AU2004100109A4 - A Garden Utility Table - Google Patents

Description

-I

P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION Invention Title: A GARDEN UTILITY TABLE Applicant: SHAYNE CRAWFORD The invention is described in the following statement: 1 W:ISASKIAMPatentsAIRN7t2155.doc f; 2 A Garden Utility Table Field of the Invention The invention broadly relates to a utility table having particular utility in the garden. The invention relates more particularly to a utility table suitable for attachment to a refuse receptacle.

Background to the Invention Various types of portable table are available that can be used to provide a temporary workspace in the garden, garage or tool shed. Such tables may be collapsible enabling a user to set up the table in a convenient position for use and take the table down when no longer for ease of transport and/or storage.

Although portable tables offer a convenient workspace which may be reduced to a compact form for transport and storage, this portability often comes at the cost of the stability of the workspace when in use.

Potting tables are specifically designed for use in the garden to provide a convenient workspace for performing tasks including the potting of plants, bulbs and cuttings. Some potting tables provide various compartments in which small hand tools and accessories can be organised within easy reach of a user.

Potting tables typically provide a stable workspace for performing various garden related tasks.

Potting tables tend to be bulky and are usually not readily portable. Most potting tables therefore require a substantial designated space for use and storage.

Performing gardening tasks such as collecting plant cuttings and potting plants generates a certain amount of garden refuse or green waste. Such garden refuse must be discarded in an appropriate refuse receptacle. In Australia, many municipalities provide a separate refuse receptacle specifically for the collection of garden refuse or green waste which is subsequently recycled into mulch. There would be an advantage if the workspace for performing such gardening tasks could be associated with some means for discarding the garden refuse or green waste.

The discussion of background to the invention herein is included to explain the context of the invention. This is not to be taken as an admission that W:ASASKIMPatenI SDeCA Garden Utility Table 13-02-04.doc any of the material referred to was published, known or part of the common general knowledge in Australia as at the priority date of any of the claims.

Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide a garden utility table which overcomes at least one of the problems of the prior art.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a garden utility table for attachment to a refuse receptacle having an opening, the garden utility table including: a working surface; at least one aperture in the garden utility table; means for attaching the garden utility table to the receptacle; wherein the garden utility table is attachable to the refuse receptacle so that the aperture is positioned over the opening.

The garden utility table may include means for mounting garden tools and/or pots on the garden utility table. Such means could include securing tools or pots to the garden utility table using suitable straps or the attachment of one or more pockets formed from a suitable material to an edge of the garden utility table such that the pocket or pockets can receive garden tools or pots for storage. It is preferred that each means for mounting a garden tool or pot on the garden utility table includes a hole having a shape and size configured to accommodate the garden tool or pot.

Preferably, the working surface has a first area and the opening has a second area, the first area being greater than the second area. Therefore, a significantly dimensioned working surface is provided on which a user may perform various tasks.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the refuse receptacle has a vertical axis and an elongate handle mounted on the refuse receptacle transversely to the vertical axis and the garden utility table is attachable to the handle. The garden utility table may be attachable to the handle by means of a hook-shaped member configured to cooperatively receive a region of the elongate handle.

A particular advantage of the present invention is that the garden utility table is configured to be cooperatively attached to a refuse receptacle to W:\SASKIAMPtent SpecAA Garden Utility Table 13-02.04.doc 4 provide the convenience of a portable working space associated with a refuse receptacle for discarding plants off cuts, leaf litter and the like. Furthermore, the refuse receptacle may have a relatively large capacity which does not need to be emptied frequently or require transfer of the garden refuse or green waste to a larger refuse receptacle for storage prior to collection.

Furthermore, the garden utility table offers great versatility for a large range of outdoor uses.

The garden utility table is also preferably relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the garden utility table is easy for a user to handle and assemble (that is, to mount on the refuse receptacle for attachment) and because of its compact form when disassembled, it is easy to store. Therefore, a working surface can be conveniently provided in any spot within the garden or garage.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will now be described in further detail by reference to the attached drawings illustrating example forms of the invention. It is to be understood that the particularity of the drawings does not supersede the generality of the preceding description of the invention. In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a mobile refuse receptacle suitable for the garden utility table to be attached to in use.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the garden utility table according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from above.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the garden utility table of Fig. 2 as viewed from the side.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the garden utility table of Fig. 2 attached to a mobile refuse receptacle in use.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Fig. 1 shows a refuse receptacle such as those issued by many municipal authorities throughout Australia to facilitate storage and collection of household and garden refuse. The refuse receptacle 10 shown in Fig. 1 is of the mobile variety having a pair of wheels 12 mounted towards one side of the W:ASASKIAPatent SpecA Garden Utility Table 13-02-04.doc refuse receptacle 10 to provide mobility. The refuse receptacle 10 has a vertical axis 14, that is, the axis that is vertical when the refuse receptacle 10 is in an upright position and the pair of wheels 12 are in contact with the ground.

An elongate handle 16 is typically mounted on the mobile refuse receptacle transverse to the vertical axis 14 and in proximity to an opening 18 in the receptacle. Provision of the handle 16 facilitates relatively easy handling of the mobile refuse receptacle 10 even when the refuse receptacle 10 is filled to capacity.

