Portable table and umbrella shade assembly

Abstract

The portable table and umbrella shade assembly is an easily transportable combination umbrella and table, which is collapsible and adapted for support on a variety of differing support surfaces. The assembly includes a main tubular pole having opposed open upper and lower ends and a stand pole, removably received within an interior of the main tubular pole. A lower end of an umbrella pole is removably received within an interior of the stand pole, and an umbrella shade is secured to an upper end thereof. A stake is provided, with an upper end thereof being adapted for releasable attachment to the lower end of the main tubular pole. A base stand is also adapted for releasable attachment to the lower end of the main tubular pole. The stake and the base stand are interchangeable. A collapsible table is mounted on the main tubular pole, adjacent the open upper end thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/193,845, filed Dec. 30, 2008.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to lawn or beach furniture, and particularly to a portable table and umbrella shade assembly that is lightweight and easy to set up.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Often, users find it desirable to have a table with a detachable umbrella used to provide shade during leisure outdoor activities. Such a table is preferably lightweight, easy to transport, and requires little effort to set up. It would be desirable for such a table to be foldable and easy to carry. Foldable tables are well known in the art. However, such tables typically do not provide versatile usage, including a detachable umbrella that may be used for a wide range of outdoor activities, such as fishing, beach usage, or other outdoor activities. Further, such tables are typically adapted only for a single usage, or a limited range of usages, such as one of the above, and are not easily used for other activities, such as, for example, simply sitting and enjoying the outdoors.

Tables are used for a wide variety of functions, such as the placement and support of various articles, such as fishing tackle, food, or refreshments, for example. For such purposes, an additional umbrella is useful for providing shade. For these purposes, and similar uses, an easily transportable table is desirable. Typically, though, foldable tables are awkward to carry, having legs hinged to the top of the table, and are not fully foldable. Further, such tables typically do not have a detachable umbrella, requiring a separate bag or other carrying case for transportation and storage.

Thus, a portable table and umbrella shade assembly solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The portable table and umbrella shade assembly is an easily transportable combination umbrella and table, which is collapsible and adapted for support on a variety of differing support surfaces. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly includes a main tubular pole having opposed open upper and lower ends and a stand pole, removably received within an interior of the main tubular pole. An upper end of the stand pole projects outwardly from the open upper end of the main tubular pole.

A lower end of an umbrella pole is removably received within an interior of the stand pole, and an umbrella shade is secured to an upper end thereof. A stake, having opposed upper and lower ends, is further provided, with the upper end thereof being adapted for releasable attachment to the open lower end of the main tubular pole. The lower end thereof is adapted for insertion into the ground. A base stand is additionally provided and is also adapted for releasable attachment to the open lower end of the main tubular pole. The stake and the base stand are interchangeable, depending upon the particular nature of the support surface. A collapsible table is mounted on the main tubular pole, adjacent the open upper end thereof.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of a portable table and umbrella shade assembly according to the present invention, configured for use with a soft ground surface.

FIG. 2 is an environmental, perspective view of the portable table and umbrella shade assembly configured for use with a hard support surface.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the portable table configured as in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the portable table configured as in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the portable table and umbrella shade assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the portable table and umbrella shade assembly of FIG. 1, shown in a collapsed state.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the portable table and umbrella shade assembly of FIG. 1, shown in a collapsed state and from the side opposite FIG. 5.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a portable table and umbrella shade assembly, generally indicated as 10 in FIGS. 1-6. As will be described in detail below, the assembly 10 is relatively lightweight and easy to put together. The assembly 10 is small enough to be packed with luggage, and light enough to be carried easily to most locations. The assembly 10, as described hereinafter, may be used in a wide variety of environments and for a wide variety of functions. In the following embodiments, four specific examples of usage are described, although it should be understood that the assembly 10 may be used in any desired environment and for any desired purpose.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, the assembly 10 includes a main tubular pole 12. The main tubular pole 12 is preferably hollow and has two alignment holes 14, 16 formed therethrough. Further, a stand pole 18 is partially telescopically positioned within the main tubular pole 12, as shown. As best shown in FIG. 1, the upper, exposed portion of the stand pole 18 has a latching mechanism 20 affixed thereto.

