Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
FOLDING TABLE PLATFORM FOR USE ON A VERTICAL SHAFT OR
POLE
RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims priority of U.S.
Provisional patent application No. 62/665,303, filed
May 01, 2018.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
In general, the present invention relates to
table platforms and other such structures that attach
to vertical poles and shafts. More particularly, the
present invention relates to platform that are
attached to vertical poles at hinge joints and rotate
into place from a stored position along the length of
the vertical pole.
2. Prior Art Description
Large umbrellas, such as beach umbrellas and
patio umbrellas are inherently top heavy. As such, the
shaft of the umbrella must be anchored into the ground
or placed in a stand in order to hold the umbrella
upright. On patios, large umbrellas are typically
placed in support stands. This avoids the need to dig
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an anchor hole in the ground. Often the stand for the
umbrella is part of, or used in conjunction with, a
patio table. The shaft of the umbrella passes through
a hole in the center of the table, wherein the table
acts as a stand and holds the umbrella in place. The
umbrella then provides shade over and around the
supporting table. Such prior art table stands are
exemplified by U.S. Patent No. 2002/0036008 to Hickam.
Providing a table platform around the shaft of an
umbrella provides many conveniences. For example, it
provides a shaded place to hold food and drink. It
also provides a shaded place to hold electronic
devices, such as cell phones, that can overheat if
left in direct sunlight. However, although using a
table platform is practical on a patio, the use of
table stands for an umbrella is very impractical when
being used at a beach or a public park. Umbrellas,
chairs and other such gear must be carried to a beach
or park before it is erected. Often the umbrella and
gear must be carried a long distance to the beach or
park. Carrying large heavy table stands such distances
is both difficult and impractical.
Recognizing the convenience of having a table
platform under an umbrella, lightweight table
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platforms have been developed and marketed, that
attach directly to the shaft of an umbrella. Such
table platforms tend to be rigid platforms that attach
to the shaft of the umbrella with tools. Such prior
art platforms are exemplified by U.S. Patent No.
6,837,386 to Kent, U.S. Patent No. 5,197,394 to
Schmidt, U.S. Patent No. 2,805,109 to Kopmar, and U.S.
Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0246091 to
Becker. The obvious problem with such prior art
platforms is that they are difficult to install and
remove. Furthermore, the presence of the platform
dramatically increases the bulk of the umbrella,
making the umbrella difficult to transport and store.
The platform also often prevents the umbrella from
being able to fully close.
In the prior art, some folding platforms have
been produced that are designed to attach to the pole
of an umbrella. Such prior art folding platforms are
exemplified by U.S. Patent No. 1,373,665 to Lozon. The
problems with such folding platforms are twofold.
First, the platforms fold downward in the direction of
gravity. As a result, when objects, such as beverages
are placed on the platform, the platform is biased
into its folded position. This limits the amount of
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weight that can placed on the platforms before the
platforms collapse. The second problem is that the
folding platforms rely upon linkage arms to hold the
platform open. For strength, the linkage arms are
typically made of steel and contain rivet joints. The
steel and the rivet joints are expensive components
that easily rust or corrode. This is especially true
when exposed to the brine mists along an ocean beach.
As the linkage arms rust and corrode, these components
become difficult to move and lock into place. As a
result, the support components are left unlocked.
Consequently, the structural support for the platform
is compromised and its ability to support any
significant weight is undermined.
U.S. Patent No. 9,706,834 to Taylor shows a
folding table that attaches to a pole. The table is
made of cloth and is held up by narrow support arms
that have a slight angle of inclination. The support
arms are made lightweight and bend easily. Much of the
strength provided by the support arms come from the
slight angle of inclination provided to the support
arms. However, if a heavy object, such as a bowl of
fruit or a six pack of beer, is placed on the table,
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the support arms can buckle and cause part of the
table to collapse.
