Containment Systems for Folding Leg Tables

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Embodiments of systems in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

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;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the containment system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a containment system for a table in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the containment system of FIG. 3;

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;

FIG. 6 is a second side (or bottom) elevational view of the containment system of FIG. 5 in a closed position; and

FIG. 7 is a second side (or bottom) elevational view of the containment system of FIG. 5 in an open position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Manner and Process for Making

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.

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.

Manner and Process for Using

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.

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.

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.

Claims

1. A containment system for a folding leg table, comprising:

first and second side panels attached along a lower portion of a perimeter edge, and selectively openable along an upper portion of the perimeter edge by a coupling device, the first and second side panels defining an interior region therebetween that is configured to receive the folding leg table; and

elongated carrying handles 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 being configured about the perimeter edge in the manner of a stirrup.

2. The containment system of claim 1, wherein the first and second side panels comprise first and second oval-shaped panels.

3. The containment system of claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises at least one of a zipper and a hook and loop fastening system.

4. The containment system of claim 1, wherein the first side panel includes a flap extending inwardly from a first end of the first side panel, the flap being detachable from a remaining portion of the first side panel and foldable to provide access to the interior region.

5. The containment system of claim 4, wherein the flap comprises an approximately wedge-shaped flap.

6. The containment system of claim 1, further comprising an elongated perimeter piece coupled between the first and second panels along at least a portion of the perimeter edge, the interior region being bounded by the first and second panels and the perimeter piece.