The assembly 10 further includes a shade-providing umbrella 22 with an attached umbrella pole 24. The umbrella pole 24 extends from the umbrella 22 and is received within the exposed section of the stand pole 18, as shown, where it is releasably secured to stand pole 18 by the latching mechanism 20 during assembly. The latch mechanism 20 prevents unwanted movement of the umbrella 22 during usage thereof.

The assembly 10 further includes an attachable, circular folding table 26. The table 26 includes a central aperture 28 for detachably receiving the main tubular pole 12 during assembly. The table 26 is formed from two semicircular halves 30, 32. The right half 30 is pivotally secured to the left half 32 by a pair of piano hinges 34, 36, as seen in FIG. 6, which are positioned on either side of the central aperture 28. Hinges 34, 36 are preferably secured to the lower surface 38 of the table 26. The piano hinges 34, 36 are provided for facilitating the folding of the circular table 26 into the two equally matching halves 30, 32 for easy storage and transportation. The piano hinges 34, 36 are preferably relatively long, narrow rectangular hinges with a small-diameter pin running the entire length of the joint, although it should be understood that any suitable type of pivotal attachment may be utilized. The piano hinges 34, 36, following the joining of the two equally matching halves 30, 32, provide support for the circular table 26.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of aligning holes 40, 41, 42, 43 are formed through table 26. Although any suitable number of holes 40 may be formed through table 26, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a pair of holes 40, 41 are formed through right half 30, and a symmetric pair of holes 42, 43 are formed through the left half 32 of the table 26. The holes 40, 41, 42, 43 are preferably equally spaced across the table 26, above the pair of piano hinges 34, 36. When the table 26 is folded, the holes 40, 41 on the right half 30 align with the two holes 42, 43, aligning in turn with the two aligning holes 14, 16 formed through the tubular main pole 12 (shown in FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 5, a pair of alignment bolts 44, 45 with wing nut fasteners, or any other suitable type of releasable fastener, is used to align and secure the main pole 12 to the right half 30 of the folded table 26 when being secured for transportation or storage. Bolts 44 is inserted through hole 14 and also through holes 41, 43, and bolt 45 is similarly inserted through hole 16, and also through holes 40, 42, thus releasably securing the main pole 12 to the folded table 26 during transport or storage thereof.

The main pole 12 has a further center hole 48 formed therethrough, positioned between the two alignment holes 14, 16. This center hole 48 receives wing bolt 50, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. The wing bolt 50 removably screws into main pole 12, with a wing bolt chain 51 attaching to the wing bolt 50 and to the main tubular pole 12. The wing bolt chain 51 tethers the wing bolt 50 to the main tubular pole 12 so that the wing bolt 50 does not accidentally get lost.

Wing bolt 50 is provided so that, when the stand pole 18 is telescopically received within the main tubular pole 12, the wing bolt 50 acts as a stop or resting place for the stand pole 18 so that the remainder of the stand pole 18 (i.e., the upper portion having the latch mechanism 20) will be exposed and able to receive the umbrella pole 24. Further, wing bolt 50 is also provided to hold a ground stake 52, which is held inside of the main pole 12. The wing bolt 50 stops the stake 52 from moving within the interior of the main tubular pole 12 during storage and transportation.

In the examples of FIGS. 1 and 3A, the assembly 10 is adapted for anchoring in a soft surface 53, such as a sandy surface, with the ground stake 52. The ground stake 52 has a threaded upper end 54 for attaching to an internally threaded bore in the bottom 56 of the main tubular pole 12, along with a sharpened end 55 for anchoring the portable table and umbrella shade assembly 10 into the soft surface 53.

The stake 52 may also include a pin or tapered top to drive the stake into harder ground surfaces, such as dirt, grass, or loose-earth type material. Stake 52 is preferably telescopically received in the main tubular pole 12 and held in place by the wing bolt 50 for storage and transportation. As shown in FIG. 3A, during storage, a main tubular pole cap 58 is preferably mounted on an upper end of the main pole 12. Cap 58 may be internally threaded for engaging threads formed on the upper end of main pole 12, or may be secured thereto by any other suitable type of releasable fastener. A shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a cap chain 61 may be provided for tethering the cap 58 to the main pole 12 to prevent accidental separation thereof.

As noted previously, the umbrella 22 and the umbrella pole 24 are removable. In FIG. 1, the umbrella pole 24 is shown inserted within the stand pole 18, which is received within the main pole 12. In FIG. 3A, the umbrella 22, the umbrella pole 24 and the stand pole 18 are not used. The main tubular pole cap 58 is screwed onto the main tubular pole 12 at the top threaded end thereof to seal the main tubular pole 12, thus providing a conventional table.

