Surface system with connectors

Abstract

A surface system includes one or more connectors, each connector having a coupling mechanism for detachably coupling one or more surface components to a safety rail or a leg, without requiring the safety rail or leg to be modified. The one or more surface components provide a continuous top surface oriented to allow items, such as drinks to be placed on the top surface. Corner surface components may be coupled to straight surface components to form turns in the continuous top surface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector, comprising:
 a first tube comprising a left end and a right end;   a second tube comprising a left end and a right end;   a middle tube comprising:
 a front end coupled to a side of the first tube between the left end of the first tube and the right end of the first tube; and 
 a back end coupled to a side of the second tube between the left end of the second tube and the right end of the second tube; 
   a first coupling plate coupled to the middle tube on a left side of the middle tube, wherein a first space exists between the first coupling plate and the first tube;   a second coupling plate coupled to the middle tube on a right side of the middle tube, wherein a second space exits between the second coupling plate and the second tube; and   a coupling mechanism coupled to a surface of the middle tube for coupling the connector to a safety rail or a leg.   
     
     
         2 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:
 a U-shaped rod coupled to the surface of the middle tube and positioned substantially perpendicular to the surface of the middle tube; and   a bracket removably coupled to the U-shaped rod.   
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein a top tube of the safety rail resides between a U-shape of the U-shaped rod and the bracket. 
     
     
         4 . The connector of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises: a mounting tube coupled to the surface of the middle tube, wherein an end opening of the mounting tube faces away from the surface of the middle tube. 
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein an end of the leg may reside within the end opening of the mounting tube. 
     
     
         6 . A surface component, comprising:
 a main plate comprising a top surface and a bottom surface opposite the top surface;   a front L-shaped plate coupled to a front edge of the main plate, forming a front channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate; and   a back L-shaped plate coupled to a back edge of the main plate, forming a back channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate, the back L-shaped plate comprising a portion extending beyond the top surface of the main plate.   
     
     
         7 . A surface component, comprising:
 a main plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface;   a back L-shaped plate coupled to a back edge of the main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the back L-shaped plate extending beyond the top surface of the main plate, and 
 a second portion of the back L-shaped plate forming a back channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate; 
   a left L-shaped plate coupled to a left edge of the main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the left L-shaped plate extending beyond the top surface of the main plate, and 
 a second portion of the left L-shaped plate forming a left channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate; 
   a back tube residing within the back channel, wherein an end of the back tube extends beyond the back channel;   a left tube residing within the left channel, wherein an end of the left tube extends beyond the left channel;   a first L-shaped corner plate coupled to a front right corner of the main plate, forming a first corner channel with a first opening residing proximate to the right edge of the main plate;   a second L-shaped corner plate coupled to a front left corner of the main plate, forming a second corner channel with a second opening residing proximate to the front edge of the main plate;   a first corner tube residing within the first corner channel, wherein an end of the first corner tube extends beyond the first corner channel;   a second corner tube residing within the second corner channel, wherein an end of the second corner tube extends beyond the second corner channel;   a back coupling plate coupled to the back tube, wherein a first space exists between the back coupling plate and the back tube;   a left coupling plate coupled to the left tube, wherein a second space exists between the left coupling plate and the left tube;   a first front coupling plate coupled to the first corner tube, wherein a third space exists between the first front coupling plate and the first corner tube;   a second front coupling plate coupled to the second corner tube, wherein a fourth space exists between the second front coupling plate and the second corner tube; and   a center tube coupled to the bottom surface of the main plate and traverses from a back corner of the main plate to the front corner of the main plate.   
     
     
         8 . The surface component of  7 , wherein the back L-shaped plate and the left L-shaped plate form an approximately 90° angle. 
     
