They Invented What? (No.96)

U.S. Pat. No. 6,983,493: Retractable table top for a toilet.

  

What is claimed is:

1. A device for providing a working surface while a user is seated on a toilet, said device comprising:
          a table having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, said table including a plurality of opposed edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending substantially parallel thereto, said table further including a plurality of opposed end portions integral with said plurality of edge portions, said table further including a plurality of elongated legs having opposed end portions attached thereto and engageable with a ground surface respectively, said table further having a plurality of elongated support rods secured to said bottom surface and adjacent said plurality of end portions respectively; and
         a support member positionable on alternate sides of a toilet seat and comprising
         a rear end portion securable to a wall adjacent a toilet and extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom, and
         a telescopic front end portion connected to said rear end portion and being extendable along a substantially horizontal plane, said front end portion being removably attachable to one said plurality of support rods so that said table can be selectively moved between up and down positions and pivoted thereabout.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said plurality legs are pivotally connected to said lower surface of said table and movable between folded and extended positions.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said support member further comprises: a bracket having front and rear surfaces connected to said rear end portion and a wall respectively.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said front end portion of said support member further comprises:a female portion and a male portion slidably engageable therein along a substantially parallel path so that said table can be telescopically extended between retracted and extended positions.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said rear end portion of said support member comprises: a pair of spaced arms extending outwardly therefrom and along a horizontal plane and for receiving said table therebetween during non-operating conditions.

6. A device for providing a working surface while a user is seated on a toilet, said device comprising:

         a table having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, said table including a plurality of opposed edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending substantially parallel thereto, said table further including a plurality of opposed end portions integral with said plurality of edge portions, said table further including a plurality of elongated legs having opposed end portions attached thereto and engageable with a ground surface respectively, said plurality of legs being pivotally connected to said lower surface of said table and movable between folded and extended positions, said table further having a plurality of elongated support rods secured to said bottom surface and adjacent said plurality of end portions respectively; and
          a support member positionable on alternate sides of a toilet seat and comprising
a rear end portion securable to a wall adjacent a toilet and extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom, and
          a telescopic front end portion connected to said rear end portion and being extendable along a substantially horizontal plane, said front end portion being removably attachable to one said plurality of support rods so that said table can be selectively moved between up and down positions and pivoted thereabout.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said support member further comprises: a bracket having front and rear surfaces connected to said rear end portion and a wall respectively.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said front end portion of said support member further comprises: a female portion and a male portion slidably engageable therein along a substantially parallel path so that said table can be telescopically extended between retracted and extended positions.

9. The device of claim 6, wherein said rear end portion of said support member comprises: a pair of spaced arms extending outwardly therefrom and along a horizontal plane and for receiving said table therebetween during non-operating conditions.

10. A device for providing a working surface while a user is seated on a toilet, said device comprising:

          a table having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces and a centrally disposed longitudinal axis, said table including a plurality of opposed edge portions equally spaced from the axis and extending substantially parallel thereto, said table further including a plurality of opposed end portions integral with said plurality of edge portions, said table further including a plurality of elongated legs having opposed end portions attached thereto and engageable with a ground surface respectively, said plurality of legs being pivotally connected to said lower surface of said table and movable between folded and extended positions, said table further having a plurality of elongated support rods secured to said bottom surface and adjacent said plurality of end portions respectively; and
          a support member positionable on alternate sides of a toilet seat and comprising
          a rear end portion securable to a wall adjacent a toilet and extending outwardly and forwardly therefrom, said rear end portion including a bracket having front and rear surfaces connected to said rear end portion and a wall respectively, and
          a telescopic front end portion connected to said rear end portion and being extendable along a substantially horizontal plane, said front end portion being removably attachable to one said plurality of support rods so that said table can be selectively moved between up and down positions and pivoted thereabout.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein said front end portion of said support member further comprises: a female portion and a male portion slidably engageable therein along a substantially parallel path so that said table can be telescopically extended between retracted and extended positions.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein said rear end portion of said support member comprises:  a pair of spaced arms extending outwardly therefrom and along a horizontal plane and for receiving said table therebetween during non-operating conditions.