Abstract:
Containment systems for folding leg tables are disclosed. In one embodiment, a containment system for a folding leg table includes first and second side panels attached along a lower portion of a perimeter edge. An upper portion of the perimeter edge is selectively openable by a coupling device. The first and second side panels define an interior region therebetween that is configured to receive the folding leg table. Elongated carrying handles are disposed transversely across the lower portion of the perimeter edge, each carrying handle having a first end coupled to the first side panel and a second end coupled to the second side panel. The carrying handles are configured about the perimeter edge in the manner of a stirrup.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/911,550 filed Apr. 13, 2007, which provisional application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The field of the present disclosure relates to containers or bags for storing equipment, and more specifically, to containment systems for folding leg tables. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    It is often desirable to transport tables from one location to another. For example, poker tables are often moved from one location to another depending on the availability of the players or the facility. Understandably, the owners of such tables desire to protect their equipment from scratches and other damage during transit and storage. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    The present disclosure teaches containment systems for tables having folding legs, such as poker tables. Embodiments of containments systems in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure may advantageously reduce scratches and other damage that might otherwise occur to such tables during transit and storage. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, a containment system for a folding leg table includes first and second side panels attached along a lower portion of a perimeter edge. An upper portion of the perimeter edge is selectively openable by a coupling device. The first and second side panels define an interior region therebetween that is configured to receive the folding leg table. Elongated carrying handles are disposed transversely across the lower portion of the perimeter edge, each carrying handle having a first end coupled to the first side panel and a second end coupled to the second side panel. The carrying handles are configured about the perimeter edge in the manner of a stirrup. 
         [0006]    The features, functions, and advantages that have been discussed can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the present invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments further details of which can be seen with reference to the following description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Embodiments of systems in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a containment system for a table with folding legs in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the containment system of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a containment system for a table in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the containment system of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a first side (or top) elevational view of a containment system for a table in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a second side (or bottom) elevational view of the containment system of  FIG. 5  in a closed position; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a second side (or bottom) elevational view of the containment system of  FIG. 5  in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Containment systems for folding leg tables are disclosed in the following description. Many specific details of certain embodiments of the invention are set forth in the following description and in  FIGS. 1-7  to provide a thorough understanding of such embodiments. One skilled in the art, however, will understand that the invention may have additional embodiments, or that the invention may be practiced without several of the details described in the following description. 
       Containment System Embodiments 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a containment system  100  for a table with folding legs in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the containment system  100  of  FIG. 1 . In this embodiment, the containment system (or table bag)  100  includes a pair of lateral (or side) surfaces  102  coupled along a perimeter thereof. In some embodiments, the lateral surfaces  102  are formed of cloth, such as duck cloth, or other suitable material. Along a first portion  104  of the perimeter (e.g. a lower portion as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the lateral surfaces  102  may be sewn or otherwise permanently attached. Along a second portion  106  of the perimeter (e.g. an upper portion as shown in  FIG. 1 ), the lateral surfaces  102  may be selectively coupled by a coupling device  108 , such as a zipper, hook and loop fasteners, or other suitable attachment device. The lateral surfaces  102  cooperatively form an interior region into which a folding leg table may be inserted through the second portion  106 . Carrying straps  110  are coupled to the lateral surfaces  102  to enable the containment system  100  to be easily held during transit. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the table bag  100  may be a form fitting oval bag particularly configured for portable oval poker tables. The coupling device (e.g. zipper)  108  runs along the outer edge of the bag  100  from one end of the oval lateral surfaces  102  to the other so that a user can slide the bag  100  over a table while it is upright. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there may be two carrying straps  110  positioned on the bag  100  (e.g. proximate the ends of the bag). In some embodiments, the carrying straps  110  may be configured like stirrups that are sewn around the bottom edge  104  of the bag  100  and up both sides  102 . The advantage of the stirrup style carrying straps  110  is strength and support so that the seams of the bag  100  will last longer. 
         [0018]    Embodiments of containments systems in accordance with the present disclosure may provide advantages over the prior art. For example, such containment systems may reduce scratches and other damage that might otherwise occur to such tables during transit and storage. The carrying straps  110  may also facilitate the transit of poker tables and improve the durability of the containment system. 
