PORTABLE OUTDOOR PATIO ISLAND

Abstract

There is disclosed an apparatus, methods, and systems are described for an outdoor portable and collapsible patio island that may include a refrigerator, a cup washer, a sink, a wet bar, a wireless charger, one or more a USB ports, one or more outlets, an input for a hose, a water system, and/or an electrical system.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to portable and collapsible outdoor patio island, and more particularly, to a portable and collapsible outdoor patio island that includes one or modules forming at least a utility sink, kitchen, and/or wet bar for prepping, serving, cooking, cleaning and entertaining.

Portable assemblies are known for providing collapsible kitchen islands while camping. However, known kitchen islands are too short, do not have sufficient space for preparing and cooking, and do not deliver consistent amperage for electrical components through a compact electrical assembly. Further, known kitchen islands do not have sufficient water assemblies to deliver consistent pressure at desired cold and hot temperatures. Moreover, portable grills for camping typically require propane and lighter fluid, which can be costly and cumbersome.

Yet other known portable islands lack the space and organization to store appliances, such as a refrigerator, or supplies. cookware or utensils needed for meal preparation. Moreover, these portable islands are not easily movable and do not come close to replacing permanent, built-in kitchen islands and grills that are typically found and used for entertaining in a backyard setting. Additionally, known portable islands require specialized electrical and water connections and hardware. Further, known kitchen islands do not provide a place for a wet bar or cup washing devices.

Thus, there is a need for a portable and collapsible patio island that includes sufficient space and height for food preparation, is collapsible, includes easy to use electrical and water systems, and as a washing device and a refrigerator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention may be better understood by referring to the following figures. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the figures, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a portable outdoor patio island in an embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of portable outdoor patio island in an embodiment.

FIG. 3 illustrates a water system in an embodiment.

FIG. 4. illustrates a water system in an embodiment.

FIG. 5 illustrates an electrical system in an embodiment.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate a portable outdoor island in an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Each of the additional features and teachings disclosed below can be utilized separately or in conjunction with other features and teachings to provide a device, system, and/or method for an outdoor patio island. Representative examples of the present invention, which utilize many of these additional features and teachings both separately and in combination, will now be described in further detail with reference to the attached drawings. This detailed description is merely intended to teach a person of skill in the art further details for practicing preferred aspects of the present teachings and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Therefore, combinations of features and steps disclosed in the following detailed description may not be necessary to practice the invention in the broadest sense and are instead taught merely to particularly describe representative examples of the present teachings.

Moreover, the various features of the representative examples and the dependent claims may be combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated to provide additional useful embodiments of the present teachings. In addition, it is expressly noted that all features disclosed in the description and/or the claims are intended to be disclosed separately and independently from each other for the purpose of original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter independent of the compositions of the features in the embodiments and/or the claims. It is also expressly noted that all value ranges or indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter.

Apparatus, methods, and systems are described for an outdoor portable and collapsible patio island that may include a refrigerator, a cup washer, a sink, a wet bar, a wireless charger, one or more a USB ports, one or more outlets, an input for a hose, a water system, and/or an electrical system, audio speakers/television and/or mount.

In some embodiments, a faucet or the sink delivering cold or hot water may be foldable and expandable. In other embodiments, a shade or an umbrella may be part or coupled to the island.

In one embodiment, a pop-up twenty amplitude ground-fault current interrupter (GFCI) may be built into the island and may be coupled to a wireless charger, one or more outlets, and one or more USB chargers are the same time. In another embodiment, the amperage for the GFCI may be about 20 amps. Other amperages are also possible. In other embodiments, the amperage may be boosted or increased internally using a converter or other device to boost to amperage coupled to the island. can potentially run on an internal battery or electric generator.

In one embodiment, the island may include an electrical inlet for connection to an external electrical or power source. In one embodiment, the island may include a water system for grey water. In other embodiment, the island may include a water system for delivering cold or hot water.