The present invention is an improved stand
assembly with a folding table support that is stronger,
more reliable, easier to utilize, and cheaper to
manufacture than prior art designs. The details of the
present invention are described and claimed below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a platform assembly that
is attached to a vertical shaft, such as that of an
umbrella or umbrella stand. The platform assembly
includes a hub that is mounted in a fixed position to
the vertical shaft. A plurality of cradle supports
extend from the hub. Each of the cradle supports has a
first end that is affixed to the hub, an open second
end, a bottom surface, and two opposing side surfaces
that bracket the bottom surface. This cradle support
structure defines an open trough having an open top
and a first width between the opposing side surfaces.
A plurality of support arms are provided that are
connected to the cradle supports with pivot
connections. The pivot connections enable each of the
support arms to rotate between an open position and a
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folded position. When in the open position each of the
support arms lay flush in the open troughs of the
cradle supports. When in the folded position, each of
the support arms are angled away from the open trough
to a position that is parallel or near parallel to the
vertical shaft.
A flexible panel is supported by the support
arms. The flexible panel is held taut in a horizontal
plane when the support arms are in their open
positions. The flexible panel is folded and collapsed
when the support arms are moved to their folded
positions.
Protrusions are provided on each of the cradle
supports. The protrusions extend into the open trough.
The protrusions create a gap that is smaller than the
width of the support arms. As such, the support arms
must be forced past the protrusions by applying a
force in excess of some threshold. The protrusions,
therefore, lock the support arms into either their
open positions or their closed positions until a
threshold moving force is applied.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a better understanding of the present
invention, reference is made to the following
description of exemplary embodiments thereof,
considered in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a front view of a table stand assembly
in its open configuration;
FIG. 2 is a front view of a table stand assembly
in its folded configuration;
FIG. 3 is a fragmented view of a hub and support
arm used in the table stand assembly and shown in an
open configuration;
FIG. 4 is a fragmented view of the hub and
support arm used in the table stand assembly and shown
in a folded configuration;
FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the cradle
support shown in the embodiment of Fig. 3;
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FIG. 6 shows an alternate embodiment where the
table stand assembly is integrated into the structure
of an umbrella;
FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment, wherein the
present invention is embodied as a shelf instead of a
table; and
FIG. 8 is a fragmented exploded view of the
alternate embodiment of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention table stand assembly can be
configured in many ways and can be adapted for use in
many applications. For example, the table stand
assembly can be configured as part of an umbrella pole.
Although the present invention can be used in many
such applications, only three exemplary embodiments
are illustrated and described. The exemplary
embodiments are selected in order to set forth three
of the best modes contemplated for the invention. The
illustrated embodiments, however, are merely exemplary
and should not be considered limitations when
interpreting the scope of the appended claims.
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Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the present
invention is embodied as a table stand assembly 10.
The table stand assembly 10 can be used to support a
secondary object, such as a beach umbrella, a flag
pole or a fishing pole. The table stand assembly 10
has a center shaft 12. The center shaft 12 is tubular
and has a first end 14 and an opposite second end 16.
The first end 14 is open to receive the secondary
object. The opposite second end 16 is closed and
terminates with an auger 20. The auger 20 is tapered
and has flights 18 that enable the auger 20 to be
easily screwed into sand or other loose soil by simply
rotating the shaft 12 with a clockwise rotation.
The table stand assembly 10 utilizes a central
hub 22 that is anchored to the shaft 12 in a fixed
position. The central hub 22 can be anchored in place
using mechanical fasteners and/or adhesive. Likewise,
the central hub 22 can be made part of the shaft 12
during the manufacture of the shaft 12.
A plurality of support arms 24 are provided that
attach to the hub 22 at pivot connections 26. The
pivot connections 26 enable the various support arms
24 to move between a folded configuration (Fig. 2) and
an open configuration (Fig. 1). In the folded
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configuration, the support arms 24 are parallel, or
near parallel, to the shaft 12. In the open
configuration, the support arms 24 are inclined at an
angle relative to the vertical shaft. The angle of
inclination Al is preferably between forty degrees and
eighty degrees. Each support arm 24 has first end 25
and an opposite second end 27. The first end 25
connects to the central hub 22 and the second end 27
engages a flexible panel 30.
