GB2331452A

GB2331452A - Parasol mounting arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2331452A
Application number: GB9724213A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George William Tomkinson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-11-18
Filing date: 1997-11-18
Publication date: 1999-05-26
Anticipated expiration: 2017-11-18
Also published as: GB2331452B; GB9724213D0

Abstract

An arrangement for mounting a parasol to a table comprises a tubular member (24) which is mounted to the underside of the table top, below an orifice formed through the table top, by a set of struts (16-22). The tubular member (24) receives the trunk of the parasol and includes clamping means (40,42), operable when the mounting arrangement is fitted to the table, for preventing vertical movement of the parasol trunk.

Description

2331452 P&rasol Mounting Arrangement The present invention relates to an

arrangement for mounting a parasol to a table.

Where a table is used outdoors, it is often desirable to provide some means for shading the table andlor persons sat thereabout from sunlight. To provide the necessary shade, it is well known for the top of the table to have an orifice through which the trunk of a large parasol may be fitted. However, in order to stabilise the parasol and to prevent it from being lifted upwards by a gust of wind, the foot of the trunk has hitherto been formed with a spike so that it may be buried into the ground below the table or, more typically, has been fitted to a heavy stand sitting on the ground below the table.

Such an arrangement, whilst generally effective, is limited in that the trunk of the parasol, or the stand to which it is fitted, may obstruct the feet of persons sat at the table.

1 have now devised an arrangement which overcomes the limitations of existing arrangements for mounting a parasol to a table.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a table comprising a top having an orifice therethrough for receiving the trunk of a parasol, and a bracket having a tubular member supported by and extending from the table top, coaxially with the orifice, and arranged to receive said trunk, said bracket comprising clamping means, operable when the bracket is fitted to the table, for preventing vertical movement of the parasol trunk.

Preferably the bracket extends downwards from the underside of the table top: the arrangement is aesthetically pleasing in that the bracket is obscured from view. The clamping means can be reached when required, but are in a position where they are not likely to be inadvertently or deliberately released.

Preferably the bracket comprises a tubular member spaced from the table top, and a plurality of struts connecting 2 i i v the tubular mamber to the table top. Each strut may be connected to the tubular member by a hinge or may be formed of a deformable material so that the angle between the strut and the tubular member may be independently adjusted. Thus, the distance of the tubular member from the table top may be adjusted and, more importantly, variations in the surface profile of the table top may be accommodated. Preferably the struts are arranged to extend radially outwards from the tubular member to provide the bracket with increased lateral stability.

Preferably said clamping means comprises means for biasing the trunk of the parasol into contact with the inner surface of the tubular member to clamp the parasol in place. Preferably said biasing means comprises a threaded member, an end of which may be extended into the tubular member through an aperture in its side.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided an arrangement for mounting a parasol to a table, said arrangement comprising a bracket having a tubular member to receive the trunk of a parasol, means for mounting said tubular member in a position coaxial with an orifice through the top of said table, and clamping means, operable when the bracket is fitted to the table, for preventing vertical movement of the parasol trunk.

of the present invention will now be example only and with reference to the in which:

side elevation of a prior art parasol

An embodiment described by way of an accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a mounting arrangement; Figure 2 is a side elevation of a parasol mounting arrangement in accordance with the present invention; and Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the mounting bracket of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a garden bench 2 is shown with a prior art parasol mounting arrangement. The garden bench 2 has an oversized orifice 4 formed in its top portion 6, into which the trunk 8 of a parasol is loosely fitted. To stabilise the parasol and prevent it from being lifted upwards by a gust of wind, the foot 10 of the parasol

3 trunk 8 is attached to a heavy stand 12 sitting on the ground below the bench. However, the lower portion of the parasol trunk 8 and the stand 12 will tend to interfere with the feet of persons sat at the bench.

A parasol mounting arrangement in accordance with the present invention is shown in Figure 2, and comprises a mounting bracket 14 fitted to the underside of the top portion 6 of the bench 2. The bracket 14 supports the foot 10 of the parasol trunk 8 some distance above the ground so that a stand is not required, and so that the lower portion of the trunk 8 does not interfere with the feet of persons sat at the bench 2.