In one embodiment, the island may include a collapsible or retractable wet bar on one side of the island. In other embodiments, the island may include one or more collapsible shelves coupled to one or more sides of the island. In some embodiments, a shade structure or umbrella may be coupled to the island, which may be closed or opened using a rotatable handle.

FIG. 1 illustrates a portable outdoor patio island 100 in an embodiment. The island 100 may include an optional shade structure 101 coupled to the island 100, such as an umbrella, which may be opened or closed using a rotatable handle 102 or automatically using an automated open and closing system. The island 100 may include one or more foldable extensions 103,104 that may be coupled to the island 100 by locking brackets or similar devices. In some embodiments, the extensions 103, 104 may include one or more supports 117 on an underside of the extensions 103,104. The support 117 may be coupled to the underside of the extensions 103, 104 at an angle.

In one embodiment, the island 100 may include wheels 107 coupled to and located underneath the island 100 to enable the island to be moved easily. One or more of the wheels 107 may also have a locking mechanism to secure the island 100 and allow the island 100 to move when in an unlocked position and to not move when in a locked position.

The island 100 may include side panels 108, doors 105, 106, counter 119, bottom side 121, and a rear panel 120 (FIG. 1B). The island 100 may also include a cup washer 109, which may release a stream of water sufficient to rinse a glass or cup when placed over the cup washer 109 and a downward force is applied. In one embodiment, the cup washer 109 is located above a sink 111 and adjacent to a faucet 110.

The faucet 110 may be rotatable. In other embodiments, the faucet 110 may be stored in a substantially horizontal position and may be extendable to a substantially vertical position. The faucet 110 may deliver hot or cold water through hot water valve 113 and cold-water valve 112, respectively.

The doors 105,106 may be moved from a closed position and an open position. When in an expanded mode, side panels 108, doors 105, 106, counter 119, bottom side 121, and rear panel 120 may form a compartment. It should be understood that all or some of the components of the island 100 may be weatherproof or waterproof. In some embodiments, the sink 111 may be a drop sink and may fit into an opening or cutout of a counter similar to counter 19. In some embodiments, the some or all of the components of the water components and systems, such as in systems 300 and 400, may be formed from stainless steel or similar material.

The island 100 may also include a pop-up GFCI 114 that is formed as part of counter 119. In one embodiment, the GFCI may be 20 amps. In other embodiments, the GFCI may be about 20 amps in an embodiment. In some embodiments, the electrical systems and components, such as electrical system 500, may include insulated, temper proof and water-resistant materials.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a portable outdoor patio island 200 in an embodiment. The island 200 may include a pop-up GFCI 214. In one embodiment, GFCI may between 10-20 amps in an embodiment. In one embodiment, the GFCI 214 may include at least one USB charger and at least one outlet for receiving a two or three prong plug. The GFCI 214 may be formed as part of the counter 235. In other embodiments, the GFCI may be coupled to island 200. In one embodiment, a top surface 216 of the GFCI 214 may be a wireless charger or audio speakers. The island 200 may include a cup washer 209, a sink 211, a faucet 210, and hot and cold-water valves 203 and 204, respectively. The faucet 210 may be substantially the same as faucet 110 and the cup washer 209 may be substantially the same as cup washer 109.

As shown in FIG. 2, there may be compartment or storage area 240 under counter 235 and sink 211. In one embodiment, the storage area 240 may include a refrigerator 222, a grey water jug 223, a drain 227, an electric assembly 250, and a water assembly 231. Other components, such as cutlery, a portable grill, cutting board, freshwater jug, water pump, water heater, automatic-water shut off valve, and may be stored in storage area 240. Alternatively, the island 200 may have other built-in compartments, such as drawers, to store such items.

