Patent Grant
11559135
Aspects of this document relate generally to accessories for a beach goer, and more specifically to a portable, compact umbrella support post with a rotatable table.
Outdoor enthusiasts, such as beach goers, enjoy the advantages of various ancillary items to enhance their beach going experience, such as beach umbrellas, beach towels, pails, shovels, floatation devices, surf-riding instruments, radios, coolers, etc. One item to enhance their experience even greater is a portable, compact table, designed specifically for beach goers to place various items at an elevated position, away from the beach's sandy surface. Beach tables are a vital beach product. However, because of the numerous other items a beach goer already must trek to the beach, and the bulk and added expense of standalone beach tables, the beach goer may decide not to bring a table. Instead, beach goers will merely place their items on a towel, precariously in the sand, or rely on other items not designed for use as a “table.” For example, beach goers may rely on a cooler's surface to place items away from the sand's surface, but this inhibits the ability to regularly access the cooler, i.e. everything must be removed from atop the cooler.
Aspects of this document relate to a method of deploying a collapsible table, comprising providing a support post with a collapsible table in a collapsed position, the support post having: a central post, a hub stop fixedly coupled to the central post, a top hub slidably coupled to the central post, a plurality of table arms hingedly coupled to the top hub, a bottom hub slidably coupled to the central post below the top hub, a plurality of support arms each with a hub end and a support end opposite the hub end, wherein each hub end is hingedly coupled to the bottom hub and each support end is hingedly coupled to a corresponding table arm of the plurality of table arms, and an adjustable stop slidably coupled to the central post below the bottom hub, the adjustable stop configured to lock onto the central post at any of a plurality of selectable heights and define a minimum height for the bottom hub, wherein the top hub moves with respect to the bottom hub when the collapsible table expands from the collapsed position in which the top hub is distal to the bottom hub to an expanded position in which the top hub is adjacent to the bottom hub; sliding both the top hub and the bottom hub in a first direction along the central post toward the hub stop, expanding the collapsible table into the expanded position by forcing one of the top hub and the bottom hub against the hub stop while continuing to slide the other of the top hub and the bottom hub in the first direction along the central post, sliding the adjustable stop along the central post to a first height of the plurality of selectable heights, and affixing the adjustable stop at the first height.
Particular embodiments may comprise one or more of the following features. The adjustable stop may be fixedly coupled to the bottom hub. The adjustable stop may be movable along the central post independent of the bottom hub. Resting the bottom hub on top of the adjustable stop. Adjusting the minimum height for the bottom hub with the collapsible table in the expanded position by releasing the adjustable stop, sliding the adjustable stop along the central post to a second height of the plurality of selectable heights, and affixing the adjustable stop at the second height.
Aspects of this document relate to a method of deploying a collapsible table, comprising: providing a support post with the collapsible table in a collapsed position, the support post having: a central post, a hub stop fixedly coupled to the central post, a top hub slidably coupled to the central post, a plurality of table arms hingedly coupled to the top hub, a bottom hub slidably coupled to the central post below the top hub, and a plurality of support arms each with a hub end and a support end opposite the hub end, wherein each hub end is hingedly coupled to the bottom hub and each support end is hingedly coupled to a corresponding table arm of the plurality of table arms, wherein the top hub moves with respect to the bottom hub when the collapsible table expands from the collapsed position in which the top hub is distal to the bottom hub to an expanded position in which the top hub is adjacent to the bottom hub; sliding both the top hub and the bottom hub in a first direction along the central post toward the hub stop, expanding the collapsible table into the expanded position by forcing one of the top hub and the bottom hub against the hub stop while continuing to slide the other of the top hub and the bottom hub in the first direction along the central post, and with the collapsible table in the expanded position, sliding the bottom hub along the central post to a first height of a plurality of selectable heights.
Particular embodiments may comprise one or more of the following features. An adjustable stop slidably coupled to the central post below the bottom hub, the adjustable stop configured to lock onto the central post at any of the plurality of selectable heights and define a minimum height for the bottom hub. Sliding the adjustable stop along the central post to the first height and affixing the adjustable stop at the first height. The adjustable stop may be fixedly coupled to the bottom hub. The adjustable stop may be movable along the central post independent of the bottom hub. Resting the bottom hub on top of the adjustable stop. Adjusting the minimum height for the bottom hub with the collapsible table in the expanded position by releasing the adjustable stop, sliding the adjustable stop along the central post to a second height of the plurality of selectable heights, and affixing the adjustable stop at the second height.