The bracket 14 is shown in greater detail in Figure 3. A plurality of struts 16-22 are provided for connecting a tubular member 24 to the underside of the top portion 6 of the bench 2 so that the tubular member extends coaxially with the oversized orifice 4.

Two of the struts 16,20 are connected to the tubular member 24 by respective hinges 26,28, allowing the angle between the struts and the tubular member to be varied. Additional hinges 30,32 connecting the struts 16,20 to respective apertured feet 34,36 allow the foot apertures 38 to be aligned with the underside of the top portion 6 of the bench 2, so that each foot may be fixed in place by a pair of screws (not shown). This arrangement allows each of the feet 34, 36 to be independently lowered, to accommodate any variation in the surface profile of the underside of the top portion 6 of the bench 2.

It will be appreciated that all four of the struts 16- 22 may be provided with respective hinges for adjusting their angle, or, alternatively, one or more of the struts may instead be formed of a deformable material. thus obviating the requirement for hinges. which might be prohibitively costly to manufacture.

By varying the angle of all four of the struts 16-22, the overall distance of the tubular member 24 from the top portion 6 of the bench 2 may be varied. However. in order to maximise the lateral stability of the bracket 16, it is preferable for the struts 16-22 to project radially outwards, 4 :I 1 preferably at an angle of between 30 and 60 degrees to the tubular member 24, and for the tubular member to extend some distance below the underside of the top portion 6 of the bench 2.

The tubular member 24 is formed with an aperture 40 in its side through which the end of a threaded member 42 may be extended to bias the parasol trunk 8 into contact with the inner surface of the tubular member 24 to clamp the parasol in position.

Whilst in the embodiment illustrated, the tubular member 24 is shown extending downwards from the underside of the top portion 6 of the bench 2, it would remain in accordance with the present invention for the tubular member 24 to extend upwards from the top portion 6 of the bench 2. For example, the bracket 14 may be arranged, as shown in the drawings, but with an elongated tubular member 24 projecting upwards through the orifice 4. Alternatively, the bracket arrangement shown in the drawings may be inverted, with the bracket fitted to the upper side of the top portion 6 of the bench 2.

The mounting arrangement thus described provides a secure means for mounting a parasol to a table which prevents the trunk of the parasol from interfering with the feet of persons sat thereabout.

Claims

1) A table comprising a top having an orifice therethrough for receiving the trunk of a parasol, and a bracket having a tubular member supported by and extending from the table top, coaxially with said orifice, and arranged to receive said trunk, said bracket comprising clamping means, operable when the bracket is fitted to the table, for preventing vertical movement of the parasol trunk.

2) A table as claimed in claim 1, in which said bracket extends downwards from the underside of said table top.

3) A table as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said bracket comprises a tubular member spaced from the table top, and a plurality of struts connecting said tubular member to said table top.

4) A table as claimed in claim 3, in which each said strut is formed of a deformable material or is connected to said tubular member by a hinge, so that the angle between each strut and said tubular member may be independently adjusted.

5) A table as claimed in claim 3 or 4, in which said struts are arranged to extend radially outwards from said tubular member.

6) A table as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, in which said clamping means comprises means for biasing said parasol trunk into contact with the inner surface of said tubular member.

7) A table as claimed in claim 6, in which said biasing means comprises a threaded member, an end of which is extendable into said tubular member through an aperture in a side of said tubular member.

8) An arrangement for mounting a parasol to a table, said 6 arrangement comprising a bracket having a tubular member to receive the trunk of a parasol, means for mounting said tubular member in position coaxial with an orifice through the top of said table, and clamping means, operable when the bracket is fitted to the table, for preventing vertical movement of the parasol trunk.

9) An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, in which said bracket comprises a tubular member and a plurality of struts for connecting said tubular member to the table top.

10) An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, in which said clamping means comprises means for biasing said parasol trunk into contact with the inner surface of said tubular member.

11) A table substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

12) An arrangement for mounting a parasol to a table, said arrangement being substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.