Patent Abstract:
A picnic table system is provided that is modular in design for ease of storage out of inclement weather when not in use. A bench assembly sits atop two pedestal-type legs and the table top and is supported by the upper portion of the pedestal legs. Both the top and the benches are secured by frictional impingement. When the structure is to be moved, the bench assembly, table top and the two pedestal legs are stored in a manner conserving floor or storage space. The ability to store the structure inside during inclement weather or during off season allows for increased life of the structure, thus saving the user replacement or repair costs as well.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent applicaiton Ser. No. 09/769,319, filed on Jan. 25, 2001, hereinafter abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to a table having separable components and, more particularly, to a system having separable, assembled components that form a table and benches. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   In the related art, picnic tables can be found in backyards, parks and campgrounds, and rest stops across the country. While most commonly used as an eating table, it is also pressed into service as a food preparation table, a work surface, a meeting table or the like. While the picnic table is certainly useful and versatile, it does suffer from the drawback that it is stored outside at all times, thus it is subjected to the sun&#39;s rays, rain, wind, and other inclement weather or harmful environmental conditions and/or elements. For those areas with a severe winter season, they are also subjected to snow and reduced temperatures. This extreme weather can induce damage and leads to increased repair costs or more frequent replacement costs. Those lucky enough to have a large garage or storage shed can store them inside during the off-season winter months thus extending its life. However, this takes a great deal of storage area due to the large footprint and volume occupied by an assembled picnic table. 
   A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. 
   Of particular interest is U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,179, issued in the name of Wallace, III, which discloses a table and bench assembly moveable between a folded position and an unfolded position. Wallace, III discloses a table that is lockably secured and released via a ball-handle and a rod, allowing the device to foldably collapse into a single unit. However, Wallace, III suffers from several drawbacks, including the number of movable parts necessary to assemble and disassemble the apparatus. Furthermore, the collapse of the table into a single unit is not ideal for storage and or transportation, especially if storage space is limited. 
   Consequently, there is a need for a means by which the functionality of a picnic table can be provided in a small package for ease of assembly and disassembly, use and storage, thus addressing the shortcomings of conventional picnic tables as described above. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved modular picnic table system. 
   It is a feature of the present invention to provide an improved modular picnic table system having separable, assembled components that form a table top, parallel benches and supportable pedestal base elements. 
   Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a picnic table system is provided that is modular in design for ease of storage out of inclement weather when not in use. The bench assembly sits atop two pedestal-type legs and the table top is supported by the upper portion of the pedestal legs. Both the table top and the benches are frictionally impinged to securely maintain the structural integrity of the assembled components. When the invention is to be moved, stored for the season, or otherwise not needed, the frictional impingement is removed and the resultant four pieces, namely the top, the bench assembly, and the two pedestal legs, may be stored in a manner conserving floor or storage space. The ability to store the invention inside during inclement weather or during off season allows for increased life of the invention, thus saving the user replacement or repair costs as well. 
   The use of a modular picnic table of the present design provides a firm, stable picnic table area that can be easily disassembled and assembled in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient. 
   Advantages of the collapsible design of the present invention, having separate individual pieces held together with pegs, allows for easily assembled and disassembled with no tools needed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
       FIG. 1   a  is a perspective view of a modular picnic table according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 1   b  is an exploded perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 2  is a top plan view of a dual cantilever bench element  30  for use with the modular picnic table; 
       FIG. 3  is a plan view of the underside of the table top  40  illustrating the stringer members  44   a  and pedestal receiving slot  44   b,  and the rib receiving orifices  46  therein; 
       FIG. 4  is an elevational view of a pedestal base element  50  comprising rounded (curvilinear) indentations  56   a  for receiving rounded protuberances  36   a  from the underside of the bench element  30  for frictional fit impingement thereon; 
       FIG. 5   a  is a side view of the pedestal base element  50  illustrating the ribs  58  and the rounded indentation  56   a  thereon; 
       FIG. 5   b  is a side view of the pedestal base element  50  illustrating a pair of horizontal bench supporting elements  56  and a pair of horizontal stabilizing elements  54 , and a pair of rounded indentations  56   a  thereon; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a modular picnic table according to the alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view thereof; 
       FIG. 8   a  is a top plan view of a dual cantilever bench element  30  for use with the modular picnic table of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8   b  is a side elevational view of the dual cantilever bench element  30  of  FIG. 8   a;    
       FIG. 9   a  is a bottom plan view of a table top  40  for use with the modular picnic table of the present invention; 
       FIG. 9   b  is a side elevational view of the table top  40  of  FIG. 9   a;    
       FIG. 10   a  is a side elevational view of a pedestal leg element  50  for use with the modular picnic table of the present invention; 
       FIG. 10   b  is a side elevational view of the pedestal leg element  50  of  FIG. 10   a;    
       FIG. 10   c  is a side elevational view of the pedestal leg element  50  comprising a pair of horizontal bench supporting elements  56  and a pair of horizontal stabilizing elements  54 ; and 
       FIG. 10   d  is a front view of an alternative embodiment of the pedestal leg element  50 , comprising a triangulated upper support column  52 , a wider supporting surface  53 , and optionally, a plurality of ribs  58 . 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within the Figures. 