Aspects of this document relate to a method of deploying a collapsible table, comprising: providing a support post with the collapsible table in a collapsed position, the support post having: a central post, a top hub slidably coupled to the central post, a plurality of table arms each hingedly coupled to the top hub, a bottom hub slidably coupled to the central post below the top hub, and a plurality of support arms each hingedly coupled to the bottom hub and hingedly coupled to a corresponding table arm of the plurality of table arms, wherein the top hub moves with respect to the bottom hub when the collapsible table expands from the collapsed position in which the top hub is distal to the bottom hub to an expanded position in which the top hub is adjacent to the bottom hub; expanding the collapsible table into the expanded position by limiting the movement of one of the top hub and the bottom hub while sliding the other of the top hub and the bottom hub along the central post, and with the collapsible table in the expanded position, sliding the bottom hub along the central post to a first height of a plurality of selectable heights.
Particular embodiments may comprise one or more of the following features. The support post further having a hub stop fixedly coupled to the central post. Limiting the movement of one of the top hub and the bottom hub comprises forcing one of the top hub and the bottom hub against the hub stop. Sliding both the top hub and the bottom hub in a first direction along the central post with the collapsible table in the collapsed position. An adjustable stop slidably coupled to the central post below the bottom hub, the adjustable stop configured to lock onto the central post at any of the plurality of selectable heights and define a minimum height for the bottom hub. Sliding the adjustable stop along the central post to the first height and affixing the adjustable stop at the first height. The adjustable stop may be fixedly coupled to the bottom hub. The adjustable stop may be movable along the central post independent of the bottom hub.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, applications, and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the specification, drawings, and the claims. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and the claims be given their plain, ordinary, and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable arts. The inventors are fully aware that they can be their own lexicographers if desired. The inventors expressly elect, as their own lexicographers, to use only the plain and ordinary meaning of terms in the specification and claims unless they clearly state otherwise and then further, expressly set forth the “special” definition of that term and explain how it differs from the plain and ordinary meaning. Absent such clear statements of intent to apply a “special” definition, it is the inventors' intent and desire that the simple, plain and ordinary meaning to the terms be applied to the interpretation of the specification and claims.
The inventors are also aware of the normal precepts of English grammar. Thus, if a noun, term, or phrase is intended to be further characterized, specified, or narrowed in some way, then such noun, term, or phrase will expressly include additional adjectives, descriptive terms, or other modifiers in accordance with the normal precepts of English grammar. Absent the use of such adjectives, descriptive terms, or modifiers, it is the intent that such nouns, terms, or phrases be given their plain, and ordinary English meaning to those skilled in the applicable arts as set forth above.
Further, the inventors are fully informed of the standards and application of the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Thus, the use of the words “function,” “means” or “step” in the Detailed Description or Description of the Drawings or claims is not intended to somehow indicate a desire to invoke the special provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are sought to be invoked to define the inventions, the claims will specifically and expressly state the exact phrases “means for” or “step for”, and will also recite the word “function” (i.e., will state “means for performing the function of [insert function]”), without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material or act in support of the function. Thus, even when the claims recite a “means for performing the function of . . . ” or “step for performing the function of . . . ,” if the claims also recite any structure, material or acts in support of that means or step, or that perform the recited function, then it is the clear intention of the inventors not to invoke the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f). Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are invoked to define the claimed aspects, it is intended that these aspects not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function as described in alternative embodiments or forms of the disclosure, or that are well known present or later-developed, equivalent structures, material or acts for performing the claimed function.
The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the specification, drawings, and the claims.
Implementations will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the appended drawings, where like designations denote like elements, and:
Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of implementations.
This disclosure, its aspects and implementations, are not limited to the specific material types, components, methods, or other examples disclosed herein. Many additional material types, components, methods, and procedures known in the art are contemplated for use with particular implementations from this disclosure. Accordingly, for example, although particular implementations are disclosed, such implementations and implementing components may comprise any components, models, types, materials, versions, quantities, and/or the like as is known in the art for such systems and implementing components, consistent with the intended operation.
