LEVELING TABLE TOP

Abstract

Improvements in a leveling table top are disclosed. The adjustable leveling table top comprises a lower platform having a bottom portion and a top portion and an upper platform with a locking adjustable swivel mechanism centrally affixed there between. The upper and lower platforms are further coupled through sliding arms affixed to the left and right sides, wherein both sides have two sliding arms. The lower platform has a plurality of legs extending therefrom, and the upper platform has a bubble level. To create a level surface, the leveling table top is placed so that the legs engage a desired surface the upper platform is manipulated around the swivel mechanism while the lower platform remains stationary, upon reaching a sufficiently level position for the upper platform as determined by the bubble level, the swivel mechanism and the sliding arms are locked.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/745,760 filed Dec. 24, 2012 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to improvements in a leveling table top. More particularly, the present leveling table top provides a working surface that is adjustable to provide a level working surface when the underlying surface is not level. Once the working surface is leveled a plurality of legs can be locked into place to create a rigid firm surface that can accommodate loads placed at nearly any location on the working surface.

2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

For many reasons a person needs level surface. The need for a level surface can be for a variety of reasons including but not limited to working with a scale, working with liquids, cooking or hobbies. In many locations the user is forced to work on uneven ground or on a surface that is not level. The need is usually temporary, but can extend for a period of time depending upon the circumstances. Determining level is usually performed with one or more bubble levels to determine the level surface. While determining the level surface is not particularly difficult, but fixing the surface to allow the user to perform the desired surface is a greater challenge.

A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this /these problem(s) are identified and discussed below.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,182 issued on Jul. 26, 1994 for Sandor F. Weisz et al., discloses an Adjustable Leveling Foot Assembly. This patent uses four discreet adjustable feet that are placed on each of the four corners of a platform. Each foot has a threaded screw that is raised or lowered to level the assembly. This patent does not allow for a quick adjustment of all the supports simultaneously and then lock the supports.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,053 issued on Apr. 21, 1987 to Edwin S. Holley discloses a Tiltable Mount. The mount uses a semi-sphere in a socket. A user unlocks the two components and, adjusts the relative angle between the two components then squeezes the semi-sphere into the socket. While this allows for a leveling adjustment, all of the locking forces exist in the center of the mount. If a user applies force to one side of the mount they can easily overcome the frictional locking force and upset the level surface.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,213,436 issued Apr. 10, 2001 to Wayne A Hembree discloses a Leveling Platform. The leveling platform includes multiple externally adjustable legs that provide a leveling structure. The patent is primarily intended for use to level a camping burner that is nested or placed onto the platform. While this patent discloses a leveling platform the leveling can't be performed from a central location and then locking the legs. The platform works for a single purpose and provides only a limited platform with a leg that extends above the platform.

What is needed is a leveling table top that can quickly be leveled and then firmly locked into position to provide a rigid locked flat surface that can support high loads placed at any location on the table top without compromising the level orientation.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the leveling table top to create an adjustable leveling table top. The leveling table top creates a large flat horizontal surface that is useful for indoor and outdoor purposes for the preparation and cooking of foods. The level table surface eliminates the tendency of eggs, pancakes, grease and other food items from running to one side of a cooking pan or cooking surface. The leveling table top to be used on a picnic tables, truck beds, recreational vehicles, and can even be directly placed upon the ground.

It is an object of the leveling table top to have upper and lower frames. The lower frame is designed to sit directly upon a flat or uneven surface. The upper frame is then adjusted to a flat level position. The frame components can be made of nearly any material including but not limited to metal, plastic or wood. The leveling table top can be made in multiple sizes including a size as small as one foot by two feet or up to four feet by eight feet.

It is another object of the leveling table top to have a leveling mechanism. The leveling mechanism allows a user to view two-dimensions of level using two separate X and Y axis levels or using a multi-directional bubble level to establish a leveled surface along both axis. The upper surface is then locked into place using a ball and socket joint. Four separate adjustable legs located in each corner are then locked into position using thumbscrews to provide stability to the table top regardless of where load is placed on top of the table top.

