FOLDING OUTDOOR GAME TABLE

Abstract

A folding outdoor game table comprising a table (2) divided into two parts (20, 21) articulated by hinges (3) and detachable legs (4), characterized by comprising at least a first game board (5) integrated into the outer face of a first part (20) of the table (2), which is visible and above in the unfolded position of the table; by comprising, between both parts (20, 21) of the table (2), a hole (6) which, in the unfolded position thereof, is located in the center of the table (2) and is suitable for inserting the mast (7) of an umbrella; and because the two parts (20, 21) of the table (2) are configured with a perimeter skirt (23) which, in the folded position, form a briefcase (100) with a carrying handle (8), locking means (9) and a compartment inside for storing at least the detached legs (4).

Description

FOLDING OUTDOOR GAME TABLE OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The invention, as stated in the present descriptive report, refers to a folding outdoor game table, providing advantages and features, which are described in detail below. The object of the present invention is a folding table which, in its unfolded position, becomes a game table, having one or two game boards integrated into its surface as well as one or two drawers for storing game pieces or tokens, and in its folded position becomes a portable briefcase for storage, taking up minimal space and carrying it comfortably anywhere, allowing its use as both a briefcase and a conventional game board, with the particularity that the table is also provided with a central hole suitable for placing, when in the unfolded position, the mast of an umbrella, allowing its use in outdoor locations. FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the furniture manufacturing industry, particularly folding outdoor furniture, while also encompassing the field of board games. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many types and models of folding outdoor furniture are available on the market, including folding tables for the beach, camping, patio, or garden, some even with built-in umbrella holders. However, in most cases, these folding tables simply take up less space when folded, but they don't typically transform into a carrying case for transporting other items besides the folded table itself. On the other hand, there are also various types of board games, for example chess, checkers, parcheesi, the goose, or others, which are made up of a case that on its outer face has the game board and its interior defines a compartment to store the pieces or game tokens. However, no table is known that allows combining both possibilities in the same article, this being the objective of the present invention, that is, the development of a folding table that, in addition to being suitable for use in outdoor spaces, allowing incorporation of an umbrella safely, at the same time, is a game table and also a game case to carry both the folded table and the board or board and the pieces or game pieces, providing a versatile product with evident advantages, since, logically, it can also be used as a conventional table in the unfolded position and also as a conventional board in the folded position. Furthermore, and with reference to the current state of the art, it should be noted that, although as mentioned there are other folding tables on the market, at least as far as the applicant is concerned, there is no knowledge of any that presents technical, structural and constitutive characteristics equal or similar to those of the one claimed herein. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The folding outdoor game table proposed by the invention is configured as an optimal solution to achieve the objectives mentioned above, with the characterizing details that make it possible and that distinguish it being conveniently included in the final claims that accompany this description. Specifically, what the invention proposes, as previously mentioned, is a folding table, of the type comprising a tabletop divided into two articulated parts and folding or detachable legs, distinguished basically by the fact that in the unfolded position for use as a table it becomes a game table, having one or two game boards integrated into the surface of one or both upper faces of the table, allowing the table to be used as a conventional table for any use and, in addition, to play the games on the boards it has integrated, for example a checkers board, to play checkers and chess, and a parcheesi board, without ruling out other existing games, such as the goose, Monopoly®, or yet to be discovered. In addition, the table preferably has one or two drawers attached to one or both sides of the tabletop, which, in addition to serving to store any type of object, are specially designed to store the pieces or tokens of the game or games integrated into the surface of the table, so that they are available to use the table as a game table whenever desired, and can even be sold with said pieces or tokens included with the table. In any case, the table is configured so that, in its folded position, it becomes a portable briefcase for storage, taking up minimal space and easily transporting it anywhere, while also allowing the use of said briefcase as a conventional game board. For this purpose, preferably, the two hinged parts of the board are fitted around their perimeter with a skirt that extends downwards, defining, on their underside, the partitions of their respective compartments. In the folded position, when one part is brought together with the other, these skirts define a common compartment and the sides of the case. Furthermore, these skirts include a carrying handle, located on the side opposite the hinges that join the two parts of the board, as well as locking mechanisms to keep both parts together in the folded case position. In turn, the housings defined by these skirts on the underside of both parts of the table have means to fix the legs in the unfolded position as well as space to store said legs in the disassembled position. Finally, the table also has the unique feature of having, in the center of the table between the two articulated parts, a hole suitable for placing, when it is in the extended position, the mast of an umbrella, allowing its use in outdoor locations, with the advantage that said mast, in turn, provides an additional support leg while the table itself provides stability to the umbrella. In a preferred embodiment, the two parts of the table, as well as the drawers and the perimeter skirts, are made of wood, while the legs are formed by two metal structures, preferably aluminum, and are fixed to the underside of the table by means of wing nuts. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, this descriptive document is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, by sheets of drawings in which the following has been represented for illustrative and non-limiting purposes: Figures 1 and 2 show two perspective views of an example of the folding outdoor game table that is the subject of the invention, represented respectively in the unfolded and folded positions, showing its general configuration in both positions; Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6.- Show respective views, top plan, side elevation, front elevation and bottom plan, of the example of the table of the invention shown in figures 1 and 2, represented in the unfolded position and with one of the drawers open; Figure number 7.- It is an enlarged view of detail A indicated in figure 6, showing one of the fixings that the table has to fix the two parts of the tabletop in the unfolded position; Figure number 8.- It is an enlarged view of detail B indicated in figure 6, showing one of the wing nut anchors to which the leg structure is fixed in the unfolded position of the table; Figure number 9.- Shows an enlarged view of detail C indicated in figure 6, showing the set screw provided in the hole in the table to hold the umbrella mast; Figure number 10.- Shows a bottom plan view of the table with the tabletop in the unfolded position and the leg structures disassembled and incorporated into the inside of the table, showing their arrangement; Figures 11 and 12 show two views of the table in its folded briefcase position, showing the respective front and back faces defined by the two parts of the table and with their respective game boards integrated into each of them; and Figures number 13 and 14 show two other views of the table in its folded briefcase position, in this case showing, respectively, the top of the briefcase with the carrying handle and the bottom where the umbrella hole is located. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the numbering adopted, one can observe in them a non-limiting embodiment of the folding outdoor game table of the invention, which comprises what is described in detail below. Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the table (1) of the invention is of the type comprising a board (2) divided into two parts (20, 21) articulated together by means of hinges (3) and detachable legs (4), such that it can be arranged in an unfolded position, where the legs (4) are in a vertical position and support the board (2) extended in a horizontal position, and in a folded position where the two parts (20, 21) of the board (2) face each other and the legs (4) are folded between them, occupying much less space. And, based on this already known configuration, the table (1) of the invention is distinguished, essentially, by the following: - by comprising, at least, a first game board (5), integrated into the outer face of a first part (20) of the table (2), which is visible and above in the unfolded position of the table; - by comprising, between both parts (20, 21) of the board (2), a hole (6) which, in the unfolded position thereof, is located in the center of the board (2) and is suitable for inserting the mast (7) of an umbrella into it; and - because the two parts (20, 21) of the table (2) are configured with a perimeter skirt (23) provided so that, in their folded position, they form a briefcase (100) with a carrying handle (8), closing means (9) and a compartment inside to store at least the detached legs (4), with at least one game board (5) located on one of the outer faces of the briefcase (100). Preferably, the table (1) of the invention comprises two different game boards (5, 5) arranged respectively, a first game board (5) in the center of the first part (20) of the table (2), for example consisting of a checkers board, and a second different game board (5), for example a parcheesi board, in the center of the other part (21) of the table (2), such that, in the folded briefcase position (100), each game board (5, 5) is located on one of the two outer faces of said briefcase. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the table (1) also includes at least one drawer (10), preferably two, attached by means of corresponding sliding guides (11) to one or both parts (20, 21) of the table (2), with sufficient capacity to hold the pieces or tokens corresponding to the game board(s) (5, 5) integrated therein. Naturally, the drawers (10) are equipped with handles (101) to facilitate their removal. Preferably, both parts (20, 21) of the board (2) with its perimeter skirt (23) and the drawer or drawers (10) are made of wood. And, preferably, the legs (4) of the table (1) are formed by respective metal structures, which, as can be seen in figures 6 and 8, in the extended position are fixed to the inner face of both parts (20, 21) of the table (2) with four anchors (12) with wing nuts (13) for tightening, two on each side for each of the two structures that define said legs (4). And, in the disassembled position, they are held in the housings that define the skirts (23) on the inner face of the table (2) by means of clips (14) provided for this purpose in said housings, as can be seen in figure 10. Furthermore, preferably, the two parts (20, 21) of the table (2) are fixed together in the unfolded position by means of respective fixings (15) located in the central skirts (23) of the assembly, such that they join them together, as can be seen in figure 6 and in the detail of figure 7. Also, preferably, a captive screw (16) is provided to fix the mast (7) of the umbrella once it has been inserted into the hole (6) provided for this purpose. Having sufficiently described the nature of the present invention, as well as the manner of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any expert in the field can understand its scope and the advantages that derive from it.