In FIGS. 2 and 3B, the assembly 10 is placed on a hard level surface 62 with a ground stand 63. In FIG. 2, the umbrella pole 24 is shown inserted within the stand pole 18, which is received within the main pole 12. In FIG. 3B, the umbrella 22, the umbrella pole 24 and the stand pole 18 are not used. The main tubular pole cap 58 is screwed onto the main tubular pole 12 at the top threaded end thereof to seal the main tubular pole 12, thus providing a conventional table.

The ground stand 63 has a threaded stud end 64 for attaching to the internally threaded bore in the bottom 56 of the main tubular pole 12 for supporting the portable table and umbrella shade assembly 10 on the hard level surface 64. The stand 63 is round and slightly smaller in circumference and diameter than the table 26 so that chairs can be comfortably used around the table 26. It should be noted that the stand 63 is separate from the assembly 10 when the assembly 10 is folded and transported or stored. Thus, the ground stand 63 is an optional feature, and may be carried separately.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a pair of washers 66, 68 are mounted about the main tubular pole 12, at the threaded top end thereof. When the assembly 10 is used with the umbrella 22, the umbrella pole 24, and the stand pole 18, such as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washer 66 is removed and the table 26 is placed over the non-removable washer 68 through the central aperture 28. The non-removable washer 68 is wider than the central aperture 28, so that the table 26 will be supported on the non-removable washer 68. Following this placement, the removable washer 66 is screwed and tightened down on the threaded end of the main pole 12 so that the two washers 66, 68 sandwich the table 12 at the central aperture 28, with the removable washer 66 on top of the table 26 and the non-removable washer 68 under the table 26. Thus, the two washers 66, 68 anchor and support the table 26 during use.

Similarly, when the assembly 10 is used without the umbrella 22, the umbrella pole 24 and the stand pole 18, such as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the removable washer 66 is removed and the table 26 is placed over the non-removable washer 68 through the central aperture 28. The non-removable washer 68 is wider than the central aperture 28, so the table 26 will be supported on the non-removable washer 68. Next, the removable washer 66 is screwed and tightened down on the threaded end 60 of the main pole 12 so that the two washers 66, 68 sandwich the table 12 at the central aperture 28 with the removable washer 66 on top of the table 26 and the non-removable washer 68 under the table 26. Thereafter, the main tubular cap 58 is tightened down on the threaded top end 60 of the main tubular pole 12, providing further support for the table 12. The two washers 66, 68 and the cap 58 anchor and support the table 26 during use.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, each of the two halves 30, 32 of the table 22 preferably have hand-receiving openings 70, 72, respectively, formed therethrough. The hand-receiving openings 70, 72 are preferably formed symmetric with respect to each other, and are positioned in alignment to with the central aperture 28 of the table 26. The hand-receiving openings 70, 72 are located near the outer edge of each of the table halves 30, 32, as shown. The hand-receiving openings 70, 72 are provided for assisting in transportation of the portable table and umbrella shade assembly 10.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a pair of straps 74, 76 may be used to secure the umbrella 22 and the pole 24, along with stand pole 18, and the main pole 12 to the right half 30 of table 26 for transporting and storage. The straps 74, 76 are shown as being attached or secured to the right half 30, so that during use they are not misplaced. The left half 32, shown in FIG. 6, is clear of any of the parts of the assembly 10 in order to prevent damage to the assembly 10.

To set up the portable table and umbrella shade assembly 10, the straps 74, 76 are first unfastened. The straps 74, 76 can be attached to the main pole 12 to prevent misplacement thereof during use. Next, the umbrella 22 and the pole 24, stand pole 18, and the main pole 12 are removed. The main cap 58 is unscrewed from the main pole 12 and the ground stake 52 is removed from within the main pole 12. The ground stake 52 is screwed into the bottom end 56 of the main pole 12. The sharpened end 55 of the ground stake 52 is then inserted into the soft surface 53. Following this, the removable washer 66 is unscrewed from the top end 60 of the main pole 12.