It is still another object of the leveling table top to have multiple application and uses; in particular the leveling table top can be used to hold cooking appliances such as, but not limited to, grills, griddles, recording equipment, geological, seismic, surveying equipment and barbeques. The leveling table top can further be used to prepare food and is ideal for cleaning fish. The leveling table top allows users to perform various hobbies such as beading that requires a nearly flat surface to prevent beads from rolling off of the table.

Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the leveling table top.

FIG. 5 shows a first preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs.

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the gimbal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a front perspective view of the leveling table top 10, FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the leveling table top 10 and FIG. 3 shows a top perspective view of the leveling table top 10. The adjustable leveling table top 10 would be placed upon a nearly horizontal surface including picnic tables, truck tailgates, and recreational vehicles or even directly on the ground where the feet or pads 40, 41 on the lower platform 21 make contact with the surface that will support the leveling table top 10. The leveling table top 10 utilizes two different support platforms 20 and 21. While the platforms are shown as rectangular the platforms could also be formed in square, triangular, round or other desirable shapes. The upper platform 20 is shown as a flat planar surface; it is contemplated that the upper platform 20 could have up-turned edges and corners to create a bowel or collection tray.

The lower platform 21 sits firmly on the ground via swiveling feet 40 with rubber pads, while the upper platform 20 is adjusted to a perfectly flat posture using a ball 31 and socket 30 connection in conjunction with a bulls-eye bubble level 22. The ball 31 and socket 30 connection supports the upper platform 20 directly centered front to rear and left to right. This allows the upper platform 20 to swivel in any direction, back and forth and left to right.

When the upper platform 20 is level, as indicated by the bulls-eye bubble level 22, the ball 31 and socket 30 is locked in place by moving knob 33 on the attached lever 32 to the left until it tightens. Then the four adjustable legs 70-77, made up of angle joints 50-57 and locking telescoping arms 70-77 by tightening thumbscrews or knobs 60-63, with one in each corner, are also locked in place to provide support and stability. While four arms are shown and described, there could be as few as three legs to more than four legs. This feature produces a perfectly flat or level upper surface 20, regardless of the position or posture of the lower platform 21. In FIG. 2 a fastener 87 secures the angle joint(s) to the upper and lower support platforms 20 and 21.

This allows the user to perform tasks such as cooking meals, preparing food, performing maintenance or hobby tasks, or virtually anything that would normally be performed on a flat level table surface. It can be provided in multiple different sizes, but a common size will be 14 inches deep by 28 inches wide by 4 inches high, the size needed for a camp stove to sit on. The use of the adjustable leveling table top provides a means to produce a perfectly flat horizontal surface 20 no matter where one is at, in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective.

The leveling table top 19 can be provided in multiple different sizes, but a common size is envisioned as 4 feet deep and 5 feet wide, but can be as large as 4 feet deep and 8 feet wide to even larger in size. The leveling table top 19 could also be made in as small as 12 inches by 18 inches or smaller.

FIG. 1 shows adjustable legs 71-73 that use a single leg that is retained in the lower supports 50-53 and slides in the upper retainer where it is locked into position. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the adjustable legs 70-77 do not extend above the top surface of the upper platform 20. The adjustment of the legs 70-77 is with telescoping legs that telescope slide into each other to alter the overall length of the legs.

Once the legs 70-73 or 70-77 are locked, the provide support to the outer edge of the upper surface 20 in both tension and compression as the upper surface 20 and the lower surface 21 use the ball 31 and socket 30 supports as a supporting fulcrum.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the leveling table top 10. This figure shows the lower surface 21 with the foot pads 40. While foot pads 40 are shown it is also contemplated that the foot pads 40 could be stakes 43 of elongated legs. While four foot pads 40 are shown, there could be as few as three foot pads because three points establish a planar surface. The angle joints 50-53 connect into the lower surface 21 and angle joints 54-57 connect into the upper surface 20.