     
         9 . A surface component, comprising:
 a main plate comprising a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface;   a right back L-shaped plate coupled to a right back edge of the main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the right back L-shaped plate extending beyond the top surface of the main plate, and 
 a second portion of the right back L-shaped plate forming a right back channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate; 
   a left back L-shaped plate coupled to a left back edge of the main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the left back L-shaped plate extending beyond the top surface of the main plate, and 
 a second portion of the left back L-shaped plate forming a left back channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate; 
   a right front L-shaped corner plate coupled to a right front edge of the main plate, forming a right front channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate;   a left front L-shaped corner plate coupled to a left front edge of the main plate, forming a left front channel residing beneath the bottom surface of the main plate;   a right back tube residing within the right back channel, wherein an end of the right back tube extends beyond the right back channel;   a left back tube residing within the left back channel, wherein an end of the left back tube extends beyond the left back channel;   a right front corner tube residing within the right front channel, wherein an end of the right front corner tube extends beyond the right front channel, wherein a first space exists between the right front L-shaped corner plate and the right front corner tube;   a left front corner tube residing within the left front channel, wherein an end of the left front corner tube extends beyond the left front channel, wherein a second space exists between the left front corner plate and the left front corner tube;   a center tube coupled to the bottom surface of the main plate and traversing from a back corner of the main plate to a front corner of the main plate;   a right back coupling plate coupled to the right back tube, wherein a third space exists between the right back coupling plate and the right back tube; and   a left back coupling plate coupled to the left back tube, wherein a fourth space exists between the left back coupling plate and the left back tube.   
     
     
         10 . The surface component of  9 , wherein the right back L-shaped plate and the left back L-shaped plate form an angle between zero and 90 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A surface system, comprising:
 a straight surface component, comprising:
 a first main plate comprising a first top surface and a first bottom surface opposite the top surface; 
 a front L-shaped plate coupled to a front edge of the first main plate, forming a first front channel residing beneath the first bottom surface of the first main plate; and 
 a first back L-shaped plate coupled to the back edge of the first main plate, forming a first back channel residing beneath the first bottom surface of the first main plate, the first back L-shaped plate comprising a first portion extending beyond the first top surface of the first main plate; and 
   a connector, comprising:
 a first tube comprising a first left end and a first right end; 
 a second tube comprising a second left end and a second right end; 
 a first middle tube comprising:
 a front end coupled to a side of the first tube between the first left end of the first tube and the first right end of the first tube; and 
 a back end coupled to a side of the second tube between the second left end of the second tube and the second right end of the second tube; 
 
 a first coupling plate coupled to the first middle tube on a left side of the first middle tube, wherein a first space exists between the first coupling plate and the first tube; 
 a second coupling plate coupled to the first middle tube on a right side of the first middle tube, wherein a second space exists between the second coupling plate, and the second tube; and 
 a coupling mechanism coupled to a surface of the first middle tube for coupling the connector to a safety rail or a leg, 
   wherein the straight surface component is detachably coupled to the connector, comprising:
 the first left end of the first tube resides in the first front channel; 
 a bent portion of the front L-shaped plate resides within the first space; and 
 the second left end of the second tube resides within the first back channel. 
   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:
 a U-shaped rod coupled to the surface of the first middle tube and positioned substantially perpendicular to the surface of the first middle tube; and   a bracket removably coupled to the U-shaped rod, wherein a top tube of a safety rail resides between a U-shape of the U-shaped rod and the bracket.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises:
 a mounting tube coupled to the surface of the first middle tube, wherein an end opening of the mounting tube faces away from the surface of the first middle tube, wherein an end of a leg may reside within the end opening of the mounting tube.   
     