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a containment system  200  for a table in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the containment system  200  of  FIG. 3 . In this embodiment, the containment system  200  is made with three separate pieces of fabric (or other suitable material). More specifically, the table bag  200  includes two sides  202  of approximately the same oval dimension, and an elongated perimeter piece  203  that connects the two sides  202  that goes completely around the outside edge (including the first or “permanently coupled” portion  204  and the second or “selectively coupled” portion  206  of the perimeter). The bag  200  also has an attachment device (e.g. zipper)  208  that runs along the outer edge of the bag  200  from one end of the oval to the other. In this embodiment, as best shown in  FIG. 4 , the attachment device  208  is actually attached to the perimeter piece  203  that runs around the outside edge of the bag  200 . Two carrying straps  210  are coupled to the sides  202 . In some embodiments, the carrying straps  210  are configured to act like stirrups that are sewn around the bottom edge  204  of the bag  200  and up both sides  202 . As mentioned above, one advantage of the stirrup style carrying straps  210  is for strength and support so that the seams will last longer. Another advantage of this design is extra room for sliding the bag  200  over a table. 
         [0020]      FIG. 5  is an elevational view of a first side (or top) of a containment system  300  for a table in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention.  FIGS. 6 and 7  are elevational views of a second side (or bottom) of the containment system  300  of  FIG. 5  in closed and opened positions  320 ,  322 , respectively. In this embodiment, the containment system (or table bag)  300  includes a top panel  302  ( FIG. 5 ) and a bottom panel  303  ( FIG. 6 ). As in the previously described embodiments, the top and bottom panels are attached along a first portion  306  of their common perimeter. 
         [0021]    In this embodiment, a flap  305  is attached to a second portion  308  of the perimeter of the top panel  302  ( FIG. 6 ). As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the flap  305  may be an approximately wedge-shaped flap. The flap  305  is coupled to the bottom panel  303  by a coupling device (e.g. a zipper)  312  along an access edge  314  of the flap  305 . Carrying straps  310  are coupled to the top panel  302 , bottom panel  303 , and flap  305  to enable the containment system  300  to be easily held during transit, and may be configured like stirrups as described above. 
         [0022]    In operation, the table bag  300  allows easy access to an interior compartment  330  adapted to receive a table with folding legs. More specifically, with the flap  305  initially in the closed position  320 , the coupling device  312  is actuated to detach the access edge  314  of the flap  305  from the bottom panel  303 . The flap  305  is then folded back into the opened position  322  ( FIG. 7 ), allowing the table bag  300  to easily slide onto the folded table (not shown) from one end to the other, past the table legs. The flap  305  can then be returned to the closed position  320  and the coupling device  312  can be actuated to re-attach the access edge  314  of the flap  305  to the bottom panel  303 . Again, the table bag  300  can be transported via the carrying straps  310 , which may be configured like stirrups that are sewn around the bottom edge of the bag  300  and up both sides. 
         [0023]    Manner and Process for Making 
         [0024]    It will be appreciated that the above-disclosed embodiments of containment systems for folding leg tables may be fabricated in a variety of ways known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. An exemplary manufacturing process is described below as an example of a possible, non-limiting procedure for making a device in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0025]    In a particular embodiment, start with a suitable quantity of material (e.g. about 6½ yards of duck cloth). Cut this so that you end up with two pieces (e.g. approximately 3¼ yards long). Measure and cut the dimensions for both sides of the bag. Serge or otherwise bond the bottom edges of the sides of the bag from one oval edge to the other. Open up the sewn pieces and sew the straps (e.g. 1½″ webbing) on the outside portions at both ends (the middle of the straps will approximately fall on the sewn edge that was just sewn). The next step will be to sew the coupling device (e.g. zipper) on the top half of the bag. One side will have a suitable (e.g. 1½″) protective fold underneath to protect the vinyl from the zipper. Once the zipper is sewn into place, turn the bag inside out again and serge the rounded edges. The bag is complete now and can be used to protect a table. 
         [0026]    Manner and Process for Using 
         [0027]    An exemplary, non-limiting process for using embodiments of containment systems in accordance with the present disclosure will now be provided. An appropriate use for an embodiment of the invention is to completely conceal a nice portable oval poker table with folding legs. The carrying straps are sewn in place to make it easy for two people to transport the table without taking the bag off. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, a table bag in accordance with the present disclosure may be placed on a table with five easy steps: 1) unzip the bag; 2) slide the bag over the table (while still on its legs) until the sewn edge of the bag hits the edge of the table; 3) tip the table on its side (the non-zipper edge); 4) pull the zipper edge of bag up; and 5) zip the bag closed. 
         [0029]    While specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should not be limited by the disclosure of the specific embodiments set forth above. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow.