Weighted, Foldable, Pleated Tablecloth Apparatus and Method

Abstract

A cover such as a tablecloth is provided with a system of weights proximate the perimeter thereof in order to resist the dislodgement of the tablecloth from the table by the presence of wind. Containment for the weights is selected to have a length and diameter suitable for installation with a periodicity providing periodic gaps. The gaps assist in folding the cover for storage, as well as providing natural breakpoints for pleating, so it will drape more naturally from the edges of corners of the supporting equipment or table covered by it.

1 . a method comprising:
 providing an equipment supported above a surface, and having a top spaced vertically above the surface;   providing the equipment having a top comprising an outer perimeter;   providing a sheet comprising a cover portion, extending laterally in intimate contact with the top, and a trim portion, extending substantially vertically from the top and terminating at a sheet edge defining a perimeter of the sheet;   providing weights integrated with the trim portion proximate the sheet edge and distributed therealong;   providing a flat portion of the trim portion between each pair of adjacent weights;   placing the cover portion on the top;   draping the trim portion over the edge of the outer perimeter; and   pleating by the trim portion folding at the flat portions and extending substantially unfolded along the weights.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment is a table, the method further comprising:
 unfolding the sheet at the flat portions;   extending the sheet to cover at least a portion on the top of the table;   draping the trim portion over the table edge;   removing the sheet from the table; and   folding the sheet at the flat portions.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weights are sized and shaped in a configuration selected from solid, pelletized, granular, and liquid. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weights are sized to be substantially identical to one another. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sheet comprises corners;   the weights are sized in at least two lengths comprising a first length, comparatively shorter and corresponding to the corners; and a second length, comparatively longer and corresponding to the trim portion at points located away from the corners.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first length is selected to promote pleating of the sheet corresponding thereto and folding of the sheet at the flat portions adjacent thereto. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet further comprises a hem containing the weights substantially evenly distributed about the entire perimeter thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the weights comprise a fill material contained within a liner sealed against escape of the fill material. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 each weight comprises a segment of the liner substantially completely filled with the fill material; adjacent weights are separated the flat portion therebetween containing no fill material; and   the flat portion has substantially reduced section modulus and stiffness with respect to the segment filled with the fill material.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the flat portions and the segments are sized relative to one another to support formation of pleats corresponding to the filled segments and folds corresponding to the flat portions in response to suspension of the trim portion proximate a non-linear portion of a table. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the equipment is a table having an edge comprising a non-linear portion selected from a substantially square corner, a substantially polygonal corner, a radiused corner, and a circumference. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet is comprised of a material selected from woven fabric, non-woven fabric, solid film, reinforced polymer sheet, oilcloth, fiber-backed polymer sheeting, and polymer-impregnated fabric. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet comprises a material selected to be substantially impervious to water and air. 
   
   
       14 . A method comprising:
 providing a table comprising a top supported above a supporting surface and having at least one leg extending to space the top vertically above the supporting surface;   providing the table having a top, substantially planar and comprising a table edge bounding the top in a lateral direction;   providing a sheet extending laterally in intimate contact with the top, and comprising a trim portion, extending substantially vertically from the top and terminating at a sheet edge defining a perimeter of the sheet;   providing weights integrated with the trim portion proximate the sheet edge and distributed therealong;   providing a flat portion of the trim portion between each pair of adjacent weights   placing the sheet on the top of the table;   draping the trim portion over the table edge;   pleating by the trim portion folding at the flat portions and extending substantially unfolded along the weights.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the weights are sized and shaped in a configuration selected from solid, pelletized, granular, and liquid. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the sheet comprises corners;   the weights are sized in at least two lengths comprising a first length, comparatively shorter and corresponding to the corners; and a second length, comparatively longer and corresponding to the trim portion at points located away from the corners.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first length is selected to promote pleating of the sheet corresponding thereto and folding of the sheet at the flat portions adjacent thereto. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 unfolding the sheet at the flat portions;   extending the sheet to cover a portion of the top of the table;   draping the trim portion over the table edge;   removing the sheet from the table;   folding the sheet at the flat portions; and   storing the sheet in a folded configuration.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the sheet further comprises a hem containing the weights substantially evenly distributed about the entire perimeter thereof;   the weights comprise a fill material contained within a liner sealed against escape of the fill material;   each weight comprises a segment of the liner substantially completely filled with the fill material; adjacent weights are separated by the flat portion therebetween containing no fill material and having substantially reduced section modulus and stiffness with respect to the segment filled with the fill material;   the flat portions and the segments are sized relative to one another to support formation of pleats corresponding to the filled segments and folds corresponding to the flat portions in response to suspension of the trim portion proximate a non-linear portion of a table;   the sheet is comprised of a material selected from woven fabric, non-woven fabric, solid film, reinforced polymer sheet, oilcloth, fiber-backed polymer sheeting, and polymer-impregnated fabric selected to be substantially impervious to water and air.   
   
   
       20 . An apparatus comprising:
 a table comprising a top supported above a supporting surface;   the table, having at least one leg extending to space the top vertically above a surface therebelow;   the table, having a top comprising a plane and a table edge bounding the top in a lateral direction;   a sheet comprising a cover portion, extending laterally in intimate contact with the top, and a trim portion, extending substantially vertically from the top and terminating at a sheet edge defining a perimeter of the sheet;   weights integrated with the trim portion proximate the sheet edge and distributed therealong;   the sheet, wherein the trim portion further comprises a flat portion between each pair of adjacent weights, and the trim portion folds at the flat portions while extending substantially unfolded along the weights.