Clay table

Abstract

An apparatus for use by children for playing with at least one of clay, play dough, sand and water. The apparatus comprises a table having each of a predetermined shape, a top and at least three legs. Such top has a raised edge disposed around a perimeter of top, such raised edge having each of a predetermined thickness and a predetermined depth. There is a recessed portion in the top disposed substantially in a center portion of the top and an aperture formed through a bottom wall of such recessed portion of such table. A container member is engageable within the recessed portion for containing such one of such clay and such play dough.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/689,015 filed Jun. 08, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a play table, and, more particularly, the present invention relates to a play table for use with play clay material providing easy and convenient clean up.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Children love to play with play dough; however, when children play with such material some of the clay tends to fall on the floor and get into the carpet or is stepped on by the children or parents and such clay gets carried into other areas. Such clay material can create a mess.

Clean up of the play dough also often presents a problem for parents or supervisors of the children. It would be advantageous if there were a table that could be used that would keep the clay material on the table without having it fall on the floor and have a table that would make clean up easy and convenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus for use by children for playing with at least one of clay, play dough, sand and water. The apparatus comprises a table having each of a predetermined shape, a top and at least three legs. Such top has a raised edge disposed around a perimeter of top, such raised edge having each of a predetermined thickness and a predetermined depth. There is a recessed portion in the top disposed substantially in a center portion of the top and an aperture formed through a bottom wall of such recessed portion of such table. A container member is engageable within the recessed portion for containing such one of such clay and such play dough.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a table that would solve the problem of clay and play dough falling onto the floor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container for storing such clay and play dough so as to keep them in one place rather than in different cans or jars.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a recessed area in the top of the table for holding the container.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a plug for the bottom of the recessed ara for use when playing with water or sand.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention showing the raised sides of the table.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing storage trays being hung from the sides of the table top.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the recessed area with a plug in the bottom of the recess.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 showing the recessed area with the plug removed and the strainer in the bottom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

In a first aspect the present invention provides an apparatus, generally designated 10, for use by children for playing with at least one of clay, play dough, sand and water. The apparatus 10 comprises a table, generally designated 20. Such table 20 has each of a predetermined shape, a top 2 and at least three legs 4. Such top 2 has a raised edge 6 disposed around a perimeter of the top 2, such raised edge 6 having each of a predetermined thickness and a predetermined depth. There is a recessed portion 8 in the top 2 disposed substantially in a center portion of the top 2 and an aperture 12 formed through a bottom wall of such recessed portion of such table 20. A container member 14 is engageable within the recessed portion 8 for containing such one of such clay and such play dough. Such container member 14 includes a lid 15 for sealing the container 14. The container member 14 is sealed with the lid 15 and can be used for storing such one of such clay and such play dough so as to prevent such clay and such play dough from drying out. The container member 14 is large enough so as to store all of the clay or play dough in one place rather than have them kept in different small cans or jars. Such container member 14 is substantially cylindrical and is about 10 inches in height and has a diameter of approximately 10 inches and fits snugly into such recessed portion 8.

It is presently preferred that such predetermined shape for the table 20 is substantially rectangular and it is also preferred that such table 20 have four legs 4, one of the legs 4 being disposed at each corner of the substantially rectangular table 20. It is also preferred that such legs 4 be removable for easy storage of the table 20.

The aperture 12 is disposed in the bottom of such recessed portion 8. The aperture 12 that is disposed in the bottom wall of the recessed portion 8 of such top 2 further includes the plug 18 that is disposed in the bottom of such recessed portion 8 for sealing the aperture 12 when the apparatus 10 is used for playing with such sand or water. The plug 18 is made of rubber and seals the opening so that such sand or water is kept on the table but the plug 18 is removed when it is time to drain the water or sand from the table and clean up.

Such apparatus 10 further includes at least one storage tray 22 that is engageable with the raised edge 6 for storing of any play tools that might be used. Such storage tray 22 is formed with a lip portion 24 for removably mounting the storage tray 22 on the raised edge 6 of the top 2. Such lip portion 24 has an opening which is sufficiently wide so as to fit over the predetermined thickness of the raised edge 6 of top 2 and thus permit the storage tray 22 to hang from the raised edge 6. It is also preferred that there are a plurality of storage trays 22. It would be desirable if there were a storage tray for each child playing at the table.

Such table top and legs are formed of plastic and it is preferred that such plastic be molded.

The predetermined depth of the raised edge 8 is between about 2.75 inches and about 4.5 inches and even more preferred that such raised edge be between about 3 inches and about 4 inches. Such table is substantially 48 inches in length and 36 inches in width which is large enough for several children to play together at the same time.

While a presently preferred embodiment and alternate embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above, it should be understood that various other adaptations and/or modifications of the invention can be made by those persons who are particularly skilled in the art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use by children for playing with at least one of clay, play dough, sand and water, said apparatus comprises:

(a) a table having each of a predetermined shape, a top and at least three legs;

(b) a raised edge disposed around a perimeter of said top, said raised edge having each of a predetermined thickness and a predetermined depth;

(c) a recessed portion in said top disposed substantially in a center portion of said top;

(d) an aperture formed through a bottom wall of said recessed portion of said table; and

(e) a container member engageable within said recessed portion for containing such one of such clay and such play dough.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined shape is substantially rectangular.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said table has four legs, one of said legs being disposed at each corner of said substantially rectangular table.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said legs are removable for easy storage.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said container further includes a lid for sealing said container.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein said aperture disposed in said bottom wall of said recessed portion of said top further includes a plug disposed in said bottom of said recessed portion for sealing said aperture when said apparatus is used for playing with such sand and water.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 6, wherein said plug is removed to permit such water and sand to drain from said table.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said table further includes at least one storage tray engageable with said raised edge for storing of play tools.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said storage tray is formed with a lip portion for removably mounting said storage tray on said raised edge of said table top.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 9, wherein said lip portion has an opening which is sufficiently wide so as to fit over said predetermined thickness of said raised edge of said table top and thus permit said storage tray to hang from said raised edge.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said table top is formed of plastic.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said plastic is molded.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said legs are formed of plastic.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 5, wherein said container member is sealed with said lid and is used for storing such one of such clay and such play dough so as to prevent such clay and such play dough from drying out.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined depth of said raised edge is between about 2.75 inches and about 4.5 inches.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein said predetermined depth of said raised edge is between about 3 inches and about 4 inches.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said apparatus further includes a plurality of storage trays.

18. The apparatus, according to claim 2, wherein said apparatus is substantially 48 inches in length and 36 inches in width.

19. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said container member is substantially cylindrical and is about 10 inches in height and has a diameter of approximately 10 inches.