Table and trash disposal combination device

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6802263
  • Patent Number
    6,802,263
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, December 26, 2002
    21 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 12, 2004
    20 years ago
Abstract
A table and trash disposal combination device includes a table including a tabletop having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge. The tabletop has an opening extending therethrough. A plurality of legs is attached to and extends downward from the tabletop. A cover is positionable in the opening for substantially closing the opening. A garbage receptacle may be positioned below the table and aligned with the opening such that debris may be placed into the receptacle through the opening.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to table combinations and more particularly pertains to a new table combination for a table that would allow easy discarding of food and containers from an eating area.




2. Description of the Prior Art




The use of table combinations is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 4,428,305 describes a table lop having the major part of its surface rounding a central opening. Another type of table combination is U.S. Pat. No. 6,152,047 describes a table mounted trash disposal system including a container attached to a table. U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,716 describes a standing table with a hollow formed pedestal and table top for facilitating stacking of multiple tables together to save space.




While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device that facilitates easy convenient cleanup, serving of food, and the playing of games.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention meets the needs presented above by incorporating an opening in the table top that empties into a garbage container. In addition the opening has a cover that can be used to cover the opening and is rotatable such that it can be utilized as a serving piece.




Another object of the present invention is to provide a new table combination that would save the user time and effort involved in cleanup.




Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new table combination that would be well suited for entertaining as users could easily dispose of unwanted items themselves with out leaving the table.




Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cover for the opening that rotates such that game boards or food serving stations could be positioned on the cover and selectively rotated.




To this end, the present invention generally comprises a table including a tabletop having a top surface, a bottom surface and a. peripheral edge. The tabletop has an opening extending therethrough. A plurality of legs is attached to and extends downward from the tabletop. A cover is positionable in the opening for substantially closing the opening. A garbage receptacle may be positioned below the table and aligned with the opening such that debris may be placed into the receptacle through the opening.




There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.




The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of a table and trash disposal combination device according to the present invention.





FIG. 2

is a cross-sectional view taken along the line


2





2


of

FIG. 1

of the present invention.





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional view of the tabletop and arm of the present invention.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to

FIGS. 1 through 3

thereof, a new table combination embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral


10


will be described.




As best illustrated in

FIGS. 1 through 3

, the table and trash disposal combination device


10


generally comprises a table


12


including a tabletop


14


having a top surface


16


, a bottom surface


18


and a peripheral edge


20


. The tabletop


14


has an opening


22


extending therethrough. The opening


22


is preferably substantially centrally disposed in the tabletop


14


. A plurality of legs


24


is attached to and extends downward from the tabletop


14


.




A cover


26


is positionable in the opening


22


for substantially closing the opening


22


. A support assembly


28


is attached to the tabletop


14


for supporting the cover


26


in the opening


22


. The support assembly


28


includes a plurality of arms


30


. Each of the arms


30


is attached to the bottom surface


18


adjacent to the opening


22


and each extends inward such that when the cover


26


is positioned in the opening


22


, it is positioned on the arms


30


. Each of a plurality of ball bearings


32


is rotatably mounted on an upper surface


34


of one of the arms


30


. The cover


26


rests on the ball bearings


32


when positioned in the opening


22


. The cover


26


may be rotated on the bearings


32


to define a server. The cover


26


preferably has an aperture


27


extending therethrough for selectively receiving an umbrella, not shown.




In use, a garbage receptacle


2


may be positioned below the table


12


and aligned with the opening


22


. When needed the, cover


26


may be removed such that debris may be placed in the receptacle


2


through the opening


22


. When the cover


26


is on the support assembly


28


, a food tray may be positioned on the cover


26


and rotated to act as a server. Alternatively, a game board may be positioned on the cover so that game players may rotate the game board for easier access thereto.




With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.




Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.



Claims
  • 1. A table and trash disposal combination system comprising:a table including a tabletop having a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral edge, said tabletop having a opening extending therethrough, said opening being substantially centrally disposed, a plurality of legs being attached to and extending downward from said tabletop; a cover being positionable in said opening for substantially closing said opening, a support assembly being attached to said tabletop for supporting said cover in said opening, said support assembly including; a plurality of arms, each of said arms being attached to said bottom surface adjacent to said opening and extending inward such that said cover is positioned on said arms when said cover is positioned in said opening; a plurality of ball bearings, each of said ball bearings being rotatably mounted on an upper surface of one of said arms, said cover resting on said ball bearings when positioned in said opening, wherein said cover may be rotated on said bearings; and wherein a garbage receptacle may be positioned below said table and aligned with said opening such that debris may be placed into the receptacle through said opening.
US Referenced Citations (14)
Number Name Date Kind
1579823 Langguth Apr 1926 A
2474101 Frothingham et al. Jun 1949 A
2508802 Stanley May 1950 A
2683639 Brenny Jul 1954 A
4428305 Creske Jan 1984 A
4747352 Guidry et al. May 1988 A
5055081 Nayak Oct 1991 A
5353716 Wilbert Oct 1994 A
5479867 Blevins et al. Jan 1996 A
5542359 Polries Aug 1996 A
5572934 Aldridge et al. Nov 1996 A
5592884 Glick et al. Jan 1997 A
6152047 Mac Namara Nov 2000 A
6321662 Fraise Nov 2001 B1