In one embodiment, water assembly 231 may include water lines 227 and 228 that may deliver hot and cold water, respectively. A water line 229 may be coupled to the cup washer 209. One end of the water assembly 231 may also be coupled to a hose inlet 225. In one embodiment, the hose inlet 225 may be coupled to a hose 226 or similar device. In one embodiment, the water assembly 231 may be formed from braided stainless steel or similar material. It should be noted that the inlet 225 may be located on any side of island 200.

As shown in FIG. 2, an electrical assembly 250 may be included in island 200 to deliver power to one or more components of the island 200, including, but not limited to, GFCI 214, refrigerator, 222, wireless charger, outlets, and/or USB outlets. The power to assembly 250 may be provided via inlet 215.

The assembly 250 may include a splitter 219. The splitter 219 may be a GFCI 214 an inline breaker. In this embodiment, a GFCI may be removed from the pop-up GFCI 214, but include a pop-up housing including the outlets, USB ports and a top surface wireless charger. In one embodiment, power may be delivered to GFCI 214 along electrical line 221 and power to the refrigerator 222 may be delivered from line 221. It should be noted that the inlet 215 may be located on any side of island 200.

FIG. 3 shows a water system 300 in an embodiment. The system 300 may include sink 301, faucet 302, hot and cold-water valves 303 and 304, respectively and drain 305.

The drain 305 may empty into a grey water container 306, which may be removably affixed inside island 200. A water lever alert beacon 307 may be coupled to a top opening of the container 306 to determine or provide an indication when the container 306 may be close to or full.

FIG. 4 shows a water system 400 in an embodiment. The system 400 may include a sink 404, a faucet 401, hot and cold valves 402 and 403, respectively. In one embodiment, the system 400 may include a splitter 408, which may form one or more water lines 410-412 at one end. In one embodiment, lines 410 and 411 deliver cold water and hot water respectively. In another embodiment, line 412 delivers water to cup washer 407. The splitter 407 may be coupled to a water line 409 that is coupled to a hose inlet 406 at one end. A hose 405 or similar device may be coupled to hose inlet 406 to deliver water to system 400.

FIG. 5 shows an electrical system 500 in an embodiment. The system 500 may include a pop-up GFIC 502 which may include one or more outlets 503, one or more USB ports 504, and a top surface that may be a wireless charger 506. In an embodiment, a speaker 505 may be coupled to or integrated into the GFIC 502.

The GFIC 502 may be coupled by a power line 510 to a splitter 509. An extension cord 507 may be coupled to an electrical inlet 508. One end of the inlet 508 may be coupled to power line 511, which may be coupled at one end to a refrigerator 501.

FIGS. 6A-6D illustrates a portable outdoor patio island 600 in an embodiment. The island 100 may include shade structure 609 that may be integrated into the island 600. In one embodiment, the shade structure may pass through the opening 606 and be secured rest inside the island with an end inside the island 600. The shade structure 609 may be umbrella, which may be opened or closed using a rotatable handle 645 or automatically using an automated open and closing system. The island 600 may include one or more foldable extensions 620, 628 that may be coupled to the island 100 by locking brackets or similar devices. In some embodiments, the extensions may include one or more supports 617 similar to support 117 on an underside of the extensions 620, 628. The support 617 may be coupled to the underside of the extensions at an angle.

In one embodiment, the island 600 may include wheels 629 coupled to and located underneath the island 600. In one embodiment, wheels 629 may include a locking mechanism to allow the island 600 to move when in an unlocked position and to not move when in a locked position.

The island 600 may include side panels 601, doors 603, 607, counter 604, bottom side similar to 121, and a rear panel similar to 120 (FIG. 1B). The island 600 may also include a faucet 631 and a cup washer 635, which may release a stream of water sufficient to rinse a glass or cup when placed over the cup washer 635 and a downward force is applied.

In one embodiment, the faucet 631 may fold and/or be stored in a substantially horizontal position and may be extendable to a substantially vertical position. The faucet 631 may deliver hot or cold water through hot water valve or cold-water valve, such as valves 113 and 112, respectively. The faucet 631 may fold and be covered by cover 605.

