Abstract:
An Adjustable Canopy, for use in combination with a picnic table or the like, to protect the users from the elements and which is quickly and easily removable in anticipation of severe conditions. 
     Furthermore, a new design of Picnic Table, for use with the Adjustable Canopy, which has no significant obstructions to entry or exit and which can be Pivotable, thereby allowing an unlimited range of adjustments to impede the elements, regardless of the originating direction.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an adjustable means of protection from elements such as sun, rain, bird droppings, etc. while outdoors seated at a picnic table or the like. 
     This invention further relates to an improved picnic table which is pivotable. When combined with the adjustable canopy, the user can pivot the table and adjust the canopy to block the sun&#39;s rays from any direction. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Previously, there have been no simple means to protect people seated at a picnic table or, the like from the sun&#39;s rays at any time of day, from the rain or wind originating from diverse directions, from bird droppings, or from other potential hazards of sitting outdoors. 
     Free-standing canopies only provide protection from the sun during a short period of the day and not during earlier morning and later afternoon hours when the sun is low in the sky. They provide no protection from the wind or from driving rain. 
     Canopies which are fastened to a structure such as a wall or a camper trailer similarly provide only limited protection from the sun and rain and no protection from wind. 
     Previous inventions for canopies attached to a table or chair are mostly not adjustable. The few canopies which are adjustable are impractical, difficult to install and adjust. 
     Prior art picnic tables in general can only be moved by being dragged along the ground or by being lifted off the ground by two or more people, both difficult to do. Additionally, most picnic tables cannot be easily adapted to be pivotable. 
     The following inventions were found in Prior Art: 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                   D 279,833 
                 07/30/85 
                 Eberle 
                 D3/5 
               
               
                   
                 D 290,315 
                 06/16/87 
                 Swenson et.  al. 
                 D6/337 
               
               
                   
                 4,036,244 
                 07/19/77 
                 Huddle 
                 135/4R 
               
               
                   
                 4,096,874 
                 06/27/78 
                 Weatherly 
                 135/5R 
               
               
                   
                 4,621,865 
                 11/11/86 
                 Herrera 
                 297/184 
               
               
                   
                 4,724,882 
                 02/16/88 
                 Wang 
                 160/69 
               
               
                   
                 4,915,120 
                 04/10/90 
                 Zjolkowskj 
                 135/90 
               
               
                   
                 4,924,896 
                 05/15/90 
                 Carter 
                 135/90 
               
               
                   
                 5,135,281 
                 08/04/92 
                 Pappalardo 
                 297/184 
               
               
                   
                 5,215,108 
                 06/01/93 
                 Sprague 
                 135/90 
               
               
                   
                 5,823,217 
                 10/20/98 
                 Rice 
                 135/124 
               
               
                   
                 5,832,943 
                 11/10/98 
                 Johnson 
                 135/124 
               
               
                   
