Outdoor Table

Abstract

An outdoor table and methods for assembling the same are described. The outdoor table includes a table top, a support stake, and an upper locking device. The support stake is insertable into a sand or soil substrate. Once the support stake is inserted into the substrate in a generally upright position, the upper locking device is fitted over a top end of the support stake. The table top includes a central aperture. The table top is fitted over the top end of the support stake, which is insertable through the central aperture, so that the table top is installed in a horizontal orientation near the top end of the support stake. In some embodiments, the outdoor table includes a lower support element disposed between the support stake and the upper locking device to secure the table top in a horizontal position near the top end of the support stake.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An outdoor table comprising:
 a table top comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and an aperture passing through the top and bottom surfaces;   a support stake for supporting the table top, wherein the support stake comprises a top end and a bottom end; and   an upper locking device for securing the table top to the support stake.   
     
     
         2 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , wherein the support stake comprises a generally cylindrical stake comprising a top end that is generally flat or blunt and a bottom end comprising a sharp or angled portion to allow for easy insertion into a sand or soil substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the support stake is insertable through the aperture and extends partially above the top surface of the table top, and wherein the upper locking device is removably attachable to the top end of the support stake. 
     
     
         4 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , wherein the top end of the support stake comprises threading and wherein a bottom of the upper locking device comprises corresponding threading for attaching the upper locking device to the top end of the support stake so that the table top is secured in a horizontal position on the support stake by the upper locking device. 
     
     
         5 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower support element for connecting between the table top and the support stake. 
     
     
         6 . The outdoor table of  claim 5 , wherein the lower support element is generally cylindrical in shape and comprises a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end of the lower support element is insertable through the aperture of the table top and extends partially above the top surface of the table top. 
     
     
         7 . The outdoor table of  claim 6 , wherein the top end of the lower support element comprises threading and wherein a bottom of the upper locking device comprises corresponding threading for attaching the upper locking device to the top end of the lower support element so that the table top is secured in a horizontal position between the support stake and the upper locking device. 
     
     
         8 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , wherein the upper locking device comprises a solid top end and a bottom end having an opening into a hollow interior. 
     
     
         9 . The outdoor table of  claim 8 , wherein an inner surface of the bottom end of the upper locking device comprises threading so that the upper locking device is attachable to the upper portion of the lower support element by screwing the upper locking device thereon; and wherein once the upper locking device is attached to the upper portion of the lower support element, the table top is removably secured to the support stake. 
     
     
         10 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , wherein the outdoor table is assemblable into a usable configuration and disassemblable into a portable configuration; and wherein the bottom surface of the table top comprises at least one attached retaining member for securing the support stake to the bottom surface of the table when the outdoor table is disassembled into the portable configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one item holder accessible at the top surface of the table top, and wherein the table top comprises at least a second aperture aligned with the item holder so that the at least one item holder receives an item placed into the at least one item holder through the at least second aperture. 
     
     
         12 . The outdoor table of  claim 11 , wherein the at least second aperture is sized to receive and retain the at least one item holder suspended from the top surface of the table top so that a bottom portion of the at least one item holder extends below the bottom surface of the table top. 
     
     
         13 . The outdoor table of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one item holder comprises a retention element attached to the bottom surface of the table top beneath the at least second aperture to hold the item placed into the at least second aperture so that the item is suspended from the top surface of the table top so that a bottom portion of the item extends below the bottom surface of the table top. 
     
     
         14 . The outdoor table of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more trays installed on a bottom surface of the table top for receiving and holding an item. 
     
     
         15 . An outdoor table comprising:
 a table top comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and an aperture passing through the top and bottom surfaces;   a support stake comprising a top end and a bottom end, wherein the top end is insertable through the aperture at the bottom surface of the table top to extend above the top surface of the table top, and wherein the bottom end is insertable into a sand or soil substrate;   an upper locking device for securing the table top to the support stake by removably connecting the upper locking device to the top end of the support stake so that the table top is fastened to the support stake in a generally horizontal configuration; and   at least one item holder for receiving an item placed therein, wherein the item holder is accessible at the top surface of the table top.   
     
     
         16 . The outdoor table of  claim 15 , wherein the outdoor table is assemblable into a usable configuration and disassemblable into a portable configuration; and wherein the bottom surface of the table top comprises at least one attached retaining member for securing the support stake to the bottom surface of the table when the outdoor table is disassembled into the portable configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The outdoor table of  claim 15 , wherein the table top comprises at least a second aperture aligned with the at least one item holder so that the at least one item holder receives the item placed into the at least one item holder through the at least second aperture. 
     
     
         18 . A method for assembling an outdoor table comprising the steps of:
 (a) inserting a support stake into a substrate, wherein the support stake comprises a top end and a bottom end;   (b) attaching a bottom end of a lower support element to the top end of the support stake, wherein the lower support element comprises the bottom end and a top end comprising an upper portion;   (c) installing a table top comprising an aperture so that the upper portion of the lower support element is inserted through a bottom surface of the table top and extends above a top surface of the table top; and   (d) attaching an upper locking device over the upper portion of the lower support element so that the table top is securely and removably fastened to the lower support element.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein step (b) of the method further comprises one of the steps of:
 (e) fitting the bottom end of the lower support element over the top end of the support stake; or   (f) fitting the bottom end of the lower support element within a hollow interior of the top end of the support stake.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein step (d) of the method further comprises the step of:
 (g) screwing the upper locking device over the upper portion of the lower support element, wherein the upper locking device comprises a bottom end comprising an opening and an inner surface defining a hollow interior, and wherein the inner surface comprises threading corresponding and attachable to threading on an outer surface at the top end of the lower support element.