The table 26 is then unfolded and the central aperture 28 of the table 26 is placed over top end of the main pole 12. The removable washer 66 is then screwed back on the top end of the main pole 12 to secure the table 26 over the non-removable washer 68. Next, the stand pole 18 is telescopically placed within the upper end of the main pole 12. The wing bolt 50 stops the stand pole 18 from moving further within pole 12, and secures the stand pole 18 into position with the latch mechanism 20 being exposed. The latch mechanism 20 is pulled up to receive the umbrella pole 24. The umbrella pole 24 is telescopically placed inside the latch mechanism 20 of the stand pole 18. The latch mechanism 20 is then pulled down to secure the umbrella pole 24.

In the above, the example of FIG. 3A was described, with the table assembly being used with the soft surface of FIG. 1. A similar procedure for set up of the assembly 10 is performed using the stand 63 on the hard level surface 62. In this example, ground stake 52 remains in storage in the main pole 12, allowing stand 63 to be screwed onto the lower end of pole 12.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable table and umbrella shade assembly, comprising:

a main tubular pole having opposed open upper and lower ends;

a stand pole telescopically received within an interior of the main tubular pole with an upper end of the stand pole projecting outwardly from the open upper end of the main tubular pole;

an umbrella pole having opposed upper and lower ends, the lower end thereof being telescopically received within an interior of the stand pole;

an umbrella shade secured to the upper end of the umbrella pole;

a support removably attached to the open lower end of the main tubular pole; and

a collapsible table mounted on the main tubular pole adjacent the open upper end of the main tubular pole.

2. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said support comprises a stake having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end thereof being releasably attached to the open lower end of said main tubular pole, the lower end of the stake being adapted for insertion into the ground.

3. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for releasably securing said stand pole within said main tubular pole.

4. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 3, further comprising means for releasably securing said stake within the interior of said main tubular pole when the stake is not in use.

5. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said means for releasably securing said stand pole within said main tubular pole and said means for releasably securing said stake within the interior of said main tubular pole comprise a bolt removably received through an aperture formed through a central portion of said main tubular pole.

6. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 4, further comprising a base stand removably attached to the open lower end of said main tubular pole when the stake is not in use.

7. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said collapsible table comprises first and second support surfaces pivotally attached to one another.

8. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said collapsible table has a central aperture formed therethrough for receiving the open upper end of the main tubular pole.

9. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 8, further comprising a first washer permanently fixed about the upper end of the main tubular pole, a lower surface of the collapsible table being supported on the first washer.

10. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising a second washer removably received on the upper end of the main tubular pole and releasably contacting an upper surface of the collapsible table, the collapsible table being releasably sandwiched therebetween.

11. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 10, further comprising means for releasably securing the first and second support surfaces to the main tubular pole in a collapsed configuration.

12. A portable table and umbrella shade assembly, comprising:

a main tubular pole having opposed open upper and lower ends;

a stand pole telescopically received within an interior of the main tubular pole, an upper end of the stand pole projecting outwardly from the open upper end of the main tubular pole;

an umbrella pole having opposed upper and lower ends, the lower end thereof being telescopically received within an interior of the stand pole;

an umbrella shade attached to the upper end of the umbrella pole;

a stake having opposed upper and lower ends, the upper end of the stake being adapted for releasable attachment to the open lower end of the main tubular pole, the lower end of the stake being adapted for insertion into the ground;

a base stand adapted for releasable attachment to the open lower end of the main tubular pole, the stake and the base stand being interchangeable; and

a collapsible table mounted on the main tubular pole adjacent the open upper end thereof.

13. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 12, further comprising means for releasably securing said stand pole within said main tubular pole.

14. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 13, further comprising means for releasably securing said stake within the interior of said main tubular pole when the stake is not in use.

15. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for releasably securing said stand pole within said main tubular pole and said means for releasably securing said stake within the interior of said main tubular pole comprise a bolt removably received through an aperture formed through a central portion of said main tubular pole.

16. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said collapsible table comprises first and second support surfaces pivotally attached to one another.

17. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 16, wherein said collapsible table has a central aperture formed therethrough for receiving the open upper end of the main tubular pole.

18. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 17, further comprising a first washer permanently fixed about the upper end of the main tubular pole, a lower surface of the collapsible table being supported on the first washer.

19. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 18, further comprising a second washer removably received on the upper end of the main tubular pole and releasably contacting an upper surface of the collapsible table, the collapsible table being releasably s sandwiched therebetween.

20. The portable table and umbrella shade assembly as recited in claim 19, further comprising means for releasably securing the first and second support surfaces to the main tubular pole in a collapsed configuration.