                 6,109,280 
                 08/29/00 
                 Custer 
                 135/116 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Wang shows an awning with a horizontal center pivot, two flat awning sides, and a cog-driven mechanism for retraction. The height of the entire unit has a limited adjustment. Each awning side can be tilted to a limited degree. When used in combination with a picnic table or the like, each awning side would have to be quite large to overhang and protect users seated at opposite sides of the table. Wang&#39;s awning would not provide protection from wind and is probably unusable except in light wind conditions. In addition, it cannot tilt sufficiently to block the sun&#39;s rays when low in the sky or to obstruct blowing rain. 
     Ziolkowski shows an adjustable bonnet for lawn chairs which is impractical. If one user positions his chair to face away from the sun, the bonnet works reasonably well. However if a second person faces the first to converse, he is facing the sun, and this invention would block his view of the first user when adjusted to block the sun. Pivoting the bonnet forward also impedes the user&#39;s entry or exit from the chair. Pivoting the bonnet to a greater degree forward or backward than shown in FIG. 1 causes the bonnet to collapse together since the bows pivot closer together. If applied to a picnic table, either lengthwise or crosswise, this bonnet would impede the entry and exit of the users unless it is in the closed position on the side or end of entry or exit. To apply to a picnic table, numerous additional bows and additional covering would be necessary to protect all users from the elements and their view beyond the table would be completely obstructed by the bonnet. 
     Pappalardo&#39;s shade has all the disadvantages of Ziolkowski&#39;s bonnet and more. It is adjustable in only one direction. It cannot be applied to a picnic table to protect its users from the elements without numerous modifications. 
     Rice shows a Sunshade which has only two arrangements, assembled or disassembled, i.e. it is not adjustable. If a user needs to block the sun as it changes angles, he would have to get up and literally pick up the entire unit to change its position. If this sunshade were large enough for a picnic table to fit inside, it would certainly be cumbersome to do this. 
     None of the above-mentioned inventions satisfactorily meets the requirements for a canopy adjustable to a wide range of positions, or combined with a pivotable picnic table to provide unlimited positions which do not impede entry or exit. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary object of this invention is to provide a canopy for use in combination with a picnic table or the like, which is quickly and easily adjustable to a wide range of positions to protect the users from the ultra-violet rays and glare of the sun at any time of day, or from rain or wind, or from bird droppings, while seated outdoors. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable canopy for use in combination with a picnic table or the like which is quickly and easily installed, and quickly and easily removable in the event of severe weather such as heavy snow, high winds, or hail. 
     An additional object of this invention is to provide a picnic table which is structurally sturdy and has no substantial obstructions to entry or exit. 
     A further object of this invention is to provide a picnic table which is easily pivotable and when combined with the adjustable canopy, protects the users from the elements regardless of the direction from which they originate. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Adjustable Canopy of this invention as attached to the Pivotable Picnic Table, with the Adjustable Canopy shown in the fully extended position. 
     FIG. 2 is an end view of the Adjustable Canopy of this invention as attached to a picnic table and shown in a partially extended position. 
     FIG. 3 is a side view of the Pivotable Picnic Table of this invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The Adjustable Canopy  1  of this invention comprises a pliable cover  11  attached to a plurality of ribs  12 . Each rib  12  has at least two hoop guides  13 . Each hoop guide  13  glides along a hoop  14 . The two ends of each hoop  14  fit a hoop receiver  15  attached to opposite seat supports  16  of the Picnic Table  2 , as shown in FIG.  1 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the hoops  14  are tubular and arc-shaped. The hoop receivers  15  are tubular with an inside diameter slightly larger than the outside diameter of the hoop  14  so that one end of the hoop  14  is received inside the hoop receiver  15  at least a few inches. One hoop receiver  15  is fastened to each seat support  16  at an angle upward and outward from its outer edge. 
     The plurality of ribs  12  are equally spaced horizontally along the cover  11 . In the preferred embodiment, rib caps  29  are used to fasten the cover  11  to the ribs  12 . The rib caps  29  are the same length as the ribs  12 . 
     In the embodiment shown, two hoops  14  are used. Two hoop guides  13  are attached to each rib  12  at an equal distance from its opposite ends. The distance between the two hoop guides  13  on each rib  12  must correspond to the distance between the hoop receivers  15 . The hoop guides  13  are a U-shape somewhat larger than the outside diameter of the hoop  14  with a perpendicular projection at each end through which an appropriate fastener such as a screw can secure the hoop guide  13  to the rib  12 . 
     To adjust the position of the Adjustable Canopy  1 , the user simply grasps a rib  12  at or near its center and it will glide along the hoops  14  in the direction in which it is pulled. As shown in FIG. 2, the cover  11  may begin to fold or pleaton one side. The Adjustable Canopy  1  may be completely folded if the user wishes. 
     To assemble the Adjustable Canopy  1 , begin by inserting the distal end of each hoop  14  into a hoop receiver  15  of seat supports  16  on the distal side of the picnic table  2 . The hoop guides  13  of a rib  12  are slid onto the hoops  14 , each rib  12  in sequence, then the proximal end of each hoop  14  is inserted into its corresponding hoop receiver  15  of the seat supports  16  on the proximal side of the picnic table  2 . Disassembly is simply the reverse, and is quick and easy to do in the anticipation of severe weather such as heavy snowfall, high winds, or hail. 
     The preferred embodiment for the Picnic Table  2  of this invention is sturdily constructed and is designed for easier entry and exit than the standard A-frame picnic table, in addition to being pivotable. 
     At least two table braces  21  are fastened to the underside of the table top  22 , perpendicular to the length of the table top  22  and at equal distances from the ends of the table top  22 . 
     At least two seat braces  19  are fastened to the underside of each seat  18 , perpendicular to the length of the seat  18  and at equal distances from the ends of the seat  18 . The distance between the seat braces  19  is equal to the distance between the table braces  21  since the seats  18  are the same length as the table top  22 . 
     One end of one table support  20  is fastened perpendicularly to one leg set brace  17  at the center. Two seat supports  16  are fastened to a leg set brace  17 , one at each end and perpendicular to the leg set brace  17 . This assembly is the leg set  28 . 
     Each leg set  28  can then be attached to the table top  22  by fastening the top end of the table support  20  to the side of the table brace  21 . Each seat  18  is attached to each leg set  28  by fastening the top end of the seat support  16  to the side of the seat brace  19 . 
     For added stability, a plurality of stabilizing braces  23  are provided. One stabilizing brace  23  is fastened to each table support  20  and the table top  22 . One stabilizing brace  23  is fastened to each seat support  16  and the seat  18 , as shown in FIG.  3 . 
     A cross-member  24  has a through-hole  25  at its center. The cross-member  24  is fastened at each end to the bottom end of each table support  20  perpendicular to each table support  20  and in a plane parallel to the table top  22 . 
     One caster  27  is fastened to the bottom end of each seat support  16 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the Picnic Table  2  is situated on a deck or slab and a hole is made the same diameter as the through-hole  25 . The pivot pin  26  is then slid through the hole  25  of the cross-member  24  and into the hole in the deck or slab. This enables the entire Picnic Table  2  to easily pivot around the pivot pin  26  on the casters  27 . 
     When the Adjustable Canopy  1  is combined with the Pivotable Picnic Table  2 , there is an unlimited range of positions to block the elements regardless of the direction it originates from. 
     While the above description contains specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of this invention, but rather as an example of one preferred embodiment thereof. Variations are possible, for example, a longer picnic table may need a third leg set for center support, a third hoop, and a third hoop guide on each rib. Some materials used for the cover may not need rib caps, but may be directly fastened to the ribs. For use on standard A-frame picnic tables, a pair of wood blocks for each hoop can have hoop receivers drilled and those blocks can be fastened to the frame or underneath the seats at the distance apart corresponding to the hoop guides on the ribs. 
     Accordingly, the scope of this invention should be determined not by the embodiment illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalent. 
     Having thus described the aforementioned invention.