   1. Detailed Description of the Figures 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1   a  through  FIG. 5   b,  a modular picnic table  10  is shown, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, comprising a collapsible design of separate individual pieces held together through frictional fit impingement and/or by pin fasteners  20 , thereby allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without the need for specialized tools. A bench element  30  rests on and is supported by a pair of individually supported pedestal base elements  50 . A table top  40  rests atop the pair of pedestal base elements  50  as well. The four-unit components (bench, pair of base elements and table top, respectively) are held in place by the use of frictional fit impingement or pin fasteners. 
     FIG. 2  shows the bench element  30  in greater detail, herein envisioned as a unitary element and further described as a dual cantilevered bench element (a cantilevered element is balanced by counter-forces across a fulcrum, and because users may set on both bench slats  32 , there is counter-acting forces for both slats  32 , resulting in a dual cantilever action). As shown, a pair of lateral bench slats  32  are mounted parallel to each other and held together in a spaced-apart (offset) manner by a plurality of support stringer assemblies  34  (shown in  FIG. 3  as a pair of support stringer assemblies). Each support stringer assembly  34  is formed of a pair of individual support stringer members  34   a  separated by a pedestal receiving slot  34   b.  At least one of each pair of individual support stringer members  34   a  (e.g., one member  34   a  on each end of the bench element  30 ) includes a contoured underside  36  that frictionally impinges with a correspondingly shaped pedestal base element  50 . It is envisioned that each individual support stringer member  34   a  comprising the pair of members  34  may be provided with the contoured underside  36  to provide further structural stability to the modular picnic table  10 . The contoured underside  36  is envisioned as including a variety of combinations (including key-lock, jigsaw formations or otherwise frictionally interlocking combinations) with  FIG. 4  serving as a representative model. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the contoured underside includes a pair of curvilinear protuberances  36   a,  formed along the support stringer assemblies  34 , corresponding to curvilinear indentations  56   a  formed in the bench supporting element  56  (described below) in the pedestal base  50 . The protuberances  36   a  frictionally and gravitationally impinge within the indentations  56   a,  thereby providing structural support to the bench element  30  during use. 
     FIG. 3  show the table top  40  in greater detail. As shown, the table top  40  has a generally planar upper surface  42 . Attached to the lower surface of the table top  40  are a plurality of attachment stringer assemblies  44 . A pair of attachment stringer assemblies  44  are mounted parallel to, but on opposing ends, of each other. Each attachment stringer assembly  44  is formed of a pair of individual attachment stringer members  44   a  forming a pedestal receiving slot  44   b  therebetween. It is anticipated that the overall size and dimension and location of these support stringer members  44   a  separated by a pedestal receiving slot  44   b  would be comparable to the support stringer assemblies  34  of the bench element  30 , so as to substantially align the support stringer assemblies  34  and the attachment stringer assemblies  44  when the modular picnic table  10  is assembled. Between the individual attachment stringer members  44   a  (corresponding to the pedestal receiving slot  44   b ), a plurality of rib receiving orifices  46  are provided for frictionally and gravitationally impinging a plurality of ribs  58  provided along the top supporting surface  53  of pedestal base element  50 . 
     FIG. 4  illustrate a single pedestal base element  50 . It is anticipated that two such pedestal base elements  50  will be necessary for use with the present modular picnic table  10 . Each pedestal base element  50  has a vertically elongated support column  52  with a top supporting surface  53  opposite a horizontal stabilizing element  54 . The horizontal stabilizing element  54  is perpendicularly affixed to the support column  52 , and is of sufficient lateral span to allow for sturdy support of the completed picnic table  10 . Additionally, a horizontally disposed bench supporting element  56  is affixed to the support column  52  to provide structural support for the bench element  30 . In another embodiment, it is envisioned that each pedestal base element  50  will include a pair of horizontal stabilizing elements  54  (first and second horizontal stabilizing elements  54 , respectively) and a pair of bench supporting elements  56  (as seen in  FIG. 5   b,  first and second bench supporting elements  56  respectively) so as to provide more surface area, and thus, greater structural support to the bench element  30  as it is affixed and is supported by the pedestal base elements  50 . In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 10   d,  the top supporting surface  53  departs from the linear embodiment of  FIG. 5   a  and includes a substantially wider terminal end (depicted as substantially triangulated in shape). The substantially wider terminal end of the top supporting surface  53  provides greater surface area in contacting the lower surface (underside) of the table top and inserting into the pedestal receiving slot  44   b,  thereby providing greater structural support to the table top  40 , but also preventing unnecessary tilting or movement of the table top  40  when items are placed thereon, or when seated users place elbows, arms or generally exert force on the margins of the table top  40 . A plurality of ribs  58  are provided to any and/or all of the embodiments of the pedestal base element  50  disclosed. The ribs  58  are vertically projected upward from the top supporting surface  53  and are inserted into corresponding rib orifices  46  formed in the lower surface (underside) of the table top  40 . 