     
         14 . The  system of 11 , further comprising a corner surface component, comprising:
 a second main plate comprising a second top surface and a second bottom surface opposite the second top surface;   a first back L-shaped plate coupled to a back edge of the second main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the first back L-shaped plate extending beyond the second top surface of the second main plate; and 
 a second portion of the first back L-shaped plate forming a second back channel residing beneath the second bottom surface of the second main plate; 
   a left L-shaped plate coupled to a left edge of the second main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the left L-shaped plate extending beyond the second top surface of the second main plate; and 
 a second portion of the left L-shaped plate forming a first left channel residing beneath the second bottom surface of the second main plate; 
   a back tube residing within the second back channel, wherein an end of the back tube extending beyond the second back channel;   a left tube residing within the first left channel, wherein an end of the left tube extending beyond the first left channel;   a first L-shaped corner plate coupled to a front right corner of the second main plate, forming a first corner channel with a first opening residing proximate to a right edge of the second main plate;   a second L-shaped corner plate coupled to a front left corner of the second main plate, forming a second corner channel with a second opening residing proximate to a front edge of the second main plate;   a first corner tube residing within the first corner channel, wherein an end of the first corner tube extends beyond the first corner channel;   a second corner tube residing within the second corner channel, wherein an end of the second corner tube extends beyond the second corner channel;   a back coupling plate coupled to the back tube, wherein a first space exists between the back coupling plate and the back tube;   a left coupling plate coupled to the left tube, wherein a second space exists between the left coupling plate and the left tube;   a first front coupling plate coupled to the first corner tube, wherein a third space exists between the first front coupling plate and the first corner tube;   a second front coupling plate coupled to the second corner tube, wherein a fourth space exists between the second front coupling plate and the second corner tube; and   a first center tube coupled to the second bottom surface of the second main plate and traverses from a back corner of the second main plate to the front corner of the second main plate,   wherein the corner surface component is detachably coupled to the surface component, comprising:
 the back tube residing in the first back channel; 
 a bent portion of the first back L-shaped plate residing within the first space; 
 the first corner tube resides within the first front channel; and 
 a bent portion of the front L-shaped plate resides within the third space, 
 wherein a right edge of the corner surface component abuts a left edge of the straight surface component. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a corner surface component, comprising:
 a third main plate comprising a third top surface and a third bottom surface opposite the third top surface;   a right back L-shaped plate coupled to a right back edge of the third main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the right back L-shaped plate extending beyond the third top surface of the third main plate; and 
 a second portion of the right back L-shaped plate forming a right back channel residing beneath the third bottom surface of the third main plate; 
   a left back L-shaped plate coupled to a left back edge of the main plate, comprising:
 a first portion of the left back L-shaped plate extending beyond the third top surface of the third main plate; and 
 a second portion of the left back L-shaped plate forming a left back channel residing beneath the third bottom surface of the third main plate; 
   a right front L-shaped corner plate coupled to a right front edge of the third main plate, forming a right front channel residing beneath the third bottom surface of the third main plate;   a left front L-shaped corner plate coupled to a left front edge of the third main plate, forming a left front channel residing beneath the third bottom surface of the third main plate;   a right back tube residing within the right back channel, wherein an end of the right back tube extends beyond the right back channel;   a left back tube residing within the left back channel, wherein an end of the left back tube extends beyond the left back channel;   a right front corner tube residing within the right front channel, wherein an end of the right front corner tube extends beyond the right front channel, wherein a fourth space exists between the right front L-shaped corner plate and the right front corner tube;   a left front corner tube residing within the left front channel, wherein an end of the left front corner tube extends beyond the left front channel, wherein a fifth space exists between the left front L-shaped corner plate  1706   b  and the left front corner tube  1710 ;   a second center tube coupled to the third bottom surface of the third main plate and traverses from a back corner of the third main plate to a front corner of the third main plate;   a right back coupling plate coupled to the right back tube, wherein a sixth space exists between the right back coupling plate and the right back tube; and   a left back coupling plate coupled to the left back tube, wherein a seventh space exists between the left back coupling plate and the left back tube,   wherein the corner surface component is detachably coupled to the surface component, comprising:
 the right back tube resides in the first back channel; 
 a bent portion of the first back L-shaped plate resides within the sixth space; 
 the right front corner tube residing within the first front channel; and 
 a bent portion of the front L-shaped plate resides within the seventh space, 
 wherein a right edge of the corner surface component abuts a left edge of the straight surface component.