Patent Application
20230180926
The present invention relates generally to the field of tables. More specifically, the present invention relates to an attachable table device. The device is primarily comprised of a first half, a second half and at least one connection mechanism. Each half is further preferably semi-circular and is comprised of an inside surface with at least one partial opening for attachment of connection mechanism. At least one connection mechanism can further be employed to connect the two halves, wherein both halves can be pressed together after being secured around a post such as a portable heater, umbrella or other similar structure of the like. As a result, the device is secured at a constant height and can be used as a table, wherein users can then congregate around the heater. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices and methods of manufacture.
Tables are often found at restaurants, bars, on home patios and porches, and other gathering places. Individuals typically sit or congregate around tables and place food and drink items on said tables. However, at some restaurants, bars, and gatherings there may not be enough tables to serve all individuals who desire one. In addition, in some locations a table may be desired but cannot fit within the available physical space.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an improved table. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an attachable table device that can be used as additional table space. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an attachable table device that can be used as additional table space, wherein the device does not take up the same amount of physical space as a traditional table. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an attachable table device that can be easily attached to nearby structures to form a table-like surface.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an attachable table device. The device is primarily comprised of a first half, a second half and at least one connection mechanism. Each half is further preferably semi-circular and is comprised of an inside surface with at least one partial opening. At least one connection mechanism can further be inserted into each opening, wherein both halves can be pressed together after being secured around a heater or other similar structure of the like. As a result, the device is secured at a constant height and can be used as a table, wherein users can then congregate around the heater.
In this manner, the attachable table device of the present invention accomplishes all of the forgoing objectives and provides a device that gives a user the ability to create a table-like structure using a heater or other structure of the like. This capability is especially advantageous when there is no physical room for a traditional table and/or a user has a heater or other structure that they wish to gather around wherein a traditional table cannot fit near, around or by said heater or structure. As a result, the attachable table device overcomes the limitations of existing tables known in the art.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an attachable table device. The device is primarily comprised of a first half, a second half and at least one connection mechanism. In differing embodiments, the body is preferably manufactured from a flexible, rigid plastic or a durable metal such as, but not limited to, stainless steel or aluminum. The body may also be opaque, semi-transparent or transparent and comprised of a plurality of indicia such as, but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc. The body is preferably circular in shape, but may be any shape known in the art such as, but not limited to, an oval, triangle, square, rectangle, polygonal, etc. The body material may also be textured and colored to mimic materials and surfaces such as, but not limited to, a wood, brick, stone, etc.
In the preferred embodiment, the body is further comprised of a first half and a second half, wherein both halves are semi-circular and form a generally circular body when attached to one another. Each half is further comprised of a flat top surface, a side surface that is slightly raised above the top surface, an inside surface and a semi-circular cutout. Each inside surface is further comprised of at least one partial opening that receives at least one connection mechanism. The at least one connection mechanism can be placed in each opening and the halves can be pushed together around a post such as, but not limited to, an outdoor heater. After being placed around the heater or other similar structure, the pressure of the two halves pressing together and the connection mechanism secures the device at a constant height on the heater to form a table-like surface. In a differing embodiment, the device may also be comprised of a hidden, internal hinge. The hinge is fixedly connected to both halves, wherein the device can be opened such that both halves are separated from one another, yet still connected by the hinge. The hinge makes it such that a user need not hold the two halves separately when attempting to secure the device onto a heater or other structure.
In the event that the semi-circular cutouts are too large to fit a heater or other structure, the device is further comprised of a circular spacer that may be made of the same material of the body, or of a rubber material. The spacer has two semi-circular halves connected by at least one hinge. Each half further has a semi-circular cutout that forms a generally circular partial opening when both halves contact one another when the spacer has been placed around a heater or other structure and the body has then been placed around the spacer. In one embodiment, the spacer may also be one continuous piece of elastic material.
Accordingly, the attachable table device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it allows a table-like structure to be created using a heater or other structure of the like. This is especially advantageous when there is no physical room for a traditional table and/or a user has a heater or other structure that they wish to gather around wherein a traditional table cannot fit near, around or by said heater or structure. In this manner, the attachable table device overcomes the limitations of existing tables known in the art.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for an attachable table device that can be used as additional table space. Further, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an attachable table device that can be used as additional table space, wherein the device does not take up the same amount of physical space as a traditional table. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an attachable table device that can be easily attached to nearby structures to form a table-like surface.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of an attachable table device primarily comprised of a first half, a second half and at least one connection mechanism. In differing embodiments, the body is preferably manufactured from a flexible, rigid plastic or a durable metal such as, but not limited to, stainless steel or aluminum. The body may also be opaque, semi-transparent or transparent and comprised of a plurality of indicia such as, but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc. The body is preferably circular in shape, but may be any shape known in the art such as, but not limited to, oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, etc. The body material may also be textured and colored to mimic materials and surfaces such as, but not limited to, a wood, brick, stone, etc.
