US20050039639A1

US20050039639A1 - Utility table for use in water and on land

Info

Publication number: US20050039639A1
Application number: US10/642,871
Authority: US
Inventors: Holly Espenschied
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-08-18
Filing date: 2003-08-18
Publication date: 2005-02-24

Abstract

A highly buoyant, lightweight and portable utility table for use in any body of water, such as oceans, lakes, fresh water ponds, containment ponds, water towers and pools, as well as on land as a work bench, or for recreational activities such as camping, picnicking, tailgating and table games. The utility table possesses excellent buoyancy with rigidity and resilience for durability, as well as nautical and aerodynamic stability without external support, and is prominently visible for ease of location and safety. The utility table may have a hollow interior, with molded plastic wall construction. The utility table may alternately be of a single component plastic foam or wood construction. The utility table may also possess legs for use on land. The utility table possesses a predominantly flat work surface on one side, with the opposite side possessing multiple-sized containment cavities, without effecting the table's buoyancy or stability.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Applicant has invented a utility table, having multiple applications on both water and land. More particularly, this invention relates to a highly buoyant, nautically and aerodynamically efficient low-drag utility table, which provides exceptional stability in water, with or without external support.
At the present time, typical devises for use as a table on water are primarily designed for light-duty use in recreational applications, such as floatation devises with beverage holders and sunshades for swimming pools. These recreational devises are limited in application, ignoring other more practical usage, such as maintenance of marine equipment, docks, water towers, containment ponds, water parks, pools and the like. None of the previous efforts in this area taken either alone or in combination teach or suggest all of the benefits of this invention.
An important advantage of the applicant's utility table design is the flexibility for applications on land, as well as on any body of water.
The unique ergonomic design of the applicant's utility table offers functionality and versatility due to the specific sizes and placement of the cavities. The multiple-size cavities accommodate, but are not limited to, tools, hardware, supplies and containers, such as bottles, jars, cans, tumblers, bowls and personal items.
Applicant has found that it is preferable for the utility table to be of one piece construction, substantially constant in cross-section, fabricated from resilient, impact resistant and durable materials that are chemically inert, highly ultraviolet stable, moisture and mold resistant, as well as recyclable.
Another important advantage of the applicant's utility table is that it requires no assembly and is both lightweight and portable.
Applicant has also found that it is desirable for the utility table to be of a prominently visible color for easy location, with rounded edges to prevent personal injury or damage to containment walls or pool liners.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Applicant's invention comprises a highly buoyant utility table for use on any body of water, as well as on land, possessing nautically and aerodynamically efficient characteristics in a low profile floatation platform which provides exceptional stability, with or without external support.
It is a further object of this invention to have a predominantly flat surface on one side, with the opposite side possessing multiple containment cavities, so that the top and bottom surfaces are functionally interchangeable for versatile use, without effecting the table's buoyancy or stability.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a versatile utility table with excellent buoyancy, rigidity, resilience and durability.
These, together with other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art when the following general statements and descriptions are read in the light of the appended drawings.

BRIEF DISCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the applicant's invention, showing multiple-size containment cavities.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the applicant's invention, showing a predominately flat work surface.
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view of the applicant's invention, showing a hollow-bodied construction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, the preferred embodiment of the applicant's invention comprises a highly buoyant and stable utility table of one-piece construction, fabricated from resilient, impact resistant and durable high-density polyethylene plastic that is chemically inert, highly ultraviolet stable, moisture and mold resistance 1. This view of the table depicts multiple-sized containment cavities to retain loose articles, such as materials and tools, or in recreational applications, cups, bowls, bottles and containers 2. The substantially constant cross-section of the utility table displays a nautically and aerodynamically efficient profile 3 for low-drag passage of moving fluids, such as water or air, enhancing said stability without external support. The rounded corners and edges of the table 4 also prevent personal injury or damage to containment pond walls and pool liners. An aperture opening 5 passes completely through the center of the table's surface to the opposite side, allowing for the option of an anchoring line to hold the table at a single point, regardless of the effects of heavy currents, tides, rough water or the like. The aperture opening 5 also provides for drainage of excess water, which could be caused by waves or splashing. This view of the utility tables also illustrates a recessed area 6 for a stainless steel dowel pin to slide through a tether line for anchoring, while leaving the surface predominantly flat and unobstructed.
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 2, the functionally interchangeable reverse side of the utility table provides a predominately flat surface for applications as a worktable 7. A convenient handle for ease of portability 8 is positioned along the periphery of the utility table at the center of its length. This cavity also serves for the containment of articles. The through-table aperture opening 5 and recessed area 6 as described above are also illustrated in this view.
Referring now more particularly to FIG. 3, this cross-section view of the utility table reveals the preferred embodiment as a one-piece hollow-bodied blow-molded unit, fabricated from rigid high density polyethylene plastic 9, yet weighing less than ten-pounds.
Thus, it will be seen that applicant has invented a highly versatile utility table which is intended for use on both land and water.
While this invention has been described in its preferred embodiment, it is to be appreciated that variations therefrom may be made without departing from the true scope.

Claims

1. A utility table for use in any body of water, as well as on land, comprised of:

(a) a highly buoyant floatation platform, providing exceptional stability without external support,

(b) wherein the construction is a hollow, one-piece blow-molded unit having a low profile, nautically and aerodynamically efficient shape, with rounded or feathered edges along the periphery and at transitions in the surface plane to maintain the efficient low-drag passage of moving fluids, such as water and air, enhancing said stability,

(c) wherein the top and bottom surfaces are functionally interchangeable for versatility, being substantially flat on one side, while possessing multiple-sized and ergonomically placed cavities on the opposite side for secure containment of loose articles, without compromising said buoyancy and stability,

(d) wherein the utility table is fabricated from chemically inert plastic resins, which are inherently moisture and mold resistant, resilient and durable, as well highly ultraviolet stable.

2. The utility table according to claim 1, wherein the utility table is not hollow, but constructed of a rigid, open-celled structure of highly buoyant material, such as high-density plastic foam or wood,

3. The utility table according to claim 1, wherein the utility table requires no assembly, is both lightweight and portable, and may possess legs to enhance ease of use on land.

4. The utility table according to claim 1, wherein the unit may be fabricated in varying dimensions, sizes, shapes and configurations.

5. The utility table according to claim 1, wherein the utility table may be used for marine applications as a work platform.

6. The utility table according to claim 5, wherein the utility table may alternately be used for recreational activities, such as camping, picnicking and table games on land or on water.

7. The utility table according to claim 1, wherein an aperture opening passes completely through the center of the table's surface to the opposite side, allowing for surface drainage

8. The utility table according to claim 7, wherein the aperture opening allows insertion of a dowel pin to which an anchoring line is secured, holding the table at a single point on the water's surface, regardless of the effects of currents, tides or rough water.

9. The utility table according to claim 1, wherein the material and fabrication of the unit's construction are of a prominently visible color for easy location and safety.

10. The utility table according to claim 1, wherein the materials of unit's construction are recyclable.