Portable table apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable table that has one supporting leg that can be locked with a protective cage of a propane tank. A plurality of spaced legs, including the lockable leg, supports a tabletop. The legs have telescopically extendable portions and are vertically adjustable.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A portable table apparatus, which locks to a propane tank having a cylindrical body with an upper spherical cap, a valve assembly and a protective cage surrounding the valve assembly, the protective cage having an upper edge and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising a tabletop and a plurality of horizontally spaced detachable legs, one of such plurality of detachable legs being disposed to lock with the protective cage. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , said plurality of legs comprises a first leg extending from an underside of the tabletop, a second leg extending from the underside of the tabletop and a third leg, a lower part of the third leg being disposed to rest on the upper edge of the protective cage. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , each of said legs comprising an upper portion fixedly attached to the underside of the tabletop. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , each of said leg comprising a lower portion telescopically slidably engageable with a respective upper portion. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of claim , comprising a means for selectively adjusting length of the legs in relation to the tabletop. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , said means for selectively adjusting length of the legs comprising locking knobs extending through aligned openings formed in the upper portions and the lower portions of the legs. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , said first leg and said second leg carrying a foot plate on a bottom thereof, said foot plate having larger horizontal surface than the bottom of a respective leg. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , each of the foot plates extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the respective leg. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , said lower part of the third leg is provided with a vertical slit dividing the lower part of the third leg into opposing parallel segments. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , said slit forming a gap, said gap having a predetermined length and width and terminating in a transverse shoulder a distance from a bottom edge of the third leg. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , the gap being sufficiently long and wide to receive the protective cage therein such that the transverse shoulder rests on the upper edge of the protective cage. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , comprising a means for tightening the lower part of the third leg on the protective cage. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , said means for tightening the lower part of the third leg on the protective cage comprises a tightening screw extending through a segment of the lower part of the third leg and abutting the protective cage. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the tabletop comprising a generally planar plate having an upwardly extending peripheral lip. 
     
     
         15 . A portable table apparatus, which locks to a propane tank having a cylindrical body with an upper spherical cap, a valve assembly and a protective cage surrounding the valve assembly, the protective cage having an upper edge and a lower portion, the apparatus comprising a substantially planar tabletop with upwardly extending peripheral lip and a plurality of horizontally spaced detachable legs, one of such plurality of detachable legs being disposed to lock with the protective cage, said plurality of legs comprises a first leg extending from an underside of the tabletop, a second leg extending from the underside of the tabletop and a third leg, a lower part of the third leg being disposed to rest on the upper edge of the protective cage. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , each of said legs comprising an upper portion fixedly attached to the underside of the tabletop and a lower portion telescopically slidably engageable with a respective upper portion. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , comprising a means for selectively adjusting length of the legs in relation to the tabletop, said means for selectively adjusting length of the legs comprising locking knobs extending through aligned openings formed in the upper portions and the lower portions of the legs. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , said first leg and said second leg carrying a foot plate on a bottom thereof, said foot plate having larger horizontal surface than the bottom of a respective leg, each of the foot plates extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the respective leg. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , said lower part of the third leg is provided with a vertical slit dividing the lower part of the third leg into opposing parallel segments, said slit forming a gap, said gap having a predetermined length and width and terminating in a transverse shoulder a distance from a bottom edge of the third leg. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , the gap being sufficiently long and wide to receive the protective cage therein such that the transverse shoulder rests on the upper edge of the protective cage. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , comprising a means for tightening the lower part of the third leg on the protective cage, said means for tightening the lower part of the third leg on the protective cage comprising a tightening screw extending through a segment of the lower part of the third leg and abutting the protective cage. 
     
     
         22 . A portable table apparatus kit assembly, comprising a tabletop and a plurality of detachable legs disposed for securing to an underside of the tabletop, at least one of the plurality of the detachable legs being disposed for locking with a propane tank while resting on the propane tank. 
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 22 , said at least one leg having a slit formed in a bottom part and defining a gap of sufficient length and width to extend over a protective cage of the propane tank. 
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 23 , comprising a means for tightening the lower part of the third leg on the protective cage, said means for tightening the lower part of the third leg on the protective cage comprising a tightening screw extending through a segment of the lower part of the at least one of the plurality of legs and abutting the protective cage. 
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , said plurality of legs comprises a first leg extending from an underside of the tabletop, a second leg extending from the underside of the tabletop and a third leg, a lower part of the third leg being disposed to rest on an upper edge of the protective cage, each of said legs comprising an upper portion fixedly attached to the underside of the tabletop and a lower portion telescopically slidably engageable with a respective upper portion. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , comprising a means for selectively adjusting length of the legs in relation to the tabletop, said means for selectively adjusting length of the legs comprising locking knobs extending through aligned openings formed in the upper portions and the lower portions of the legs. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , said first leg and said second leg carrying a foot plate on a bottom thereof, said foot plate having larger horizontal surface than the bottom of a respective leg, each of the foot plates extending transversely to a longitudinal axis of the respective leg. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , the tabletop comprising a generally planar plate having an upwardly extending peripheral lip.