Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Center-pole supporting-type
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-16
2001-01-30
Friedman, Carl D. (Department: 3635)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Center-pole supporting-type
C135S096000, C135S913000, C108S050120, C108S090000, C150S158000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178979
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to outdoor furniture accessories. More particularly, this invention relates to collapsible screens for protecting outdoor table tops from bugs and flying insects.
2. Description of the Related Art
It has long been a problem to keep bugs and insects away from food and other matter placed on the tops of outdoor tables. Many types of portable shelters have been proposed for remedying this problem.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 814,473, 2,943,634, 3,477,453, 3,860,022, 5,172,712, and 5,678,587 all reveal various types of flexible screening that is generally supported from the perimeter of an umbrellas that extends above the table top to be protected. These types of screening devices all protect a much larger volume of space than the area immediately above the table top, and consequently have a number of disadvantages. For example, they all required excessive amounts of screening material and the resulting devices can be comparatively difficult and time-consuming to erect.
Despite this prior art, there still exists a need for small, easily portable and easily erectable screening devices to keep bugs and insects away from food and other matter placed on the tops of outdoor tables.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally directed to satisfying the needs set forth above and the problems identified in the prior arts. The problem of having to transport and erect bulky, difficult-to-install screening devices to protect the material on the tops of outdoor tables is resolved by the present invention.
In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foregoing need can be satisfied by providing a table screen, for use with a table top having a pole extending vertically from the center of the table, comprising: (a) a flexible, open screen material having a central aperture sized to fit around the pole, with the screen's outer perimeter sized so that its perimeter extends beyond the table top's outer edges, (b) a strip, located on the perimeter of screening material's central aperture, of Velcro-like, hook and loop receiving material, with a Velcro-like, hook and loop attaching patch on the opposite side of the strip so that the size of the aperture can be contracted so as to secure the screen material to the pole at a fixed height above the table top, (c) a plurality of Velcro-like, hook and loop attaching patches located on the outer perimeter of the screen material and (d) a plurality of table patches, each of which has a side for securing the patch to the table top, while the other side has a Velcro-like, hook and loop receiving portion which allows the patches on the screen material's outer perimeter to be adhered to the patches affixed to the table top.
In another preferred embodiment, wherein the table does not have a pole extending vertically from the table, the present invention further includes: (1) a pole having a first end and a second end, and (2) means, affixed proximate first pole end, for securing the first pole end to the table top so that the second pole end is extended vertically from the table top.
In another preferred embodiment, the present invention is seen to take the form of a method for screening a table top having a pole extending vertically from the table, the method comprising the steps of (1) providing a table screen as initially described above, (2) fixing the screen material's central aperture at a height above the table top so as to define a storage space between the table top and the bottom side of the screen material, (3) adhering the bottom sides of the table patches to the table top, and (4) bringing the Velcro-like, hook and loop attaching patches, located on the outer perimeter of the screen material, into contact with the Velcro-like, hook and loop receiving, top sides of the table patches so as to secure the outer perimeter of the screen material to the table top.
This new and improved, table screen and table screening method are seen to achieve their object of providing small, easily portable and easily erectable screening devices and methods for keeping bugs and insects away from food and other matter placed on the tops of outdoor tables.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent as the invention is better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings and the detailed description that follows.
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Friedman Carl D.
Guffey Larry J.
Yip Winnie
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