TABLE ACCESSORY FOR A TOILET

Abstract

A table apparatus for connection to a toilet bowl. The apparatus includes a clamp for connecting to a toilet-bowl rim. A longitudinally adjustable arm configured to extend from the rim of the toilet to a distal end above the toilet. A table top is attached to the distal end of the adjustable arm for holding common objects such as electronic devices, smart phones, electronic books, magazines, and the like.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field

The present invention is directed generally to a table for use with a toilet.

Description of Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 4,825,779, issued May 2, 1989 to Simms, entitled “Table for Toilet,” discloses a table for storing a roll of toilet paper with a tabletop supported by legs at a height and an angle optionally usable by one seated on a toilet seat. The table shown in Simms stands separate and apart from the toilet, and requires floor space in the bathroom.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,493 issued Jan. 10, 2006 to Shaumyan entitled “Retractable Table Top for a Toilet” discloses a working surface for use by a person to place objects, such as a book, ashtray, etc. while seated on a toilet. The working surface is secured to a wall adjacent to a toilet, and includes support rods secured to the bottom of the working surface that extend to the ground in front of the toilet to support the working surface.

U.S. Pat. Application Publication No. 2009/0050770 A1 published Feb. 26, 2009 entitled “Collapsible Bathroom Caddy” to Perlman discloses a collapsible caddy that includes boom for holding objects on a tray attached to the boom. The boom extends from a free-standing base that rests on the floor apart from the toilet.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,439,533 issued Sep. 13, 2016 to DeCarlo entitled “Toilet Stool Table Assembly” discloses a toilet stool table for use by a person seated on the toilet. The assembly appears to require mounting through apertures located where the toilet seat attached to the back of the toilet bowl. The assembly also includes arms to support the user.

Most of the above apparatuses are either (i) free standing furniture, which may clutter the often-confined spaces of a bathroom and cause the user to store or move the furniture when not in use; or (ii) require installation into the wall and/or the back of the toilet itself. Therefore, there is a need for an improved table apparatus for toilets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The invention and the following detailed description of certain embodiments thereof may be understood by reference to the following figures:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment a table for use with toilet.

FIG. 2 shows a right-side view of the table.

FIG. 3 shows a lift-side view of the table.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of the table.

FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The claimed subject matter is 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 of the subject innovation. It may be evident, however, that the claimed subject matter may be practiced without these specific details.

Described is a table apparatus for use with a toilet. For example, FIGS. 1-5 show different views of one embodiment a table for use with toilet. As shown in these figures, the apparatus may include: a J-shaped bracket, a fastening member, a telescopically adjustable tube section, and a tabletop.

The J-shaped bracket fits over and partially against the inside of a rim of toilet bowl. A substantial portion of the J-bracket also extends longitudinally downward towards the base of the toilet, and rests against the side of a toilet bowl generally underneath the rim of the bowl. The J-bracket includes a fastening device for securing and mounting the J-bracket against the rim and side of the toilet. The fastening device also includes the fastening member, which moves in a horizontal direction generally perpendicular to the side of the toilet, and is configured to extend toward the portion of the J-bracket located on the inside portion of the rim of the toilet, and push against the side of the exterior surface of the toilet. When the fastening member moves towards the exterior surface of the toilet, it causes the portion of the J-bracket located on the inside portion of the rim, to move in the opposite direction against the inside of the toilet-bowl rim. The fastening member when positioned underneath the lip of the rim of the exterior surface of the toilet bowl, and when tightened against the exterior surface of the toilet bowl, anchors the J-bracket to the toilet and the entire apparatus securely to the toilet.

The telescopically adjustable tube section extends longitudinally away from the J-bracket at an angle relative to the floor. Fastened to a distal end of the tube section is the tabletop. Extending the telescopically adjustable tube section will lengthen the overall height of the tabletop relative to the floor. Conversely, contracting the telescopically adjustable tube section will shorten the overall height of the tabletop relative to the floor.

While the invention has been disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiments shown and described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present invention is not to be limited by the foregoing examples, but is to be understood in the broadest sense allowable by law.