The word “exemplary,” “example,” or various forms thereof are used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” or as an “example” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Furthermore, examples are provided solely for purposes of clarity and understanding and are not meant to limit or restrict the disclosed subject matter or relevant portions of this disclosure in any manner. It is to be appreciated that a myriad of additional or alternate examples of varying scope could have been presented, but have been omitted for purposes of brevity.
While this disclosure includes a number of implementations that are described in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail particular implementations with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the disclosed methods and systems, and is not intended to limit the broad aspect of the disclosed concepts to the implementations illustrated.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and which show by way of illustration possible implementations. It is to be understood that other implementations may be utilized, and structural, as well as procedural, changes may be made without departing from the scope of this document. As a matter of convenience, various components will be described using exemplary materials, sizes, shapes, dimensions, and the like. However, this document is not limited to the stated examples and other configurations are possible and within the teachings of the present disclosure. As will become apparent, changes may be made in the function and/or arrangement of any of the elements described in the disclosed exemplary implementations without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.
Turning now to the figures,
The table surface support frame 120 may comprise a plurality of arms 130 including a plurality of table arms 135 and a plurality of support arms 140, a top hub 150, and a bottom hub 160. The top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 may be slidably coupled to the support post 101. The plurality of table arms 135 may be hingedly coupled to the top hub 150. In addition, each of the plurality of support arms 140 may have a hub end 142 and a support end 144 opposite the hub end 142. Each hub end 142 may be hingedly coupled to the bottom hub 160 and each support end 144 may be hingedly coupled to a corresponding table arm 135 of the plurality of table arms 135. The top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 may be slidable along the support post 101, as shown by directional arrow 105, so as to actuate the expansion of the table 122 and/or position the top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 to accommodate various table setting heights, which thereby provides for an adjustable table height.
The term “engages” and any derivative forms of the term, as used throughout this disclosure, is meant to convey that the elements described in association with the term may be coupled, secured, affixed, moveable, slidable, and the like, such that a relationship is established between such elements and that such relationship is not limited merely by any limitation of the semantics used herein.
The support post 101 may also have a hub stop 108 fixedly coupled to the central post 109. The hub stop 108 may be located above the top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 along the central post 109, as shown in
As shown in
Referring to
The support post 101 may have an interior hub stop 197 located on the central post 109 between the top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 to provide appropriate spacing between the top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 when the collapsible table 122 is in the expanded position (see
The support post 101 may also have an adjustable stop 458 slidably coupled to the central post 109 below the bottom hub 160. The adjustable stop 458 is configured to lock onto the central post 109 at any of a plurality of selectable heights. Additionally, the adjustable stop 458 defines a minimum height for the bottom hub 160. The height of the collapsible table 122 above the ground or other surface is adjustable based on the height of the adjustable stop 458. To adjust the height of the adjustable stop 458, the adjustable stop 458 may be slid along the central post 109 to a first height of the plurality of selectable heights. The adjustable stop 458 may then be affixed to the central post 109 at the first height. The adjustable stop 458 is adjustable independent of whether the collapsible table 122 is in the collapsed position or in the expanded position. In some embodiments, the adjustable stop 458 is fixedly coupled to the bottom hub 160, as shown in
The adjustable stop 458 may be affixed to the central post 109 in any manner known in the art. In particular embodiments, as shown in
In particular embodiments, the adjustable stop 458 may be positioned between the top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 and provides a support function to the table system 103, acting as either or both of a barrier stop to prevent over-actuation of the table by either of the top hub 150 and the bottom hub 160 sliding along the central post 109, or to act as a hub stop against which the top hub 150 or bottom hub 160 may be forced against to expand the table.
In some embodiments, the top hub 150, the bottom hub 160, the adjustable stop 458, and/or the hub stop 108 may be releasably securable to the support post 101 by at least one of; a compression clamp, a screw clamp, a friction clamp, a thumb screw, a pin lock, or other like releasably securing mechanisms now known in the art or developed in the future.
With return reference to
Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that while this disclosure describes primarily an integrated table 103 in conjunction with a beach umbrella, the integrated table 103 may be employed by any umbrella system, including, for example, residential or commercial patio-style type umbrellas. Moreover, the integrated table 103 is not limited to be incorporated solely with various umbrella systems, but rather may be employed by any support structure comprising a support post 101 that the collapsible/expandable table system 103 may couple to, including, for example, standalone tables without umbrella canopies, portable canopy structures, fence posts, and any other support structure.