The gimbal is also shown in the exploded view where the top of the gimbal 36 connects into the upper surface 20 and the bottom of the gimbal 35 connects to the bottom surface 21. The locking arm 32 is securable into a complementary hole 34 in the gimbal with the ball 31 and socket 30. Level 22 provides a visual indicator when the upper surface 20 is in a level orientation. This exploded view uses the telescoping tubes 70-77 that telescope slide together to alter the distance between the corner dimensions of the leveling table top 19. Locking knobs or thumbscrews 60-63 are used to loosen and tighten the connection between the telescoping tubes 70-77. This figure further shows optional handles 81, 82, and 83 that can be placed on the sides of the top surface for lifting the leveling table top or to prevent items from rolling or sliding off of the side to the top surface. It is also contemplated that the handles 81-83 can be used as tie-downs.

FIG. 5 shows a first preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs 70-73. In this embodiment the adjustable legs 70-73 extend above the top surface of the upper platform 20. The adjustment of the legs 70-73 between the lower platform 21 and the upper platform 20 is with legs that slide through the upper retainer 56 to alter the overall length of the legs. Once the length of the legs is established based upon the level condition of a level indication that the upper platform is level the thumbscrew(s) 66 are tightened to lock the position of the leg(s).

FIG. 6 shows a second preferred embodiment of the adjustable legs. In this embodiment the adjustment of the legs 70-77 between the lower platform 21 and the upper platform 20 is with telescoping legs 70-77 that telescope slide into each other to alter the overall length of the legs. Once the desired length of the legs is established based upon the level condition of a level indicator the thumbscrew(s) 62 are locked and the lengths of the legs are essentially fixed.

FIG. 7 shows a detailed view of the gimbal. The gimbal has a lower socket support 30 where the bottom 35 of the lower socket support 30 is secured to lower platform. An arm 32 with a gripping knob 33 is rotated to pull the ball 31 lifted or pulled into the socket to lock or release the ball 31 in the socket respectively. A cone 37 on top of the ball 31 has an upper surface 36 that connects to the upper platform 20. When the ball 31 and socket 30 are loosened the upper platform 20 pivots in two directions on the lower platform 21.

Thus, specific embodiments of a leveling table top have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A leveling table top comprising:

a lower surface;

an upper surface that is distal from said lower surface;

a gimbal that is essentially located in a center of said lower surface and said upper surface to thereby provide an adjustable angular orientation between said upper surface and said lower surface;

at least three adjustable legs that have adjustable lengths that are secured to said upper surface and said lower surface with angle joints, and

a level that indicates the level orientation of said upper surface.

2. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said level is a bubble level.

3. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said gimbal is lockable and unlockable.

4. The leveling table top according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal is lockable and unlockable by rotating a control arm on said gimbal.

5. The leveling table top according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal is lockable and unlockable by lifting a control arm on said gimbal.

6. The leveling table top according to claim 3 wherein said gimbal is lockable and unlockable by pulling a control arm on said gimbal.

7. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said angular adjustment is front to back.

8. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said angular adjustment is left to right.

9. The leveling table top according to claim 1 that further includes at least three foot pads.

10. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said upper platform creates a level work surface when at least three foot pads on said lower surface are placed on an uneven surface.

11. The leveling table top according to claim 10 that further includes at least three foot spikes.

12. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said upper platform creates a level work surface when said at least three foot spikes are placed on an uneven surface.

13. The leveling table top according to claim 12 wherein said upper surface and said lower surface are essentially the same size.

14. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable legs are adjustable by using telescoping members.

15. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said adjustable legs are adjustable by clamping a tubular member in said angle joints.

16. The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said leveling table top is rectangular, square, triangular or round.

17 The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said upper surface is essentially flat.

18 The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein said upper platform has up-turned edges and corners.

19 The leveling table top according to claim 1 wherein the distance between a middle of said upper surface and a middle of said lower surface remains essentially the same regardless of the angular orientation between said upper surface and said lower surface.

20. The leveling table top according to claim 1 that further includes the method of making and securing the table top level comprising:

placing said leveling table top on a surface;

loosening said adjustable legs;

loosening said gimbal;

using said level to orient said top surface to level;

tightening said gimbal, and

tightening said adjustable legs.