Tabletop for outdoor use reinforced with foam material and metal frame

Abstract

A tabletop for outdoor use is disclosed. The tabletop is formed of a plastic support frame and plastic sheet, which form a U-shaped space. The tabletop is reinforced with a metal frame within the U-shaped space, with the remainder of the space filled with a foam material. The table may further include a coloring layer which resembles stone material for decorative purposes. The coloring layer is attached to the plate by a resin layer and may include an optional fiber mesh embedded within the resin.

1 . A tabletop for use on an outdoor table comprising: 
 a substantially flat sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic; and    a supporting frame comprising: 
 a layer of fiberglass reinforced plastic including substantially U-shaped cross-members extending laterally with respect to the flat sheet, the layer of fiberglass reinforced plastic underlying the flat sheet and forming an enclosed space between the sheet and the U-shaped cross-members;  
 a metal frame within the enclosed space; and  
 a foam material substantially filling the enclosed space and surrounding the metal frame.  
   
   
   
       2 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , further comprising a coloring layer adhered to the top surface of the flat sheet with a layer of adhesive material.  
   
   
       3 . The tabletop of  claim 2 , wherein the adhesive material is a resin.  
   
   
       4 . The tabletop of  claim 3 , wherein the resin is one or more of an unsaturated polyester resin, a vinyl ester resin, or an epoxy resin.  
   
   
       5 . The tabletop of  claim 2 , wherein the coloring layer resembles stone.  
   
   
       6 . The tabletop of  claim 5 , wherein the coloring layer is comprised of one or more of stone, marble, clay, slate, granite, tile, ceramic, or porcelain.  
   
   
       7 . The tabletop of  claim 2 , further comprising a fiber mesh within the adhesive material.  
   
   
       8 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the foam material is formed of expandable polystyrene or expandable polyurethane.  
   
   
       9 . The tabletop of  claim 1 , wherein the metal frame is formed of one or more of aluminum, iron, or steel.  
   
   
       10 . A tabletop for use on an outdoor table comprising: 
 a substantially flat sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic;    a fiberglass reinforced plastic supporting frame including substantially U-shaped cross-members extending laterally within the supporting frame, the supporting frame underlying the flat sheet and forming an enclosed space between the plate and the U-shaped cross-members of the supporting frame;    a metal frame within the enclosed space; and    a foam material substantially filling the enclosed space and surrounding the metal frame.    
   
   
       11 . The tabletop of  claim 10 , further comprising a coloring layer adhered to the top surface of the flat sheet with a layer of adhesive material.  
   
   
       12 . The tabletop of  claim 11 , wherein the adhesive material is a resin.  
   
   
       13 . The tabletop of  claim 12 , wherein the resin is one or more of an unsaturated polyester resin, a vinyl ester resin, or an epoxy resin.  
   
   
       14 . The tabletop of  claim 11 , wherein the coloring layer resembles stone.  
   
   
       15 . The tabletop of  claim 14 , wherein the coloring layer is comprised of one or more of stone, marble, clay, slate, granite, tile, ceramic, or porcelain.  
   
   
       16 . The tabletop of  claim 11 , further comprising a fiber mesh within the adhesive material.  
   
   
       17 . The tabletop of  claim 10 , wherein the foam material is formed of expandable polystyrene or expandable polyurethane.  
   
   
       18 . The tabletop of  claim 10 , wherein the metal frame is formed of one or more of aluminum, iron, or steel.  
   
   
       19 . A tabletop for use on an outdoor table comprising: 
 a substantially flat sheet of fiberglass reinforced plastic;    a fiberglass reinforced plastic supporting frame including substantially U-shaped cross-members extending laterally within the supporting frame, the supporting frame underlying the plate and forming an enclosed space between the plate and the U-shaped cross-members of the supporting frame;    a metal frame formed of aluminum, iron, or steel within the enclosed space;    a foam material comprised of expandable polystyrene or expandable polyurethane substantially filling the enclosed space and surrounding the metal frame; and    a coloring layer adhered to the top surface of the flat sheet with a layer of adhesive material.    
   
   
       20 . The tabletop of  claim 19 , further comprising a fiber mesh within the adhesive material.