For example, in some embodiments, the table system 103 may exist independently from a completely integrated system 100. As shown by
Referring back to
With continued reference to
The table system 103 may have various characteristics. For example, the table system 103 may be rotatable about the support post 101. In addition, as explained above, the adjustable stop 458 may function as a hub stop, as shown in
Turning to
In the foregoing description, integrated beach umbrella systems and table systems have been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments. Various modifications and changes may be made, however, without departing from the scope of the integrated beach umbrella systems and table system as set forth herein. The detailed description and figures are illustrative, rather than restrictive, and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the various exemplary embodiments. Accordingly, the scope of the exemplary embodiments should be determined by the claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by merely the examples described.
For example, the steps recited in any method or process claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the specific order presented in the claims. Additionally, the components and/or elements recited in any article, system, apparatus and/or device claims may be assembled or otherwise operationally configured in a variety of permutations and are accordingly not limited to the specific configuration recited in the claims.
Benefits, other advantages and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to particular embodiments; however, any benefit, advantage, solution to problem or any element that may cause any particular benefit, advantage or solution to occur or to become more pronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essential features or components of any or all the claims.
As used herein, the terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “having”, “including”, “includes” “is” or any variation thereof, are intended to reference a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, system, device, composition or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements recited, but may also include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, system, device, composition or apparatus. Other combinations and/or modifications of the above-described structures, arrangements, applications, proportions, elements, materials or components used in the practice of integrated beach umbrella and table systems, in addition to those not specifically recited, may be varied or otherwise particularly adapted to specific environments, manufacturing specifications, design parameters or other operating requirements without departing from the general principles of the same.
As used herein, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” “fourth,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of integrated beach umbrella and table systems and their methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.
The terms “left,” “right,” “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “bottom,” “side,” “under,” “over,” and the like in the description and in the claims, if any, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of integrated beach umbrella systems and table systems and their methods of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as directly or indirectly connected in a physical, mechanical, electrical, magnetic, or other manner.
It will be understood that implementations of a support post are not limited to the specific assemblies, devices and components disclosed in this document, as virtually any assemblies, devices and components consistent with the intended operation of a support post may be used. Accordingly, for example, although particular support posts, and other assemblies, devices and components are disclosed, such may include any shape, size, style, type, model, version, class, measurement, concentration, material, weight, quantity, and/or the like consistent with the intended operation of support posts. Implementations are not limited to uses of any specific assemblies, devices and components; provided that the assemblies, devices and components selected are consistent with the intended operation of a support post.
Accordingly, the components defining any support post may be formed of any of many different types of materials or combinations thereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that the materials selected are consistent with the intended operation of a support post. For example, the components may be formed of: polymers such as thermoplastics (such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate, Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy, Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; glasses (such as quartz glass), carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/or other like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper, lead, iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel, brass, nickel, tin, antimony, pure aluminum, 1100 aluminum, aluminum alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys, such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitable material; and/or any combination of the foregoing thereof. In instances where a part, component, feature, or element is governed by a standard, rule, code, or other requirement, the part may be made in accordance with, and to comply under such standard, rule, code, or other requirement.
Various support posts may be manufactured using conventional procedures as added to and improved upon through the procedures described here. Some components defining a support post may be manufactured simultaneously and integrally joined with one another, while other components may be purchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembled with the integral components. Various implementations may be manufactured using conventional procedures as added to and improved upon through the procedures described here.
Accordingly, manufacture of these components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion, pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resin transfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling, reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding, soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. If any of the components are manufactured separately, they may then be coupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, a fastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/or the like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example, depending on, among other considerations, the particular material forming the components.
It will be understood that methods for manufacturing or assembling support posts are not limited to the specific order of steps as disclosed in this document. Any steps or sequence of steps of the assembly of a support post indicated herein are given as examples of possible steps or sequence of steps and not as limitations, since various assembly processes and sequences of steps may be used to assemble support posts.
The implementations of a support post described are by way of example or explanation and not by way of limitation. Rather, any description relating to the foregoing is for the exemplary purposes of this disclosure, and implementations may also be used with similar results for a variety of other applications employing a support post.
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