Elongated table and method of making same

Abstract

A portable picnic-type-table, having substantially greater length then can be achieved in prior picnic tables, is provided, by mounting an elongated tabletop and associated benches on an elongated frame of longitudinally trussed construction. The frame may take the form of a trailer having a forward section thereof forming a tongue for attachment to a tow vehicle. The benches and a forward portion of the tabletop may be foldable to a stowed position to facilitate transport and storage of the table.

1 . A portable picnic table comprising: 
 a frame, in the form of a trailer defining a longitudinal axis and a front and rear end of the trailer, the trailer further having a pair of wheels operatively mounted adjacent the rear end of the frame, and a tongue extending longitudinally from the front end of the trailer, with the tongue having a distal end thereof adapted for attachment to a towing vehicle; and    a longitudinally extending tabletop fixedly attached to the frame, and having an upper substantially horizontally oriented surface thereof;    the tabletop including a foldable section thereof, which extends over the tongue in a deployed position of the foldable section, and which folds back over horizontal surface of the tabletop when in a stowed position of the foldable section.    
   
   
       2 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein, the frame further comprises a support extending upward from the tongue, for supporting the foldable section of the tabletop in the deployed position.  
   
   
       3 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein, the frame further includes retractable and adjustable length stabilizer jacks operatively attached for stabilizing the table on a surface.  
   
   
       4 . The table of  claim 1 , wherein, the frame further comprises a hitch receiver at the rear end of the frame.  
   
   
       5 . The table of  claim 4 , further comprising, a connection element adapted for insertion into the hitch receiver, for connecting together two tables according to  claim 1 .  
   
   
       6 . The table of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of longitudinally extending benches each having a seating surface thereof, with the benches being operatively attached to the frame for pivotable movement from a deployed position whereat the seating surface is substantially horizontal, and a stowed position whereat the seating surface is substantially vertically oriented.  
   
   
       7 . The table of  claim 6 , further comprising, a pair of latches operatively connected between the frame and one of the benches of the pair of benches, for selective movement between a latched position, for holding the bench in the stowed position, and an unlatched position, allowing the bench to move from the stowed to the deployed position of the bench.  
   
   
       8 . The table of  claim 7 , wherein, at least one of the latches of the pair of latches is selectively lockable in the unlatched position.  
   
   
       9 . The table of  claim 8 , wherein, the pair of latches are longitudinally displaced from one another a distance greater than can conveniently be reached simultaneously by a lone individual.  
   
   
       10 . The table of  claim 6 , wherein, the benches do not extend longitudinally along the foldable section of the tabletop, when the tabletop is in the deployed position.  
   
   
       11 . The table of  claim 10 , wherein, the at least one of the benches includes a non-foldable section thereof and a foldable section thereof, the foldable section thereof being hinged to a forward end of the non-foldable section of the bench and articulated to be rearwardly foldable onto the seating surface of the non-foldable section of the bench.  
   
   
       12 . The table of  claim 11 , further including a stowable bench support, operatively connected to the tongue, for supporting the foldable section of the bench, when the bench is in the deployed position with the foldable section of the bench unfolded.  
   
   
       13 . An elongated picnic-table-type trailer, having an elongated longitudinal axis extending from a front end to a rear end of the trailer, the trailer comprising: 
 a longitudinally elongated frame, of longitudinally trussed construction, having a tongue at a forward end thereof adapted for operative attachment to a towing vehicle; and    a longitudinally extending tabletop fixedly attached to the frame, and having an upper substantially horizontally oriented surface thereof.    
   
   
       14 . The trailer of  claim 13 , further comprising, a pair of wheels operatively attached to the frame between the front and rear end of the trailer.  
   
   
       15 . The trailer of  claim 14 , wherein, the longitudinally elongated frame comprises: 
 a main longitudinal beam, including the tongue, and extending longitudinally from the front to the rear of the trailer, with the main longitudinal beam defining the longitudinal axis, and horizontal and vertical directions of the trailer, when the trailer wheels are resting on a horizontal surface;    a plurality of longitudinally spaced, vertical support members, attached to and extending vertically upward from the main longitudinal beam; and    a plurality of angled truss members joining the upper end of each of the vertical support members to the main longitudinal beam at a point on the main beam adjacent the juncture of the lower end of each adjacent vertical support member.    
   
   
       16 . The trailer of  claim 15 , wherein, the angled truss members cross one another, between adjacent vertical members, without attachment to one another.  
   
   
       17 . The trailer of  claim 16 , wherein, the frame further comprises, a plurality of, horizontally oriented, transversely extending, table-top support cross-members, one such table-top support cross-member attached to the upper end of at least two or more of the vertical support members, and adapted for attachment thereto of the tabletop.  
   
   
       18 . The trailer of  claim 17 , wherein, at least one of the vertical support members is tubular, defining a vertically oriented bore therein for receipt in the bore of the handle of an umbrella.  
   
   
       19 . The trailer of  claim 17 , wherein, the tabletop, when attached to the table-top support cross-members forms an upper longitudinal load bearing chord of the longitudinally trussed structure of the elongated frame.  
   
   
       20 . The trailer of  claim 17 , wherein, the frame further comprises a left and a right top longitudinal rail connecting the distal ends of the tabletop support cross-members.  
   
   
       21 . The trailer of  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of, horizontally oriented, transversely extending lower transverse frame cross-members, attached to the main beam below one or more of the tabletop support cross-members.  
   
   
       22 . The trailer of  claim 21 , further comprising a pair of vertically oriented hangers connecting the corresponding left and right ends of the lower transverse frame cross-members with the corresponding left and right ends of the table-top support cross-member disposed vertically above that lower transverse frame cross-member.  
   
   
       23 . An elongated picnic-type table, having an elongated longitudinal axis thereof extending between the first and second longitudinally spaced ends of the table, the table comprising, a longitudinally elongated frame, of longitudinally trussed construction, and a longitudinally extending tabletop fixedly attached to the frame.  
   
   
       24 . A method for constructing an elongated picnic-type table, having an elongated longitudinal axis thereof extending from a first to a second longitudinally spaced end of the table, the method comprising, fixedly attaching a longitudinally extending tabletop to a longitudinally elongated frame of longitudinally trussed construction.