GB2246291A

GB2246291A - Tray for garden table

Info

Publication number: GB2246291A
Application number: GB9115632A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Joseph Buckley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-07-26
Filing date: 1991-07-19
Publication date: 1992-01-29
Also published as: GB9115632D0; GB9016461D0

Abstract

A tray (10) for use with a table umbrella comprises a dish with flat base (12) and upstanding perimeter wall (14). It is provided with an aperture (16) from whose edges depends a tubular element (18). The tubular element has a return sleeve (20) providing a tight fit with a tubular spacer (22), said spacer fitting into a central aperture of a table (26). The tray (10) and spacer (22) provide a continuous tubular passageway for an umbrella pole. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: Tray DESCRIPTION This invention concerns trays and, in particular, trays for use with garden tables especially for fitment around an umbrella located through the table.

Many garden tables are circular and of small size eg. with a diameter of about im. Space on the table can be limited, therefore, if say four persons are eating a meal at such a table. Additional storage space associated with such a table would be desirable but providing another table or using the floor to take items that cannot be fitted on the table is neither convenient nor safe.

An object of this invention is to provide a tray associable with a table, typically a garden table, to provide additional storage space.

According to this invention there is provided a tray associable with a table, typically a garden table, comprising a tray base and a support therefor to hold the tray at a distance above the table, in order still to leave space beneath the tray for items to be placed on the table.

For a typical garden table provided with a generally central aperture for an umbrella pole, the support for the tray will preferably locate in that aperture. Preferably the support will be shouldered to provide a limit to the extent of insertion thereof into the table aperture. The support may be a friction fit in the table aperture or cooperating engaging formations, such as screw threading, may be provided on the support and in the table aperture. The support will also preferably be hollow so that an umbrella pole may still be inserted through the central aperture of the table and, of course, through the support.

The tray may be formed integrally with the support or may be formed as a separate item locatable on the support. In either case the tray is preferably aperture te correspond with the aperture of the table and the hollow support so that an umbrella pole can also pass through it. If the tray is formed as a separate item, it may locate on its support in any suitable way. For example, the tray could have a depending tubular element that is a friction fit into the top of the support or the tbular element and the support could have mutually engageable parts, such as screw threading. Additional securing means, such as one or more screws through overlapping parts of the tray and support, may also be provided.

The preferred tray has a substantially flat base and a surrounding side wall. Preferably the side wall diverges from its junction with the base. The tray may have any desired basic shape, such as circular but it is envisaged that shapes may be provided to match particular table shapes. Thus, for an oblong table an oblong tray or for an oval table an oval tray may be provided.

Preferred trays and supports will be moulded of plastics material.

This invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a tray; Figure 2 is a section on line AA of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a section through part of an alternative embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a tray for use with an umbrella of the type located centrally of a table, in other words upstanding through a central aperture of the table, comprises a circular dish 10 having a flat base 12 and upstanding perimeter wall 14 splayed outward slightly from the base. The tray has a central aperture 16 from the edges of which depend a tubular element 18. The tubular element 18 has a surrounding return sleeve 20 integral therewith, which normally splays slightly from the element 18, so that it can provide a relatively tight part fit into-the neck of a tubular spacer 22 that fits into the central aperture 24 of table 26.The end of the spacer 22 that fits into the table is stepped at 28 to limit the depth of insertion thereof into the table and has a surrounding return sleeve 30 that acts in the same manner as the sleeve 20 of element 18. The spacer 22 is intended to support the tray 10 at a reasonable height above the table. Screws 32 may be used through the spacer 22 and element 18 just below the base of the tray to prevent rotational movement of the tray.

The tray and spacer provide a continuous tubular passageway for insertion of an umbrella pole therethrough and through the central aperture of the table in the normal way. Thus, the tray will not interfere with a typical garden furniture arrangement of a table with a centrally located umbrella but will provide additional storage space, say for bottles and other containers that might otherwise clutter or interfere with use of the table. Furthermore, the tray arrangement may provide additional security for the umbrella.

It is envisaged that the tray arrangement of Figure 1 and 2 will be moulded of plastics material making it compatible with plastics garden furniture.

However, it will be appreciated that the tray arrangement may be produced from other suitable materials, including wood and metal.

Turning now to Figure 3 or the accompanying drawings, there is shown an alternative fixing arrangement for the spacer 22, which in this case has an externally screw threaded end section 34 that engages corresponding internal screw threading 36 of the central aperture of the table. A similar arrangement may be used for securing the tray itself to the spacer 22, ie.

by giving the element 18 and spacer 22 corresponding screw threading.

Claims

1. A tray associable with a table comprising a tray base and a support there for to hold the tray at a distance above the table.

2. A tray as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the support for the tray locates in an aperture in the table.

3. A tray as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, wherein the support is shouldered to limit insertion into the table aperture.

4. A tray as claimed in either of Claims 2 or 3, wherein the support is a friction fit in the table aperture.

5. A tray as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the support has at one end a surrounding return sleeve.

6. A tray as claimed in either Claims 2 or 3, wherein the support and the table aperture have cooperating engaging formations.

7. A tray as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the support is hollow.

8. A tray as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the tray is formed integrally with the support.

9. A tray as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the tray is a separate item locatable on the support.

10. A tray as claimed in any of Claims 7, 8 or 9, wherein the tray is apertured to correspond with the aperture of the table and the hollow support.

11. A tray as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the tray has a depending tubular element insertable into the top of the support.

12. A tray as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the tubular element is a friction fit into the top of the support.

13. A tray as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the tubular element has a surrounding return sleeve.

14. A tray as claimed in Claim in 11, wherein the tubular element and the support have mutually engageable parts.

15. A tray as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 14, wherein additional securing means are provided between the tray and support.

16. A tray as claimed in any previous claim wherein said tray has a substantially flat base and a surrounding side wall.

17. A tray as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the side wall diverges from its junction with the base.

18. A tray associable with a table substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 with Figure 2 or with Figure 3.