Claims

1. An apparatus to couple with an upstanding support anchor, the apparatus comprising: a J-bracket comprising a shelf, a cantilevered inner bracket leg depending from an inside end of the shelf, and a cantilevered outer bracket leg depending from an outer end of the shelf, the shelf to provide a load-bearing surface of a socket floor, the floor being disposed in a plane that is vertically offset from depending ends of the inner and outer bracket legs, the load-bearing surface to contact incompression against a top surface of the support anchor; a table leg comprising a proximal table leg end coupled to the outer bracket leg todispose a distal table leg end at a higher elevation than the proximal table leg end when the apparatus is installed on the support anchor; anda table carried at the distal table leg end.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a clamp mechanism associated with the J-bracket, the clamp mechanism to urge the inner bracket leg toward contact with a first cooperating surface of the support anchor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the clamp mechanism comprises a rotatable element coupled to a proximal end of a threaded shaft, a foot coupled to a distal end of the threaded shaft, and an intermediate portion of the threaded shaft received in threaded penetration through the outer bracket leg to permit placing the foot in compression against a second cooperating surface of the support anchor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the table leg comprises a telescopic portion to permit height adjustment of the table when the apparatus is installed on the support anchor.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising: a holding mechanism to resist change in length, of the telescopic portion, in a direction parallel to a telescopic length axis.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: an anti-twist mechanism to resist twist rotation of a portion of the table leg about the telescopic length axis.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the anti-twist mechanism comprises a slot in a wall of a first telescopic member, the slot being elongate in a direction parallel to the telescopic length axis; anda blocking element carried by a second telescopic member and disposed for reciprocation in the slot elongate direction, the blocking element to cause a structural interference with walls of the slot to resist relative twist rotation between the first and second telescopic members.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the anti-twist mechanism comprises telescopic inner and outer leg members with respective cross-sections configured to permit telescopic reciprocation, but to inherently cause a structural interference to resist relative twist rotation between the first and second members.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: an anti-roll mechanism operable to permit or resist rotation of the table about a table roll axis.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling mechanism between the table leg and the J-bracket, the coupling mechanism operable to permit or resist a vertical displacement of the outer bracket leg with respect to the table.

11. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein: the first cooperating surface of the support anchor is an inner surface; and the clamp mechanism comprises a brace member operably coupled to the J-bracket to create a structural interference with an outer surface portion of the support anchor.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein: the structural interference is created at an offset location disposed spaced apart from, and lower than, a line of action of force applied by the inner leg to the support anchor.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein: a protruding length of the brace member, between the J-bracket and the offset location, is adjustable to cause a desired vertical orientation of the outer bracket leg.

14. An apparatus, comprising: a J-bracket defining a socket disposed between inner and outer bracket legs, the socket being configured to couple with the rim of a toilet bowl such that a socket floor is placed into compression against a top surface of the rim;a table with a top surface;a table leg coupled at one table leg end to the outer bracket leg and coupled at the opposite table leg end to the table; andclamping means associated with the socket to apply a compression force to opposite sides of the rim.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: means to adjust an angle between a table leg length axis and the table top surface.

16. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: means to adjust elevation of the table top surface with respect to a floor elevation.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: the means to adjust elevation of the table top surface comprises coupling means disposed between the J-bracket and the table leg.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein: the means to adjust elevation of the table top surface comprises telescopic table leg extension means.

19. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising: means to resist rotation of the table about a table leg length axis.

20. An apparatus, comprising: a J-bracket comprising a floor, a cantilevered inner bracket leg depending from an inside end of the floor, and a cantilevered outer bracket leg depending from an outer end of the floor, the floor to provide a load-bearing surface, the load-bearing surface being disposed in a plane that is vertically offset from depending ends of the inner and outer bracket legs, the load-bearing surface being configured to contact in compression against a top surface portion of the rim of a toilet bowl;a table leg comprising a proximal table leg end coupled to the J-bracket to dispose a distal table leg end at a higher elevation than the proximal table leg end when the apparatus is installed on the rim, the table leg further comprising a telescopic portion to permit height adjustment of the table when the apparatus is installed on the rim;a holding mechanism to resist change in length, of the telescopic portion of the table leg, in a direction parallel to a telescopic length axis;an anti-twist mechanism to resist relative twist rotation between telescopically reciprocating portions of the table leg and about the telescopic length axis;a table carried at the distal leg end;a clamp mechanism associated with the J-bracket, the clamp mechanism to urge the inner bracket leg toward contact with an inner surface portion of the rim, the clamp mechanism comprising a rotatable element coupled to a proximal end of a threaded shaft, a foot coupled to a distal end of the threaded shaft, and an intermediate length of the threaded shaft received in threaded penetration through the outer leg to permit placing the foot in compression against an outer surface portion of the rim;an anti-roll mechanism operable to permit or resist rotation of the table about a table roll axis; anda coupling mechanism between the table leg and the J-bracket, the coupling mechanism operable to permit or resist a vertical displacement of the outer bracket leg with respect to the table when the apparatus is installed on the rim.