. 3 is an illustrative view of an additional element of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the clamping mechanism present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the present invention with table support members. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the support members of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of the fastening member of the rotatable table support member. 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevation of an additional element for the umbrella of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a front elevation of a skirt having a plurality of biblical scripture imprinted thereon. 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the umbrella and skirt with hook and loop fastener. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevation of an additional element for the umbrella of the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevation of decorative attachable/detachable seating backs having a plurality of biblical scripture imprinted thereon. 
    
    
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the drawings. 
       10  present invention 
       12  umbrella 
       14  scenic illustration 
       16  biblical scripture 
       18  chair 
       20  chair back 
       22  table 
       24  post 
       26  clamp mechanism 
       28  U-shaped clamp 
       30  threaded element 
       32  handle 
       34  jaw 
       36  swivel joint 
       38  locking pin 
       40  support flange 
       42  threaded member 
       44  leg of table 
       46  direction arrow 
       48  bushing 
       50  skirt 
       52  hook and loop material 
       54  snap 
       56  seat back material 
       58  mating hook and loop material 
       60  tubular side 
       62  flap 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention and several variations of that embodiment. This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments. Practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For a definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to the appended claims. 
     Turning to FIG. 1, shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use. Shown is the present invention  10  being used as recreational outdoor furniture. The umbrella  12  has a scenic illustration  14  and biblical scripture  16  imprinted on the exterior surface. The chair  18  has another scenic illustration with biblical scripture  16  imprinted on the exterior surface of the chair back  20 . The purpose of the biblical scripture  16  is to provide means for an individual to display their faith and to enhance human communication by providing a topical subject. 
     Turning to FIG. 2, shown therein is an illustrative view of the present invention  10  in use showing another variation of the present invention in use. The umbrella  12  has a scenic illustration  14  and biblical scripture  16  imprinted on the exterior surface. The chair  18  has another scenic illustration  14  with biblical scripture  16  imprinted on the exterior surface of the chair back  20 . The purpose of the biblical scripture is to provide means for an individual to display their faith and to enhance human communication by providing a topical subject. 
     Turning to FIG. 3, shown therein is an illustrative view of an additional element of the present invention  10 . Shown is the present invention with an additional element in the form of a table  22 . The base distal end of the post  24  of the umbrella  12  has a clamping mechanism  26  affixed thereto whereby the umbrella  12  can be selectively attached to the top of the table  22 . The table  22  provides a storage/workspace for such things as personal items, food storage and beach accessories. Also shown is the chair  18  and scripture verses  16 . 
     Turning to FIG. 4, shown therein is a side view of the clamping mechanism  26  of the present invention. Depicted is one embodiment of the clamping mechanism  26  of the present invention wherein a clamp having a U-shaped clamp body  28  with an extendible retractable threaded element  30  with a handle  32  for engaging and disengaging the movable jaw  34  of the clamp forms attachment means for an umbrella. Also shown is a swivel joint  36  within the clamp whereby the umbrella may be swiveled to a substantially parallel position with the top of the table  22  for storage purposes. Therefore the umbrella and table form an easy to handle and store device. Also shown is the foldable umbrella post  24  along with an internal locking pin  38 . 
     Turning to FIG. 5, shown therein is a perspective view of the present invention  10  with table support flange members  40 . Shown is the present invention with the addition of table support members  40  that will prevent the table  22  from tipping over from a gust of wind because the center of gravity for the umbrella  12  is positioned on one edge of the table. The support members  40  are threadedly  42  attached to the base distal end of the table legs  44  having the umbrella central post  24  positioned thereover. The table support members can be selectively extended as needed. Other elements previously disclosed are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 6, shown therein is an enlarged perspective view of the support flange members  40  of the present invention  10 . Shown is the table leg  44  of the present invention having extendable retractable support members  40  attached to the side of the table whereabove the umbrella will be clamped. The support members can be selectively extended for umbrella usage or rotated to a stowed position when the umbrella is not used. The support members have a threaded element  42  that compresses the support members between the threaded element  42  and the table legs  44 . Releasing tension on the threaded element  42  permits selective rotation of the support member  40  as shown by direction arrow  46 . 
     Turning to FIG. 7, shown therein is a cut away view of the fastening member of the rotatable table support member  40 . Shown is the threaded fastening member  42  of the table support member. The fastening member  42  is comprised of a head portion and a threaded portion. Within the table support member is a bushing  48  having a throughbore wherethrough passes the fastening member  42  which then threadedly engages the table leg  44 . When the fastening member  42  is threaded into the table leg  44  the support member  40  is compressed between the fastener member head and the table leg  44  preventing further rotation of the support member  40 . To rotate the table support member  40  between the stowed and extended position the fastener  42  is loosened and the support member rotated to the desired position before the fastener is tightened again. 
     Turning to FIG. 8, shown therein is a front elevation of an additional element for the umbrella of the present invention. Illustrated is an attachable detachable skirt  50  that fastens to the interior hem of the umbrella extending circumferentially around the periphery of the umbrella whereby the scriptural message  16  can be changed to fit special religious occasions such as Easter. It could also be used to provide selective variation of the scriptural message. The fastening element preferably can be snap or Velcro  52  but can be in any appropriate form. 
     Turning to FIG. 9, shown therein is a front elevation of a skirt  50  having a plurality of biblical scripture  16  imprinted thereon. Illustrated is the attachable detachable skirt  50  fastened to the interior hem of the umbrella  12  extending circumferentially around the periphery of the umbrella having a plurality of scriptural messages  16  imprinted thereon. The skirt  50  can be used to change the scriptural message for religious occasions such as Easter or selective variation. The skirt  50  is fastened to the interior of the umbrella by mating pieces of hook and loop material  52  attached to the interior of the umbrella  12  and on the skirt  50 . 
     Turning to FIG. 10, shown therein is a sectional view of the umbrella  12  and skirt  50  with hook and loop fasteners  52 . Shown is a fastener  52  of the umbrella and skirt in an engaged position. The interior periphery of the umbrella  12  has a plurality of one of the members of hook and loop material  52  while the skirt  50  has the plurality of mating hook and loop members  52 . Alternatively, mating snap elements  54  are also shown. 
     Turning to FIG. 11, shown therein is a front elevation of an additional element for the umbrella of the present invention. Illustrated is an attachable detachable seating back  56  having mating lengths of hook and loop material  58  on each end of the seat backing with a securing flap  62  that wraps around the tubular sides  60  of the chair  18 . The scriptural message can be changed to fit special religious occasions such as Easter. It could also be used to provide selective variation of the scriptural message. 
     Turning to FIG. 12, shown therein is a front elevation of decorative attachable detachable seating  56  having a plurality of biblical scripture  16  imprinted thereon. Illustrated is an attachable detachable seating backs  56  having mating lengths of hook and loop material  58  forming a securing flap  62  that wraps around the tubular sides of the chair back whereby the scriptural message can be changed to fit special religious occasions such as Easter. It could also be used to provide selective variation of the scriptural message.