US 6,832,618 B2Granted

Dining table with integral dishwasher

OwnerHarold F. DeHartinventor

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Abstract

The dining table comprises a table structure having one or more openings adapted to receive in a snug fit either a dining tray or a pair of operatively associated access covers, which in either case fill the opening. An inner one of the access covers is connected to the table structure by a hinge and an outer one of the access covers is suspended by a lever and latching arrangement. In a raised position, the covers abut each other and provide a substantially smooth dining surface. In a lower position, the covers are stored below the dining tray.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A combination dining table with integral dishwasher, comprising:

a) a support base having a top portion;
b) a table structure providing a substantially horizontal dining surface fixedly mounted on said support base top portion and having an opening bounded by portions of said fixed dining surface;
c) a dishwasher assembled within said support base and connected to appropriate utilities for operation thereof;
d) a perforate chute mounted within said dishwasher and configured for receiving and holding a plurality of utensils, said chute extending angularly downward from an open upper end to a closed perforate lower end thereof;
e) an openable access cover assembly comprising inner and outer access covers each of which is adapted to be positioned in either a storage position below the level of said dining surface and providing access to said dishwasher or in an enclosing position above selected portions of said dishwasher;
f) said inner access cover being supported, independent of the support provided for said outer access cover, on a fixed portion of said table structure and in a manner which enables said inner access cover to pivot on a fixed axis between its respective said storage and enclosing positions;
g) said outer access cover being supported, independent of the support provided for said inner access cover, at each of its ends by a lever arrangement suspended from a fixed portion of said table, and which enable said outer access cover to swing on said lever arrangement between its respective storage position in a first plane below said dining surface and its enclosing position in a second higher plane parallel to the first plane, and in which the upper surface of said outer access cover is flush with said dining surface;
and
h) said inner and outer access covers being configured to snugly fill said opening when each is in its respective said enclosing position and to permit respective adjoining edges of said inner and outer access covers to abut in a close fit join with no upstanding protrusions from the support provided for either said inner or outer access covers so as to maintain the smoothness of said dining surface within the boundaries of said opening at said join when said inner and outer access covers are in their respective enclosing positions.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

A combination dining table with integral dishwasher, comprising:

a) a support base having a top portion;
b) a table structure providing a substantially horizontal dining surface fixedly mounted on said support base top portion and having an opening bounded by portions of said fixed dining surface;
c) a dishwasher assembled within said support base and connected to appropriate utilities for operation thereof;
d) a perforate chute mounted within said dishwasher and configured for receiving and holding a plurality of utensils, said chute extending angularly downward from an open upper end to a closed perforate lower end thereof;
e) an openable access cover assembly comprising inner and outer access covers each of which is adapted to be positioned in either a storage position below the level of said dining surface and providing access to said dishwasher or in an enclosing position above selected portions of said dishwasher;
f) said inner access cover being supported, independent of the support provided for said outer access cover, on a fixed portion of said table structure and in a manner which enables said inner access cover to pivot on a fixed axis between its respective said storage and enclosing positions;
g) said outer access cover being supported, independent of the support provided for said inner access cover, at each of its ends by a lever arrangement suspended from a fixed portion of said table, and which enable said outer access cover to swing on said lever arrangement between its respective storage position in a first plane below said dining surface and its enclosing position in a second higher plane parallel to the first plane, and in which the upper surface of said outer access cover is flush with said dining surface;
and
h) said inner and outer access covers being configured to snugly fill said opening when each is in its respective said enclosing position and to permit respective adjoining edges of said inner and outer access covers to abut in a close fit join with no upstanding protrusions from the support provided for either said inner or outer access covers so as to maintain the smoothness of said dining surface within the boundaries of said opening at said join when said inner and outer access covers are in their respective enclosing positions.

6 more elements