Claims

1. A folding outdoor game table comprising a table (2) divided into two parts (20, 21) articulated by hinges (3) and detachable legs (4), characterized by comprising at least a first game board (5) integrated into the outer face of a first part (20) of the table (2), which is visible and above in the unfolded position of the table; by comprising, between both parts (20, 21) of the table (2), a hole (6) which, in the unfolded position thereof, is located in the center of the table (2) and is suitable for inserting the mast (7) of an umbrella; and because the two parts (20, 21) of the table (2) are configured with a perimeter skirt (23) which, in their folded position, form a briefcase (100) with a carrying handle (8), closing means (9) and storage inside for at least the detached legs (4). 2.A folding outdoor game table according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two separate game boards (5, 5') arranged respectively, a first game board (5) in the center of the first part (20) of the table (2) and a second separate game board (5') in the center of the other part (21) of the table (2), and such that, in the folded briefcase position (100), each game board (5, 5') is located on one of the two outer faces of said briefcase.

3. A folding outdoor game table according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises one or two drawers (10), attached by means of sliding guides (11) to one or both parts (20, 21) of the table (2), with sufficient capacity to incorporate the pieces or tokens corresponding to the game board(s) (5, 5') integrated therein. 4.A folding outdoor game table, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the legs (4) are formed by two metal structures which, in the unfolded position, are fixed to the inner face of both parts (20, 21) of the table (2) with four anchors (12) with wing nuts (13) for tightening, and in the disassembled position are held in the housings that define the skirts (23) on the inner face of the table (2) by means of clips (14) provided for this purpose.

5. A folding outdoor game table, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two parts (20, 21) of the table (2) are fixed to each other in the unfolded position by means of fixings (15) located in the central skirts (23) of the assembly. 6.Folding outdoor game table, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a captive screw (16) is provided to fix the mast (7) of the parasol once inserted into the hole (6) provided for this purpose.