   Referring now to an alternative embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 6  through  FIG. 8   b  shows the bench element  30  in greater detail. As shown, a pair of lateral bench slats  32  are mounted parallel to each other and held together in a spaced-apart (offset) manner by a plurality of support stringer assemblies  34  (shown in  FIG. 3   a  as a pair of support stringer assemblies). Each support stringer assembly  34  is formed of a pair of individual support stringer members  34   a  separated by a pedestal receiving slot  34   b.  Each bench slat  32  includes a plurality of pin fastener receiving orifices  22 , as shown, for accepting pin fasteners  20 . Further, a surface of each support stringer member  34   a  includes a plurality of pin fastener receiving orifices  22  for receiving and frictionally impinging the pin fasteners  20 . In this manner, the lateral bench slats  32  can be fastened to the support stringer assemblies  34  in a quick and convenient manner, without the aid of additional hand tools (if necessary). Also, as shown in  FIG. 3   b,  at the center point of each individual support stringer members  34   a  are additional pin fastener receiving orifices  22  formed for attachment to the pedestals  50  by pin fasteners  20 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     FIG. 9   a  and  FIG. 9   b  show the table top  40  in greater detail. As shown, the table top  40  has a generally planar upper surface  42 . Attached to the lower surface of the table top  40  are a plurality of attachment stringer assemblies  44 . A pair of attachment stringer assemblies  44  are mounted parallel to, but on opposing ends, of each other. Each attachment stringer assembly  44  is formed of a pair of individual attachment stringer members  44   a  separated by a pedestal receiving slot  44   b.  It is anticipated that the overall size and dimension and location of these support stringer members  44   a  separated by a pedestal receiving slot  44   b  would be comparable to the support stringer assemblies  34  of the bench element  30 , so as to substantially align the support stringer assemblies  34  and the attachment stringer assemblies  44  when the modular picnic table  10  is assembled. Also, and as shown in  FIG. 4   b,  at the center point of each individual attachment stringer members  44   a  are a plurality of pin fastener receiving orifices  22  formed for attachment to the pedestals  50  by pin fasteners  20 , as will be described in greater detail below. 
     FIG. 10   a,    FIG. 10   b,    FIG. 10   c  and  FIG. 10   d  illustrate a single pedestal base element  50 . It is anticipated that two such pedestal base elements  50  will be necessary for use with the present modular picnic table  10 . Each pedestal base element  50  has a vertically elongated support column  52  with a top supporting surface  53  opposite a horizontal stabilizing element  54 . The horizontal stabilizing element  54  is perpendicularly affixed to the support column  52 , abutting against the underside of the bench element  30 , and is of sufficient lateral span to allow for sturdy support of the completed picnic table  10 . Also, at both the top and near the center point of each individual support column  52  are a plurality of pin fastener receiving orifices  22  formed for attachment of both the table top  40  and bench element  30 , respectively, to the pedestal base elements  50  by pin fasteners  20 , as will be described in greater detail below. In another embodiment, it is envisioned that each pedestal base element  50  will include a pair of horizontal stabilizing elements  54  (first and second horizontal stabilizing elements  54 , respectively) and a pair of bench supporting elements  56  (as seen in  FIG. 5   c,  first and second bench supporting elements  56 , respectively) so as to provide more surface area, and thus, greater structural support to the bench element  30  as it is affixed and is supported by the pedestal base elements  50 . In another embodiment, shown in  FIG. 10   d,  the top supporting surface  53  departs from the linear embodiment of  FIG. 10   a  and includes a substantially wider terminal end (depicted as substantially triangulated in shape). The substantially wider terminal end of the top supporting surface  53  provides greater surface area in contacting the underside of the table top and inserting into the pedestal receiving slot  44   b,  thereby providing greater structural support to the table top  40 , but also preventing unnecessary tilting or movement of the table top  40  when items are placed thereon, or when seated users place elbows, arms or generally exert force on the margins of the table top  40 . 
   2. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment 
   In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1   a  through  FIG. 5   b,  the modular picnic table  10  is assembled by starting with the four-unit structure (bench element, pair of base pedestals and table top). The pair of base pedestals  50  are aligned about the bench element  30 . The support column  52  with ribs  58  is passed through the pedestal receiving slot  34   b.  The protuberances  36   a  are aligned with the indentations  56   a  and frictionally and gravitationally impinged in a substantially interlocking manner. Thus, the pedestal base elements  50  are now freely standing and supporting the bench element  30 . Next, the table top  40  is aligned so that the rib receiving orifices  46  insertably receive the corresponding ribs  58  from the top supporting surface  53 . The ribs  58  frictionally and gravitationally impinge therein, thus the entire modular picnic table  10  is now assembled and ready for reliable use. To disassemble, simply reverse the assembly procedure. 
   The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be limited only by the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0