Patent Publication Number: US-6983493-B1

Title: Retractable table top for a toilet

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   Not Applicable. 
   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
   Not Applicable. 
   REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX 
   Not Applicable. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Technical Field 
   This invention relates to a table top and, more particularly, to a retractable table top for a toilet seat. 
   2. Prior Art 
   The toilet seat can more rightly be called “the throne” if certain conditions are met above and beyond the simple support and flush provisions. A supply of toilet paper needs to be furnished and at a convenient location or locations, not a marginally accessible location. A supply of reading material from which a selection can be made is usually welcome, and for some an ashtray, cigarettes and matches are needed. Some may prefer to prepare notes such as shopping lists, and these will need pencil and notepaper and backing for the note paper. 
   Accordingly, the use of toilet accessories is known in the prior art. More specifically, toilet accessories heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art, which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements. 
   For example, the toilet stalls in public rest rooms are conventionally cramped and offer little, if any, space for the storage of personal items such as reading material and the like. Bathrooms in many homes have a similar disadvantage. 
   Accordingly, a need remains for a toilet seat accessory that overcomes the above-noted shortcomings. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a retractable table top for a toilet seat. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are provided by a device for providing a working surface while a user is seated on a toilet. The device includes a table having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis. The table includes a plurality of opposed edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending substantially parallel thereto. 
   The table further includes a plurality of opposed end portions integral with the plurality of edge portions and a plurality of elongated legs with opposed end portions attached thereto and engageable with a ground surface. Such a plurality of legs are pivotally connected to the lower surface of the table and movable between folded and extended positions. The table further has a plurality of elongated support rods secured to the bottom surface and adjacent the plurality of end portions. 
   A support member positionable on alternate sides of a toilet seat includes a rear end portion securable to a wall adjacent a toilet and extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom. The support member further includes a telescopic front end portion that is connected to the rear end portion that is extendable along a substantially horizontal plane. Such a front end portion is removably attachable to one of the plurality of support rods so that the table can be selectively moved between up and down positions and pivoted thereabout. The rear end portion of the support member includes a pair of spaced arms extending outwardly therefrom and along a horizontal plane for receiving the table therebetween during non-operating conditions. A bracket with front and rear surfaces is connected to the rear end portion and a wall respectively. 
   Advantageously, the front end portion of the support member further includes a female portion and a male portion slidably engageable therein along a substantially parallel path so that the table can be telescopically extended between retracted and extended positions. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
     The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an apparatus for supporting reading and writing materials, in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the apparatus of  FIG. 1  at a folded position; 
       FIG. 3  is perspective view showing the apparatus of  FIG. 2  at a retracted position; 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the telescopic portion of the support member; and 
       FIG. 5  is an enlarged side-elevational view showing the male and female portions of the support member. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures. 
   The device of this invention is referred to generally in  FIGS. 1–5  by the reference numeral  10  and is intended to provide a retractable table for a toilet seat. It should be understood that the device  10  may be used for various services and therefore should not be construed as limited to being used only for bathroom use. 
   Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , the device  10  includes a table  12  having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis (not shown). The table  12  includes a plurality of opposed edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending substantially parallel thereto. 
   The table  12  further includes a plurality of opposed end portions integral with the plurality of edge portions and a plurality of elongated legs  13  with opposed end portions attached thereto and engageable with a ground surface  14 . Such a plurality of legs  13  are pivotally connected to the lower surface of the table  12  and movable between folded and extended positions. The table  12  further has a plurality of elongated support rods  19  secured to the bottom surface and adjacent the plurality of end portions, best shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring to the combination of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a support member  15  positionable on alternate sides of a toilet seat includes a rear end portion  16  securable to a wall  17  adjacent a toilet  11  and extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom. The support member  15  further includes a telescopic front end portion  18  that is connected to the rear end portion  16  that is extendable along a substantially horizontal plane. Such a front end portion  18  is removably attachable to one of the plurality of support rods  19  so that the table  12  can be selectively moved between up and down positions and pivoted thereabout. 
   The rear end portion  16  of the support member  15  includes a pair of spaced arms  23  extending outwardly therefrom and along a horizontal plane for receiving the table  12  therebetween during non-operating conditions, best shown in  FIG. 3 . A bracket  20  with front and rear surfaces is connected to the rear end portion  16  and a wall  17  respectively. 
   Now referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the front end portion  18  of the support member  15  further includes a female portion  21  and a male portion  22  slidably engageable therein and along a substantially parallel path so that the table  12  can be telescopically extended between retracted and extended positions. 
   While the invention has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
   In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present invention may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation. The assembly and use of the present invention are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art.