Table with waste receptacle
A table with waste receptacle(s) removably positionable in one or more openings formed in the tabletop. The waste receptacle(s) may be a mesh bag lined with liquid impermeable bag for retaining seafood shells and other such waste. A cover is provided for each opening to close the opening and to allow use of the table as conventional dining table or work surface.
The present invention relates to tables, and more particularly to a dining table, which provides diners with an easy access to a waste disposal receptacle.
Dining and picnic tables are usually configured with a homogenous top surface made of rigid material, such as wood, plastic and the like. The portable category tables usually have foldable or detachable legs that allow transportation of the table to a picnic site, beach or other temporary dining area.
In many areas where seafood is abundant, residents and tourists consume large amounts of shell seafood, such as small crustaceans, oysters, mollusks and other the like. It is not uncommon to see a dozen pounds of crawfish or oysters to be consumed at one sitting. Natural consequence of the food consumption is the creation of large amounts of waste in the form of shells, broken crab legs, and the like. The waste accumulates on the table surface making it uncomfortable for the diners to continue bringing more food to the table.
There exists, therefore, a need for a table that could be easily cleaned, without polluting the environment while removing the waste in a sanitary and expeditious manner from the top of the dining table.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a table that can be used for dining at a variety of locations, both formal and informal.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dining table that can be easily transported to a desired location and set up in an easy and expeditious manner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dining table with a waste receptacle to allow continuous cleaning and removal of the waste from the table surface.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved through a provision of through a provision of a table having a table top supported by one or more supporting legs. The legs may be adjusted in length by modular segments. The table top is provided with one or more openings, within which a waste receptacle is removably suspended. The waste receptacle is made of mesh material and forms a bag, which may be lined with a liquid impermeable bag to retain any waste liquid within the waste receptacle.
The table top may be formed as a single piece or as a foldable top, which folds along a center line. The fold edges of each table top half have a fold line. A plurality of openings are formed along the fold line in the vertical edge of the table portions for receiving securing pins, which facilitate retaining of the table top in a stable position when the top is unfolded. A flexible strip is detachably positionable along the fold line on the bottom of the table top to further ensure stability of the unfolded table top.
Each opening of the table top is provided with a removable cover, which when installed over the opening, extends flush with the table top upper surface. As a result, the table may be used as a conventional table or as a table with waste receptacle for retaining shells, broken crab legs and other such waste.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSReference will now be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein
Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the table in accordance with the present invention. As can be seen in the drawings, the table 10 comprises a table top 12 supported by a plurality of upright legs 14. The tabletop 12 has an upper surface 16 and a bottom surface 18. At least one opening 20 is formed through the tabletop 12 extending from the top surface 16 to the bottom surface 18. In the embodiment shown in
Each opening 20 and 22 is defined by a large diameter upper part 24 (
Each of the openings 20 and 22 is selectively closed with a cover 30. The cover 30 has an upper portion 32, which is configured to fit within the respective opening 20 or 22 and cover the upper part 24 of the opening. The cover 30 also has a smaller size portion 34, which is configured to fit within the lower part 26 of the opening 20 or 22. The upper portion 32 of the cover 30 fits flush with the upper surface 16 of the tabletop 12, while resting on the lip 28. The lower portion 34 of the cover 30 extends between the lip 28 and the bottom surface 18, with a bottom surface 36 of the cover 30 extending generally flush with the bottom surface 18 of the tabletop 12.
Each cover 30 is provided with a pair of locking latches 40 secured to a support bar 38 fixedly attached to the bottom 36 of the cover 30. The support bar 38 extends across the bottom surface 36 of the cover 30. The latches 40 move pivotally about axis A (
When the covers 30 are fitted into the tabletop 12, the top surfaces of the covers 30 extend in a generally co-planar relationship to the top surface 16 of the table top 12. The table 10 can then be used as a regular table, covered with a table cloth or left uncovered and used for dining, as a work surface, or for any other desired activity. When the covers 30 are removed, the openings 20 and 22 are uncovered, allowing access to waste receptacles secured to the table top 12.
The tabletop 12 may be formed as a unitary top, similar to the top shown in
To further ensure structural strength of the tabletop 12 when in an unfolded position, the present invention provides for the use of securing pins 52 (
Turning now to
A schematic orientation and position of the hooks 60 in a larger size opening 20 is also illustrated in
Each waste receptacle 64 or 66 is formed as a mesh bag provided with reinforcement rings 68 about an upper peripheral edge 70 of the bag. The reinforcement rings 68 define openings 72 which are suitable for engaging with the hooks 60 and suspending the bags 64, 66 within the openings 20 and 22, respectively. As can be seen in
The height of the tabletop 12 from the base surface of the floor or ground can the adjusted by the modular legs 14. Each leg 14 has a top part 80 provided with a threaded upper end 82 which engages within an opening 84 formed in the bottom surface 18 in each corner of the tabletop 12. The openings 84 have internal threads (not shown) that match the threads in the upper end 82 of the top part 80 of the leg 14. If the tabletop 12 needs to be elevated to, for instance, a bar top level, the modular legs 14 can be extended with the use of a bottom part 86 which attaches to the top part 80 through a connector 88. The bottom part 86, similarly to the top part 80 is provided with a threaded upper end 90, which fits into an opening 92 formed in the bottom of the connector 88. The opening 92 is formed with inner threads (not shown) to match the engaging threads of the upper end 90 of the leg part 86.