The flexible panel 30 has a peripheral geometric
shape. The peripheral geometric shape is a polygon,
wherein a number of straight sides 31 and salient
points 32 are symmetrically formed along the periphery
of the flexible panel 30. The number of salient points
32 corresponds to the number of support arms 24
extending from the central hub 22. In the shown
embodiment, there are four support arms 24. As such,
the flexible panel 30 has a rhombus shape with four
salient points 32. The support arms 24 engage the
flexible panel 30 at or near the salient points 32.
The flexible panel 30 and the support arms 24 are
sized so that the flexible panel 30 is pulled taut by
the spreading support arms 24 as the support arms 24
move into their open configurations.
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The shaft 12 passes through the geometric center
of the flexible panel 30. To accommodate the shaft 12,
a hole 34 is formed in the center of the flexible
panel 30. If desired, an optional collar 36 can be
fastened to the flexible panel 30 around the hole 34
to help the flexible panel 30 move along the shaft 12
during folding and unfolding. The collar 36 may be
free moving on the shaft 12. Alternatively, the collar
36 can be fixed to the shaft 12 to help increase the
tautness of the flexible panel 30 when the support
arms 24 move to their open configurations.
Referring to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 in conjunction
with Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, it can be seen that the
central hub 22 has cradle supports 38 radially
extending therefrom. Each cradle support 38 has a
first end 41 that is affixed to the central hub. The
cradle support 38 has a bottom surface 43 that is
cradled between two opposing side surfaces 45. The
bottom surface 43 and the side surfaces 45 extend from
the first end 41 to an open second end 47. The cradle
support 38 has an open top, therein creating a half-
tube construct that defines an open trough 40. Each
trough 40 preferably extends between one and five
centimeters from the hub 22 and is angled at the same
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angle of inclination Al as is desired of the support
arms 24, when the support arms 24 are in their open
configuration.
Each support arm 24 is pivotably connected to a
cradle support 38. A pivot pin 42 extends through the
side surfaces 45 of each support arm 24. The pivot pin
42 passes though the structure of the support arm 24
proximate its first end 25. This creates a pivot
connection between the cradle supports 38 and the
support arms 24. This enables the support arms 24 to
rotate between their open configurations and their
folded configurations. When the support arms 24 are
rotated to their open configurations, the support arms
24 lay flush against the bottom surfaces 43 of the
troughs 40, wherein the support arms 24 are
mechanically supported by the cradle supports 38 at
the angle of inclination Al. Conversely, when the
support arms 24 are in their folded configurations,
the support arms 24 extend up and away from the
troughs 40 in a nearly vertical orientation. See Fig.
4.
A set of protrusions 44 are formed on the side
surfaces 45 of the cradle supports 38. The protrusions
44 face into the open trough 40. Referring to Fig. 5
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in conjunction with Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, it can be seen
that the open trough 40 has a first width W1 between
the two opposing side surfaces 45. The first width W1
is slightly greater than the width W2 of the support
arms 24. In this manner, a support arm 24 can freely
lay in the trough 40 when in its open configuration.
The protrusions 44 are positioned high in the trough
40. As such, there is enough area below the
protrusions 44 to accommodate a support arm 24, when
the support arm 24 is in its open configuration. The
presence of the protrusions 44 narrows the trough 40
between the protrusions 44. The width W3 between the
protrusions 44 is narrower than the width W2 of the
support arm 24. As a consequence, the support arm 24
must be forced passed the protrusions 44 when being
moved between its open configuration and its folded
configuration. When the support arm 24 is rotated
against the protrusions 44 with enough force, the side
surfaces 45 of the cradle supports 38 elastically
spread to enable passage of the support arm 24. As
soon as the support arm 24 passes, the side surfaces
45 and protrusions 44 return to their original
positions.
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As can be seen in Fig. 3, when the support arms
24 are in their open configurations, the support arms
24 are positioned in the troughs 40 between the bottom
surfaces 43 of the cradle supports 38 and the
protrusions 44. The presence of the protrusions 44
prevent the support arms 24 from leaving their open
configurations until a strong enough folding force is
applied. The force required to move the support arm 24
passed the protrusions 44 is greater than the
counteracting tension forces exerted by the stretching
flexible panel 30. As such, the support arms 24 become
locked in their open configurations.