The doors 603 and/or 607 may be opened or closed. When open, the door may be secured by a door latch 621. In some embodiments, a peg board pattern 622 may be on the inside of the door. It should be understood that all or some of the components of the island 600 may be weatherproof or waterproof.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the island 600 may include a retractable portion 610 that may be configured as a bar and also store dishes, cups, or other items with side supports 627. The retractable portion 610 may move up or down without impacting or moving the shade structure 606. The retractable portion 610 may be moved up or down manually. In other embodiments, the portion 610 may move up and down using a hydraulic air supply 613 which may be activated by a switch 602. The island 600 may also include a power supply wiring 614 to provide power to GFCI 630 and/or a refrigerator.

The island 600 may also include a pop-up GFCI 630 that is formed as part of counter 604. In one embodiment, the GFCI may be 20 amps. In other embodiments, the GFCI may be about 20 amps in an embodiment. In one embodiment, the GFCI 214 may include at one USB charger and at least one outlet for receiving a two or three prong plug. The GFCI 214 may include a wireless charger.

As shown in FIG. 6D, there may be bucket 625 with a water sensor in a storage area similar to 240. The island 600 may be substantially similar to island 100 and may include a refrigerator 222, a grey water jug 223, a drain 227, an electric assembly 250, and a water assembly 231. Other components, such as cutlery, a portable grill, cutting board, freshwater jug, water pump, water heater, and may be stored in storage area 240. Alternatively, the island 200 may have other built-in compartments, such as drawers, to store such items. It should also be noted that assemblies 300, 400, and 500 may be implemented with island 600 is substantially the same way as island 100. The island 600 may also include a hole 624 that may be configured as a drain for water.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form or to exemplary embodiments disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art. Similarly, any process steps described might be interchangeable with other steps in order to achieve the same result. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its best mode practical application, thereby to enable others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use or implementation contemplated. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather means “one or more.” Moreover, no element, component, nor method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the following claims. No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. Sec. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for . . . .”

It should be understood that the various techniques described herein may be implemented in connection with hardware or software or, where appropriate, with a combination of both. Thus, the methods and apparatus of the presently disclosed subject matter, or certain aspects or portions thereof, may take the form of program code (i.e., instructions) embodied in tangible media, such as floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium where, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the presently disclosed subject matter.

Although exemplary implementations may refer to utilizing aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter in the context of one or more stand-alone computer systems, the subject matter is not so limited, but rather may be implemented in connection with any computing environment, such as a network or distributed computing environment. Still further, aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter may be implemented in or across a plurality of processing chips or devices, and storage may similarly be affected across a plurality of devices. Such devices might include personal computers, network servers, and handheld devices, for example.

Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of the present invention in any way. It is also to be understood that the steps and processes recited in the claims need not be performed in the order presented.

Claims

1. A portable island, comprising: a body having a plurality of doors and one or more side panels:a retractable portion integrated into the body; the retractable portion being engageable by a switch;a shade device that passes through the retractable portion and the body, wherein the retractable portion is movable without moving the shade portion.

2. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising a power source, wherein the power source includes a wireless charger and one or more outlets.

3. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of wheels, each with a locking mechanism.

4. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of doors, at least one or none? of the doors including a peg board.

5. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising a hydraulic system for raising and lowering the retractable portion.

6. The portable island of claim 1, wherein the body is waterproof.

7. The portable island of claim 1, wherein the retractable portion is configured as a bar.

8. The portable island of claim 1, wherein further comprising a cup washer.

9. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising an electrical systems.

10. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising a water source and drain.

11. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising a refrigerator.

12. The portable island of claim 1 further comprising one of a through hole in a bottom of the island for a drain, a perforated floor for overflow; audio water sensor to indicate a full bucket; Bluetooth speakers; and leaves.