The connector 88 is similarly provided with a threaded end 94, which is designed to engage threads formed in the opening 96 of the top part 80 of the leg 14. As can be seen in
Of course, the shape of the tabletop 12 and the number of legs 14 for each table 10 can differ, depending on the design of the table. The tabletop 12 may be made round or triangular, depending on the design of choice, and the number of openings 22 can range from one and more. In some cases, it may be preferred to have one central opening 20 on the table, especially if the table has a small size, allowing a small number of people to sit around the table and use the same waste receptacle. A large size table suitable for accommodating a greater number of people may be provided with five openings 20,22, similarly to the embodiment shown in
If desired, a reinforcement border 100 can be made above the periphery of the tabletop 12 to further enhance structural integrity of the table. It is envisioned that for a table having a size of about three feet per one side, the openings 22 can be made six inches wide, and the opening 20 can be made 12 inches in size. Of course the dimensions of the openings will differ depending on the overall size and scale of the table. The height of the table can be adjusted anywhere between 18 inches to 30 inches or greater as desired by a particular manufacturer.
The table 10 may be used in a restaurant or less formal setting, with a non-foldable embodiment of the tabletop 12 perhaps being more desirable for a restaurant setting. A portable version with a foldable tabletop 12 is envisioned for use in less formal settings, such as picnics, beaches, parks, etc. When the table 10 is used for meals that do not involve disposal of large amounts of shells, crab legs and the like, it is envisioned that covers 30 can be used to form a uniform, uninterrupted planar surface. In such cases, the waste receptacles 64 and 66 would not be used and the tabletop 12 may be covered with a tablecloth to conceal the covers and the openings.
When transporting the table to the beach or picnic area, the legs 14 may be completely disengaged and stored next to the tabletop 12, which can be folded for ease of transportation and placed in a trunk of a car or in a truck bed.
Many other changes and modifications may be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. We, therefore, pray that our rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A table positionable on a base surface, comprising:
- a tabletop provided with at least one opening,
- a waste receptacle detachably secured within said at lest one opening,
- an opening cover for selectively covering said at least one opening; and
- an adjustable support means secured to the table top for supporting said table top at a pre-determined height above the base surface.
2. The table of claim 1, wherein said table top is comprised of foldable portions hingedly connected to each other along a center line of the tabletop.
3. The table of claim 2, wherein each of said table portions has a fold edge carrying a hinge, and wherein a bottom portion of the fold edge has an inclined surface.
4. The table of claim 2, further comprising a means to facilitate retaining said foldable portions in an unfolded position.
5. The table of claim 3, wherein said means to facilitate retaining said foldable portions in an unfolded position comprise a plurality of pins detachably engageable within openings formed along fold edges of the table top portions when the openings are aligned with the table top portions in an unfolded position.
6. The table of claim 3, wherein said means to facilitate retaining said foldable portions in an unfolded position comprises an elongated flexible strip engageable with a bottom surface of the table top along a fold line of the table top portions.
7. The table of claim 1, wherein said at least one opening has an upper part and a smaller size lower part, and wherein a peripheral lip is formed between the upper part and the lower part.
8. The table of claim 7, wherein said cover is provided with an upper portion configured to fit within the upper part of said at least one opening and extend flush with a top surface of the table top, and a lower portion configured to fit within the lower part of the opening.
9. The table of claim 8, wherein said lower portion of the cover carries at least one latch movable between an open position allowing removal of said cover from the opening, and a closed position, extending below a bottom surface of the table top outside of the opening and preventing removal of the cover from the table top.
10. The table of claim 1, wherein a plurality of waste receptacle engaging members are secured to the table top within said at lest one opening.
11. The table of claim 10, wherein said waste receptacle comprises a mesh bag having an upper edge adapted for securing with said waste receptacle engaging members.
12. The table of claim 10, wherein said waste receptacle engaging members comprise hook-shaped members with hook portions extending inwardly into said at least one opening.
13. The table of claim 1, wherein said table top is provided with a plurality of openings, and wherein a waste receptacle is detachably secured within each of said openings.
14. The table of claim 1, wherein said adjustable support means comprises a plurality of supporting legs detachably engageable with the table top, and where each of said support legs can be selectively extended in length upon demand.
15. A table positionable on a base surface, comprising:
- a table top provided with at least one opening formed within said table top,
- a waste receptacle removably received within said at lest one opening and suspended on engaging members extending along a periphery of said at least one opening;
- an opening cover selectively disposed over said at least one opening; and
- adjustable supporting legs secured to the table top for supporting said table top at a pre-determined height above the base surface.
16. The table of claim 15, wherein said cover has an upper surface, which extends flush in a co-planar relationship to a top table upper surface when the cover is engaged to cover said at least one opening.
17. The table of claim 15, wherein said table top is provided with a plurality of openings, each opening receiving a waste receptacle.
18. The table of claim 15, wherein said table top comprises a recessed lip formed within said at least one opening, wherein said cover rests on said lip when engaged to cover said at least one opening.
19. The table of claim 15, wherein said cover is provided with a latch means for selectively securing the cover to said tabletop.
20. The table of claim 15, wherein said waste receptacle comprises a flexible mesh bag secured across said at least one opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 17, 2004
Publication Date: Sep 22, 2005
Inventors: Elgin Robinson (New Orleans, LA), Rosita Robinson (New Orleans, LA)
Application Number: 10/802,376