In the preferred embodiment, the body is further comprised of a first half and a second half, wherein both halves are semi-circular. When attached to one another, both halves form a generally circular body wherein each half is further comprised of a flat top surface, a side surface that is slightly raised above the top surface, an inside surface and a semi-circular cutout. Each inside surface is further comprised of at least one partial opening that receives at least one connection mechanism. The at least one connection mechanism can be employed such that the halves can be pushed together around a post such as, but not limited to, an outdoor heater. After being placed around the heater or other similar structure, the pressure of the two halves pressing together and the connection mechanism secures the device at a constant height on the heater to form a table-like surface. In a differing embodiment, the device may also be comprised of a hidden, internal hinge that is fixedly connected to both halves wherein the device can be opened such that both halves are separated from one another, yet still connected by the hinge. The hinge makes it such that a user need not hold the two halves separately when attempting to secure the device onto a heater or other structure.
The device may also be comprised of a circular spacer that may be made of the same material of the body, or of a rubber material. The spacer has two semi-circular halves connected by at least one hinge. Each half further has a semi-circular cutout that forms a generally circular partial opening when both halves contact one another when the spacer has been placed around a heater or other structure and the body has then been placed around the spacer. In one embodiment, the spacer may also be one continuous piece of elastic material. As a result, the device can be applied to a heater or other structure that is much smaller than the semi-circular cutouts of each half. The spacer can further be used to change the shape of the opening allowing connection to posts with different shapes such as a square.
Accordingly, the attachable table device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as it allows a table-like structure to be created using a heater or other structure of the like. This is especially advantageous when there is no physical room for a traditional table and/or a user has a heater or other structure that they wish to gather around wherein a traditional table cannot fit near, around or by said heater or structure. In this manner, the attachable table device overcomes the limitations of existing tables known in the art.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The body 110 may also be manufactured from a durable metal such as, but not limited to, stainless steel or aluminum. In differing embodiments, the body 110 may also be opaque, semi-transparent or transparent. The body 110 may further be comprised of a plurality of indicia 180 such as, but not limited to, patterns, logos, emblems, images, symbols, designs, letters, words, characters, animals, advertisements, brands, etc. In addition, the body 110 may be any color known in the art. The body 110 is further preferably circular in shape, but may be any shape known in the art such as, but not limited to, oval, triangular, square, rectangular, polygonal, etc. The body 110 material may also be textured and colored to mimic materials and surfaces such as, but not limited to, a wood, brick, stone, etc.
In the preferred embodiment, the body 110 is further comprised of a first half 120 and a second half 140 wherein both halves 120, 140 are semi-circular, such that when secured together the halves 120, 140 form the generally circular body 110. Each half 120, 140 is further comprised of a flat top surface 122, 142, a side surface 124, 144 that is slightly raised above the top surface 122, 142, an inside surface 126, 146, a bottom surface 150 and a semi-circular cutout 121, 141. Each inside surface 126, 146 is further comprised of at least one partial opening 128, 148 that receives at least one connection mechanism 160, as seen in
The at least one connection mechanism 160 can be placed in each opening 128, 148 and the halves 120, 140 can be pushed together around a post such as, but not limited to, an outdoor heater 10. It should be appreciated that in differing embodiments of the device 100, the body 110 and/or the semi-circular openings 121, 141 may be sized/dimensioned appropriately to fit around any post such as, but not limited to, an umbrella, a rail, a fence, etc. After being placed around the heater 10 or other similar structure, the pressure of the two halves 120, 140 pressing together and the connection mechanism 160 secures the device 100 at a constant height on the heater 10.
In a differing embodiment, the device 100 may also be comprised of a hidden, internal hinge 130 that is fixedly connected to both halves 120, 140. The hinge 130 may be any hinge-type known in the art such as, but not limited to, an offset blind hinge, a knuckle hinge, a butt hinge, a rising butt hinge, a gravity pivot hinge, a ball bearing hinge, a barrel hinge, a concealed hinge, a knife hinge, a piano hinge, a strap hinge, a pivot hinge, a gas-piston hinge, an injection molded hinge, a locking hinge, etc. The device 100 can then be opened such that both halves 120, 140 are separated from one another, yet still connected by the hinge 130. Then, both halves 120, 140 can be placed around a heater 10 or other structure wherein the cutouts 121, 141 contact the heater 10. After being placed around the heater 10 or other similar structure, the pressure of the two halves 120, 140 pressing together and the connection mechanism 160 secures the device 100 at a constant height on the heater 10. In this manner, the hinge 130 makes it such that a user need not hold the two halves 120, 140 separately when attempting to secure the device 100 onto a heater 10 or other structure. In another embodiment, the inside surface 126, 146 of each half 120, 140 may be magnetic or have a magnetic coating such that both halves 120, 140 are further magnetically attached to one another after being placed around a heater 10 or other post of the like.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “attachable table device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the attachable table device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the forgoing, the attachable table device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration and material of the attachable table device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the attachable table device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the attachable table device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the attachable table device 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/288,178, which was filed on Dec. 10, 2021 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63288178 | Dec 2021 | US |