Using manual force, the support arms 24 can be
rotated passed the protrusions 44 from the open
configuration of Fig. 3 to the folded configuration of
Fig. 4. Once the support arms 24 are rotated into the
folded configuration, the protrusions 44, act as stops
and prevent the support arms 24 from inadvertently
moving toward the open configuration. It will
therefore be understood that the presence of the
protrusions 44 help maintain the support arms 24 in
both their open configurations and their folded
configurations.
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When the support arms 24 are in their open
configurations, they stretch the flexible panel 30
taut. The flexible panel 30 is stretched into or near
a horizontal plane. As can be best seen in Fig. 1, the
flexible panel 30 can have a variety of auxiliary
elements 46 sewn into its fabric. Those auxiliary
elements 46 include cup holders, cell phone holders,
eyeglass holders and the like. The number and type of
auxiliary elements 46 is a matter of design choice.
It will be further understood that in order to
utilize the invention, the table stand assembly 10 is
carried to a location in its stowed configuration. The
stand assembly 10 is placed on the ground and the
auger 20 is turned into the soil or sand. Once the
auger 20 is set, the support arms 24 are rotated from
their folded configurations to their open
configurations, therein stretching the flexible panel
30 taut. The flexible panel 30 can then be used to
support items, such as drinks, phones and sunscreen.
The more weight that is added to the flexible panel 30,
the more force presses the support arms 24 into their
cradle supports 38. Accordingly, the flexible panel 30
can hold large weights without being biased closed.
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In the first embodiment of Fig. 1 through Fig. 4,
a table stand assembly is shown that is capable of
holding an umbrella, flag pole or the like. Referring
to Fig. 6, an embodiment is shown where the table
stand assembly 50 is constructed as part of a beach
umbrella 52. In such an embodiment, it will be
understood that a hub 53 can be attached to, or made
part of, the pole 54 of the beach umbrella 52. The
workings of the table stand assembly 50 remain the
same as described for the first embodiment.
In all previous embodiments, the table stand
assembly symmetrically supports a flexible panel
around the entire circumference of a shaft. However,
this need not be the case. Referring to Fig. 7 in
conjunction with Fig. 8, an alternate embodiment of a
table stand assembly 60 is shown that creates a shelf
that extends from a shaft 62 in only one direction.
The table stand assembly 60 has a hub 64 that is
either affixed to the shaft 62 or made as part of the
shaft 62. Cradle supports 66 extend from the hub 64.
The cradle supports 66 are not symmetrically disposed.
Rather, the cradle supports 66 extend in only limited
directions. In the shown embodiment, two cradle
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supports 66 are shown. The two cradle supports 66 are
oriented at or near a right angle.
Support arms 68 are connected to the cradle
supports 66 in the same manner as was described for
the first embodiment. The support arms 68 engage and
support a flexible panel 70. In the shown embodiment,
the flexible panel 70 is triangular shaped and extends
primarily in one direction from the shaft 62. When
open, the flexible panel 70 can be used as a shelf to
hold items such as a phone, food or a beverage.
In Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, an optional support rod 72
is shown. The support rod 72 has a first end 74 and an
opposite second end 76. The first end 74 of the
support rod 72 is affixed to the hub 64 below the
plane of the cradle supports 66. The first end 74 of
the support rod 72 is attached to the hub 64 at a
hinge connection 78. The second end 76 of the support
rod 72 engages the flexible panel 70 at some point
between the two support arms 68. Since the support rod
72 originates at a lower point on the hub 64, the
support rod 72 is inclined at a steeper angle than are
the support arms 68. This enables the support rod 72
to bear more weight than the support arms 68. As such,
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the capacity of the table stand assembly 60 remains
high even though there are only two support arms 68.
It will be understood that the embodiments of the
present invention that are illustrated and described
are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the
art can make many variations to those embodiments. All
such embodiments are intended to be included within
the scope of the present invention as defined by the
appended claims.
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