The opening 18 in the refuse receptacle 10 is provided for receiving refuse materials. A closure 20 is typically provided to cover the opening 18, the closure 20 being moveable between an open and a closed position.

It is to be understood that the garden utility table of the present invention may be adapted for use with a various types of refuse receptacles of different shapes and sizes and regardless of whether such refuse receptacles include auxiliary features such as wheels and closures.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the garden utility table 22 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The garden utility table 22 includes a working surface 24 and at least one aperture 26 in the garden utility table 22.

The garden utility table 22 is configured to be attached to a refuse receptacle when in use. The garden utility table 22 also includes means for attaching the garden utility table 22 to the refuse receptacle While the table is mounted on the refuse receptacle 10 and attached thereto, the aperture 26 in the working surface 24 of the garden utility table 22 is positioned over an opening 18 in the refuse receptacle 10, thereby providing a convenient means for discarding garden refuse or green waste which is generated whilst performing various gardening tasks on the working surface 24.

For instance, garden refuse could include plant off cuts left over after potting plant cuttings, leaf litter, lawn clippings and the like. It will be appreciated that there are a wide range of uses for the garden utility table 22 of the present invention and that its uses are not limited to those outlined above by way of example.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 2, the garden utility table 22 includes means for mounting garden tools and means for mounting pots on the garden utility table 22. This enables garden tools and pots to be W:tSASKIAPatent SpeckA Garden Utility Table 13-02.04.doc 6 conveniently located within easy reach of a user. The means for mounting the items could be any suitable means of securing and/or supporting the items on the garden utility table 22. For example, the means of attaching the garden tools and/or pots could include leather or plastic strap using a buckle fastener or similar for securing such items to the garden utility table 22. It has been considered that it would be more convenient however, if the means did not require any significant action on behalf of the user to disengage the tools or pots from the garden utility table 22. Therefore, it is preferable that each means for mounting a garden tool or pot on the garden utility table 22 simply includes a hole 28, 30 having an appropriate shape and size configured to accommodate a garden tool or pot as shown in Fig. 2.

The working surface 24 of the garden utility table 22 has a first area and the opening 18 in the refuse receptacle 10 has a second area. The first area is greater than the second area. As a result, the sides of the garden utility table 22 will tend to overhang the edges of the refuse receptacle 10 creating a working surface 24 of dimension to be practical in use.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the garden utility table 22 is attachable to a handle 16 of the refuse receptacle 10. The garden utility table 22 may be attachable to the handle 16 of the refuse receptacle 10 by means of a hook-shaped member 32 as shown in Fig. 3. The hook-shaped member 32 is configured to cooperatively engage a region of the handle 16. The hookshaped member 32 shown in Fig. 3 is configured to enable the garden utility table 22 to be rotatable about the handle 16 of the refuse receptacle 10 and also to be easily removable therefrom when no longer required for use.

In the event that the refuse receptacle 10 has a closure 20 as shown in Fig. 1, the garden utility table 22 is attached to the handle 16 when the closure is in the open position.

Fig. 4 shows the garden utility table 22 of Fig. 2 mounted on and attached to the mobile refuse receptacle 10 of Fig. 1.

When mounted on the refuse receptacle 10, the garden utility table 22 is supported by the refuse receptacle 10 to provide a relatively stable work surface. If the garden utility table 22 is mounted on a mobile refuse receptacle it provides the additional advantage that the garden utility table 22 is mobile and can be wheeled around the garden.

W:1SASKIAPatent SpecA Garden Utility Table 13-02-04.doc The garden utility table 22 is intended to be simple and relatively cheap to manufacture. The garden utility table 22 involves a simple design and does not require attachment hardware, such as hinges, bolts or screws.

By virtue of its simple design, the garden utility table 22 is easy to attach to the refuse receptacle 10 when required for use and easy to disassemble for storage when required.

It is to be understood that various additions, alterations and/or modifications may be made to the parts previously described without departing from the ambit of the invention.

W:\SASKIAPatent SpecA Garden Utility Table 13-02-04.doc

Claims (4)

1. A garden utility table for attachment to a refuse receptacle having an opening, the garden utility table including: a working surface; at least one aperture in the garden utility table; means for attaching the garden utility table to the receptacle; wherein the garden utility table is attachable to the refuse receptacle so that the aperture is positioned over the opening.

2. A garden utility table according to claim 1, further including means for mounting garden tools and/or pots on the garden utility table.

3. A garden utility table according to claim 2, wherein each means for mounting a garden tool or pot on the garden utility table includes a hole having a shape and size configured to accommodate the garden tool or pot.

4. A garden utility table according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the refuse receptacle has a vertical axis and an elongate handle mounted on the refuse receptacle transversely to the vertical axis and the garden utility table is attachable to the handle. A garden utility table according to claim 4, wherein the garden utility table is attachable to the handle by means of a hook-shaped member configured to cooperatively receive a region of the elongate handle. Dated: 13 February 2004 Phillips Ormonde Fitzpatrick Patent Attorneys for: Shayne Crawford #.4 W:\SASKIAPatent Spec\A Garden Utility Table 13-02-04.doc